Week 2 Report Card Grades for Every LA Lakers Player
Through two weeks of the 2013-14 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have accumulated a 3-5 record. Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks have provided a spark in the absence of Kobe Bryant, but Lakers players have acquired some vastly mediocre report card grades through two weeks.
The Lakers have been better than many expected, winning games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets, but there simply hasnโt been enough talent available to stay competitive.
Has anyone on the Lakers roster performed well enough to earn an โAโ grade, though? Having the leagueโs 27th-ranked defense in terms of opponent points per game (105.6) wonโt help their case.
Note: All stats in this article are accurate through seven games of the 2013-14 NBA season. The Lakersโ matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves will not be factored into the 2013-14 per-game statistics, and only players who have appeared in at least five games will be graded.
Also, players will be listed in ascending order based on minutes per game.
Shawne Williams
1 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 3.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.6 blocks
Shawne Williams has experienced a rather bizarre start to the 2013-14 season. He started the Lakersโ first five games, but he only notched 13.6 minutes per game in those five. He did not start in Sunday nightโs matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Even in a starting role, Williams didnโt receive enough minutes to make much of an impact.
The 27-year-old has struggled from the field (35.3 percent), three-point range (30 percent) and from the free-throw line (50 percent). He also hasnโt dished out a single assist in five games.
There are much better options on the Lakers roster compared to Williams (namely Chris Kaman and Jordan Hill). Donโt be surprised if Williams continues to lose minutes after his early-season struggles.
Grade: D+
Jordan Hill
2 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.9 blocks
Jordan Hill started his NBA career with the New York Knicks under head coach Mike DโAntoni. He had trouble cracking the rotation in DโAntoniโs system and was promptly traded to the Houston Rockets as a result.
DโAntoni hasnโt buried Hill on the bench this year, but he hasnโt given him significant minutes either (just 15.7 per game). Nevertheless, Hill has been extremely efficient in limited time.
Not only is Hill averaging 6.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but heโs also posted a gaudy 22.1 player efficiency rating through seven games. That PER ranks Hill 28th in the entire NBA.
At this juncture, the only negative in Hillโs game has been efficiency from the free-throw line. Heโs shooting just 35.7 percent from the charity stripe.
The former University of Arizona Wildcat hasnโt played a huge role on this Lakers team from a minutes-per-game standpoint, but heโs certainly taken advantage of the court time heโs been given.
Grade: A-
Chris Kaman
3 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 9.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.1 blocks
Chris Kaman suffered a setback in October when he injured his finger tobogganing at the Great Wall of China. He also entered the new season nursing a stomach virus. As a result, heโs come off the bench in five of his first seven games.
Despite the fact that the Lakersโ new center was limited to playing just 18 minutes per game through his first seven appearances, heโs been nearly as efficient as Jordan Hill in reduced court time.
Kaman has posted 9.6 points, six rebounds and a PER of 19.3. Heโs still easing his way back into a starting role, but heโs been offensively sound to start the year.
Grade: B
Jordan Farmar
4 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.0 blocks
After playing the 2012-13 season overseas in Turkey, Jordan Farmarโs return to the NBA has been impressive thus far.
The veteran guard is the only player on the Lakers averaging at least 10 points, three rebounds and four assists per game. Heโs attacking the basket, playing with confidence (sometimes irrational confidence) and filling the box score in a variety of categories.
His presence has been a welcome addition after last seasonโs point guard debacle. Steve Nash isnโt the player he once was, and backup Steve Blake suffered injuries of his own. Farmerโs presence this year with the absence of Kobe Bryant has really helped the Lakers keep their heads above water.
Granted, his 40.9 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc havenโt been efficient. However, his grit has helped a great deal.
Grade: B
Nick Young
5 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 11.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
Nick Young has failed to find his shooting stroke through two weeks of the season. Heโs shooting 42.9 percent from the field and just 30 percent from three-point range, which is the lowest on the team among players who have attempted at least one three-pointer.
Young has proven himself as one of the streakiest outside shooters in the game, so perhaps this is just a meaningless early-season slump. With that said, his aim from downtown has been completely off the mark.
Because Young doesnโt bring much to the defensive end of the court, heโs truly a liability when his shot isnโt falling.
He has plenty of time to turn his season around, but the start of his stint with the Lakers hasnโt impressed.
