Year-End Grades for Every Key LA Lakers Player
After an inspirational start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled as of late while the injuries continue to mount.
However, when healthy, the Lakers have shown themselves to be a scrappy and spirited bunch that are willing to gut out wins in whatever way possible. Unfortunately, that unit went down with a myriad of injuries right before the return of Kobe Bryant, who is now also nursing a knee injury.
Regardless of these unfortunate occurrences, the Lakers are a team that is definitely stacked with overachievers who have all the tools to be a dark-horse prospect to sneak into the playoffs if healthy.
Each key player on the roster will be graded based on three criteria: offense, defense and intangibles.
Stats are accurate as of Dec. 25, 2013. All stats are from NBA.com/Stats unless otherwise noted.
Kobe Bryant
1 of 10
Offense
Although Kobe Bryant's return was widely hyped and publicized, there is no doubt that the Black Mamba has not been the Black Mamba this season. While an adjustment time is obviously expected for a player who is coming back from one of the most severe injuries in sports, Bryant was also expected to play point guard for a team that was sorely weakened at that position.
Suffice it to say, the Mamba's offensive output given the fact that he was playing out of position while mending from his Achilles tendon injury was not good. Averaging 13.8 points per game, 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc, Bryant has struggled to play the facilitating role he succeeded in last season.
It is obvious from his play that his legs are not completely underneath him, and he is struggling to score. Another reason for his struggles is the fact that he cannot work out of the post or out of isolation plays as he is used to due to the fact that he is tasked with being the starting point guard for the Lakers.
To truly determine if Bryant will ever return to being the Kobe of old, he will have to shift back to his natural position once the Los Angeles point guards are recovered and play extended minutes while his Achilles tendon continues to heal.
Grade: C-
Defense
Once considered an elite defender, Bryant had a noticeable drop-off last season. This year, coming back from his injury and playing out of position, he has had a hard time stopping opposing point guards from having their way with the Lakers.
Kyle Lowry was able to drop 23 points on him, while Russell Westbrook almost accumulated a triple-double against him during the Lakers' losses to the Toronto Raptors and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Eric Bledsoe was able to score 18 points and dish out nine assists on Kobe to lead the Phoenix Suns over the Lakers.
While Bryant has probably one of the highest basketball IQs in the league, his body simply can't keep up with his instincts at this point. Although it is impossible to tell until we see Bryant back and completely healed, his defense thus far has been below-average at best.
Grade: C-
Intangibles
No player in the NBA has the killer will and drive that Bryant has. Returning from his Achilles tendon injury ahead of schedule, Bryant has jumped right into the thick of things and has played over 30 minutes per game in his last three games before falling to a knee injury.
While the Lakers only won two of their six games with Bryant in the lineup, there is no doubt that the Lakers' identity and personality take after the Black Mamba every time he suits up for a game. The losses they've suffered can be attributed more to the devastating injuries they've faced at the point guard position rather than Bryant mitigating their success.
If the Lakers can get completely healthy, there is no doubt that Bryant's presence and late-game experience is an additional asset rather than a detriment to this feisty squad.
Grade: A
Final Grade: C+
Pau Gasol
2 of 10
Offense
Statistically, Pau Gasol is putting up once of the worst offensive outputs of his career, averaging 14.7 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field. However, objectively speaking, Gasol is still the most important part of the Lakers offense outside of Kobe Bryant.
While head coach Mike D'Antoni isn't a fan of the conventional post-up, Gasol is still essential to the offense for his ability to create for himself and others out of the high post and the pick-and-roll.
Although it may be asking too much to expect Gasol to produce like he used to when he was a major contributor to the Lakers' two most recent championships, an increase in efficiency isn't too much to ask.
Gasol's versatile skills are essential to the Lakers' success and would be even more deadly if he hit a higher percentage of his shots. If he can draw double-teams more frequently, the Lakers' shooters should see even more open looks.
Grade: B-
Defense
While Gasol's over nine rebounds per game are in line with his career averages, his defense has definitely dropped off this season. He has never been a reputable defender, and opposing big men often have their way in the Lakers' interior.
The rebounds are definitely good. The Lakers haven't been as bad on the boards as expected despite losing Dwight Howard this offseason. Gasol's nine rebounds per game definitely have something to do with them holding down the fort. However, he isn't a good help defender and is an average one-on-one post defender at best.
Despite all the talk about offensive chemistry and cohesion, the Lakers' greatest weakness is their defense, which is allowing 103.4 points per game.
A big part of this in their inability to defend is the fact that they are allowing 47.4 points in the paint per game. While Gasol isn't the primary cause of this deficiency, his regression on defense is definitely a factor.
Grade: C
Intangibles
As the longest tenured Laker on the roster besides the Black Mamba and not including a returning Jordan Farmar, Gasol was tasked with trying to keep the Lakers afloat while Bryant was indisposed.
