[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Just after the Lakers blew their 2nd half 21-point lead to the Washington Wizards… yes, you read that correctly: The Wizards.  2nd-half.  21-point lead.  Lakers.  I started to look at some stats and found that the Lakers are making history this season… and not in a good way.

The Lakers are putting up their WORST scoring season of… wait for it… ALL-TIME! (shot-clock era, of course) 

The Lakers are averaging 94 PPG this season for a franchise low, and this is a franchise that has tons of history.  The last time the Lakers averaged under 95 points a game as a team? Never.

Again, you read that correctly, the Lakers have never, in the last 58 years (shot-clock era) scored under 95 points a game.  Their 2nd worst scoring output you ask?  95.6 PPG, the first season after the shot-clock was created and they were still the Minneapolis Lakers — 1954-1955.  (Obviously still used to the slow-tempo at the time and the fact that there was still no 3-point line)  Their best player was a 25 year old big-man, Clyde Lovellette.  He is now 82 years old.

After that, their 3rd place season is 2003-2004 season, but that’s at still at 98.2 PPG, much higher than 94 PPG.  

The Lakers have an obvious weakness on offense at SF and their PG position is competely non-existent on the court.  Who gets moved prior to the trade deadline?  Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum?  Can they pick up Sessions for cheap?  Do they sign Arenas or Wallace?  Many questions for this team since the start of the season and they still have not answered any of them.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

On a side note, this is also their best defensive season of all time, allowing a franchise-low (shot-clock era) 91.7 PPG.

[iguapops420Participant]

They were already offered Sessions for a 1st and turned it down opting to wait and see what other options are available. Same goes for Michael Beasley. Broussard came out today and said the Rockets still have Martin/Dragic/Scola/NYK1st on the table for Pau, but again, LAL is holding out for a deal involving Lowry. Changes will be made around the deadline. Funny though, outside of KGB, this team doesn’t even have a legit 4th best player(unless you count homecourt) yet they are still managing to win against elite teams and could be a surprise come playoff time. If they had even a slight threat at the 1 and 3 offensively, things would be completely different. Hell, it’s actually part of the reason Pau has had such a down year(not the entire issue though), and Bynum has been so up and down. Too easy to pack the D into the paint or double onto Kobe and dare either Fisher or Artest to do something. As bad as they look I still have entire faith in my Lakeshow.

There D is better than I’ve seen in years, so they’ve somewhat traded offense for defense which is never something to complain about.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Good sh!t TongueOutLikeNikki,

I’m surprised this is the first I’ve heard of this.  The Lakers have historically been an uptempo flashy team with great players.  I reckon it’s a combination of Mike Brown’s coaching cuz remenber Cleveland was a slo mo offensive team, and the fact they have no bench scorers.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

The Lakers are obviously a team that can win two series in the playoffs and and possibly advance to the NBA Finals.  What scares me the most about them is the inability to win on the road, 6-14.  Also the fact that star point guards tear up the Lakers time-after-time and in the western conference playoffs, they’re going to meet either Westbrook, Paul, and Parker (Lawson and Conley, if you feel they fall in that category).  Maybe even all three.  How will they play them against a quality point guard in a seven-game series?

I’m excited for the trade deadline to get closer, the Lakers are a move away from being legit contenders.

[iguapops420Participant]

 Yeah, for as good as their D is, they will always have issues against PG’s until they get one of their own. The road record is atrocious as well, but things change and bigger surprises have happened. After all, the playoffs are built for low scoring grind it out teams like LAL.

[larryfiskenParticipant]

 Im scared that Derek Fisher really has to earn his paychech in the playoffs if the lakers dont do anything at the pg position. And a 37 year old pg in bad shape before the reason, and even more banged up come playoff time will give the opposing team fits time after time. The lakers are playing with just 4 defenders when fisher or blake plays the time and just 3 offensive players most nights. And in the playoffs i think they are going to find out that it just wont cut it.

