The West Coast

Attention - Blog moved to another site

2010-11-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

Just in case some of the readers here were wondering why I haven't been posting articles lately, it's because I moved my blog to another website. It's easier to leave comments and easier for more people to follow the blog itself. Sorry again for the lack of notice. The link to the other blog is below, thanks again for following.

http://laded.wordpress.com/

Let's Take a Look: Matt Barnes

2010-11-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, in the off-season Matt Barnes was low on my list of players for the Lakers to sign because his attitude never appealed to me as someone who I could cheer for. The whole spat with Kobe Bryant in Orlando made me dislike the player more. His game was never the issue; it was all about personality. But after missing out on free agent wing players that the Lakers desperately needed, they finally signed Barnes and at that time, I was willing to reconsider my perception of him.

Guess what?

After the preseason and four games into the season, he's quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the team.

Last season, Luke Walton was injured a majority of the season, playing only 29 games. Because of that, the bench did not have a legitimate back-up wing as Lamar Odom played the three as well as Kobe at times. So when the Barnes became a Laker, I knew that it was already an upgrade, but I just didn't know how big of an upgrade he would be so far.

Even though it is still early, Barnes is averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds (3 rpg being offensive) in 21 minutes a game. That stat line is better than starter Ron Artest, but then again, Ron is here for his defense.

What I love most about Barnes' game is his activity on and off the ball. Constantly crashing the boards, fighting for rebounds, cutting to the basket (something we haven't had since Ariza left) and knocking down the occasional three. The main thing about him, which is why Kobe wanted him here, is that the guy is fearless. Last year, Artest came on board and the Lakers squad got a little bit meaner and tougher. In the preseason, I saw Barnes wrestle for a loose ball with a Kings player and Barnes ended up throwing him down to the floor. Was it a dirty play? Not necessarily, but it showed that Barnes is not afraid to get the job done at any cost.

Will Barnes finish the season averaging ten and seven? His career average is seven and four, so I would say no. But then again, we have seen players the last three years and improve their game greatly (Trevor Ariza and Shannon Brown). More than likely, Barnes' rebounding will be affected when Odom goes back to the second unit once Andrew Bynum returns. But until then, Barnes will continue to bring some energy that the bench has not seen in a couple years and will be a big piece to the three-peat puzzle.

Sorry Matt, but thank you for proving me wrong. Keep up the good work!

Side note: I wonder if the league has taken notice yet that the Lakers are 4-0 and playing some brilliant basketball without Andrew Bynum? Exciting for Lakers fans to think about and scary for opposing teams.

Bench leads Lakers to opening night win

2010-10-26T23:06:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday night the Lakers raised their 16th NBA championship banner, but seemed to have a celebration hangover that lasted the first half through most of the third quarter. Luckily for them, their revamped bench came through to lead the Lakers to an exciting 112-110 win over the Houston Rockets in the season opener for both teams.

Trailing 82-77 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Shannon Brown came through in a big way, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, including four 3-pointers that seemed to spark the Lakers offense.

Brown finished with 16 points and four steals.

Meanwhile, two new faces making their Lakers debut did their part. Matt Barnes had six points and five rebounds, while Steve Blake had 16 points, including the go ahead three pointer with 18 seconds left in the game that ultimately gave the Lakers the win.

Pau Gasol led the way statistically, scoring 29 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Kobe Bryant, who was not expected to play more than 30 minutes, ended up going for 37 minutes and showed little signs of rust as he went for 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Lamar Odom ended the night with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

It wasn't an impressive win for the Lakers who trailed by 15 at one point, but it was a good sign for the team to see the bench step up when the team needed them to. They were able to get back into the game all while Kobe was on the bench. Another interesting fact may be that Phil Jackson showed to hesitation leaving Blake and Brown on the floor while leaving Fisher and Artest as spectators on the bench.

It is only the first game out of 82, but to see Blake hit a big shot in his debut is definitely promising. The bench was pretty non-existent in the first half, so to get a better understanding of how good the second unit is going to be, we will have to see a complete game from them first. Let's also remember that once Bynum returns, Odom will likely be joining Brown, Barnes, and Blake.

