Kobe Bryant's Lakers Embarrassed Badly: What Lakers Offseason Needs to Include
The Los Angeles Lakers need to make a change. After finishing their run in the 2011 playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers looked defeated and confused. They were torched from deep, sluggish on defense, and rebounded like, well, they didn't rebound at all. If they had lost like champions, fighting to end and making shots like a championship team does, no one, including myself, would be saying they needed any adjustments at all. However, the Lakers have shown throughout the season that they have many weaknesses that are difficult to hide.
Derek Fisher is one of my favorite Lakers of all time. He has made plays throughout his career that have proved to the world that he is a winner and one of the best clutch players in Lakers history. However, this season has made it apparent that his role on the Lakers is better served sitting and leading than playing on the court.
However, he is a defensive liability and simply cannot hang with the young and athletic point guards flourishing all over the league. Also, the years have obviously caught up to D-Fish. Since he cannot elevate his offensive performance to provide the team with any consistent shooting or slashing, the Lakers desperately need a shake up in that position and need to find someone, not on their current roster, that can help run the offense.
The Lakers best bet would be finding a point guard with a swift handle and can shoot the long ball or a quick, long-limbed guard who can bother the Derrick Roses and Russell Westbrooks out there.
Some good options are: Aaron Brooks (Suns), Either Raymond Felton or Ty Lawson (Nuggets), and possibly Steve Nash (Suns, who they may shop).
Another problem that the Lakers have is their lack of outside shooting.
Yes, Kobe can go off and knock down a few threes here and there, but when he's off who else can hit those shots?
D-Fish? Not really.
Steve Blake? I don't think so.
Barnes, Artest, or Odom? Not on a consistent basis.
The Lakers must, if they want any chance to come back and prove that they are championship worthy need to shop around and pick up some of those shooters who are floating around on non-contending teams.
A few names that come to mind are: Jason Kapono (76ers), Nick Young (Wizards), Anthony Parker (Cavs), Carlos Delfino (Bucks) and Mickael Pietrus (Suns).
As for the rest of the Lakers team, they have very solid pieces such as Artest, Odom, Barnes and Bynum. Also, they still have Kobe and Gasol who are still All-Star caliber players in their own respect.
If the Lakers decide not to make some changes they will no doubt end up as they did this year, embarrassed, getting shot right off the court and standing disappointed as the opposing team celebrates with confetti falling from the rafters.
