Week 2 Report Card Grades for Every L.A. Lakers Player

With the firing of Mike Brown, the L.A. Lakers underwent a week of change that yielded two wins that reinvigorated the struggling franchise. 

Often, players get a burst of energy and enthusiasm from a change in the coaching staff, though the games this week may be more indicative of a culture shock than a true trend.

This report card is going to yield a letter grade ranging from an A to F by adhering to the following criteria: offensive efficiency, defensive efficiency and intangibles.

Of course, the report is going to account for different roles in the offense. Offensive efficiency will be weighted more for a primary scorer such as Kobe Bryant than a role player such as Metta World Peace.

Furthermore, this report card will only consist of players in the rotation who play more than 10 minutes per game.

Note: Steve Nash will not be included due to only playing two games in the first week due to injury and not playing in any of the Lakers' games in the second week.

Furthermore, the remaining rotation players who play less than 10 minutes per game will not be included due to minimal in-game contributions.

Steve Blake

Steve Blake's Season Averages:

• 5.7 PPG
• 3.3 APG
• 2.5 RPG
• 1.3 SPG
• 0.0 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Steve Blake is the primary point guard off the bench and has been starting for the Lakers since Steve Nash's injury.

Blake has been a non-factor in terms of putting up points. However, he has been handling and distributing the ball at a decent clip.

Managing to shoot 50 percent from the floor during the Lakers' most recent victory against the Sacramento Kings, Blake only took two shots for two points, while dishing out four assists in 22 minutes.

Because he shoots such a low number of shots, his 34.4 percent field-goal percentage may not be a true indication of his efficiency. However, it is hard to spin such a low field-goal percentage in a positive light.

However, his 42 percent shooting from three-point range is a good indication of his ability to stretch the floor for his teammates.

With an offense that is so focused on post play and Kobe Bryant's domination of the ball, Blake's primary role on offense is to hit the open shot.

Grade: C

Defensive Efficiency

Blake's foot speed and defensive prowess is lacking, but he does have good instincts in the passing lane.

Frequently outrun by faster point guards, Blake's only real contribution on defense are his 1.3 steals per game, which is good production for someone who only plays approximately 28 minutes game.

Grade: C

Intangibles

Blake has no real leadership qualities because that is not his role on the team.

However, in terms of hustle points and 50-50 balls, Blake's slim frame and lack of speed make it difficult for him to compete against the superior athletes in the NBA.

However, Blake is a smart player who knows how to position himself for open shots in the offense.

Grade: C

Overall Grade: C

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant's Season Averages:

• 27.2 PPG
• 3.8 APG
• 5.7 RPG
• 1.5 SPG
• 0.0 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Shooting a career high 55.9 percent from the field, Kobe Bryant his playing the most efficient brand of offensive basketball in his career.

Hitting on 44 percent of his three-point shots, Bryant has been an inside and outside threat while playing only 36 minutes a game.

As his career progresses, Bryant has shown versatility and skill in the post the same way Michael Jordan used post play to preserve his stamina during the latter half of his career.

Furthermore, Bryant is shooting a shade better than 90 percent from the foul line, which basically makes him unstoppable on offense.

Grade: A

Defensive Efficiency

Bryant has been a perimeter terror on the defensive end for the majority of his career.

Elected to numerous All-Defensive teams, he has taken a small step back during this NBA season.

Though he is still quick on his feet and an effective thief in the passing lanes, Bryant isn't the lock-down defender he used to be.

However, this may be because he is preserving himself for the offensive end.

Bryant's still a very proficient rebounder for a shooting guard and continues to contribute on the boards despite his age and minor injury woes.

Grade: B+

Intangibles

Being one of the mentally toughest players in the league, Bryant hasn't had a chance during this NBA season to assert his will in the clutch.

However, that he is able to produce at such a high level despite general soreness and injuries shows his strong will.

Furthermore, his competitive intensity and lack of panic during the Lakers' early season struggles are a testament to his strength.

Despite his will, critics may point out his cold nature and perceived arrogance. However, Bryant is more of a leader in terms of tough-love rather than conformity.

