After getting totally embarrassed in Houston, I think it is time to hand out some Laker report cards. The myth around the association is that the Lakers have a strong cast of talent that produces at every single position and that's simply not true. Yes, the Lakers have been downright nasty and dominant when even a little healthy.
Yes, this team is still the favorite to win the title, but there are some glaring weaknesses on this team that might prevent the Lakers from staying afloat while awaiting the returns of Trevor Ariza, Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm and Pau Gasol.
Speaking of Andrew and Pau, has anyone noticed that the big injuries this year have come just when a tough western road trip was approaching?
Can the elite teams in the West be any luckier?
Here are my grades...
Derek Fisher - C
Derek Fisher is a veteran presence. He’s a strong leader and a great set shooter. He is virtually terrible at everything else including, but not limited to, passing, defense, creating his own shot, and finishing at the rim.
Kobe Bryant - A
He has MVP status. He’s great defensively and offensively. Please Kobe, stop yelling at the referees all the time and set a goal to get "only" 10 techs next season.
Lamar Odom- B
Lamar is an unappreciated asset to the Lakers. He does all the little things that go unnoticed. I'd like to see Lamar keep focused in the game and stop making silly mistakes.
Pau Gasol - B+
Pau is fantastic. He needs to get a little bit stronger and fight for rebounds. He needs to stop being pushed around inside. I'd expect him to be much more aggressive at his natural position of PF once Bynum gets back.
Andrew Bynum- A
Andrew is, in my opinion, one of the top 5 Centers in the game, period. He blocks shots and he shoots at a high percentage. He can finish over anyone, and he's got an edge to him that is going to make him a valuable contributor once he comes back.
Jordan Farmar - C
The Lakers should look to trade Farmar. He's really an under-sized shooting guard. All he does is shoot threes and play terrible defense. His play is often erratic and out of control. The Lakers are their worst defensively when he's on the floor.
Sasha Vujacic - B
The Machine is awesome. He plays pesky defense, runs the floor well, and shoots very well from the floor and beyond the arc. He's added a slashing component to his game. He’s a bit too trigger happy, but I like his confidence.
Luke Walton - F:
wish Bill Walton would spend less time criticizing Kobe and Shaq, and spend more time calling out the atrocious play of his son. Oh and to the Laker fans, stop saying LUUUUUUKE when he touches the ball. Start booing.
Ronny Turiaf - A
He plays to the best of his abilities every night. He blocks shots, rebounds, hits midrange jumpers, and he has an edge. Turiaf seems nice in interviews, but he's a tough cookie. Give me more guys like Turiaf and less guys like Walton. My one beef is that he's late on rotations and he wants to block every single shot so he ends up allowing a bunch of three-point plays.
Chris Mihm - F
Yeah, he's hurt. But he also suckered Lakers' management out of about a lot of money making them think he could actually play.
Trevor Ariza- B
I like his game. His quickness, his versatility, and his hustle are valuable. He has the ability to bring so many things to the court. The best thing about Ariza is that any time he gets minutes, means less time Luke Walton is on the court. Get well soon, Trevor.
DJ Mbenga - B-
DACO!
Vladimir Radmanovic - B
Good activity level. He also means Luke isn't starting which is a major bonus. His 3-point shot is often on automatic. I'd like to see him be more aggressive and take control of his role in the game.
Coby Karl - B
I like that he treats his rookie year seriously. He doesn't mope. He gets in the game whether its garbage time or quality minutes and tries to help the team in a positive way.
Phil Jackson - A+
He has the most bonehead rotations in all of the NBA, but he has more rings than all the active head coaches put together. So I'll give Phil an A+.
He knows what he's doing.
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6 months ago
The Lakers might be YOUR favorite team to win the championship but by no means mine. Nor am I reading in many places that they are favorites to win. In fact, grumblings are surfacing that there is worry that Bynum seems no where close to being on his way back and with so little time to get into playoff playing shape, that thought is getting scarier by the day. They'll be lucky if Pau misses only three games but even if he does, the possibility of 3 straight losses would be very painful in the tight Western race. Just look at the Spurs who dropped from 1st to 6th in that short span of losses.
This year, seeding in the West doesn't mean nearly as important as it should be. Who wants to play GSW, the current 8 seed? NO ONE! Their annihilation of Dallas last year still makes them feared by most elite teams. No one wants to suffer that embarrassment and since no team can afford to take any time off and rest starting players as in years past, most teams will go into the playoffs exhausted, which is not an ideal way to meet the Warriors, aka the new, improved run and gun Suns.
6 months ago
I dont agree with you giving Derek Fisher a C, he I think is the glue that keeps this team together and is a great locker room guy. On a team that has always been rumored to be torn by who is with Kobe or against him bringing back Fisher brought this whole locker team as a whole closer together.
I also do not agree with Luke Walton's grade, I think he is turning into a nice role player for the Lakers.
6 months ago
Ha. Luke Walton. He is definitely not the glue that holds the team together. I loved your article, although I don't agree with the Lakers winning the title, I'm a little biased and am pulling for my Cavs. I know, you can laugh. But great job on the article!
6 months ago
Wow, harsh on D-Fish. The Lakers' success this season has a lot to do with he steadying presence. Lamar's grade should be divided into pre-Pau and post-Pau. He was dissapointing before Pau got there, solidifying the fact that he'll never take his game to All-Star level. Bynum needs a lower grade for missing so much time. Sorry, injuries kill MVP chances, All Star births, and should lower grades, plus you gave Chris Mihm an F for being injured. Trading Farmar? You're crazy. He's our future at point. You gace Luke and Ronny extreme grades even though they've been about as equally productive this season. Coby Karl, a B, for playing 5 minutes in games with garbage time?
6 months ago
hi mr. smith my response to your article is this i would suggest to you to write on something you know about and it is not the los angeles lakers , first of all your grades of each player are totally not right if you want to grade somebody grade yourself on how you write an article i dont know how much they this bleacher report is paying you but i would grade you with an FFFFFF and this bleacher report as well we the fans will see who will be in the finals and it will be THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS . p.s. take a longggg look at yourself before you attempt to write an article on my LAKERS .........
my name is katie [BIGGEST LAKER FAN ]
6 months ago
Katie is 11
6 months ago
i think the lakers will go to the finals with their team chemistry & help so I don't think that you should give them a grades because they are players that can have a big night or worse night like not shooting the ball, poor defense... And I think they deserve A's and Lakers will go to the finals & win the championship .... I believe they can go lakers!!!! kb24mvp i hope pau gasol ,trevor ariza & andrew bynum will be back ... be better & be healthy & help the lakers win! with drew,pau & chris and all the lakers players... defense!!!
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