When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Steve Nash and Dwight Howard this summer, it seemed clear that the Western Conference had a new team to beat. It didn’t appear as though anyone in the west could challenge them.
The idea of one of the greatest point guards of all time, the ageing but still highly effective Nash, and Howard, the hands-down best big man of his generation, joining forces with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol was terrifying for fans of the rest of the league, and brought to mind LeBron James and Chris Bosh teaming up with Dwyane Wade in Miami.
How was anybody going to beat these guys?
However, a stunning 0-3 start tipped the narrative in the other direction. It became “What is happening to the Lakers? Can all this talent work together? Is Mike Brown’s new offense to blame? How long until Phil Jackson is back on the bench?”
It isn’t so shocking, actually. It’s easy to forget this now that the Heat are defending champions and LeBron is dominating everyone in his way, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the big three in South Beach, either.
Miami went 9-8 in the first 17 games of the 2010-11 season. The pairing of LeBron and Wade, two of the deadliest wing scorers of the decade, was awkward, and Bosh seemed to be something of a third wheel.
There was constant speculation about how long Erik Spoelstra would last before Pat Riley stepped in himself to coach the team. But they figured it out, reaching the Finals that year.
They became even more unstoppable the following year, especially after they embraced an unorthodox, positionless offense that utilised LeBron’s strengths to a degree never before achieved in his career.
And now, they’re a bona fide juggernaut.
The Lakers are experiencing the same growing pains. Howard is coming off back surgery, and may or may not be fully healthy. Nash will be out at least another week with a leg injury.
Kobe is being forced to share the ball more than he has in years, after having total control of the Laker offense ever since the departure of Shaquille O’Neal.
Mike Brown and new assistant coach Eddie Jordan are implementing the ball-movement-heavy Princeton offense, a hard left turn from any system any of the primary Lakers scorers have played in before.
Putting it together was always going to be a process.
Sunday’s blowout 108-79 win over the Pistons provided a glimpse of this team’s devastating potential. A seemingly more mobile Howard reminded us why he’s a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
The open nature of the offense has allowed Bryant to become more of a catch-and-shoot player than a primary playmaker, and has resulted in the most efficient season he’s ever had. He’s shooting 59.7 percent from the field, including 52.9 percent from three-point range.
The presence of Howard in the low post and Gasol in the high post has forced defences to abandon him, and he’s feasted on the greater amount of uncontested shots he’s getting.
Bench play is still a major concern for the Lakers. With Nash temporarily sidelined, Steve Blake, a serviceable-at-best backup, has been forced to step in as the starting point guard. A past-his-prime Antawn Jamison and inexperienced Darius Morris are being counted on to provide the bulk of the second-unit offense.
Fourth-year big man Jordan Hill is a reliable rebounder and defender, but like Howard, he’s battling a bad back. Nash’s return should solve some of these rotation issues, but outside of the superstars, the Lakers aren’t particularly deep.
My prediction: The Lakers will be just fine. It may take until January or February for them to start playing at their full potential, but provided Nash and Howard aren’t further stymied by injuries, their eventual figuring out how to play together feels inevitable.
And once they do, they’ll be pretty hard to stop.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I think Dwight is far more than a stat collector! But fair enough, I now realise now you weren't saying those players aren't better than Howard. I still think Howard was the right choice though, and we may see that with a new coach. I'll have a piece on the Lakers for Monday, and I await your thoughts/comments on it.
melo-drama
Guest
Being the worlds greatest stat collector doesn't automatically make you a great fit. Defensively dwights great but his efficiency has been the worst out of the Lakers starters this year. I guess we'll have to see... Also I never said Monroe and Cousins were better then Dwight I just said maybe they would be a better fit esp Monroe as he is a big guy with a great passing game alas it doesn't matter now.... the coach is gone......
