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!

Preseason starts tomorrow...

This week the Lakers will play their first game of team ball. Tomorrow night marks the first of two preseason games, both against the LA Clippers. The Lakers will have a real test for their hold overs from last year and for their newly signed players when they play newly traded Chris Paul and the Clippers. 

The Clippers are now being regarded as the team to beat in LA since they landed Chris Paul in the only blockbuster trade of this year's quick off season. They have also brought in another top point guard in Chauncey Billups, who they claimed off the waiver wire. Reports on ESPN said Billups will move to the two guard position, which may make things difficult for two point guards that are very similar to play together on the court at the same time. They might work things out, but it may take a season to work the kinks out. Or Billups might move on after this season, to another contender for a title, something he said he wanted to go to before being claimed. The Clippers also added Caron Butler, one of the most sought after free agents this year, who before his surgery last season was an excellent scorer and has career averages of 16.6 points a game and 31% at the three-point line. Adding those three top level players with the likes of Blake Griffin, who is a dunking machine, will make the Clippers the more exciting team in LA, with all of the alley-oops and power dunks, but the experience and championship rings point to the older, veteran club in the Lakers. Plus with the Lakers also have the best player in the league, with Kobe Bryant, a player who is just as hungry as he was when he one his first title. Also, after last year's sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, he is ready to prove he is not over the hill and that they deserve another ring.

The Lakers have lost two key pieces from their two championship teams from a couple years ago with Shannon Brown signing with the Phoenix Suns and more importantly Lamar Odom, who was traded to the defending Dallas Mavericks after requesting a trade because the Lakers tried trading him to the Hornets. Both when were the Lakers bench last season, adding that spark to the offense when it was lacking. Odom was an everything man who will not and can not be replaced by any of the players that the Lakers signed this season. He could play every position, shoot, rebound, run the offense, and had the skill set of a point guard, but was a 6'10" forward. Both of those players will help their new teams out more than those teams will realize until the season gets into full swing. The players the Lakers signed will have a tough time replacing Brown and Odom, but in Mike Brown's new offsense, players may be able step up in different ways.

The newly signed Lakers that look to have a solid role on this year's team are Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts, draft pick Darius Morris and possibly recently signed Troy Murphy.

Jason Kapono photo
courtesy of AOLnews

Jason Kapono was the first "big" sign for the Lakers. They added the three point specialist who holds a career  average of 43% at the three point line. He was lost in the shuffle last season when he played for the Sixers, playing in 24 games total and only going one for eight at the three point line. As a two time Three Point Champion at the All-Star weekend, Kapono brings his sweet three ball to a team that lacked three pointers last season. The Lakers will probably have Kapono play the back up two guard position, but will also work him into the line-up with Kobe, Bynum and Gasol. Brown has stated in interviews that his plan is to make teams double team his three superstars, that it will leave guys like Kapono open on the three point line to knock down the open shots. If he can play a solid 20 minutes, adding three pointers and helping bring the team ball effort forth on the second unit, he will be well worth the one year, $1.2 million dollar contract. If he doesn't, he could be good trade bait as an expiring contract.

Josh McRoberts. Photo courtesy of mcroberts blog.

The second signing of significance for the Lakers could also be a source of criticism for them. They brought in former Indiana Pacer Josh McRoberts to play the back-up big man role that was formally Odom's. Both players are 6'10" but "McBob" can not be compared to Odom, no one can be. No on can replace Odom. But "McBob" brings in size and the ability to bang around the big guys of the west. Last season was a break out season for the fifth year veteran, where he averaged 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds. He can also space the floor, as last season he had an average of 38% at the three-point line. He won't be depended on his three point shot, but if he is open to take them, he should. He will start the first five games for the Lakers, since Bynum will be serving his suspension, so he will be able to gain momentum and confidence in this new offense and new surroundings. Also after the first five games, he will have established himself to his teammates that they will be able to trust him as a player. He did take all of the Lakers "mini mid-level exception" for two years and about $6 million dollars. This signing should work for the Lakers because it helps solidify their bench and fill the void left by Odom. But, and this is a big but, "McBob" can not compete with what Odom left for a legacy, it just won't work, he is his own player.

Darius Morris. Photo from ESPN

Draft pick Darius Morris, the 41st selection out of Michigan, has a chance to be the second string point guard for this Lakers team. He is a 6'4" guard, who is known for his passing ability and defense, something Coach Brown is preaching on. During the 2010-2011 season at Michigan, Morris averaged 15 points and 6.7 assists, along with a steal a game. With a mentor like Derek Fisher and playing with the greatest player in the league, Kobe Bryant, he couldn't be worse off. He will have to earn his minutes, but he could compete with Steve Blake for minutes and if he keeps growing and becoming an NBA point guard, it would make Blake expendable. The two preseason games against the Clippers will be a good test for him, to see where he is at and where he will stand in the point guard rotation. Even if Morris doesn't break into the full rotation this year, he can gain experience and he comes cheap, where next year he will be more valuable to the team. Even when he was drafted, GM Mitch Kupchak said Morris was a steal at the 41st pick and that they were excited to draft him. For a GM to say that about a player in the second round, it means they are willing to see how this player will grow and hopefully become a full time NBA point guard and a fixture with the Lakers.

Troy Murphy. Photo from nj.com

The latest player signed by the Lakers was a former double-double machine in Troy Murphy. Last season he was not himself. He was hit by injuries during the preseason and he wasn't able to get back into shape. He said on Lakers.com that he is back to 100% and ready to help out the Lakers. If he is back to the game shape that he was when he played for the Pacers, he will be able to help the Lakers second unit. He can hit the three point shot, take it inside and rebound extremely well. The Lakers didn't bring him in to the the second option, he will be behind Bynum, Gasol, "McBob," and Caracter, when he returns from surgery. Murphy will probably be playing for the Lakers come opening night, because of Bynum's suspension, but after those five games, it will determine the amount of time will be used on Murphy. If he can rebound and hit the open shot, along with spread out the floor, he should be able to earn a good 15 to 20 minutes of playing time. The Lakers didn't use too much money on him, as they only signed him for one year and around one million dollars. If it doesn't work, the Lakers didn't waste that much money, but still have a big body to give the starters a rest. If he is back to his old game form, or close to it, then they struck gold. He will be a major step up from the likes of Theo Ratliff, who played one season too long and Joe Smith, who was in the same boat as Ratliff.

With the new additions to the Lakers, it solidifies their "mob" bench, as they were nicknamed during their title run a couple years ago. Metta World Peace will be the anchor on the bench, as Brown said he was going to start Matt Barnes or Devin Ebanks and move World Peace to the bench to run the offense and defense through him. With a bench that if filled with the likes of Morris, Kapono, World Peace, Ebanks (if Barnes starts), McBob and Murphy, they have a solid bench they could help rest the starters and even provide a nice spark that they lack. Will these players replace Odom, no but it is a step in the right direction and their are enough of them to even bring more collectively to the team than just Odom and Brown.

Only time will tell and tomorrow the Lakers will find out in the preseason against the Clippers.