Keys to the Season

First a couple of quick notes on the Korean miniseries that the Lakers have become. Why does it have to be a Korean miniseries? Mostly because I am sick of the soap opera parallel. But also because I have no idea what's going on.

+ I appreciate having a guy like T.J. Simers working for the L.A. Times. If not for his change of pace approach, it's for his nerve to ask tough questions. He really took it to Kobe in yesterday's interview. It's worth the read and if you are so inclined, you can catch the video on the team website (10/29 practice report). In a sea of fluffy, trivial questions like what Kobe was going to be for Halloween (Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter -- is that the gay one?), was TJ's piercing inquisition.

The Kobester keeps saying things that make no sense.

He really likes everyone, the improvement his teammates have shown, and blah, blah, blah. He says "we're really a close-knit group," but obviously he still wants to play elsewhere, although I recall he once said, "I want to be a Laker for life."

"Don't you understand your mixed messages are the fuel to the fire?" I say.

"I understand a lot of people misinterpreted what I said . . ."

"Well, here's your chance," I say, to set the record straight.

"Wouldn't you love that?" he says, and wouldn't we all?

Finally, someone made him eat his contradiction.

+ Lazenby's got some new literature up on his blog. It's more portrayal of the Buss family as one huge Shakespearean tragedy and Jim Buss bashing. You know, it occurred to me today that Lazenby's take on all this seems so much more insightful/incendiary than most of the mainstream media. It got me wondering about whether or not this is truly insider information (remember, Lazenby has Tex Winter on speed dial) or is it propaganda on behalf of the Phil Jackson BLOC to tell the story about how Jerry Buss is leaving the Lakers in the hands of an incompetent douche bag, his son Jim Buss.

Then I remembered that Lazenby is a journalism professor at Virginia Tech university. So much for the propaganda theory. Then, I got sad.

***

Key: D
As was preached on FB&G all last year, the Laker defense was their downfall last year, and if you watched the games you'd have to agree (well, D and injuries). Pundits seem to focus on the Lakers' lack of a point guard and an all-star complement for Kobe. Nope. It was the team defense. From FB&G's season preview:

Defense really is at the heart of the Lakers problems. By any measure the Lakers scored plenty last season (they were fifth in points per game at 103.3 and seventh in the league in points scored per possession, 108.2 per 100 possessions). The problem was they gave up as many points as they scored (Los Angeles was 24th in points per game allowed at 103.4 and 25th in the league in points allowed up per possession, 109 per 100 possessions). It’s pretty simple — if you give up as many points as you score, you’re a .500 team. I don’t care how many points you score.

If the Lakers need help in terms of personnel, it would not seem to be in the form of a legitimate 3rd scorer (or 2nd depending on what you think of Lamar Odom).

Key: Health
What compounded the defensive problems was the injuries they endured last year. But remember, when this team was healthy, they were pretty damn tough. Favorable early schedule considered.

Key: Farmar and Bynum
Last year, I pointed out Luke Walton and Lamar Odom as key guys to start the season. I attribute the Lakers early success to the emergence of Lamar as a legitimate second option and Luke as a consistent role player and 3 point threat. Conversely, losing them for a combined 48 games last season was somewhat devastating. Hopefully, this progress will not be lost this season (granted, Lamar needs to recover from his injury).

This year's key guys are Farmar and Bynum.


First, Farmar. No one is expecting much from Farmar. But if you watched him in the pre-season, he seems poised to start making some noise. His decision making is still good, not trying to do too much even in the face of the Lakers drafting talented guard, Javaris Crittenton. This is a good sign, because one of the last traits that you'd want in your point guard is insecurity (see: Smush Parker). And Farmer still seems as confident as ever, if not more so.

In addition, Jordan seems to be the one of the guys that will benefit from Phil Jackson's 7-seconds of freelance directive. To promote more transition offense, Phil is allowing the Lakers to have 7 seconds at the beginning of each possession to make something happen, before setting up the triangle. In the pre-season, Farmar took this notion to the court, pushing the ball up and penetrating, setting up his teammates and getting to the rim for some very nice finishes. And let me emphasize, he is fast. Dare I say, Tony Parker like.

As for Bynum, well...we've heard it a thousand times. 7 feet tall. 7'6" wingspan. Soft hands, good feet. Nice shooting touch. It's just a matter of time and hard work. And if the work was put in and the time is now, the Lakers will be reckoned with.

Both of these guys have the potential to be an impact player this year. This is special because usually, to get an impact player, you have to give something up. Either another impact player, a draft pick, or cap space. But if Bynum and Farmar can step up and be a force on both ends, the Lakers will have gotten something for nothing. And most importantly, at the two positions where they have holes.

Key: Kobe
Plain and simple. If he's here, anything is possible.