How the West Can Be Won (part 2)

In this five part series, we will look at those five teams in depth and why nobody wants to meet them in the playoffs. We will also discuss the flaws that could get these teams beat and trades they could make throughout the season to fill those holes. Without further ado, here is my fourth best team in the Western Conference.

4.) The Los Angeles Lakers:

Why Nobody Wants to Play Them:
On paper this Lakers’ team is one of the most formidable teams in the history of the NBA. It hasn’t helped that the only time we saw Steve Nash was during the Mike Brown era. Compounding that, Steve Blake also went down so what we have seen from the D’Antoni Lakers thus far is a team run by Darius Morris. Once Nash is back, there is somebody who can distribute the ball to Dwight, Pau, and Kobe as well as a stabilizing player to add to the lineup.

The biggest problem thus far is the porous defense from the Lakers who were supposed to be anchored by the best defensive center in the league who is currently not playing like the best defensive center in the league. Don’t forget though, Dwight had back surgery in the summer and hustled back to be ready for opening night and still is probably not at 100%. Kobe is still Kobe and has the ability to take over games without much help from anyone else if it comes down to it. Once this team gets completely healthy, they should look so much better than they look right now.

How They Can Be Beaten:
Unfortunately the game is not played on paper and so far there isn’t much good to take out of the Lakers’ season. Pau and Dwight’s defensive rotations under the basket are atrocious. Everyone knew going into this season that the Lakers were defensively slow on the perimeter  with Kobe, Nash, and World Peace (it still feels weird writing that) getting up their in age.

What they didn’t know was that Pau and Dwight would be unable to protect the rim when the perimeter guys got beaten off the dribble. Orlando just put up 40 points in the fourth quarter in the Forum while Jameer Nelson, Aaron Affalo, and Big Baby combined for 72 points. They let George Hill beat them at the buzzer with a weak one-handed scoop shot that Dwight Howard would normally swat to the parking lot like that stupid insurance commercial.

Not only is their defense struggling, giving up almost 103 points a game, but their bench has been invisible. Antwan Jamison has shown shades of being a great 6th man, but other than Jodie Meeks one explosion, the bench has done nothing for this team. If they meet a quick team that can get to the rim with their perimeter players – the Lakers might be in trouble once summer rolls around.

Possible In-Season Trade:
The Lakers need to find a power forward that meshes better with Dwight Howard’s game as well as a friend who could help keep Dwight in LA after his contract is up this off-season. The best looking trade they could make is adding Josh Smith who is more of a high post player who is a much better defensive player and rebounder than Pau. To make the salaries add up, they also would get sharp shooter Kyle Korver to add some depth on the wing and a little more punch on the second team. They would give up Pau and Earl Clark which would also help Atlanta because Pau could play a true center which would finally allow them to move Al Horford to his true position at Power Forward.