While I write about all of basketball objectively, I know my home team Los Angeles Lakers are secretly flying under the NBA radar, especially in the Western Conference this season. Sure, their plan is to build for next season (through trades, cap space and/or draft picks) all options for them this season, as well as making the playoffs... but "IF HEALTHY" is key there. Boozer will be a good offensive teacher for Julius Randle who's probably been way overlooked by most top 10 picks because of his NBA ready body and skillset on both ends. Having a veteran like Boozer can teach him some good stuff, as well as Hill, but of course Boozer defense is to not be copied....
Randle could easily end up as the starting PF after 20 or so games and be a 16 point, 10 rebound, 3-5 assists, 1+steal, 1+block, solid all around player that does it all. Just get that mid-range improved (as I am sure he is) and he will be a stud, possible ROTY.... he's been overlooked, I think he was the 3rd or 4th best player in that draft after the Jabari/Wiggins (Embid health risk). With Nash maybe starting and playing 20 or so minutes a night (skipping back to backs maybe) the Lakers could be very effective. Jeremy Lin was a sneaky good pickup as he is expiring and could potentially be a good fit in LA as the PG, though I see him as a perfect 6th man.
LAKERS DEPTH CHART FOR 2014-2015:
R* = Rookie
PG: Steve Nash (PG) / Jeremy Lin (PG/SG) / Jordan Clarkson (R*PG/SG)
SG: Kobe Bryant (SG/SF) / Wayne Ellington (SG)
SF: Wes Johnson (SF/SG/PF) / Xavier Henry (SF/SG)
PF: Carlos Boozer (PF/C) / Julius Randle (R*PF/SF) / Ryan Kelly (PF/SF)
C: Jordan Hill (C/PF) / Ed Davis (C/PF) / Robert Sacre (C)
Keith Appling (R*PG) and Ronnie Price (PG) are both in the Lakers training camp as well, and depending on who shows up they could be picked up (especially Tom Izzo product Appling who's a rookie with potential). Jordan Hill is one of the most efficient and underrated players in the NBA (kind of like Faried 1-2 years ago). He's one of the NBA's best offensive rebounders as well as top 5 in rebound percentage; if he can stay on the floor for 25-30+ minutes a night he can put up great double double numbers. With Ed Davis also on the team after being drafted to the Raptors and after a promising rookie year has sat behind the gluten of bigs on the Grizzlies (Zbo, Gasol, Koufous, Luer, etc). Ed Davis might have a promising year, as I see him and Hill basically splitting the Center minutes for now; defensively it's not amazing, but it's not awful, which is why I also believe Julius Randle will be starting sooner than we think. Boozer put up mediocre numbers last season while being a defensive liability, and I think at this stage he's good for 20 minutes a night (depending on matchups), leaving Randle the door to play big minutes starting at PF (or SF possibly...) and playing the 3, 4 and 5 spots.
The bigs are actually better than average, and I truly think that's where the surprise will be to the NBA fans that have shoved the Lakers aside as if Kobe is the only player. Now Kobe is vital to their success, hell, an 80% Kobe Bryant that puts up 20+ points and creates for others (or plays off the ball more, less possessions per game for him Isolating at least). I think the offense will run well after 10-20 games, I have faith in Byron Scott and his coaching staff. The bigs are the surprise though.
We all know Kobe is one of the best to play the game, so an 80% healthy Kobe, let alone a 90%-100% Kobe, would be a huge push for the Lakers. Add the small possibility Nash plays 50 or so games at 15-25 minutes a night the chemistry with this team could really click. The amount of combo guards and SG/SF's on this team is great. After Kobe and Nash, two future 1st ballot HOF'ers, you have Nick Young who showed he can really score the ball off the bench (just needs to do it a tad more effectively; improve his shot selection and pass more) and averaged 17 or 18 points a game last season for the Lakers. He'll end up possibly starting at SF (or Kobe, vica versa), or Wes Johnson (underrated glue guy SF; averaged 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1steal, 1 block, upper 30%'s from 3pt land last season), while also being their closest thing to a lock down defender. Add in 23 year old 10 point per game Xavier Henry from last season and he should be an improved player off the bench (last season they really did start to build a bench playing so many different rotations). There's also that Wayne Ellington character that is simply a beautiful shooter... put him next to Kobe, Nash, or Lin and he'll make some treys.
