Do The Lakers Need To Make A Trade?

The Lakers are reeling. The team just lost a big game to the Boston Celtics. This year's Lakers team does not resemble the one that won the NBA Championship just a season ago. The Lakers lack energy and they need a spark. They have regressed and look like the Kobe Bryant Show. This much is clear about the current Lakers team.

Derek Fisher is done. His best days are behind him and he has given the Lakers nothing all season long. Steve Blake is not the answer. Blake looks awkward in the triangle offense. His offensive creativity is stifled and he seems to struggle to run the offense. Andrew Bynum is giving the Lakers absolutely nothing in the middle. Whatever happened to the Bynum of three seasons ago?

The one bright spot is Lamar Odom. He has played his way onto the All Star team and has put up fantastic numbers night after night. The Lakers may need to consider trading a player like Bynum to bring back another piece. This team as currently configured is not going to 3 peat. Maybe they could swing a trade for Carmelo Anthony. They could rent him for half the season to help them get over the hump.

I just don't see this Lakers team as currently configured beating the Spurs, Heat or the Celtics in the playoffs.

Lakers Try To Threepeat Against The Talented Heat

The big story of the offseason is the talented trio of the Miami Heat. LeBron James, Dewayne Wade, and Chris Bosh are all down in South Beach hoping to knock off the two time defending champs. While everyone is giving the title to the Heat already, the Lakers are still a formidable foe in the West. They return most of the roster that defeated the Celtics in an epic seven game series in the NBA Finals.

In my opinion the Heat will represent the East in the Finals and the Lakers will represent the West. The Lakers only weakness is at the center position where Andrew Bynum still has not recovered from last season's injuries. In order for the Lakers to hold off the up and coming Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland TrailBlazers; they will need a healthy Bynum. If Bynum is able to come back and play at a 90% level, then expect to see the Lakers in the Finals for a third straight year.

Lakers vs. Magic

The Finals matchup is set. The Lakers will play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA Championship. LeBron vs Kobe. Correction. The Lakers will be playing the Orlando Magic for the NBA Championship. The team that no one expected to be here is in the Finals. This should be a very intriguing series and both teams have interesting matchups at key positions.

Point Guard
Rafer Alston vs. Derek Fisher
Rafer Alston is much quicker then Derek Fisher and should be able to penetrate at will against the aging Fisher. Fisher has shown his age during these playoffs and has struggled to find his outside stroke during the playoffs.
Advantage: Magic

Shooting Guard
Courtney Lee vs. Kobe Bryant
This one goes without saying. The Lakers have a huge advantage at this position and the Magic have no one on their roster with the size and quickness to stop Kobe. Expect to see a lot of Michael Pietrus guarding Kobe as he did LeBron in the previous series.
Advantage: Lakers

Small Forward
Hedo Turkoglu vs. Trevor Ariza
Turkoglu is the primary ball handler in tight situations and is responsible for facilitating the Magic's offense. Ariza has the length and quickness to pose problems for Turkoglu. If he can keep up with Melo then he can guard Turk.
Advantage; Magic

Power Forward
Rashard Lewis vs. Pau Gasol
This is an interesting matchup if it ever materializes. Lewis is too quick for Gasol to guard on the defensive end of the court and Gasol is too big for Lewis to defend in the post. I expect Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza to each spend major minutes defending Odom. If Bynum doesn't play much as he hasn't in previous series, expect Dwight Howard to defend Gasol.
Advantage: Even

Center
Dwight Howard vs. Andrew Bynum
On paper Bynum has the size and skill to defend Howard. But in reality Bynum will spend most of the series in foul trouble and Howard will have his way against the Lakers disappointing big man.
Advantage: Magic

I think that the Lakers will put Bynum on the bench and go small. This means:

1. Putting Lamar Odom on Rashard Lewis.
2. Putting Pau Gasol on Dwight Howard.
3. Having Kobe guard Turkoglu in crunch time.
4. Having Jordan Farmar play major minutes to keep up with Alston.

