Bynum Breaking Out?

After emerging as a potential force in the paint last season, Andrew Bynum looks ready to dominate. After a string of solid performances, Bynum torched the Clippers for a career-high 42 points, on just 24 field goal attempts, on Wednesday night, and followed up that performance with a rock-solid 23-point effort (on just 12 FG attempts) in a blowout win against the Washington Wizards the following night, tossing in 29 rebounds and four blocked shots in the two games, just for good measure. The most exciting aspect of the back-to-back performances, from the Lakers’ perspective at least, is that Bynum doesn’t seem to be playing over his head.

What’s happened in the last two games is not an anomaly, nor has it been absent all season. It just hasn’t happened with this magnitude or with the consistency that many predicted before the season. However, the last two night have given us a glimpse of what Andrew Bynum is expected to become, and looks to be on his way to becoming. A great set of physical tools, combined with his increased physical maturity, added game experience and the tutelage of a legend have Andrew Bynum on the path toward becoming the latest dominant big man in Lakerland.

A legitimate 7-footer, Bynum has done a fantastic job of adding muscle to his once-skinny frame, becoming noticeably more imposing, now tipping the scales at a solid 285 pounds. This strength allows him to hold his own against virtually any NBA big man, but it’s the set of supplemental skills he’s developed that point to Bynum becoming a special player in the near future. Bynum’s combination of length (he has a 7’3” wingspan), soft hands and athleticism (33” vertical leap) are a rarity in man of his size, and have provided his tutor, Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a full complement of tools with which to work. And that work is paying off, as the skills that Andrew Bynum has developed have Kareem’s fingerprints all over them.

As valuable as Bynum’s size and athleticism may be, what’s now giving him the look of a great big man are his footwork, passing and movement without the ball- hallmarks of Kareem’s dominant career. No longer does Bynum look like “Bambi on ice”, as did in his first two NBA seasons- he’s now identifying the spots on the floor that he wants to get to, getting there, establishing position, and making strong, confident moves once he receives the ball. Rather than allowing him to rely on his considerable, albeit raw, physical assets, Kareem has worked with Bynum, who’s build is very similar to his own, on refining his footwork and always maintaining his balance, which, combined with his ever-improving play without the ball, both on the strong side and the weak side of the floor, have helped Bynum develop a smooth jump hook, a potential go-to move, and to find opening in the paint for easy shots.

Not only has Bynum made great strides with regard to getting his own shot, he’s also improved his passing, both in terms of vision as well as touch. Though he’s not there yet, more than any aspect of his game, Bynum’s passing from the post is reminiscent of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who’s widely regarding as one the league’s best-ever passing big men. In an offense so predicated on effective ball movement, Bynum’s ability to find the open man along the sideline, on the perimeter, and cutting down the lane has added another vital dimension to the Lakers offense. With his improved passing, combined with that of Pau Gasol, another excellent passer, the Lakers boast a pair of top-flight passing big men, which keeps defenders honest, and forces far more single-coverage in the post, since neither man has a problem looking over double-teams to find the open man.

After showing flashes of his potential last season, only to be derailed by a dislocated kneecap, Andrew Bynum looks ready to ascend to the next level. While his consistency hasn’t immediately return this season, it’s obvious that Bynum possesses every tool necessary to become a truly dominant big man, and given the way he’s used those tools over the past 48 hours, he seems to be learning how to harness his power.

Less than 18 months ago, Kobe Bryant was livid that GM Mitch Kupchak didn’t send Bynum to New Jersey in exchange for Jason Kidd. It’s probably safe to say that Kobe’s never been happier to be wrong. Few, if any, GMs would even consider that trade today. And who would blame them?

What A Difference A Year Makes

Was it really just a year ago that the Chicago Bulls arrived at Staple Center, at the height of the Kobe Bryant trade hysteria? Feels like that was a lifetime ago! After an offseason filled with talk of a potential trade for Kobe Bryant, the Bulls arrived in Los Angeles on November 18 during their annual "circus roadtrip", amid a flurry of rumors centered on Kobe's "impending" relocation to the Windy City. It was about then that the wave finally broke.

It's been said about the stock market for years, “buy when there’s blood in the streets”. This will likely hold true in the current economic downturn as well- when there is seemingly no hope, when the outlook is the most bleak, and it looks like there is nowhere but over the cliff, one day, things stop getting worse. Faced with the nightmare of persistent trade demands from the best player of the post-Jordan era, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kobe in particular, were booed off the floor following a 95-93 home loss to the Houston Rockets in their season opener. The Lakers world was in flames, and there was NO catalyst for a recovery- it was clearly the beginning of the end for Kobe Bryant with the Lakers.

Then, inexplicably, glimmers of hope began to appear. Two days after their deflating home loss against Houston, the Lakers went into Phoenix and proceeded to clobber the heavily favored Suns by 21 points, leading by as many as 33 points in the 4^th quarter. It was a comprehensive “team” victory, with eight players finishing with at least eight points (five in double-digits), Vladimir Radmanovic led the team with 19 points (on just 8 shots!), Kobe grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his 16 points, on just 15 shot attempts, and Andrew Bynum, in just 23 minutes off the bench, began to justify the organization’s faith in him, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while hitting on seven of his ten field goal attempts. It was the kind of victory that, at least temporarily, heals all wounds.

Two nights later, the Lakers looked to build on their emphatic win in Phoenix, when they faced another quality opponent, this time the Utah Jazz at home. The Lakers turned in a performance very similar to the one they’d produced against the Suns, even scoring an identical 119 points, albeit in a much closer game. Though Kobe Bryant did lead the way this time, scoring 33 points, he did so on just 19 shots, leaving plenty of opportunity for the Lakers’ suddenly intriguing supporting cast, who rose to the occasion again. Kobe led six players in double figures (and Radmanovic scored 9 points), with Derek Fisher (19) and Bynum (15 points and 9 rebounds in just 19 minutes) providing major support. However, the real catalyst in the win, which saw the Lakers trailing by a point after three quarters, was Jordan Farmar, whose stat line (12 points, 4 assists in 17 minutes) does not do justice to his impact. It was Farmar who started the fourth quarter with a rebound, and driving assist to Bynum, followed by three made field goals (one was a three-point play), and a pair of assists to Kobe and Ronny Turiaf. Maybe it was naive optimism, but it was during this that it seemed possible that “something cool is happening here”.

The Lakers won three of their next five games, but with Chicago coming to town on November 18, the trade rumors persisted, as the Bulls were included on Kobe’s short list of “acceptable destinations”, and they had several talented young players that could comprise an enticing package. The uncertainty surrounding the situation raised the level of speculation surrounding the Lakers-Bulls matchup to near-comedic levels, making the actual game an afterthought, and perhaps rightfully so, given the 106-78 thumping dished out by the Lakers. However, it was during the game that powerful messages were sent, by both sides. In yet another balanced attack, the Lakers saw six player score in double-figures, with no one scoring more than Kobe Bryant’s 18 points. Again, Bynum and Farmar played significant roles, scoring 14 points each (Bynum added 10 rebounds, Farmar had 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals), with Luke Walton, Vlad Radmanovic and Chris Mihm also scoring in double-digits. Though the Lakers’ supporting cast had been showing Kobe for two weeks that grass was not necessarily greener, this was their moment. It was as though the Lakers’ younger players were collectively saying “Them? You’re demanding a trade so you can go play with them?”

As for the Bulls, well, their core simply cemented in GM Mitch Kupchak’s mind why he did not want to trade Kobe Bryant, and definitely why he didn’t want to trade him for a combination of these guys! Of the Bulls’ players who’d been rumored to be part of a potential deal, the then-untouchable Luol Deng did not suit up due to a back injury, while Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah combined to score 37 points on 14-for-39 from the field.

