Don't get me wrong. I am a die hard Celtics fan. But seriously, Nash and Gasol/Howard pick and roll?? this is just not fair. I am really trying to see every thing that could go wrong with this team.
Coaching: Mike Brown is a defensive-minded coach, but Lakers didnt really take the vow and looked lethargic at times last year on defense. You repetitively see Gasol and Bynum not running back on D.Getting a player like D12 is truly a dream come true for Brown. The defensive mindset would only be emphasized more.
It gets a little interesting to see this Lakers team on the offensive end. My guess is Coach Brown will continue to let his team take over like last year. To clarify, their offense is subpar at most given their talent. They look clueless on offense at times, fall into "watch the mamba" mode too often, and fail to going to the post consistently. But with Nash in fold, it changed everything.
Offense: There comes a way that Lakers can really screw up: Nash and Kobe combo do not pan out.
1. Nash High TO
Nash may be the best pick-n-roll player in history, but he also has a high TO number every game. He averaged more than 3.5 past three seasons in around 32 mins. This looks bad essentially cuz those TO turns into fastbreak pts since Nash is the guy up and running, and leads the team offense. When he turns the ball over, it means a clear path to the basket.
2. Nash/Kobe controversy
Kobe has been the man, but for this team to thrive, he has to sit back and watch Nash run the show. Kobe always had the ball on his hand, if he still does that, Nash would be just a spot shooter, a great one though. You prolly asking the same question as I do, would Kobe be effective at all playing off the ball? Those subpar performance Olympics games are showing itself to some extent, but it also showed he can still take over a stretch.
It was said that they are thinking of a Princeton system. That system will magnify the function and usage of big men and point guard with SG and SG staying on wings and doing the cuts. If Kobe would cooperate and be the man at the end of the game, there is no contest that they are the best team out west. The idea of Nash/Howard pick-and-roll is just absurd. Howard does not have the offensive repertoire of Bynum, but he is a far better pick and roll player cuz he sets better screen, and rolls harder and quicker.
3. 3 pt/Outside shooting
They need shooter badly, which is why they inked Meeks, a streaky shooter at best. If they were not able to stretch the floor like Phoenix are, Nash might not be all that effective. Nash himself is a great spot up shooter, Kobe/Blake are average, MWP/Barnes(if signed)/Jamison are below avg.
4. Age/Bench
Nash played 31 mins last season, and will prolly register 30 mins. That leaves the bench with 18 mins to burn. Jamison can post up and be a consistent option, Kobe can come in during that spell. To me, they lack a spark plug or an energy guy off the bench. Barnes has done that at times, but he is not a pace changer. Bench is likely the weakness, but with the right allocation of starter mins and rotation, Brown can pair up members of Big 4 with those subs.
Offense vs Defense(other west teams)
Name one team who can match up with Gasol/Howard in the paint? Maybe we really need to take our chance in Jason Collins, and move KG to 4. Good we dont need to worry till the finals. Look at the west conf, folks say thunders could be the one. Honestly, Perk is a greater post defender, and Ibaka is a great shot blocker, but they have weakness. Perk overhelp in pick and roll and Ibaka is not disciplined at times and gives up too much space in those situation. If Perk has Ibaka's athletic ability, it would be great, but he does not. Perk can take on Howard in the post one-on-one no doubt, but he can get lost in Nash's pick-and-roll.
Defense:
1. Nash
Nash's defensive liability has always been pointed out as a major concern. But really? Name one guy who can guard Westbrook, Rose, Paul, Williams? Hack, they cannot even guard one another. With an all-time defender u have in Howard, he always got ur back. I think they would be OK letting Westbrook take 16-18 feet jump shots all day long.
2. Howard
He mends so many holes on the team defense with his raw athleticism. And he wants to defend the basket like he owns it. He looked like the most dominant defensive player for most of the time. The problem might be his team is counting on him too much and too often. His ability spoils his teammates to play pet defense when he is in Orlando. This may happen in LA as well. Another knock on him is that he is not a good defensive general, which is the argument I bring up to prove KG's still has the most value defensively.
3. Small Lineup
Folks also say the small lineups may work on this Lakers team. That is where the value of Jamison shows. Can defend 4, and move Howard to 5. Howard's mobility makes him a good match with any paint player.
To sum up, I believe they have gotten the upper hand on the Thunders. The lakers was forced to run with this young team last playoff, but with Nash in fold, they will know what they are doing. I would not say they are better than the Heat or Celtics because Heat has someone special called King James, and Boston has the heart to gut it out, but they are ahead of Thunders simply because this swap gets them a better fit in D12 than Bynum.
Topic: Ways Lakers can screw up? (Read 3072 times)