Now that most of the offseason roster changes have occurred, let's take a look at the moves the front office has made.
First things first. Dwight Howard did not re-sign with the Lakers. Instead he chose to go to Houston where he believes the grass is greener (read: there is less pressure to win). Some people can't handle the lime light I guess. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but....whatever.
Because of this, the Lakers have planned to completely overhaul the team for the 2014-2015 campaign. They are able to do this because all of their current contracts (except Nash) expire after this season. While great in potential, it does cause problems for assembling a team for this year. Being that the Lakers want a "clean slate" means that they don't want to sign any players to deals lasting longer than 1 year. This makes it difficult to attract quality players since most players prefer multi-year deals since it means more $$$, security, and comfort.
Operating under those constraints the Lakers have made the following moves:
Amnestying World Peace: This was done purely to save money. They like MWP as a person & player, but him being gone saves the team millions in taxes
Lost out on Earl Clark: While LA was waiting on Howard to make his decision, Earl Clark was offered a 2 year $9M deal from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers weren't willing to pay that much for Clark (who I liked), and I can't blame him for taking the extra money. It at least solves the minute sharing issue between Hill and Clark.
Signed Chris Kaman: Kaman is a great signing as a back-up center. He has a well developed post game and put up decent stats last year in this role. He gets injured when he gets too many minutes, so it's perfect for him to relieve Pau and keep them both fresh throughout the season. I've heard whispers of some experimental Kaman/Gasol lineups. I think it would be fine on offense, but far too slow on D. Maybe good for spot minutes.
Signed Jordan Farmar: True Lakers fans remember Farmar from his days on the repeat Championship team ('09 & '10). Look for him to be the same except more mature from his days playing over seas. With him the Lakers add much needed speed & athleticism in the back court. It could also mean Steve Blake is expendable now...
Signed Nick Young: This guy is the perfect classic sixth man in my opinion. He's an LA native who grew up watching the Lakers and idolizing Kobe. He's got major scoring talent and the tools to be good defensively. IF he takes some notes the Bean, and reaches his full potential....look out! He'll have to hold down the scoring fort until the Mamba returns.
Signed Wes Johnson: He's an athletic small forward. Something the Lakers have desperately needed since the days of Trevor Ariza. His specialty is defense, but he has the ability to knock down the open shot. The Lakers will need his perimeter defense when Nash and Kobe are playing together. Let the young guns do the hard stuff.
RUMORS
I typically don't post rumors because they move so quickly, and they rarely come to fruition. But this one is close to my heart so I'll post it. Rumor is the Lakers are looking to bring back Lamar Odom. His performance has definitely fallen off a cliff since he won 6th man of the year with the Lakers in 2011. But I would love to see him retire as a Laker. Especially if he was able to rejuvenate his game. He would fit right in to D'Antoni's system. If they don't pick him up, look for the Lakers to get Tyrus Thomas or Austin Daye. Thomas is an athletic 4/5 defender while Daye is 3/4 who is lanky with some offensive skills.
More analysis to come when the roster is finalized and we can see what type of system the Lakers will implore.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
OFFSEASON: Free Agency (07/01/13)
Now that the season is over, congratulations to the back to back champion Heat, it's time to figure out how the Lakers can get back to the mountaintop. Roster changes are a guarantee. The only question will be who will stay and who will go. To answer that you have to look at the Lakers organization from a cap space, coaching choice, and "Kobe's last run" perspective. These are the factors that weigh the most heavily on the decisions they will be making.
Cap Space
Without getting into the gory details, cap space is simply the amount of money a team has to bring in players. There is a limit to how much a team can spend, and if a team goes over that then they must pay penalties called the "luxury tax". Most teams are unwilling to pay this tax and therefore keep their player salaries as low as possible. Typically the Lakers have paid as much as necessary to have a winning team. However, the rules are different than they use to be, and the luxury tax can be A LOT higher than it used to be. Also, the rules on trading/ signing players change for luxury tax teams as well. I bring this up because the Lakers will sign players this off season with those rules in mind.
Currently the Lakers are over the salary cap and paying luxury tax. For next season, they only have one player signed (Nash), and can start fresh. Depending on their plans this may limit who they want to bring in this year as they may not want to bring in someone on a long contract which would damage their flexibility.
Coaching Choice
When the Lakers chose head coach Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson lots of fans were in uproar. Whether that was the right choice or not doesn't matter currently. D'Antoni is the coach, and as such he's going to need players to fit his system. He needs teams that are athletic, like to run, and shoot lots of 3's. The Lakers team as constructed is not elite at any of those skills. If he remains coach, look for the Lakers to get players to fit that mold.