Lakers hit the road on Friday to take on the Phoenix Suns. It will be a rematch of the Western Conference Finals.

1-0. The quest has begun.

Will the Lakers start the season off slow?

2010-10-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

It should be no secret at this point that the Lakers are the favorites coming into this season. Sure the media may be crowning the Miami Heat as the next big thing in the NBA and eventual champions, but every team in the NBA knows that the Lakers are poised for yet another title celebration come June. After winning the title the last two seasons with a solid starting lineup and below average bench, the Lakers front office went out and upgraded the bench which has the potential to be the best in the league. With Odom and Brown, the additions of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff, Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter, the Lakers now have a formidable bench that can be used for long stretches during games which will allow Bryant, Gasol, Artest and Fisher extra rest throughout the season.

The Lakers will be good, but the question is how good?

I believe that this Lakers team will be stronger than the previous two championship teams. The biggest threat to that statement is the health issue. Andrew Bynum will miss the beginning of the season due to rehab relating to his knee surgery while Bryant is still recovering from his minor knee surgery. Last season, the Lakers began the season without Gasol but still managed to go 8-3 during that time. The good news for this season is that the Lakers know how to play without Bynum due to his injuries the last couple of seasons. But how will the Lakers fare without Kobe being Kobe?

Most likely, you will see Kobe be more of a facilitator until he gets his knee back up to his strength standards which means the opportunity will be there for players like Blake and Barnes to really prove their worth. Shannon Brown has been very reliable during the pre-season so he will be a big contributor to the team early in the season.

Good news for the Lakers is that the schedule to begin the season isn't very challenging. After a quick glance of the first 18 games, I can see the Lakers going 16-2 or 15-3 to start off the season. By the time December rolls around, Bynum could have returned or be close to returning to the squad while Bryant will have had another month to get his knee into game shape. I do expect some sort of drop off once Bynum comes back because the team will get used to playing with him again, but it's still unknown whether Phil Jackson will keep Bynum on the bench or insert him into the starting lineup.

Can the Lakers make it four straight trips to the Finals? Will they send Phil Jackson out in style? Tune in to TNT on Tuesday as the Lakers begin another title defense against the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles.

Lakers sign Barnes and Ratliff

2010-07-22T19:47:00.001-07:00

With all the hoopla and attention on the Miami Heat, the Lakers made sure this off-season that no team in the NBA forgets who the defending back to back champions are. After bringing back Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher, and signing Steve Blake, the Lakers upgraded their bench some more by adding Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff.

Matt Barnes, whose off-season has been a roller coaster ride, first signing with the Raptors, only to find out they did not have the necessary funds to give him the $10 million contract offered and accepted, finally ended his free agency by agreeing to a 2-year, $3.6 million deal with the Lakers. According to Yahoo! Sports, Barnes will be paid $1.7 million in his first season and will then have a player option worth $1.9 million in his second year. Barnes, a guard/forward will definitely help the Lakers who will most likely not bring back Shannon Brown, now that the Lakers filled that position.

The Lakers were also able to fill a void left by Josh Powell, who is rumored to sign with the Atlanta Hawks in the next few days, by signing Theo Ratliff. The 15-year veteran signed a one year deal with the Lakers for $1.3 million, the veterans minimum. Ratliff, known for his shot-blocking, will be a defensive upgrade for the Lakers behind Bynum or Gasol. The Lakers were linked to players such as Kurt Thomas, but ultimately Thomas may have been too expensive for the Lakers to afford. It is not known how many minutes Ratliff will play in LA, but there is no way that he is just an insurance player/garbage time player for $1.3 million. He will probably average around 10-15 minutes a game. Gasol has averaged 37 mpg the last two seasons and you can bet Phil Jackson would love to limit those big minutes as the season nears the playoffs.