In the 12 months since the Lakers and Bulls last met in L.A., the Lakers have amassed a regular-season record of 57-23, become the deepest and most talented team in the NBA, thanks to adding Pau Gasol without having to surrender any key pieces, and have made a trip to the NBA Finals, and look poised to return. On a side note- would anyone trade the Lakers supporting cast for the ENTIRE Bulls’ roster today?

And the Bulls? They’ve posted a record of 36-47 in their 83 regular season games since that night. On the bright side, they did win the one postseason competition in which they participated. Ok, so it was the draft lottery, but still!

One year ago tonight was the moment that it all hit the fan for John Paxon and the Bulls- not only had he created a massive distraction for his young players, he’d just watched the bottom fall out of the trade value of the core of his young, highly-regarded roster. Had the lucky bounce of a ping-pong ball not delivered Derrick Rose to Chicago, John Paxson’s ineptitude and mismanagement of what was once the best stable of young talent in the NBA would now be reaching Isiah Thomas levels.

Lakers' "Ghost" Haunting the NBA

Almost a year ago, after tours in New York and Orlando, Trevor Ariza returned to Southern California, where he’d played his high school ball, winning a state championship, and played his lone year (2003-04) of NCAA basketball at UCLA. Ariza, a second-round pick (43^rd overall) of the Knicks in 2004, spent 3+ seasons with the Knicks and Magic, playing sparingly, putting up nothing-special numbers on series of nothing-special (a generous assessment) teams. There was never any doubt about his athleticism, but not many predicted that Ariza would emerge as the second-coming of Michael Cooper.

The November 20, 2007 deal that saw the Lakers sent a package of Brian Cook, a seven-footer with a good outside shot (but not good enough to justify his lack of improvement in any other area) and another athletic defender, Maurice Evans, to the Orlando Magic, in exchange for Trevor Ariza, hardly had the look of an impact move. While the Lakers were getting younger by acquiring Ariza, then just 22 years of age, Evans (29 at the time) had been playing very well in a similar role as the team had run out to an unexpectedly strong start. Why rock the boat? As it turns out, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak (to whom I owe several apologies!), knew exactly what he was doing! Ariza was not a younger, more athletic version of Mo Evans, the departure of Cook freed up floor time, which was well-spent, as it was during these minutes that the emergence of Andrew Bynum took place.

Despite losing much of 2007-08 to a broken foot, Ariza brought a level of speed, athleticism and defensive intensity to the 2/3 position that is matched by only one other Laker- Kobe Bryant. It is exactly this that has made Trevor Ariza so valuable; while Kobe Bryant can match Ariza in terms of both physical tools and defensive prowess, he is also counted on to be the Lakers’ most dominant offensive player. Trevor Ariza makes it possible for Kobe to not have to guard the opposition’s best offensive player, protecting him from foul trouble as well as fatigue from having to play the most challenging role at both ends of the floor.

But as good an on-the-ball defender as Ariza is, it is his ability to find the ball and make plays coming off the weak side that truly set him apart. It's this talent that has led Lakers' coach Phil Jackson to call Ariza "the Ghost", saying that "Sort of a stealth player. Just all of a sudden he shows ... and he's gone. He's a blip and he's away." Not only is Ariza as good as there is in the NBA at coming from a ballhandler’s blind side (2.2 spg), he's an excellent rebounder (5.2 rpg; ~10.6 reb/48 minutes) as well. Also, he’s proven to be a solid, and ever-improving, offensive player as well, averaging 10 points a game, while shooting better than 50% from both the field (51.2%) AND 3-point range (54.5%), and not giving away possessions (.7 TO/g).

Following a trade that turned very few heads at the time, Trevor Ariza has turned out to be an outstanding find for the Lakers, contributing defensive intensity and incredible athleticism to what may already be the NBA’s deepest and best team- all while flying under the radar.

Opening Night Rematch In Houston

Lakers (3-3) @ Houston Rockets (6-2)

November 14, 2007, 9:00 PM Eastern (8:00 PM Pacific); Shown nationally on ESPN

Toyota Center- Houston, TX

A day after suffering their worst loss of the season in San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers are in Houston for the second half of a brutal back-to-back. The Lakers will be looking to avenge their opening night defeat at the hands of the Rockets, when they were beaten 95-93 at Staples Center. That night, the Rockets led by double-figures for much of the second half, before blowing a 12-point lead in the game’s final 1:28, before being saved by a Shane Battier 3-pointer with just a few seconds left. The Lakers come into tonight’s game sporting a solid 3-3 record, which includes quality wins against two Western Conference contenders (Phoenix and Utah). The Lakers will need to secure a win against the Rockets tonight in order to avoid losing three of four games, and to maintain any early season momentum that they may have built up with their solid early season play.

After a loss against the Spurs last night in the season’s first “measuring stick” game, tonight’s game offers the Lakers another opportunity to measure their progress in a road game against another of the Western Conference contender.

Lakers’ Notes

Based on the assumption that Kobe and Tracy McGrady offensive numbers will effectively cancel one another out, it is imperative the Lakers control the tempo of this game from the outset and not allow the Rockets to establish Yao Ming’s inside presence early. The Lakers will need to speed up the game’s tempo, which will reduce Yao’s impact at both ends of the floor- particularly on defense, where not allowing him to fully set up on defense will provide opportunities to draw fouls against the Rockets’ big man. Since the Lakers do not have a big man capable of consistently battling Yao in the low post, it will take a group effort, led of course by Kobe Bryant, to take the ball hard to the basket at every appropriate opportunity.

As always, the Lakers will have to turn in a balanced offensive performance, looking to create early, high-percentage chances for interior players like Andrew Bynum Ronny Turiaf and Kwame Brown. Finally, ball movement in the halfcourt will be key, as the Lakers, who are shooting under 30% from 3-point range, will need to find open shooters around the arc when they have good looks available..

Defensively, the focus will have to be (as it always is) on limiting the number of quality looks for Tracy McGrady (Maurice Evans will be huge here) and Yao Ming and making every offensive opportunity as difficult as possible for them. However, in doing so, it will important not to leave the Rockets outside shooters, of which there are a few (Battier, Luther Head, Mike James) alone on the perimeter- as they did with Peja Stojakovic in their loss to the New Orleans Hornets, getting burned for a ridiculous 10 3-pointers.

Injuries continue to plague Lamar Odom, who in just his second game back from a shoulder injury, tore a tendon in his right (non-shooting) pinkie. Though he’s in some pain, Lamar expects to start tonight in Houston. In addition to Odom, Kwame Brown is still bothered by bursitis in his right heel, which limited him to just 14 minutes in San Antonio Tuesday night. The Lakers’ starting lineup should feature Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, with Lamar Odom, Ronnie Turiaf and Kwame Brown up front.

Rockets’ Notes

The Houston Rockets, who have gotten off to an impressive 6-2 start this season, are also finishing up a back-to-back set, having lost in Memphis to the Grizzles on Tuesday night, 105-99, despite 63 points from Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady, whose performance allowed him to take over the NBA’s scoring lead at 29 points per-game (Kobe’s at 28.3), made sixteen of his twenty eight field goals and added four rebounds and four assists in the losing effort. While they will obviously ride their their two superstars, the key for the Rockets (much like it is for the Lakers) will be to get some consistent performances from the supporting cast, who had only player in double figures (Mike James, 10 points) and shot just 37% (16-43) from the field. Despite Rick Adelman’s reputation as an up-tempo, offensive-minded coach, the Rockets will need to look to slow down the tempo of the game, allowing Yao Ming’s presence in the paint to have greater impact at both ends of the floor.

The Rockets come in without any significant injuries and should field a starting lineup of Yao, Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes up front, with Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston in the backcourt.

What should we look for tonight?

