Los Angeles Lakers’ First Month Grade
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to an awful start, and are currently in last place in the Western Conference. They failed to make any significant upgrades during the offseason, and it figured to be a long season for the team. But after season-ending injuries to Steve Nash, Julius Randle and Xavier Henry, it will be even more difficult for the team to win games.
Jeremy Lin got off to a slow start, but has looked more aggressive in recent games and is learning how to play next to Kobe Bryant. He needs to continue to be assertive as the Lakers need his playmaking ability on offense. Bryant has shown that he is willing to shoot the ball as much as needed, and has proven that he can still be an elite player.
The problem is that he has been inefficient with his shot, and has often times chosen to try and win games by himself instead of trusting his teammates, causing early discontent in the locker room.
Due to injuries, Ronnie Price has seen increased playing time and has been a pleasant surprise. He does not provide much shooting on offense, but has a nice handle and can create off of the dribble. He is also their best guard defender and has shown a willingness to do the dirty work on that end of the court, although he does need to improve his off the ball defense.
Wayne Ellington has given them shooting off of the bench and figures to see more time in order to keep Bryant fresh. Jordan Clarkson has not played much, but has shown flashes of potential in limited time.
Wesley Johnson still struggles with consistency, playing great defense and providing solid shooting one game, and then completely disappearing in others. Nick Young’s return has brought some excitement to the team as he has given them a boost on offense. He is not afraid to shoot while on the court with Bryant, and has even taken it upon himself to play better defense.
Carlos Boozer has been virtually nonexistent on defense, although his offense has gotten better. His ability to score in the post should help the team, but it is hard to justify his playing time if he cannot provide better defense. Ryan Kelly has not been able to see much of the court due to his injuries, and has not been able to earn the contract he was given during the offseason. Robert Sacre has shown improvement to his game and does a nice job of providing hard-nosed defense.
Two players who have been playing well for the team are Jordan Hill and Ed Davis. It was unclear how Hill would respond to the large contract he was given as well as the increased playing time. He has done a great job of being a reliable center, rebounding the ball extremely well and providing efficient offense. Davis has been great on defense and is one of the few players that coach Byron Scott can rely on to help come up with a stop. On offense, he plays within himself and does a great job of finishing at the rim.
It will continue to be a long season for the Lakers as they just do not have the talent to compete on a daily basis. Bryant is not the same player he was five years ago, and needs more help in order for the team to be competitive. The Lakers cannot stop anyone on defense and are unable to successfully close out games. Unless they make a blockbuster trade, things will likely not get much better until the season is over.
First month grade: D
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