 

But trading the leagues maybe most skilled big man is maybe not the best option either, to me it looks like the lakers is left with no more than a punchers chance at the title this year, but u never know come playoff time they might string together a run, even tho its highly unlikely.  

[DondiJohnParticipant]

 I dont get it. We all know that the Lakers have the best Post play Lineup in the NBA. That’s their advantage, gimme a team that can match up with Bynum and Gasol on either offense or defense. I really think that they should look for other scorers. They definitely have their role players.

Gilbert Arenas can be an answer, lakers lack scoring he can bring it. Problem would be his shot selection. Signing Gilbert would mean less shots for KGB, I know Gasol and Bynum can pass and sacrifice their shot selection but would Kobe? Also, Kobe’s averaging 38+ mins per game up by 5 mins from last year. Imagine that wear and tear, I know he’s a stud in taking care of his body but all those mileage will come to haunt him sooner than later. He needs a decent replacement when he’s on the bench, Arenas can carry some of the load. (Btw, if the Lakers would sign Arenas how would this affect the Lakers’ cap situation?)

Sessions on the other hand I think could be a great addition, but he’s not a threat in the offense also. He’s a 44.8% FG shooter (not bad) and a 28.7% 3PT shooter. Is he the 4th option the Lakers are looking for? I’d rather have Beasley for our 1st round pick than him.

[PAUL125Participant]

if kobe would pass the ball to bynum and gasol more, the lakers would be 1st in the west imo. This guy is jacking up shots like crazy 9-31 last night. Sometimes i think he doesn’t care about winning and he’s just going for another scoring title.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Let’s keep repeating this until the Kobe lovers get it:  the guy shoots WAY too much, especially given the doubles the bigs command.  Almost no team can effectively cover both without doubling.  With Jackson coaching the triangle this was tolerable.  With Brown’s offense, it’s eggregious.

[goneParticipant]

 Lakers suck on the road 

[mookieParticipant]

 Mike Brown never was an offensive genious.  His offense, both in LA and Cle, seems to be, give the ball to your best player and let him do whatever he wants.  Plus the Lakers have NOOOO bench whatsoever.  No point guard.  I think Kobe is the best in the NBA, but he should definitely get Bynum and Pau more touches.  Its wierd…this year, Kobe should be like lebron and be a facilitator and Lebron should be like Kobe…the dominator.  I think we’d see a MIA-LAL finals then

[bobbybParticipant]

BENCH BENCH BENCH, Lakers need to sign someone like Arenas to come off the bench. If you put a player like that off the bench, the bench players will be more open and they will play better. Mcroberts is athletic, if you put someone to set him up he can finish at the rim like when he started in the begining of the year. Kapono is still a good shoot, but needs someone to draw attention so he can get open.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

"That’s their advantage, gimme a team that can match up with Bynum and Gasol on either offense or defense."

Camby – Aldridge – Pryzbilla

Haywood – Nowitzki – Odom – Mahinmi

M. Gasol – Speights – Randolph (When he comes back)

Duncan – Splitter – Blair

Jordan – Griffin – Martin

As I’ve said before, the Lakers’ size isn’t intimidating anybody anymore as it did 2-3 years ago.  As the seasons go by, other teams have gotten bigger to match-up with the Lakers while the Lakers, it seems, get less skilled as the seasons go by.

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

What good is size if your PG and SF are almost non-existent most nights..?

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Tongue out – Randolph, Dirk, Blake, and, this kills me Duncan can’t keep up with the Laker bigs defensively. On offense?  Sure.

[inukawaii8Participant]

im a huge lakers fan here, and this is not the best defensive lakers team here. people look too much into PPG and point against. lakers have such a low point against and PPG, it is because the slow pace they are playing. they are right now the number 22 team in pace. 

http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/

previous years with phil jackson, lakers would be in the top 10 in pace. their offensive rating would be >103 putting them in the top 10, and defensive rating around the same number putting them around number 10. 

The team is by no mean better defensively but they seem to be more physical than previous years. 

The team’s offensive is a drop off from previous year but not that much as one would only look at PPG. 

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