Kobe's Last Run
We all know Kobe is only going to play for a few more years. He's still as focused as ever on getting #6. Because of this the Lakers are more inclined to surround him with experienced players rather than young players who will take time to develop. It's a gift and a curse though because the young players tend to fit D'Antoni's system more, and they can also help provide rest for Bryant.
Roster Changes
Now that we understand the framework the Lakers are using, let's look at some current and potential roster changes from last year's squad.
Gone: Ebanks, Goudelock, Duhon,
All players who contributed little on the court last year
Likely gone: MWP, Jamison
MWP is top candidate to be amnestied. It would save the Lakers $30M in luxury tax.
Jamison took a pay cut and spent time away from home for the shot at a ring last year. Can't see him doing it again.
Likely staying: Clark, Morris
Clark is a free agent. He already said he'd take a pay cut so as long as another team doesn't offer him a ridiculous contract he'll be back. Morris has been invited to summer camp. If he performs well he'll be back.
Staying: Sacre, Nash, Meeks, Bryant, Blake, Hill
Pending a trade all these guys will be back
???: Howard, Gasol
Talking with other fans, a lot of folks are mad at Dwight Howard, and maybe rightfully so. Reports come out everyday that he doesn't like the coach, can't play with Kobe, wants to go to Houston, etc. While it all may be true it's important to remember that they are just reports and rumors. Not fact. Take it with a grain of salt. Pau's stay with the team has a lot to do with Dwight's decision. If Howard leaves there is little doubt the Lakers will keep Gasol to play center. If he stays they may trade him to get some younger players who fit the coach's system better. I think Dwight will stay, but you just never know. One thing is for sure, Lakers fans only want players that want to be here. It's a privilege to play for this ball club.
P.S.- Free agency starts today, so now Dwight Howard can start talking to teams. July 10th is the earliest he'd be able to sign any contract with any team.
Cap Space
Without getting into the gory details, cap space is simply the amount of money a team has to bring in players. There is a limit to how much a team can spend, and if a team goes over that then they must pay penalties called the "luxury tax". Most teams are unwilling to pay this tax and therefore keep their player salaries as low as possible. Typically the Lakers have paid as much as necessary to have a winning team. However, the rules are different than they use to be, and the luxury tax can be A LOT higher than it used to be. Also, the rules on trading/ signing players change for luxury tax teams as well. I bring this up because the Lakers will sign players this off season with those rules in mind.
Currently the Lakers are over the salary cap and paying luxury tax. For next season, they only have one player signed (Nash), and can start fresh. Depending on their plans this may limit who they want to bring in this year as they may not want to bring in someone on a long contract which would damage their flexibility.
Coaching Choice
When the Lakers chose head coach Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson lots of fans were in uproar. Whether that was the right choice or not doesn't matter currently. D'Antoni is the coach, and as such he's going to need players to fit his system. He needs teams that are athletic, like to run, and shoot lots of 3's. The Lakers team as constructed is not elite at any of those skills. If he remains coach, look for the Lakers to get players to fit that mold.
Kobe's Last Run
We all know Kobe is only going to play for a few more years. He's still as focused as ever on getting #6. Because of this the Lakers are more inclined to surround him with experienced players rather than young players who will take time to develop. It's a gift and a curse though because the young players tend to fit D'Antoni's system more, and they can also help provide rest for Bryant.
Roster Changes
Now that we understand the framework the Lakers are using, let's look at some current and potential roster changes from last year's squad.
Gone: Ebanks, Goudelock, Duhon,
All players who contributed little on the court last year
Likely gone: MWP, Jamison
MWP is top candidate to be amnestied. It would save the Lakers $30M in luxury tax.
Jamison took a pay cut and spent time away from home for the shot at a ring last year. Can't see him doing it again.
Likely staying: Clark, Morris
Clark is a free agent. He already said he'd take a pay cut so as long as another team doesn't offer him a ridiculous contract he'll be back. Morris has been invited to summer camp. If he performs well he'll be back.