There will be both negative and positive reaction to the deals. Some may feel that Barnes' attitude may not mesh with the Lakers, although I am one of those people, I believe Phil Jackson, Kobe and Fisher can handle the attitude issue. As for Ratliff, many felt there were better options. Sure, there are always better options, but for what the Lakers were looking for, Ratliff fits right in with team. A bench that consisted of Odom/Walton/Brown/Farmar/Vujacic got upgraded significantly this off-season that now looks like Ratliff/Odom/Barnes/Vujacic/Blake. The downside is the athleticism of the Lakers may have decreased a bit, but the team definitely got better defensively and mentally.

Now the question is, what do we expect from the Lakers now that they have a legitimate bench that wasn't there in the last two titles? Consistency will be key and if the consistency is there, expect the Lakers to be holding the title for a third straight season.

What's next for the Lakers?

2010-07-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

So far this off-season, the Lakers front office has done a good job of taking care of the needs of the team. Bringing back Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher were at the top of the list. Bringing in another point guard to replace Jordan Farmar and also bringing in a player who would be groomed to be the Lakers starter in the future was taken care of by signing Steve Blake.

Now it's time for the Lakers to finish the off-season strong by filling out the roster. The team missed out on Raja Bell, who was given a 3-year, $10 million deal by the Jazz and now are looking at bringing back Shannon Brown, which would give the Lakers the athleticism off the bench that Bell would have no provided. Whether a deal with Brown gets done is still yet to be seen. Last reports had Brown and the Lakers 'close' on a deal.

Rookies Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter both made names for themselves in the summer league and are both expected to make the Lakers roster this upcoming season. Considering the fact that Phil Jackson is not too high on giving rookies minutes, neither are expected to make a big impact. Although, if the Lakers do not bring in another back up wing player and Walton's back continues to be an issue, it may force Phil's had to give Ebanks quality minutes. Some names still floating around are that of Matt Barnes, Rasual Butler, and Tracy McGrady. All those players are options for the Lakers, but Barnes may want too much money and it is unknown whether McGrady wants to be a bench player for a contender or if he has his sights on being a starter.

That leaves Rasual Butler. At 6'7, Butler is considered a SG/SF and is a career 8.8 ppg player. He is one of those players that would be a solid bench player for the World Champions and could make a name for himself just like Trevor Ariza did and how Shannon Brown has done because of his stint with the Lakers. The last two years he has played all 82 games and has averaged 11 ppg and 30+ mpg, so he can produce solid numbers, although if he came to the Lakers, his minutes could drop to 20 mpg or less. He would add another three point shooter to the team as he shoots 36% for his career. His career high was 46% in 03'/04' with the Miami Heat. If the Lakers are able to add him, the bench would definitely be a lot stronger than in seasons past with a group consisting of Odom, Butler, Blake, and Brown. The right mix of athleticism, defense, and scoring would make the Lakers a stronger threat then in the last two championship seasons.

Right now, the off-season is a success with the moves the Lakers have made. But if they are able to add Butler or another wing player along with a back up veteran big man, the Lakers brass would have pulled off one of the most successful team off-seasons is recent memory. This type of off-season isn't about the big names coming to the Lakers, but its about upgrading an area which was considered the Lakers weak point. Scary to think that a back-to-back NBA Champion can have a weak point, but it could very well be an upgrade that will give the team a chance to three-peat and send Phil Jackson out in style.

A Closer Look: Raja Bell

2010-07-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Lakers have been interested in their fair share of players this off-season according to the media. Names such as Chris Bosh, Matt Barnes, Tony Allen, Roger Mason Jr. and Anthony Morrow. Although there has been one name that is the most intriguing and would definitely be a help to the Lakers and its bench.

Raja Bell.

That's right, I said Raja Bell, the player who famously clotheslined Kobe Bryant during the Lakers-Suns playoff series in 2006. Because of that incident, Lakers fans have had an extreme dislike for Bell even until this day. Putting those feelings aside, for the fans that have not realized it, Bell would be a great fit for this team.

