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Charley is right on about the lakers.

The LA LAKERS remain overreliant on finesse, especially since Andrew Bynum has become much more enamored with scoring than with rebounding. Yes, they can score in bunches and their bench is deep — but they have a habit of coming up short in the clutch. Despite their gaudy record, changes are assuredly afoot. Say good-bye to V-Rad? Luke Walton? And/or Lamar Odom? As good as they are, this is not a championship-caliber squad. Grade: B

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9099638/NBA-mid-term-grades:-Western-Conference

None of use have really been happy with the way these guys have been playing. Most of us pointed this out months ago.

I've said this on many occasions here that the Lakers won't win until Drew decides to bust his butt rebounding. I said this wayyyyyyyyyy before Charley even thought of it.

As good as they are, this is not a championship-caliber squad. Grade: B

Sad but true. Agreed. They are winning and losing nail biters when a few months ago they were sitting Kobe out most of the 4th.

I think most of us will agree that we are getting tired of Andrew's lack of defense and rebounding.
I believe Pill should give more of Andrew's minutes to Josh. Not only does Josh have the better shot, but he also is not afraid to go in there and get some rebounds and play some hard nose D!

Tony I think we will agree with me on this one

Tommy Trojan wrote:I think most of us will agree that we are getting tired of Andrew's lack of defense and rebounding.
I believe Pill should give more of Andrew's minutes to Josh. Not only does Josh have the better shot, but he also is not afraid to go in there and get some rebounds and play some hard nose D!

Tony I think we will agree with me on this one

Ya, I agree Im not impressed by Bynum right now.
And so far I think in the boards dept. Josh has been doing a great job on both ends.
Bynums to me has been very disappointing specially in the rebounding dept.
I mean I think he either still has problems with his knees or he is afraid of getting hurt again.

i hate to admit it,but he is sooooooo right. we are not tough outside of kobe and fisher. bynum really is starting to look like a bust. he needs to know that a big contract doesn't mean relax,it means work harder. i am afraid that if we keep leaning on kobe this early in the year to take over games for us,he might not have enough left in the tank for when it really matters.

I don't really agreee with his grades.

Orlando and Cleveland get A's...deservedly so.

The Spurs get a D....umm. what? I think they're the 2nd or 3rd best in the West.

Miami and Milwaulkee get A's. Strongly disagree that a team starting Joel ANthony at Center should get an A. why do they get this grade? Cuz D-Wade is having a good year? So is Kobe. Anyways I think the Lakers should get an A. We're first in the west. 2nd or 3rd in the NBA. We can nitpick all day, but the Lakers are legit.

DEEP3CL wrote:I've said this on many occasions here that the Lakers won't win until Drew decides to bust his butt rebounding. I said this wayyyyyyyyyy before Charley even thought of it.

Deep sorry, but you think that's a profound prognostication man? No medal awarded.

im frankly not overly bothered by drew's lack of interest in fighting for rebounds right now, even if it indicates a lack of desire

why? because there has been IMHO a visible progression in drew's game in concern with especially:
1. his post game and recently, fewer jumpers and more 5ft-or-less shots
2. his off-the-ball defense especially PnR D

this is with concerted opposition effort to take drew out of the paint and attempts to super-clog the lane

by the time the playoffs roll around, im sure drew will be getting a much more stern message from phil and the coaching staff about what he needs to be doing, and what he shouldn't be doing

and as he grows up and gains better conditioning, he will be able to contribute much more in relation to simply being a 7-ft shot-blocking presence in the paint

I agree with him.

With two 7footers on our team.. we should be ruling the boards, getting record high rebounds yet we're not. I mean dwight is big but he's dominating both Pau and Bynum in the middle..??

So far what separates us from Cavs and Orlando are that they have some one very dominant either in the middle or on the outside. We're more of a balance team which is good but someone else needs step up when kobe is unable to and that finger was supposed to be pointed toward bynum.

I largely hear and agree with the criticism, but I also think we are winning a championship without any moves. Why? Because or guys respond to big games. That being said a trade could do us good, Drew needs to realize he doesn't have to focus on just one aspect, but a collected, well balanced effort including boards and making shots is more valuable than establishing his offensive progress.

^^ agree that we are a championship level team without any moves...

im not sure why we're getting miffed about rebounds, we are equal top rebounding team at 44.0 rpg and top 5 in rebounding differential at +2.7 rpg (behind Cs, Cavs, Blazers and 76ers)

are people blaming bynum that we're not having a big enough rebound advantage over other teams?