LA Lakers: 10 Moves They Should Make to Ensure a Deep Playoff Run
With just a precious couple weeks left in the 2010-2011 NBA regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers have a lot they need to figure out.
Between all of the controversy and questioning of the team morale and chemistry, Phil Jackson and the Lakers are about to face their biggest test.
Now that the trade deadline has passed and all of the "drama" behind who is staying and who is leaving is behind the team, it's time to move forward with what they have.
We all know it's Phil's last year at the helm. With that being said, let's take a look at some moves the Lakers need to make to ensure another championship run.
10. Shannon Needs to Play More
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Everyone is on board with Shannon Brown getting as many minutes as possible. Right now he's averaging 19 minutes a game. He's averaging 9.3 points a game to go along with those minutes, and it's helping the Lakers out tremendously.
The problem is, Shannon comes in primarily to aid Kobe Bryant.
If Phil can find a way to play Shannon more with the starting lineup, the Lakers may have found the secret to this year's championship run.
9. Phil Needs to Become More Involved
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There's been a lot of controversy and speculation in the clubhouse surrounding the Lakers and their cohesiveness or lack thereof.
We all know Phil is a master craftsmen with his game plan and technique. However, from afar it looks like there are some internal issues that only the Zen master can dismiss. If the Lakers want to win for the third time in a row, Phil's head needs to be in this.
8. Simply the Health of Andrew Bynum's Stilts, I Mean Knees
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Andrew needs to stay healthy. It's as simple as that. When Bynum is healthy and he's "in the mood" to contribute, the Lakers win games.
Bynum, who's averaging around 11 points and eight rebounds a game, has been productive, but not dominant. The more he gets in shape, the more the Lakers will continue to call on him.
Let's hope those knees hold up.
7. Turn on the Jets
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We all know the famous Derek Fisher line that it's "hard to get up for every game when you're us" or something along those lines.
Well, the Lakers have lost more of those "throwaway" games this season than they ever have before. It's certainly a concern for diehard purple and gold fans.
The question down the stretch is going to be whether or not they can turn on the jets when there's little room for error.
6. Lamar Needs to Keep Doing What He's Doing
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Lamar Odom, regardless of what people say, is having an extremely productive year. He's averaging 14.6 points and nine rebounds per game.
Everybody needs to recognize that he is the golden ticket to ensure a deep run in the playoffs. He is one of the select few in this league that can match up at any of the five positions, and the Lakers need to utilize that skill.
If they want to go deep in the playoffs, the confidence of Lamar is all the difference.
5. Establishing Matt Barnes
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Barnes has been a non-factor almost all year due to health. He was semi-productive at the beginning of the year, but since the injury the Lakers have had to move on without him.
He's still averaging 7.4 PPG in the 20 games he has suited up, but his role on the team is still undefined.
Because he doesn't start, providing energy off the bench is what the Lake show really needs him to do. He's feisty, aggressive on defense and knows how to get in other players' heads. It's time to start locking into that mindset again.
4. Ron Artest Mentality Shift
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Ron-Ron has been an interesting case this year. He's certainly changed his mentality, but no one truly knows why except for him.
His numbers are at career lows in points and rebounds this season, and the defense first mentality doesn't seem to be in full effect.
The Lakers need Ron to figure out his internal issues because he is truly the one player that other players on the team can rally behind defensively.
Until then, practicing three-pointers is a good way to prepare for the playoffs.
3. Kobe Getting No More Than 36 Minutes
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Kobe is averaging 33 minutes a game. He's averaging 25 PPG, but to me he has been worked extremely hard.
I know Kobe's a competitor and believes he should be on the court every minute of every game, but for the sake of Phil in his last year, that should not be the mentality.
Kobe needs to play as many minutes (at least the remainder of the regular season) as guys his age do, like a Manu Ginobili. If he does play less, it leaves room for other players to build up their confidence and swagger before a deep playoff run.
2. Pau Gasol Challenge
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Where do we start with Pau? How about his phenomenal season this year, where he's averaging 18.6 PPG and 10.5 RPG? A double-double kind of performance is exactly what the Lakers need him to produce down the stretch.
He's going against some motivated power forwards in the West, and it's up to him whether or not he can live up to the challenge again.
Stopping Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and Kendrick Perkins is going to be quite a feat, but if he can do it, game over.
1. Derek Fisher Best Supporting Role
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D-Fish is the man behind Kobe Bryant's success. You know when great actors win awards and they say they couldn't have done it without the help and support of their wives? Well, same thing applies for Kobe and Fish.
Kobe wouldn't be where he is without Derek Fisher. Fish has had a quiet season, but that doesn't mean he's not preparing for another run at a championship.
He's averaging 6.7 PPG and playing around 27 minutes of basketball per game.
The only thing the Lakers need Fish to do right now is be a motivator to the other guys that need to get in the right mentality.
Then he needs to be prepared to make clutch shots down the stretch like he always has.