Talking about guards....
Jeremy Lin has improved in every season since joining the NBA and has lead man/main 3 core potential. Nash could mold him into a possibly star Point-Guard we've all envisioned he might be... now objectively last season he put up Per 36 minutes (as if he was starting and playing 36 minutes) 15.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and a career high 45%FG, as well as a 82%FT+ and a 36% 3pt shot. If he keeps improving his numbers and Nash takes him under his wing, I sense Lin could reach his potential of being that 18-20 point, 7-9 assist, 4+rebound, 2 steal, 48%FG and 40%3pt shot if things work out.... ultimately I expect something in between what his top potential is and what he was last year. Just turned 26, his best years in the NBA are ahead of him. No reason he doesn't improve on last season as his trend is consistent.
I could go on and on, like I can with anything NBA hoops. I just think the Lakers are just being slated to not make the playoffs. If they don't get the "injury bug" then I don't see a reason why they can't hunt for a 5-8 seed in the West and go win 45-50 games. The roster is so different from last year, yet adding a healthy Kobe and Nash, replacing Pau with rookies Julius Randle and what I saw from Jordan Clarkson in Summer League was very promising, a PG with size; claiming Carlos Boozer, while also re-signing Hill, Young, Xavier, Wes Johnson, Kelly, Sacre, while also managing to make sneaky good Free Agent signing's in Jeremy Lin (went from overrated Linsanity to underrated now), Ed Davis (young full of potential C/PF), Wayne Ellington (shooter keeps the floor stretched), and also have rookie Kieth Appling (potential PG look), veteran PG Ronnie Price, and young big-man Jeremy Tyler are all in training camp with potential to make the team.
The Lakers season is going to be a blast if none of the main pieces suffer severe injuries! (knock on wood... hah). Nash might come back and help, he might just be a trade piece, but there is going to be great basketball games and the Lakers will be as active as ever in trying to make moves and has plenty of trade friendly contracts like Jordan Hill's 1 year / 8 mil contract as well as Nash and Lins dangling contracts.
Lakers, get er done!
Randle could easily end up as the starting PF after 20 or so games and be a 16 point, 10 rebound, 3-5 assists, 1+steal, 1+block, solid all around player that does it all. Just get that mid-range improved (as I am sure he is) and he will be a stud, possible ROTY.... he's been overlooked, I think he was the 3rd or 4th best player in that draft after the Jabari/Wiggins (Embid health risk). With Nash maybe starting and playing 20 or so minutes a night (skipping back to backs maybe) the Lakers could be very effective. Jeremy Lin was a sneaky good pickup as he is expiring and could potentially be a good fit in LA as the PG, though I see him as a perfect 6th man.
LAKERS DEPTH CHART FOR 2014-2015:
R* = Rookie
PG: Steve Nash (PG) / Jeremy Lin (PG/SG) / Jordan Clarkson (R*PG/SG)
SG: Kobe Bryant (SG/SF) / Wayne Ellington (SG)
SF: Wes Johnson (SF/SG/PF) / Xavier Henry (SF/SG)
PF: Carlos Boozer (PF/C) / Julius Randle (R*PF/SF) / Ryan Kelly (PF/SF)
C: Jordan Hill (C/PF) / Ed Davis (C/PF) / Robert Sacre (C)
Keith Appling (R*PG) and Ronnie Price (PG) are both in the Lakers training camp as well, and depending on who shows up they could be picked up (especially Tom Izzo product Appling who's a rookie with potential). Jordan Hill is one of the most efficient and underrated players in the NBA (kind of like Faried 1-2 years ago). He's one of the NBA's best offensive rebounders as well as top 5 in rebound percentage; if he can stay on the floor for 25-30+ minutes a night he can put up great double double numbers. With Ed Davis also on the team after being drafted to the Raptors and after a promising rookie year has sat behind the gluten of bigs on the Grizzlies (Zbo, Gasol, Koufous, Luer, etc). Ed Davis might have a promising year, as I see him and Hill basically splitting the Center minutes for now; defensively it's not amazing, but it's not awful, which is why I also believe Julius Randle will be starting sooner than we think. Boozer put up mediocre numbers last season while being a defensive liability, and I think at this stage he's good for 20 minutes a night (depending on matchups), leaving Randle the door to play big minutes starting at PF (or SF possibly...) and playing the 3, 4 and 5 spots.
