I have to admit, I have been too busy to watch too many games or post here and to tell you the truth, the NBA and the Lakers in particular have so disgusted me over the last couple of seasons I have a somewaht diminished interest in the season this early. As we approach the break I think at least the Lakers will shake out a little more and give us an indication where they're heading longterm. I'm just sick to death of all the drama and soap opera nonsense with this team. At any rate, from the games I've seen, here is my take on LA:
Weaknesses: No motion and no quickness on defense whatsoever, this is a fairly young team and I simply don't understand the agonizingly slow defensive transition that is allowing opponents waaaay too many easy buckets, and while contrary to Randy's assertion, they're rebounding well, they are giving up as many as they are getting, again, defensive transition catching LA with half the team still upcourt. No interior presence, I wish I could find a stat to show how well LA's opponents are scoring in the paint, it must be pretty high. I know the team is young and still learning each other and getting used to Rudy Tomjanovich and his style of coaching but at least pick up the pace!!! Statistically they are middle to lower middle of the pack on defense but what is irritating is that with a little more intensity on the defensive side of the floor, this Laker team could have and should have beaten Sacramento the first game, Phoenix twice and absolutely blew the Washington game, they play defense and win those 4 and all of a sudden they are 17-7, confidence builds and this team is a surprise to everyone, myself included. I expect some of this to change when and if Divac starts playing more.
Strengths: LA is playing offense far better than I expected for a team so new and young, Kobe is answering his critics by not only scoring at a rather blistering pace and is 5th in assists, the games I've seen he his passing way more than he did last season, but he is turning over the ball at an alarming rate. Chris Mihm and Chucky Atkins are blending but Atkins is not passing well and his assists are atrocious, still, for such a new team, they are playing better than I thought they would, Odom and Mihm are holding serve until Divac can get in there and make his presence felt with his superior passing out of the post. The Laker are spreading the love points wise, their % isn't anything to crow about but they are averaging just over 97 PPG so I can't complain too much about that, I agree with Randy that if Odom attacks the basket more Cook, Bryant, and Atkins will have more open looks outside.
All in all, not a bad team given the new players, the new coach, the inexperience, and above all, the soap opera that is the Lakers. Will they make the playoffs? Probably, but unless they pick up the pace defensively they are no better than first round and out, and even at best, they are no better than second round fodder. If Kobe is trying to prove he didn't need the most dominant center currently playing, it won't happen this year, but if they build some cohesiveness, in a couple of years it is not an out of the realm of reality possibility.