Grade: C-
Xavier Henry
6 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 10.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks
Xavier Henry burst onto the NBA scene this season with the Lakers.
He scored 22 points in the home opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, 14 points in a loss to the Golden State Warriors and 18 points in a win over the Atlanta Hawks.
That sample size, however, has proven to be far too small.
In the other five games so far, Henry has scored just 19 points combined. That included an 0-of-6 shooting performance against the San Antonio Spurs and a 1-of-8 shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 22-year-old guard enjoyed some nice performances, but heโs come back down to earth in a big way.
When Henry plays well, the Lakers are a surprisingly difficult team to beat. He just hasnโt shown much consistency.
Grade: C+
Wesley Johnson
7 of 11
2012-13 Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.6 blocks
Wesley Johnson has played a prominent role on this Lakers team to start the season, but his shooting and defense have continued to be mediocre.
The young guard/forward is shooting a woeful 34.3 percent from the field. Heโs also racking up 3.7 fouls per game (tops on the team) in just 23.6 minutes per game. Playing solid defense without fouling has to be a point of emphasis for Johnson moving forward if he hopes to keep his court time.
On the bright side, Johnson is shooting 37.9 percent from downtown. Thatโs the highest percentage from beyond the arc heโs notched in his career.
As long as he keeps knocking down threes, heโll be a valuable asset within the rotation.
Grade: C+
Steve Nash
8 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 7.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.2 blocks
Age is finally catching up to Steve Nash.
The former two-time MVP has been a shell of himself this season and even had to leave the most recent matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to injury, per Shahan Ahmed of NBC Los Angeles.
Nashโs nerve issue, which has caused problems in his hamstring and back, continues to hold the point guard back. Heโs shooting a paltry 27.9 percent from the field with a player efficiency rating of just 8.2.
Itโs difficult to grade Nash, considering that heโs been playing hurt. Despite the injury, heโs tried his best to be out there for his teammates. At this juncture, however, heโs doing more harm than good.
It may be in the team's best interest to rest Nash and get him healthy.
Grade: C+
Jodie Meeks
9 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.0 blocks
Jodie Meeks struggled last season, but through the first seven games of 2013-14, heโs leading the Lakers in scoring. Thatโs something nobody could have predicted prior to the year.
Heโs doing so by averaging just 12.3 points per game, but thatโs still helped ease the absence of Kobe Bryant.
The 26-year-old is shooting 49.2 percent from the field and a scorching hot 48.4 percent from beyond the three-point arc (best on the team). Meeks has made a complete 180 compared to last season when he shot 38.7 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from deep.
His numbers likely wonโt remain this stellar throughout the season as opponents start game-planning to stop him. However, the Lakers can ride his hot hand until he cools off.
Grade: B+
Pau Gasol
10 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 12.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.7 blocks
With a certain former Laker playing for the Houston Rockets, Pau Gasol needed to shoulder the load on the interior as heโs done so many times in the past.
Unfortunately, the Spaniardโs struggles have carried over into the 2013-14 campaign.
Averaging double-digit rebounds is a good sign, but Gasol is shooting a measly 35.2 percent from the field. Thatโs totally unacceptable for a 7-footer.
Ironically, Gasol is shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range. Heโs been far more efficient shooting from three than he has been inside the arc.
Gasol simply hasnโt found his niche in Mike DโAntoniโs offense. That needs to happen soon if the Lakers hope to stay competitive without Kobe Bryant.
Grade: B-
Steve Blake
11 of 11
2013-14 Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.0 blocks
While itโs baffling to see Jodie Meeks leading the Lakers in scoring, itโs equally absurd to see Steve Blake leading the team in minutes with 30.9 per game.
Heโs started every game in the backcourt and has done a variety of things well. The high point of Blakeโs season came against the Houston Rockets, when he drained the game-winning three-pointer. Of course, his clutch shot shouldnโt come as much of a surprise, because heโs shooting 44.4 percent from deep through seven games.
In addition to the great outside shooting, Blake has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.2. In other words, heโs dishing out 3.2 assists for every turnover, which is solid for a guy who usually fills a backup point guard role.
Along with Jodie Meeks and a few performances from Xavier Henry, Blake has helped the Lakers remain competitive early in the season. It will be interesting, however, to see if he can stay healthy playing this many minutes.
Grade: B
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