Grade: A

Overall Grade: A

Devin Ebanks

Devin Ebanks' Season Averages:

• 2.5 PPG
• 0.8 APG
• 2.0 RPG
• 0.8 SPG
• 0.2 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

There's not much to say about Devin Ebanks on the offensive end.

Averaging 2.5 points in 10.3 minutes with 23 percent shooting from the field, Ebanks is basically a non-factor.

However, his role isn't to be an offensive sparkplug. Rather, the Lakers need him to hit open shots and be a defensive pest.

He needs to raise his field goal percentage and be more efficient with the limited shots he takes.

Grade: D 

Defensive Efficiency

With 0.2 blocks and 0.8 steals per game in the limited minutes he receives, Ebanks is not a terrible defender.

With decent length and foot speed for a player standing 6'9", Ebanks has the potential and size to be a lock-down defender in the league.

However, he has a ways to go.

The clearest way to make a defensive impact is to hit the boards. Averaging only two rebounds per game, he needs to use his length and size to gather more boards and end a defensive possession.

Grade: C+

Intangibles

Devin Ebanks was recently arrested on suspicion of DUI.

This is detrimental not only to his career and his minutes, but also to the team itself.

Grade: F

Overall Grade: D-

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol's Season Averages:

• 14.3 PPG
• 3.0 APG
• 9.9 RPG
• 0.9 SPG
• 1.4 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Pau Gasol's lackluster shooting percentage of 41.4 percent is not indicative of his offensive prowess.

This means that Gasol has been under-performing, which could be attributed to the offensive flux and confusion that came with the implementation of the Princeton offense.

Gasol's shooting woes are surprising, given the reduction in the number of double-teams he's faced because of the presence of Dwight Howard. However, his reduction in points may also be due to taking fewer shots per game.

Despite his scoring woes, his three assists are a good sign that he is still one of the better passing forwards in the league.

Grade: B

Defensive Efficiency

Gasol has never been an excellent post defender, but he has rebounded at a good clip this season while also averaging 1.4 blocks per game.

Being one of the quicker power forwards in the NBA despite being 7'0", Gasol is a decent pick-and-roll defender.

Thus, his ability to block his fair share of shots while rebounding at a high clip despite the presence of a dominant rebounder in Dwight Howard is a positive sign.

Grade: B+

Intangibles

Gasol's toughness has always been questioned. However, he dispels these misconceptions by working hard.

His work on the boards and blocking shots shows that he is making up for offensive struggles by contributing hard on the defensive end.

Grade: B 

Overall Grade: B

Jordan Hill

Jordan Hill's Season Averages:

• 7.0 PPG
• 0.3 APG
• 5.7 RPG
• 0.3 SPG
• 0.4 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Despite not being asked to carry the offensive load, Jordan Hill's offensive contributions of seven points per game off easy baskets and hustle plays are a testament to his effort.

Even though Hill isn't the most talented player in the low post, his length and toughness make him a force to be reckoned with on the offensive boards.

Gathering 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, Hill creates a lot of second chances for the Lakers and is a great boost off of the bench.

Grade: B+

Defensive Efficiency

While not a prolific shot-blocker on the defensive end, Hill works hard as a defender and is quick enough to play decent help defense.

Though a little raw in terms of his fundamentals, Hill's effort in his 16 minutes of playing time make him a feisty defender who has a penchant for gathering rebounds.

Grade: C+

Intangibles

Though Hill isn't quite fundamentally sound or offensively skilled, he plays with 100 percent effort each time he hits the court.

Hill has taken full advantage of his time off the bench despite early season injury woes and should only improve as his game progresses.

Grade: B

Overall Grade: B

Jodie Meeks

Jodie Meeks' Season Averages:

• 3.0 PPG
• 0.4 APG
• 1.0 RPG
• 0.4 SPG
• 0.0 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Jodie Meeks has made a negligible impact on offense.

Known as a proficient outside shooter, his low number of shots, small role on offense and only 10.6 minutes of playing time per game make it hard for him to make an impact.

Grade: C-

Defensive Efficiency

Known as an excellent perimeter defender, Meeks has shown quick lateral movement and the ability to stay in front of his man.

