Anticipated Lakers’ demise, simple case of ‘wishful thinking’
Those expecting the Lakers to take a precipitous tumble in the Western Conference standings this season … in the aftermath of “whiffing” on a trade for Chris Paul [PG] and then sending Lamar Odom [SF/PF] to Dallas … do not have an accurate understanding of just how good Devin Ebanks [SF, 2nd-yr] is most likely going to be for their team this year.
| Ebanks, D | Min | FG | % | 3Pt | % | FT | % | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | BS | PF | Pts |
| 2010-2011 | 118:00 | 21-51 | 41.2 | 2-5 | 40.0 | 18-23 | 78.2 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 62 |
| 2011-2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Pre-season/1 | 12:30 | 3-3 | 100.0 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 0-0 | 00.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Pre-season/2 | 12:33 | 4-6 | 66.7 | 0-0 | 00.0 | 0-0 | 00.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
Once Andrew Bynum’s suspension finishes and Kobe’s wrist injury fully heals, the following line-up for the Lakers:
STARTERS
Derek Fisher + Kobe Bryant + Devin Ebanks + Pau Gasol + Andrew Bynum
KEY SUBS
Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Metta World Peace, Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy
RESERVES
Jason Kapono and Luke Walton
EXTRAS
Darius Morris, Andrew Goudelock and Derrick Caracter [inj.]
is still going to be formidable … as the bolded players above are actually much better than many so-called [but really illegitimate] NBA observers realize.
After the Lakers eventually use their large Traded Player Exception – obtained in exchange for Mr. Odom – it should come as no surprise at all to see this team finish with the best W-L record in the Pacific Division, once again.
Mitch Kupchak [GM] has already proven that he knows how to construct a top flight NBA team … as long as Jim Buss is able to stay out of the way.
Update:
For the benefit of those who might need some further clarification, here’s the follow-up comment which yours truly left a few minutes ago, in a related thread at PBT …
Devin Ebanks [i.e. think of a better, more physical, version of Trevor Ariza] and Darius Morris [i.e. think of a young, poor man's version of Tony Parker] are both very solid young players with the ability to make positive contributions to this year’s Lakers team which desperately needed an infusion of youth on the heels of last season’s disappointing end. Josh McRoberts is the type of banger who Mike Brown has made very effective use of in the past [i.e. think of a more athletic version of Anderson Varejao]. Troy Murphy [PF] playing beside either Andrew Bynum or Gasol is going to be a very potent player [i.e. think of the double-double machine who was a former starter for the Pacers]. Once the Lakers decide to use their TPE … and it doesn’t need to be in regards to acquiring a stud like Dwight Howard [C] … their roster is still going to be formidable for the Western Conference Playoffs, as long as they are healthy. Although they won’t play the type of artistically pleasing basketball they did under the direction of Dr. Phil, they will still be a highly effective team, under the capable direction of a defensive-minded head coach like Mike Brown. Those expecting a rapid Lakers’ demise this season will most likely be quite disappointed by season’s end.
Tags: Andrew Bynum, Andrew Goudelock, Chris Paul, Darius Morris, Derek Fisher, Derrick Caracter, Devin Ebanks, Jason Kapono, Jim Buss, Josh McRoberts, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Matt Barnes, Metta World Peace, Mitch Kupchak, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake, Troy Murphy
January 5th, 2012 at 10:43 am
What do you make of the fact that Ebanks seems to have fallen out of favor in LA, and Barnes is getting his minutes? Personally, I’ve disliked Barnes as a player for a long time, but perhaps there is something to say about the fact that he brings some toughness that their bigs might otherwise lack? Ebanks is clearly the more talented prospect for the long term, and I think this will likely change over the course of the year, but this recent development surprised me.
January 6th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Scott G,
IMO, it’s not so much that Ebanks has fallen out of favour with the Lakers as it is that LA has a much deeper talent base on its roster than many others realize, e.g. I had someone on a different site try to tell me that Josh McRoberts isn’t really much of a “top flight NBA-level athlete” … which is quite far from being accurate, if someone truly knows what they talking about concerning the players across the Association.
I saw much of the 2nd half of last night’s Lakers/Blazers game and when the proper match-up called for it, Mike Brown did not hesitate to use Ebanks, even though he is now coming off the bench, since the Lakers have plenty of effective size in their front-court positions now that Bynum has returned from injury.
e.g. IMO, Brown used Ebanks as a starter to give them more size in their 1st unit while Bynum was out, and to give their 2nd unit some additional punch with the likes of both Matt Barnes and Meta World Peace.
Like you, I don’t like Barnes at all … but, I was not surprised to see Brown make this adjustment, once Bynum had returned from his suspension.
I fully expect the Lakers to win the pacific Division again this season, as long as Kobe and Gasol and Bynum can stay in their line-up and they don’t make any ridiculous trades.
re: Ebanks as a long term prospect
He is still a solid prospect, although somewhat “stiff” in his physical movements, and nowhere near as agile and athletic as someone like Trevor Ariza [who I originally compared him to, in terms on-court production]. After watching him play a little bit more this season, his strengths appear to be rebounding, spot-up 3PT-shooting, and Big3/small4 versatility, ala Robert Horry. It will be interesting to see if he develops in a similar way, and if he is able to eventually carve out a career for himself over the next few seasons.