It's SHOWTIME, PART II ... so let's get started.
THE FRONT OFFICE
Obviously Magic and Rob won the summer with the signing of LeBron James, so despite some of the head scratching moves like Lance, Beaz, Rondo, McGee and letting Randle go and not re-signing Brook Lopez, the question is how did they do over the first third of the season, at least from our vantage point. This requires a very simple answer: Tyson Chandler. Since his arrival, the Lakers are 13-4 and it does not seem to be coincidental whatsoever. There were other back up centers out there, like Joakim Noah, or they could have done nothing, but after the infamous meeting with Luke Walton after we got out of the gates 2-5, this is who they got and it turned out to be nothing short of genius! Also, kudos for remaining patient with Luke and everything else that goes with waiting for a new team to gel. And with respect to the summer moves, it appears that their vision is coming into focus. The chemistry on defense is coming together both on the perimeter and at the rim, the up tempo offense is clicking, threes are starting to drop and the youngsters are starting to mesh well with LeBron and even Svi is starting to come around. Those damn free throws though. Oh well, you can’t have everything.
Grade: A
LUKE AND THE COACHING STAFF
True to form, Laker Nation was all over Luke Walton after the slow start. EVERYONE knew that Luke had a very difficult job figuring out the rotations with the mish mosh of free agents who were signed and also letting Randle and Brook Lopez go. This was no easy task. Regardless, Lakers’ fans were going berserk after the 2-5 start, the team looked like a lottery team again, and Magic called a meeting with Luke that leaked to the press that made it sound like Luke was on double secret probation. What also leaked was that Luke demanded a back up center during that meeting. Since then, the Lakers are 15-5 and Luke seems to have already found the right combinations to make for more improved chemistry. There have been some things about the rotations that I don’t understand, which includes the starting lineup of Javale-Kuz-LeBron-BI-Lonzo. I think that when BI returns, he should be our 6th man to create a more balanced second unit, even if we acquire Trevor Ariza in a KCP deal. Regardless, this team has truly started to glue together over the past couple of weeks and all the credit in the world must be given to Luke and his staff.
Grade: B+
THE TRAINING STAFF
People who can seriously form opinions about MARCO NUNEZ and his training staff obviously pull those opinions right out of their collective asses.
LEBRON JAMES
There’s nothing to be said here. Who cares if he misses free throws. It’s not like we didn’t know that about him anyway. He’s having another MVP season. He’s clearly having a ton of fun, too! I truly believe that he is happier playing with unselfish kids who don’t need to be fed and who he can help develop at this point in his career and these kids are sponges who want to give right back to LeBron. Yes, if we’re going to compete for an NBA championship, he will need another superstar to climb that mountain, but damn is he great. Not only that, I’m bonding with him!
Grade: A+
THE CENTERS
How can you separate them? JAVALE MCGEE is easily the most pleasant surprise of the free agent signings and TYSON CHANDLER glued this whole damn team together like immediately upon his arrival! Talk about the perfect two headed monster!!! It makes me forgive Magic for not re-signing Randle and Lopez.
Grade: A
THE OTHER MEME TEAMERS
LANCE STEPHENSON has always made me cringe and he still makes me cringe. For a guy who is considered to be a playmaker, he sure likes making plays for himself! He seems to be a popular locker room guy and he serves a purpose when we get injuries, but that’s about it. He is only averaging 14.4 mpg and I think his value will surface at playoff time. Let’s face it, you never know what you are going to get from him from game to game. I’ll be generous here though, because I expected even less out of him.
Grade: C+
MICHAEL BEASLEY didn’t crack the rotation until recently and, other than one good game, has been a bust. He’s been away from the team because a family member is apparently very ill, but we haven’t missed him when he’s gone. He's useless.
Grade: D-
RAJON RONDO was a guy who I had high expectations for given his championship mettle and his through the roof basketball IQ. In my opinion, he hasn’t disappointed, but on the flip side we are doing just fine without him. Come playoff time, he will be the second most important player on the team. I love what he brings and look forward to his return.