Remember that the Lakers led Rockets for much of the game on opening night, despite playing without Lamar Odom in the midst of swirling Kobe Bryant trade rumors. Not only is Odom now back in the Lakers’ lineup, the team’s collective attitude, not to mention the increased balance in the offense, has improved dramatically in over the past two weeks. Also, with Houston’s next three games coming against the Spurs (in San Antonio), Phoenix and Dallas, there is a very real possibility that the Rockets may be looking past this game. Just as the Lakers found themselves in a classic “trap” game against New Orleans last week, the Houston Rockets are staring down the barrel of a “trap” game Wednesday night. Look for the Lakers to play well against Rockets once, this time having enough in the tank to pull out the win over Yao, McGrady & Co.

A Legend's Take on the Lakers

In yet another outstanding article published yesterday, long-time Lakers’ insider and the organization’s official biographer, Roland Lazenby discusses a recent phone conversation he had with former Lakers’ assistant Tex Winter. One of the best basketball minds around, the 85 year-old Winter shared his thoughts on the evolution of Kobe Bryant and the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers. The comments from Winter are accurate and optimistic, and at the same time very candid in their calls for self-assessment and self-improvement- the kind of constructive advice one can expect from a caring and observant grandparent.

With regard to Kobe Bryant and his trade repeated requests, Tex opined the time has come for Kobe to stop pushing for a trade and to realize that remaining with the Lakers is clearly the best move for him. Winter went on to say that while he likes the talented young roster of the Chicago Bulls, “Frankly, I’m not sure how much he’d be able to help that club.” As the conversation shifted to his brainchild, the famed Triangle offense, Winter expressed the opinion that the offensive system he’s spent a good deal of his life developing is still as effective as ever. Tex goes on to say that Kobe Bryant’s physical and mental abilities make him the best player for the Triangle in the NBA, “And he knows it. I wish he would concentrate on playing the game and making his teammates better and not worry about all this other stuff.” Winter was also eager to praise Kobe for his maturity and dedication to the team concept in the early season, citing Kobe’s recent praise of Andrew Bynum’s work ethic, renewed dedication on the defensive and, most importantly, his willingness to play with in the offense.

Winter goes on to say that the Lakers’ offensive development will hinge on two things- greater attention to detail with regard to Triangle fundamentals (constant movement and precise passing and cutting), and improved passing from their big men. Tex mentions that of all the Lakers’ big men, Andrew Bynum has shown the potential to be the best passer out of the post (it helps to learn from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest passing big men in league history).

Winter, who suffers from painful shingles in his chest, is not currently with the team, but watches many game from his home in Oregon, had some additional observations on Kobe & Co. He says the Lakers’ could reach the next level, provided Andrew Bynum continues to work at his game with a high level of passion and dedication. He also says that Kobe needs to realize that the Lakers are terribly far from being the competitive team he so badly wants.

With Kobe’s dedication to being a part of this team, along with the improved play of the team’s younger players, the tension surrounding the Lakers has begun to subside a bit. Roland Lazenby’s insightful article about his chat with Tex Winter reveals two extremely encouraging realities in LakerLand- first, this team is better, and closer to contending, than many realize (and that comes from someone who knows!), and second, it’s nice to know that while Kobe is hopeful that his friend and mentor, Jerry West, will return to the organization he brought to prominence (man, would be great, or what?), there’s another caring set of eyes watching over him, with his best interest at heart.

Kobe Coming Around On Andrew Bynum?

In what has to be one early season highlights for the energetic and potentially surprising Lakers, the new, young-teammate-friendly Kobe Bryant praised his 20-year-old teammate, Andrew Bynum, for his effort in the young season. "He's working really hard in practice and before practice, and I see a lot of improvement in him," Bryant said. "The more he plays, the more his feet get wet, the more he gets acclimated to the type of conditioning that he needs to play at this level, but he's doing a fantastic job."

Of course, this is the same Andrew Bynum that was the target of some less-than-flattering remarks from Kobe Bryant in the off-season, after the Lakers refused to include Bynum in a trade for New Jersey guard Jason Kidd before last season’s trade deadline. In realizing that A) Bynum will be in L.A. for the time being, B) He [Kobe] will also be in L.A. for the time being and C) Bynum does actually have some pretty serious game, Kobe is taking steps to help the Lakers’ young center, both on the floor, where he is noticeably taking more of a mentor role with Bynum, talking to him and giving suggestions between plays, and off the floor, with sincere and encouraging words about his development. The only thing better than a talented, hard-working young player? A talented, hard-working young player being pushed toward success by the league’s most talented and hardest-working player!

Odom’s Return Also An Important Bounce-Back Game

Lakers (2-2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (0-3)

November 9, 2007, 10:30 PM Eastern (7:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

Following two outstanding wins, the Lakers were bought back down to earth on Tuesday night by the New Orleans Hornets, 188-104. The Hornets were led by the red-hot Peja Stojakovic (10-13 3-pt) and brilliant playmaking of Chris Paul, who notched 21 assists. Tonight’s game at home against the winless Minnesota Timberwolves is vitsl on two fronts- first, tonight’s game marks the return of one of the Lakers’ top playmakers, Lamar Odom, who has been nursing a shoulder injury. Also, tonight’s games provides an excellent opportunity for the Lakers to get back on the winning track after stumbling against the Hornets. This is particularly important considering the brutal schedule that Kobe and Co. will be facing over the next ten days, when they will travel to San Antonio and Houston before returning home to face the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.

Lakers’ Notes

Expect the Lakers to be ready for this game as they try to erase the memory of Tuesday night’s disappointing loss. Odom’s return will provide an extra spark for the team, as well as another top-notch talent on the floor. The Lakers will also be looking for continued strong play from their young support cast- Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar and Ronny Turiaf in particular. With the team not scheduled to play again until Tuesday night in San Antonio, tonight’s game is an excellent opportunity to go all-out for a win and to reintegrate Lamar Odom into the squad. While an easy, double-figure win should be in order, expect Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher to log some extra minutes on the floor with Odom, as the club looks to prepare for its upcoming Texas trip.

Kwame Brown, who is bothered by a sore right heel, will miss his second straight game on Friday night. Expect him to return against the Spurs, but sitting out the last two games will end up giving him nine days rest. Also, Luke Walton, who missed practice this week with a sore hamstring, will likely move to the bench with the return of Lamar Odom. As a result, the Lakers’ starting lineup should look like this: Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Odom and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Andrew Bynum in middle (it’s about time!).

Timberwolves’ Notes

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team in transition, and while no one is expecting a lot from this young team in 2007-08 (and maybe rightfully so, as they’ve started 0-3), the Wolves have been competitive in each of their three losses, havng yet to lose a game by double digits. Also, Al Jefferson is an absolute monster in the paint. Big Al is well on his way to being one of the best big men in the NBA, averaging 19 points and 11.7 rebounds unfortunately for the Wolves, they don’t have many other major offensive threats on the roster, although their balanced attack does feature FIVE other double-figure scorers (Rashad McCants, Greg Buckner, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff and Craig Smith). If the Timberwolves are going to really challenge the Lakers, it is going to have to be in the paint, where Jefferson, Ratliff and Smith should be able to get some work done against the Lakers’ front line.

What should we look for tonight?

If the Lakers are properly motivated for this game, it really shouldn’t be close. Minnesota is an extremely young that is just beginning to rebuild and should not be able to push the Lakers too hard. Also, the return of Lamar Odom, along with Tuesday night’s loss, should provide more than enough motivation to come out and really take care of business tonight. Look for the Lakers to cruise to a double-digit win in this one.

