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With Lamar Odom's return, the Los Angeles Lakers now have a stacked roster once again. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum are our top five players. Which order they fall in? That's for time and the upcoming season to tell.

With a goal of a Larry O'Brien trophy accomplished, which way do we go from here? Do we plug in the veterans in crunch time and continue to jump at it, or do we have a balanced mix?

When it came to crunch time last season, Odom and Gasol were the two players playing the majority of minutes in the front court. With Andrew healthy and a full off-season to train, do we sacrifice wins for potential?

Although Lamar and Pau in the front court would probably be our best lineup to win games, do we sacrifice that and go with Andrew and Pau? Bynum's been waiting a couple years now and I think this is the year that we have to let him loose. With a Championship under our belt, the pressure is really off of the veterans. Do we slowly start looking towards the future, having Bynum playing even though it might cost us a couple wins in a season?

I think we should. When the playoffs come around, depending on match-ups, etc.. then we'll see. But I definitely think Drew needs an increased role. What does another year of Drew playing 25 minutes do? In my opinion, he needs those extra 7-10 minutes a game.

** I'd like to thank TKB in our MSN conversation for making me think of this topic.

Also, same idea with Shannon Brown and Derek Fisher. In my opinion, this is Fisher's last year of being a starting PG. In crunch time do we go with Shannon Brown, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum?

you can't increase bynum's playing time if he can't stay on the court. once he stops fouling so much, he'll get 30-33 mpg, until then its not a matter of choice. guy needs to fix the fouling issue.

dcash4 wrote:you can't increase bynum's playing time if he can't stay on the court. once he stops fouling so much, he'll get 30-33 mpg, until then its not a matter of choice. guy needs to fix the fouling issue.

Agreed. In my opinion though, that was the role Phil asked him to play in the playoffs. Don't give up layups, be an enforcer. Which he did, when he was in there.

My biggest concern with him going into this season is rebounding. I hope we see that intensity from him on the boards like a couple years ago before the injury. He was starting to get it back last year, just before the injury.

We need Drew to stay healthy and ready. If we win any more Championships in the next couple years, he's going to be a significant part.

Well first off Bynum has never been able to stay healthy so this is a very optimistic problem.

Now if Bynum is healthy it's actually not even a problem because when he is hot he is the best option as a starter but the reason why imo it was so important to keep Odom is the answer is simple, they all start or all play.

Kobe
Artest
Odom
Gasol
Bynum

Why not? It's not like we have a stud pg who will be sitting. We don't even have a real pg besides Farmar and he is Farmar. They would be going huge and they still wouldn;t even be slow. They would still be awesome on both ends. You got 3 point's and on D it would be no problem.

We better seen an Odom-Pau-Bynum lineup for some of the time as well, I waited ALL YEAR for that and nothing.

TylersLakers wrote:With Lamar Odom's return, the Los Angeles Lakers now have a stacked roster once again. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum are our top five players. Which order they fall in? That's for time and the upcoming season to tell.

With a goal of a Larry O'Brien trophy accomplished, which way do we go from here? Do we plug in the veterans in crunch time and continue to jump at it, or do we have a balanced mix?

When it came to crunch time last season, Odom and Gasol were the two players playing the majority of minutes in the front court. With Andrew healthy and a full off-season to train, do we sacrifice wins for potential?

Although Lamar and Pau in the front court would probably be our best lineup to win games, do we sacrifice that and go with Andrew and Pau? Bynum's been waiting a couple years now and I think this is the year that we have to let him loose. With a Championship under our belt, the pressure is really off of the veterans. Do we slowly start looking towards the future, having Bynum playing even though it might cost us a couple wins in a season?

I think we should. When the playoffs come around, depending on match-ups, etc.. then we'll see. But I definitely think Drew needs an increased role. What does another year of Drew playing 25 minutes do? In my opinion, he needs those extra 7-10 minutes a game.

