Quick Recap: Bulls 88, Lakers 84

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The Chicago Bulls have not beaten the Los Angeles Lakers since December 19, 2006. Tonight, the Bulls bucked that trend by defeating the Lakers 88-84. If you missed the action, let me give you a quick recap.

Three Quarters of a Game

If you take out a dreadful second quarter (which you could never actually do), the Lakers outscored the Bulls 74-64. The Lakers only mustered 10 points in the second after starting so strongly in the first quarter. While I credit the lopsided second quarter to the Bulls finding their stroke from the field, part of the blame also goes to the Lakers' offensive approach. In the first quarter, the Lakers got out to a big lead by running the offense through Pau Gasol, who outplayed Joakim Noah early. Gasol shot 5-for-7 (10 points) in the first quarter and had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 blocked shot. But in the second quarter, Pau was pretty much non-existent. All it took was one quarter--twelve minutes--of lackluster basketball and the Lakers started their road trip (I don't count an "away" game at Staples Center) off on the wrong foot.

M-V-P Chants in Chicago

After a slow start, Derrick Rose heated up and, to this minute, has probably not cooled off. In the first quarter, Rose was throwing up bricks left and right (2-for-8 from the field). After that, however, Rose was unstoppable. The star point guard dominated the second quarter by using his tenacious dribble penetration to get to the rim and make layups and draw multiple defenders and kick the ball out to three-point shooters. On numerous possessions, he demonstrated his great court vision by firing dazzling passes to cutters and spot-up shooters that the defense were not aware of.

In the third quarter, Rose showed off his new and improved three-point shot. Rose hit three three-balls in the game, giving him 32 on the season; interestingly, Rose hit 32 three-pointers in his first two NBA seasons combined.

But most impressively, Rose hit clutch shots down the stretch which had the Chicago fans on their feet chanting "M-V-P!" whenever he touched the ball. Whether he split a double team to get to the rim or threw up a step back jumper with the shot clock running down, Rose made the big plays when his team needed them most (when the Lakers made their late run).

No Answer Down Low

Don't let Carlos Boozer's 10 points fool you; the Lakers had trouble with the Bulls' big guy down low. Sure, Boozer wasn't raining buckets on the Lakers, but his low-post presence/threat caused a big mismatch that the Bulls exploited ad nauseum. Once the Bulls figured out that running the offense through Boozer would be the difference in the game--they did this in the second quarter--it was all over. Whenever the Lakers sent a double-down defender to help, Boozer, a great passing big man, would fire a pass to a spot-up three-point shooter (Rose on multiple occasions) or make a nice pass that would lead to an open shooter two passes later. This really was the difference in the game, despite how dominant Rose was. In summary, the Lakers need Andrew Bynum back.

The Missing Man in the Middle: Why the Lakers Need Andrew Bynum Back

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While the Lakers have gotten off to a very impressive 10-2 start to the season, the team has done so despite the absence of its third-best player, center Andrew Bynum. And while it's generally accepted that Bynum's presence makes the two-time defending champions a better team, it may be hard to clearly see how his presence has impacted the team because the Lakers have generally managed to blow their opponents out of the water. In order to truly understand Bynum's effect, you have to crunch some numbers.

The first and most obvious place to look is shot-blocking. Last season, Bynum's seven-foot frame blocked 1.4 shots per game (keep in mind he played only 30 minutes per game). As a team last season, the Lakers blocked 5.2 shots per game, which put them 11th among all teams. Through twelve games this season, the Lakers rank 24th in the NBA with only 3.9 blocked shots per contest. The lack of a shot-blocker to protect the rim has resulted in an increase in the number of points in the paint per game scored by the Lakers' opponents.

Last season, the Lakers ranked 10th in the league in opponent points in the paint per game, surrendering just 40.2 per game. So far this season the Lakers have given up 44.2 in the paint per game, making them 22nd in the league. While those four points might not seem like a lot, you would be surprised how many games in the NBA are decided by margins like that; through its first twelve games, the Lakers have had four games decided by five points or less. And remember, not only does a shot blocker directly reject balls from reaching the basket, but a shot blocker changes the trajectory of shots and serves as an intimidation factor that forces penetrating players to make the extra pass. The numbers do not capture the full effect.

