Bleacher Report - Articles by Ben Ogada-Osir

2010 All-Star Game Starting Center.....Andrew Bynum???

Ben Ogada-Osir — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:49:35 -0400

Well allot has happened this off-season. Shaq's left the West, Yao Ming's out for the season (if he's lucky) and all the All-Star centers from the West are gone for 2010. So were does that leave the starting center for the West in the 2010 Dallas All-Star game? Andrew Bynum.

What?

Andrew Bynum?

Who else is there without Shaq or Yao? no-one.

If Timmy D and Amare are listed as forwards then Bynum's projected to start. The least deserving All-Star of all time but there are no other options.

Last years votes from the west with no Shaq or Yao:

1.Andrew Bynum (LAL) 549,131

2.Mehmet Okur (Utah) 437,106

3.Greg Oden (Por) 359,318

4.Andris Biedrins (GS) 357,984

5.Al Jefferson (Minn) 310,643

6.Tyson Chandler (NO) 242,356

7.Chris Kaman (LAC) 231,928

8.Marcus Camby (LAC) 158,491

9.Nick Collison (OKC) 154,309

This would be great for his confidence but that's about it. Fans want to see star power when they pay to see All-Star games and the best they get is Andrew Bynum? Unless he really ups his game and works on his game allot like i predicted then the Center spot on the Western All-Stars team will be a joke.

Who do you think will be the starting Center for the West in Dallas 2010?

Teams That Could Upset The Best Next Season

Ben Ogada-Osir — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:29:34 -0400

Who will win the title?

The Lakers of course.

The Cavs, who's gonna stop the King?

Its The Magic's season.

The Celtics will bring it home.

The good o'l Spurs will show us how it's done.

We've all heard it over and over again, but what if none of these teams win? What if it's an upset?

These are the teams that the elite teams of the league should not take lightly. Too much cockiness or arrogance and some of the elite teams might not make it through the playoffs as they intended.

The Portland Trailblazers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat could all make noise next year and might upset a few elite teams.

Atlanta is a young team that has the ability to upset favourable teams as we saw a few times last season. I know whenever my team, the Lakers, plays Atlanta I'm always afraid about what Atlanta is capable of. When they play well they are hard to beat.

As a Laker fan, Portland is also starting to scare me. They always play well against the Lakers, and in the playoffs they have the ability to pull off an upset. If they manage to aquire Lamar Odom they will truly be a formidable opponent. They have a great star and leader in Brandon Roy, good big men in Oden and Pryzbilla, and, not to mention, LaMarcus Aldridge down low.

The Dallas Mavericks were good before they got Shawn Marion, now they are a whole lot better. The 17.8 ppg, 1.3 bpg, 1.8 spg and 9.9 rebounds per game that Marion brings will greatly help the Mavericks. With Jason Kidd running the offence, Marion should fit right in. A big three of Dirk, Kidd, and Marion could pull off some upsets.

The Nuggets made it to the Western Conference Finals last season only to be beaten by that season's champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets surpassed all expectations last season, and whose to say they won't do that next season. With the veteran guidance of Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets have grown as a team and become a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony is one the the best players in the league and one of the most clutch. The Nuggets' sharp-shooting and toughness may take them far next season.

Dwayne Wade carried the Miami Heat last season. Next season if they find him some help, they could make some noise. The Heat will be hoping that Michael Beasley improves his game and becomes the dominant forward they drafted him to be. Maybe the Heat could go for Iverson to give Wade some help. Iverson can still be a good scorer despite being out of his prime, and that will take some of the load of Wade.

Any of these teams have the potential to make it big next season and eliminate some of the elite teams out of the playoffs. If the Lakers, Cavs, Magic, Celtics, Spurs don't put in enough effort it could be costly for them. We almost saw it last season when the Yao Ming-less Rockets took the champion Lakers team to 7 games.

The Ariza/Artest Switch: Why It Benefits ALL Involved

Ben Ogada-Osir — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:11:14 -0400

Some people may say that “Ariza needs LA” or visa versa but the truth is they are better off without each other.

Ariza is a young talented player. Last season he completed a goal that not many players get the chance to do, win a championship. Now that he has done that he has to fulfill the personal goal that all players have, that is to improve. Ariza will develop much faster in Houston than he would in La. Why?

Because after losing their first option on offense Yao Ming to a possible career ending injury the Rockets need a young core of players like Ariza and Scola to build a team for the future around, and with Yao gone Ariza will be one of the go to guys unlike when he was on the star studded Lakers. Players who have added responsibility and playing time develop far faster than ones who don’t (see Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard). So Ariza gets what he needs and the Rockets get what they need. Everything works out great.