** I'd like to thank TKB in our MSN conversation for making me think of this topic.

Players will earn their minutes, if Bynum improves, and he needs to hugly, then he will jump ahead of others in front of him, no need to worry abou this now, Phil iwll be ble to gauge this and decide when the time comes. But I am all for playing whomever is playing well, wihterh avet or young guy, does not matter, rings is all that matters.

Bynum/Gasol/Odom can literally play 32 minutes each. Now if Phil finally plays any sf it's even easier.
Phil's stubborn but he will probably give in.

TylersLakers wrote:With Lamar Odom's return, the Los Angeles Lakers now have a stacked roster once again. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum are our top five players. Which order they fall in?

Good post TL, as far as wondering which order they fall ? After Kobe I could care less how it shapes up after that. As long as these guys following Kobe that's all that counts.

As far as everything else you posted.......let Phil figure that out, it's what he's paid for. Yes as fans we'd like to see certain combination's of players together but most coaches stay conventional regardless of talent on the roster.

The future is now.

I think Bynum and Brown will make themselves worthy of minutes, but I don't want to give them minutes in crunch time without them earning them.

Im really the only one that doesn't see this as a problem with all there versitity? Bynum is the only pure position guy. Everybody else can easily play multiple positions making it really easy to be creative and get everybody and anybody he wants in there. Even the bench has multiple position players.

TylersLakers wrote:We better seen an Odom-Pau-Bynum lineup for some of the time as well, I waited ALL YEAR for that and nothing.

does it matter, its not like we didn't win anything not playing that lineup. with Odom as the SF the other team is just gona pack it in and force us to shoot jump shots, while Odom shot 50%+ from 3's during the playoffs we all know we cant depend on him to do that during the season.

although bynum was given the difficult task of defending rather then scoring.. at times during season and the playoffs.. he was slow or lazy getting to his man or watching floor. I usually he him ending up slapping down with both of his arms at the opponent.

The starting five line would be great to see in action. Dfish isn't getting any younger but he'll still get starting minutes. I expect to see more of Brown this season unless farmar proves worthy otherwise...

Would this be the time where ammo will reload and shoot better? Who knows but it is his contract year so homey better play like there's no tomorrow or he's out of this league. (or traded hehe).

Just the title of the thread you should actually know the answer. You look to the future to win a title. If that future is now you do whats best now. Again though with that said I think they all play plenty. I don't see anybody complaining this year.

If Bynum can fix the fouling problem then he will get his minutes if he returns to the way he was playing before the injury then this is going to be a fun season i would love to see a kobe,artest,lo,pau,bynum lineup in crunch time

Theres no need to sacrifice. If Drew can do things to keep himself on the floor then he will get his minutes and develop by himself. There is no need to ruin what the team has going for itself now. We should try to win as many championships as possible while the opportunity is still there.

Young star players are actually dangerous to a champion team.

At some point the Lakers may be to anxious to give the keys to Bynum instead of keeping this wonderful team together for 6 more years.

I DON'T USUALLY CALL PEOPLE OUT BUT
WHO EVER IS TALKING ABOUT REBUILDING IS BEING A MORON

The Lakers have more than teams that have been building for 30 years... What the heck.

OT Everyone falls in love with young teams and players. People love the Blazers and Thunder, then later on they fall short and its time to start the cycle all over again... People love young talent and get caught up with new and upside that they don't appreciate what this team has until June and everyone else has been sent home

-is this a make or break year for andrew?

-do we tade him if he fell short of our expectations? / what if he injures his self again?

-how much do you guys expect from him?
I think I'm ok (we dont trade him) if he produces the same number as he did last season as long as: he improved his man to man D, if he can stay healthy for the whole season and playoffs

This is the year Bynum must stay healthy and play hard on the defense end of the floor. What he has to do is grab rebounds, block shots, alter shots, and the offense will always be there cause teams have to double team kobe, gasol, and some times lamar plus ron ron. This is his year to show us what he can do and if he can be our future.

It would be great to have news about how is his summer going.

Wasn't he supposed to train with Dwight Howard?