Trap Game: Lakers Try to Avoid a Letdown

Lakers (2-1) vs. New Orleans Hornets (3-0)

November 6, 2007, 10:30 PM Eastern (7:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

The Lakers are riding an impressive two-game winning streak, beating both the Suns (in Phoenix) and the Utah Jazz by double figures over the weekend. The biggest concern coming into this matchup will be to avoid an emotional letdown after having knocked off two of the top contenders in the Western Conference in three days. As great as the last wins were, they will only take on real significance if the Lakers can use them as a springboard to strong start to the season.

The quality of play tonight should be relatively high, as the unbeaten Hornets, led by the supremely gifted Chris Paul, lock up with the Lakers. With just one game on the NBA schedule on Monday night, and neither of these teams playing in it, both teams should be relatively fresh and ready to go from the opening tip.

Lakers’ Notes

For the Lakers, this game has letdown written all over it. Though they may not be in the class of the Suns and the Jazz, the Hornets are definitely not to be overlooked. They pretty loaded with talent and a likely playoff team in the loaded Western Conference It will be very important for the team’s leaders (Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher) to preach consistency to the younger members of the team, reminding them that two quality wins don’t automatically make you a contender.

As the Lakers look to continue their streak of balanced offensive performances, it will be vital to create some early open looks for Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Walton and Derek Fisher, as well as some quality opportunities in the post for Andrew Bynum. With Kobe likely to be guarded by Morris Peterson (he, of the Toronto Raptors’ defense in Kobe’s 81-point game) or David West or Rasual Butler, it’s pretty reasonable to pencil him in for at least 30 points, but it will be more important for Kobe to get his teammates rolling as well.

Defensively, the New Orleans Hornets present one of the biggest challenges of the Lakers’ early schedule, as they feature an elite point guard with a full compliment of diverse weapons. Led by Chris Paul, the Hornets offense is not only highly skilled, but among one of the most versatile in the league They feature threats in the paint (Tyson Chandler and David West), in the mid-range game (West, Peja Stojakovic, Rasual Butler), and on the perimeter (Peja, Butler, Morris Peterson), not to mention the issues created by Chris Paul’s (or Bobby Jackson’s) penetration. The best strategy for dealing with the New Orleans offense is three-pronged: 1) attack Tyson Chandler (he may block a few of your shots, but he will commit some fouls), 2) make Chris Paul be the Hornets’ primary weapon by giving him open jump shots rather than driving and passing lanes (and staying at home any time he does beat his man), and 3) if you have to give defensive help in the paint, DO NOT LEAVE PEJA STOJAKOVIC! When he’s healthy, which he is right now, Peja is still the deadliest spot-up shooter in the NBA and should NEVER be left alone on the perimeter.

In addition to Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown will be out of lineup Tuesday night with an injury to his right heel. As a result, the Lakers’ starting lineup should look like this: Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Andrew Bynum in middle.

Hornets’ Notes

Led by Chris Paul, the NBA’s future-best-point-guard, the New Orleans Hornets are putting together a very strong start to their 2007-08 season, with consecutive blowout wins over the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trailblazers (sure these are bad teams, but the Hornets really took care of business), and an impressive 93-88 road win over the Denver Nuggets. The Hornets have gotten some stellar play from Chris Paul (18.7 ppg, 9.7 apg, 6.3 rpg, 3 spg) and one of the NBA’s best young big men, Tyson Chandler (12.3 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg; can you believe he’s only 25 years-old?) and one of the NBA’s underrated offensive players, David West (16 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Hornets’ coach (and 3-time world champion as a Laker) Byron Scott also has a collection of viable, but certainly not spectacular options on the bench, with Bobby Jackson and Rasual Butler ready to step in on the perimeter and Melvin Ely and second-year center Hilton Armstrong backing up Tyson Chandler in the paint.

The Hornets are not nursing any notable injuries and should field a starting lineup comprised of Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic and David West up front, with Chris Paul and Morris Peterson in the backcourt.

What should we look for tonight?

Tonight’s match-up with the Hornets could end up being the Lakers’ biggest test of the young NBA season. Like the Jazz, the Hornets feature a talented and intelligent point guard who runs the show flawlessly. This game sets up as a classic “trap” game for the Lakers- they’re feeling great after back-to-back wins over quality Western Conference opposition. With the Lakers’ next game at home against the winless Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night likely to result in another victory, if they can avoid a letdown tonight, they will go into next week’s Texas Two-Step (11/13 @ San Antonio, 11/14 @ Houston) riding a four-game winning streak, with a chance to make a real impact on the early NBA season. Look for tonight’s game to be entertaining and free-flowing, with neither team able to open up much of a commanding lead. Expect the final margin to be no more than five or six points. The Lakers’ level of focus will ultimately determine which side of that margin they’re on.

Something's Happening Here...

There’s something happening with the Lakers. Three games into the season is clearly too early to make any bold proclamations about a team’s fate over the long run, but the about-face performed by Los Angeles’ Lakers’ over the past week, in the face of constant distractions, has been as nothing short of phenomenal. A young team with a disgruntled superstar, who’s been called selfish by his detractors in the best of times, has gelled into a selfless, cohesive unit, seemingly overnight. Kobe suddenly seems to trust his teammates- and they’re proving themselves worthy of his trust. All of a sudden, this is a pretty dangerous team!

The off-season was dominated by Kobe Bryant’s trade demands, the organization’s statements about its apparent willingness to trade him, the subsequent in-house feud between Kobe and the Lakers’ front office, with the media there to document and magnify every non-event. The start of the regular season did nothing to diminish the chaos and the Lakers turned in an opening night performance against the Houston Rockets that, despite a brilliant comeback in the final 90 seconds, could best be described as uninspiring. Against this backdrop, the team’s next two games of the young season would consist of a trip to Phoenix and a visit to Los Angeles from the Utah Jazz, yet another Western Conference contender. It was hard to see anything but a disastrous start to the season for the Lakers. That’s when (for now at least!) the worm began to turn.

In the two days following the Lakers’ season-opening loss, while everyone was speculating that it was only a matter of “when” and not “if” with regards to a possible Kobe Bryant trade, a funny thing happened- Kobe’s rumored suitors saved the Lakers’ locker room. On Halloween, Mark Cuban announced that his Dallas Mavericks, one of the three destinations on Kobe’s “wish list”, would not be pursuing a trade for the Lakers’ superstar. The following day, John Paxson, GM of the Chicago Bulls’, the most frequently rumored destination for Kobe, announced that the Bulls were also putting an end to their pursuit of Kobe. These two events didn’t put an end to all the turmoil in LakerLand, but they allowed the Lakers (and Kobe Bryant in particular) to relax and make basketball their primary focus again.

The night following John Paxson’s statement, November 2, the Lakers took the floor in Phoenix as heavy underdogs against a Suns team that had thoroughly dominated them in the teams’ first-round playoff matchup last spring. Few, if any, expected the Lakers to be competitive, let alone victorious in Phoenix, which made their spectacular blowout win over Suns, in which they led by as many as 31 in the fourth quarter, an absolute shocker. If that weren’t enough, the fact that no Laker scored as many as 20 points and Kobe Bryant led the team not in points, shot attempts or minutes played, but assists, made the evening feel particularly significant.

The Lakers returned home to face the Utah Jazz, one of the NBA’s top teams, two nights later. The Jazz, who are extremely versatile on offense, not to mention a much stronger rebounding and defensive team than the Suns, figured to bring the Lakers back to Earth. In a much more competitive game than the contest in Phoenix, the Lakers and the Jazz locked up in a very entertaining game that really tested both teams. Kobe Bryant led six Lakers (SIX!!!) in double figures with 33 points (he also added 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks), with fellow starters Derek Fisher (19 points, 5 assists), Luke Walton (10 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and Ronny Turiaf (10 points, 4 rebounds) joining him with double-digit points. However, the biggest impact from the Lakers’ supporting cast was by two of the team’s young reserves, Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar. Despite fouling out in the fourth quarter, Bynum was almost unstoppable, making six of seven shots on his way to 15 points, while adding 9 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Also, with Derek Fisher on the bench in the second half, Jordan Farmar was able to step right in and take command of the team, scoring 12 points, handing out 4 assists and helping spark the Lakers to 73 second half points and a relatively easy 10-point win.

