Make no mistake: Kobe, Fisher and Odom have enough skill in previous playoff trips to make the team formidable. Gasol has been very impressive as well.
5. Derek Fisher
I love Derek Fisher. I was so pleased when the Lakers signed him even when other Lakers fans said that he was too slow, too old, could not defend, and was not even a good shooter when he wasn't getting open looks.
Derek Fisher was exactly what this team needed to go from so-so to good.
He is not, I think, what the Lakers need to become the best. At least not as a starter. When his shot isn't falling, he is absolutely a detriment to the team because he does not have the footspeed necessary to defend against Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo, Jason Kidd, and the rest of the PGs he will face in the playoffs.
Cause for concern: moderate
A 4-5 duo of Gasol and Bynum will make dribble penetration very difficult, but we have not seen Bynum in a long, long time in purple and gold.
6. Jordan Farmar
Sorry to pick on the young guy, but when you get past Derek Fisher, you come to Farmar. He is playing heavy minutes at the 1-Guard position and his game must be honed considerably if he is going to give the Lakers what they need to win.
His outside shot is solid and he has slick handle and great passing ability to go with tremendous athleticism. That said, he plays like a rookie.
His defense is subpar most of the time with him losing track of his man fairly routinely.
His love for complicated and fancy passes gives him more Turnovers than he should commit.
And his Free Throw shooting is dreadful for a Point Guard. He MUST improve.
Cause for concern: moderate to severe
7. Injuries
When Andrew Bynum went down with a knee injury, LA fans thought it was over. Pau Gasol changed all of that in the minds of Lakers fans and seemingly in the minds of most sports enthusiasts as well.
Unfortunately, I must remind everyone that Bynum still has not come back and Trevor Ariza, the most consistent perimeter defender on the team other than Kobe, is still out as well.
Chris Mihm's recent progress is encouraging, but he has missed basically two seasons in a row now. Kobe's finger is hanging on by a thread and is painful.
I don't think Lakers fans realize how close this situation is to critical.
An injury to Kobe or Gasol would almost certainly mean the end of the title hopes. With no Bynum and Ariza, it will be very, very difficult for LA.
Cause for concern: moderate to severe
8. Defensive Toughness
The Lakers are NOT a good defensive team with Walton and Vlad at the Forward spot. Fisher's weaknesses are exposed more with Odom at the PF spot.
While the Lakers do not give up a lot of points per possession, they play a fast-paced game that gives opponents a lot of possessions.
They lag off shooters at the perimeter and have been absolutely crushed inside by unlikely players who are far from offensive juggernauts i.e. Kendrick Perkins.
Cause for concern: severe
A healthy Bynum makes the Lakers the best team in the NBA without any question. Having Ariza as an option at the 2/3 spots gives LA another specialist in a role they need.
Without either of these guys, LA is going to get worked by the Garnetts and Duncans of the world. And if you're saying that they are only two of those guys, LA will also get worked by the Zydrunas Ilgauskases of the world.
And there are several similar players in the NBA.
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