Memo to LA Fans: Lay Off the "Lakers Crack" for Now

J Lee — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:58:26 -0500

To qoute T.J. Simers from latimes.com:

"Lakers, Lakers, Lakers, Lakers" and "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe." Throw in some, "Gasol, Gasol, Gasol, Gasol." Add them all up and we're just beginning the month of March.

The schedule for this month looks something like this: the march to madness is on, daylights saving starts on the ninth, no holidays this month, and the NBA playoffs do not start for another month and a half.

To quote my friend, we "gotta stop smoking that Laker crack."

It's true Laker fans, it is way to early in the season to be this high on the "Laker crack."

In case people have forgotten, the Lakers have yet to make it out of the first round of the playoffs since O'neal left.

The "deep" Lakers bench is composed of players in their early to mid-twenties. Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and Ronnie Turiaf, to name a few, have yet to be tested in the playoffs.

Yes, these players have played playoffs games. However, none of the players on the Lakers' roster, except Kobe Bryant, and Derek Fisher, know what it's like to play in a true playoff game. Pau Gasol was not expected to lead the Grizzles to a deep playoff run, so the Lakers' second option does not have playoff experience either.

True playoff games are games in which you are expected to win. The last two years that Kobe Bryant dragged the Lakers in the post-season, the Lakers were not expected to beat the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers' players were not expected to perform, and as a result there was no pressure.

This year the Lakers' young players are expected to produce. I'm not saying that the Lakers' bench players will choke, all I'm saying is that no one is going to be shocked if they do.

Second, Andrew Bynum is still only twenty years old. Bynum has indeed improved beyond recognition this year.

The problem is that he only has a little over three weeks to be reintegrated into the offense. If people forget, Andrew has not played in a single meaningful playoff game. It was a player by the name of Kwame Brown that got the minutes.

There is something that's quite not right when the guy that's supposed to push your team over the top, is an untested twenty-year old center, that's still learning to play the game. And the fact that, if he returns at all, he's returning from injury, and that doesn't help at all.

Third, the ten-game win-streak is not a very impressive one. When your team has Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom on it, then winning should not have been a problem.

The teams that the Lakers beat were the Raptors, a depleted Wizards, Nets, Magic, Heat, Bobcats, Timberwolves, Hawks, post-Oneal Suns, Clippers, Sonics, a Brandon Roy-less Blazers, and the Heat again.

No disrespect to the teams mentioned above, but those teams are below par teams with the exception of Phoenix and Orlando. The Lakers actually also lost to the Hawks and to the Portland yesterday.

As much of a Lakers fan that I am, I'm not convinced yet.

I want to actually see Andrew Bynum on the floor with Pau Gasol.

I want to see the Lakers get out of the first round. Two years ago, the Lakers looked like they were going to beat the Suns being up 3-1, and they choked. I won't even mention last year.

Yes, the Lakers are having a great season. Yes, the Lakers are a top five team, and second in the west. The win-streak was good to see. Let's just not get ahead of ourselves.

Do what the players are saying, and take it game by game. I'm looking forward to the playoffs for once, and hey, we might be able to "smoke the Lakers crack" in the playoffs as well as the regular season.

Kobe Byrant: The Best Player in the NBA Only Gets Better

J Lee — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:34:52 -0500

It has been 19 days and nine games since Pau Gasol arrived in Lakerland.

Since trading for Gasol the Lakers have been on their longest winning streak of the season, and notched their most consecutive road victories since the 2000-2001 season.

The wins have been racking up, and everyone on the Lakers roster has been performing at a higher level since the trade. But who has benefited the most form the trade?

Most would say that Lamar Odom has benefited the most because he longer has to shoulder the pressure of being LA's second option.

Others would argue that role players such as Vladimir Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic have gained the most because Gasol is the only one, other than Kobe, that demands a double team.

However, I say that another man has improved his game since the Lakers' acquisition Gasol—Kobe Bryant.

It is true; Kobe Bryant's game has been at a higher level now than it has been in the past three years. Bryant is playing his best and for the first time since the departure of Shaquille O’Neal seems to truly enjoy playing basketball.

Kobe no longer has to work as hard, or for that matter, against triple teams to score. Byrant’s defense has also increased due to the fact that he no longer has to carry the offence by himself.

The best trade this season has made the best player in the game even better. Kobe is no longer forcing the offence and is now getter quality shots, at least quality shots in Kobe's standards.

No. 24 has now shed the myth that he "ball-hogs" and is a selfish player with increases in assists. Byrant’s averages might be down compared to that of last years, but it goes to show that averages are not everything, especially when players have to take over the game from start to finish to do so.

Funny how having another star player to play with can make the best even better.

Oh, and before every Lakers fan cry in rage I also need to add one last note. Kobe is now a better player and can be considered as the best in the league today and challenge Michael Jordan because of Gasol.

Gasol is having a career year, and the misconception that Kobe Bryant dose not make his teammates better can be put to rest.

After all, even if Gasol made Kobe better, Kobe has made Gasol equally better.

Funny how that is a two way street.

Bleacher Report - Articles by J Lee

Memo to LA Fans: Lay Off the "Lakers Crack" for Now

Kobe Byrant: The Best Player in the NBA Only Gets Better