e_blazer1

During yesterday's Finals broadcast, Jeff Van Gundy said that when the Lakers got Bynum back next year, their front line of Bynum, Gasol, and Odom would be the best in the NBA for years to come...which of course got me thinking, better than Oden, Aldridge and either Webster or Outlaw? Trying to be objective here (and I'll admit that's hard for me), I'd say that the Laker front line has the advantage next year and maybe the year after that simply due to experience, but after that point, I think Oden and Aldridge have more upside than Bynum and Gasol, and I've never thought much of Odom. The guy goes from hero to zero in nearly every game I see him play.

Thoughts?

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NateBishop3

Depends on your definition of "best". Defensively our frontline will be amazing. Oden and LMA are both quality shot blockers and will be a terror in the paint, whereas Gasol and Bynum don't really instill fear in anyone.

In the experience department there's no discussion, the Lakers win hands down, but that's only for the time being.

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Perfection

Yes, with a "healthy" Bynum playing the way he showed he could, they will have the best frontline of any NBA team. Their skill sets, with Gasol and Odom's passing, make them very unique, perfect for the triangle offense, and probably the best frontline. Odom isn't a pure three however, and it works that he can cause some mismatches but will have to guard faster players which could be a problem; at SF, Odom would be one of the best rebounders for his position.


If Outlaw/Webster continue to improve and Oden, LMA stay healthy, then we have a shot to contend for this title. Looking around the league from the past few years, the best frontline was Utah (AK47, Boozer, Okur) and before that it was Detroit (Price, Wallace^2) when B.Wallace was a premier defender.

Utah is by no means on the decline, but I feel they are a notch above Portland, and LA is a notch above Utah with regards to the strength of the front line players. But Portland is younger and has more upside to still realize, so that, as well as injuries, could change this landscape quickly.

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hasoos

Man I don't know about that. Here is my reasoning: 1. Lamar is playing his best ball, as a power forward, not a small forward. 2. There is no guarantee he would be the starting SF for this team. 3. Bynum, while he was playing well, is hardly awe inspiring. 4. This is a front line of good role players.

But, until the Blazer players show up and that they deserve the recognition for being in the front line, the whole conversation is probably premature at best. It's kind of like when two teams play, and one says it is a rivalry, but they have never beat the other team yet. It's just talk.

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MARIS61

Maybe he meant the best in LA? Although even that might be a stretch.

It could be a really good, but not great, front line if they stay together.

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Dan

Until we get a SF that is on par with Odom (or at least, close to), they that advantage. But once Oden gets going, our "trio" (as long as it's not Oden, Aldridge and me) will be a better trio.

I think Oden's game will be a lot better than Bynums. Like, once in a generation C good vs once every few years good.

Gasol and Aldridge basically cancel each other out, so that leaves the SF spot as their advantage. But I think Oden makes up for that.

They're going to be good, but thats assuming they even keep that team together long term. Odom's contract runs out after next year, and he's not worth the money he's making.

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blue32

i really cant wait to see GO next year =) and quite frankly, Rudy too, i want to see what all the buzz is about

ebott

I say there's no question that they'll be the better than the Blazers next season.

Bynum > Oden
Gasol = LaMarcus
Odom >> Outlaw/Webster (even with the fear that Odom won't be as good at the 3 as he's been at the 4)

Oden is going to have a lot of rookie mistakes. He'll have to deal with all the growing pains that Bynum has already gone through.
I really think Oden's presence is going to cause Aldridge to have an adjustment period as well. I don't think he'll regress. But I think his advancements will be off-set by the adjusting to Oden and leave him level with Pau next season.
Unless Outlaw/Webster have a ridiculous break out season there's no arguing that Odom will be much better.

But I'm saying that it'll only be the one year. In the 09-10 season I see it more like this...

Bynum = Oden
Gasol < LaMarcus
Odom < ?

I say that between the development of Outlaw/Webster, the cap space plan or a deal using our many young assets we'll end up with a small forward that's better than Odom.

Dan

you fail to realize that Bynum as a rookie was as raw as raw can be. Don't be underestimating (and overestimating Bynum) how Oden will be next year.

If Oden isn't better than Bynum next year, I'll be not only disappointed but very surprised. Bynum wasn't *that* good.

And can we stop with the "Oden is going to have serious foul problems" clap trap? When was the last time a big man who was hyped had foul problems? And when did Oden become a project all the sudden?

At worst it's Bynum = Oden. People are seriously forgetting that Oden was talked about 3-4 years ago, and Bynum was barely talked about in his draft year.

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A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

Entity

...not to mention that Greg Oden is the only player other than LeBron James to win national high school player of the year twice. LeBron didn't take long to get it going in the NBA.

OdenRoyLMA2

Wow, what do you expect Oden to average his rookie year? 8 ppg, 6 rpg and 5 fouls per game. I think you're cutting him way short. Have you seen him lately? There's a reason he's a once-in-a-decade center prospect.

STOMP

I really like Van Gundy as an announcer. He's smart, funny, insightful into the league... but he's still an announcer being paid by those who depend on ratings... so he's being pushed towards hyperbole on all things Lakers.

I'll happily check on any potential changes to the LA-Greg pairing as I think it's going to kick the bleep out of the league.

STOMP

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BengalDuck

How about Yao - Landry - McGrady?

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Dan