The increased points in the paint have led to an overall increase in points per game by the Lakers' opponents. If you have watched any Lakers basketball this season, you have probably noticed that the Lakers have only held their opponents under 100 points in four of their twelve games. Last season, it was the Lakers' defense that really enabled the team to win its second consecutive championship. The Lakers held opponents to only 97.0 points per game (10th in the NBA). This season, without Bynum, the Lakers have allowed a whopping 102.8 points per game, which is worse than the defensively-inept Golden State Warriors, (102.7), the 2-10 Philadelphia 76ers (102.4), and the LeBron James-less Cleveland Cavaliers (99.1); the Lakers' 102.8-mark is good for 19th-best in the league, definitely not a stat fit for a champion.

Finally, if you are an astute reader and basketball fan, you are probably interested to see the effect Bynum's absence has had on the team's rebounding numbers. Oddly enough, the Lakers are near the top of the league in defensive, offensive, and total rebounds per game. Furthermore, their rebound averages are higher than their averages for last season. However, these stats are a bit misleading. Instead, let's look at how the Lakers' opponents have rebounded against the Lakers without Bynum in the lineup to take up space and grab boards. The Lakers currently rank second-to-last (29th) in opponent offensive rebounds per game, allowing 14.3 offensive rebounds per content to their foes; that number is up from last season (11.2). If you want to win in the NBA, you have to limit your opponents' second-chance points.

Ultimately, although it's great to see the Lakers win shootouts in early November, any NBA fan will tell you that it's much more satisfying to see your team win the close, grind-it-out games in May and June. If the Lakers want to win those games and lock up a three-peat, they will need to get Bynum back in the lineup at full strength so that he can plug up the middle and shore up their defense. Here's to hoping that Bynum's knee holds up better than Greg Oden's. Oh, and for pete's sake, stay out of trouble, big fella!

A Momentary Lapse: What to Make of Kobe Bryant's Latest Commercial Cameo

A little over one week ago, on November 8, video game developer/publisher Activision released another installment in its longstanding military combat series, "Call of Duty." The latest rendition, "Call of Duty:  Black Ops," set a single-day sales record by selling more than 5.6 million copies, which gave Activision more than $360 million. While those record-setting numbers are incredibly impressive, and while I have heard from numerous sources that the game is amazing, I mention this particular video game for another reason:  its television commercial, reproduced below.



As you can see, this one-minute spot, officially dubbed "There's a Soldier in All of Us," features several "ordinary" citizens--a young lady in high heels, a chunky girl with glasses, a construction worker, and a fast-food employee, to name a few--taking their shots (no pun intended) at being a soldier in battle. But it also features two prominent celebrities one prominent sports icon and a talentless celebrity, Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Kimmel, respectively, bearing arms and wreaking havoc.

At the 0:28 mark in the video, Bryant points and fires several rounds of what looks like an Uzi. The commercial cuts to several other combatants and, seconds later, returns to Kobe, who flashes a smile and then whips out what looks like a grenade launcher labeled "Mamba." When I first saw the commercial, I thought it was awesome. The first thing that stands out is the music selection; The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" provides an incredible backdrop to the action. Simply put, the pairing of the music and action is perfect.

The second thing that I love about the commercial is the originality/creativity. It is clear that the producers had a message/theme in mind; that is, the game is fit for everyone. And they successfully communicate that message by using caricatures of common folk in place of soldiers in the heat of action. Can you think of a video game that has/had a commercial as creative as this? I certainly cannot.

After the first time that I saw the commercial, I did not think of it for another two weeks or so until today when I read this article by ESPN.com columnist Tim Keown, who asserts that Kobe's participation in the commercial was an ill-advised decision.  His stance is not what that is difficult to imagine; Keown believes that Bryant is a global icon that kids everywhere, especially those in inner cities where violence is rampant, idolize. And by wielding an Uzi and a rocket launcher, Bryant subtly/indirectly condones violence and guns.

While Keown mainly addresses the moral implications of Kobe's involvement in the "Call of Duty" campaign, I would like to touch on something that is more sports- and athlete-related. Specifically, I am very shocked that Kobe chose to participate in the way that he did. I have heard the possible justifications for his role-play, but I do not think that the ends justify the means. In other words, I do not think that Kobe's furtherance of his military support, as demonstrated through his participation in this game's campaign, justified the association between Kobe and guns/violence that the imagery produced.

