The future of the Lakers

[Crow]

I assume they will get bounced in the first or second round. I know they could surprise and go deep, but I doubt it.

I assume they will trade at least one of Gasol, Bynum and Bryant within a year. Maybe all of them over time. I don't know if they will try to re-load on the run to try to give Kobe another title shot, or even just pretend, or start all over. Bynum could leave on his own summer 2013. I don't know what situation he wants. They don't have hardly anything else.

Will Mitch Kupchak stay or leave?

They might be back in 3-4 years. Or not. We will see what Jim Buss and his brother (or cousin) and his friend / bartender come up with.

Haven't seen the business analysis of course, but I wonder about the execs who shelled out all that money for the local TV rights for a team that is probably going into a relative dark period with more local competition. Clippers attendance has passed the Lakers this season (probably because of ticket prices).

[YaoPau]

I think they have a shot at the title this year, why not? Sessions is a massive upgrade over Fisher imo, and their Big 3 is still one of the best trios in the game.

Lakers with Sessions are +8.2 with a 116 orating in 430 minutes this year. Without Sessions they are +1.0 with a 103 orating in 2300 minutes.

And their depth has been an issue: -5.4 net rating in 633 minutes when 2+ of Bynum/Gasol/Kobe are on the bench. But in a playoff series, obviously they can ride Sessions/Kobe/Gasol/Bynum and hopefully Barnes for big minutes. I'd take that over any lineup in the West outside of maybe OKCs top lineups.

[Mike G]

Okl with a 38% chance to win the West, SA 32%, everyone else < 8%
http://www.basketball-reference.com/fri ... f_prob.cgi

[Crow]

I admittedly didn't give much consideration to the Sessions factor, not considering him a big difference-maker going off his past record (never much above neutral on RAPM and at a career worst least season). YaoPau is right though to bring him forward in the conversation. His raw on/off in LA is pretty strong but the pure adjusted estimate for the starting lineup with him is a bit below neutral. Only 100 minutes experience so far with that lineup. I haven't seen him much recently but I guess it could go either way.

The team average 4 factor data is not very impressive for the season nor the performance overall against top 10 teams but I guess I should go back and look at how they were doing with Sessions and Bryant. W2-L4 against playoff teams during that stretch.