who's gonna step it up?

[Lost Angel]

for the rest of the playoffs, who's gonna be the one to spark us?

Bynum's hurting (as usual), Gasol needs to shoot more, Odom needs to start playing basketball, etc.


Shannon or Walton have to step up big, and I doubt Luke can do anything. If our bench play doesn't improve, how are we gonna give our starters a break during the WCF and then the Finals? we could be screwed.


Thank God we have Kobe.

[crazy8ights]

Kobe step it up another notch, gasol was doing good all playoffs minus a few games here and there. We saw last game fish and artest can contribute if they wanted.

[chefy]

hmm I don't see any potential candidates for this. maybe artest? I dont want to count kobe because kobe is gonna be kobe hes going to be there whenever we need him.

gasol is kind of similar but hes not really one of those players that can "step it up a notch" he'll give us his 20-10 and that's it.

the best thing that can happen is for our players to just to fill up to their roles. execute. hit the shots your supposed to make.

[fareweatherfan]

C'mon...have you watched these Lakers in the playoffs? There is no one player that will step it up...we get great contributions from different "role" guys every game. That's what makes this team so special.

[joe.linnen]

C'mon...have you watched these Lakers in the playoffs? There is no one player that will step it up...we get great contributions from different "role" guys every game. That's what makes this team so special.

I'm incline to agree. I like that we get from every player. I like that Fisher and Artest both scored 20 points for us or like how we have Farmar/Brown/Bryant on the floor together. I love seeing Odom play with either Gasol or Bynum. I love seeing Gasol with Bynum. It doesn't matter who steps up because we have the players we need to win as long as everyone does their job.

[laduane1]

Everyone needs to step it up and make it a short series vs. the suns. Stop them from shooting 3 pointers all over the place. Use our size.

[stunnar0b]

easier said then done.. lets hope for patience, good execution, and run your ass back on defense

[Kilroy]

I pray to all that is holy that it's Lamar Odom who steps up... So far he's barely been a factor...

Here's hoping he can make Richardson work on both ends of the court.

He really needs to stop playing D just with his hands and picking up slap-happy fouls all over the place and start being physical. If you're going to commit the foul at least let the other guy know you're there and alter the damn shot.

[fareweatherfan]

I pray to all that is holy that it's Lamar Odom who steps up... So far he's barely been a factor...

Here's hoping he can make Richardson work on both ends of the court.

He really needs to stop playing D just with his hands and picking up slap-happy fouls all over the place and start being physical. If you're going to commit the foul at least let the other guy know you're there and alter the damn shot.

I'm not so sure about your assessment of LO. I think he's an easy target b/c of his numbers, but I don't think there's really much to bash him about outside of the first few games against the Thunder.

Against the Jazz, he seemed to know we didn't really need much from him to beat them. He seems to be pacing himself and trying to get by on the minimum effort needed to win. Cases in point are his performances in games 3 and 4 in Utah. He was very mediocre (being generous) in game 3, until the final few minutes he was an absolute beast on both ends. Game 4 was similar, him hitting a clutch 3 when we needed it.

I never worry about LO showing up when he is truly needed.

[Edrees]

Lamar averaged like 10 points, 50% shooting and 11 rebounds versus the Jazz. He is not having amazing numbers, but he contributed a double double on efficient scoring that whole series. It was a big improvement from his OKC series. As long as he continues to improve over the post season we will be fine.

[Kilroy]

His scoring and rebounding numbers aren't the whole story...

He isn't boxing out, he's slow or just out of place on defensive rotations and he's playing weak D around the basket. When the other players see they have Odom in isolation, they just turn and drive to the basket because they know he's not going to be planted. He's just going to pick up his standard falling backward/flailing arm tiky-tac foul and they know that while he's doing that, they still have a good chance of completing the shot for an +1.

He had a size/matchup advantage against the Jazz... He should have been able to exploit it more. Instead, his defensive assignment kept them in the games.

He had an OK series, but he's just not where he was last season or the year before.

[The Skyhook]

I want to see Lamar step it up. Sasha is going to be back so if he can start hitting open 3s then that will be huge. This rest should allow Bynum to get his legs better. Even if nobody else is there to strep up Kobe and Gasol are going to be huge for as as they have been the most consistent.

I think if he is forced to Kobe will go for 40 against the Suns but hopefully guys step up and he doesn't have too.

[fareweatherfan]

His scoring and rebounding numbers aren't the whole story...

He isn't boxing out, he's slow or just out of place on defensive rotations and he's playing weak D around the basket. When the other players see they have Odom in isolation, they just turn and drive to the basket because they know he's not going to be planted. He's just going to pick up his standard falling backward/flailing arm tiky-tac foul and they know that while he's doing that, they still have a good chance of completing the shot for an +1.

He had a size/matchup advantage against the Jazz... He should have been able to exploit it more. Instead, his defensive assignment kept them in the games.

He had an OK series, but he's just not where he was last season or the year before.

Yes, yes and yes. I agree with everything you said, but...my point is that all of these things are a result of LO just not being needed. He knows he's not needed. He's a warrior, when we need him he HAS and WILL be there in a big way. He did all of the things you mentioned in almost every game so far, but at the end of games he has been a different beast. I was at game 3 in Utah and let me tell you he impacted every aspect of the game during the final few minutes.

So don't worry, he is exactly where he needs to be...when he needs to be there

[SteveMorrison15]

Ammo?

[So Gutta]

Ammo?

I noticed that he has been working on some new high-fives!

[KOBE_PAUER]

Artest. We need him, he should hit his open threes every single night. Suns, Magic, Cavs or Celtics will double Pau and Kobe, if Artest cant hit his jumpers we are dead. Odom needs to step up too, he's playing awful this postseason. I hope Shannon doesnt play alla ballhog....He can help.

[LAKESHOW]

im goin off the deep end here and say our backup guards. thats either brown or farmar or BOTH.

they both can get into transition and make big plays. will they? thats the deep end part.