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It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to say the Lakers have won a game. In fact, until their win tonight over the Cavs they had not won a game in 2013 holding the longest current losing streak in the NBA. Lucky for the Lakers they faced the second worst team in the league and Dwight Howard returned from his shoulder injury to dawn the Sunday white uniform in Staples Center.

Kobe decided to take the young star point guard Kyrie Irving on defense to strangle the most lethal weapon the Cavs have. This scheme disrupted the entire offensive flow for the Cavs as the Lakers held them to 41% shooting and only 93 points for the night.

Dwight Howard had 22 points on 9-11 shooting along with 10 boards in his return and he controlled the paint on both sides. Earl Clark followed up his promising play with 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 36 minutes of play showcasing a diverse skill set featuring jumpers, put-backs, ball handling, dishes, hustle, and solid defense. Clark brings youth, athleticism, energy, and length the Lakers desperately need.

As nice as it is to get a win we need to realize Cleveland is just not a very good team and the Lakers were playing at home. They only have one star in Kyrie Irving and he’s only a second year player. Outside of that the Cleveland roster is filled with a bunch of players most people have never even heard of. Plus they have Luke Walton which is only good if you’re playing volleyball.

With the impending trade deadline looming the Lakers front office pulled off a series of trades that improved the roster, dumped dead weight, and cleared cap space.

The first trade sent Luke Walton, Jason Kapono, and 2012 first round draft pick to Cleveland for Ramon Sessions, and forward Christian Eyenga. I don’t know how Mitch and company pulled this off. They managed to dump Walton’s inflated contract of $5.7 million this year and $6.1 million next year, along with Jason Kapono who never got his shot going as was hoped, while managing to acquire the best point guard the Lakers have had since Nick Van Exel. Although Sessions is not a household name nor as elite as someone the caliber of Chris Paul, he is still a major upgrade over any other point guard the Lakers have. Ramon is incredibly quick, has good handles, can get in the lane, has good court awareness, and is a very solid defender.

The trade that followed has some scratching their heads and leaving fans feeling a little sad and empty. With the acquisition of Sessions, the Lakers organization felt it was in their best interest to send five time champion Derek Fisher on his way to make room for Ramon to flourish under his new team. Rumor has it the Lakers made a play for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley in exchange for Fisher but the deal fell through at the 11th hour. So the Lakers put a deal together with the Houston Rockets acquiring center Jordan Hill in exchange for Fisher and the first round pick from the Lamar Odom trade with Dallas.

Trading Derek is a tough pill to swallow for many as his heart, determination, and clutch moments in Lakers history have become that of legend. Dr. Jerry Buss released this statement regarding Derek.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Derek for everything he has meant to this organization over the years,” Buss said in the statement. “Few who have worn the Lakers uniform have done so with as much class as Derek, both on the court and in the community. From his famous 0.4 shot in San Antonio to his clutch performances in the Finals against Orlando and Boston when it mattered most, Derek will always hold a special place not only in my heart, but in the heart of Lakers fans everywhere.”

The Lakers point guard position was in desperate need of an upgrade. Fisher was giving opposing point guards “career” nights all too often and his offensive contributions were virtually nil. These trades were bitter sweet as on one hand the Lakers let go of their captain and heart and soul of the team. On the other hand they are younger, more athletic, more well balanced, and now have a legitimate shot at a title.

Self proclaimed Laker hater Bill Simmons interviewed Flea for his B.S. Report as they chat about “the trade,” Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, music, and other Lakers topics.

More Here

As the NBA draft is upon us trade rumors around the Lakers are swirling as the media buzzards and fans hover and in anticipation for the first domino to fall. The difficulty with the Lakers is that the team on paper is as good as just about any other team in the league, so dismantling it could prove costly if the correct replacement pieces are not acquired in any trade made.

