The Los Angeles Lakers have an exceptionally talented roster, with players of all different sizes and talents. From their 32 year-old superstar, to their Spanish big man, the Lakers are perhaps the most talented team in the NBA. However, just like every championship team, the Lakers have talented role players who hold the key to their success.
Without question, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are the team’s MVPs, but their efforts alone cannot carry the Lakers to a three-peat. Take Game 7 of last year’s Finals for an example, Ron Artest made big shots and key plays down the stretch to clinch the title.
The Lakers have unprecedented talent from top-to-bottom, and certain teams fall to the Lakers due to their inability to guard the juggernaut of talent.
Besides the two-headed monster of Kobe and Pau, the Lakers have three other players in their starting five who can take over a game: veteran guard Derek Fisher, the humanitarian Ron Artest and the young big man Andrew Bynum.
In the past couple of years, the “Bench Mob” was a no-show and failed to impress the Lakers’ coaches and fans. However, this year is much different. The Lakers re-amped their bench and the reserves are playing very well so far this season. Coming off the sideline is the versatile Lamar Odom, the highflyer Shannon Brown and the new guys Matt Barnes and Steve Blake.
Kobe and Gasol show up every night, and they rarely take any games off. Phil Jackson knows what he will get out of his stars every game day, but he is never certain about his other players. Some days, the rest of the team plays exceptionally well, while other days they commit turnovers and are very ineffective. However, there is one player who, when on “fire,” makes the Lakers unstoppable. Who is the Lakers X-Factor that will be the key to winning games and ultimately the championship?
Let’s dissect the rest of the Lakers’ roster and try to determine who the team’s X-Factor is.
Next: The Captain
DEREK FISHER
There are certain players in this league who do not put up stellar numbers, but always find a way to help their team. Derek Fisher is one of those players.
Fisher started his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and has been a fan-favorite ever since. He hit multiple game winners, and was a leading voice in the Lakers’ huddles in his first stay in Los Angeles. However, Fisher was not one of the “main” players on the Lakers roster, as he took a back seat to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
After a few years away from the Lakers, Derek Fisher rejoined his former team and took the role of a veteran leader. With Kobe and Fisher leading the way, the Lakers became relevant in the NBA.
Looking at his stats, one would guess that Derek Fisher is not a productive player for the Lakers. In his 15 seasons in the NBA, Fisher has averaged 8.9 ppg, and 3.2 apg. However, Fisher does all the little things for the Lakers; he makes the big shots when needed and provides veteran leadership.
“He [Derek] just has supreme confidence.” Said Kobe Bryant. “And I think those shots at the end of the game are actually easier for him than the other ones.”
The Lakers would not have won these past two titles if it were not for the heroics of Derek Fisher. In 2009, Fisher hit two big threes to beat the Magic, and in 2010 he knock down “long-ball” to bring the Lakers back from a 13 point deficit.
When Derek Fisher is in the lineup and is playing at his “A game,” the Lakers are a tough team to beat.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TkOyTDPmGY
Next: The Humanitarian
RON ARTEST
The Lakers acquired Ron Artest in the summer of 2009, and he was told to do one thing— play defense. Artest had a very troublesome past, with brawls and suspensions, and many people believed he would ruin the Lakers’ chances of a repeat.
Artest was inconsistent early on last season, and was struggling trying to defend the top players. However, as the season progressed Artest got situated with the team and began to play with more confidence.
When Ron Artest is playing well, the Lakers have an un-guardable duo in Kobe and Artest. In Game 7 of the Finals Artest was perhaps the MVP of game, as he put up big numbers and hit clutch shots.
Artest in entering his second season with the Lakers, and he is averaging 11.0 ppg, and 4.9 rpg. Artest is a valuable player for the Lakers, his lock-down defense and occasional three point shooting gives the team much needed help.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OIAGtjVyvQ
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgRdRwNgs9A
Next: The Seven-Footer
ANDREW BYNUM
For the past five seasons, the Lakers have faced different obstacles and have had entirely different teams. However, for some reason one thing is guaranteed for the Lakers—an injured Andrew Bynum.
As the Lakers are preparing for another title run, they will have to do it without their star center, Andrew Bynum. Bynum, the tenth pick by the Lakers in the 2005 Draft, has been sidelined until late November with a knee injury. He has been a big presence in the paint for the Lakers, and has provided the team with defense and rebounding.
Bynum’s early season injury is a big blow for the Lakers, a player his size and talent is irreplaceable. With him in the lineup, the Lakers are very tough to beat and teams cannot cover both Bynum and Gasol.
Andrew Bynum has averaged 10.3 point per game, 6.7 rebounds per game 1.5 blocks per game in his short NBA career.
Although Bynum has been very inconsistent and at certain times unreliable, his play is very important for the team’s success. When Bynum and Gasol are in the lineup, the Lakers are the best team in the league. However, if Bynum is sidelined, the Lakers are just like any ordinary team.
Take last season’s Finals as an example; the Lakers could not have re-peated without the efforts and presence of the young seven-footer.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTadruu6ox8
Next: Mr. Versatile
LAMAR ODOM
Lamar Odom is considered the most versatile player in the NBA, and he can play virtually any position. His height and seven foot wingspan makes Odom a skilled big man, while his speed and ball-handling abilities allow him to play the point guard position.
Odom is a very valuable player coming off the Lakers’ bench, and when he is playing a productive game, the team is unbeatable. Odom is capable of filling in for Bynum’s minutes, and being just as productive as the seven-footer.
In his NBA career, Lamar Odom averages 14.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, and 4.1 apg. He is the Lakers sixth man of the bench, but he is on the court for the final minutes of the game.
At certain times Odom is very inconsistent and does not put up stellar numbers; however, in the big games and in the final minutes, the Lakers can rely on Odom to come up “clutch.”
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvSCBY1bYTg
Next: The Triple B’s
THE TRIPLE Bs
The Lakers have a much improved bench this season, the team kept high-flyer Shannon Brown, while adding Steve Blake and Matt Barnes.
Shannon Brown is looking for his third straight NBA title with the Lakers, and he has quickly become a fan-favorite at Staples Center.
His insane jumping abilities have landed Brown on multiple “Top Ten” countdowns and his quickness greatly benefits a relatively slow Lakers team. Brown occasionally makes key three-pointers down the stretches of games, and big steals to seal victories for the Lakers.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW5BDtEQimY
The other guard on the Lakers bench, Steve Blake, has impressed the coaches and fans from opening night. Blake is a proven point guard, who can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. In his first game with the Lakers, Blake hit the game winning three to take care of the Rockets.
Blake will play valuable minutes for the Lakers this season; He will be playing the majority of the minutes so Derek Fisher is ready to go in the Playoffs.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS8ESzEQibg
The Lakers also added Matt Barnes to the roster, a player who adds toughness and three point shooting to the team. Barnes is known for his defensive tenacity, and his never back-down personality; Laker fans got to see Barnes at his best last season when he squared by with Kobe Bryant. He will play valuable minutes this season, as Barnes will be given to task to guard players like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Paul Pierce.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5ZcOYfeTWg
Next: Who Is the Biggest X-Factor
The Los Angeles Lakers are unlike any other team in the NBA, they have talented players who all have the ability to take over a game. The team’s two top guns are Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, but there are other very valuable players on the roster.
Derek Fisher, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and other bench players are the unsung heroes on the team. Each of these players bring a special talent to the team that is irreplaceable and is needed for every game.
Lakers Nation, who is the Lakers’ biggest X-Factor, whose talents are needed day-in-and-day out in order for the Lakers to be successful?