OT: Lakers are for real

[Hank_Scorpio]

Being here in sunny LA, I am now starting to pick up on the Lakers a bit and let me tell you something - this team is GOOD. I don't know how they pulled it all back together after the chaos of the offseason, but they are an excellent team - and their record shows it.

The interesting thing is that it really isn't just Kobe. Lamar Odom has been much more consistent. Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar have been excellent at the point. Trevor Ariza has really helped solidify their defense. And then, of course, there is Andrew Bynum who is rapidly emerging as the next great NBA center.

Even Kwame Brown has been a solid contributor since coming back from injury.

They have the 4th-best record in the West and have already beaten most of the top teams - they are 2-0 against Phoenix, 1-1 against San Antonio and New Orleans. They haven't played the Mavs yet. They are 14-4 since the beginning of December.

Now, I don't think they are a legitimate championship contender this season, but over the next 2-3 years, with a core of Kobe and Bynum, I think they have a real chance to compete - especially considering that while, like Kobe, the core players on their competitors are all in or entering their 30's (Dirk, Duncan, Manu, Nash, Marion), none of those teams has a rising star on par with Bynum to complement them.

[N1QUE24]

Two words: Andrew Bynum

[Mack11]

I like the way the Lakers are playing right now, but they had the same record last year around this same time of year tho.

[itbobby007]

I've watched about 5-6 lakers games this years and your right they are legit. I think Derek Fisher was the best off season acquisition of this season, then Grant Hill.

There team is very very versitile. The can play a half court set and run. Very hard to do.

[doctaJ_92]

They're good but they're still nowhere close to elite. Bynum is like Howard 2 years ago in that he only gets points off Kobe's passes or offensive boards, he maybe gets 1-2 baskets that comes off his move. Nothing wrong with that, but vs the better defensive teams he struggles and they cant score nearly as well in the paint. It was surprising how they beat NO so bad considering NO killed them in LA, that;d be a great series in the playoffs to watch, especially if NO got a couple good bench players before the deadline, their bench is beyond dreadful.

Lakers still have a ways to go. I still think SA/DAL/PHX/HOU/NO will be ahead of them come playoff time in terms of how good they are and that they can beat LA in a 7 game series. Houstons finally starting to gel and when Tmac gets back and fits into the offence they're gonna be insanely dangerous because they are unquestionably better than last year in terms of the role players they have around their big 2.

If Bynum ever evolves into a major post scoring center then they'll have a shot in 2 years, but I dont know if he's good enough to become that.

[Antoine_Wright21]

Two words: Andrew Bynum

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.

And to think we were all crazy to say Bynum would be good one day..

[Maritimer]

I've watched about 5-6 lakers games this years and your right they are legit. I think Derek Fisher was the best off season acquisition of this season, then Grant Hill.

There team is very very versitile. The can play a half court set and run. Very hard to do.

And I landed both as cheap free agents in my keeper fantasy league.

[itbobby007]

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And I landed both as cheap free agents in my keeper fantasy league.

nice.

[RingItUp!]

Two words: Phil Jackson.

[Hank_Scorpio]

I still think SA/DAL/PHX/HOU/NO will be ahead of them come playoff time in terms of how good they are and that they can beat LA in a 7 game series.

I will only agree with San Antonio and Phoenix at this point. I think they can beat any other team in the West - and after destroying New Orleans last night, I think its hard to say that they can beat the Lakers.

And you are wrong about Bynum. He is starting to really establish himself as a low post presence.

I don't neccessarily think they can win this year - but of all the teams you mentioned, only New Orleans has the young talent to compete with the Lakers over the next 4-5 years.

[Tha Cynic]

As long as Kobe is on that team, they have a good chance to beat all the teams in the West with the exception of San Antonio IMO. They just don't match up well against them. But if Phoenix can beat San Antonio before the Lakers have to meet them, who knows, maybe the Lakers can come out in the West.

[half-man half-a-season]

Good thing Kobe didn't get his wish or that would have been two good C's he drove out of town!

[ponder276]

Now, I don't think they are a legitimate championship contender this season, but over the next 2-3 years, with a core of Kobe and Bynum, I think they have a real chance to compete - especially considering that while, like Kobe, the core players on their competitors are all in or entering their 30's (Dirk, Duncan, Manu, Nash, Marion), none of those teams has a rising star on par with Bynum to complement them.

The Laker's current top 4 players are probably Kobe, Bynum, Odom and Fisher. Kobe is 29, Odom is 28, Fisher is 33, and all of them seem to be somewhat on the decline. I think Bynum is gonna be great, and some of their other young guys should be good too (Critt, Farmar, etc.), but do you really think the Lakers have a brighter future than some other teams out west like Portland, NO, or Utah?

[alysomji]

Two words: Andrew Bynum

[Air_Surfer]

Two words: Andrew Bynum

yup this kid is turning into a beast

[SpaceJam]

Of coarse they are good, Kobe has slowed down his game and let the other guys share some responsiblities, and Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are dominating the glass. La is my team in the west along with NOH. Hank do yourself a favour and cheak out Santa Monica...thats me right there!!

[Raptor_Guy]

I like the way the Lakers are playing right now, but they had the same record last year around this same time of year tho.

Ya, thats what I keep saying to people to. Everyone's acting like they came out of nowhere this year but really they're just as good as they were last year duyring the regular season, its just the playoffs that kill them every year.

[Mak]

Still, they will be lucky to get out of the first round, depending on the match up.

[Hank_Scorpio]

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The Laker's current top 4 players are probably Kobe, Bynum, Odom and Fisher. Kobe is 29, Odom is 28, Fisher is 33, and all of them seem to be somewhat on the decline. I think Bynum is gonna be great, and some of their other young guys should be good too (Critt, Farmar, etc.), but do you really think the Lakers have a brighter future than some other teams out west like Portland, NO, or Utah?

Bynum is 20
Farmar is 21
Turiaf is 24
Vujacic is 23
Ariza is 22

As for the other teams you mentioned, Portland has the youth, but they lack the experience - plus note that they are 17-3 at home, but 5-10 on the road.

New Orleans is a solid team with some good young talent, but they have no depth - and they aren't exactly a "young team" - their only significant player under 25 is Paul.

And Utah is just simply not as good a team as the Lakers, as their record shows.

[undisputed55]

Bynum = GOD