Needless to say the Lakers must manage to build on this early-season success by continuing this run of outstanding play against the remainder of the league as well. Their next two games, both at Staples Center, will see the Lakers take on Chris Paul the 3-0 New Orleans (which should be quite a challenge), and then the winless Minnesota Timberwolves. With the schedule poised to take a far more difficult turn in the coming weeks, it is very important that the Lakers take advantage of every winnable game they play. However, regardless of what happens in the short term, the 2007-08 Lakers have shown that despite not having many household names, there is certainly a good amount of talent on this team. If they continue to play the same brand of passionate, selfless basketball we saw over the weekend, this team could exceed everyone’s expectations.

Don’t look now, but there’s something happening in LakerLand…

Riding High, But Here’s Another Test: Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

November 4, 2007, 9:30 PM Eastern (6:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

The Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) are coming off a dominating win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night- their first of the young season. They return home on Sunday night to take on the Utah Jazz (2-1), one of the NBA’s most impressive teams in the season’s first week, and a serious contender in the loaded Western Conference. Like the Suns, the Jazz matchup with the Lakers comes as the second half of a back-to-back. On Saturday night in Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz hosted the Golden State Warriors and, despite falling behind by double figures in the first quarter and a 38 point explosion from Al Harrington, cruised to a 133-110 victory.

Tonight’s matchup at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles is another opportunity for the Lakers to prove their ability to 1) play a well-rounded and balanced team game and 2) test their ability to compete with the Western Conference’s elite.

Lakers’ Notes

In the aftermath of their huge win in Phoenix, the Lakers will try to build up some positive momentum heading into the season’s second week. Again, the Lakers will be without Lamar Odom, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury. While we can reasonably expect Kobe Bryant’s output on offense to exceed 16 points, it will be vital for the Lakers bring the same philosophy into Sunday night’s game that they did to the game against the Suns. With Utah’s front line featuring elite rebounder like Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, it will be important for the Lakers to put forth an extraordinary effort on the boards. Phil Jackson will also look to get as many players as possible involved in the offense early in the game in an effort to build on the outstanding effort of the supporting cast in Phoenix.

The Lakers’ starting lineup should resemble the unit that took the floor against the Suns- Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Kwame Brown in middle.

Jazz Notes

With the possible exceptions of the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons, the Utah Jazz has been the NBA’s most well-rounded and dangerous team. In their first three games of the young season, the Jazz have blown out the Golden State Warriors twice by an average of 22 points, with a tough loss to the Houston Rockets (behind 47 points from Tracy McGrady) sandwiched in between. On offense, Utah boasts an incredible amount of versatility, with a starting lineup that features one of the NBA’s top frontcourt players in Carlos Boozer, a dealy outside-shooting big man in Mehmet Okur (not much worse than Dirk Nowitzki, just doesn’t get nearly the publicity), one of the league’s top point guards, Deron Williams and talented second year swingman, Ronnie Brewer. There is not a significant drop off for Jerry Sloan when he looks to his bench, as he has a more-than-capable replacement for each of his stars, with Matt Harpring, strong second-year power forward Paul Millsap, Gordon Giricek and point guard Jason Hart.

What should we look for tonight?

Like the Suns, the Jazz have a variety of perimeter weapons to go along with a dominant inside presence, and a talented and intelligent point guard to orchestrate the attack. This is a scenario in which the Lakers cannot afford a let down- it is vital that they communicate on defense, attack the boards and get a number of players involved. If the Lakers maintain the mentality they took into the game against the Suns, this should probably be a very competitive matchup. Expect a more aggressive game from Kobe on the offensive end, as well as an increased role for Andrew Bynum- he playing well enough in Phoenix to warrant a bigger role on this team. Whether the Lakers are able to pull it out will depend on two things- their ability to compete with the Jazz on the glass and the need to limit the number of easy looks Carlos Boozer gets from 15 and in.

Just What the Lakers Needed

No turmoil. No trade talk. No in-fighting. For one night, all was good in LakerLand. Better than good, Friday night was a glimpse of everything the 2007-08 Los Angeles Lakers are capable of. Coming off a disappointing home loss to the Houston Rockets in their season opener, the Lakers walked into the US Airways Arena and proceeded to completely humiliate the heavily favored Phoenix Suns in their home opener, hammering them by a score of 119-98 (and trust me, it wasn’t even that close!). After falling behind 8-2 to start the game, the Lakers outscored the Suns 31-12 in the lasy nin minutes of the opening quarter and never really looked back, leading by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.

How exactly did the Lakers succeed in dropping the hammer on the Suns? Rebounding and an unselfishness and balanced attack. Sure, they were on fire from the perimeter, making 22 of 42 attempts (52.4%; 56.5% overall) from 15 feet and beyond, including 8 of 13 3-pointers (61.5%), but the Lakers aggressive rebounding and offensive execution are what did the Suns in.

In disposing of the Suns, the Lakers only required 28 minutes and 16 points from Kobe Bryant, though he did play a huge part in the win adding 11 rebounds (3 offensive), a team-high 4 assists and 3 steals. Vladimir Radmanovic, yes THAT Vladimir Radmanovic was the team’s top scorer Friday, leading five Lakers in double figures with 19 points on just eight shot attempts (he made all four of his 3-pointers and all three of his free throws). In addition to Kobe and Radmanovic, Derek Fisher (14 points, 7-9 FG), Andrew Bynum (14 points; more on him in a second) and Sasha Vujacic (12 points, 2-3 3-pt, 4-4 FT) cracked double figures for the Lakers. All in all, this was a decidedly “un-Laker-like” offensive performance.

The other area where the Lakers dominated the Suns on Friday was on the boards, outrebounding Phoenix 54-34 (11-9 on the offensive glass) and holding Amare Stoudemire to a single rebound. Despite the strong rebounding efforts of Kobe and Kwame Brown (9 rebounds; 3 offensive), the Lakers were led on the boards by the man whose performance perfectly summed up the team performance- Andrew Bynum. The Lakers’ 20 year-old center came off the bench on Friday and in just 23 minutes, scored 14 points, making seven of his ten field goal attempts, grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and handed out 3 assists. Man, it looks like this kid can really play!

As for the Suns, it looks like there could be some cause for serious concern. Their shortcomings against the Lakers are the issues that could plague this team throughout the season. Although his ineffectiveness on Friday was a rarity, Amare Stoudemire still seems unable to avoid foul trouble, and the Suns have only Brian Skinner and Sean Marks to back him up in the paint. Steve Nash also had a tough game against the Lakers, turning the ball over five times while handing out just three assists, which wound up hurting Shawn Marion, Grant Hill and Raja Bell, who combined for just 31 points on the night. That the Suns were not able to replace Nash’s production with back-up point guard Marcus Banks, who was just 1-of-6 shooting in 15 minutes (although he did have four assists), is also problematic as Nash’s minutes will need to managed in order to reduce the risk of injury on his chronically sore back and to keep him fresh for the NBA’s stretch run and the post-season.

To be clear, this is unlikely to become the standard performance from the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but it is a resounding example of this team’s potential. The Lakers turned in a dominating performance against a top-tier contender, albeit one on the back end of a back-to-back, by getting several members of the team rolling on offense early in the game, and by crashing the boards aggressively and not allowing the Suns’ fast break to get rolling. Was this performance a fluke, or will it have a lasting impact on the Lakers and catapult them to a strong start to the season? We don’t have to wait long to find out. Sunday night, the Lakers will host another Western Conference contender, the Utah Jazz, at Staples Center, as they will be returning home to face another challenging Western Conference matchup.

