LOS ANGELES LAKERS: IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, JOIN ‘EM

Tell me you’re not pumped about the upcoming NBA season.  Sure its still a few months away but after all that’s gone down, I can’t wait.  Since I’m a HUGE Lakers fan, let’s take a look back at their great offseason.  You’d think that winning an NBA Championship, the Lakers would just return with teh same roster.  But you know what, they got better.  They trimmed the fat by not re-signing Jordan Farmar, DJ Mbenga, Josh Powell, and Shannon Brown.  They shored up their point guard deficiency by going and picking up Steve Blake who could very well be a starting point guard by the middle of the season.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Derek Fisher and am very appreciative of his late game heroics in the playoffs.  But let’s be honest hear, Blake is the real deal.  He’s a great passer, plays D, and can shoot the 3 and drive and dish. Lakers also went and picked up the poor man’s Ron Artest in Matt Barnes.  Gives the Lakers a little more edge, a little more depth.  One of their biggest problems over the last few years has been their bench.  Inconsistency at its best.  Or consistently inconsistent is how I like to put it.  Finally, they have a backup big man that understands basketball.  No more Mbenga, no more Powell.  Lakers went and picked up Theo Ratliff. I know he’s old, but all we need for him is a few minutes each quarter to spell Bynum.  He can block shots and rebound which is all they need.  Finally Luke Walton is the worst player on the roster, and rightfully so.  I am concerend about Bynum’s knee.  I don’t think the Lakers should trade him.  Bynum’s and Gasol’s height is what won this Championship and with Lebron/Bosh/Wade combo lurking around, they still don’t have an answer to the Lakers’ size and now bench.  I don’t know about you guys, but you better get your Lakers’ tickets now.  Head over to Ticketnetwork.com where they have all your sporting tickets, especially my LA LAKERS tickets.