Monday, September 2, 2013

Lakers actual odds and scenarios... Part 1


   The LA Lakers have been a great Franchise for many years, but with the Kobe era looking like an ending sooner than later...  This upcoming seasons roster looks like a Mavericks Franchise team snagging individual talent and prospects from everywhere. Chris Kaman (Mavericks) here. Nick Young (76ers) there. Jordan Farmar (Euroleague stud) back here in purple and gold, and Wes Johnson (Suns). there. With Elias Harris and Marcus Landry (Summer League and D-League) also being signed as decent young players who could possibly learn to contribute. 

   So Young, Hill, Farmar, Harris, Blake, Sacre, and Meeks looking like the bench once Kobe is back, which is soon in terms of the NBA schedule. I consider Nick Young, Jordan Hill, and Jordan Farmar pluses off the bench with their last NBA seasons being each of their best... Except Nick Young who scored 10.6ppg for Philly off the bench mostly in 23.7 minutes of action). He averaged over 18ppg for the Wizards one year and maybe being around Kobe and Pau and Nash will rub off on his shot selection and open looks. 

   I recently saw the Lakers bench rated 27th, out of 30 teams of course. You mean the 4th worse bench in the NBA? That was last season. With a whole different roster. I think there are at least 7-8 teams with less talent off their bench...  Detroits a great starting five with Drummond and Monroe and Josh Smith with Jennings and likely Billups at SG. What's that bench.... Let alone looking at the Bobcats, Nets, Magic, Hawks, Jazz, Suns, and Raptors weak benches this upcoming year. Much different than last year. 

   Isn't Kobe looking healthy and on pace for a October-November comeback? If he can bring a roster of Odom, Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Luke Walton team to a playoff team, then he can get a decent to legit roster there again, even at this age. He hasn't failed us yet in terms of competing. That in itself, along with future Hall Of Famer Pau Gasol logging a large portion of his minutes back at Center where he belongs should improve his production as well. Though 14 Ppg, 8 RPG, 3.5 assists a game and a block aren't shabby. I think he'll improve or put up the same but in about 4-6 mpg less. Exactly as Duncan did sliding over from PF to C. 


   But with Kobe starting sooner than later, I have a feeling Wes Johnson will fit that SF spot well with Nash, Kobe, Gasol, and Kaman (all-star level Center, offensive guy, brings a nice starting five. And if Kobe misses 10-15 games, Nick Young is a very capable scorer and back home in LA. That would deplete the bench, and it's possible he starts with Kobe playing Small Forward. All are possible. Gasol could end up the starting Center bringing Kaman off the Bench and Hill starting at Power Forward, strengthening the bench. 
 
BENCH UNIT(w/Last years numbers and role or skills):

Jordan Hill, (6.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 15.8mpg)
Nick Young (10.1ppg, create own shot))
Jordan Farmar (17, 4 and 6 in Europe)
Steve Blake (3pt specialist)
Jodie Meeks (3pt specialist)
Robert Sacre (High iQ backup Center)
Elias Harris (Stretch four... tBD)
Marcus Landry (3 and D and hustle)

Compared to last years Jamison, Clark, Marcus Morris, That Goudelock guy that shoots every time and rookie Sacre, with Meeks and Blake. Id definitely say they've improved a step, maybe even two. 

Why? Well, Young is a legit Sixth Man of The Year type player in that role if he's happy and has a green light from D'Antoni. He fits very well. Wes Johnson could really fit well too as a more traditional small forward. Jordan Hill was great before his injury (now healthy) and Farmar who I truly believe will surprise many fans and that has me sold. Add in Meeks, Blake, Harris, Sacre, and they are looking like more of a middle of the pack type team... Like 15-20 bench production. Add Kobe will have minute restraints possibly and the bench gets more minutes. We all know Kaman and Gasol will start, but likely will pull Kaman and roll Gasol to Center at the. 6 minute mark to insert a Hill or Young or Farmar (who can guard two guards alright; D'Antoni ran Blake and Nash together a ton. Two guards on the floor has sorta become the norm lately in the NBA.

I think the Lakers are almost getting truly Hated on now for thinking they can make the playoffs. Nobody is saying they are winning the NBA title from the smart Laker fans.

And to World Peace getting amnestied, his 12.5 low PER speaks for itself. His defense was legit but his offense is so bad and out of synch it doesn't outweigh the good on defense. He's not Shane Batter. 

Who thinks the Lakers have slander articles written about them just out of Kobe and Laker hate? Who thinks we aren't being objective? Nobody said we are gonna win the ship.