Staying: Sacre, Nash, Meeks, Bryant, Blake, Hill
Pending a trade all these guys will be back
???: Howard, Gasol
Talking with other fans, a lot of folks are mad at Dwight Howard, and maybe rightfully so. Reports come out everyday that he doesn't like the coach, can't play with Kobe, wants to go to Houston, etc. While it all may be true it's important to remember that they are just reports and rumors. Not fact. Take it with a grain of salt. Pau's stay with the team has a lot to do with Dwight's decision. If Howard leaves there is little doubt the Lakers will keep Gasol to play center. If he stays they may trade him to get some younger players who fit the coach's system better. I think Dwight will stay, but you just never know. One thing is for sure, Lakers fans only want players that want to be here. It's a privilege to play for this ball club.
P.S.- Free agency starts today, so now Dwight Howard can start talking to teams. July 10th is the earliest he'd be able to sign any contract with any team.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Game 4: Lakers vs Spurs (4/29/13) END OF SEASON WRAP-UP
Ejection. Turnovers. Loss. In their final game of the tumultuous 2012-2013 season, the Lakers were defeated 82-103 by the San Antonio Spurs.
There is very little to analyze in this one. It's been the same story all series. The Lakers were unable to take advantage of their interior play due to their extremely limted back court. Dwight Howard, who had been frustrated with the officiating all series long, was ejected in the 3rd quarter after receiving his second techincal foul. Kobe Bryant joined his mates on the bench shortly after amidst cheers from the Staples Center crowd. When Pau Gasol left the game late in the 4th, he too was greeted with a standing ovation.
Credit San Antonio for being focused and having no mercy on the depleted Lakers. As a competitor you always want to take your opponent's best shot. San Antonio certainly didn't pull any punches. Good luck to them in the next round.
What's Next?
As for the Lakers, this now begins a time when many decisions will be made. Should Pau be traded? Should the amnesty be used? Is Coach D'Antoni going to be the coach going forward? Will Dwight Howard re-sign? I'll cover some of these topics and more in follow on posts throughout the offseason so stay tuned.
This year has been trying. Coaching changes, media drama, and catastrophic injuries have left their mark on this team. And much like those friends who only hang around you when you're doing well and things are going good, all the bandwagon fans have fallen to the wayside. Free to join the OKCs, the Clippers, and the HEATs of the world. I, like so many other loyal Lake Show fans across the world, choose to stay and remain loyal.
This year has had its good times too. The first time we watched Kobe, Nash, Pau, and Dwight in uniform together was special. Watching Kobe dominate at age 34 on his way to earning the nickname "Vino" was something I'll never forget. And lastly watching the team bond through the race for the final playoff spot...it was just simply a lot of fun. Before Kobe went down the league was on notice, trust me. However, it just didn't work out for us this year.
Season Notables:
The Good:
- The team bonded through adversity
- Dwight got much better as the season progressed
- Kobe was every bit "Kobe" and then some
- Some promising young players began to develop (Clark and Hill)
- The race to make the playoffs was just as exciting as the playoffs themselves normally are lol
The Bad:
- Unsure if the team was able to forge an identity when it comes to play style
- Defense was a problem for the majority of the season
- Health uncertainty for next season
- Roster uncertainty for next season
We've been through tough times before, we will rise again. Remember missing the playoffs the year Shaq left? Yeah, we'll be back... ;)
GO LAKERS!!!
There is very little to analyze in this one. It's been the same story all series. The Lakers were unable to take advantage of their interior play due to their extremely limted back court. Dwight Howard, who had been frustrated with the officiating all series long, was ejected in the 3rd quarter after receiving his second techincal foul. Kobe Bryant joined his mates on the bench shortly after amidst cheers from the Staples Center crowd. When Pau Gasol left the game late in the 4th, he too was greeted with a standing ovation.
Credit San Antonio for being focused and having no mercy on the depleted Lakers. As a competitor you always want to take your opponent's best shot. San Antonio certainly didn't pull any punches. Good luck to them in the next round.
What's Next?
As for the Lakers, this now begins a time when many decisions will be made. Should Pau be traded? Should the amnesty be used? Is Coach D'Antoni going to be the coach going forward? Will Dwight Howard re-sign? I'll cover some of these topics and more in follow on posts throughout the offseason so stay tuned.
This year has been trying. Coaching changes, media drama, and catastrophic injuries have left their mark on this team. And much like those friends who only hang around you when you're doing well and things are going good, all the bandwagon fans have fallen to the wayside. Free to join the OKCs, the Clippers, and the HEATs of the world. I, like so many other loyal Lake Show fans across the world, choose to stay and remain loyal.
