Lakers front court really needs to step up this season

[CodyB]

Pau, Lamar and Bynum really need to step up this year if we're going to be able to put the Heat in their place.

I think having a healthy and full mobilized front court is going to put us as heavy favorites to beat them.

Work against our favour:
Injury Concerns
Officials favor guards
Inconsistency of LO and AB

In our favour:
Physicality
Length and Size generally wins

This has to be AB's year, IMO. We've had him at 50% three post seasons in a row, it's time to start going to him aggresively not just in the 1st quarter but the second half and crunch time as well. AB gets the easiest baskets and we need to role with those odds.

Lamar Odom's role will come in a bit from left field, and that will be defensively. If we meet the Heat in the finals, I think he will be spending alot of time on Chris Bosh. When I think about quickness and guys >6'10, Lamar Odom and Chris Bosh are at the top of the league (Kevin Durant) as well. Lamar might be the one to take on CB4 out on the perimiter because I don't think Pau is equipped with the lateral quickness to stay with him.

[dula14]

Already dreaming of a Lakers vs. Heat Final, eh? We still have to see what Riles and the rest of the Heat FO can surround Bron, Wade and Bosh with before declaring them the best in the East. There is no question this Miami team will be formidable, but I have a feeling they won't be coming out of the East until the 2011-2012 season.

[LAKESHOW]

lets say wade takes the point. and bron takes the 2 or shooting guard position. wouldnt that make it an immediate problem for the backcourt?

[Dr Aki]

lets say wade takes the point. and bron takes the 2 or shooting guard position. wouldnt that make it an immediate problem for the backcourt?

then derek fisher guards mike miller.

defense chooses who to guard, not the offense

[ock]

Bynum needs to work on his core. He's just been bulking up without taking care of his core and supporting muscles, and that leads to stress on his joints, injuries, etc. As long as he keeps training the way he is training, he will always be injury-prone.

[TonyMontana]

How about EVERYBODY REALX and lets enjoy this summer and see what happens in regular season. Its too early for this sh11t guys.

[ock]

Not trying to spazz, TM, it's just that the problem is that what Bynum does or does not do in the off-season is seriously affecting the regular season, plus the playoffs. I think everyone can see what's happening to Bynum every year.

We're Lakers fans here. Having been exposed to Kobe's ethic, I don't think anyone here will dispute the importance of serious off-season work and focus. I commend Bynum for working out and getting bigger/stronger. He just needs to train smarter.

[stunnar0b]

bynum works his core every year but especially last year like he said at the start of training camp that was the main thing he worked out on. i think once pau and AB both start at the beginning of the season, that will relieve bynum from logging heavy mins and thus keeping him as fresh as possible thru out the year

[ock]

He may be working on his core, and i'm sure not in the gym with him, but one person's core workout may not be the same as the next, or even done properly.

[TonyMontana]

Not trying to spazz, TM, it's just that the problem is that what Bynum does or does not do in the off-season is seriously affecting the regular season, plus the playoffs. I think everyone can see what's happening to Bynum every year.

We're Lakers fans here. Having been exposed to Kobe's ethic, I don't think anyone here will dispute the importance of serious off-season work and focus. I commend Bynum for working out and getting bigger/stronger. He just needs to train smarter.

I agree, if you scroll down a few pages you'll see my concerns I have shown about Bynum.

BUT............. It too early and there is no reasons to be concerned. We are the back to back champs. We have THE BEST player and the Spaniard as well as Pshyco Ron RON as well as a lot of good pieces like Bynum L.O and now Blake. We are proven and they are a circuis act until they get a bench and a few games under their belts.

So like I said lets relax and enjoy this summer and trust in Mitch.

[stunnar0b]

He may be working on his core, and i'm sure not in the gym with him, but one person's core workout may not be the same as the next, or even done properly.

im sure mitch has the same feelings we all do about the whole bynum injury situation, and because of that i bet he got a team of trainers to work with him to get him exactly right. one might be a strenght trainer another, aerobic trainer so on and so fourth. like i said AB is not going to be depended on as much as last year with pau in the line up from the start

[laduane1]

Fisher is meeting with the heat. He could be there starting PG.