Second Attempt At A First Win

November 2, 2007, 10:30 PM Eastern (7:30 PM Pacific)

U S Airways Center- Phoenix, AZ

In Tuesday’s season opener, a miraculous comeback almost resulted in an upset win for the Lakers’ the Houston Rockets, but came up just a bit short.

Tonight, at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers will face off with the Phoenix suns in their home opener. Phoenix kicked off its season last night in Seattle. Despite being heavily favored heading into the game, the Suns’ 106-99 victory against Kevin Durant and the Supersonics was anything but easy, with Phoenix trailing for much of the game, including facing a 3 point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

Lakers’ Notes

With the Kobe Bryant trade talks dying down (at least for the moment), the Lakers can finally focus on basketball. With Lamar Odom still nursing an injured should, as well as a slight concussion suffered in a car accident on Tuesday, Phil Jackson’s starting lineup should resemble the unit that took the floor against the Rockets- Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and (hopefully) Andrew Bynum in middle (although it will likely be Kwame Brown once again).

In order to have success on offense, the Lakers will need to look to the gameplan that allowed them to have success against the Suns in the 2005 Playoffs- try to control the tempo with their halfcourt offense, keep feeding the post, and only look to run when the opportunity clearly presents itself. Another aim of this strategy will be to attack Amare Stoudemire, who was very foul-prone early in Thursday night’s game in Seattle, much like he was last spring in the Suns’ playoff series against the Spurs. Until he shows the ability to avoid early foul trouble, this will be an area opposing teams should look to exploit against the Suns. The low post attack should not be confined to only Amre Stoudemire. The Lakers need to use Kobe, Fisher and Luke Walton to make the other members of the Suns, particularly Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa ad Grant Hill, play defense on the low block. In addition to the fact that not one of these guys is a defensive stopper (Nash is actually a liability), they are probably a little tired. This is the second game of a back-to-back- and the first ended after 10:30 PM (Pacific Time) last night and took place 1,500 miles away.

Suns’ Notes

The Phoenix Suns did not look sharp for the first three quarters of their season opener. They did succeed in putting it all together in the final quarter against Seattle to come away with the 9-point win, but they clearly did not storm out of the gates. Granted, their style of play is such that as long as one guy is hot from the outside at a given time, they can hang some huge numbers on the scoreboard. On the injury front, both Leandro Barbosa is suffering from sore ribs and both Boris Diaw and Raja Bell are nursing sore ankles, but all three played at least 25 minutes last night without showing any ill-effects. Don’t look for the Suns to change anything in their gameplan. Regardless of the opponent, Nash & Co. will look to do what they always do- run early and often and move the ball until someone has a clean look from the outside. When that gets old, they’ll run some more, this time looking for Barbosa, Hill or Shawn Marion on the wings. The only way to stop them is to get back early on defense, find a man and guard him (even if it’s not “your man”) and keep your long-range misses to a minimum.

Look for the Suns to start Nash and Raja Bell in the backcourt, with Marion, Grant Hill and Stoudemire up front.

What should we be looking for tonight?

This is exactly the kind of game in which the Lakers have pulled many an upset before- they look out of sync, no one is really paying any attention to them on the court, Kobe is mad and the Suns took a late flight home following a hard-fought game last night. Expect another close one tonight. Also expect another big game from Kobe tonight- he’s just in one of “those” stretches where he looks like he’s shooting for 40 every night. Whether the Lakers are able to pull it out will depend on two things- their discipline in sticking with the half court game and their commitment to getting back early against the Suns’ break.

Let's See What We've Got

It’s time to stop protecting Andrew Bynum- let’s throw him into the fire and see what we’ve got. By now everyone knows that last season the Lakers’ belief in Bymun’s potential as a franchise center led them to pass up the opportunity to acquire Jason Kidd, drawing the ire of Kobe Bryant and contributing, at least in part, to his desire to leave the Lakers. The Lakers’ front office made an executive decision and now the team has to live with it- but let’s start living with it already! Bynum is entering his third year, he’s visibly bigger and stronger than last year, he showed some flashes of his potential last season and had a very impressive preseason this year (He wasn’t terrible in his 19 minutes on Tuesday night either- just 4 points, but 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and NO turnovers). What more are we waiting for? Name Andrew Bynum the starting center, start giving him some serious minutes and let’s see what the kid can do. Not that it was a conscious decision at the time, but dynamic duo of Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss indirectly chose Andrew Bynum over Kobe Bryant last season. Time to start living with that decision.

Note: Apparently Bynum was late in arriving at the arena on Tuesday night, understandably leading Phil Jackson to bench him for a good portion of the game as punishment. However, let’s hope we’re not in for a season’s worth of 19-minute outings for Andrew Bynum.

Hey, Who Are Those Guys With Kobe?

Enough about Kobe Bryant! Well… at least for today. With all talk about the Lakers this offseason focused on Kobe’s future, it’s easy to forget about all the other players on roster. While Kobe is obviously still the focal point of this team, the supporting cast’s ability to make plays will ultimately determine just how far this team goes.

So just how good are these guys? A breakdown of the non-Kobe Bryant Lakers roster:

In The Backcourt

• Jordan Farmar- Last season’s first-round pick had minimal impact as rookie (15 min/gm, 4.4 ppg, 1.9 apg), but Farmar is a solid floor leader who’s played extremely well in the preseason, averaging 9.5 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in just 19 minutes per game. Preseason stats, though generally worthless, can be useful in identifying the emergence of second and third-year players. If his preseason play is for real and Farmar can play at this level for 25 minutes a night, he’ll be a big part of this team.

• Derek Fisher- His veteran presence on and off the floor, championship experience, as well as his relationship with Kobe Bryant will prove invaluable to the Lakers. Toss in the fact that he still has some game (10 ppg, 3.3 apg in 2006-07), and Fisher could be one of team’s most valuable players in 2007-08.

• Sasha Vujacic- After three seasons with the team, Vujacic hasn’t managed to develop into anything more than an occasional contributor. What’s worse, it’s unclear exactly what type of player he is- he’s not a pure point guard or a pure shooting guard, and his all-around game isn’t not good enough for him to be a combo-guard. This is probably his last season with the Lakers.

• Javaris Crittenton- Crittenton, the #19 overall pick in the draft, didn’t exactly fill a need on the roster, but he’s an exceptional athlete that could grow into a star. He definitely needs more experience and improved consistency on his jump shot, but Crittenton has a chance to be a contributor for the Lakers as the season goes on.

• Coby Karl- Despite the similarity in their first names, if “Coby” gets anyhere close to as many minutes for the Lakers as “Kobe”, the season is a lost cause.

In The Frontcourt

• Lamar Odom- Odom is the Lakers’ #2 option on offense and an almost ideal basketball player. He’s tall, unselfish and incredibly skilled. At his best, Odom’s stat lines are similar to those that Magic Johnson would produce in his prime- unfortunately, injuries and inconsistency have kept him from ever fulfilling his potential for more than a few games at time. Other than Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom is the Lakers’ most attractive trade target and is frequently mentioned in trade rumors. Ideally, the Lakers will be able to acquire a third quality player to team with him and Kobe, but the reality is that Odom may have to be dealt in order to bring another star to Los Angeles.

• Luke Walton- Walton is NBA rarity and a real asset to the Lakers- the quintessential intelligent role player signed to a reasonable long-term contract. There won’t be many (or any) games where he carries the team, but he can be counted on to play composed, mistake-free ball and chip in 12, 5 and 5 (points, rebounds and assists).

