I think the Fisher-Kobe-Ariza-Odom-Gasol lineup really has potential, and can start the season strong. Meanwhile, we’re giving Gasol and Bynum the chance to work on their co-ordination, and giving the PJ the chance to put different lineups out there and see who plays well together, which lineup is good for lock-down defence and what’s better for running, etc.

I think a trade before at least 2 months would be sad if not anything else, bcuz our guys have plenty of potential to play exciting basketball and put plenty of points up. As far as Odom’s performance in the Finals is concerned, people have been picking on him too much! The entire Lakers as a team (this includes Kobe and the Zen Meister) didn’t really expect to make it to the Finals, and didn’t really look like they knew what to do when they got there. Couple that with the C’s hunger (oh KG had spent sleepless night for years waiting for that chance), veteran leadership (Posey, Brown, Cassel have all been there before) and team defence, and that all adds to very little chances for out young Lakers team. Boston was ready and the Lakers were deer in headlights, simple as that.This year should be different, with the team aiming for the trophy right from the start.

Also, here’s to hoping that our depth allows us to give Kobe’s “dead” knees plenty of rest during the season. He should be played alot only in close games and when the offense really isn’t working. Other than that, I think the Lakers line-up has potential to win big games without him, and the Lakers could really learn how to create offence without number 24. If the Lakers are clicking nicely without him, just imagine what would happen when he IS then introduced to the game. Kobe getting the ball on cuts and getting single coverage would just be too much fun to watch.

Plus, after watching Drew this preseason, it’s pretty obvious he trying to gun his way to that new contract extension. He’ll get all the opportunities he wants running with the second team or spelling LO or Pau if they get in foul trouble.

I expect Phil to mix Drew, Pau and LO in the lineup together depending on matchups since Pau cannot guard PF’s on the perimiter. Like against Dallas…does anyone exect Pau to slow Dirk down 25 feet from the hoop with Drew checking Dampier? But against Phoenix, the matchup might be good with Drew going head to head with the Big Washed-Up and Pau trying to contain Amare.

I just don’t see an iron-clad starting 5 with Drew and Pau together.

But this look got the blog to the Finals last season. Don’t you want to give it a chance this year and see if it can go all the way?

The team is getting a major re-do; relative to the Lakers of June, Bynum, Ariza, Mihm, and Powell are “new”; Odom and Gasol have new positions. Turiaf is gone. Walton is healthy.

I can’t go. Good seats, sec 205, row 2 (two tickets). The first person who emails me AFTER saturday at high noon and leaves a name and an email address gets the tickets. If you email me before then, you will be disqualified. My email address is kb9kb9kb9@aol.com.

This is not a joke. These are my season tickets and I can’t go. Please do not email me unless you are SURE you will attend…. There are two games tomw; the Lakers play at 7:30. Royal Room admission included.

I agree with you with we need to utilize all of your options to the fullest in hope of bringing the trophy back to LA. But what I don’t understand is how are people just putting Lamar Odom down after a bad series? I might be wrong, but didn’t just about everybody played horribly in the finals? Why is there only talks of Lamar playing bad? Gasol didn’t play great like he did in the first 3 rounds…Neither did Kobe, Fish, the bench mob…Again, I am all for getting our team stronger and better in order to bring home the trophy but we had a great formula that was already working and it just needed some tweaking, not a whole re-do. Pau and Lamar play go good off of each other that it will be very hard for Bynum and Pau to match. And my worry is that, trying to get the tandem of Pau and Drew to work efficiently together might end up costing us the beautiful chemistry that was between Lamar and Gasol. Lamar is a wonderful talent, that is matched by only a handful of people in this league. I, for one, have been against using Lamar as a point forward. Lamar has great handle, for a PF, but not for a guard. His handles are meant to take advantage of slow footed PF, not versatile SF around the league. Making him a point forward meaning more drives through the traffic, meaning more offensive fouls that he has a nache for picking up when going strong to the hole from the outside. I really believe the best way to utilize our talent is to leave the same starting line up from last year (although I am all for Sasha starting at 2, Kobe at 3, instead of Kobe at 2 and Rad at 3) and bring Bynum off the bench early and often to keep anchoring our defense.

All this talk of bringing LO off the bench assumes a few silly things: that Bynum can play with Pau, and that Bynum is better than Odom. Neither have been proven.