How Can the Lakers Improve in 2008?

By Brendon Rosenau
Love of Sports Correspondent

Last summer, the Lakers offseason had more drama than an episode of The Hills (or so I’m told).

Despite all the turmoil involving their star player the Lakers went on to win the Western Conference.

This summer, the sole focus of the club should lie on what moves the team can make to get back to the NBA Finals. Yes, this is common sense, but it’s imperative the Lakes stay focused on this and not get caught up in outside distractions.

The Western Conference will be strong again next year. The Hornets, Jazz and Spurs all figure to be title contenders, with the Suns, Rockets, Mavericks and Trailblazers having a chance to make a playoff run as well.

The Lakers plan on being in that first group next year and they should be. However, they’ll need to make a few adjustments in order to do that.

First and foremost, they need to become better on defense. Their defense in the Finals was absolutely abysmal. Ignore the 131 points they gave up in Game 6. The Lakers allowed 96.4 points in the other five as well. That is simply too many points to allow. When the Lakers needed a stop they couldn’t get it. Sasha Vujacic looking like a concrete gargoyle in Game 4 is example numero uno. The entire series could’ve turned if they could’ve held a 24-point lead.

Kobe Bryant was named to the NBA All-Defensive team, which may be a stretch. Bryant is a good defender, but no one else on the team shows any effort on D. Their frontcourt defense in particular is not physical and does a poor job of staying disciplined, which leads to being outrebounded and committing silly fouls.

On a positive note, the team should expect a defensive boast from center Andrew Bynum. In his third NBA season the seven-footer was averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks before a knee injury ended things early. Bynum had arthroscopic surgery in May and should be ready for the new year.

While I was impressed with the progression the 21-year-old made in his third year, I urge Lakers fans to tread lightly. Bynum seems to have the toolbox to be an All-Star for years to come, however, it’s unfair to think he’ll be a 20-10 guy next year and is the missing piece to a title.

First, no one knows how he’ll respond to his injury which was originally diagnosed as a partially torn kneecap. It’s also unknown how he’ll hold up physically and mentally over an entire season, especially the grind that is the playoffs. In ’07, he played in all 82 games, but only averaged 21.9 minutes.

Aside from his scoring and defense, the return of Bynum influences the entire front line. Pau Gasol would move to the four spot and Lamar Odom, more on him in a bit, would be able to slide to the three position. That becomes a front line with two seven-footers and a 6-foot-10 small forward. That’s a nightmare for opposing teams.

Gasol proved he’s an All-Star on offense, but he lacks defensive intensity. Odom’s still an enigma. He posts good rebounding numbers and seems to have a skill set to die for, but seems to lack any intensity. If he played with as much fire as he did when his team was getting smoked by 40 in the final game, we might have seen a Game 7. That group, with a backcourt of Bryant and Derek Fisher, can score with anyone in the league. It also gives Phil Jackson four veterans to run his patented triangle offense.

Odom has one year left on his contract at $14.5 million. The Lakers may look to deal him someone more consistent on defense or another expiring contract. He could be attractive for a team looking to shed money heading into the loaded 2009 free agency period.

Odom can be a valuable asset to the team, but the Lakers could use a strong perimeter shooter. Fisher, Vujacic and Vladimir Radmanovic are good shooters, but they need to be open to score. The Lakers would benefit from another player who could create their own shot and hit a mid-range J.

If that doesn’t happen an intriguing possibility for the Lakers is to trade Odom to Miami in exchange for Shawn Marion. Marion has a $17 million one-year deal. The Lakers would instantly get a superior rebounder and a defender better than anyone on their roster, plus a guy who can provide a little toughness and can score.

In terms of player movement, Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf are restricted free agents. Vujacic has a $2.6 million qualifying offer from the team and will likely stay in L.A. Turiaf, Chris Mihm (player option) and Ira Newble might all be looking for new homes.

The Lakers are hopeful that Trevor Ariza will pick up his player option to stay with the club. That would leave most of the Bench Mob intact: Vujicic, Ariza, Jordan Farmar and Luke Walton. Farmar is the most intriguing of these players and could push Fisher for P.T. next year.

One interesting player on the free agent market could be James Posey, who the Lakers saw plenty of in the Finals. He’d be a lockdown defender off the bench who can hit the occasional three. He would also bring a winning presence to a team mostly young and inexperienced.

The Lakers had the third to last pick (58th) in the draft and drafted Kentucky shooting guard Joe Crawford, who may be able to provide some bench scoring.

They have the goods to repeat as Western champs. I’d like to see them get better on defense - and a little tougher. Bryant had an excellent year, but was vilified in the Finals. Basically, he’s damned if he does (score) and damned if he doesn’t.

This team is now a group with Finals experience and a quality low post scorer. It’s time for the coach and the stars to step to the next level.