Archive for the ‘The 13th Pick’ Category

The 13th Pick: Game 6 or Bust

As I write this with 8.9 seconds to go in Game 5, praying for a miracle but knowing the Lakers lost, I know I share the frustrations of the rest of the Lakers Nation. I am sure lots of hearts were broken Sunday night, where instead of looking for the closeout on Tuesday and planning on how to get a good view by Figueroa this weekend, the Lakers are facing elimination against the Boston Celtics. Again.

Let’s throw out the obvious points…

Apart from Kobe Bryant, the rest of the team was just atrocious, especially in the second half. The Lakers dug themselves a hole by shooting 39.7% in the field, compared to the Celtics’ 56.3%.

Seriously, you can’t rely on Kobe shooting 48% night in and night out against the Celtics’ chest-to-chest defense while the rest of the team chucks up 35% (Fisher and Artest, in particular, each going 2-9 at a time like this is just inexcusable); almost as ugly as Tony Allen‘s jumpshot.

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The 13th Pick: State of the Nation

Hearing recent concerns over the seemingly “Jekyll and Hyde-ish” (as Kobe put it) play of the defending champs, I still think that to fret over a 54-21 record is a fortunate luxury that we all share as the people of the Laker Nation.

Although, it actually does dampen me that I am writing this in between losses to the Hawks tonight and to the Hornets the other night, who aren’t even going to the playoffs.

Yes, it is somewhat of a concern, namely because of three reasons…

1. As cliché as it sounds, A LOT is expected of a team looking to win a second (and potentially a third, and maybe even a fourth) straight Larry O’Brien trophy. Their collective talent just can’t help but suggest that.

And, when I say this, I am including Phil Jackson.

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The 13th Pick: Kobe’s Favorite Player

As they always say, there are always two sides to a story, and such is true when anyone mentions Pau Gasol.

You can continue to question his “softness” (which is really an old and invalid argument). You can contradict his importance to the Lakers, and criticize his legitimacy as one of the top power forwards in the game. But the fact is, as reserved as “The Spaniard” is, you can’t deny that Pau Gasol is just that good.

Saying Pau is overlooked is a tremendous understatement.

In a city as bright as Los Angeles, and on a team filled with all kinds of personalities, people forget about perhaps the Lakers’ most dangerous asset not named Kobe Bryant.

Consider that since coming back from a hamstring injury, Pau and the Lakers have not lost in his first nine games, winning ten straight so far. The Lakers are also enjoying blowing teams out, with a 16.6 average margin in wins with Pau back in the lineup, as opposed to winning by a bit over 3 in an 8-3 record without him. True, they’ve been enjoying a long home stand, but as the defending Champions, it is all the more reason that they should win at home.

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The 13th Pick: Andrew Bynum’s All-Star Bid

Finally, there is a legitimate third candidate to represent the Lakers in Cowboy Stadium for this year’s All-Star game along with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

And, no, it’s not Lamar Odom.

Certainly, Odom deserves to be an All-Star, and it wouldn’t be improbable for Laker Nation’s Candy Man. But since the West is stocked with All-Star type forwards, it would be a pretty tall order for L.O. Guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and Carlos Boozer weren’t even on the team last year, and that only shows how tough it would be to crack a spot on the roster that already counts Dirk, Tim and Pau every year.

But at the center spot, 22 year old Andrew Bynum is slowly working towards becoming one of the best big men in the game to go along with his bowling skills. Without question, he has had moments that suggest his skills and promise, and barring injuries, this looks like the year that he has long awaited for – a solid year that he can play completely through, and one in which he can claim his spot as perhaps the top center in the West.

Even Dime Magazine’s Austin Burton says, “If any West center will complete a three-man bid for his team, it’ll be Andrew Bynum going with Kobe and Pau Gasol.”

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