What is most startling, however, is that Kobe Bryant was the one who did this. It wasn't Gilbert Arenas or Delonte West, who both have well-known run-ins with the law for gun possession. It was Kobe Bryant, the best player on the planet, the five-time NBA Champion, and, most importantly, the most self-aware and image-obsessed athlete not named Alex Rodriguez or LeBron James. Ever since his infamous night in Eagle, Colorado, the Los Angeles Lakers star has meticulously crafted every centimeter of his public image. Kobe went from a selfish, point-hoarding star to a selfless, team-oriented leader. He went from being publicly ripped by head coach Phil Jackson to having a very close relationship with the Zen Master today. He went from being a young, immature and shortsighted athlete to a wise, grounded family man who has his two daughters by his side for every post-game interview. He even changed his jersey number a few years back. All of these aforementioned things were Kobe's efforts to turn a new leaf in his career, to become a new man and be everything that the fans and media have wanted him to be for so long. And after years of hard work, he finally achieved it. Fans may never forget the Eagle, Colorado, incident or Kobe's early disruptive years, but his lasting legacy will be a guy who managed to change his on and off-court personas to both his own and his team's benefit, which ultimately resulted in, at least, a handful of titles.

And after all that, Kobe decides to "pack some heat" and make a cameo in this "Call of Duty" commercial? It's a questionable decision at the very least. Look, I'm not saying this commercial will be the downfall of Kobe Bryant and his legacy. It most likely will not be. But all I'm saying is that the choice seems a bit out of the ordinary considering the player/man at hand. Regardless of how cool the commercial turned out, how great the game sold or continues to sell, or how brief Kobe's appearance actually was, something just doesn't seem right.

NBA Preview: Pacific Division

Bringing the House illustration

Los Angeles Lakers

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  57-25
Division Finish:  1st
Playoffs:  Won NBA Championship

Key Additions:  Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff

I love what the Lakers did this offseason. The back-to-back champs got even stronger with the additions of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff. Blake gives the Lakers an unselfish veteran point guard who handles the ball well and should fit nicely into Phil Jackson's triangle offense. He has good court vision and is a solid passer. What most people don't realize, however, is that Blake has a nice shot, as well. Blake hit 39.5% of his three point attempts and 75.0% of his free throw attempts last season. By comparison, the second-string point guard that Blake replaces, Jordan Farmar, hit only 37.6% of his threes and a putrid 67.1% of his free throws (liability, anyone?).

The Barnes acquisition is genius. In fact, once I realized that Barnes was a free agent, I began campaigning for his pickup. When the rumors came out that said the Lakers were looking at Raja Bell, I openly criticized that potential move and suggested they look instead at Barnes. Well, they listened. Barnes not only gives the Lakers another three-point shooter to stretch opposing defenses, but he gives them attitude and swagger. After teams criticized the Lakers for being too soft a couple years ago, the Lakers answered by signing Ron Artest one offseason and Barnes the next. Oh, the moxie!

Finally, Ratliff is a quiet upgrade over fan-favorite D.J. Mbenga at the backup center spot. Although Ratliff concerns me a bit with his injury tendencies, he is a veteran who has size and can enter a game and make immediate contributions with his shot-blocking ability. If you didn't follow basketball in the late 90s and early 2000s, you probably don't know that Ratliff was once a defensive force on a championship-level Philadelphia 76ers team (led by the newest star of Turkey's professional basketball league, Allen Iverson). In his prime, Ratliff averaged anywhere from 3 to 4 blocks per game. Last season, playing just 22.3 minutes per game in Charlotte, Ratliff managed to block 1.5 shots per game. The guy still has enough left in the tank to be soak up minutes for Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

While the three players above each possess nice skills that fit perfectly into the Lakers team, it is an intangible quality that they all share that has me the most excited about their arrivals. Blake is 30 years old and is going on his eighth season in the league; Barnes is also 30 years old and begins his eighth year in the league; and Ratliff is 37 years old and enters his sixteenth go-around in the NBA. A couple of them--Barnes and Ratliff--have sniffed a championship. But none of them have actually captured one. The key to any repeat, or in this case three-peat, effort is to remain hungry and avoid the disease of more ("I want more touches! I want more money! I want more playing time!"). Kobe Bryant will always remain hungry, but we all know he can't do it himself. By adding these three veterans, the Lakers have thrown in three guys who will be motivated to win their first championships because they realize that this may be their best, and last, chance to do it. On nights when the team needs that extra push, count on Blake, Barnes, and Ratliff to remember why they joined the Lakers and give their new teammates that much-needed spark.