We already know he has the never back down attitude that Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest possess. More than that, he can play ball, both defensively and offensively. At 6'5 - 215 lbs, Bell can guard most point guards and shooting guards. You will rarely see him guard wing players, but hey, that's what Artest is here for. He is a pesky defender, who will not give you space, put some elbows into your back, and if you get on his bad side, he is not scared to give that hard foul. Simply put, Bell gets the job done defensively.

Offensively, he is a solid player. He did miss most of last season due to wrist surgery (non-shooting wrist) playing only six games, five with Charlotte, one with Golden State. But over his career he has averaged 10.3 ppg, 1.7 apg, and 2.9 rpg while shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc and 43.5 % from the field. Here are some more stats from Bell, but this time from his playoff career: 8.0 ppg but shooting 46.6% from three and 49.2 % from the field. For a team such as the Lakers who thrive on their role players stepping up when needed, those are promising numbers.

There will be a handful of teams that will be interested in Bell, but there have been earlier reports of Bell and the Lakers having mutual interest in getting a deal done. What about Kobe? Sources say he is one of the supporters in bringing in Bell, so clearly 2006 is behind him. Kobe has had a respect for players who play hard and are not scared of a challenge. Look at Artest who had his battles over the years with Black Mamba and now Kobe considers Artest one of his favorite teammates. The prospect of having Bell, Artest, and Kobe guarding the perimeter is something that would definitely be fun to watch and a nightmare for other teams to deal with. So Raja Bell to the Lakers? I say yes and everyone else should say the same thing.

Free agent bigs to look at

2010-07-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest focuses this off-season for the Lakers is looking for back-up big man. DJ Mbenga and Josh Powell could very well be brought back, but the Lakers said after the Finals that they were hoping of finding a productive big man who had ten or more years of NBA experience that could give Bynum and/or Gasol a rest during the regular season. That would signal the Lakers using the veterans minimum on a player, roughly around $1.3 million.

Here is a look at some free agents that may be of interest to the Lakers:

Ben Wallace - 6'9 - Now we all know that Ben Wallace isn't known for his offense, but it is his defense that makes him a solid addition to any team. Averaged 8.7 rebounds for Detroit last season and is a player that could add some defensive energy to a bench that liked to give up leads the last two season. Putting Wallace and Odom on the floor together would be something to see when both are rebounding the ball like they are suppose to.

Kurt Thomas - 6'9 - A good option that Phil Jackson may be very fond off. He is a gritty veteran who knows his role and is smart on the court. Averaged 3.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg for the Bucks last season. For a championship team looking for role players, Thomas adds his veteran presence on and off the court.

Juwan Howard - 6'9 - Another good option for a championship team. Averaged 6.0 ppg and 4.6 rpg for the Blazers last season. He has been linked to the Lakers in the past so seeing him in the purple and gold next season would not surprise me.

Jamaal Magloire - 6'11 - A player who is still fairly young at 32 years old, was an all-star at one point in his career, then injuries basically made him a bench filler at best. Averaged 2.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg for the Heat last season. As long as he stays healthy, he could realistically be an option for the Lakers and give some productive minutes for the team.

Jermaine O'Neal - 6'11 - Now this one is a long shot. He averaged 13.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg last season with the Heat so you can potentially see him get the MLE this off-season (I mean Darko got 20 million so that just gives you an idea of the money out there). It would definitely be ironic to see O'Neal on the Lakers since it was only about three years ago where the rumors of Bynum/Odom for O'Neal were the talk of the town. He may want to make his money since he is still 31 years old and proved he can be productive still. But if he wants to play for a ring, the Lakers can offer him a contract and have him come off the bench with Odom.

Lastly, a name you might hear about in the next month or so:

Chinemelu Elonu - 6'10 - Not many people may remember this name, but those who follow the Lakers closely will. Elonu was the Lakers 2009 second round draft pick last season out of Texas A&M (59th overall). After playing in the summer league last year, Elonu went overseas where he played with CAI Zaragoza in Spain. There he averaged 6.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 1.5 bpg. He signed a two year deal with the Zaragoza, but has the option to opt out this Summer. Now people may say that Elonu was the 59th overall pick and there is no chance that he could make the team, but many scouts said that if Elonu would have stayed in school another year, he may have been a first rounder in this draft. He is an hard-working player who is an aggressive rebounder, especially on the offensive boards.

