The Los Angeles Lakers' Core: Why They're Still the NBA's Best

All season, the Lakers’ critics have been outspoken in their uncompromising hatred of the purple, gold and white. 

They have claimed the Lakers can’t match up with the Heat, Celtics or Spurs. They have called Kobe, Fisher, Artest, Gasol and half the bench old.

They have labeled Bynum injury-prone, and assured Lakers fans that he won’t make it through the playoffs. 

They are all wrong. 

The Lakers are built around a core, and that core is having its best combined season ever. 

Here’s why.

Pau Gasol

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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 12: Forward Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers takes a shot against Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 12, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees th

Pau is the only member of the Lakers' core whose numbers have stagnated over the past three years.

However, he has managed to keep his production relatively constant. He has also become more assertive in the paint, and at times can even take over lead offensive duties for Los Angeles. 

Gasol is rebounding at the second-highest rate of his career, and his scoring and passing are just as good as they have been for the past three years. 

Maybe Gasol hasn’t made any giant leaps forward, but he hasn’t declined either. He’s still a great player, one of the best power forwards in the league and a fantastic second option for the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a jumper over Nicolas Batum #88 of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center on March 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and

LeBron generously granted Kobe a reprieve from his status of "most hated NBA player" last summer, but plenty of people are still quick to point out Kobe’s relatively low stats and call him old and tired.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Kobe may have lost some athleticism over the past few years, but his lower statistics are a result of playing dramatically fewer minutes than he has in previous seasons.

In fact, Kobe’s points, rebounds and assists per minute are all among his career bests.

Kobe still has the drive to win, and he still has the ability to do anything he wants on the court. Come playoff time, his minutes will pick up, his production will jump and he will prove once more to the world that he is the man in charge of the NBA.

Lamar Odom

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ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 13: Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a shot over Brandon Bass #30 of the Orlando Magic during the game at Amway Arena on February 13, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees

Lamar Odom is having a career year.

Coming off the bench, he has put up numbers that almost landed him in the All-Star Game, and he should win the Sixth Man of the Year award.

He’s averaging his highest points per minute of the past seven years, he’s rebounding well and his field goal and three-point percentages are the highest of his career.

Beyond that, Odom has proven his worth to the Lakers through his versatility: He is a point-guard caliber ball-handler, a good rebounder and a great shooter, and he can play either forward position and even center.

Odom is the perfect sixth man, and an integral part of the Lakers’ devastating big-man rotation.

Andrew Bynum

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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 09: Andrew Bynum #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot over Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic in Game Three of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 9, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknow

For most of his career, Bynum has struggled to overcome his injury-prone label and prove himself the dominant center he should be.

Recently, he appears to have succeeded.

Since the All-Star Game, Bynum is having by far the best stretch of his career. After the break the Lakers have won 12 of 13 games with him on the court, and he has averaged 11.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and an astounding 2.61 blocks per game.

Bynum highlighted this stretch with an amazing 10-point, 18-rebound, 4-block performance against the likely Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, while also forcing Dwight to commit no fewer than nine turnovers.

Oh, and he did it in less than 28 minutes.

If Bynum keeps performing at this level, the Lakers can’t lose.