So many questions for the LA Lakers as a Franchise, to their coach... GM... players... and all those so-sincere ex-Laker fans gone "Always been Clipper fan" simply kept growing as the season continued. While I have nothing against watching the other NBA team in LA finally have a legit season I would guess that about 10%-15% or so of "Actual Laker Fans" have hopped on the wagon, and have become the true fake fans. Unless you admit you just like to watch the best teams play each year and always switch (I try to always have that perception to be able to make observations of players I might like or dislike to some degree based on team, or what he did when playing the Lakers, etc. But I truly became the first ORIGINAL, COMPULSIVE, and DATABASE on what the Lakers are currently doing, but what they are lacking (or when they have the right roster, coach and chemistry). Some day soon......
The Lakers, on paper, looked legit going into 2013. We had the same team, aside from the random Odom trade to Dallas., but this is about the LAKERS, now, past, and future!
Let's start with Coach Mike D'Antoni who has failed to have "supposed" success here in the city of LA, while having great success in Phoenix for 7 years straight to the playoffs and , getting to the WCF's and Finals but never winning a Championship, stuff that is stated as if we'd never heard it before. In 2005 and 2006 he coached a run-n-gun team full of talent to the WCF's both times, losing to the eventual Champion Spurs in 2005 and outed by the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games the year Dallas went up 2-0 in a Finals and ended up losing to the Heat in 6, just like that. The suns have had
He got a chance in New York to Coach and built a team, but when they hire him to do this, it appears they don't truly let him get his way always. My next article will be discussing MIKE D'ANTONI as a whole, from an objective view rather than the simple minded haters. People hate on him badly since New York, and it makes no sense... He inherited a roster with overpaid multi-year contracts that were joks like Q-Rich and Stephon Marbury
_____________Next Article: Coach D'Antoni - Seven seconds or Less with a Twist________
As this season began there was so much hope for the Lakers! Going 13-13 to start the season was really impressive, considering Kobe was out, Nash was out, and most the roster was brand new to the Lakers this at this time. Xavier Henry made himself famous the first month of the season, If not they were then learning the new offense and system with Pau Gasol acting as the "Go-To Guy".
Obviously at his age we don't plan on being amazing at it, but we started off at the level of a growing team before all the injuries to almost everyone (not sure how many were real and which were "staged" for tanking). I do know that Pau showed he can adapt, having an amazing year averaging 17.4 Ppg, 9.7 Rpg, 3.7 Apg and 1.5 blocks (0.5 Spg) shooting 48%FG in just 31 minutes a night. A result of taking 15 shots a game as D'Antonis main guy close, inside, and tons of mid-range pick and fade. For Gasol to play 2.4 minutes per game less than last year and average 3.7 points more per game, as well as grab more rebounds, block more shots, and get more assists. Last season was looing like he might be done... but this year helped show he's still got his game for another 2-3 years, possibly more.
I really was so detached from Dwight Howard as a Laker fan. It just seemed like he was constantly in fear of not living up to his "SuperMan" name, and having to spend the next 3-5 years with a solid to great Laker roster would get him compared for life to Shaq, the best Centers in the NBA to just leave their rookie contract Orlando Magic team and sign with the Lakers (or force a trade for it). He chose to go where he felt was the best fit for him. So what happened when he got here? Did Kobe scare him off? Was Dwight not ready to play with the "Serious Faced Mamba" with a big market that will boo you if they know you can play better (speaking of which Dwight, why haven't you made any of those post moves all year? You just save them for the playoffs?)
While LA would of been legit with him for 2-3 years depending on Kobe and Nash and Gasol and others like Young and Meeks, Farmar and Kelly and Wesley Johnson still had a mediocre season (while Meeks and Young had career numbers shooting great, Wes Johnson shows signs of being a lock-down defender and great all-around player. He's intrigued me since he was a rookie. That freakish 7 foot wing-span makes it impossible to block his shots, and allows him to really use his arms and hands to pick balls loose. I know he was just really inconsistent shooting again, often settling for mid-range or 3pt catch-n-shoots rather than try to be aggressive and take it to the hoop.
Right at 9.1 Ppg, 4.4 Rpg, 1.6 Apg, 1.1 Steals, 1.0 Blocks, with only 1.1 Turnovers in 28.8 minutes a game. Not too shabby, especially when his impact can be found on both ends. While his PER is only at 11, he is pretty much that "Glue-Guy" in the making. He played nearly 29 minutes a game and only took 8.2 shots a game on average? He is built in the mold of a Trevor Ariza (who had a career year), but pretty much if Wes can get that 3pt shot to 40% and be a little more agressive, working on his ball-handling and at getting 4-5 FT's a game too. But I think he works on it a lot, and assuming we get some more talent on the floor will result in Nash and Kobe in the back-court, Gasol and Randle in the front-court, with Wes able to just play that 3 spot Battier style, with some flair. Playing in a D'Antoni system all year wears you down mentally and physically, so for half the Lakers who are 21-25, I'd say well done this year.