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
There's a crack in the LA Lakers teams. Its called the San Andreas fault LOL
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I respectfully disagree, mate. Howard hasn't been a distraction or detriment to the team at all (so far). He was at the Magic, but he hasn't said or done anything that has negatively impacted on the Lakers. Cousins might have a more impressive offensive arsenal, but the overall package doesn't come remotely close to what Howard offers. Monroe shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Howard. That's crazy talk. With the personel the Lakers had/have, the perfect fit for the team is an elite level rebounder/shot blocker. Howard is the unequivocal best player in the NBA at that role(s). So he was the perfect fit.
melo-drama
Guest
It's purely the hype and issues around Howard that I see as being a detriment for your team as a whole rather then Howards play on the court. I'm pretty sure he would have resigned at the Nets though...... While Cousins is still quite young and relatively immature he's got a whole lot more 'Boogie' then Dwight does on offence and sometimes when watching cousins play you sit in your seat trying to comprehend how a 6'11 270 pound guy just did that, seriously Cousins beating guys off the dribble from the top of the key..... And Monroe is just solid his passing and shot have improved outta sight this year and I think big guys looking for assists would fit well into the LA game look at Pau. Howard is a great player and a big personality in the NBA but could LA have looked at players that might have been a better fit in the Lakers team? I think they could have..... But they went after the guy that says "I only want to play in Brooklyn"
melo-drama
Guest
Oh There goes Brown........
mushi
Roar Guru
It didn't matter where he went he wasn't going to re-sign (there is no incentive to). But who would honestly say I'd rather have Cousins or Monroe over Howard?
mushi
Roar Guru
Maybe not in the regular season (which is why I've thought a #1 seed was a pipe dream) but in the play offs bench plays less of a factor
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Just watched the Jazz/Lakers game. One commentator said, the Lakers were standing around waiting for Kobe to do something. Gee, the Lakers sulk if they fall behind and can't take the lead. I watched intently but I still don't get this Princeton offense.
melo-drama
Guest
Dont't hide behind the geek Ryan be a man
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I don't think anyone could handle that again!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Yes mate, you shoud make me eat it. Right after you've finished beating up Pau.
melo-drama
Guest
Ryan if you are going to say something is 'abysmal' and it isn't shouldn't you be held accountable for your words?
melo-drama
Guest
Oh Mitch..... Should have traded Bynum for an up and comer like Cousins (they never have given him up) or Monroe, the worst part about D12 going to the Lakers is we are going to hear about him opting out of the contract allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll over again and I dont wanna go through that Ryan!!!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
That's charming.
melo-drama
Guest
By Kings I hope you meant Warriors, Gasol is worth those 3 players himself.... Kobe knows it Doesn't help Mitch but, plus Mitch was shopping Gasol last year but his expectations were too high, I dont really care about the Lakers but I'm just trying to think what they need to do about that damn bench of theirs. P.S. It's not the fact the Knicks are 3-0 but it's how convincingly they played in those games, when I want you to eat the "abysmal" comment you will know about it.....
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It probably is, but it's irrelevant. Why the hell would the Kings make that trade?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I'm not sure you would have made it out of high school if you picked on a 7 foot, 2 time NBA champion! Haha! The Lakers season is 5 games old. There is a big difference between being forward thinking and panicking. The team deserves at least 20 games together before changes are even considered. And I can guarantee you Mitch would change coaches before personnel. Just relax, enjoy your Knicks hot start, and stop stressing out about the Lakers!
melo-drama
Guest
Also Landry / Barnes and Jack is better right now then Gasol and Blake.......
melo-drama
Guest
Well Ryan, I'm not really in the now kinda guy I'm a forward thinking guy so If I was Mitch that's how i'd be thinking god knows he's prob on the phone now checking out the Market value of Gasol..... Like I have said previously I honestly doubt Kobe will let it go too far before things change but if the issue is the bench (cough) IT IS (cough) then you need to weigh up what your options are..... I don't really like Pau, he reminds me of the kind of person I would have picked on at school but he is getting on and he is one of the more versatile PF/C in the league but the longer you hold onto him the more his value drops.... If you know what im saying.... but I'm a sucker for the old dogs it's why I would ship D12 before Pau but you need to be realistic as you said earlier the Lakers want to win now......