He did a decent job and was clearly still the most potent offensive force on the roster despite his struggles to convert on his opportunities. While he doesn't draw double-teams like he used to, his ability to be a floor general and distributor despite playing as a power forward should not be overlooked.
While Nick Young is the team's leading scorer, Gasol shoots a better percentage and still draws more attention from defenses.
Grade: B
Final Grade: C+
Nick Young
3 of 10
Offense
While he isn't the most efficient shooter, his 15.7 points off the bench on 42.9 percent shooting and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc have been essential for the Lakers in keeping themselves competitive in the Western Conference.
Although Young is very good at finishing at the hole, converting on 54.4 percent of his attempts from within eight feet of the basket, most of his buckets are jumpers created off the dribble. Perhaps his inefficiency comes from the fact that he settles for jumpers rather than using his athleticism and ball-handling skills to take it to the hole more often.
Despite his shortcomings, there is no doubt that he has been the most consistent offensive threat for the Lakers this season.
Grade: B+
Defense
Young is not a defensive ace by any means. However, his athleticism and his speed make him a serviceable option on the perimeter. While he is a mobile defender, he doesn't do much else on the defensive end.
Despite being a very consistent shooter, Young isn't a great rebounder or ball thief. Averaging a little over two rebounds and not even one block per game, he has the tools to be a pesky defender.
While it may be too much to ask of a player who is tasked with doing so much on offense, there is no doubt that the Lakers offense isn't the main problem. The Lakers' main deficiency is their defense, and Young is an average defender at best.
Grade: C+
Intangibles
Thrown into an uncertain situation with a lot of responsibilities, Young has responded and has been consistent in the face of the Lakers' spotlight. While he isn't a locker room leader the way Kobe Bryant is, his upbeat attitude and infectious energy on the court are definitely intangibles that fuel the Lakers.
Young has revived the Lakers' infamous bench mob and has made them just as lethal as the Lakers' starters, if not more. If Kobe Bryant can return and be Kobe Bryant, the Lakers will be very difficult to handle with Swaggy P leading the second unit.
Grade: A-
Final Grade: B+
Steve Blake
4 of 10
Offense
Before coming down with an injury that has derailed him for the past few weeks, Steve Blake had played the best basketball of his career. Averaging almost 10 points and eight assists per game, Blake had been orchestrating the offense the way Mike D'Antoni envisioned Steve Nash would.
While he isn't the most efficient shooter, his 40.0 percent shooting from three-point range has supplemented his facilitating with the long-range shooting skills that were initially believed to be the last remnants of his deteriorating game.
Not only did Blake surprise everyone by being much more than a spot-up shooter, he has also effectively filled in the gaping hole left by Nash's ongoing injuries.
Grade: A-
Defense
Even though Blake has had an offensive renaissance, he remains a bit of a weakness on defense. While he has been peskier and more tenacious on defense than expected, he still isn't quick or athletic enough to guard some of the more athletic guards in the league.
Although he isn't the defensive liability that Steve Nash had deteriorated into last season, the Lakers still need a lot of help on the perimeter, and Blake isn't the one to fill that hole.
Grade: C
Intangibles
Without Nash and the Black Mamba to start off the season, Blake effectively beat out Jordan Farmar for the starting point guard spot and has orchestrated the offense with consistency and effectiveness. His clutch three-point shot to beat the Houston Rockets also shows that his veteran poise and experience are vital to the team's success.
A steady hand in the crunch helped the Lakers overcome a lot of adversity in the easygoing and was essential in keeping the Lakers around the .500 mark during the early portions of the season.
Grade: A
Final Grade: B+
Jordan Hill
5 of 10
Offense
Averaging career highs in points and offensive rebounds with 9.3 per game and 3.1 per game respectively, Jordan Hill has been a key offensive player for a Lakers squad that is sorely missing an interior presence.
While he isn't a conventional back-to-the-basket player, he is able to generate second-chance opportunities and easy attempts at the rim with his interior positioning. His ability to muscle his way into the lane and out-jump his foes in the paint helps suck in defenders and open up shooters on the outside.
Although he can't create for himself out of the post, he is the perfect type of glue player to put shooters around.
Grade: B
Defense
Averaging 7.8 rebounds per game while tying his career high with 0.9 blocks per game, Hill has been essential in keeping the Lakers' porous defense from completely collapsing.
He is an active help defender and is good at altering shots. However, he isn't the most instinctual shot-blocker and could be much more of a presence on the defensive end if he worked on his timing. However, it is clear that out of all of the big men on the roster, Hill is clearly the best defender.
Grade: B+
Intangibles
Hill's energy and effort on the court are similar to Young's offensive production from the bench. While Young assaults defenders off the dribble, Hill's energy and production come from within eight feet of the basket.