Howard would of had a legit team around him this year as a Laker that competes with Houston. Having a work horse franchise future in Dwight would of really helped fuel the Lakers to keep going (as would that Chris Paul trade of done so, but enough of that). Kobe probably would of ended up playing the final 40 games this year (limited at start with no back to backs and minute restrictions) while Nash likely would have shown quite a bit more the second half of the season, as Nash really decided to go with the "tank mode" and go pure rehabilitation playing 15 games this year, all sporadic, played each month except one.
Lakers would have an ideal roster to simply run a very similar offense that got the New York Knicks to the playoffs as well as getting Raymond Felton his career season along with Amare until his injury. People forget how good they were actually, with Felton at 16 points 8 assists 1.5 steals solid three's as a Point Guard (same thing happened to average Chris Duhon the first year D'Antoni was full training camp coach).. That year Amare and the Knicks played so well, but itthat the coach is Mike D'Antoni and he just wants to put up as many points as possible. Defensively make sure you don't get in foul trouble, haha, who knows what he's thinking defensively sometimes. He has players guarding awful matchups because of his small lineup and they are always exposed because they have no rim protecting PF/C like a Dwight Howard..........
Ironic Dwight Howard would of been such a great fit, especially when you consider The Lakers Cap Space situation thus 2014 summer and 2015 summer as well. The Lakers could of easily been: They could of developed him great this year with a full training camp and "non attitude", though the Coach COULD be an issue with the Lakers, or lack there of defense and or safe post offense.
People do underrate D'Antoni though. In NY he was running his "7 seconds or less" offense quite a bit, but he also ran a ton of pick and rolls with the PG and C or PF, also running some elements of the triangle offense at times too. That was after he got used to his roster in NY then he was let go, haha. Things are skewed in reality. No his method hasn't produces a Championship, but it's come close many times, and the fashion the league is going it could be great for the Lakers.
That said I still hate watching Kendall Marshall run the Lakers offense and team. I love lefties too, especially tall left PG's, but his jump shot doesn't exactly make you go "bigtime!", rather you look away like "WTF was that?". This year he did what basically any athlete with common basketball IQ offensively could put up in a D'Antoni team (year wasted for lottery and through injuries to Kobe, Nash, others)...
Also, if the Lakers did re-sign Dwight, they wouldn't of wasted their Mini-Mid Level on Chris Kaman, letting him go (or signing him and possibly trading
LAKER 2014 DEPTH CHART (if D.Howard Re-Signed)
C: Dwight Howard (33 min) / Chris Kaman (10 min) / Robert Sacre (5 min)
PF: Pau Gasol (25 min) / Jordan Hill (16 min) / Ryan Kelly (7 min)
SF: Wesley Johnson (26 min) / Xaxier Henry (12 min) / Ken Bazemore (10 min)
SG: Kobe Bryant (30 min) / Nick Young (15 min) / Marshon Brooks (bench)
PG: Kendall Marshall (16 min) / Steve Nash (16 min) / Jordan Farmar (16 min)
*(While having Dwight, Kobe, Nash, Pau, and Nick Young signing with LA for vet minimum contract because it's his hometown and Jordan Farmar following suit after a superstar like year in the "Euroleague" and the "Euroleague-Tournament - Top 16 Teams", and really showing maturity at a bargain price, just like Jodie Meeks too, and Jordan Hill has always rebounded at a crazy top 5 rate, improving his offense to make up for what he lacks got him the time and minutes to really mature and game too, which will likely result in Meeks signing with a solid or top team where he is a perfect fit starting at off guard or coming in as a 15-25 minute offensive weapon off the bench, he definitely showed he is in any teams 8-9 man playoff like rotation where he is going to likely get offered 4-5 million a season now or so.
Marshall can pass sure, but his 8 points and 9 assists per game in 36 minutes were NOTHING SPECIAL considering he was playing on a bad team that focused on scoring and running the offense to rack up assists and points, while still losing and developing bad habits as a PG and leader of a team. Throw in no defenders really, let alone the system, and the Lakers always put up stats, just simply let the other team put up career stats way too often.
Johnson can guard the best opposing SF/SG/PG (and play small ball PF well when his shot is falling, that's all he needs to fix, consistent shot) l and you have purely offensive guys like Nick Young and Meeks and . Meeks has sorta become a nice role playing Shooting-Guard or 6th Man/Role 25 minutes.
ASSUMED ROTATION FOR 2014-2015 SEASON:
C: Dwight Howard / Chris Kaman / Robert Sacre
PF: Pau Gasol / Jordan Hill / Ryan Kelly
SF: Wesley Johnson / Xaxier Henry / Ken Bazemore
SG: Kobe Bryant / Jodie Meeks / Marshon Brooks
PG: Steve Nash / Kendall Marshall / Jordan Farmar
That's interesting because I was recently writing about the Lakers being built around Dwight for this season and how nobody understands it. Kobe was going to have a "rehab year" meaning if they were heading to the playoffs or appeared to he would of probably gotten 35 games in after that return time (with rests and no back-to-backs, also allowing the young SG's to get maturity).
