Here’s a thought.
Maybe all those nights the Lakers were getting out-worked by their opponents, was actually just a sign the Lakers were just too old to stop teams in transition.
Perhaps it isn’t that the Lakers aren’t trying to play defense, they just aren’t able to keep up with the young and athletic squads. You know, the OKC’s and Bulls of the world.
All this time we thought the Lakers were attempting to coast through games and then flip the imaginary switch at just the right time to get the win. Turns out father time doesn’t have an off-and-on switch.
While the Lakers’ numbers on defense aren’t completely terrible, there’s room for improvement. Although they got off to a shaky start implementing their new defensive strategies, now that they’ve gotten a hang of it, they’ll just have to aim for consistency.
But is it fair to say the Lakers age is a detriment to their defense? Mr. Clutch seems to think so.
Lakers legend Jerry West recently spoke to a crowd of automobile dealers at a luncheon and commented that he doesn’t “think the Lakers will be good for much longer.” He said age could become a factor, then added that Boston was a “very dangerous team,” and he “would not want to play them every other night.”
Gulp.
Next: What the Lakers have that the Celtics don’t and vice versa
The Lakers do have 10 players who are 30 years of age or older, but that statistic is deceiving. The oldest Laker is Derek Fisher at age 36. Kobe Bryant comes in second at 32 and the other eight fall somewhere in between. Yes, they’re a veteran team, but the Celtics are an older team as well. What sets them apart from the Lakers?
Word on the street is there’s this 24-year-old kid who averages 10.5 points and 13 assists per game. You might have heard of him, his name is Rajon Rondo.
Oh but wait, the Lakers have a 23-year-old big guy at center who averages 11 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Who needs assists when you can have rebounds?
Celtics coach Doc Rivers will be the first to tell you, a big factor in the Lakers winning the title last year is what they were able to do off the glass—that is, rebounding. Toss that out the window because that was then and this is now. Don’t underestimate what Kendrick Perkins means to the Celtics in terms of defense. Had they had him under the rim causing havoc for Pau Gasol, things might not have turned out so nice for the Lakers.
The Celtics didn’t have Perkins for game seven, but they’ll get him back sometime after the Lakers’ first regular season meeting against Boston. A result of the Celtics’ front office attempt to mimic the Lakers’ length, they’ll also still have Perkins’ temporary replacements—the O’Neal’s—Shaquille and Jermaine.
Defensively, the Lakers have been much improved since Bynum’s return in mid-December. For the most part, Bynum’s contribution on rebounds, changing and blocking shots, as well as getting easy shots in the paint has benefitted the Lakers. His presence has also diminished the amount of time Gasol was averaging on the floor.
Next: Comparing the two young guns
Both young guys, Bynum and Rondo, are different players. They play at different positions so it really doesn’t make sense to compare the two. What we can compare is their value to their respective teams. Take Rondo out of the equation; does it drastically change the Celtics’ chances of winning? Do the same for the Lakers and Bynum.
Here lies the problem. Bynum’s pace in getting back on defense is not quite fast enough compared to the pace in which Rondo is effectively setting up his teammates. The Celtics lead the league in assists and are second in points allowed.
Translation: they’re doing well on both ends of the floor.
It’s no secret that Rondo is a hesitant shooter. There’s a reason why Bryant backs off and gives him space on defense. For starters, it’s not Rondo’s game to hike up shots and he can’t burn the Lakers if he tried. Even so, giving Rondo space is probably the worst thing Bryant could do. With space, Rondo can survey the floor and set-up his teammates effectively. If he can’t, he can still rely on his speed to get into the lane, collapse the defense and kick out the ball to Ray Allen or Paul Pierce.
Okay, so all the Lakers have to do is keep someone on Rondo at all times? That’s easier said than done. You be the one to tell Bryant to not be such a floater on defense when Rondo is on the floor.
Unless the Lakers make a concerted effort on defense, move the ball around, play inside-out on offense and take advantage of their big men in the middle, as West predicts, the Celtics may be too much to handle even if they are within the same age group.
Next: Health is the ultimate factor, Lakers should treat West’s comments as a warning
That being said, the success of the Lakers against the Celtics still depends on that big elephant looming in the room—Bynum’s health, come June. Actually, add to that Bryant’s knees and fingers, Odom’s left shoulder, Gasol’s hamstrings and most recently, Matt Barnes’ knee.
Defense and age limitations aside, health could be the ultimate factor in deciding the Lakers 17th championship, Phil Jackson’s 12th as a coach, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher’s sixth and the team’s third straight title.
But what does Phil Jackson think of West’s assessment of the Lakers defense?
“He’s right,” the Lakers’ coach said. “We have to do a lot of things right to be able to play defense the way we want to. And most of it is about controlling the tempo of the game.”
We already know how Jackson feels about the Celtics’ chances at reaching the finals. Much to the delight of Rivers, he’s got them beating out the Heat in the Eastern Conference.
No disrespect to Mr. West, but who could blame him for not wanting to go up against the Celtics every other night. After all, none of the Laker squads he played on could beat the C’s. Recall, this is the same guy who claimed LeBron James had superseded Kobe in the best player debate and well, we all know how things played out last summer.
Make no mistake about it, West is a smart guy. It’s best to just take his opinions like you would a shot of tequila—with a few grains of salt. (Lime optional)