This year has had its good times too. The first time we watched Kobe, Nash, Pau, and Dwight in uniform together was special. Watching Kobe dominate at age 34 on his way to earning the nickname "Vino" was something I'll never forget. And lastly watching the team bond through the race for the final playoff spot...it was just simply a lot of fun. Before Kobe went down the league was on notice, trust me. However, it just didn't work out for us this year.
Season Notables:
The Good:
- The team bonded through adversity
- Dwight got much better as the season progressed
- Kobe was every bit "Kobe" and then some
- Some promising young players began to develop (Clark and Hill)
- The race to make the playoffs was just as exciting as the playoffs themselves normally are lol
The Bad:
- Unsure if the team was able to forge an identity when it comes to play style
- Defense was a problem for the majority of the season
- Health uncertainty for next season
- Roster uncertainty for next season
We've been through tough times before, we will rise again. Remember missing the playoffs the year Shaq left? Yeah, we'll be back... ;)
GO LAKERS!!!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Game 3: Lakers vs Spurs (4/26/13)
With their entire team decimated with injury there was little reason to hope for the Lakers heading in to Game 3. Reality set in as the Spurs controlled the entire game, and the Lakers lost 89-120.
The Lakers D-League backcourt actually shot the ball pretty well (a combined 17 for 32). However they failed to establish any flow to the offense or create for others. It was painful watching the Laker offense struggle to score all night. The Spurs elected to playing 5-on-1 vs Dwight defensively and his teammates were helpless to assist.
On the defensive end the Lakers couldn't stop the rain. Their rotations were slow and frequently incorrect. It's pretty much impossible to overcome the unfamiliarity in the lineups to have the necessary defensive chemistry needed to win playoff basketball games. These guys have never played together and it's quite obvious. It looks very ugly.
Notables:
The Good:
- Back court did alright with all things considered
- No one else got hurt (I think)
The Bad:
- Too many to list
The Lakers will get one more shot tomorrow to avoid elimination. Maybe if they jump on the Spurs early they'll have a chance. At this point though, they've got nothing to lose...
Go LAKERS!!!
The Lakers D-League backcourt actually shot the ball pretty well (a combined 17 for 32). However they failed to establish any flow to the offense or create for others. It was painful watching the Laker offense struggle to score all night. The Spurs elected to playing 5-on-1 vs Dwight defensively and his teammates were helpless to assist.
On the defensive end the Lakers couldn't stop the rain. Their rotations were slow and frequently incorrect. It's pretty much impossible to overcome the unfamiliarity in the lineups to have the necessary defensive chemistry needed to win playoff basketball games. These guys have never played together and it's quite obvious. It looks very ugly.
Notables:
The Good:
- Back court did alright with all things considered
- No one else got hurt (I think)
The Bad:
- Too many to list
The Lakers will get one more shot tomorrow to avoid elimination. Maybe if they jump on the Spurs early they'll have a chance. At this point though, they've got nothing to lose...
Go LAKERS!!!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Game 2: Lakers at Spurs (4/24/13)
Unable to outplay the Spurs in San Antonio, the Lakers lost 91-102 in Game 2. The Spurs pack the paint defensively, and with the Lakers back court literally in ruins, the Lakers haven't been able to make them pay for that strategy. Check Dancing Barry's review:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Jodie Meeks was unable to play due to an ankle sprain he suffered in Game 1. Steve Blake injured his hamstring late in this one amking his status for Game 3 questionable. Nash also tweaked his injuries from prior.
It's almost like one of those cartoons where the character has just slipped on a banana, ran into a wall, and gets hit by a car and then says, "Well at least it can't get any worse..." Then it starts to rain. Just terrible season in regards to injury. Worst I've ever personally seen from any team.
The good news for the Lakers is the next game is at home. Technically being down 0-2 when you haven't played a home game yet is not a huge deal since all the other team did was protect their home court. However, the bad news is the Lakers' perimeter players are too beat up to punish the Spurs and loosen up the paint for Dwight and Pau to work. If players like Morris, Duhon, and Goudelock don't step up this series won't last much longer. Staples should provide a much friendlier shooting environment at least.
Spurs lead 2-0
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Jodie Meeks was unable to play due to an ankle sprain he suffered in Game 1. Steve Blake injured his hamstring late in this one amking his status for Game 3 questionable. Nash also tweaked his injuries from prior.
It's almost like one of those cartoons where the character has just slipped on a banana, ran into a wall, and gets hit by a car and then says, "Well at least it can't get any worse..." Then it starts to rain. Just terrible season in regards to injury. Worst I've ever personally seen from any team.
