TwIsTeD Reflections

Jesus Christ! My oh my how the lakers have grown. I expected them to be good... but to be this good? it is downright surreal, almost unfair.

Almost.

This lakers squad is a many-headed hydra, with as many weapons as America has nuclear warheads. You cut away one head, 2 more grow in its place. Whats more, the biggest, most horrifying head that would turn greek heroes into stone instantaneously has been developed: defense. What defense!

Sorry, im nt used to swooning, bt it was not long ago the lakers was just a mere struggling team in the middle of the league, with some predicting not to mak the playoffs last year.

And they did mak the playoffs. And the finals. Without their starting center. Without their key defensive small forward.

And this year, they are back... with a full roster.

1st game: Against an up-and-coming team of the portland trailblazers. They are trying to integrate a budding, talented center in Greg Oden. Nonetheless, the team of Brendon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and co. put up quite a fight last season, winning 2 games in their home court and losing to games to the lakers at the Staples Center, the lakers home court.

Finals score: Trailblazers-76, Lakers-96

Analysis: DEFENCE!!! Shit, when was the last time the lakers held a team below 80? Millennia ago. With trademark balanced scoring (almost every lakers scored) and some help frm kobe(23 points, 10 boards, 5 assists), the lakers were dominant from start to finish. Definitely worth skipping International Relations for this.

Highlights



2nd Game: Another team many claimed will be the dark horse this year (I dont buy it). They lost Elton Brand, there all-star forward, but got Baron Davis, an all-star calibre point guard. They lost Corey Maggette, their leading scorer last season, but got bac Marcus Camby, once named Defensive Player of the Year. This team is, to me, a total enigma. And while they would be decent, they have not played enough together to reach .500, much less mak the plaoffs in the west.

Final Score: Clippers-79, Lakers-117

Analysis: Shit, i thought they were going to be bad... but not this bad! This was a 38 point thrashing, the most in any lakers-clippers confrontations. And another game holding the opponent under 80. If this defense continues, the league might feel a purple-and-gold chill up their spine very soon. The Clippers, to be fair, did hold on for the first quarter, losing by onli 3 points, and even took the league early in the second. Bt then the Bench mob from the lakers came in and 'Boom' the game is gone.

Highlights



From what Ive seen... the lakers have a really deep team. How deep? They have a second unit that would be the starting 5 for many teams in the league. Lets take a look position by position.

Point Guard: 3-4 players--Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom(point forward), Sun Yue.

Shooting Guard: 3 players--Kobe Bryant, Sasha Vujacic, Sun Yue

Small Forward: 4-5 players--Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Vladimir Radmonovic, Luke Walton, Kobe Bryant

Power Forward: 3 players--Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Josh Powell

Center: 4 Players--Pau Gasol, Chris Mihm, Andrew Bynum, DJ Mbenga

If you noticed, some names are repeated, showing the versatility of the players to play multiple positions(Just look at Lamar Odom). So each position is covered at least 3 times by COMPETENT players, much more than any team, including defending champions Boston Celtics) can boast.

Yea. I know it is onli 2 games in with 80 more games to go. But which hot-blooded lakers fan cn stay calm now? Of course, i will reserve my judgements till we thrash the damn Celtics empty.

Oops.