Does Sessions (and Hill off the bench) make the Lakers legit contenders now?

[chambers]

I'm thinking that Sessions will average 13-15 ppg and 7-10 assists with starter minutes.
They'll lose Fishers shooting but they'll get a guard that can penetrate and dish to those monsters for so many easy jams. He'll also run the floor with Gasol and Kobe.

Are they a threat to the Thunder/Spurs/Grizz now?

[wdleehi]

I am not sure if Sessions helps as much as we think.  I am wondering if his talent fits what they ask of PGs?


The Lakers let Kobe be the PG.  He controls the ball.  They need a PG that can hit an outside shot.  Sessions is not really that guy. 


When Kobe goes to the bench, yes he can help them.  He can then run the offense. 

[Roy H.]

With Kobe/Gasol/Bynum, the Lakers will always contend.

As wdleehi says, though, Sessions isn't a great fit next to Kobe, just because he's not much of a shooter.  He'll help, but I don't think he's a key piece to put any team over the top.

He's a nice addition, but I don't think he'll change things all that much.

[Moranis]

I always felt the Lakers were legit contenders so improving their team only will help them.

[pearljammer10]

I'm thinking that Sessions will average 13-15 ppg and 7-10 assists with starter minutes.
They'll lose Fishers shooting but they'll get a guard that can penetrate and dish to those monsters for so many easy jams. He'll also run the floor with Gasol and Kobe.

Are they a threat to the Thunder/Spurs/Grizz now?

Im sorry but I really dont understand why the Lakers are so high on Sessions. I dont think he is a great player at all. Hes young and quick...Ok.. he shoots terribly. An only averages 10 and 5 on a not very good Cavs team.

Im no sure why the Lakers put so much stock into a back up point guard from the Cavs to make them contenders. 15 and 10? thats an absurd prediction...

[MosheP]

Sessions is shooting 41% from 3pt range with 1.5 3PTA per game.

He has worked quite hard in his 3pt jumper and so far it's paying off.

I think the Lakers really needed some dribble penetration. And he's a huge improvement over Fisher, who was one of the worst starters in the league. Hill is also a nice addition. A mobile big who rebounds very well and defend the transitio. Better player than McRoberts and Murphy.

Kudos to the Lakers. They figured that becoming contenders would be worth a couple of first rounders and they got rid of some useless salary on top of that.

[GreenFaith1819]

Not so sure....leaning towards a "Nope", here - at least in the short-term.

I saw Fish as LA's Kendrick Perkins.

I'd be interested to hear Kobe's thoughts about losing a Co-Captain, strong locker-room presence, clutch shooter, veteran presence.

I almost cried when I saw Fish do THIS to us in 09-10 Finals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nlb-wGimGk

I remember THAT shot being just about the biggest one of that game..a back-breaker. We had just won game two in LA thanks to Ray's heroics...and then we turn around and lose at home thanks to DFish killing us.

He was LA's emotional leader. I can honestly see LA going through a period of adjustment, here - just like WE went through back when Perk was traded.

We'll see how they handle it in Tinseltown. I'll be watching quite intently for the implosion. Kobe won't have Fish to back him up anymore.

[Chris]

I think they were legit contenders before they got them, but Sessions certainly helps the cause.  Their problem is that they have terrible chemistry, but the talent has always been there.  There are very few teams who can match up with their top 3 players. 

So, whether they end up being contenders or not is going to have less to do with Sessions and Hill, and more to do with whether they can all get on the same page (including their coach).

[RyNye]

I mostly hate the trade because I always rather liked Sessions, but now I am obliged to despise him.

Anyway, the problems with the Lakers are mostly their utter lack of bench production and the lack of real on-court chemistry/cooperation between Kobe, Pau, and Bynum. I don't think Sessions really addresses any of these issues. None of the bench players they got in these trades are going to contribute meaningfully this season, and since their starting lineup is driven entirely by what Kobe feels like doing that way I don't see it changing their fortunes all that much.

[chambers]

I'm thinking that Sessions will average 13-15 ppg and 7-10 assists with starter minutes.
They'll lose Fishers shooting but they'll get a guard that can penetrate and dish to those monsters for so many easy jams. He'll also run the floor with Gasol and Kobe.

Are they a threat to the Thunder/Spurs/Grizz now?

