Wednesday, September 11, 2013

NBA Watchability Rankings: No. 24 Los Angeles Lakers

USATSI_7214339USA TODAY Sports' Adi Joseph and Sean Highkinwill be counting down NBA teams based on watchability for the upcoming 2013-14 seasons. We'll go one team a day, from least-watchable to most, giving you an idea of what to keep an eye out for this season. Today, we continue with the No. 24 Los Angeles Lakers:
2012-13 record: 45-37, lost in first round of playoffs
Adi Joseph's 2013-14 record projection: 33-47, miss playoffs
Two best players (2012-13 stats): G Kobe Bryant (27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists a game), F Pau Gasol (13.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists a game).
Overview: The Lakers suffered a huge blow when Dwight Howard left for Houston in free agency, but their 2012-13 campaign showed they have bigger problems going forward. Kobe Bryant is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, and although by all accounts he's ahead of schedule, he's 35 and coming back from a major injury. Steve Nash, 39, couldn't stay healthy all season. Pau Gasol, 33, struggled with injuries last season as well. And the entire team struggled to adapt to Mike D'Antoni's offense. With the loss of Howard and an even thinner roster, there's little to indicate things will be different this time around.
WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THEM
Kobe chases history: When Bryant does return to the court, he's 675 points shy of Michael Jordan's career total (32,292) for third place on the all-time scoring list. He's still a ways behind second-place Karl Malone (36,938) and all-time leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), but barring another injury, "the Black Mamba" passing "Air Jordan" next season seems inevitable.
PHOTOS: Kobe's career, year by year
1996-97: Kobe averaged 7.6 points in his rookie season, coming off the bench behind Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. At the time, he became the youngest player to ever play in an NBA game.
1996-97: Kobe averaged 7.6 points in his rookie season, coming off the bench behind Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. At the time, he became the youngest player to ever play in an NBA game.  Michael Caulfield, AP
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  • 1996-97: Kobe averaged 7.6 points in his rookie season, coming off the bench behind Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. At the time, he became the youngest player to ever play in an NBA game.
  • 1997-98: Bryant averaged 15.4 points, started the All-Star game and finished runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.
  • 1998-99: In the lockout-shortened season, Bryant started every game, averaging 19.9 points in the NBA's first year without Michael Jordan.
  • 1999-2000: Under Phil Jackson, Kobe averaged 22.5 points and along with Shaquille O'Neal, led the Lakers to the NBA title, a six-game win over the Pacers, the team's first title since 1988.
  • 2000-01: Kobe averaged 28.5 points and the Lakers went 15-1 in the playoffs, beating the 76ers in five games for back-to-back titles.
  • 2001-2002: Kobe and the Lakers made it a three-peat, beating sweeping the Nets with Kobe averaging 25.2 points on the year.
  • 2002-03: Kobe averaged 30 points on the year, including a wild run in which he had 40 or more points for nine games in a row.
  • 2003-04: Kobe averaged 24 points as the Lakers made a run to the Finals, ultimately losing to the Detroit Pistons.
  • 2004-05: Without Phil Jackson, the Lakers missed the playoffs with Kobe averaging 27.6 points.
  • 2005-06: Kobe averaged an insane 35.4 points, the first time he ever led the league in scoring, including a career-high 81 against the Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006.
  • 2006-07: Bryant changed his jersey from No. 8 to No. 24 and averaged 31.6 points, leading the league again.
  • 2007-08: Kobe won his only NBA MVP, averaging 28.3, but the Lakers fell in the Finals against the Celtics.
  • 2008-09: Bryant averaged 26.8 points as the Lakers snapped their drought, winning the NBA title against the Orlando Magic.
  • 2009-2010: Kobe made it five career titles as the Lakers won a thrilling seven-game finals over Boston, with Bryant averaging 27 points on the year.
  • 2010-11: Bryant averaged 25.3 points but the Lakers were swept in the playoffs by the Mavericks.
  • 2011-12: Kobe averaged 27.9 points and the Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs in five games by the Thunder.
  • 2012-13: Bryant finished his season sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon. But he averaged 27.3 points a game and helped the Lakers, ballyhooed in the offseason for adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, squeak into the playoffs.
"Swaggy P" let loose: The Lakers don't have much in the way of scoring outside of Bryant and Gasol, so until Kobe gets back on the court, it's going to be the Nick Young show at Staples Center. And that has the potential to be enormously entertaining.
You have no choice: Even if you wanted to avoid the Lakers all season, their 29 national TV appearances (list below) will make that incredibly difficult. They're playing in prime slots on opening night and Christmas Day, and narrative-heavy games like Howard's February 19 return to Los Angeles with the Houston Rockets will be inescapable.
Posted by Unknown at 9:24 AM

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