First let’s address the Lakers needs this offseason. Portions of the Lakers were exploited in the playoffs as they looked tired and old and had no effective outside shooting threats. In turn the Mavs packed the paint daring the Lakers to shoot threes where the Lakers were pathetic. So a legit outside shooting threat is an important pick up and since Shannon Brown opted out of his contract the backup shooting guard position looks like a good spot to fill this position. Now that Phil is gone and with him the triangle offense, the point guard position needs a major upgrade. The Lakers need someone outside of Kobe to initiate and create offense for others as well as score when necessary and push the ball on the break for easy buckets. This is where the Lakers should give up the most in terms of personnel to ensure they get an all-star caliber point guard. Outside of that, they could use a backup center for energy, shot blocking, and rebounding.

So who’s tradable? Kobe is really the only “untouchable” as he is still arguably the best player in the game and has been the face of the Lakers franchise for the last decade. After that I would only trade Andrew Bynum if Dwight Howard is coming back in the deal. Although there may be statistically better “centers” in the league, Bynum and Howard are the only two “true centers” and therefore irreplaceable. Trading Bynum for someone other than Howard will leave a massive void at the center position as it’s clear that Pau doesn’t have the grit to fill the spot. Lamar has been the topic of many trade rumors, but they need to be careful who they let him go for. Trading Lamar straight up for Andre Iguodala would be a colossal mistake. Lamar is possibly the most diverse player in the NBA, he is near irreplaceable as he can play anywhere and the small forward position is already filled with Artest, Barnes, Walton (who needs to be shipped with any trade), and the young potential of Devin Ebanks.

This leaves Pau Gasol as the only legitimate trade bait worthy of a swap for an elite point guard and this is where they should base their trade if they’re going to make a major move. Pau has consistently been praised for his skill as a big man which is true to an extent, but has been largely overrated since arriving in LA. Pau was only an all-star once and never won a playoff game before playing with Kobe. He is very good, but not great and was exposed in the playoffs. Losing Pau would not leave much of a void at power forward as Lamar could slip into the starting lineup and Bynum could become more of a focal point in the offense. Add an elite point guard like Deron Williams or Cp3 to the starting lineup and the Lakers become potent and athletic. The Lakers just need to make sure they can slip Walton and/or Blake into any deal they do with Pau to clear up cap space and deadweight.

Having said that these are some of my recommendations (and wishful thinking) as desktop general manager having fun with the trade machine.

Pau Gasol, Steve Blake, Luke Walton for Deron Williams, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro

Steve Blake becomes unnecessary with Deron Williams coming in as Derek Fisher would slide to the second string leaving Blake minimal floor time. Plus the Lakers would like to get rid of his three year contract at $4mil a year. Walton also has two more years on his contract at over $5mil a year and would just be buried on the bench behind Artest, Barnes, and potentially Ebanks. The Lakers get the elite point guard they desperately need, a deadly young shooter in Anthony Morrow that can back up Kobe, and a backup center in Johan Petro to fill the void in size with the loss of Pau.

Pau Gasol, Steve Blake for Chris Paul, David Anderson

Very similar to the above scenario, Chris Paul showed once again why he is the best pure point guard in the NBA by torching the Lakers in round 1 of the playoffs. Throw David Anderson in just to get some size in return. This could also be a Gasol, Blake, Walton and picks for CP3 and Emeka Okafor, but then the Lakers take on a hefty Okafor contract for three years at over $11mil per.

Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton for Dwight Howard, J.J. Redick, Brandon Bass

I hate to lose Lamar and Bynum, but for Dwight Howard it’s worth giving up a bit more. There is no one in the league remotely like him, nor has there ever been. He’s an athletic freak for someone his size and is by far the best center in the league. The Lakers also acquire a sharpshooter in Redick, and  a solid backup power forward in Bass while shedding Walton in the process. The Lakers would still need to address their point guard issue but a deal involving Pau for CP3 or Deron Williams could still be worked out….could you imagine?

