Lakers bench?!

[fitzhickey]

lakers have easily one of the 5 WORST benches in the nba!

The very easy way for anyone who disagrees with this statement to make a case that it is wrong is to come up with at least five teams with worse benches.

Eh, people who think the Lakers have a good bench probably read Bleacher Report.

Lol, tp for making me laugh. It's good that they rate us #1

[mgent]

I wouldn't say one of the worst, more like slightly below average.  I don't know if they're still looking for another forward but I think Barnes really could've helped them (as others said Grant Hill would've been ideal).

Not really a big deal though, I'm sure Artest will at LEAST split his minutes between the bench and the starters.  If he continues to decline, Meeks might even steal his spot in the rotation.  That extra spacing is huge for their lineup, and the Lakers have been one of those teams that like a 3 guard lineup.

[Chelm]

I wouldn't consider their bench a strength, but it's not horrid, either.  Jamison is a proven scorer and rebounder (although his defense is atrocious).  Jordan Hill is a competent role player.  Jodie Meeks can shoot.  Blake is a very solid backup PG.

They don't have the impact players off the bench that we do, in terms of guys like Terry, Green, and one of Bradley / Lee.  However, the bench will be able to play the 8 minutes per night that's needed in the playoffs.

I'm still surprised that Grant Hill didn't sign with the Lakers.  He would have been a perfect fit, the exact player that they needed.

Can they play more than 8 minutes a night during the regular season is the question. 

The aging starters might not have to work as hard offensively....But with los Nash...The other 4 starters will have to work twice as hard defensively scrambling to contain los Nash's man.  They are going to get worn down.

Kobe, Pau, and Howard are all elite defenders. Artest is 'good enough'.

And Grant Hill hasn't broken down playing next to Nash, despite playing 30 minutes a night while he was 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 years old.

I'll maintain that they won't get out of the first round. 

Grant Hill isn't there.  He'd easily be the best player on their bench if he was.  There's a reason why los Nash hasn't been on a championship team.  Howard is a beast (when healthy) But no Mutombo defensively.  The last center who could cover for somebody who showed half the disregard for defense that los Nash has for a Finals contender was Mutombo.  That roster was custom built for Iverson with arguably the best coach of his era...And they still didn't win a championship.  This is neither a perfect team, coach, or offense for an aging team with a sieve at a critical position.  Especially with the quality of PGs in the West.

Brown will only make it to the all-star break if Howard can play every game before then.  Even if he does, the lack of a bench and the age of the starters will make this team no more successful than the last time they tried this.

Are you really suggesting that the 2001 76ers' starting unit was superior to the 2013 Lakers?  Or that the Lakers really won't get out of the first round?  Really?  Wow.

Now I'm not saying they're going to make it to the Finals (odds are they won't), but they certainly would have a great shot in the 2001 ECF (and I'm just as certain that the 2001 76ers would not in 2013 WCF).