Lakers Too Soft In The Middle

The one thing that concerns me watching the Lakers play last night against the Nuggets is that L.A. is still soft in the middle. Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are not physical enough. Countless times I watched Pau Gasol allow his man to get offensive rebounds and easy lay ins because Gasol did not box out. Whenever the Nuggets run the pick and roll Gasol looks lost. He doesn't know whether to come out on the shooter or to roll with the guy setting the pick. So a lot of time he winds up floating in no man's land in the middle of the court. It's pathetic. Andrew Bynum is shooting way to many jump shots for a 7 foot center and is not rebounding or blocking shots consistently. He is playing just like Brendan Haywood. Odom is an enigma. He has too much talent to be as inconsistent as he is on the court. He should be a threat to get a triple double any night but has become quite content at being a bench player. He doesn't play hard consistently. Carmelo and NeNe are going to get there points and rebounds. But there is no reason that Kenyon Martin or Chris Anderson should be doing anything at all against the Lakers front line. They are garbage players.

Lakers Go Up 2-1

All of L.A. should be thanking Kobe Bryant for his performance in Game 3. There has been one constant in this Lakers Nuggets series and that has been Kobe. Kobe has been great game after game. Kobe dropped 41 and hit tough shots down the stretch including a 3 to give the Lakers the lead for good. It didn't matter if it was Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith or Anthony Carter; Kobe could not be stopped. On the defensive end Kobe helped frustrate Chauncey Billups into a terrible shooting performance. That was a Mike-like game that Kobe had against the Nuggets. He put the team on his back and carried them to a win.

First To 50

The Lakers won their 50th game of the season last night defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-90. Another short night for the Lakers starters who were able to sit out the 4th quarter again. Kobe had 23 and Pau had 21 as the Lakers had five players score in double figures. Trevor Ariza, Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga scored in double figures off the bench. Minnesota played hard and gave their best effort but in the end the Lakers were just too much. L.A. has now won two in a row and has a commanding 8.5 game lead over the San Antonio Spurs. The road to the NBA championship looks like it will come through the Staples Center. If the Lakers can close out their next 20 games strong then they will be the favorites going into the playoffs.

Lakers beat the Raptors

This was a tough win.The Lakers beat the Raptors 115-107 yesterday behind 36 points and 9 boards from Kobe Bryant. Bryant hit a tough jump shot late in the 4th quarter to give the Lakers the lead. Pau Gasol kicked in another monstrous performance with 31 points and 15 rebounds. The Lakers bench only provided 21 points. All 5 Raptors starters scored in double figures led by Joey Graham with 24. Joey Graham?? Yes, Joey Graham who averages less than 8 PPG had a career night with 24 points. Jermaine O'Neal contributed 22 points and 9 blocks.

The Lakers last two games have both been difficult wins since the injury to Andrew Bynum. The Lakers are relying too much on Kobe to pick up the scoring burden with the loss of Bynum. Lamar Odom needs to become more aggressive on the offensive end and increase his rebounding output. The Lakers need Odom to average a double double to help out Kobe and Gasol. L.A.'s bench needs to regain their lost form from just a week ago. The bench was providing a scoring boost and needed energy for the Lakers. Since Odom has moved into the starting lineup the bench has lost a lot of its offensive firepower. The Lakers will need the bench to be productive if they hope to win their next game against the hated Celtics.

Next Game: Thursday night Lakers @ Celtics
This will be a tough one for the Lakers to win without Bynum. L.A. is 4-0 in their last four road games. The Celtics are on a 12 game winning streak and 24-2 at home. L.A. will need a huge game from Kobe, Gasol and Odom to win. The Lakers have a great shot to win this game even without Bynum. Kevin Garnett is returning for the first time in a week after his bout with the flu. L.A. should take advantage of the fact that Garnett should be limited in his first game back after his illness.

Tonight at 8pm: Lakers(35-9) at Timberwolves(16-28)

This should be an easy win for the Lakers. Minnesota is 7-3 in their last 10 games but they are still a bad basketball team. The Lakers have a huge advantage in the backcourt with Kobe Bryant, Derrick Fisher going up against Sebastian Telfair and Randy Foye. Foye has been playing better lately but the Wolves' backcourt has no chance defending Kobe. Expect a huge game from Kobe. In the front court Paul Gasol should have his way with Ryan Gomes. Luke Walton and Craig Smith are a wash. Neither will be much of a factor in this game. Andrew Bynum will have his hands full with Al Jefferson. Jefferson is a beast at the center position and could go off for a big game. If the Lakers are focused and ready to play they should cruise to an easy victory at the Target Center.

Prediction: Lakers win by 7