Hill has proven that given the minutes, he can continue to contribute and continue to improve. If he can become a better finisher off the pick-and-roll and develop his jump hook to utilize in a half-court set, he could potentially develop into an All-Star caliber player. However, he may never see the offensive opportunities he needs within Mike D'Antoni's system, which emphasizes shooters and floor spacing.
However, his ability to conform to a glue-player type role is going to be vital in reintegrating Kobe Bryant and the other injured point guards back into the fold.
Grade: A
Final Grade: A-
Xavier Henry
6 of 10
Offense
Attacking the rim with reckless abandon, the Lakers' most consistent interior threat is Xavier Henry. With Pau Gasol struggling to score and working extensively out of the high post, Henry's ability to get into the paint has been vital in jump-starting the half-court offense. If Henry develops into a better passer, his ability to penetrate into the lane at will could really open up the shooters on the perimeter.
He isn't the most efficient shooter, and his 42.0 percent from the field has mitigated his impact on the offensive end. However, he does make great use of his ball-handling skills and gets to the charity stripe very often due to his ability to draw contact. Despite his ability to get to the line, Henry has only been converting on 63.1 percent of his shots at the charity stripe.
Long-term, Henry should increase his efficiency by watching his shot selection and work on his passing skills. However, in the short-term, if Henry is able to convert his shots from the charity stripe at a higher rate, he could make an already potent Lakers bench even more dangerous.
Grade: B
Defense
Averaging 1.1 steals per game, Henry is a pest in the passing lanes and has effectively used his athleticism and speed to keep up with the quicker guards in the league. While he has been a solid defender, he isn't a game-changer and cannot lock down and contain an offensive star on his own.
Despite the fact that he isn't a prospect for the All-Defensive team, he is quick on his rotations, and he has good defensive instincts. Like most of the other players on the roster, Henry cannot be relied on to save a defense the way perimeter defenders like Bruce Bowen used to.
However, he is a solid defender who works well in a team defense. He could be a great fit for a team that emphasizes defense, which won't be the case as long as Mike D'Antoni is coaching this squad.
Grade: C+
Intangibles
Henry is a workhorse. Putting his head down and driving to the rim whenever he has the chance, the Lakers know what they can expect from Henry.
Although he is capable of going off on scoring binges on certain nights, his more important attribute to the team is his consistency. While he may not always put up the most efficient offensive numbers, the Lakers know that they can rely on him to play his role and attack the paint.
Grade: B
Final Grade: B-
Jodie Meeks
7 of 10
Offense
Shooting a career-high 46.1 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three-point range, Jodie Meeks is perhaps a more consistent version of Nick Young. He isn't as good at creating off the dribble as Swaggy P. However, Meeks provides consistent shooting from the perimeter and is good at getting to the hole off drives or off-ball cuts.
His efficiency has been key for a Lakers team that tends to fluctuate in terms of consistent offensive production. While he can't shoulder an offense on his own, he is the type of player who fits in perfectly with Mike D'Antoni's system.
Meeks is able to nail open jumpers, take advantage of seams and finish in transition. These are all skills that are required to perform well in Mike D'Antoni's system. Meeks has been doing that while surprising everybody with his efficiency.
Grade: A
Defense
Perhaps the best perimeter defender on the team, Meeks' defense has taken a slight hit in favor of his increased offensive production. This doesn't mean Meeks is a slouch on the defensive end by any means. He can stick athletic guards and is also a decent ball thief.
Although it may be unreasonable to expect exceptional defense from Meeks while he is being tasked with doing so much on the offensive end, it isn't too much to expect Meeks to shift his focus between offense and defense given situations on the court.
He has the potential to lock down his defenders and is strong and quick enough to cover elite shooting guards without a double-team. If the Lakers can create a consistent identity on offense, Meeks may be able to focus more on becoming an All-Defensive-Team-caliber defender.
Grade: B+
Intangibles
Meeks is a consistent defender and offensive producer for the Lakers. While he isn't a locker room leader or an All-Star talent by any means, his consistent production every game of the season has made him a key cog in D'Antoni's system.
However, Meeks can't really create for himself in a half-court set, and this tends to mitigate his production against the more competent defenses in the league.
With the strides he has made this season, there is no reason to believe Meeks can't keep improving and rectify his shortcomings.
Grade: B+
Final Grade: A-
Robert Sacre
8 of 10
Offense
When Robert Sacre began to earn consistent minutes under Mike D'Antoni, he made a big impact because of his smart shot selection and good positioning. However, after seeing consistent minutes in the last few games, it is apparent that Sacre is still a prospect who needs a lot of development.
Although he has a decent jump hook and is a smart player off the pick-and-roll, he doesn't have the length or offensive touch to be a force in the interior. It doesn't help that D'Antoni doesn't run a lot of isolated post for Sacre to work with.
