The Los Angeles Lakers have always been an organization with many story lines. Even after winning the 2009 NBA championship over the Orlando Magic in 5 games, there was no shortage of news from the league's flagship franchise. They are an ever intriguing stew of Hollywood and the sports world, for better or worse. Even with all that surrounds the organization, they are favored to win another championship in 2010.
KOBE & PAU, WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUMMER?
The cornerstones of the Laker attack had surprisingly different summers. The league's most skilled player had a quiet off-season. That's saying something, since most of Kobe Bryant's off-seasons have been tumultuous by any standard. From the Lakers perspective, there is nothing wrong with a quiet off-season for a franchise player that's going on his 13th year. Still, Kobe Bryant managed to get out and learn some moves in the post from Hakeem Olajuwon, the former Houston Rockets center known for his array of moves in the post. Look to see if he's added these moves to his seemingly vast repertoire.
By contrast, Pau Gasol had a very eventful summer by basketball standards A broken finger on the way to winning a Eurobasket championship and the MVP for that tournament probably has Pau feeling both good and tired. Winning does wonders for stamina. However, Phil Jackson is not one to take rest lightly. As of this writing, Pau will likely not play in the season opener and will likely get lots of rest early in the season.
ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, TITLE MULTIPLICATION
The Lakers roster saw some significant changes over the summer. Shannon Brown, Trevor Ariza, and Lamar Odom were players integral to the championship run. All became unrestricted free agents after the end of the season. Of the 3, only Trevor Ariza's services were not retained, though the Lakers did not come away empty handed. In what was essentially a 'trade', Trevor Ariza signed with the Rockets, while the now former Rocket small forward, Ron Artest, signed with the Lakers for significantly less than what his market value was.
What does Ron Artest add that Trevor Ariza didn't? Where Trevor was lean, lithe, and long, Ron is rugged, imposing, and strong. Ron Artest has a reputation for being one of the league's premier defenders. His ability to defend larger small forwards such as Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul Pierce plugs a significant hole in the Lakers defense. Additionally, his versatility on defense will reduce the wear-and-tear on Kobe and even Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom.
But it's not all a bed of roses. In addition to being a defensive specialist, Ron Artest is also one of the league's most unpredictable personalities on and off the court. Couple his personality with the Hollywood's celebrity atmosphere, the bright spotlight perpetually shining on the Lakers, and the league's most polarizing franchise will likely have many story lines throughout the season.
As being the only significant roster change, it remains to be seen if Ron Artest's addition (and Trevor Ariza's subtraction) means back-to-back titles for the defending champs.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE
The key to the Lakers success has been continuity. While they have to integrate a significant piece in Ron Artest, most of the players on the team have been there since the year before last. On the surface, the squad still looks young. However, they've been running the same system for several years and have been to 2 finals with the current players and coaching staff. That sort of experience and repetition is invaluable, regardless of youth.
Expect the Lakers to run the same Triangle offensive system championed by Phil Jackson, featuring Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Also, look for Andrew Bynum to be a significant contributor in many games. The Lakers brass has high hopes that the 4th year center has picked up on the mentoring from former Laker center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, his tendency to get injured keeps Laker brass awake at night, whether it's just dumb luck or a predisposition to getting injured.
SUPPORTING PLAYERS
While Kobe, Pau, and Ron Artest will garner the lion share of headlines (though Lamar Odom's marriage to a Kardashian sister may change that), the role players and bench players will have many key contributors this year.
The most competitive position will likely be the 'point' guard spot (the Triangle doesn't require a point guard). Incumbent starter Derek Fisher will likely play reduced minutes during the season and the 3 possible replacements in Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, and Sasha Vujacic present different strengths and weaknesses. Look for Phil Jackson's trust to remain with Derek Fisher as a starter, and for Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown to vie for minutes behind Fisher, even play along side each other at times. Vujacic, a player known for shooting and a funny nickname (the Machine), may get time here as well as a designated shooter next to Kobe.
As the Lakers' sixth man, or first person off the bench, Lamar Odom presents a daunting mismatch to any opponent. He is a 6'11" player that is able to shoot the 3, post up, and dribble as well as any guard. He typically replaces Andrew Bynum in the line up and often finishes games alongside Gasol, a sign of trust from Phil Jackson. It remains to be seen whether his marriage to reality star Khloe Kardashian will have any sort of effect on his on-court performance, though he seems to have picked up where he left off last year.
Rounding out the bench are serviceable big men, Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga, a glue guy and coach favorite in Luke Walton, as well as former college standout Adam Morrison at small forward/shooting guard. Adam is currently considered the best shooter by the coaching staff, but translating that to on court time could depend more on his defense than offense.
THAT'S ALL GREAT BUT...
A team that basically has its entire championship squad come back and has upgraded the one player that hasn't come back shouldn't have any problems, right? That's only true if the rest of the league sat on their collective tushes. The NBA however, is filled with incredibly competitive people on all levels. Significant threats to the Lakers championship aspirations feature some new foes, some old foes, and some ancient, seemingly biblical foes by the NBA's standards.
The Magic and Cavaliers both feature superstar players and enough depth to contend with the Lakers. In their own conference, the Spurs have returned to contention with key additions that add youth and athleticism to both its perimeter and interior. And last but not least, the rivalry that defines much of NBA lore and history has been reignited by Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics, themselves a storied franchise with a talent rich roster.
THE LONG ROAD AHEAD
Fresh off of their 15th title, the Lakers have set themselves up for a run to another championship. Despite the competition, they will likely represent the Western Conference in the Finals again. While that may be the case, the journey to get there should prove to be just as interesting and intriguing as the cast of players who are on that journey.