Dwight was a Laker for a full season,yet he caused so much trouble for himself here when it was really all about going from Mike Brown's system based on the post and defense and screens, motion, and after game 5 of the regular season Jimmy Buss did fire him, but simply to hire D'Antoni for their FUTURE with Dwight and NO Kobe.
Dwight's Laker season was literally a forgettable one for me, even though he was still putting up the best Center in the league numbers, he was also getting healthy and learning a new system. as Kobe and Nash and Gasol play or fight injury in 2013-2014 as we saw (but if the Lakers had Dwight Howard and were headed for the 6th playoff spot, wouldn't Kobe and Nash end up taking it slowly but getting into game shape like Wade did this season to be prepped for the playoffs?
Throw Superman in with this year's statistically good looking roster: like Nick Young leading the Lakers in scoring at 17.6 points a game, as a 6th man a majority of his minutes. Wow, Jodie Meeks went from going into obscurity to really shooting consistently well the first 60 games of the season, finishing with 15 points a night and a great FG and 3pt percentage. Farmar and Kelly and Wesley Johnson still had a mediocre season (while Meeks and Young had career numbers & Gasol's numbers were even inflated by the D'Antoni effect. 10-20 more possessions a game different stats ore three pointers taken, etc. Most importantly, play no D.
Howard would of had a legit team around him this year, one could easily argue that competes with Houston, seeing as Howard would be a Laker and Asik the Rockets 12ppg/12rpg/1.5bpg Center with limited offense, more limited than Howard (OMG!). Kobe probably would of ended up playing the final 40 games this year and Nash might of been able to get back to his spot and form having Dwight and Gasol to run offense through (Problem being, AGAIN, that the coach is Mike D'Antoni and he just wants to put up as many points as possible. Defensively make sure you don't get in foul trouble, haha, who knows what he's thinking defensively sometimes. He has players guarding awful matchups because of his small lineup and they are always exposed because they have no rim protecting PF/C like a Dwight Howard..........
As I continue to write I start to really feel the effect that Dwight Howard left, as well as David Stern. Not to get sidetracked, but shouldn't the team's lineup of been:
-Chris Paul PG
-Kobe Bryant SG
-Wesley Johnson SF
-Pau Gasol PF
-Dwight Howard C
That's 4 Hall of Famers, and add that your bench has gone from just plain awful in 2011 of been such a great fit, especially when you consider The Lakers Cap Space situation thus 2014 summer and 2015 summer as well. The Lakers could of easily been: They could of developed him great this year with a full training camp and "non attitude", though the Coach COULD be an issue with the Lakers, or lack there of defense and or safe post offense.
People do underrate D'Antoni though. In NY he was running his "7 seconds or less" offense quite a bit, but he also ran a ton of pick and rolls with the PG and C or PF, also running some elements of the triangle offense at times too. That was after he got used to his roster in NY then he was let go, haha. Things are skewed in reality. No his method hasn't produces a Championship, but it's come close many times, and the fashion the league is going it could be great for the Lakers.
That said I still hate watching Kendall Marshall run the Lakers offense and team. I love lefties too, especially tall left PG's, but his jump shot doesn't exactly make you go "bigtime!", rather you look away like "WTF was that?". This year he did what basically any athlete with common basketball IQ offensively could put up in a D'Antoni team (year wasted for lottery and through injuries to Kobe, Nash, others)...
Also, if the Lakers did re-sign Dwight, they wouldn't of wasted their Mini-Mid Level on Chris Kaman, letting him go (or signing him and possibly trading
LAKER 2014 DEPTH CHARTW/DWIGHT HOWARD.
C: Dwight Howard / Chris Kaman / Robert Sacre
PF: Pau Gasol / Jordan Hill / Ryan Kelly
SF: Wesley Johnson / Xaxier Henry / Ken Bazemore
SG: Kobe Bryant / Jodie Meeks / Marshon Brooks
PG: Steve Nash / Kendall Marshall / Jordan Farmar
*(Lakers assumingly sign Kaman for 1 year and do trade Blake like reality)*
Yes, Kendall Marshall can pass sure, but his 8 points and 9 assists per game in 36 minutes were NOTHING SPECIAL considering he was playing on a bad team that focused on scoring and running the offense to rack up assists and points, while still losing and developing bad habits as a PG and leader of a team. Throw in no defenders really, let alone the system, and the Lakers always put up stats, just simply let the other team put up career stats way too often.
Johnson can guard the best opposing SF/SG/PG (and play small ball PF well when his shot is falling, that's all he needs to fix, consistent shot) l and you have purely offensive guys like Nick Young and Meeks and . Meeks has sorta become a nice role playing Shooting-Guard or 6th Man/Role 25 minutes.
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