So far in the Laker world...

The NBA season is well under way and it seems like it just started. Currently the Lakers are 6-4 and have worked their way into the sixth spot in the Western Conference.

Ebanks

The Lakers lost the first two games of the season to the Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings. After that, the Lakers went on a three game win streak, beating the likes of the Jazz, the Knicks and Nuggets. The Lakers are currently riding a two game win streak going into tonight's game against the Phoenix Suns. The first couple of games, Coach Mike Brown tweaked with his lines-ups, working with who would be the starters and who would play what minutes. Also the Lakers were playing with out Andrew Bynum for the first four games, so they were missing their key big man but got good production from Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts. Starting out the first four games at the small forward spot was Devin Ebanks, the 2nd year forward from West Virginia who has been compared to Trevor Ariza.Ebanks showed his potential and his skill in the first three games, then in the fourth game against the Knicks, Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes out played him to the point where he lost the starting position to Barnes. Ebanks didn't play the next three games, but then he got some playing time in the loss to the Trail Blazers, scoring five points in 17 minutes. Ebanks showed he can shoot and rebound. His defense was there, but wasn't as good as Barnes, who is almost averaging a steal a game. Barnes also has the experience and provides the veteran spark for this starting line-up. Metta World Peace hasn't played up to his contract. He is currently averaging about six points and .9% for his three point shot. He is a career three point average of 36%, which shows right now his three point shot is missing so far, but he keeps on shooting. He is suppose to be the sixth man for the Lakers, but he isn't supplying the offense like he should be. His rebounding and defense is keeping him in the line-up and probably his name, but if he keeps up with his inconsistent ways, Ebanks might be able to play his way back into the line-up through his work in practice and whatever junk minutes he gets during games.

Barnes

The starting line-up for the Lakers is the same as last year, minus World Peace who is on the bench and Barnes is in that forward spot. Since Bynum returned, he has been on a roll. He has stepped up his game to a major level. He could even be considered the 2nd best center in the league, behind Dwight Howard.He is currently averaging 18points and 15 rebounds a game. Bynum has stepped up his game so much, that he has become the second option for scoring behind Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol moving to the third option spot. Gasol is still averaging good numbers at 16 points and nine rebounds per a game, but he still seems to be a little lost. He is still playing good basketball, but there are time he is just standing there, not boxing out his man, living up to that soft nickname he has been given lately. He shows that flash of toughness and anger, but it is never around for long periods of time. That being said, he is still a great fit for this team, he, Bynum and Kobe are the Lakers big three. Pau is a skilled 7 foot scorer who has the passing skills of a point guard, with Bynum being the inside presence he was hyped to be and Kobe being Kobe.

Back when the Lakers were running at the championship, they had a bench that was nicknamed "The Bench Mob" and it looks like the Lakers have a brand new bench mob, with the only carry over from the last so called bench mob, Luke Walton. The new "Mob" includes Josh McRoberts, World Peace, Steve Blake, Troy Murphy, Walton and Jason Kapono. Murphy has been playing a lot better than last year. He showed he can still play when he got extra minutes when Bynum was out. He was brought in to rebound and spread the floor, which he has done. He hasn't taken many threes, but he has played solid minutes, something he did not get a chance to do last year with all his injuries. Blake, who played with the Lakers last year and was a total bust, has been reborn in this new offense. He didn't like the triangle offense, since it wasn't meant for big time scoring point guard, but Coach Brown's offense has the point guard running the offense and he has been hitting his open threes and has even played in the late crunch minutes over Derek Fisher, who has had some shooting struggles but has started all the games. Blake is averaging about eight points a game, which is double his average from last year. Blake still needs to learn how to improve his decision making, but he has shown improvement from last year, but it is hard for Laker fans to replace Shannon Brown with Blake.

The Bench Mob hard at work

 McRoberts, who likes to go by "Mac" not "McBob" has been a great spark at that power forward spot. Mac has shown he has ups for a big man, catching some great lobs. He has gotten himself into some great spots to get the rebound and has found a nice home on the Lakers roster and has even taken over the responsibilities that Lamar Odom has when he was with the Lakers, providing that spark and doing the dirty work. Walton hasn't played much this season, but when he gets his chance, he can pass the ball like a guard, he has great vision and he is not afraid to do the dirty work. He is very much a point foward combo, but not as skilled as the likes of Odom. Walton can still hit the outside shot and play the help defender role. There were rumors that Walton would be cut because of injuries, but he made the cut and when he gets the right amount of minutes, more than he has so far, he'll prove to the coaching staff that he deserves the time on the court and can help lead this bench squad when he is called upon. The final member of the bench mob is Kapono, who has a 36% three point shot this year while averaging four points a game. He didn't play much the beginning of the season because Brown was working out line-ups, but he was signed by the Lakers to bring the three ball shot to the team when its needed and he has done that and will do that. He is a shooter, so give him his time and he'll knock down shots, especially in a line up with Kobe, Bynum, and/or Gasol.

Goudelock

The Lakers two rookies, Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock, have been in reverse roles. Morris hasn't played a game for the Lakers yet, other than preseason. But Goudelock has played six games, showing he could be a younger, rawer version of Shannon Brown. Brown likes what he sees in this youngster, so he will continue to get playing time here and there, while Morris learns from the sidelines. Morris could get his shot when Blake and Fisher get a little tired and need a rest toward the middle/end of the season, but with the way Blake has been playing, it will be hard to bypass him to get his minutes. Goudelock is too quick for his own good, but he is learning as he goes to play the NBA game. The more action he sees, the more he will learn, especially with all the advice from the veterans on this team.

The Lakers have shown life and shown that they could be a title contenders. They are in discussions as a champion team, which with Kobe, Bynum and Gasol, why wouldn't they be. They have all the right pieces and currently, their "Bench Mob" is having great production, which makes the starters lives easier. As the season goes on, this Laker team will work out their kinks and get into a rhythm that will carry them to a championship in 2012!