As many of you know, Pau is out for up to eight weeks with a torn fascia in his foot, which has greatly put the Lakers in a pinch. Dwight is not 100% healthy, and without a true center the team is struggling in the middle. It’s now time to figure out what the Lakers should do next.
Lakers Nation had a few great articles today on where L.A. needs to go from here. Last night against the Celtics, it appeared like good news when Dwight Howard returned, but he seemed mentally unprepared to get back into action. Steve Nash even pointed out that the Lakers failed to adjust to getting into a rhythm with Dwight Howard, after doing well with Gasol.
Suki Thind believes the challenge and responsibility should instead be handed to Metta World Peace. The forward rotation of Metta World Peace, Antawn Jamison, and Earl Clark proved to be highly effective in Gasol’s last absence. During that time, Metta averaged 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.5 assists.
Someone on the team needs to excel in these defensive, offensive, and leadership roles to propel the Lakers towards more victories, and Suki believes that man is Dwight Howard. Read the rest of his article to see why, here.
No one solution to Gasol’s absence is the correct one; I will let you decide which you like best from the above recaps. I am interested to see what you all feel should be done. You can leave a comment below or tweet me @ajmoyal
The Lakers dunk of the week goes out to Kobe Bryant in the game against the Celtics. Check out what Kobe Bryant serves up to Brooklyn Nets Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries. It got me smiling.
In birthday news…Steve Nash turned 39 yesterday, and I forgot to send him a shout-out! If you can, send him a belated birthday tweet on Twitter @SteveNash
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Kobe & Nash Met To Talk About Dwight Howard
Lakers News: Lakers Trying to Find Offensive Rhythm Without Pau Gasol
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Sees Immediate Impact With Gasol Out
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Not Blaming Kobe For Lack of Assists
Why Metta World Peace Must Be The One To Step Up In Pau Gasol’s Absence
Lakers Rumors: Lakers Told Dwight Howard He Will Not Be Traded
Lakers Vs. Bobcats Pre-Game Report: Lakers Must Regroup Following Tough Loss
VIDEO: Lakers Dunk Of The Week – Kobe Posterization
Lakers vs. Celtics NBA Highlights: February 7th, 2013
Lakers News
Dwight Howard Needs to Sit Out All-Star Weekend, for His Own Good [Silver Screen and Roll]
Dissecting Pau Gasol’s Nightmare Season [Silver Screen and Roll]
Dwight Howard Will Play Against Charlotte Bobcats [Silver Screen and Roll]
Hakeem Olajuwon Believes Dwight Howard Will Stay with Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers v. Celtics: Everything Burns [Forum Blue and Gold]
Rapid Reaction: Celtics 116, Lakers 95 [Lakers Index]
Dwight Howard’s Return Changes Little [ESPN]
Kobe Delivers Dunk for the Ages on New York’s Newest Basketball Stage [Yahoo! Sports]
TNT Analysts Riff on the Lakers’ Demise [Inside the Lakers]
2013 All-Star Profiles: Kobe Bryant [Hardwood Paroxysm]
Howard Brings Headlines – and Headaches – to Lakers [OC Register]
Dwight Howard Gets No Mercy After Celtics Pound Lakers [SB Nation]
Why Dwight’s Right, but Wrong for Lakers [True Hoop]
Pau Gasol Injury Update [Lakers.com]
Injuries in the Front Court [Lakers Blog]
Dwight Howard Tired of People Questioning His Shoulder Injury [ESPN LA]
Mike D’Antoni Wonders if Metta World Peace’s Reputation Resulted in Suspension [LA Daily News]
Shaq, Worthy are Just More Nagging Pains for Howard [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant says Comments About Dwight Howard “Overblown” [Inside the Lakers]
Howard’s Return Does Little to Spark Lakers in Loss to Celtics [OC Register]
How is Steve Nash Escaping Blame for Lakers’ Troubles? [SB Nation]
Kobe Bryant Wishes LeBron James Would Respond to His Trash Talk [The Basketball Jones]
Partners in Time? Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard Were Both Right to be Skeptical of Their Union [Yahoo Sports]
NBA News
Chauncey Billups Likely in vs. Heat [ESPN]
Trade Scenarios for ‘Untradables’ [Per Diem]
Lillard, Davis First Two Picks in Rising Stars Draft [NBA.com]
Nets, Bobcats Discuss Ben Gordon [ESPN]
Nerlens Noel Still Best Bet to be No. 1 Pick [NBA Draft Blog]
Rookie Watch: Best of 19 [ESPN Insider]
Bledsoe, Evans, Faried, Green, White and Ross to Compete in 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk [NBA.com]
Nugs’ Plans for Miller [Rumor Central]
PBT Extra: Talking Wade, Lakers and Trade Deadline Moves [ProBasketballTalk]
Could Rajon Rondo Return Sooner Than Expected? [Eye On Basketball]
In The Paint – With Patrick Truby [Hardwood Paroxysm]
Ray Felton Shakes John Wall To The Ground [Shaky Ankles]
Get Excited to Smell Like Chris Paul [The Basketball Jones]
Rajon Rondo Getting Opinions [ESPN]
Reduce Head injuries [True Hoop]
Wolves’ Love on Minnesota: ‘I love being here’ [NBA.com]
Bulls, Raptors Talking Carlos Boozer-Andrea Bargnani Swap, Sources Say [ESPN]
Celtics’ Danny Ainge Says It’s ‘most likely’ Team Keeps Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce [ESPN Boston]
Source: Sixers’ Jason Richardson Out for Season with Knee Injury [Yahoo! Sports]
2012-2013 NBA Rookie Class: Top 50 [ESPN Insider]
Teams Harden, Westbrook vs. Bosh, Lopez in Shooting Stars [NBA.com]
2013 All-Star Profiles: Kyrie Irving [Hardwood Paroxysm]
LeBron in Dunk Contest [ESPN Video]
Rosters Set for 2013 Rising Stars Game on All-Star Friday Featuring Rookies and Sophomores [ProBasketballTalk]
Can Rose Elevate Bulls Over Heat? [ESPN]