Turiaf Gives Lakers Fans One More Reason to Cheer
You may remember Ronny Turiaf from his playing days at Gonzaga; the man with the big smile and the bigger hair. Turiaf’s exuberance and passion made him a favorite among Zags’ fans, the same qualities that will surely make him popular among Lakers ticket holders.
Following his senior season at Gonzaga, Turiaf was diagnosed with a heart ailment that required open-heart surgery. The dream of a career in the NBA was quickly flashing before his eyes as he received the diagnosis that he may never play basketball again.
After the surgery and a battery of tests, Turiaf was cleared to resume playing basketball again. Full of resolve and determination, Turiaf started his comeback with the CBA’s Yakima Sun Kings, where he played his way back into basketball shape. After his relatively brief stint with the Sun Kings, Turiaf was called-up by the Lakers during the past season.
Playing in 23 games this past season, Turiaf’s number were modest (2.0 ppg. and 1.6 rpg), but his game continues to evolve. While he scored the basketball in college he does not feature a polished offensive repertoire. Right now he’s an energy guy; someone Phil Jackson can rely on to come off the bench and provide quality minutes without taking a step-back. He’s a nice complement to Chris Mihm and Brian Cook, both of whom prefer to face the basket while Turiaf is more of a banger.
It’s truly a miracle that Turiaf is playing basketball again, much less playing for the Lakers. You’ll love his energy and how hard he plays every night. If you needed another reason to watch the Lakers this year, now you have one. Need Los Angeles Lakers tickets? StubHub has got you covered.
Staying Healthy Is the Ticket to Lakers’ Season
After four long, grueling weeks of preseason camp, there’s only one candidate for Lakers MVP and that’s Gary Vitti. The long-time trainer has been a fixture with the organization for more than two decades and this may be his toughest assignment yet; getting key players, such as Kobe Bryant (knee) and Chris Mihm (ankle) healthy for the start of the regular season.
The Lakers were banged-up throughout the preseason and their record is indicative of the rash of injuries. Veteran, Aaron McKie spent much of the month of October battling back spasms, while forward Brian Cook, who the Lakers will rely on to provide depth in the frontcourt, suffered a sprained ankle that limited his playing time during the preseason. Not to mention, Phil Jackson is still recuperating from hip surgery.
The Lakers are one team in the Western Conference that can ill afford to lose key players. Depth is a concern for Coach Phil Jackson at just about every position. The Lakers are optimistic that Kobe Bryant’s surgically-repaired knee is fully healed and will not hamper him during the year. There are a lot of question marks with the Lakers right now. If they can get healthy and manage to limit injuries that would deplete their roster, they should be competitive in a Pacific Division full of parity.
Thankfully for the Lakers, they have a head trainer that’s been around the block and worked with some of the best players in NBA history. If Gary Vitti is able to craft his magic and nurture the Lakers walking wounded back to health, the Staples Center crowd should shower him with chants of M-V-P…M-V-P. The preseason is over and it’s time to start playing ball that actually counts. Visit StubHub for a Los Angeles Lakers tickets buying experience that is (James) worthy of an all-star vote.
Looking at the Lakers’ Roster
With the start of the NBA season just three weeks away, it’s time to take a closer look at the Lakers roster and dissect the squad by position.
Guards
When you think of the Lakers the first name you have to mention is Kobe Bryant. Kobe is the reigning NBA scoring champ and commands serious attention from every defense the Lakers face. Kobe is good for 30, 6, and 5 every night. However, the key to the Lakers backcourt is fourth-year player, Smush Parker, who averaged 11.5 ppg., but only 3.7 apg, too low for a primary ball handler. If Parker emerges as a legitimate scoring threat he can alleviate some of the defensive pressure off Kobe.