Artest is a 30 year old veteran who is hungry for a ring, and he sure wasn’t gonna win one with the Rockets. Artest was willing to take a pay cut to play on the best team in the world and have a crack at winning a championship. This was the best thing he could of done for himself.

This move to LA unites him with Kobe Bryant who might have seemed like his worst enemy during the Lakers-Rockets series but in reality they are friends who hang out in the off-season and have great respect for one another. But it isn’t just Ariza, the Rockets, Artest and Kobe that benefit from this trade, the Lakers benefit greatly from it too. With Ariza and Odom to resign the Lakers had to cash to get them both back, however Ariza who is an older but upgraded and tougher version of Ariza was willing to sign for less money so they Lakers could resign Odom and still improve their roster.

The Lakers getting Artest does nothing but help them. Their championship window is open and they wish to contend now. With Kobe and Fisher in their 30’s the Lakers may only be contenders for the next 5 or so years so getting the 30 year old Artest is no problem. With Artest the Lakers can have a crack at the title every year with the roster they have and Artest's toughness and veteran experience will aid them greatly to winning another championship in the near future.

I guess only the other 28 teams in the NBA don't benefit from this switch.

The Top 10 Most Hated Players in the NBA

Ben Ogada-Osir — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:11:41 -0400

It isn’t hard to hate players in the NBA. Especially if they aren’t on your team, or in some cases when they are on your team. Whether it’s for dominating, getting tech fouls every two seconds, or for flopping to the ground whenever someone gets within two meters of them. Many players in the league are loved by many but there are a select few that are hated by even more. This is a simple count down of the top 10 most hated players in the NBA.

Begin Slideshow

The Greatest Power Foward Of All Time To Win With The Lakers

Ben Ogada-Osir — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:22:49 -0400

Pau Gasol is a magnificent player. Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers the Lakers have never lost more than two games in a row and he has averaged 18.9 ppg 8.7 rpg and 1.7 bpg.

But it is hard to imagine that the 7ft 250lb Gasol who is continuously labeled as “soft” could be the best Power Forward of all time to win a ring with the Lakers.

You can call him soft and you can call him weak but in the end he is one thing. A winner. Gasol has been the Lakers most consistent player, ever since he was acquired in that amazing trade by the Lakers front office which sent Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol, and 08 and 2010 first round draft picks to Memphis.

That trade may have been one of the most one-sided trades off all time. The Lakers traded bench-warmers and low-end draft picks for an amazing all-star that would swing their season around and put them into title contention for years to come.

I challenge you to look back at any of the past Laker championship teams and find a Power Forward as skilled and as dominant as Pau Gasol

So people should give Pau the respect that he deserves and stop calling him “soft” and “weak” because he has accomplished allot in his career and has earned the right to be named the best Power Forward to ever win a ring with the great Los Angeles Lakers.

2010 Watchout NBA: Here Comes Andrew Bynum

Ben Ogada-Osir — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00:31 -0400

Andrew Bynum over the past two seasons has not only been injured twice and had his numbers and minutes dramatically drop, but he has also shown glimpses of something special.

Bynum has not yet become the dominant future center of the Lakers that Laker fans from around the globe have been waiting for, but next season the league will see why he received such a nice new contract.

Most people have probably already forgotten Bynum’s 42 point, 15 rebound demolition of the Clippers...yes I know it was the Clippers, but it was still a good performance nonetheless.

In 2010 most likely Ariza or Odom will not be returning to the Lakers so Pau Gasol will most likely play PF and Bynum will get larger minutes at the five. In Bynum’s last four regular season games he averaged 17.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, expect that and more from Bynum next season. His points may stay around that area, but if Lamar Odom doesn’t return expect Bynum to average about 10 rebounds per game. With his massive size and the muscle that he will build up hitting the gym hard this offseason, Bynum will crash the boards and make some noise in 2010.

Just imagine if Bynum didn’t have two serious injuries equaling an entire season gone down the drain. Imagine Bynum with two more seasons of experience and practice, it's enough to send a chill down the spine of any NBA team.

Bynum wants to improve and wants to get the ball in his hands. He needs and wants more minutes. After winning the western conference finals Bynum made it clear he wanted more playing time.

"Obviously, it was frustration a little bit. You're not playing your best ball. Sometimes you have a good game and you get yanked out and you think, 'Ah, it could have been better.' You can't let that stop you from playing team basketball."

And Bynum won't let that stop him; he’ll continue to improve game after game.

The rest of the NBA better watch out.

Every missed shot he’s going to be crashing those boards.

Every drive your going to run into a brick wall and probably get your shot swatted away into the back row.