Grade: B+
THE WEIRD MISFIT
Much like Kuz, KENTAVIUS CALDWELL-POPE has taken time to adjust to the new LeBrons, but has played inspired basketball lately despite his reduced minutes and relegation to the bench. I don’t think there’s any question that he will be traded, if not now for Ariza, then at some point before the trade deadline. It’s too bad because I’m a KCP fan. He plays solid perimeter defense and is starting to hit his threes at a higher percentage. However, he sucked so bad until recently that his overall grade has to suffer. He's just a weird misfit. Hell, he even hits his free throws.
Grade: C
THE YOUNG CORE
BRANDON INGRAM earned himself a stupid 4 game suspension early in the season and now has gone down with an injury. Of all the young players, he has had the most difficult time blending with LeBron, mainly because he needs the ball in his hands to truly be effective. This is why I think he should come off the bench and Josh Hart should start. Hart doesn’t need the ball in his hands and spaces the floor better that Ingram. Having a clear pecking order of LeBron, Kuz, Hart, JaVale, Lonzo for scoring purposes simply makes more sense and while BI causes all kinds of havoc for shooting guards on defense, Hart is solid enough. I’m disappointed in BI this season; he misses too many gimmes, doesn’t take enough threes and misses free throws. With his stroke, he should be shooting 85% from the line. He’s frustrating, but still loaded with potential, so he should be our Ginobili.
Grade: C-
JOSH HART has been solid. Yes, he probably should have sat out a few games when he sprained his ankle, but who doesn’t love a Mamba mentality? I think Luke asks a bit much of him defensively because he literally guards all 5 positions. Frankly, he’s more effective against bigs than wings. No wonder his teammates call him “Barkley.” Also, I think his three point shooting and scoring in general could have been better, but I do think he meshes well with LeBron.
Grade: B-
KYLE KUZMA has been a tale of two tapes, but like a fine wine keeps improving with each passing game. He is having every bit as good a season as Jayson Tatum and is clearly LeBron’s Robin at this point. Every aspect of his game is solid, including his ever improving defense. Because of his relatively slow start, I can’t give him the overall grade that he deserves recently, but still I am tickled with joy about him.
Grade: A-
LONZO BALL represents the Good, Bad and the Ugly. The Good is GREAT, but the Bad is really UGLY. Those who Like him (like me) LOVE him, and those who don't like him (like Rev) tend to focus on all the UGLINESS of his game (but profess patience at the same time). No, fuck that. The pro-Zos view him as indispensable because of the way he affects both ends of the floor and the anti-Zos want him traded for a point guard who can shoot the lights out. One thing is certain; he learned how to play with LeBron James quicker than anyone else. I'm still being strict with his grade because he can be and will be so much better.
Grade: C+
IVICA ZUBAC is stuck in Never-Never Land and pretty soon he may never play another NBA game because he is useless.
Grade: F
THE ROOKIES
SVI MYKHAILIUK is finally looking more comfortable but is still a huge work in progress, but at the #47 pick why wouldn’t he be? Because he was anointed “the steal of the draft” before playing one NBA game? I still don’t know if he is an NBA rotation player or the next Anthony Brown. He has played enough to warrant a grade though.
Grade: C-
MORITZ WAGNER hasn’t played enough to warrant a grade.
Grade: Incomplete
ISAAC BONGA is getting rave reviews with his progress on the South Bay Lakers, but hasn’t played enough on the varsity team to earn a grade.
Grade: Incomplete
TWO (WAY) AND A HALF MEN
JOHNATHAN WILLIAMS served a purpose for a few games until we acquired Tyson Chandler. For an undrafted rookie, he’s not a bad little role player.
Grade: B-
As for ALEX CARUSO, I think he was up on the varsity and played like shit for a few minutes in a game or two, right? I do know that he’s been shitty on the G League team this season. He’ll be gone soon.
Grade: Incomplete
OVERALL TEAM GRADE
I love the progress and can see a ton of room for growth. The team aggravated the living shit out of me until about 7 games ago, but now that the body of work and progress (process?) is coming into focus, I'm thrilled! Who knows how these guys will respond in the playoffs, but I’m excited as hell and happy with the 17-10 record, even though it supposedly isn't the record, but how we play that's important. We might wind up winning between 50 – 57 games!
Grade: B