5-0, big deal right?
So are the Atlanta Hawks, led by Mr. Joe Johnson. But looking at the way the Lakers have captured the crushing defeat last year to the Celtics to turn it into fuel is quite incredible. The Lakers are incredibly deep, and they have a team that is still maturing together for the most part. Farmar is continuing to get more confident over time (his contribution to the Lakers second half domination of the Rockets last night should be noted), Bynum is averaging just under a double double already, and Gasol is playing with the aggressiveness that he seemed to lack last year.
Then you have Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, the grizzled veterans. When the Lakers picked up Fisher after Utah released him, I knew that it would give Los Angeles a bit more pep to their step. Maybe not right off the bat, but down the road. And it seems to be paying off. Fisher is still the starter, but Farmar could start just as easily. I can only imagine how much influence D-Fish has had on Farmar, and it's exciting to see the maturation happening so rapidly.
On the flip-side, I have to say I'm unimpressed with Radmanovich and Vujacic for the time being. Sasha just hasn't had his stroke yet, and I would say it's fair to say that the Lakers really awkward early schedule has take a toll on his shooting. Vladi, on the other hand, is playing solid, but not up to potential at the moment. LO is playing great off of the bench and really helping the rotations right now, which may be the key to the Lakers success throughout the season as it unfolds. I can't imagine the Lakers retaining Radmanovic with Lamar Odom's contract coming up soon, as letting go of LO would be an injustice. While Odom has been in question for his passiveness offensively, when hes attacking he's amazing to watch. Not many people can go up, grab the board on the defensive end, and take it down the whole court only to dump it down on helpless defenders.
It seems right now with the rest of the western conference searching for their identity, and a big game with New Orleans coming up that will be a bigger game than the Houston game turned out to be, the west should just come to the realization that resistance is futile when KB24 and his team hits the court.
- Drew - For The Love Of The Game
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