Key Losses:  Jordan Farmar

Farmar's departure is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the Lakers initiated his departure by deciding not to offer Farmar a qualifying offer, thus letting him become an unrestricted free agent. The Nets then swooped in, offered Farmar decent money (3 years, $12 million), and just like that Farmar was on a plane headed to Jersey. Clearly, then, the Lakers thought that either they were overpaying Farmar for what he gave back on the court or that Farmar was no longer a good fit for the team. Either way, it was the Lakers' decision, not Farmar's.

The second component of this is that Farmar went from playing backup point guard on a potentially historical team to playing backup point guard on arguably the worst team in the NBA. The Nets won 12 games last season. Twelve. By comparison, the Lakers won 12 games in the month of November alone. Yeah, the Nets stunk it up. And while they should be better this season because, let's face it, it's nearly impossible to be worse, I don't think Farmar knows what he's getting himself into. He says he is eager because this will give him an opportunity to play more minutes, but is that even necessarily the case? Nets starting point guard Devin Harris is an exciting talent who, amid injuries, played 34.7 minutes per game last season. Meanwhile, Lakers starting point guard is the aging veteran Derek Fisher, who is pretty much on his way out and only averaged 27.2 minutes last season. If you ask me, I think Farmar would have gotten more minutes in LA than he will in New Jersey.

Most Important Player:  Andrew Bynum

Obviously, Kobe is the main man in Los Angeles. But if the Lakers hope to three-peat this season, they will need a healthy and contributing Bynum in the middle. As talented as the Lakers are top to bottom, their biggest strength is their size and ability to dominate in the paint. If Bynum, Gasol, and Lamar Odom are each healthy, the Lakers have the most formidable front line in the league, and it's not even close. Not only does their size give them a decisive edge on the boards, but their diverse skill sets give them such unique flexibility on both sides of the court. Bynum has so much potential; we have seen flashes of it. Before going down last season, he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in the month of November. But the key will be whether those fragile knees are able to recover from offseason surgery and hold up over the course of another grinding NBA marathon.

Rookie Spotlight:  Devin Ebanks

Ebanks is a 6'9" athletic forward from West Virginia who gives the Lakers some nice length and versatility off the bench. He will likely only play in blowouts, but expect him to wow the LA crowds with his exciting game.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  1st

The Lakers have all of the right pieces needed to hoist the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for a third straight season. They have a proven leader and veteran at point guard in Fisher, the league's best player in Kobe, a tough, hard-nosed guy in Artest, a nightly mismatch for opposing power forwards in Odom, and the league's most skilled big man in Gasol. Then they have the league's best bench that got even stronger with the additions of Barnes, Blake, and Ratliff. The only wild card is Bynum's health. If he can pull it together, at the very least for the playoff run, there will be yet another parade down Figueroa Street next June.

Los Angeles Clippers

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  29-53
Division Finish:  3rd
Playoffs:  Did Not Qualify

Key Additions:  Ryan Gomes

Not very many additions for the Clippers this offseason. While some people thought that the Clippers would surprise everyone and win the LeBron James sweepstakes, they instead flew under the radar and made an unnoticed ripple by signing Ryan Gomes. Most fans have no clue who this guy is mainly because he has spent the past five seasons on terrible Minnesota teams. But Gomes can play if he gets opportunities. By all indications, the Clippers will split the time at small forward between Gomes and rookie Al-Farouq Aminu, a talented young player from Wake Forest. Expect both guys to be solid complementary players to the scorers like Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, and Blake Griffin.

Key Losses:  None

Most Important Player:  Blake Griffin

Technically a rookie this season because he did not appear in a single regular season game last season, Griffin enters this year fully healthy and determined to live up to the hype. While the Clippers have guys who may end up scoring more points per game, nobody is as important to this franchise now and in the future as Griffin. Basically, all hope for this pathetic, cursed franchise lies on Griffin's boulder shoulders.

What many people have quickly forgotten is that Griffin is an absolute beast on the court. Although his college accolades no longer mean anything, his play in the preseason do. If you have not seen any of the highlights, click here, here, and here, and enjoy. I personally am cheering for Griffin because I would love to see another star burst on the scene, especially in my backyard. The league can never have too many stars, and if Griffin turns the Clippers organization around, he would certainly become larger than life.

