Jerry West on Lakers

[TerreHaute]

I was listening to a national radio show on Friday that had Jerry West on. He stated that the Lakers clearly had the best frontline in the NBA. He has every right to be a homer, but I don't think it is quite so clear. With the addition of Wallace and BBD on board, I would put the Celts at pretty even with them.

On a second note, am I the only one who thinks Bynum should play consistenly well before he gets coronated as some great center?

Any thoughts?

[blackbird]

Perkins > Bynum
Garnett > Gasol
Pierce > Artest

I think Rasheed Wallace has faded enough at his age that Lamar Odom is his equal now. If Odom had any consistency he could be much better than Wallace, but then he wouldn't be coming off the bench either.

Bynum is way overrated - if he was on the Bucks instead of the Lakers nobody would know his name. He is more talented than Perkins, to be sure, but Perk actually uses what talent he has in a way that impacts games.

[thebirdman]

Well, as an adviser to the grizzlies he was instrumental in giving LA Gasol for nothing...so, he did his part and I am sure he likes their big man rotation.

Gasol and Odom are nice but after that there really isn`t much there. Bynum is injured 70% of the time and they have no one else...

[ToppersBsktball10]

Perkins > Bynum
Garnett > Gasol
 > Artest

I think Rasheed  has faded enough at his age that  is his equal now. If Odom had any consistency he could be much better than Wallace, but then he wouldn't be coming off the bench either.

Bynum is way overrated - if he was on the Bucks instead of the Lakers nobody would know his name. He is more talented than Perkins, to be sure, but Perk actually uses what talent he has in a way that impacts games.

Pierce, KG, Ray, Rondo, Perk, Sheed, BBD, Daniels, Eddie,Scal?,>Lakers

[SamuelAdams]

Perkins > Bynum
Garnett > Gasol
Pierce > Artest

Artest has always done a good job guarding PP tho...  He plays Paul tough.

[PosImpos]

Celtics

Starters:
C - Perkins
PF - Garnett

Bench:
PF / C - Rasheed
PF / C - BBD (most likely)
PF - Shelden Williams
PF - Scalabrine

Lakers

Starters:
C - Bynum
PF - Gasol

Bench:
SF / PF - Odom
SF / PF - Walton
PF / C - Powell
PF / C - Mbenga

Odom probably makes more of an impact than Rasheed, but not necessarily.  Gasol versus Garnett is close-ish but if Garnett is healthy he's significantly better.  Perkins and Bynum is tough to call simply because Bynum does have more talent but Perkins is far more consistent and much less likely to have a season ending injury.  Once you go beyond the first 3 guys, the Celtics clearly  have an edge.  Walton is a solid role player, but as a PF he doesn't really compare well to BBD, and Powell and Mbenga don't really have anything on Williams and Scal.

You could also say that Artest counts, because he can play PF if necessary, but as that would take minutes away from Odom or one of the starters, I think it's a wash.  Artest is not better than Odom.

So perhaps you could argue it one way or another, but to say that the Lakers clearly have the best frontline is preposterous.  It's not clear at all.  In fact, I'd venture to say that the only clear disadvantage you could say the Celtics have is that the Lakers overall have more height, but it's not really a big enough advantage to matter (just an inch or two here and there).