game: NBA 2k8
level: all star
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team: Lakers
QTR: 12 mins
level: all star
default sliders
team: Lakers
QTR: 12 mins
By Eric Pincus for HOOPSWORLD.com Sep 29, 2007, 12:32 On Monday the Los Angeles Lakers will open their doors to the media before heading off to training camp in Hawaii. The offseason was a tumultuous one, headlined by Kobe Bryant's trade demand early in the summer. While some were adamant Bryant had played his last game as a Laker, it appears the team's superstar will indeed report. A blurb on his personal website (kb24.com) indicated that Bryant's staff will be at Media Day covering the event. Although the Lakers did make some improvements over the offseason, the issues that originally irked Bryant remain. There were no big trades. The team has not made a dramatic leap forward. Last year the team won 42 games but was decimated by injuries. If healthy, 50 wins is a realistic target. Unfortunately a number of players on the team might be considered injury prone at this point. A more realistic win total may be 46. Depending on matchups the Lakers might even get out of the first round of the playoffs but they'll need to be at their absolute best. Whatever residual unresolved issues that may exist after Bryant's expression of dissatisfaction still need to be overcome.
The Lakers may not be favorites to win a championship but this coming season could be an important step towards that goal. Although the training camp roster has not been released (a few more free agents are expected to get invites), the Lakers are bringing 14 players with guaranteed contracts to camp. The final roster spot will need to be won out by the likes of Coby Karl, Elton Brown and Larry Turner. PG: Derek Fisher/Jordan Farmar/Javaris Crittenton SG: Kobe Bryant/Mo Evans/Sasha Vujacic/Coby Karl SF: Luke Walton/Vladimir Radmanovic PF: Lamar Odom/Ronny Turiaf/Brian Cook/Elton Brown C: Kwame Brown/Andrew Bynum/Chris Mihm/Larry Turner Fisher is the major upgrade over the departed Smush Parker. Although he may not be the defender he was earlier in his career, he's far more steady and consistent than Parker. Fisher also provides the team with a second clutch endgame shooter. The Lakers have high hopes for first round draft pick Crittenton. Depending on development he and Farmar will battle out for the remaining minutes at the one (although Vujacic may get time there as well). While Farmar is more of a distributing point guard, Crittenton may be more of a scorer. If one of the younger guards proves to be ready for more court-time, both Fisher and Crittenton may have the opportunity to play the two. Bryant will get the lion-share of the minutes at shooting guards but Coach Phil Jackson will often move him to the wing when the team needs a scoring boost. Although a bit undersized to play the three, Evans can slide over as well in addition to backing up Bryant at the two. Vujacic will need to improve his shooting percentage to earn time at either guard spot. If Karl makes the team, he'll probably spend most of his time on the inactive list and even in the NBDL. Walton has proven to be a capable starter. Before an ankle injury slowed him last season he proved to have a very steady outside shot. The team tends to run the triangle offense more efficiently on the court. Defensively Walton will never be mistaken for Ron Artest. One of the biggest question marks is Vladimir Radmanovic. While he was the Lakers' big acquisition last summer he gave the team practically nothing after tearing a tendon in his shooting hand . . . and then messing up his shoulder/collar bone in a snowboarding accident that resulted in a $500k fine from the team. Looking to redeem himself, Radmanovic is the wild card who could give the team a badly needed boost. At 6'10" he may also get time at the four. Lamar Odom, still recovering from shoulder surgery, may not be able to participate fully in training camp. The hope is that he'll be healthy for the team's opener. While Odom is not the most bruising power forward in the league, he is one of the most versatile. A major key to the season is Odom simply staying healthy.,P. Phil Jackson has both Ronny Turiaf and Brian Cook to turn to off the bench. Turiaf is far tougher but still developing. Cook is one of the best shooting big men in the league, but that's about all he's ever been able to do consistently at the NBA level. Invite Elton Brown is said to be immensely talented but has yet to put it all together. He's a dark horse candidate for that 15th roster spot. With three centers, the Lakers may try to experiment with Chris Mihm at the four. Kwame Brown has yet to show aptitude in the triangle offense. He may have been brought in as a power forward but he appears to be exclusively a center on this Laker team. The starting spot at center is wide open. While Andrew Bynum may be the five of the future, he'll have to outwork his teammates to earn the starting nod. Above any other factor, Bynum's development is the key to the Lakers leaping to the top of the conference. He spent much of the summer working on his body and has looked impressive in informal workouts but he still has a lot to prove. The Lakers have turned away many trades for the young prospect. Bynum still has the opportunity to show that team's decision makers know what they are doing. Can he make that big an impact when he'll turn 20 years old just in time to start the season? Will he come close to reaching his potential while Bryant is still in his prime? In a perfect world the team stays injury free as much as possible. If so, they'll be one of the top scoring teams in the league. While the Lakers were weak defensively last season, health would make a difference. LA probably won't be a team that can lock opponents down but if Bryant can play the same level of defense he displayed on Team USA over the summer . . . the rest of the team will follow suit. From a source close to the team, Coach Phil Jackson is extremely motivated to get the most out of this Laker squad. Last year may have been a step backwards but Jackson has higher expectations than a skeptical fan base, disillusioned by another first round knock out and the very visible protestations of the team's superstar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
