Kobes on Fire - Flameout coming?

EDITORIAL
by LakersPride

The Lakers are on a roll with Kobe lighting up the scoreboard.  He hasn't been this hot since 2007 and it looks like he is getting stronger.  He is back to getting whatever shot he wants and opposing teams are noticing and worrying.

His current play and knee surgery success shows that he must have been pretty banged up last season without whining and using it as an excuse when the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks.  I think Kobe deserves the respect for not complaining or using excuses ever.  One of the most competitive players the league has seen, only rivaled by MJ, you would think losing would bring out excuses. Kobe loses with grace and never walks off without congratulating the other team, ala King "Lames".  His mindset must be that he knows he gives all he has in any competition and that if you beat him he accepts you must have deserved it.

This competitive drive in Kobe also has a downside.  He is on a terror showing everyone that he is healthier than he has been in a long time and wants to make sure there is no mistake he is the best player in the league. Lakers fans know what he brings to the table and they also know what can happen.  When he scoring like this he is praised for carrying the team, but there is going to come a game where he is 7 for 25 and everybody will say he shoots too much. It's always been that way for him, he can't win, he is either a ballhog or proving a point by passing too much.

This week is going to show the progress of the Lakers in their new system and if they have the ability to adjust their game against the best teams in the league. Clippers tonight, Dallas Monday, Heat Thursday, Orlando Friday. If Kobe shoots the same amount against these teams the Lakers will not win all of those games.

Bynum has touched the ball much less once he started getting doubled.  This has been the reason Kobe has been shooting a lot more.  The Lakers will need that post option to beat the best in the league. The Lakers size is their biggest advantage and if they don't use the post then the court will close up for Kobe.  Pau has become a mid range shooter to allow Bynum to sit on the block.  The Lakers can't afford not to use the post because the point guard position is not used to penetrate and dish. Fisher has never been the quick ball handling drive and kick point. The Lakers get the ball in the paint via the pass to the post, Bynum isn't the passer that Pau is so it has been a challenge for him to make decisions when the double team comes.  With
Pau standing around the outside it makes it hard to for the interior passing to happen like the Lakers have had success using the triangle in the passed.

Kobe needs to get at least Pau and Bynum going in order for him to operate on the outside.  The Lakers have the garbage players to make up for the loss of Lamar so that is no longer an excuse.  Murphy, McRoberts, Barnes, Kapono cancel out the Odom numbers.

If the Lakers are going to make another run for the Ring than it solely falls on Kobe's play and in game execution.  The elite teams will double and triple him to get the ball out of his hands, his competitiveness will either force a bad shot or he can find the open teammates for easy buckets.  Mike Brown knows this and is hoping his defensive system keeps them in the game long enough for Kobe to make the right decisions.

As usual the Lakers success rests on the drive, passion, and decisions of the "Black Mamba" Kobe Bryant, is there any other player you would rather give that responsibility?  Not until someone else can show they are the best player in this league...Kobe is still the one.

Lakers vs Clippers Preview

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From CBS sports a look at tonight's match-up in LA.

Both teams are still searching for their identity.  Who will ultimately come together with marked improvements?

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Barnes Storming Starter

Looks like the starting small forward spot is going to be for Matt Barnes. The way he played against the Warriors is exactly what the coaches want from him. Easy buckets in transition and hard nosed defense. They can do without some of the idiotic technicals but they do like his toughness....

As noted by OC Register....

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One Ugly Game

Mike Brown is breathing a sigh of relief.
Tonights game vs the Warriors was hard to watch.  This is what the it looks like when you have a short training camp, and a new system with a new coach. Kobe scored a lot and needed to because Bynum was held under 10 even though he was being checked by Kwame Brown.  Kwame even said before the game that he would have no problem defending Bynum. Kwame?

How does Pau Gasol only go to the free throw line 1 time. This is the 7 foot power forward.  He even had the height advantage on David Lee yet he didn't take him to the post at all. Luckily for him his mid range game was working.

The best part of this game for the Lakers was the play of Matt Barnes. He was fast in transition from defense to offense filling the lanes with easy baskets.  Now if only he can learn when to keep his cool and when to be the antagonist.

A win is a win but this one needs to be forgotten soon.
Where is Josh McRoberts?

Healthy Bynum Better than a Healthy Howard?

Editorial
by LakersPride

Have you seen enough of Andrew Bynum to make a judgement on whether to trade him for Howard.  I have to say that Andrew is making it harder for the Lakers to trade him away.  Until he gets hurt again.

Lakers fans have been here before where Andrew looks like the best center in the league only to have an injury that kills the season.  Of course that is always the argument when discussing the trade for Howard.

If Bynum is able to stay healthy I would tell Orlando that they should find the next best deal they can.  It's obvious to see that if Kobe passes the ball to Bynum he can put points up with ease. The first half against Portland 7 for 7 for 14 points.  Bynum's offensive game is far better than Howards. Bynum has an array of post moves going both ways using either hand.  Offense has been Dwight's weakness, he can dunk on either side of the rim though.

Some say that the Lakers don't need scoring because they have enough in Kobe and Pau.  I disagree, the problem for the Lakers is that nobody else on the perimeter can  create a shot for themselves off the dribble besides Kobe.  That is a problem because Kobe usually ends up taking the shot leaving everyone else a spectator. The only consistent option is going to the post with Andrew. Pau doesn't control the post the same way that Bynum does.  I think people have a hard time realizing just how big Bynum is, when you think he is taller than Dwight and Heavier yet he can move his feet and has extremely soft hands for a big man of his size.

Dwight is the multi year defensive player of the year, but Andrew changes shots just from being there because of his size.  His presence defensively is as effective as Howards without all the fancy blocks.  The wingspan of Andrew is emmense and that allows him to block shots without extensive jumping ability.

In the back of Lakers fans minds is the thought of "when will Andrew get injured?"
He has to have an opportunity to show he can stay on the court a full season and dominate.  That is the only question that surrounds him, his game has him already as the best center in the West.  As long as he can avoid injury he will be an all-star for years to come.

That's a big if, but if Im deciding I'd wait as long as I can to see if Bynum can stay on the court.   With every game he dominates it puts pressure on the Orlando Magic
to decide if they should make a move before it's too late, the Lakers may be better off without Howard.  There is no shortage of stories to watch this season in the NBA, but the future of arguably the best Centers in the game will be most telling.

The Lakers Kryptonite - The Rose Garden

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Portland does not welcome the Lakers

It has happened too many times to ignore the obvious.  The Lakers don't play well in The Rose Garden.  It will be an opportunity for new coach Mike Brown to break the curse and turn the numbers around on our horrible road record there.
Noted by Mike Breshnahan - LA Times

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Has Kobe said "Lean on Me" too many times?

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Lean on ME - Kobe

As noted by ESPN LA Kobe Bryant has some telling numbers as far as his usage during games.  The numbers are interesting and may surprise you.  He may not be the ball hogging me me me shooter you might expect, or at least not as much as its pinned on him.

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