Im sorry but I really dont understand why the Lakers are so high on Sessions. I dont think he is a great player at all. Hes young and quick...Ok.. he shoots terribly. An only averages 10 and 5 on a not very good Cavs team.

Im no sure why the Lakers put so much stock into a back up point guard from the Cavs to make them contenders. 15 and 10? thats an absurd prediction...

Well you seem to be greatly underestimating his ability.
He's a back up to the number one draft pick Kyrie Irving and could start on a lot of teams.
He averages 24 minutes a game. On the Lakers he'll average at least another 10 minutes a game.
I don't think it's a stretch to imagine him getting 15 and 10 as a starter when he's been getting 10.5 and 5 as a backup playing 25 mins a game.
Sure he won't be the number one scoring option but when Kobe is sitting he will be getting tonnes of easy looks around the rim when players have to decide between blocking his shot or covering Gasol/Bynum.
Don't see how 'absurd' the idea of him getting 15/10 is.

[dtrader]

I think they were contenders before, and are at the top of that pack now. There were times when sessions was a buck, he looked like he could do 15-10 in his sleep.  H's a very good PG.  That was the lakers only real position of need. 

Adding Jordan Hill (who's capable of his own 15-10 games at times) to their bench also makes them stronger

[LeoMoreno]

Imagine Samuel L. Jackson said this: HEEEELL NOO!

[Lucky17]

I think they improved their roster. Trading two guys who contributed little in Walton and Kapono for another big and a young athletic wing. Sessions for Fisher is better on paper, certainly.

But Lakers didn't add any firepower off the bench, just an incremental improvement in talent.

[MBunge]

I don't think it's a stretch to imagine him getting 15 and 10 as a starter when he's been getting 10.5 and 5 as a backup playing 25 mins a game.

1.  He's going to a team where there's going to be fewer shots and a lot more pressure.

2.  Deron Williams is getting 22 and 8.  Chris Paul - 20 and 8.  Derrick Rose - 23 and 8.  Rondo - 14 and 10.  So, you're saying playing an extra 10 minutes a game is going to make Sessions a better scorer than Rondo and a better passer than either DWill, Paul and Rose.  That's the stretch.

Mike

[pearljammer10]

I'm thinking that Sessions will average 13-15 ppg and 7-10 assists with starter minutes.
They'll lose Fishers shooting but they'll get a guard that can penetrate and dish to those monsters for so many easy jams. He'll also run the floor with Gasol and Kobe.

Are they a threat to the Thunder/Spurs/Grizz now?

Im sorry but I really dont understand why the Lakers are so high on Sessions. I dont think he is a great player at all. Hes young and quick...Ok.. he shoots terribly. An only averages 10 and 5 on a not very good Cavs team.

Im no sure why the Lakers put so much stock into a back up point guard from the Cavs to make them contenders. 15 and 10? thats an absurd prediction...

Well you seem to be greatly underestimating his ability.
He's a back up to the number one draft pick Kyrie Irving and could start on a lot of teams.
He averages 24 minutes a game. On the Lakers he'll average at least another 10 minutes a game.
I don't think it's a stretch to imagine him getting 15 and 10 as a starter when he's been getting 10.5 and 5 as a backup playing 25 mins a game.
Sure he won't be the number one scoring option but when Kobe is sitting he will be getting tonnes of easy looks around the rim when players have to decide between blocking his shot or covering Gasol/Bynum.
Don't see how 'absurd' the idea of him getting 15/10 is.

Maybe its because 2 players in the league average over 10 assists per game. Chris Paul is probably the best passer in the game and is putting up MVP candidate numbers with the Clippers and he only averages 8 assists per game. So that right there is absurd enough to think Sessions can hit the 10 a game mark.

 Blake will still be playing his 20 to 25 minutes a game and I really dont think Sessions minutes will go up too much, maybe the 30 to 32 range. He is the fourth scoring option in teh starting line up and i don't trust his ability to run a system much. With Kobe dominating the ball and Kobe Gasol and Bynum dominating the touches, there wont be much room for Sessions to be scoring at will. Plus its great if he gets open looks, but he is shooting an abismal 39% from inside the arc. Plus Fisher had the ability to hit tough clutch shots, at this point, even if Kobe is triple teamed at the end of the game i dont see him passing to a guy like Sessions when he could just take it himself.