Forward
Arguably the Lakers deepest position. They feature one of the league’s most versatile players in Lamar Odem, who has the capability to play point forward or settle on the block and work-out down low. The Lakers also added swingman Vladimir Radmanovic to the roster via free agency with the expectation he will give them a consistent outside scoring threat. Off the bench the Lakers will bring Luke Walton and Brian Cook to the rotation; two players that understand the game and can score, rebound, and pass.
Center
This position is the biggest question mark for the Lakers. They will rely on Kwame Brown to give them a reliable contribution for 82 games. With Bryant and Odem carrying much of the scoring burden, Brown will not be asked to score big for the Lakers; rather Phil Jackson will expect Brown to become a functional offensive threat while focusing on owning the boards and defending.
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Farmar Nice Fit for Lakers
Following a two-year career at UCLA, rookie Jordan Farmar figures to spend most of his first year in the league on the Lakers bench, learning from the Zen Master and taking his lumps in practice. Farmar was a much ballyhooed recruit out of Taft High School in Los Angeles. From the time he stepped on the Westwood campus, Farmar was hailed as the next great point guard at UCLA. Farmar’s two year at UCLA were impressive, earning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, but his early departure from campus prevented him from realizing his potential.
Two years removed from high school graduation, Farmar was selected by the Lakers in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. During his sophomore year Farmar was on the fence on whether he would enter the draft, but a stellar NCAA Tournament and a terrific Final Four convinced him he was ready for the next level. The jury is out on Farmar, who is a shoot first point guard. At 6’2” he is undersized by NBA standards, and lacks the athleticism of a Smush Parker. His jump shot is improving, yet spotty, and his defense is sure to make Phil Jackson cringe.
The good news for Farmar and the Lakers is that he is not expected to come in and run the program, at least not immediately. Farmar will back-up Smush Parker and Sasha Vujacic and can be paired in the backcourt with Kobe. There’s no doubt Farmar has the goods to play in the NBA, but he’ll need to improve his defense and decision-making before he becomes a key component to Phil Jackson’s rotation.
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Can Kwame Brown Avoid the Bust Label?
This is a big year for Kwame Brown to demonstrate that he’s a consistent and reliable contributor on both ends of the floor. The former number one draft pick of the Wizards is now entering his sixth year in the league in what can only be described as a disappointing career, to date. That can all change, however, if Brown can build on the mild success he enjoyed last season. Brown has received his fair share of criticism in both Washington and LA for his lack of toughness and commitment to improving his game. He doesn’t appear to possess the competitive edge that he’ll need to develop to avoid being labeled a bust.
Personality traits aside, Brown possesses uncommon physical attributes for a player his size. He’s developed a functional repertoire of post moves, although he doesn’t appear confident in his moves and is yet to develop a go-to move. He’s made strides since coming over to the Lakers and if there’s one coach in the league that can maximize a player’s physical ability while overcoming any mental hurdles, it’s Phil Jackson. Brown has been called too nice; which in this day and age is refreshing. He’s historically lacked confidence and wilted under the heavy expectations heaped upon him in Washington.
It’s been five years since Brown entered the league as a project, but with promise and the potential to become a perennial all-star. If Brown’s mental approach and ball skills improve, combined with his physical gifts, the Lakers will be the beneficiary of an imposing big man that can alter the complexion of any game. If Brown fails to deliver on his potential the Lakers will surely suffer and you can finish stitching the letter B on the front of Brown’s sweater. Jack Nicholson, Justin Timberlake, Denzel Washington. How do you think they got their Los Angeles Lakers tickets? Visit StubHub to find out.
Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
Word out of LA this week that Lakers mentor, Phil Jackson, will have hip surgery should not come as a surprise to those that have followed the Zen Master’s career. The wear-and-tear of a lifetime playing and coaching in the NBA has taken its toll on Jackson’s body and forced him to take time off to focus on getting healthy. Jackson is tentatively scheduled to return to the Lakers bench in time for the opener against the Suns on October 31.
The Lakers shouldn’t miss a beat during Jackson’s absence; the Lakers boast a veteran coaching staff and Kobe Bryant’s leadership should keep the team humming while their head coach recovers from surgery.
