Laker fans are understandably anxious to find quick evidence of two things as the season begins: Can Luke transform the way the team plays to create meaningful schematic advantages (like other great coaches), after suffering through two years of Byronball? Are the young players, individually and as a group, making the kinds of developmental strides […]
The Lakers’ Steep Climb to Becoming a Good Offensive Team
Luke Walton’s hiring rightfully gives Lakers fans hope that the team is trying (at least now) to rebuild in the right ways. The move evidences a humility the team has not seen before — instead of hiring some insider that can restore the team to glory by reinforcing what the Lakers did in the good […]
Comparing D’Angelo Russell…
D’Angelo Russell is having an elite rookie point guard season, particularly for a teenager, but it appears to be going largely unnoticed outside of Lakerland. In many ways, Russell is a victim of the combination of high expectations and the power of first impressions. Lakers’ fans, desperate for a savior—or, at least, a reason to […]
Do the Other Contenders Match-Up with the Lakers?
It seems that as soon as the championship parade at the Coliseum was finished, Laker fans have been collectively holding their breath in anticipation of an off-season in which two of the team’s most important contributors, and popular players, were free agents. Over the next 45 days Laker fans have been saddened (from losing the […]
Deconstructing Kobe
There is no doubt that this title meant as much to Kobe, and to the public’s perception of his legacy, than perhaps any title has meant to any player in recent memory. In that spirit, we have been showered with stories praising Kobe, dissecting his relief, evaluating his transformation, figuring his place in history, analyzing […]
Tale of the Tape
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics” – Twain As we have four days to ponder, evaluate, fret, puff, antagonize, argue, morally lecture – and generally do the types of things fans do when they’ve been walking an emotional tightrope for six months and the end goal is within sight – […]
Preview and Chat: The Memphis Grizzlies
Records: Lakers 63-17 (1st in West); Grizzlies 23-56 (12th in West) Offensive Efficiency: Lakers 112.8 (3rd); Grizzlies 103.6 (28th) Defensive Efficiency: Lakers 104.9 (6th); Grizzlies 109.6 (21st) Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Fisher, Kobe, Ariza, Gasol, Bynum; Grizzlies: Conley, Mayo, Gay, Arthur, Gasol. Thoughts on the Portland Loss: This loss hurts on a few fronts. First, […]
Psychology and the Celtics, Round Two
We’ve spent a lot of time today talking about psychology, the Celtics, confidence, etc. Before that mood passes, here is a second round of scattered thoughts on point. Warning: there might be nothing less worth reading than someone playing pop psychologist in the world of sports. At the end of the Christmas Lakers-Celtics game, a […]
Preview and Chat: The Cleveland Cavs
(First, Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day. It seems to mean a bit more this year.) Lakers: 31-8 (1st in West), Cleveland (1st in East, by % points over Orlando) Offensive Rating: Lakers: 110.4 (1st), Cleveland: 110.0 (2nd) Defensive Rating: Lakers: 102.0 (5th), Cleveland: 96.2 (1st) Rebound Rate: Lakers: 51.6 (5th), Cleveland: 52.1 (3rd) Pace: […]
Year in Review (so far…)
We’re 30 games into the season, in the midst of a lengthy break in between games, and approaching a new year – feels like a good time to take a long look at where the team sits, what it’s strengths and weaknesses are, and how it compares to its chief competitors. In that spirit, and […]