NBA - Sports Rumors

Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:31 am EDT

Reserves have eased Lakers' aches, pains

By Joe Zedalis

Ronny Turiaf

Getty Images

The injuries have added up, one medical chart after another being pushed across the desks in the Lakers' front office. Andrew Bynum: 47 games lost to injury. Trevor Ariza: 44 games. Chris Mihm: 43 games. Pau Gasol: 10 games.

"It's been kind of a roller-coaster season," Kobe Bryant said. "We've had to adjust and change our style of play seemingly every two weeks."

It has put an added strain on the Lakers' reserves, many of whom have been shuttled in and out of the starting lineup despite the long-term goal of a steady, capable second unit. But the reserves have responded, time after time. Sasha Vujacic turned into a legitimate three-point threat. Ronny Turiaf is averaging career highs in points and rebounds. Jordan Farmar pushes the pace

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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125 Comments

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  1. .44 Cal
    1. Posted by .44 Cal Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    The Lakers have the best bench in the NBA in my eyes
  2. YA
    2. Posted by YA Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    5th! Go LAKERS Go!!!
  3. Edwin
    3. Posted by Edwin Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    Lets back this train up. The reserves have clearly saved the day for the Lakers.... But this is not new. If you check the history over the past eight years The trainers office is always full. The Lakers Disabled list always has one or two people on it. The Lakers carry dead weight every single year, and they continue to pay high salaries to the lame and lazy. The Lakers then sign players to multi year contracts because they have helped out during the year and the Lakers find they can't free up space to replace these Lame players. Chris Mimh for example. This guy continues to be a thorn in the Lakers side. Get rid of the bumb let someone else deal with him. Oh forget it. You all know this.
  4. andre
    4. Posted by andre Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    the lakers reserves have been great, but why is stephen graham up there?
  5. Da Creature
    5. Posted by Da Creature Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    Who's in the picture,secret trade?
  6. nobody
    6. Posted by nobody Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    yeaa baby, lakers number 1. now its the playoffs this sunday. haaaaaa
    i wonder how andrew and trevor are doing? i really hope sometime in the first round bynum and trevor will be back.
    lol.. thats not even ronny. he's better looking then that.!..lol
  7. The Bad Guy
    7. Posted by The Bad Guy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    The Laker organization has a lot of experience of having injured starters. Remember Shaq?
  8. VRSIII
    8. Posted by VRSIII Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    LoL! I just realized that the record they have this season (57-24) is better than the record they had during the Kobe-Shaq-Malone-Payton era in 2003-2004 season (56-26).
  9. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    9. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    V-I-KING........it is Joey Graham. They have messed up like that before.
  10. altidude
    10. Posted by altidude Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    This is a rumor?
  11. Marty
    11. Posted by Marty Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:03 pm EDT

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    Much as I like the Lakers and have been a fan for years the point has been made about dead weight...Look at how long it took to rid our selves of Kwame...To the Mihm hater out there the guy was starting to put up some decent numbers than went down...that's not his fault and he can be a productive backup to Gasol...So far as Mbenga goes...He's got the greatest BIG MAN coach working with him now and even he can be productive. In the NBA there's a rule...If your big enough and strong enough I'll find you 7-9 minutes a game. That's why Dale Davis and Eric Dampier have/had been around the league so long. Bigs are always useful even if we percieve them to be SLUGS. Only a few are as gifted as a GASOl, AMARE, SHAQ (in his prime), GARNETT, etc...the list isn't big. PEACE!
  12. Al Johnson
    12. Posted by Al Johnson Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:47 pm EDT

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    somebody needs 2 get it through 2 yahoo that this player in the photo is not and probably will never be a laker. u might find him in la supporting candice parker sometime but thats as close 2 staples as he'll ever get apart from when the pacers are in town
  13. Dik Steele
    13. Posted by Dik Steele Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I think the picture is of Malik Rose in a Knicks uni
  14. CHIPPY T
    14. Posted by CHIPPY T Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Hey Lakers!! Now is OUR time. Just continue to work as a TEAM and WE will do it!! Kobe, Lamar, Pau, Derek, Jordan,Sasha and the rest........ Just blow the rest of the west out and get ready for the beast from the east.
  15. 187
    15. Posted by 187 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Isn't the trade deadline over ? how are they adding more players already ?who they get this time? i think he's from washington or 76ers ....
  16. peedi_gunz
    16. Posted by peedi_gunz Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

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    Well deserved MVP for Kobe...finally, we all know Kobe is the best player in the NBA!
  17. Nick M
    17. Posted by Nick M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Lakers beat everyone and are the best plain and simple. The haters are running out of things to hate haha. Kobe is gona be MVP next and then they'll have the playoffs to complain about and round after round as their teams eliminated the lakers will reign supreme.
  18. Santosias
    18. Posted by Santosias Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:21 pm EDT

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    Yeah! I love our reserves. Best and Deepest bench in the NBA. Even when we're not healthy they're still a great bench. That's why we're going all the way this year. Phoenix, San Antonio, Boston, Detroit. They got nothin' on us baybee! Kobe for MVP! Kupchik for Exec. of the Year! LAKERS for 08 Championship!!!!!!
  19. Laker D
    19. Posted by Laker D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    I believe its time for Kobe to win the 'MVP' I believe he has been the best player in the Game for the past few years.I know Steve Nash won it back to back and I really believe he didn't deserve it the second time.I don't understand what the man has to do to win it.I know Kobe would be honored to win the award but he wants the title!!I hope they play the sun and show how old Nash and Shaq is.
  20. bucknutt
    20. Posted by bucknutt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    What does the LAKERS haters have to say now! The season starts in turmol and they end being the best team in the west.The one constant factor during the season was MVP KOBE.KOBE hasn't missed a game this year;playing through an injury for half the season.Can the other socalled MVP KG;CP3;or whoever else cop to that.KOBEMVP!! KOBEMVP!! GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  21. Matthew M
    21. Posted by Matthew M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    it looks like Joey graham. or steven graham
  22. ragefury624
    22. Posted by ragefury624 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    wow, after that gigantic rant, i kobe is still going to be the MVP and mitch kupchak will still be the exec of the year, not to mention byron scott will be coach of the year.... so far, truly a Laker season....
  23. avg323
    23. Posted by avg323 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    HELLO?!! EVERYBODY..getting the #1 seed is great!! homecourt advantage and $hit.. But wake up!! it doesnt guarantee anything!! ryt? just ask the mavs and the sonics..

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