The good news for the Lakers is the next game is at home. Technically being down 0-2 when you haven't played a home game yet is not a huge deal since all the other team did was protect their home court. However, the bad news is the Lakers' perimeter players are too beat up to punish the Spurs and loosen up the paint for Dwight and Pau to work. If players like Morris, Duhon, and Goudelock don't step up this series won't last much longer. Staples should provide a much friendlier shooting environment at least.
Spurs lead 2-0
Monday, April 22, 2013
Game 1: Lakers at Spurs (4/21/13)
The Lakers were unable to knock down open jumpshots, and turned the ball over 18 times which led to their 79-91 loss against San Antonio. Check Dancing Barry's review over at Lakersground:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
The Lakers played good enough defense to win the game. But at the end of the day you've got to knock down some shots yourself to get the win. It's been said that a playoff series doesn't truly start until someone wins a road game. They'll get another opportunity on Wednesday to win a game in San Antonio and gain homecourt advantage in the series. If they can clean up the offense and protect the basketball they will certainly have a fair chance. Go Lakers!!!
Spurs lead 1-0
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
The Lakers played good enough defense to win the game. But at the end of the day you've got to knock down some shots yourself to get the win. It's been said that a playoff series doesn't truly start until someone wins a road game. They'll get another opportunity on Wednesday to win a game in San Antonio and gain homecourt advantage in the series. If they can clean up the offense and protect the basketball they will certainly have a fair chance. Go Lakers!!!
Spurs lead 1-0
Friday, April 19, 2013
PLAYOFF Preview: Lakers vs Spurs (Western Conference Round 1)
Laker fans were able to breath a collective sigh of relief after Wednesday night's victory over the Rockets. The win put them in 7th place to make the playoffs, avoiding the Thunder in the first round, but matching them up with the San Antonio Spurs. And while the Spurs are far less athletic than the Thunder, they are also more savvy. Not to mention they have championship experience. This series will be anything but a walk in the park...
Who They Are:
San Antonio is the type of team that plays what most people call "team basketball". All this means is that they typically run a system of plays to score their points instead of relying on isolation plays from a dominant superstar. They will however resort to isolation plays when their offense breaks down, or when they feel they have a mismatch available. With a core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli they have the weapons necessary to play that style. Tony Parker is one of the best point guards in the league, and he's absolutely lethal in the pick and roll. Duncan's resume speaks for itself. He can be more than a handful down low. Ginobli causes problems by getting to the rim with the ability to pass out to shooters beyond the arc. In addition to their core the Spurs also have solid role players in Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Gary Neal who can all contribute. They're just a solid team from top to bottom. It's no secret why they have the 2nd best record in the conference.
How We Can Win:
With all that being said about the Spurs, the Lakers are more than capable of meeting the challenge and winning the series. Here's how:
Rebounding
The Lakers were 4th in the league in rebounding this season. Even with Jordan Hill out, they have the personnel to dominate both sides of the glass. With Kobe out, each possession becomes even more important. Every rebound they get is another possession, and another opportunity to score. This also allows the Lakers to control the pace of the game more. In the Lakers last few victories of the season, their rebounding is what saved them and made up for poor shooting percentages.
Defense
It's obvious that they need to play defense to win, but there are some specific things they can do to make life difficult for San Antonio. The Spurs most potent weapon is the pick and roll with Parker and Duncan. It's likely the Lakers will aggressively hedge the screen (where the defender of the screener steps out to slow down the attacking ball handler) and try to force Parker to be a passer. If they do hedge it will be imperative for Dwight to recover to the roll man (likely Duncan) before he can do damage. The rest of the Lakers will be in help & recover mode. They'll have to do this quickly and consistently to make sure the Spurs don't get wide open looks from 3. Regardless of how you play him, Parker will get to the rim. In which case Dwight will step up to contest him. Then it's imperative that the other Lakers step over to cover Dwight's man. This is called helping the "helper", and if the Lakers do it effectively they can win the series.
Pound 'em Inside
Dwight and Pau need to be dominant in this series. I like how Coach D'Antoni has used them down the stretch. Give them BOTH touches in the low post. There's no reason it has to be one or the other. If Pau and Dwight can establish some rhythm down there it will open up the perimeter for the Lakers' shooters. When the Spurs start double teaming, Pau and Dwight are very adept at finding their teammates. Pau needs to facilitate from the elbow, and when Dwight is matched against a slower defender he should attack from the face up position.