What’s more concerning for Laker devotees is the long-term health of Phil Jackson. At the ripe age of 61 and having already walked away from coaching on two separate occasions, Jackson’s tenure as Lakers coach may not extend beyond the current season if his health doesn’t improve. . Much of the Lakers identity is associated with the Zen Master’s presence on the sideline. Jackson has demonstrated an ability to channel Kobe’s intensity and drive to win, which can look an awful lot like selfishness, into what he is trying to accomplish with his team.
Losing Phil Jackson to retirement would be a major blow for an organization that prides itself on its star power. If Jackson’s recovery drags on throughout the season and the Lakers struggle to compete in the Western Conference, this may be Phil’s last dance.
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Mitch Kupchak on the Hot Seat in LA
Despite engineering two NBA championships and spending nearly a quarter-century with the organization, Los Angeles Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak, is on the hot-seat in La-La Land.
Kupchak must hope for a harmonious locker room, 50 regular season wins, and a return trip to the post-season. Sound realistic? Mr. Kupchak hopes so.
Make no mistake; Kupchak’s job is not an easy one. For starters, he was handed the reigns to one of professional sports’ most-admired organizations, succeeding his mentor, Jerry West. West, who established himself as arguably the greatest GM in the league’s history, was part of nine world championships with the Lakers, and is immortalized as the silhouette on the NBA’s logo. Further, Kupchak is charged with juggling the expectations of three of the NBA’s strongest personalities; Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and long-time owner, Dr. Jerry Buss. It’s debatable how much cheese Kupchak has in regard to personnel decisions, given the influence Kobe maintains with Buss. If the Shaq Trade is an indication, Kupchak’s voice is barely discernable within the organization.
Finally, last season the Lakers ranked sixth in the NBA in team salary, despite finishing seventh in the Western Conference. The Lakers have tied-up nearly 40% of its payroll in Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, leaving little opportunity to significantly improve the roster. The challenges are immense for Kupchak, who is following a legend and must manage the Kobe-Phil-Buss dynamic. If the Lakers exceed expectations, pundits will point to Kobe’s play and Phil’s ability to harness Kobe’s game within the team concept. If the Lakers fail to meet expectations, Kupchak may be on his way out and searching for a 9-5.
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Lakers Look to Return to Prominence
Coming off a 2005-2006 campaign that featured a seventh-place finish in the NBA’s Western Conference, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are looking to reestablish the organization as a perennial title contender. To do so, the Lakers will rely on the prolific play of Kobe Bryant and the genius of Phil Jackson to off-set the lack of talent on this year’s roster.
Bryant, regarded by many as the league’s top-player, led the NBA in scoring last season, thanks to his league-high 27 shots per game. While Kobe was allowed to “get his” last season, the rest of the team was reduced to standing around and watching him operate one-on-one more often than not. Kobe’s unwillingness to buy into Phil Jackson’s Triangle offense, demonstrates his lack of trust and confidence in his teammates capabilities, and his belief that he must score 35 points-a-night if the Lakers are going to be competitive.
Lamar Odom is the only other consistent offensive threat for Phil Jackson. While obviously disgruntled at times by the lack of touches he received, Odom posted impressive numbers during the 2005-2006 season, averaging 14 points, 9 boards, and 5 dimes. The Lakers did add wingman, Vladimir Radmanovic, during the off-season, but the organization’s hefty $72 million pay-roll prevented them from making a big slash in the free-agent market. Radmonovic has averaged 10 ppg. over a five-year career and finished last season in a Clippers uniform.
Despite a pedestrian roster and a shoot first – pass third superstar, the Lakers will remain competitive in the NBA’s Western Conference, where offense is emphasized and defense is a four letter word. Visit StubHub for the hottest ticket to the biggest show in Tinseltown. With StubHub, your Los Angeles Lakers tickets are only a click away.