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please don't tell me you're posting all 30 teams' previews
Team Name: Los Angeles Lakers
Last Year's Record: 57-25
Key Losses: Jordan Farmar
Key Additions: Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff
1. What significant moves were made during the off-season.
Where do I even begin? Change is not a word often associated with two time defending champions, and with the 5 most prominent members of the Los Angeles Lakers all locked up for multiple years, one wouldn't figure the Lakers would be in for a massive roster overhaul. None of that stopped GM Mitch Kupchak from having one busy and, in the opinion of this humble blogger, spectacular summer. Kupchak completely changed the back end of the team, allowing Jordan Farmar to leave via free agency, and politely telling Adam Morrison, Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga to seek other employment.
In their place come Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff, and two rookies Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter. Looked at on a like for like basis, it seems like an improvement at every turn. Blake fits the Lakers need for a "point guard" much better than Farmar did, Barnes as depth at small forward (in case Luke Walton's back injuries continue to hamper his career) over Adam Morrison is a no contest, and Ratliff provides experience off the bench that neither DJ Mbenga nor Josh Powell could muster. And the rookie haul is especially impressive when you consider that the Lakers seem to have found two keepers when they had only a mid and late 2nd round pick. On top of all that, Derek Fisher and Shannon Brown were re-signed for continuity, so the Lakers now have a roster that is theoretically much deeper (and more mature) than last year's version.
2. What are the team's biggest strengths?
The team's biggest strength, both literally and figuratively, remains the Lakers front line. Kobe Bryant is a spectacular player, but it is the trio of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom that make the Lakers nearly impossible for anybody in the league to match up with. And if all else fails, they have the best closer in the game to fall back on.
After the front line, the Lakers 2nd biggest strength is an extremely versatile roster, capable of winning in a variety of ways. Last year's offense lacked the potency of previous versions, but with Ron Artest hopefully finding a little more comfort in the offense, and what should be a much more consistent bench unit, look for the Lakers to improve somewhat in that regard. But, as last year's Finals has proven, they can also go toe to defensive toe with the best defenses in the land. Put simply, no matter how you play, the Lakers are capable of beating you at your own game.
3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses?
The team's biggest weakness is outside shooting. Last year, behind below-career-average performances from just about every perimeter player, the Lakers shot 34.1% from 3pt range, good for only 24th in the league. That poor shooting allowed teams to clog up the middle, and was a major cause of that previously mentioned lack of potency on offense. With a few bounce-back performances (specifically from Kobe) likely, and the improvement brought by Steve Blake, the Lakers should improve on last year's mark, but it still remains their biggest weakness.
Also, with Blake not being the speediest of characters, and Derek Fisher one year closer to fossilization, the Lakers remain susceptible to attack by quick lead guards. However, with as much size as the Lakers possess inside, there's only so much damage a little guard can do to them.
4. What are the goals for this team?
To have fun and do their best, and at the end of the season, to have a big pizza party. Seriously, they are the back-to-back defending champs, what do you think their goal is?
Not that they need any extra motivation, but this looks to be Coach Phil Jackson's last season, so he'll be looking to ride off heroically into the sunset. One more ring ties Kobe with Jordan, and if Ron Artest doesn't win another ring, he won't have one, since he intends to auction this year's ring off to charity.
5. How hard will the Lakers push to get the best record in the NBA?
There is no question the Lakers are the class of the Western Conference, and despite the protestations out of OKC, Portland, and the state of Texas, they are damn near a shoe-in to be the Western representative in the NBA Finals for at least one more year. However, the Lakers have not had the best record in the NBA for either of their two recent championship campaigns, luckily backing into home court advantage in the Finals both years. After last year's experience, in which home court advantage was so vital to their al defense, and with the prospect of a Miami team which will be desperate to throw up a very high win total to turn around some of that bad publicity, will the Lakers chase after the extra 8 to 12 wins it will take to ensure a potential Finals game 7 will once again take place at Staples Center?
After all, there's no way to look at last year's 57-25 as anything other than a massive disappointment when looked at on its own. Injuries certainly played a role, but lack of focus and an unwillingness to play the right way (especially on offense) were the main killers to last year's regular season. My guess is the Lakers will play with improved focus, and have a vastly improved regular season record, but will likely fall short of the best record in the NBA. Good thing for them, a team still has to beat them 4 times in 7 games to win a championship.
Predicted Record: 64-18
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2...rs-nba-preview
please don't tell me you're posting all 30 teams' previews
Oh, naw...... probably just the teams that matter which is about six
64-18 seems right
I agree with the projected record, we might probably repeat 65-17.
But the biggest weakness is Bynum's shaky health.
the whole point guard issue used to worry me, but we've seen what the Lakers can do against Westbrook, Willaims, Nash and Rondo. So im cool.
They stacked !!!!
"team defense" and "funneling to shotblockers" got invented
Fisher made those cats look like scrubs.
Westbrook and Rondo completely torched the Lakers. Williams played solidly tood.
thank goodness to see a lakerfan regulating a dumbass lakerfan.
Just setting the record straight brah. In the end we all cheer for one team
Shouldn't this be listed under additions?Key Losses: Jordan Farmar
and when we look back in 50 years, the younger cats will say "Damn..that Fisher dude made those cats look like scrubs"
All three joined Nash where we left 'em:::dead in the ground.
& he waited & waited & waited on the Celtics to make that one mistake.
& when they finally made it, Fish snatched the life right out of 'em.
Just like that.
sshhhhh... they have to make it look like the Lakers regretted the departure of Farmar to Jersey City
Fishers legacy will make those guys look like scrubs...thats for damn sure.
Fisher just setting trends.
50 years from now, Fisher will be remembered more for his clutch performances, and not actually running point guards to the ground. Which is really not a bad thing. Anyone who has an Internet connection would figure out that it's not really Fisher's strong suit. Yes, even 50 years from now.
i honestly dont give a rats ass whether or not fisher can run point guards to the ground. All i care is that he is a leader, shows heart and makes baskets (including free throws) when it counts. Thats and his 5 rings is what makes all these other cats looks like scrubs compare to him.
Robert Horry making Karl Malone and Charles Barkley look like scrubs...i honestly dont give a rats ass whether or not fisher can run point guards to the ground. All i care is that he is a leader, shows heart and makes baskets (including free throws) when it counts. Thats and his 5 rings is what makes all these other cats looks like scrubs compare to him.
damn right...althought Robert Horry wasnt a "captain" of his team unlike D-Fish.
The best thing to say would be that outside of 1 game Fisher made Ray Allen look like a scrub.
imho, outside of 1 game Fisher made Ray Allen look like a scrub.
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