Are the Lakers As Good As Their Numbers?

The Best winning percentage in the NBA, 47-10. The best road win percentage, 21-6. They have won 16 of their last 18 games and are a perfect 5-0 since the All-Star break.

But are the Lakers really as good as those numbers would indicate?

While they did beat Atlanta handily 96-83, the Lakers subs were outscored 23-11 in the final quarter. Golden State was actually ahead 94-92 going into the fourth quarter before losing a game that was much closer than the 129-121 final score jacked up by game-closing foul shots.

The Lakers needed a last second three-point shot by Derek Fisher to send their game with the Hornets into overtime. The Lakers eventually won 115-111 after Chris Paul fouled out. Actually, it was Kobe Bryant who shoved Paul to the floor, causing their legs to get tangled. The referee didn’t see the shove and called Paul for tripping.

Then the Lakers went to Minnesota to play a team that they should have beaten handily. Instead they barely escaped with a 111-108 win in a last minute battle of three-point shots.

Last night in Oklahoma City, it was more of the same. The Lakers stormed out to an 18-point lead only to allow the Thunder to come roaring back. The Thunder cut the Lakers lead to one point, 81-80, at the 9-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Kobe Bryant re-entered the game at that point and put up 16 of his second-half 26 points to rally the Lakers to a 107-93 victory.

Since Andrew Bynum went down with a torn MCL, it has been a continual story of giving up wide open three-point shots, uncontested lay ups, getting trapped on pick and rolls and failing to defend against screens. In a word, the Lakers defense has been PATHETIC.

Despite the recent stellar play of Lamar Odom, the Lakers defense sorely misses Andrew Bynum’s presence in the paint.

Lamar Odom has racked up double-doubles in nearly every game since replacing Bynum in the starting lineup and actually has better numbers overall than Bynum. But even with his versatile skills, Odom can’t give the Lakers what Bynum had given them.

Bynum takes up so much space that he allows perimeter defenders to play further out and challenge the three-point shot since they don’t have to collapse. His dominant frame makes it so much more difficult for opponents to drive the lane or pass off underneath.

Odom is long, moves well, and can hit the three-point shot, which has given the Lakers an additional offensive punch. But until proven otherwise, it is still defense that wins championships.

Right now, the Boston Celtics have the best 3-point defense (.335) in the NBA and either lead or are close to the lead in just about every other major defensive category.

And their closest rival, the Cleveland Cavaliers are right there with them. In fact, Cleveland has allowed opponents the fewest points per game, 90.8 and are right behind the Celtics in 3-point defense (.338) and rebounds allowed 38.6 to the Celtics 37.

The Lakers on the other hand have allowed opponents over 100 points per game, 41 total rebounds and a 3-point percentage of .354.

By contrast, in their last five games, the Cavaliers have crushed Phoenix 109-92, Toronto 93-76, Milwaukee, 111-103, Detroit 99-78, and Memphis 94-79. Once they get a lead, the Cavaliers add to it rather than let it slip away.

There can be no question that the Cavaliers are getting stronger defense while the Lakers keep letting leads slip away and have to depend on last minute spurts and ‘Hail Mary’ three-pointers to secure wins.

The Celtics with the addition of Stafon Marbury as a backup point-guard and seven-footer Mikki Moore in the post now await the return of Kevin Garnett to make their run at the Cavaliers for the best record in the East and home court advantage in the playoffs.

At the moment, the Lakers title hopes all hinge on Andrew Bynum returning. The defense, as it is now, has so many holes that a team like the Spurs or the Hornets, if they get hot, could beat out the Lakers in the West.

If Bynum does not return or is unable to get back into his previous form, the Lakers can expect much the same treatment as they received in last year’s finals from either the Celtics or the Cavaliers. That is, if they make it to the finals.

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