CL Editorial: On the Eights (Supplemental)

I’m going away until the 2nd week of January so I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to do this so here’s a bigger, bolder, better version of On the Eights.

Record: 19-10, 1 game back from the division lead, and 5-4 without Odom, the Lakers are definitely a surprise. I’m not sure what’s more impressive: the fact that they’re respectable without Odom or the fact that they’re damn good with Odom. Either way, it’s a credit to the bench play and Phil Jackson. Lakers are trending 54 wins at present.
Grade: A-

Coaching: Okay. So now we know why Turiaf isn’t playing as much as we’d like to see him play (hip). Now we know that Vlad can score in the flow of an offense. Now we know that Smush Parker can be a solid offensive contributor. Now we know that the bench is for real (see the decimation of Minnesota in the 4th Quarter). Jackson is still tinkering with lineups, but that’s necessary given the injuries. I’ll say it again. LA is trending 54 wins. That would be a nine game improvement over last season and a 21 game swing in two seasons. Who’s the greatest coach in the NBA?
Grade: A-

Front Court: Team production at the SF, PF, and Center spots are all at a higher level than SG production. Chew on that. They’re blowing PG numbers out of the water. No surprise there. LA now has a net PER (see 82games.com) advantage at all three front court positions. Kwame and Bynum are combining for 16 points, 11 boards, 3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game (in under 48 minutes). Vlad and Cook have done well in spot starts, especially providing scoring punch on occasion. Walton’s numbers have tailed off a bit since Odom went down, but he is still averaging 12 points, 5 boards, 4 assists. Not bad for a guy who averaged 5-4-2 last season. This group will be put to the test with Odom out and Turiaf struggling with a hip problem, but there are so many useful skill sets among these players it’s fun to watch.
Grade: B

Back Court: I’m not going to call out Kobe Bryant, but his defense is suffering in one key area: he’s giving up too many high percentage shots. His shooting percentage is down, but he is overcoming the flu and is distributing well, putting his team in a position to win. His 49-9-9 averages in back-to-back games should leave no doubts about the best all-around offensive player in the NBA. Now to his counterpart. Smush Parker continues to be the starter at Point Guard. PG is the only position with sub 15.0 (the average) PER rating offensively. The 5.3 point deficit from offensive to defensive PER is also the only negative in the lineup. Jackson has to try to stop the bleeding, and has experimented with a would-be shooter (Sasha Vujacic), would-be floor general (Jordan Farmar), and the streetballer with a chip on his shoulder (Smush Parker). The effects are sometimes impressive, but there is zero consistency. I think no one outside the Parker household thinks that Smush is a longterm answer here, but Farmar does not look ready to play 30+ minutes per game yet. Jackson should be applauded for bringing him along slowly as he has. By the way, Farmar’s minutes per game, by month (14 in October, 18 in November, 19 in December).
Grade: C+

Bench: LA has a bench. We can say that with confidence for the first time in a few years. Consider the following lines, which represent the player’s best game of the season: Farmar (10-7-5), Bynum (20 and 14), Radmanovic (27 points), Mo Evans (22 points), Brian Cook (11 and 11), Turiaf (23 and 9), Vujacic (9 and 2). These numbers show that LA has the tools on the bench to put up points and keep games close. With the defensive prowess of Bynum, Turiaf, Evans, and at times Farmar, there are the makings for a very good nine man rotation when everyone is healthy. That Minnesota game, where the Lakers outscored the Timberwolves 34-7, could have been the straw that sent Kevin Garnett packing (if I may mix my metaphors).
Grade: B+

Lakers’ Ace: While Lamar Odom holds this team together, it is Kobe Bryant who must be applauded for his effort without Odom. 27 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds are nothing to laugh at. And Kobe has done it while every game he plays is being geared up to be a 1-on-1 game against every up-and-coming guard in the game, fighting the flu, fighting his knee that required offseason surgery. And I haven’t heard Kobe say one thing negative about his team, the gameplan, or his coaching staff. Champions just shut up and play. Kobe is playing like a champion.

Hot Seat: I won’t say that it’s Point Guard. Smush has that job at least until the all-star break. Let’s say it’s Forward. With Odom out, there are two spots for the following to fight it out: Vlad Radmanovic, Luke Walton, Brian Cook, and Ronny Turiaf. Walton has locked up one of the spots and Turiaf’s hip will not allow him to play significant minutes in consecutive games. So it falls to Cook and Radmanovic. The comparison: Cook 13.5 mpg, 6.0 points, 0.8 assists, 3.6 boards on 47% and 37% 3point shooting. Vlad 16.6 mpg, 6.9 points, 1.0 assists, 3.1 boards on 46% and 37% 3point shooting. What’s the difference? In Phil Jackson’s game, it’s experience and mental preparation, Cook is no mental stalwart, but Vlad has been criticized for his lack of mental focus. Keep an eye on this spot as one of these players could become trade fodder very quickly.

Big Question: What’s going on with Mihm’s Disabled Player Exemption? That’s $2.1 million that is to be spent by today.

Preview: All I can say is get well soon, Odom. LA faces Charlotte and Philadelphia before a brutal early 2007. LA begins with Sacramento and Denver then goes against Dallas, Memphis, Houston, and Orlando in week 2 of January. Miami and Sacramento, though the end of this “eight” game span, are just the beginning of the week that includes Dallas and the Hornets (now less intimidating without Chris Paul). Prediction for the next 8 (+3): 7-4, with a lot of wins early in the stretch.