And if he fouls you, he fouls you hard. Just ask the Nuggets. Bynum destroyed them on every drive even if he had to warm the bench.

"You've got to play defense," Bynum said afterward. "You can't allow people just to walk down the lane and dunk. It creates too much energy for the other team."

And in 2010 he won't be letting anything go.

His size and raw power are a nightmare for anyone in the paint.

“Sure Bynum’s good but he’s no Dwight Howard.” This may be true at the moment on the defensive end, but Bynum’s offensive power and finesse will reinstate his position as one of the leagues most dominant centers next year.

With the proper training and mentality there’s no reason why Andrew Bynum can’t go up and beyond Dwight Howard and become the leagues most dominant center.

Sure the Cavaliers acquired Shaq, sure the Celtics get Garnett back and sure the Magic have Dwight Howard, but the Lakers have a new rejuvenated Andrew Bynum. He's young enough to run and use his size to dominate both ends of the court and see improvements in all aspects of his game.

He has the size, strength and skill to do it and he even has the experience of learning from one of the greatest centers of all time in Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Bynum’s potential is limitless and after two seasons tarnished by injury he will be sure to prove a point in 2010 and be a major role in leading the Lakers to their second consecutive NBA title.

Trevor Ariza or Lamar Odom? The Great Debate

Ben Ogada-Osir — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:19:25 -0400

The free agent class of 2009 is greatly overshadowed by the star-studded LeBron James, Dwayne Wade class of 2010, but for the Lakers, this offseason is heating up and becoming a pivotal time for a team looking to compete for back-to-back championships.

With Shaquille O'Neal getting shipped to Cleveland and Vince Carter finding a home in Orlando, not to mention Kevin Garnett’s return to the Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have a tough time winning back-to-back titles.

The road to the finals will be tough next year, as a young, rearing Portland team gets another year of experience under their belts and an already well experienced San Antonio adds more fire power in Richard Jefferson. That should give much-needed aid to the Spurs big three.

However, the major factor in the Lakers going all the way is going to be the great decision of whether the Lakers choose to spend their money resigning Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza.

Although the Lakers made $4.5 million in the draft, it looks to be that most likely one of these key players will be packing his bags.

It’s a battle of experience and natural known talent versus youth, potential and athleticism. Both players played great in the NBA Finals, but who will stay?

Lamar Odom at age 29 is a versatile player. At 6’10”, he possesses the skill, speed, and strength to play any position from 1 to 4. He has great ball handling skills, can grab boards, and he is as good with his left as he is with his right.

Despite his great natural talent, Odom seems to be almost bipolar from game to game. One game he'll score 25 points and grab 18 rebounds and then the next game he won’t be able to buy a bucket.

In the Finals, Lamar Odom managed to grab only 1.5 rebounds less than his All-Star companion Pau Gasol, despite playing fewer minutes. Odom, with his age and inconsistency, is a gamble. But, if it pays off and the right Odom steps up to the court, then the Lakers could be well on their way to repeating.

With Ariza, at age 24 he has already solidified himself as a great slasher and a top-notch defender. The guy had nine steals in the Finals, more than any other player. Despite playing less minutes than Kobe in the playoffs, he managed to only have two less steals than him.

Since being traded to the Lakers, Ariza has flourished as a player and I’m sure the Magic are regretting that trade. Playing alongside Bryant may be one of the reasons Ariza’s game has dramatically improved, or it may be the fact that it was his contract year.

But overall, Ariza has improved dramatically and his athleticism and energy aided the Lakers to their 15th NBA title.

The Lakers are much weaker at the small forward position than they are at power forward, so that swings things into Ariza’s favor.

However, with Andrew Bynum being in constant foul trouble, and recently returning from his second injury in two seasons, Gasol may have to play heavier minutes at center. That would mean that Odom would be the only other viable starting power forward option, which swings things back in his favor.

Would either of these players be willing to take a pay cut to both contend again on the Lakers? Odom might, considering he did one noble thing that not many other players are willing to do: agree to play coming off the bench, while receiving less minutes.

Odom’s humble attitude has made him popular amongst Laker fans. Ariza. on the other hand, had a great contract year, aided by more minutes and a position as a starter.

He really enjoyed himself this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he took an offer from another before taking a pay cut and remaining with the Lakers.

If Andrew Bynum can stay out of foul trouble and return to his January form, then Ariza would be the better option, but Laker fans can only hope that he returns to that. Then again, if we re-sign Odom and let Ariza go, we might have a chance of signing Artest who would be a formidable replacement to Ariza.

Who will the Lakers keep? I don’t know, but it will have a major impact on the upcoming season.