However, his lack of minutes due to shared time with Kobe Bryant and Devin Ebanks, as well as the Lakers' overall struggles, have mitigated his role on the team.

Grade: C 

Intangibles:

It is clear that Meeks works hard in the small number of minutes he plays.

However, it appears as if Meeks tries to force the issue, and he has been quite ineffective not only from the perimeter, but most notably from close range.

Meeks is definitely a good enough shooter to stretch the floor, but his lack of minutes and production have mitigated his greatest strength thus far.

Grade: C-

Overall Grade: C-

Metta World Peace

Metta World Peace's Season Averages:

• 11.7 PPG
• 2.3 APG
• 5.1 RPG
• 1.7 SPG
• 0.3 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Though shooting less than 40 percent from the field as well as from three-point range, Metta World Peace is still an offensive sparkplug.

Averaging almost 12 points per game, his ability to overpower smaller forwards and his streaky shooting make him a dangerous wild card.

However, his offensive inefficiency despite his skills has been a continuing trend in the past few seasons.

Grade: C+

Defensive Efficiency

While not a Defensive Player of the Year candidate like he used to be, Peace is still one of the peskier defenders in the league.

Averaging 1.7 steals with his brand of physical defense, Peace can still be a force in the passing lanes.

Though he isn't considered a lock-down defender any longer, his ability to make the opposing player uncomfortable is still a great contribution to the Lakers' perimeter defense.

Grade: B+

Intangibles

Without a doubt, Peace is one of the most intense and hardest-working players in the league.

Though not a player who works on certain facets of his game during the offseason, he is always one of the best-conditioned players in the league.

Considering last year as an anomaly, his tenacious defense and 100 percent effort are further buoyed by the great condition he is in during this NBA season.

Grade: B+

Overall Grade: B+

Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison's Season Averages:

• 3.6 PPG
• 0.7 APG
• 3.7 RPG
• 0.6 SPG
• 0.4 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Antawn Jamison is off to the slowest offensive start of his career.

Averaging 3.6 points in 16 minutes per game while shooting only 34 percent shooting from the field, Jamison has had a hard time finding his niche in the offense.

Supposedly the first offensive option off the Lakers' bench, Jamison has underperformed thus far.

Grade: D 

Defensive Efficiency

Jamison has never been a proficient post defender.

Though he is mobile enough to play average help defense and is quick enough to make adequate coverages off the pick and roll, he has been a non-factor on the glass thus far.

Grade: C-

Intangibles

Being a veteran, Jamison was expected to bring leadership off the bench.

Jamison has been tentative on offense and a non-factor on the glass.

His age and the mileage on his legs make it hard for him to make hustle plays and win 50-50 plays against more athletic big men.

Grade: C-

Overall Grade: D

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard's Season Averages:

• 20.1 PPG
• 2.3 APG
• 10.6 RPG
• 1.0 SPG
• 2.4 BPG

Offensive Efficiency

Dwight Howard has been his typical self on offense.

That means that he has scored his 20 points per game off easy baskets, dunks and layups near the rim. On top of that, he is shooting an amazing 63 percent from the field.

Furthermore, his typical self continues to mean that he struggles at the line.

Shooting at a 50.6 percent clip from the charity stripe, Howard has done little to improve this major weakness.

His lack of effective low post moves may still be a weakness, but his deficiency from the foul line is a bigger problem that needs to be fixed first.

Grade: B

Defensive Efficiency

Howard isn't himself on the defensive end. He is a step slow due to his recovering back. However, that doesn't mean he isn't a force on defense.

Averaging more than 10 rebounds per game while blocking 2.4 shots, Howard remains a defensive force despite still being hindered by his injury.

Grade: B

Intangibles

Howard has lived up to the hype thus far.

Despite not doing much to improve his offensive game, he is still a 20-point scorer despite being paired with two other great scorers in Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant. That shows that his basketball IQ is high enough to adapt to the Lakers' system.

Furthermore, his defensive numbers and continued dominance on the boards despite playing with a sore back shows his mental toughness and strength.

Grade: A

Overall Grade: B+