| 01 December 2010
..
Well it's been interesting... the season't well underway now, and looking back at what I said in regards to predictions for the beginning of the season for LA, most was on the money.
Predictions in review...
The offense stalled. The defense - not as good as it was last year - froze up. Key contributors stopped contributing.
There were times where the team devolved into sit-back-and-watch-Kobe again... and when that happens? LA are definitely not anywhere near where they want to be.
Definitely some kinks to work out, and I guess that starts against Houston on Dec 1st.
Now looking ahead to...
December
1st - @ Houston. Houston have struggled to work with a somewhat inconsistent line-up thus far this season. But I think they're quite a bit better than their record would indicate. And the Rockets always provide a tough game at the Toyota Center... LA can get home, but it will depend on 'which' LA shows up: the start of the season, or the one that closed out November. Should be very close.
3rd - Sacramento. Sacramento are a young team, and with that comes the inconsistencies of youth. Not experienced enough to upset this Lakers team.
7th - Washington. The Wiz under Wall have at times done pretty well thus far this season. But Gilbert Arenas still hangs around like a huge chocolate cake in the refrigerator - can look pretty good, but really: you shouldn't. The sooner the Wiz move on from the Agent Zero Era (error?), the better for the franchise. LA should start a very long road trip with a win under their belt at home.
8th - @ LAC. Not entirely an 'away' game, as it's in Staples. And I'll be interested to see Griffin go at Pau/Odom. This team is still the Clippers however, and regardless of who has the home locker-room and who has the visitors, this game will still fall the Lakers way, despite Blake's best efforts.
10th - @ Chicago. This time it really is "Sweet Home Chicago" for the Bulls. Home court, and the rosters will likely be the same as when LA beat Chicago in November. Very unlikely that Bynum will be back, but Boozer's looking likely. I think LA can win... but this one definitely worries me.
12th - @ New Jersey. Brook Lopez simply doesn't seem like the Brook Lopez of 09/10. Their pieces are better this season, and they look like they'll easily eclipse last season's sorry total... but I don't think they're anywhere near the Lakers' pace yet.
14th - @ Washington. Second time the Wiz see LA this month. Result'll be the same both times.
15th - @ Indiana. Doing much better. They're not doing anything too complex at the Pacers, but doing the simple things well. A much better team than last season, and historically can surprise too. LA will be looking to strike vengeance on Indy's court, and hopefully should be able to account for them... but on the back end of a back-to-back? Tough win.
17th - @ Philadelphia. Philly look completely lost at times. Their bigs simply aren't equipped to play against LA, and their lack of depth will hurt too.
19th - @ Toronto. Confusing franchise. 4 wins consecutively. Boston, Houston, and Philly twice. Yet their start to November was completely torrid. I don't think they have the length to compete with LA, nor the ability to stop Kobe Bryant. End of story. Sidenote: Bynum looking to be ready around 'now'...
21st - Milwaukee. Another franchise that seems somewhat lost on who they are. I really expected a helluva lot better this season, but here they are: 5-9. They come to LA, and they'll leave without the 'W'.
25th - Miami. Not sure the scheduling of this could go any better for LA. Some light-ish workouts leading in, a good 4 days off between this and the Bucks game, and it's at Staples. Miami have found the going tough on more than one occasion thus far this season - and they'll come to LA without Haslem or Miller. LA should have a complete roster by this point in time, the word is Andrew Bynum'll be in a uniform by now.
LA take first blood.
28th - @ San Antonio. Did anyone see the Spurs coming? I certainly didn't, and even most SA fans had this penciled in as the season it all started to fall apart. Finding ways to win... this'll be a very, very hard game for LA.
But assuming the Lakers are back to what we thought they were, LA also match up better now with the Spurs than they have in many a year. Could be anyone's game.
29th - @ New Orleans. NOLA on the rear end of a back-to-back. In Nawleans no less. The Hornets have started to slide of late...
Definitely, LA have the ability to deal with the Bz, but I think it's going to come down to Kobe and Chris Paul. Who holds court?
31st - Philadelphia. Second 76ers game for the month. This time, in LA. Should be another Lakers win tho' - LA finish this decade with a win.
Ok, with all that in place LA has 15 games in December. Lotsa road games here tho'... keep an eye on that.
I see them finishing the month at 12-3. Hopefully, a better finish than November held out. LA will end 2010 with a record around 25-8... and that's pretty good.
I like it... I like it a lot.
Well it's been interesting... the season't well underway now, and looking back at what I said in regards to predictions for the beginning of the season for LA, most was on the money. Predictions in review...
- "Gasol will start the season completely on fire..." - check.