Bleacherreport.com posted this little gem about the league’s most worthless players and the Lakers Luke Walton topped the list. Here’s what they had to say about Luke:

The Lakers ended the season and Phil’s career with an embarrassing series against the Dallas Mavericks. The following are grades of each player’s performance:

Kobe Bryant: B
Kobe was one of the few that bright spots in this series against the Mavs. He came to play where most did not averaging just under 25 points per game. The lack of outside shooting allowed the Mavericks to collapse their defense and pack the paint which made it difficult for Bryant to get to the basket and forced him to shoot from the outside and midrange where he still managed to shoot nearly 46%. Although Kobe had a solid series, where he failed was finishing games as the Lakers gave up leads down the stretch in games 1 and 3. This is when Kobe is supposed to be at his best yet Dirk Nowitzki was the one who came out as “King of Clutch” in this series. The game 1 buzzer beater miss by Kobe was a sign that the Lakers just didn’t have it this year.

Pau Gasol: C-
Pau was horrible against the Hornets in round 1 where I gave him a D+ for his performance. He was only slightly better against the Mavericks (thus the rise in his grade) but was essentially the root of the Lakers breakdown on many levels. Although better statistically on the offensive end Pau was largely rendered ineffective by Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas defense. Pau was continually pushed off the block, stripped, and swatted as he shot a lowly 42% from the field. Pau’s defense was even more pathetic as he was eaten alive on the pick-and-roll, late on rotations leaving wide open threes, lacked the fortitude to box out, didn’t protect the rim, and was continually scorched by Dirk. When Pau was on the floor Nowitzki shot 60% versus 46% when Pau was on the bench. Although not sure of the validity in the claim that Pau’s girlfriend left him, there was definitely some mental issue going on with the Euro Player of the Year as Gasol lacked the grit, determination, and the heart necessary for a championship run. Not Fisher’s leadership, nor Kobe’s glares, nor Phil’s punches could wake Pau from his funk which eventually worked it’s way into the locker room as “trust issues.” Basketball is a team game so no one person is to blame for the Lakers demise, but Pau’s distracted and gutless performance throughout the playoffs was as large a contributor as any other player.

Andrew Bynum: B+
It’s a shame Bynum will be largely remembered for his inexcusable cheap shot on J.J. Barea in the fourth quarter of game 4 and then ripping off his jersey as he walked off the court because Andrew put together a strong performance through the series as he shot 52% and continually punished the Mavs inside. As one of the few bright spots for the Lakers in this series, Bynum became a focal point of the offense as Pau continued to struggle and really shined in games 2 and 3. Although Bynum deserves a better grade for his play, the Barea cheap shot has tainted the Lakers franchise and his contributions on the court. That said I understand Bynum’s frustration with seeing Barea and others cut up the Lakers defense and get to the rim over and over again as a result of the “trust issues” he was speaking of. I just wish he would have dished out a hard foul in game 2 rather than wait until the series was over to intimidate the Mavericks.

Lamar Odom: B
Before game 2 I posted a Keys to game 2 v Dallas where I outlined the importance of Lamar’s role in this series noting how he must attack and be an offensive threat as no one the Mavericks have can handle Odom’s varied skill set. Lamar followed that up with six points on 3-12 shooting and nine boards in game 2′s shellacking. Lamar had an overall decent series shooting over 45% for 11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and did a better job guarding Dirk than Pau did, but Lamar’s horrible 0-4 shooting from 3-point land was part of the plague infecting the Lakers. The 6th man award recipient was completely overshadowed by the Mavericks’ 6th man Jason Terry who torched the Lakers from the 3-point line. Lamar needed to be great but he was just ok and the frustrated body check on Dirk in game 4 didn’t help his cause.

Ron Artest: C
Ron had a really strong series against the Hornets in round 1 but it didn’t really carry over to the Dallas series. He played some decent defense but shot a horrid 32% from the field and 20% from the 3-point line. In the process of losing in game 2 old skool Ron Ron came out to play with a clothesline on J.J. Barea that sent Artest to the locker room early and resulted in a game 3 suspension from the league. This was a precursor to the building team frustration that reared it’s ugly head in game 4 with Lamar’s body check on Dirk and Bynum’s forearm shiver on Barea. To cap it off, Ron’s breakaway rim-rejection in game 4 was the final straw and the realization that all hope was lost.

