Posts tagged Clippers

The Lakers are off to a fast start this season, thanks to a rejuvenated commitment at the defensive end, as well as a willingess to share the basketball.

The team has thoroughly dominated its first two opponents, a season-opening win against Portland 97-76 on Tuesday, and a demolshing of the Clippers, 117-79 on Wednesday night. The domination has also come on both ends of the floor as the Lakers have allowed just 36.4% shooting from the field, and have outrebounded both teams 100-76.

They have also shared the ball consistently, as evidenced by seven players being in double figures in points against the Clippers, and Kobe Bryant hasn’t been forced to shoulder the offensive load, averaging just 19.5 points and 32 minutes through the first two games. They also dished out 28 assists as a team in the win over the Clips.

The Lakers have one of their deepest teams in years, which should be a recipe for success if they can stay healthy. There are few teams that can go 10-12 deep in their roster and still get healthy contributions from guys at the end of the bench like the Lakers can.

Andrew Bynum in the middle will help a team that was pushed around inside by the more physical Boston Celtics in last year’s NBA Finals. The concerns about the team’s toughness up front should not be an issue this season, as long as Bynum can remain healthy. And the Lakers hope he can since they just signed him to a 4-year/$58 million extension this week.

Eighty-two games is a lot of basketball, but if the Lakers’ start to the campaign is any indication of how this season will go, Laker fans may once again get to enjoy one of those parade thingies down Figueroa in June.