X-factors
- Coach Vino. If you didn't know, since Kobe got hurt he's been calling in adjustments from the hospital and his home. It might be a week or two before he can join the team on the sidelines, but that's not stopping Kobe from putting his stamp on the game.
- Health is a major factor for both teams. Will Nash be ready to go? Will Parker and Ginobli be effective?
- The Lakers will need solid bench play from Jamison, Clark, and Meeks (if Nash starts)
- Hack-a-Howard. Coach Popovich will clearly resort to this tactic if he gets desperate. As long as Dwight knocks them down it won't be a probable.
- Rally around the flag effect. We've all seen how the team has bonded over the devastating injury to their captain Kobe. The team has stated they've taken on his identity now. We just saw a legendary run in the NCAA tournament by Louisville after one of their players went down with a gruesome injury. Anybody ready for the NBA equivalent?
The Lakers can win series if they put forth maximum effort and execute the game plan. It's time to get the playoffs started and the Lakers are ready to roll! GO GET 'EM LAKESHOW!!!
Who They Are:
San Antonio is the type of team that plays what most people call "team basketball". All this means is that they typically run a system of plays to score their points instead of relying on isolation plays from a dominant superstar. They will however resort to isolation plays when their offense breaks down, or when they feel they have a mismatch available. With a core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli they have the weapons necessary to play that style. Tony Parker is one of the best point guards in the league, and he's absolutely lethal in the pick and roll. Duncan's resume speaks for itself. He can be more than a handful down low. Ginobli causes problems by getting to the rim with the ability to pass out to shooters beyond the arc. In addition to their core the Spurs also have solid role players in Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Gary Neal who can all contribute. They're just a solid team from top to bottom. It's no secret why they have the 2nd best record in the conference.
How We Can Win:
With all that being said about the Spurs, the Lakers are more than capable of meeting the challenge and winning the series. Here's how:
Rebounding
The Lakers were 4th in the league in rebounding this season. Even with Jordan Hill out, they have the personnel to dominate both sides of the glass. With Kobe out, each possession becomes even more important. Every rebound they get is another possession, and another opportunity to score. This also allows the Lakers to control the pace of the game more. In the Lakers last few victories of the season, their rebounding is what saved them and made up for poor shooting percentages.
Defense
It's obvious that they need to play defense to win, but there are some specific things they can do to make life difficult for San Antonio. The Spurs most potent weapon is the pick and roll with Parker and Duncan. It's likely the Lakers will aggressively hedge the screen (where the defender of the screener steps out to slow down the attacking ball handler) and try to force Parker to be a passer. If they do hedge it will be imperative for Dwight to recover to the roll man (likely Duncan) before he can do damage. The rest of the Lakers will be in help & recover mode. They'll have to do this quickly and consistently to make sure the Spurs don't get wide open looks from 3. Regardless of how you play him, Parker will get to the rim. In which case Dwight will step up to contest him. Then it's imperative that the other Lakers step over to cover Dwight's man. This is called helping the "helper", and if the Lakers do it effectively they can win the series.
Pound 'em Inside
Dwight and Pau need to be dominant in this series. I like how Coach D'Antoni has used them down the stretch. Give them BOTH touches in the low post. There's no reason it has to be one or the other. If Pau and Dwight can establish some rhythm down there it will open up the perimeter for the Lakers' shooters. When the Spurs start double teaming, Pau and Dwight are very adept at finding their teammates. Pau needs to facilitate from the elbow, and when Dwight is matched against a slower defender he should attack from the face up position.
X-factors
- Coach Vino. If you didn't know, since Kobe got hurt he's been calling in adjustments from the hospital and his home. It might be a week or two before he can join the team on the sidelines, but that's not stopping Kobe from putting his stamp on the game.
- Health is a major factor for both teams. Will Nash be ready to go? Will Parker and Ginobli be effective?
- The Lakers will need solid bench play from Jamison, Clark, and Meeks (if Nash starts)
- Hack-a-Howard. Coach Popovich will clearly resort to this tactic if he gets desperate. As long as Dwight knocks them down it won't be a probable.
- Rally around the flag effect. We've all seen how the team has bonded over the devastating injury to their captain Kobe. The team has stated they've taken on his identity now. We just saw a legendary run in the NCAA tournament by Louisville after one of their players went down with a gruesome injury. Anybody ready for the NBA equivalent?
The Lakers can win series if they put forth maximum effort and execute the game plan. It's time to get the playoffs started and the Lakers are ready to roll! GO GET 'EM LAKESHOW!!!
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