Derek Fisher: C-
I’m sure Derek welcomed the relief of not having to chase a young quick point guard around the floor in this series but Fisher even made the legendary dinosaur J-Kidd look like he was in his prime. Derek shot 31% for the series and only 25% from behind the arc where we all waited for Derek to have his infamous clutch moment in this series but instead Derek’s defining moment was fouling Jason Terry at the end of game 3 when the Lakers were down by two and then following it up with a bad pass to Odom on the inbound play sealing the loss. Furthermore, Derek’s inability to rally his teammates under the challenges presented in this series are a sign that the captain’s inspirational voice has become weary.

Steve Blake: D
The backup point guard was even less effective against the Mavericks as J.J. Barea went absolutely nutty against the Killer B’s. Blake shot a horrid 23% from the field and an even more miserable 18% from three point land with his defining moment coming in game 2 where he went 0-5 and had two turnovers while looking completely lost on the court. There were high hopes for Blake coming into the season as many expected him to challenge for the starting point guard spot. Those hopes are gone.

Shannon Brown: C
Although Shannon managed to shoot over 50% for the series most of his contributions were lost in the barrage of the opposing bench as they made the Lakers bench look foolish time and time again. Brown’s untimely turnovers and stopping the offense to jack up shots only added more frustration for Lakers fans.

Matt Barnes: C
Another member of the bench that gave away games, Matt was mostly forgettable only shooting 35% for the series and shot a goose egg 0-6 from behind the arc. Matt grabbed some boards with his hustle but it would have been nice if he hit a few of those threes.

Trey Johnson, Luke Walton, Joe Smith: NC
These three receive a Non Complete for their limited action in the series. Most of their time came at the end of the game 4 blowout and was irrelevant, but I did want to mention that Luke Walton went 0-2 and managed two turnovers in a little over four minutes of play. Hope that $5 million you made this year while sitting on the bench sits well with you.

Phil Jackson: F
As Phil did the walk of shame to the locker room after the game 4 loss one can’t help but feel this season was a massive failure and a missed opportunity. For the Buss family it’s championship or bust and they know that Kobe’s dominating years are dwindling down so Mitch and Jerry assembled a top notch roster to help Phil take them to the promise land. But even with the highest payroll and most talent in the league Phil failed to motivate, keep his team engaged, strategize, and win. He was out-coached for most of round 1 against Monty Williams, and again completely out-coached by Rick Carlisle in round 2 against the Dallas. The Mavericks repeatedly shredded the Lakers defense for layups and wide open jumpers and through four games we never saw any defensive adjustment to take care of this problem. Same thing game in and game out allowing a record breaking 3-point performance from their opponents. Phil couldn’t get Pau on track with his mind games and even his barking and punching in game three fell on def ears as the team was splintered and fragile. For all of the praise Phil gets for managing players and egos his incense induced hippy approach failed as there were clearly “trust issues” going on in their embarrassing and shameful sweep out of the playoffs. Enjoy the mountains of Montana Phil…

The following is a grading of the individual performances from the Lakers versus the Hornets in round 1 of the 2011 playoffs. The grades are issued schoolroom style “A” through “F” in regards to their contributions within their role and potential.

Kobe Bryant: B
The undisputed leader of the Lakers struggled at times on the offensive side of the ball where Trevor Ariza did a good job of harassing Kobe and holding him to 22.5 points per game on 44% shooting, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game. All these stats are below his season average and I’m sure chasing CP3 around combined with his ankle injury had something to do with it. That said, Kobe controlled the pace of the games for his team and did what he had to do to help the Lakers win. This culminated with Kobe’s series changing dunk on Emeka Okafor while hobbling on a gimpy ankle.

Pau Gasol: D+
As the number two guy on the Lakers one would expect Pau to step up to the challenge in the playoffs and use his advanced skill set. But Pau looked more like he should be playing for the Los Angeles Sparks than the Lakers as he was consistently punked by the undersized Hornets and managed to make 6’9″ Carl Landry look like an all-star. Pau shot a miserable 41.8% for the series with 13.5 points per game, 3.5 assists, and only 6.8 rebounds per game and most of his offensive success didn’t come until game 5 and 6. Pau was pushed around all series, didn’t protect the paint, was late on defensive rotations, and lacked heart as the “soft” label rightfully reared it’s head again. For some unknown reason Phil played Pau more minutes than any other player.