Rookie Spotlight:  Blake Griffin

See above.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  2nd

Although I think the Clippers will jump the Suns and finish 2nd in the Pacific Division, I don't think they can win enough games to qualify for the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. I bet the Clippers win 40-42 games, become an extremely entertaining team, and play the top dogs tough all season long.

Phoenix Suns

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  54-28
Division Finish:  2nd
Playoffs:  Lost in Third Round

Key Additions:  Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress

The Turkoglu and Childress acquisitions intrigue me. After performing at an All-Star level during the 2008-2009 NBA playoffs, Turkoglu signed a huge contract with Toronto and had his sights set on teaming with Chris Bosh to lead the Raptors to a rare playoff berth. His time in Toronto completely bombed as Turkoglu struggled en route to just 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. The Raptors saw enough and shipped him to Phoenix. The Suns hope that Turkoglu can regain his old form in their open offensive system, and although my heart says he is done, my head says perhaps this is the perfect system for him.

Childress was a pretty big disappointment in Atlanta after the Hawks picked him with their sixth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Childress has nice size and above-average athletic ability, so there is no reason why he can't succeed playing alongside Steve Nash--who doesn't?

Key Losses:  Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson

With the losses of Stoudemire and Barbosa, the Suns find themselves without two guys who made the Suns so fun to watch in recent years. While you can knock Amare all you want for his lack of defensive effort, you cannot argue that his role in Phoenix's offense was one-of-a-kind amongst power forwards across the league. He was so gifted for his size and the perfect piece for that offense. With his departure, the Suns no longer present that mismatch each night. I think it will be a huge loss for them.

Barbosa was a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate and an incredible player off the bench for Phoenix. With his unique speed, Barbosa ensured that the Suns did not miss a beat whenever Nash needed a breather. Again, this is a luxury that Phoenix will undoubtedly miss.

Most Important Player:  Steve Nash

The two-time MVP will be crucial to the team's success considering the loss of talent this offseason and the uncertainty in terms of team chemistry. Nash has an amazing ability to make everyone around him better, and he will need to use this great skill to lift his teammates to new levels on a nightly basis.

Rookie Spotlight:  None

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  3rd

There is simply no way that the Suns can lose Amare, Barbosa, and Amundson and pick up right where they left off last season. The West is just too competitive and unforgiving. Perhaps the most telling sign of the team's inevitable struggles this season occurred in a recent AOL FanHouse interview in which Nash said, "To be honest, if I was outside this picture and a betting man, I would probably pick us to be outside of the playoffs."

Golden State Warriors

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  26-56
Division Finish:  4th
Playoffs:  Did Not Qualify

Key Additions:  David Lee, Louis Amundson, Vladimir Radmanovic

Three great pickups for the Warriors. Lee is an underrated big man who can run the floor and flourish in fast-paced up-and-down offense. Amundson is a high-energy, selfless role player who will clean up the scraps left behind by the speed demons on the wings. And Radmanovic is a sharpshooter who can run the floor and provide an outlet behind the arc for Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis penetrating the paint. I think each of these guys will integrate seamlessly into the high-octane offense up in the Bay Area.

Key Losses:  Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf

While Randolph has tons of potential, he never got enough minutes in Golden State to make his departure painful. As for Turiaf, his services will successfully replaced by Amundson.

Most Important Player:  Stephen Curry

One of my favorite players in the league, Curry is best described as "silky smooth." If you think that all he can do is drain threes, you are severely mistaken. Yes, he does possess a sweet stroke from deep (43.7% on three-pointers last season), but he does so much more. He shot an impressive 46.2% from the field last season and averaged 17.5 points per game. He added 5.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, as well. Finally, he shot a rock-solid 88.5% from the charity stripe, making him an ideal point guard to close out games. But beyond the numbers, Curry showed a surprising ability to shoulder the majority of the team's ball-handling duties and also demonstrated nice court vision and passing ability. His versatility makes him an ideal field general for the Warriors' offense.

Rookie Spotlight:  Jeremy Lin

Lin is an Asian-American baller from Harvard University. Nuff said. But if you are still curious, check out a piece I wrote earlier this year about Lin.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  4th

I like the Warriors' roster and I like their brand of basketball. Unfortunately, they play in a tough division in an even tougher conference and do not have enough firepower to pose a legitimate playoff threat. Although they will certainly be fun to watch, do not expect more than 35 wins this season.

