Los Angeles Lakers: 30 Team Previews In 30 Days

2009-10 Statistics

Finished 57-25, first in Pacific Division, first in Western Conference

Postseason

First Round: Defeated Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2

Second Round: Defeated Utah Jazz 4-0

Conference Finals: Defeated Phoenix Suns 4-3

NBA Finals: Defeated Boston Celtics 4-3

Additions and Re-Signings

Matt Barnes via free agency, Steve Blake via free agency, Theo Ratliff via free agency, Shannon Brown via re-signing, Derek Caracter via draft, and Devin Ebanks via draft.

Losses

Jordan Farmar via free agency and Josh Powell via free agency.

Revenge has never felt so good for the Los Angeles Lakers. After being ousted in six games in the 2007 NBA Finals by the Boston Celtics, the Lakers made it back to the NBA Finals to gain redemption against the team that had embarrassed them two years prior.

They can still boast arguably one of the top duos in the league between Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, but the road to a third consecutive championship will be much more difficult than the previous two with teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets all in heavy contention to topple them as the Western Conference team to beat.

Not to mention, they'll still have to worry about the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, or Orlando Magic if they do make it to the NBA Finals, which could happen for a fourth consecutive year after the impressive offseason the Lakers have had.

By adding reliable role players in Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff to the bench, the Lakers can now not only claim one of most well-rounded starting lineups, but one of the deepest benches as well, now that they have added more quality shooters and a shot blocker.

Steve Blake adds a dangerous three-point shot to an already volatile bench. Blake has averaged 39% shooting from the bench over his seven-year career and established himself as starting point guard material in Portland, where he spent the last two and a half seasons before spending 29 games playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Blake can add consistency to the point guard spot which Derek Fisher has held down over the past decade.

The Lakers now have three threats at the point guard spot with Fisher's clutch shooting, Blake's dangerous three-point shot and court awareness, and Shannon Brown's high-flying athletic ability to round out the one spot when they do utilize him as a point guard.

Also new to the team is former foe Matt Barnes, who has been known as a lock down defender and a dangerous three-point threat throughout his career. Barnes is coming off an off 2009-'10 campaign where he averaged 32% shooting from beyond the arc, but is two years removed after averaging a career high 10 points during the Orlando Magic's championship run.

Barnes becomes the first true three-point threat on this team with Ron Artest somehow leading the team last season in three-pointers made at 105 on 36% shooting. Adding Barnes to the team to back up Artest means that there should be no defensive lag when Ron Ron takes a break.

If the Lakers need to be concerned about any player at the moment, it would be Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba still averaged 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists last season while being the driving force in the Lakes championship run, but he managed to injure a finger on his shooting hand in the process, forcing him to learn to shoot with his left hand more often.

Reports on the injury state the Kobe's finger will never be the same due to the wear and tear and lack of rest, but it appeared to not affect the five-time champion too much in his journey for another ring. Going on 32, though, Kobe's injury can persist and force him to sit out a few games if it hampers his game too much.

The heart of a champion is a difficult part to shut down and Bryant's desire to win will surely never die.

As long as Bryant has his post presence in Pau Gasol to look to in the paint, then the Lakers will have little to worry about when it comes to when making it to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive season. Gasol could be considered a co-MVP on the Lakers for the consistent work he puts out on a nightly basis.

The substantial plethora of post moves that Gasol possess leave opposing defenders in fits and, coupled with his length to hound players trying to score on him, Gasol was the missing piece of the puzzle that the Lakers were looking for when they needed a second scorer to help lighten the load on Kobe.

Needless to say, I think it worked out, because Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown weren't exactly getting the Lakeshow this far.

The team will also continue to work on center Andrew Bynum who, at only 23 years old mind you, has increased his production nearly every year since he was drafted out of high school five years ago. Bynum had a career high 15 points per game on 57% shooting while grabbing eight rebounds in the process. He will need to work on his post game and exhibit a wider range of moves if he wants to become the future of Lakers basketball.

With five years of experience already and at only 23 years old playing under the tutelage of Phil Jackson, Bynum should have little to no problem with developing a stronger offensive game while holding his own as an already stable defender and shot blocker. Injuries have also put a damper on Bynum's career thus far after a third consecutive season of playing in less than 70 games.

The Lakers also invested in two future forwards by signing their two second round picks in Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks. Caracter, out of UTEP, showed great strides as a consistent shooter and rebounder when he averaged 14 points on 57% shooting to go with eight rebounds. Recruiters claim he can be a steal as they have said Caracter has the strength and footwork to become a quality undersized power forward at 6'9".

Ebanks exhibited nearly the same ability as Caracter as a scorer and rebounder, but Devin can fit into the small forward spot rather than Derrick who can play as a power forward. The former West Virginia forward averaged 12 points and eight rebounds in his short college career.

The Lakers have shown their resiliency and their determination en route to back to back championships and with a third one within reaching distance after a brilliant offseason and keeping the same core they've had over the past few seasons, Los Angeles can still consider themselves as the favorite to take it all.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Derek Fisher

SG-Kobe Bryant

SF-Ron Artest

PF-Pau Gasol

C-Andrew Bynum

Prediction

61-21

This is part 13 in a 30-day series of previews for each NBA team for the upcoming 2010-2011 season. My profile contains the other teams that I have already previewed.