Andrew Bynum: A
As Pau Gasol shriveled with the challenge of the Hornets, Andrew Bynum rose to the occasion leading team in shooting percentage at 55.6% and rebounds with 10.3 per game. He also managed to score 15.2 points and grab 4 offensive boards per game which was a massive problem for the Hornets. The Lakers had the most success when using Bynum as the point of attack as he consistently had Emeka Okafor in foul trouble and NOLA had no real answer for Andrew’s size. Bynum also did a good job patrolling the paint and altering shots while blocking 1.83 per game. Although Kobe is clearly the best player on the Lakers, Andrew Bynum’s value cannot be understated in this series as he was the biggest key to their success.

Ron Artest: A-
Controversy always follows Ron and many fans wanted him traded throughout the season. Well the playoffs are here and now and his value is crystal clear. Ron shot 50% for the series putting in 11.8 points, 2 assists, and 5 rebounds per game while holding Hornets sharpshooter Marco Belinelli to a miserable 37% shooting for the series. Ron outmuscled Marco all series long, getting easy looks, timely rebounds, and hitting big shots. With the exception of his 2-6 shooting in game 6, Ron was stellar all series and was the next biggest difference maker behind Andrew Bynum.

Lamar Odom: B
Lamar had an overall strong series but had a miserable game 4 where he went 1-7 with six points, zero assists, and only four rebounds. Then followed game 5 up with a poor 4-12 shooting and 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Although Lamar had solid performances in the other games, he never really put his stamp on the series like we know he can.

Derek Fisher: B+
D-Fish was assigned the near impossible order of checking the league’s best pure point guard in Chris Paul as he desperately struggled to keep CP3 in front of him. Paul shot 53% and over 10 assists per game when Fisher was on the court, but it was even worse when Derek was on the bench where Paul shot 59%. CP3 reminded everyone how great he is no matter if it was Steve Blake, Shannon Brown, Ron Artest, or even Kobe trying to guard him. It was the same result, dagger after dagger, dime after dime. So I have to credit Fisher for playing with heart and determination chasing CP3 around, and Fish stepped his playoff game up by managing to do some great things on the offensive end as he hit clutch shots while averaging 9.3 points on 52.6% shooting.

Steve Blake: C
There were some fairly high expectations of Blake when the Lakers picked up the guard for $4 million a year in the offseason and many thought he would challenge for the starting spot over Fish. He’s just sort of been OK, a few nice moments here and there, but for the most part fairly invisible. It was no different in round 1 versus the Hornets. He was often scorched by Chris Paul and Jared Jack, and only managed to muster 2.4 points per game on 40% shooting.

Matt Barnes: C+
Barnes was hot and cold offensively throughout the series, but still managed to grab some timely rebounds, hit some shots and bring some energy off the bench. Trevor Ariza had a great series against the Lakers as he had quite a bit of success when guarded by Kobe, but I felt Barnes did a really good job on Ariza as his foot speed and length gave Trevor some troubles. As much as you would expect Ron Artest to be the enforcer for the Lakers, it’s been Barnes off the bench with the most feisty attitude jumping in the middle of any physicality and getting the back of his fellow “Killer B’s.”

Shannon Brown: C
I’m a big fan and as much as I marvel at Shannon’s athleticism, I’m seeing a trend that leads to a dark place. Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar both contracted the same disease. It’s called “Black Hole Syndrome” where if you pass Shannon the ball you pretty much know you’re not getting it back as the shot is going to go up. Shannon continually gets the ball, stops the offense, pounds it on the floor and jacks up a shot. I know Phil asked him to be more aggressive with his shot this year, but he’s no Kobe so his shots need to come in the flow of the offense. Shannon shot 39.4% for the series which is far too low for a role player. Don’t follow the dark path that lead Sasha and Jordan to the lowly Nets, run the offense, get out on the break, and know your role.

Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith, Trey Johnson: NC
These guys didn’t get enough run to get a grade so I’ll just give them a Non-Complete. But I did want to mention that I did like what I saw from Trey Johnson with the little time he had out there replacing Steve Blake when he was out with the Chicken Pox during game 1. Trey looked poised, in control, aggressive when needed, and played some nice D while out there. Joe Smith looks absolutely lost out there and Theo Ratliff managed to grab one board this series with his 54 seconds of play. That’s neither here nor there.

Phil Jackson: B
Phil was essentially out-coached by a rookie coach Monty Williams for the first few games of the series. The Hornets had an effective game plan against the Lakers while taking game 1 and 4. Phil’s staff were able to dissect the Hornets strategy and eventually found a way to slow Chris Paul and take over the series. But possibly Phil’s greatest strategic move with this matchup was leaving Luke Walton on the bench.

Next up, the Mark Cuban Mavericks of Dallas…

While the Lakers played out of tune against the Jazz, Andrew Bynum decided to make his own music. With a career high 23-rebounds, Bynum kept the Lakers in the game—until the Lakers hit b-flat. While the Lakers had a chance at victory before the final horn, the game presented plenty of questions that must be examined closely. Namely, what the hell was Luke Walton doing in the game? Why was he heaving up shots? In five minutes, he shot the ball four times, going 0-4 from the floor. Also, why did Phil Jackson keep Andrew Bynum on the bench down the stretch—particularly after his dominating play on the boards and his strong presence in the paint? While these questions might go unanswered, one thing is clear—the entire team came down with a severe case of Waltonitis (a condition commonly known as Kwame Brown syndrome), causing the team to shiver with the chills and shoot a dismal 37.8% from the field. With five games to go, it looks like the Lakers need to gain a little strength and go for target practice. Thankfully, they get to take aim at an undersized Golden State team tomorrow night.

With a deep breath and a long exhale, the Lakers finally extinguished the Phoenix Suns in the third overtime, closing the curtain on a heart-pounding performance that brought both cheers and jeers from a sellout crowd at the Staples Center. With the Lakers running and gunning to a 21-point lead, it looked like the game was scripted for an LA-style dénouement—until the Suns decided to rise from the ashes. With a game that took many unexpected turns, here’s a recap of the good, bad, and ugly:

The Good

• Kobe Bryant’s tenancity along with 42 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists
• Lamar Odom’s efficient shooting (13-22) and 16 rebounds
• Ron Artest’s relentless defense and big shots at critical moments
• Paul Gasol’s effort to keep loose balls alive off the glass
• D-Fish’s aggressive defense (four steals)

The Bad

• Luke Walton’s inability to do anything positive (1-5 shooting in 11 minutes)
• Phil Jackson’s decision to play Luke Walton
• Phil Jackson’s decision to keep Luke Walton in the game as the lead was dwindling

The Ugly

This is LA. There’s no ugly. With a few more games at home, it’s not until the team heads to Utah before Laker fans get another a close-up of Jazz fans, making HDTV look like a bad thing.

Now, back to the goods. The game was highlighted by spectacular and timely plays by the big names on each team. Whether it was Steve Nash’s ridiculous behind-the-back pass while he was falling out of bounds or Kobe’s big-time shots with Grant Hill in his grill, the script was filled with plenty of drama, turning a 48-minute contest into a 63-minute showcase of the NBA’s elite. Who needs Broadway when you’ve got LA, right? With the Lakers streaking into the playoffs, it looks like they’re writing their own Westside story—and this story isn’t setting anytime soon.

The laws of Lakerdom require an inquisition after each Laker loss. For now, however, let’s ponder the following:

1. Why didn’t the Lakers feed Kobe the ball when Kidd switched on him?

-The Lakers failed to take advantage of another big mismatch. With the smaller and slower Kidd on Kobe, the Lakers needed to work the ball to Kobe in the high post over and over again.

2. Why did Luke Walton shoot the ball five times in 13 minutes?

-Walton missed all five shots. That’s 0% for those keeping score at home.

3. Why doesn’t Pau move his feet laterally on the defensive end with greater intensity?

-Nowitzki practically walked around Pau to score in the low post at the 3:16 mark. Perhaps Pau was listening to Ludacris before the game and just felt it was time to Get Out The Way.