Sacramento Kings

2009-2010 Recap:

Record:  25-57
Division Finish:  5th
Playoffs:  Did Not Qualify

Key Additions:  Samuel Dalembert

Dalembert is a solid player who will add a nice defensive presence to the Kings. He rebounds well and has above-average shot-blocking ability.

Key Losses:  Spencer Hawes

Hawes never became the franchise center that the Kings intended him to be. His loss is not necessarily felt on the court, but in lost hope and payroll.

Most Important Player:  Tyreke Evans

With a starting lineup of Beno Udrih, Evans, Donte Greene, Carl Landry, and Samuel Dalembert (or DeMarcus Cousins), is anyone actually scared of the Sacramento Kings? Is Evans the only one who can dribble and shoot the basketball? This might be the least intimidating lineup in NBA history. I would double-team Evans on and off the ball and play a triangle-zone with the other three defenders on the court.

Rookie Spotlight:  DeMarcus Cousins

The big man from Kentucky has well-documented character issues, but his size and skill are eye-popping enough to at least warrant giving him an opportunity. If Cousins can develop into a solid low-post contributor this season, the Kings will at least be competitive in the paint with Landry, Cousins, and Dalembert. Furthermore, if Cousins shows nice development this season, the Kings will have plenty to look forward to in the future.

2010-2011 Division Outlook:  5th

Irrelevant.

Lakers' Road to a 3-Peat

Image via Wikipedia

This is the first official post of Bringing the House and it will not be about Lebron, "The Decision," or Miami's new "Dream Team." Instead, let's talk about the team to beat. The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who today signed veteran gunner/badboy Matt Barnes and the aging Theo Ratliff. The Lakers signed Barnes to a two-year, $3.6 million deal. The terms of the Ratliff deal have not been released as of this moment.

I know nobody will believe me, except maybe one person, but from the moment reports leaked claiming that the Lakers were pursuing Raja Bell to bolster up their defense, toughness, and outside shooting, I immediately took a look at the free agents list to see the alternative options. Disregarding the major free agent signings (LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Stoudemire, etc.), the best move was made by the Bulls when they signed Kyle Korver. Now he's a shooter. But Raja Bell? Does anyone realize that his best days are behind him? How much of a contributor could he possibly be? He only played in six games last season. He's 33. And the last time I checked he's not a very versatile player; he plays the two, which Kobe also plays (hence why they matched up and eventually were involved in the infamous "Clothesline" play). I don't remember Bell's ball-handling being so great, and besides, the Lakers already signed Steve Blake to back up D-Fish. So not only are his deteriorating skills in question, but so too is his place/position on the roster.

Enter Matt Barnes. When I found out he was a free agent and was exploring new teams, I saw a perfect fit for the Lakers. Look, Artest is a defensive stopper, sure. But part of me thinks he's losing his edge, and I think he puts on this act because people expect it from him. Barnes, however, is actually a pain in the ass, just ask Kobe. Barnes never backed down from Kobe in previous showdowns (see this video) He's not exactly first-team all defense, but he's not afraid to get in your face and be the villain. But more important, Barnes strokes the three better than anyone the Lakers already have. He's not concerned about his scoring numbers. He hustles. So put him in the corner or run him along the wing and kick it out if his man helps off of him. Simple formula. Worked in Golden State and Orlando with him, so why not LA where they have better players that attract more attention than G-State or Orlando ever did?

According to an ESPN report it would seem that the Barnes signing means Shannon Brown is not returning, because there won't be enough room on the roster once the Lakers sign their draft picks. I'm a little bummed about Brown leaving. I think he was a really good source of energy for the Lakers off the bench. I think Barnes can replace some of that, but Brown delivered a lot of highlight plays that nobody else can produce.

As for the Ratliff signing, I was a bit confused, but I don't think it's a big deal. Andrew Bynum will really be the key this season for the Lakers' three peat efforts. And I suppose having another big man to play some minutes can only help relieve Bynum and his fragile body.

To me the Lakers' offseason moves have been very solid. Blake is a solid backup point guard. Barnes is a solid shooter and brings toughness. Ratliff adds some size and will eat minutes for Pau and Bynum. The re-signing of Fisher was important, if not for production then for leadership. And of course you still have Kobe, who remains the best player on the planet (apologies to Dwyane Wade who I think is 1A).

End note, just for humor, see this video for Kobe's reaction to Barnes' antics in the playoffs:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoLM4XTZWxc

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• Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff Sign With NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers (bleacherreport.com)