The bigs are actually better than average, and I truly think that's where the surprise will be to the NBA fans that have shoved the Lakers aside as if Kobe is the only player. Now Kobe is vital to their success, hell, an 80% Kobe Bryant that puts up 20+ points and creates for others (or plays off the ball more, less possessions per game for him Isolating at least). I think the offense will run well after 10-20 games, I have faith in Byron Scott and his coaching staff. The bigs are the surprise though.
We all know Kobe is one of the best to play the game, so an 80% healthy Kobe, let alone a 90%-100% Kobe, would be a huge push for the Lakers. Add the small possibility Nash plays 50 or so games at 15-25 minutes a night the chemistry with this team could really click. The amount of combo guards and SG/SF's on this team is great. After Kobe and Nash, two future 1st ballot HOF'ers, you have Nick Young who showed he can really score the ball off the bench (just needs to do it a tad more effectively; improve his shot selection and pass more) and averaged 17 or 18 points a game last season for the Lakers. He'll end up possibly starting at SF (or Kobe, vica versa), or Wes Johnson (underrated glue guy SF; averaged 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1steal, 1 block, upper 30%'s from 3pt land last season), while also being their closest thing to a lock down defender. Add in 23 year old 10 point per game Xavier Henry from last season and he should be an improved player off the bench (last season they really did start to build a bench playing so many different rotations). There's also that Wayne Ellington character that is simply a beautiful shooter... put him next to Kobe, Nash, or Lin and he'll make some treys.
Talking about guards....
Jeremy Lin has improved in every season since joining the NBA and has lead man/main 3 core potential. Nash could mold him into a possibly star Point-Guard we've all envisioned he might be... now objectively last season he put up Per 36 minutes (as if he was starting and playing 36 minutes) 15.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and a career high 45%FG, as well as a 82%FT+ and a 36% 3pt shot. If he keeps improving his numbers and Nash takes him under his wing, I sense Lin could reach his potential of being that 18-20 point, 7-9 assist, 4+rebound, 2 steal, 48%FG and 40%3pt shot if things work out.... ultimately I expect something in between what his top potential is and what he was last year. Just turned 26, his best years in the NBA are ahead of him. No reason he doesn't improve on last season as his trend is consistent.
I could go on and on, like I can with anything NBA hoops. I just think the Lakers are just being slated to not make the playoffs. If they don't get the "injury bug" then I don't see a reason why they can't hunt for a 5-8 seed in the West and go win 45-50 games. The roster is so different from last year, yet adding a healthy Kobe and Nash, replacing Pau with rookies Julius Randle and what I saw from Jordan Clarkson in Summer League was very promising, a PG with size; claiming Carlos Boozer, while also re-signing Hill, Young, Xavier, Wes Johnson, Kelly, Sacre, while also managing to make sneaky good Free Agent signing's in Jeremy Lin (went from overrated Linsanity to underrated now), Ed Davis (young full of potential C/PF), Wayne Ellington (shooter keeps the floor stretched), and also have rookie Kieth Appling (potential PG look), veteran PG Ronnie Price, and young big-man Jeremy Tyler are all in training camp with potential to make the team.
The Lakers season is going to be a blast if none of the main pieces suffer severe injuries! (knock on wood... hah). Nash might come back and help, he might just be a trade piece, but there is going to be great basketball games and the Lakers will be as active as ever in trying to make moves and has plenty of trade friendly contracts like Jordan Hill's 1 year / 8 mil contract as well as Nash and Lins dangling contracts.
Lakers, get er done!
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