The Sneaky Lakers?

Is it possible for the Los Angeles Lakers to fly under the radar?  In the dramatic sense no.  Andrew Bynum’s behavior, Kobe’s latest injury, the Pau Gasol trade drama where all headline stories at some point this season, but to what end?  These stories were more empty calories, fun for the sports world to snack on, but not really substantive issues as it relates to whether this team can win a championship.  In the respect that the Lakers are a legitimate threat to win another title, yes they can and are flying under the radar.

No, they are not the prohibitive favorites to win a ring, or even favorite’s period.  Their bench is thinner than Tony Kornheiser’s hair, and not quite as entertaining to watch.  They still lack overall athleticism, they don’t have great outside shooters, and Mike Brown despite piloting the team to the West’s three seed doesn’t seem to have the respect of many in Laker nation. 

Still, when looking at LA’s roster, how many teams can really compare to their talent level?  Andrew Bynum may have been the best center in the league before Dwight Howard was lost for the season with a back injury, and certainly Bynum is now the most dominant center in the league.  He continues to grow and get stronger seemingly by the quarter.  Over the last ten games, most of which Kobe missed with an injury Bynum has posted averages of 23 points and 12 rebounds (he’s at 19 and 12 over the course of the season).  Complement Bynum with the most skilled post-up player in the league, Pau Gasol, and the Lakers have the preeminent duo of big men in the league. 

Typically, when you combine 2 of the best 5 big men in the game, with a guard that is the league’s leading scorer, and will end his career as a consensus top ten player of all time you have a pretty good formula.  Yet the Lakers weren’t complete until a couple of things happened. 

The first vital change was the addition of Ramon Sessions at point guard, and the subsequent jettisoning of father time Derek Fisher.  Sessions is not a super-star, but at 25 years old he is one of the quickest players in the league and has tremendous open court speed.  He brings an ability to slice into the lane and create opportunities for the rest of the team, an element the Lakers have been lacking for years.

 

Sessions is not a great defender, but he at least has the speed to stay with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Tony Parker, and Ty Lawson.  He also will make the opposing point guard work on defense, whereas Fisher was nothing more than a spot up shooter.  Sessions has averaged 13 points and 6 assists with the Lakers, more than double the production D-Fish chipped in.

The other important development for LA was the addition by subtraction that occurred when Kobe went out with a shin injury.  With Bryant sidelined LA went 5-2, Bynum and Gasol became the focal points that many Laker fans have been screaming for them to be even with a healthy Bryant, and Ron Artest had his best offensive stretch as a Laker.  Artest has poured in 15 points per game over the last ten contests, more than double his season average.  He seems to be in better shape, more confident, and more willing to take smaller defenders into the post and use his strength to get to the bucket.

 

Add the improved play of Matt Barnes, the steady play of Steve Blake, and the little bit of run that Devin Ebanks received in Bryant’s absence, and the Lakers showed they are more than just the Mamba and two big men.

In fact, the Lakers will only have a shot to win a championship if Bryant was taking close notes of what he saw from the sideline these past two weeks.  Kobe is having his worst shooting season percentage wise since his rookie campaign, despite the fact that he leads the league in scoring.  Kobe will always take a lot of shots, but he has to be smart enough, and check his ego enough to realize that Bynum (shooting 56%) and Gasol (shooting 50%) need to get more attempts. 

Once a team that looked old, slow, injury prone, and lacking any depth now seems to be growing increasingly formidable.  What other team can boast three players that might all be the best in the league at their respective position?  The Heat might be close in that respect, but Sessions and Artest aren’t the dead weight that rounds out the Heat starting five; in fact both are above average NBA players. 

The final piece to the possible puzzle for a Lakers championship is the fact that every other contender in the league has major flaws. 

The Heat lack depth, and rely on a mega-star whose talent is matched only by his own sense of self-doubt in clutch situations. 

The Bulls again look to be a great defensive team that will struggle to score and will increasingly rely on the terrific but overburdened and banged up Derrick Rose. 

The Celtics have gotten hot lately, but will struggle against bigger teams, Rajon Rondo doesn’t have to be guarded from 15 feet and out, and they will have to beat the Bulls and the Heat to make the Finals.

The Pacers just aren’t ready to beat the big boys, but their regular season success at least merits their mention in the contender discussion.

On the Western side of things the top teams similarly possess conspicuous flaws.  The Thunder has virtually no inside scoring.  Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are impressive post defenders, but relying on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to make enough jump shots to win a championship is not an easy formula.

The Spurs did this act last year, having a wonderful regular season and then disappearing in the playoffs.  Tony Parker is a super-star, but Ginobli has lost a step, and Duncan has lost a step and a half. 

The Clippers are incredibly impressive athletically, and the Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan lob city trio is as fun as NBA basketball gets, but this team lacks wing scoring, great depth, and playoff experience. 

The Grizzlies are everybody’s chic pick right now, but I don’t see enough in the way of a true go to guy to carry them through four best of seven series. 

So no, the Lakers aren’t the favorites, but I don’t know that there is a team that you can point to this year as one that “should” win if they stay healthy and play their best ball.  We could be in for the best, most competitive playoffs in years, just don’t be surprised if the Purple and Gold sneak their way to yet another championship.