Steve Blake agrees to deal with the Lakers

2010-07-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

For the Lakers being known as a team that doesn't do much when it comes to player transactions, they have sure made the first two days of free agency interesting.

The Lakers filled a void left by Jordan Farmar when veteran point guard Steve Blake agreed to a four-year deal worth $16 million. Blake, a seven-year veteran, was one of the targets the Lakers identified before free agency started but the signing came as a surprise to many as the team was rumored to have been in serious discussions with G/F Mike Miller. The rumor as of this Friday morning was that the Lakers gave Miller a Tuesday deadline to inform the team if he would accept their offer of five years, $30 million.

But it was business as usual for the Lakers who remained very quiet in their dealings and Blake agreed to join the Lakers to help them build toward a three-peat.

There has been mixed reactions to the signing. Some have said it's a great move and others said there were better options and we overpaid for Blake. For me, it is a solid signing. There aren't many 'great' point guards available on the market. Point guards in this free agent class include Raymond Felton, Rafer Alston, Earl Watson, Luke Ridnour, Chris Duhon, and Randy Foye. Now Felton would be nice, but he would definitely require the entire Mid-Level Exception (MLE) or possibly more. The Lakers were looking for an affordable option as they have one of the top payrolls in the league and they certainly found one in Blake. The term 'over paid' is something that is quickly becoming worn out. Just look at Darko Milicic who signed a $20 million deal with the T-Wolves. The Lakers gave a good amount of money, but nothing too dramatic.

There is this idea where people think a flashy point guard is needed to help the Lakers. That's so far from the truth. With a line-up that has Bynum, Gasol, Artest, and Bryant, you simply need a player that knows his role and is willing to work everyone into the game. That's where Steve Blake comes in. He is a career 7.5 ppg and 4.3 apg player. He shoots 39% from beyond the arc, with his career high being 42% in 2008-2009. Expect that percentage to stick above the 40% mark the next few seasons with the open looks he will receive. Plus he likes to pass the ball and get his teammates involved. Something that will not be hard to do with the weapons he will be surrounded with.

Now the focus shifts to re-signing Fisher and who will get the rest of the MLE at approximately $1.7 million. I can't see Fisher leaving the Lakers this late in his career and I have complete confidence that both sides will reach an agreement in the next couple of days. As for the next potential signing, I expect that to be Raja Bell. Both sides have already shown interest in one another and judging by how the Blake signing went down, the less we hear of Bell and the Lakers, the better as the team rarely does its business through the media.

Even though it can't be official until July 8th, welcome to the Lakers Steve Blake.

Stay tuned to more coverage/rumors on NBA free agency.

The Last Stand: Phil Jackson Returns

2010-07-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

On a day where all eyes were on Lebron James and the free agent frenzy, the Lakers and its fans got some much anticipated good news. Phil Jackson, who has won eleven NBA championships, including five with the Lakers, will be returning to the Lakers for at least one more season in hopes of completing his fourth career three-peat.

“Count me in,” said Jackson. “After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It’ll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one.”

For the past two weeks, Lakers fans, as well as the NBA world, wondered if Jackson would walk away from the game after leading the Lakers to their second straight NBA title. It was just a week ago that Jackson said he was "leaning towards retirement", but it really is too tough to tell when the Zen Master is serious or not. Health reasons were the reason cited in why Jackson could potentially end his storied career, but in the end the chance at another three-peat and potential twelve NBA titles was too much to walk away from.

Now its time for the Lakers to get down to business and reload the defending champions. With Phil Jackson back at the helm for one more season, which players will be interested in competing for a championship? With the NBA's focus on Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and the other free agents, how will the defending champions reload as they go for their third straight title?

Get ready, as this is only day one of what is expected to be an historic off-season for the NBA.