He does shoot a good percentage from the field. His 48.0 percent shooting is definitely a positive. However, he doesn't take a lot of shots and can't really create for himself in D'Antoni's system. He also isn't as tenacious or aggressive as Jordan Hill in the interior.
Grade: C+
Defense
Sacre plays good, fundamental defense and is effective on his rotations and his contests. He is a very good shot-blocker, and his help defense is probably one of the best on the team. His instinctual tendency to jump straight up for contests and really take advantage of his height makes him a very dependable defender.
It is probably his energy and basketball IQ on defense that garners him as many minutes as it does. However, the fact that he only gets 13.1 minutes is due to his lack of productivity on offense rather than his defense, which is well above-average.
Grade: B+
Intangibles
A player who is steady and ready for all situations, Sacre has provided a steady defensive hand on defense and is smart enough on offense to pick his spots and get easy buckets. A player who is used to being a prospect, he plays the same way as a starter as he does during garbage time.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Sacre is that he seems to know his limitations. He tries his best to take advantage of his strengths and hide his weaknesses. While he has been asked to do a lot more than he is probably ready for, he has really stepped up and done his best to try and mitigate the losses suffered due to Dwight Howard's departure.
Grade: B
Final Grade: B-
Jordan Farmar
9 of 10
Offense
Similar to Steve Blake's impact on the starting unit, Jordan Farmar has been able to make his mark as the bench mob's primary facilitator.
While his 8.8 points and 4.3 assists per game are nothing spectacular on paper, his tenacity and aggressiveness on the offensive end have been crucial in buoying the Lakers to a 10-9 record out of the gates. Their struggles as of late can be partially attributed to Farmar's recent hamstring injury.
Farmar is excellent at driving into the lane, collapsing the defense and finding the open shooter. Plus, he is a very serviceable outside shooter himself and is capable of playing multiple roles on offense. Whether it is as a creator or a scorer, Farmar's versatility has been a vital part of the Lakers' success in the early parts of the season.
While Xavier Henry, Jodie Meeks and Nick Young can all get the ball to the rim, none of them can use that ability to find open shooters the way Farmar can.
Offense: A
Defense
While he is tenacious and bursting with effort on defense, he isn't a great defender due to his small stature and relative lack of length. While he is definitely quick and skilled, he just doesn't have the size or the length to prevent guards from penetrating into the lane.
However, he is definitely an upgrade over Steve Nash to a degree and is probably a little more fleet of foot than Blake on the defensive end. While this isn't saying much, at least there isn't a drop-off in defense when Blake hits the bench and Farmar enters the game.
Grade: C+
Intangibles
Farmar is a pit bull off the bench and plays the Nate Robinson role with more prudence and versatility. While Robinson can go off for 30 on any given night, Farmar brings much more to the table with the same aggression and energy that make them perfect for a sixth-man role.
Although he isn't a locker room leader by any stretch, he does inspire his team with his energy and will, and he is never afraid to take big shots. He is a fearless player and embodies the fight and spirit the Lakers have shown this season.
Grade: B+
Final Grade: A-
Wesley Johnson
10 of 10
Offense
An erratic and inefficient shooter, Wesley Johnson does provide some valuable skills to the Lakers offense despite his very noticeable shortcomings.
Despite his inefficient 41.6 percent shooting from the field on an array of ill-advised shot attempts, Johnson is a decent three-point shooter, and his 37.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc has helped the Lakers stretch the floor. Any player with a consistent shooting touch from beyond the arc can fill some sort of role on Mike D'Antoni's squads.
He is also a great finisher in transition and is one of the most athletic players on the roster. Despite his potential and excellent athleticism, Johnson is still very raw offensively and has a ways to go until he can become a consistent scorer in this league.
Grade: C+
Defense
Like his offense, Johnson can be erratic on defense. He gambles a lot but is also a good source of steals. Averaging 1.1 steals per game, Johnson can be a pest in the passing lanes when he focuses.
He is also a good source of blocks. Averaging 1.3 blocks per game, Johnson's athleticism, length and his ability to rotate and help out quickly on defense make him very competent in disrupting attempted shots. While he isn't a defensive ace by any means, he is capable of locking down offensive players in stretches and can be one of the best defenders on the team when he is locked in.
Grade: B+
Intangibles
Being more of a prospect, Johnson has a lot of unfulfilled potential left in the tank. However, he plays his roles well enough and can become a defensive stopper if the Lakers can figure out their offense once Kobe Bryant and the injured point guards on the team return.
He is a consummate role player whose role has yet to be truly defined due to the injuries that have afflicted this team. However, despite not having a clearly defined role, he does bring some much needed energy and athleticism to a team that tries to run as often as it can despite being shorthanded.
Grade: B
Final Grade: B
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