Lakers bench is key to success

The Lakers have made news all offseason long from their voided trade by David Stern to get Chris Paul to trading Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks. A lot of people believe that the Lakers need a young point guard to win another championship, and somebody at the center position who isn’t injury prone like Andrew Bynum. Of all these questions the biggest question mark was going to be their bench as Ron Artest a.k.a Metta World Peace was moved to the bench, Steve Blake was coming off his worst season shooting and the Lakers lost their reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom. So far in the early season I have liked what I’ve seen from the Lakers Bench, they have produced very well and brought high energy.

Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy, Metta World Peace and Steve Blake have been big contributors so far in the season for the Lakers. McRoberts is proving to be a good free-agent signing by Mitch Kupchak, Murphy is showing the double-double Troy Murphy from his Golden State days, Metta World Peace is able to dominate opponents in the low post, and Steve Blake has found his touch from the three point range again. However, I do like the young talent from the Lakers bench in Andrew Goudelock who is proving to be a deadly shooter, Darius Morris who could be the next starting point guard for the Lakers when Derek Fisher does decide to retire and Devin Ebanks who I think will grow into a defensive specialist.

The Lakers bench has given Mike Brown options to go to on a nightly basis. This is also a good sign, because it can limit the starter’s minutes and have them be fresher in the fourth quarter. This Laker bench will be the key as to how far the Lakers will go this season. This unit does have some young talent, but it also has a good mix of veteran players that the young players can learn from when they are out there together that is why this unit can be very good is because they compliment each other very well. If the Lakers are going to win a championship this season the bench will be a big reason why.

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By: Steven Virden
Pro Basketball Fans Staff Writer

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