- "Kobe Bryant... for all the talk of "Kobe's getting old"... "there's some miles on those wheels"... and "he's coming back from knee surgery" - Kobe is the most rested he's been in... well, years. This season, #24 will still give good reasons for him to be considered as one of the game's greats..." - check.
- "Steve Blake will have the starter's role before the season's mid-point. And thrive." - getting there...
- "Derrick Caracter will make the regular rotation..." - again, getting there.
The offense stalled. The defense - not as good as it was last year - froze up. Key contributors stopped contributing.
There were times where the team devolved into sit-back-and-watch-Kobe again... and when that happens? LA are definitely not anywhere near where they want to be.
Definitely some kinks to work out, and I guess that starts against Houston on Dec 1st.
Now looking ahead to...
December
1st - @ Houston. Houston have struggled to work with a somewhat inconsistent line-up thus far this season. But I think they're quite a bit better than their record would indicate. And the Rockets always provide a tough game at the Toyota Center... LA can get home, but it will depend on 'which' LA shows up: the start of the season, or the one that closed out November. Should be very close.
3rd - Sacramento. Sacramento are a young team, and with that comes the inconsistencies of youth. Not experienced enough to upset this Lakers team.
7th - Washington. The Wiz under Wall have at times done pretty well thus far this season. But Gilbert Arenas still hangs around like a huge chocolate cake in the refrigerator - can look pretty good, but really: you shouldn't. The sooner the Wiz move on from the Agent Zero Era (error?), the better for the franchise. LA should start a very long road trip with a win under their belt at home.
8th - @ LAC. Not entirely an 'away' game, as it's in Staples. And I'll be interested to see Griffin go at Pau/Odom. This team is still the Clippers however, and regardless of who has the home locker-room and who has the visitors, this game will still fall the Lakers way, despite Blake's best efforts.
10th - @ Chicago. This time it really is "Sweet Home Chicago" for the Bulls. Home court, and the rosters will likely be the same as when LA beat Chicago in November. Very unlikely that Bynum will be back, but Boozer's looking likely. I think LA can win... but this one definitely worries me.
12th - @ New Jersey. Brook Lopez simply doesn't seem like the Brook Lopez of 09/10. Their pieces are better this season, and they look like they'll easily eclipse last season's sorry total... but I don't think they're anywhere near the Lakers' pace yet.
14th - @ Washington. Second time the Wiz see LA this month. Result'll be the same both times.
15th - @ Indiana. Doing much better. They're not doing anything too complex at the Pacers, but doing the simple things well. A much better team than last season, and historically can surprise too. LA will be looking to strike vengeance on Indy's court, and hopefully should be able to account for them... but on the back end of a back-to-back? Tough win.
17th - @ Philadelphia. Philly look completely lost at times. Their bigs simply aren't equipped to play against LA, and their lack of depth will hurt too.
19th - @ Toronto. Confusing franchise. 4 wins consecutively. Boston, Houston, and Philly twice. Yet their start to November was completely torrid. I don't think they have the length to compete with LA, nor the ability to stop Kobe Bryant. End of story. Sidenote: Bynum looking to be ready around 'now'...
21st - Milwaukee. Another franchise that seems somewhat lost on who they are. I really expected a helluva lot better this season, but here they are: 5-9. They come to LA, and they'll leave without the 'W'.25th - Miami. Not sure the scheduling of this could go any better for LA. Some light-ish workouts leading in, a good 4 days off between this and the Bucks game, and it's at Staples. Miami have found the going tough on more than one occasion thus far this season - and they'll come to LA without Haslem or Miller. LA should have a complete roster by this point in time, the word is Andrew Bynum'll be in a uniform by now.
LA take first blood.
28th - @ San Antonio. Did anyone see the Spurs coming? I certainly didn't, and even most SA fans had this penciled in as the season it all started to fall apart. Finding ways to win... this'll be a very, very hard game for LA.
But assuming the Lakers are back to what we thought they were, LA also match up better now with the Spurs than they have in many a year. Could be anyone's game.
29th - @ New Orleans. NOLA on the rear end of a back-to-back. In Nawleans no less. The Hornets have started to slide of late...
Definitely, LA have the ability to deal with the Bz, but I think it's going to come down to Kobe and Chris Paul. Who holds court?
31st - Philadelphia. Second 76ers game for the month. This time, in LA. Should be another Lakers win tho' - LA finish this decade with a win.
Ok, with all that in place LA has 15 games in December. Lotsa road games here tho'... keep an eye on that.
I see them finishing the month at 12-3. Hopefully, a better finish than November held out. LA will end 2010 with a record around 25-8... and that's pretty good.
I like it... I like it a lot.