• Ronny Turiaf- One of the most energetic and likable players in the NBA, Ronny Turiaf is reminiscent of Kurt Rambis, only with more talent. As the Lakers’ only true power forward, Turiaf will be counted on to come off the bench and guard some of the West’s best big men and to hit the board (particularly the offensive glass).

• Brian Cook- There’s a lot to like about Cook. He’s a good outside shooter, capable of putting up 25 or 30 points on a given night, he normally plays within himself and he has a very reasonable contract. The biggest problem with Brian Cook is that he’s REALLY one-dimensional- not much versatility on offense and little-to-no defense or rebounding. With that said, his value as a spot-up shooter is justified by his cap-friendly contract.

• Maurice Evans- The most underrated member of the Lakers. Evans is an explosive athlete whose effort level is off the charts. He can make on both ends of the floor and, on any given, he blow up for 30 points on any given. Expect an outstanding season from him in this, his contract year. The Lakers will be smart to keep him.

• Vladimir Radmanovic- An off-season mistake from a year ago. Radmanovic is a serviceable offensive option, but his game is almost a mirror image of Brian Cook’s, at 160-170% of the salary. Radmanovic’s outside shooting range, which extends beyond the 3-point line, could make him an attractive target at the trade deadline for a contending team in need of outside shooting. That is, if the 3 years and more than $19 million left on his contract after this year doesn’t scare away potential suitors.

In The Middle

• Andrew Bynum- He may be most famous for his indirect role in almost trading for Jason Kidd and for being the object of Jim Buss’ man-crush, but the fact is that Andrew Bynum looks like he’s going to be a pretty good NBA big man. At only 19 years old (his birthday is tomorrow; Happy birthday, Andrew!), he’s just learning the NBA game and has already shown the ability to play effectively against NBA competition. At 11.8 ppg, he’s the Lakers’ #2 scorer in the preseason and by far the team’s top rebounder, averaging 8 per game. Who know how good Andrew Bynum is going to be, but at least it looks like he’s going to be pretty good!

• Kwame Brown- A big body in the paint who should chip in about 9 points and 6 rebounds a game- not bad of a #1 overall pick in his 7th year, huh? Actually, Kwame should be traded by the deadline, as his $9 million deal expires at season’s end. This cannot come soon enough. Hopefully he can produce 5-8 good games for the Lakers this season. How is this guy not better than he is?

• Chris Mihm- Although missed all of last season with an ankle injury and entering this season as the Lakers’ 3rd option at center, Chris Mihm is a more-then-serviceable center. In 2005-06, when he was healthy, he averaged more than 10 points, 6 rebounds and a blocked shot per game. He seems to be close to 100% now, averaging 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in less than 13 minutes per game in the preseason. Despite the talk of Chris Mihm be the odd man out at center, his contribution this season will likely exceed expectations.

The 2007-08 Lakers are a team that is shrouded in question marks. Will Kobe Bryant finish the season as a Laker? Can the front office make any moves to get him some help? (More on this here) Will any of the team’s young players elevate their game to new heights? If so, who?

This Laker team could win anywhere from 25 to 50 games this season (40-45 is a likely estimate), but one thing is clear: there is a collection of young talent here that, given the opportunity, could mature into a solid NBA team in the not-too-distant future.

Appeasing Kobe

With the NBA season about to tip off and Kobe Bryant still a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, it may be worthwhile to examine a new question facing the team’s front office- what can be done to appease Kobe and build a contender in Los Angeles?

Admittedly, I did log some time on ESPN.com’s NBA Trade Machine while developing this article, but my intension with this article is not to propose specific deals, but to identify the Lakers’ tradable assets, salary cap situation, areas of need and players from around the league that would fit in well in Los Angeles alongside Kobe (rather than in place of him).

First, the pertinent cap info (based on all contracts currently on the books). The 2007-08 Lakers’ payroll comes in just a shade over $70 million, which is about $15 million over the $55.5 million (about) cap for this season. With Kwame Brown and Maurice Evans contracts set to expire after this season, the team’s 2008-09 cap number drops to just over $51 million, at least $4 million under the cap. After next season, Lamar Odom’s huge cap number ($13.5M this year, $14.6M next year) falls off the books as well, dropping the team’s 2009-10 payroll to just under $38 million (61% of which is accounted for by Kobe Bryant’s salary). Based on these numbers, the Lakers are not capped out going forward, and even have some flexibility under the salary cap after next season.

Now that we know the salary cap is not working against the Lakers in their quest to return to contention in the Western Conference, let’s take a look at the team’s non-Kobe trade bait:

• Kwame Brown- This has nothing to do with actually playing the game of basketball. Kwame, who is quickly earning the title of “Worst #1 Overall Pick in NBA History” (seriously, Kent Benson and LaRue Martin even have better numbers!), has contract that pays him $9.075M this year (who agreed to pay Kwame Brown $9M?!?!?!), thus making him a valuable asset to a team looking for cap relief.

• Lamar Odom- Odom’s is a versatile and unselfish player whose talent has never been called into question. Unfortunately, consistently playing with passion is an area where Lamar could stand to improve quite a bit. Odom’s huge contract is more suited for a player who is his team’s #1 or #2 option. Sadly, Odom’s personality seems better suited to be a team’s third option. Ideally the Lakers will be able to add another star to the roster without having to move Odom, but his amazing talent and $14M+ contract (which expires after next season) will make him a pretty coveted player on the trade market.

• Andrew Bynum- Yeah… about that… Bynum is young, talented (but raw) and a bargain by NBA standards ($2.1M this year, $2.8M next). It’s hard to say whether we can actually consider Bynum among the Lakers’ tradable assets, considering Jim Buss’ infatuation with him led to the Lakers passing up an opportunity to acquire Jason Kidd for fear of giving up Bynum.

• Brian Cook- Though he’s pretty one-dimensional, dollar-for-dollar ($3.5M each of the next three years; the third is a player option) Cook has to be considered one of the NBA’s better outside-shooting big men. His shooting ability, along with his youth, could make him a contributor on a contending team.

• Vladimir Radmanovic- Another outside shooting big man. Radmanovic has a richer contract than Cook ($24M remaining over the next four years), but he is a more effective rebounder and a legitimate 3-point threat.

With a salary cap situation that is anything but bleak and a lineup of assets that could draw some serious interest from a variety of teams around the league, it is conceivable that the Lakers could address their single biggest need, a strong inside complement to Kobe Bryant, without having to mortgage the entire roster, opening the door for them to maybe crack the top half of the Western Conference. It should be noted that if they could address this need without having to part with Lamar Odom, they would have to be considered a legitimate contender to win the West.

Given the flexibility of the Lakers’ roster and their ability to participate in talks for a variety of very talented players, it is entirely possible that the Lakers could swing a deal that will settle Kobe’s concerns about the team’s future and return them to upper tiers of the NBA. (I realize that I just allowed for the possibility of Mitch Kupchak, the least inspiring man in the NBA, making a bold transaction that actually helps the team. Please, just let me dream!)

Looking up and down NBA rosters, there are plenty of talented frontcourt players that, for one reason or another, could be available on the trade market. So who’s out there?

• Josh Smith- Smith has developed into one of the league’s top shot blockers (2.9 bpg), a very effective rebounder (8.6 rpg; 2.3 off. rpg) and is an absolute terror in the open court. However, the Hawks don’t seem too eager to give him a contract extension (he’ll probably command $8-10M/year), and may look to deal him this season.

• Andres Biedrins- Another young, emerging frontcourt player in search of a contract extension. Like the Hawks with Smith, the Golden State Warriors are taking their time in deciding Biedrins’ future with the team. With Baron Davis and Mickael Pietrus in line to receive extensions before him, Biedrins solid offensive game, along with his shot-blocking (1.9 bpg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg, 3.1 off. rpg) could very likely be available.