[stunnar0b]

get out of here with that ^

[abtara]

Fisher is meeting with the heat. He could be there starting PG.

He could be.

[Mamba Venom]

Stay healthy bigs

[JustAwesome]

Artest played well 75% of the time. He had a few mental lapses last year. Hopefully, those disappear now that he won a championship. There shouldn't be a chip on his shoulders this year.

Gasol proved himself last year. He showed toughness. He can still be shaken inside by a brute, but it's happening a lot less now.

Odom is still disappointing because of his inconsistency and lack of aggressiveness. Some nights, he's a superstar. Other nights, he's a scrub. At this stage in his career, he's not going to change, so don't expect to see him improve.

Bynum is the key. He needs to become an all-star next season. The other guys are getting older. They're naturally going to decline a little. He needs to be the one to pick up the slack.

[LakersFan4Ever]

"Bynum is the key. He needs to become an all-star next season. The other guys are getting older. They're naturally going to decline a little. He needs to be the one to pick up the slack".

I agree! Bynum is most definitely the key but not so much as becoming an "ALL-STAR". Don't get me wrong ...that would be great. But simply staying focussed and healthy throughout the regular season and especially the playoffs should be enough the beat anyone simply because none of the better teams in the West or East can match up with our size down low. Add to that a healthy Kobe and the Lakers should have not problem coming out of the West with possibly home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

[jcuuofd]

If everyone is so worried about Bynum getting injured, why don't the Lakers sign another center and let Mbenga walk?

There are still a lot available, it makes more sense then signing players like Steve Blake.

Here is a complete list of 2010 centers:

Yao Ming (ETO - owed $17.7 million in 10/11)
Brandan Haywood (Unrestricted)
Luis Scola (Restricted)
Channing Frye (PO - owed $2.1 million in 10/11 – likely Unrestricted)
Louis Amundson (Unrestricted)
Tyson Chandler (ETO - owed $12.8 million in 10/11)
Amir Johnson (Unrestricted)
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Unrestricted)
Jermaine O'Neal (Unrestricted)
Shaquille O'Neal (Unrestricted)
Brad Miller (Unrestricted)
Rasho Nesterovic (Unrestricted)
Ben Wallace (Unrestricted)
Fabricio Oberto (Unrestricted)
Johan Petro (Unrestricted)
Hilton Armstrong (Unrestricted)
Ian Mahinmi (Unrestricted)
Kwame Brown (Unrestricted)
Tony Battie (Unrestricted)
Sean Williams (Unrestricted)
Theo Ratliff (Unrestricted)
Etan Thomas (Unrestricted)
Joel Przybilla (ETO)
Nazr Mohammed (ETO)
Kyrylo Fesenko (Restricted)
Joel Anthony (Player Option)
Earl Barron (Unrestricted)
Mikki Moore (Unrestricted)
Adonal Foyle (Unrestricted)
Primo Brezec (Unrestricted)
Adonal Foyle (Unrestricted)
Jarron Collins (Unrestricted)
Jamaal Magloire (Unrestricted)
Patrick O'Bryant (Unrestricted)
Mark Blount (Unrestricted)
Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Restricted)
Aaron Gray (Unrestricted)
Steven Hunter (Unrestricted)
DJ Mbenga (Unrestricted)
Darko Milicic (Unrestricted)
Jerome James (Unrestricted)

[LakersFan4Ever]

And who would you suggest we get from this list of yours with the limited funds that we have?
The only reason why we picked up Blake was because we did not have a point guard under contract
while the other positions are already in place. Bynum staying healthy is a concern and another low post center should be picked up because of it and because we are not too deep in this area, however, I believe that Blake was a strong pickup for a team that does not need a whole lot of tweeking.

[jcuuofd]

Brad Miller
Etan Thomas
Joel Przybilla
Jamaal Magloire
Kwame Brown