Written by: Jacqueline Grant
The Lakers exit last season left fans with a bad taste in their mouth and a knot in their stomach. A sweep against the Dallas Mavericks was hardly the send-off Phil Jackson deserved. However, for a team who played in the finals the previous three seasons, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the Lakers were simply burnt out.
All that extra basketball, including 77 post-season games over the past four years in addition to all the summer league games, finally caught up to them. So, with a long summer break for the boys in gold and an entirely new coaching staff, what can be expected for the upcoming season? Only time will tell, but here is a list of hopes, wants, and wishes for some of the players who have peaked my interest.
Andrew Bynum: A healthy knee please! Bynum has not had an injury free season since 2006-2007. The injury bug follows him everywhere, and naturally that has hindered his development. Bynum has kept quiet this off-season, focusing his energy into extensive training and conditioning, and reports have suggested that he will come back stronger than ever before. With a strong, healthy body his post-up moves, defense in the paint, and shot selection should be more consistent and reliable than in the past.
Derek Fisher: J.J. Barea exposed what Fisher could not keep up with during last postseason. Fisher’s hard nosed defense, shooting ability, and leadership have allowed him to keep his starting position this long, but unfortunately Fisher’s run with the Lakers is coming to an end. Fisher should mentor Darius Morris and groom him into the player the Lakers need. With Fisher’s natural leadership ability, passing down his insider knowledge to the younger players should come effortlessly.
Kobe Bryant: Kobe has always come into training camp in mint condition, notorious for his 4 AM workouts, and this year should be no different. This long off-season should have allowed Bryant to heal his numerous injuries. Moreover, Bryant will play with anger and zest, seeking revenge for what was taken from the Lakers.
Ron Artest: A little less Dancing with the Stars and Metta World Peace, and a little more basketball please. Artest’s attraction to craziness is like Mark Madsen’s dancing. While it’s entertaining, it certainly does nothing to improve his game. Instead, Artest should focus his energy towards this season and bring back a little bit of the edge the 2006 Artest had, minus the brawls. In doing so, Artest’s pesky, relentless defense should play a crucial role in Mike Brown’s agenda.
Pau Gasol: Gasol has kept himself busy this summer leading Spain in the European basketball championship. While Gasol received a fair amount of criticism for his lackluster performance in the Dallas series, I can only hope he uses that criticism for motivation. As one of the elite power forwards in the league and fundamentally one of the most complete players, Gasol needs to work on his mental preparation for the game. Gasol’s mental toughness has always held him back, and once he is more confident in his ability his talent will take over, and the Lakers offense will run much smoother.
Next Page: The Bench Mob
Lamar Odom: Odom has had quite a rough summer. From burying his cousin to a freak accident which killed a 15-year-old boy, it would be to no surprise if basketball weren’t Odom’s top priority. Thoughts of Odom taking a starting role in the lineup have been suggested for the new season, making for a very tall front line with Gasol and Bynum. Whether Odom starts or not, I can only hope consistency will become a theme for him.
Matt Barnes: Matt Barnes’ quick hands and aggressive defense should fit in perfectly with Mike Browns’ defensive objectives: swarming the ball, covering the lane and shrinking the floor. Moreover, I hope Barnes’ fighter attitude and spirit can infect his fellow teammates. In doing so, Barnes can help to create the utmost hostile environment for any opponent the Lakers may face.
Darius Morris: The 41st pick of the 2011 draft, Morris has a promising future as the next starting point guard. He’s 6’5, has long arms, good court-vision and a solid shot inside the three-point line. With guidance from Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, Morris has the potential to develop into a solid point guard, which is exactly what the Lakers need right now.
Luke Walton: The days where Walton’s passing played an important role in the triangle offense are long gone. With Walton’s new coaching position for the Memphis Tigers, Walton should become more of a vocal leader from the bench. His veteran experience with the Lakers organization should be very useful for mentoring the younger players such as Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock.
Whenever the season may begin the Lakers should play like they just finished their series against Dallas. They should play with anger, revenge and pride. They should take back what is rightfully theirs and remind everyone that Kobe Bryant and his teammates are still the team to beat in the NBA.