• Jermaine O’Neal- The obvious one. He and Kobe have been lobbying for the opportunity to link up in L.A. for months. J.O.’s game has not slipped too far from the level it was at when he was considered an MVP candidate. Although he is foul (3.4/game) and turnover prone (2.9/game), O’Neal is still threat on offense (19.4 ppg, 77% FT), on the boards (9.6 rpg, 2.2 off. rpg), and a beast in the lane on defense (2.6 bpg). Once the Pacers’ denial about being in a rebuilding phase wears off, O’Neal will be available via a trade.

• Shawn Marion- Marion is the least likely member of this group to wind up on the Lakers, but it should be noted that when he made his trade request, he mentioned his desire to play with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. As intriguing as that pairing would be in L.A., it is not likely that the Suns would willingly loosen the stranglehold they’ve got on the Pacific Division, especially by helping the Lakers.

• Brad Miller- May be just the kind of big man the Lakers need- solid on the boards, 20-foot range on his jump shot, and an outstanding passer from the high post. With a youth movement/rebuilding era about to begin in Sacramento, the Kings may actively shop Miller (and the 3 years, $34M remaining on his contract) around the league.

• Ron Artest- When he’s right in the head, Artest is one of the NBA’s best, and an ideal fit in Los Angeles. With the Kings looking to get younger and end this era in the team’s history, Artest is unlikely to end the season in Sacramento. He would provide the Lakers with the inside scoring and defensive toughness that could take the team to the next level. Ok, I can’t resist! I have to suggest one deal! How about a Kwame Brown for Ron Artest swap? It’s a win-win proposition- the Lakers get to add a third quality player to their roster without sacrificing any on-court production, and the Kings get to jumpstart their rebuilding phase by dealing away the volatile Artest in exchange for a good-sized, expiring contract.

Could any of these players be moved in an effort to settle Kobe Bryant’s concerns about the Lakers’ commitment to winning? Absolutely! Will any of these players wind up suiting up for the Lakers in the near future? Possibly. But the one most important fact to take away from this is the fact that the Lakers are NOT capped out and do have the ability to bring in other quality players in an attempt to contend once again.

How The Lakers Got Here

Will Kobe Bryant be traded?

There’s no doubt that until the issue of Kobe’s future with the Lakers is resolved, this will be the biggest question surrounding the 2007-08 Los Angeles Lakers. In looking to assign responsibility for the breakdown in the relationship between the league’s best player and his front office, it’s easy to be simplistic and resort to using absolutes to point the finger at the various players in this bizarre game. But it’s not a black-and-white issue. For more than three years trouble has been brewing, with several members of the Lakers’ organization adding to an increasing frustrating situation, culminating (for now) in one of the greatest players in franchise history demanding to be traded away from the only that he’s ever played for. So is the foundation of the dispute in Lakerland personal or professional? Actually, it’s both.

Not only has the front office failed to produce a championship contender in the post-Shaq, a series of personal agendas and conflicts have created an air of distrust throughout the Laker organization. What happened? How did we get here? Well…

The trouble with the Lakers can be traced back to June 2005. Fresh off an embarrassing NBA Finals loss against the underdog Detroit Pistons, the Lakers, whose “4 Hall of Famers” lineup (Kobe, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton) fell three wins short of its ultimate goal, were entering a period of transition. In the days following the end of the season, with Phil Jackson on his way out of town, the relationship between Shaq and Kobe now beyond repair and the local media screaming for change, general manger Mitch Kupchak and the new Lakers front office kicked off their legacy of personnel mismanagement.

In late June 2004, it became obvious that the organization would have to make a difficult decision. Shaquille O’Neal’s desire for a huge-money contract extension, combined with Phil Jackson’s exit, the advancing age of the rest of the Lakers’ core and the inability of Shaq and Kobe to coexist any longer led Mitch Kupchak to acknowledge that trading Shaq was indeed a possibility- thus alienating the team’s star center and surrendered any leverage the Lakers may have had in trying to deal him. Then, on July 14, 2004, the Lakers traded Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat for a package of two talented young forwards (Lamar Odom and Caron Butler), power forward Brian Grant and a future first round draft pick. Obviously it would have been very difficult (impossible?) to receive equal value for Shaq, but Kupchak’s inability to add a legitimate star to the roster in the deal was an early signal of the tough times that were to come.

The following day, after briefly (and publicly) flirting with the idea of leaving the Lakers as a free agent, Kobe Bryant signed a seven-year, $136 million contract, feeding the public perception that the team’s only reason for trading Shaquille O’Neal was to appease Kobe. This not entirely true. The fact is that while Kobe Bryant was probably not heartbroken to see Shaquille O’Neal shipped out of L.A., Jerry Buss’ desire to avoid a) paying the NBA’s luxury tax and b) paying Shaq about $30 million a year into his 30s were the primary drivers behind the deal.

The 2004-05 season was a difficult one that saw the Kobe-led Lakers struggle to a 34-48 finish and just the second trip in franchise history to the NBA Draft Lottery. On draft day, Mitch Kupchak and new wing man Jim Buss (a far cry from the days of Jerry West and Jerry Buss teaming up in the front office), son of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, selected Andrew Bynum, a 17 year-old center from St. Joseph’s High School in New Jersey with 10^th pick in NBA Draft. Though he’s blessed with NBA size and has shown flashes of potential, a teenage center is hardly an ideal addition to a team looking to quickly return to contention (as had been promised to Kobe Bryant prior to his re-signing). This is especially true considering the fact that more polished, experienced players like Sean May, Danny Granger and Hakim Warrick still on the board.

However, the 2004-05 season was not without its bright spots. The newly acquired Lamar Odom (15.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.7 apg) and Caron Butler (15.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 spg; and the only member of the 2004-05 Lakers that was NOT deathly afraid of Kobe Bryant) put together very strong all-round seasons. Despite the risky selection of Bynum in the draft, the combination of Bryant, Odom and Butler, signaled the possibility of a rapid return to contention for the Lakers- then disaster struck! While it could be argued that the Lakers had to trade Shaquille O’Neal, the decision to trade Caron Butler to the Washington Wizards for Michael Jordan’s ill-fated #1 overall selection, perpetual underachiever Kwame Brown (who received a 3-year, $24 million contract extension upon arrival) will never be justified. It’s not clear which of the Keystone Cops in the front office signed off on this deal, but this trade could prove to be more damaging to the Lakers than the Shaquille O’Neal trade.

Following the return of Phil Jackson, the Lakers have progressed, making consecutive appearances in playoffs, even pushing the heavily-favored Phoenix Suns to the brink of elimination in 2005-06. However, at no point during this period have they contended for either a conference, or NBA, championship. The issue of finding a consistent floor leader to play alongside Kobe Bryant was nearly resolved before the 2007 trade deadline when the Lakers had the opportunity to acquire Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets. Inexplicably, the Lakers passed on the opportunity to team the league’s top offensive weapon with its top playmaker because Jim Buss, the West Coast equivalent of Hank Steinbrenner, was unwilling to part to part with “his guy” Andrew Bynum in exchange for the opportunity to once again be relevant in the Western Conference. It was this episode, combined with the Lakers’ lackluster playoff showing against the Suns and the realization that his front office was willing to risk the remaining years of his prime over personal agendas that led to Kobe Bryant’s trade request and.

So… that, in about a thousand words (I should have just used a picture!) is a breakdown of the managerial decisions that hampered the Lakers’ rebuilding effort of the past three years. While the petulance of Kobe Bryant and the arrogance of Jerry Buss to humor him in his game of chicken have not done much to help the situation in Lakerland, it’s the inability of the Lakers’ front office to devise a coherent plan for building a contending team around Kobe that has landed one of the NBA’s great franchises is disarray.

Tomorrow- could Kobe Bryant actually be traded? If so, what will the market bear?