Age: 22

Mar 21, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers small forward Devin Ebanks (3) looks to set the play during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 109-93. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

NBA Experience: 2 Years

Contract Status: Free agent

2011-12 Averages: 4.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 16.5 mpg, 41% FG, 65% FT

It’s been an awkward two years of pro ball in Los Angeles for Devin Ebanks. He had the great misfortune of being coached by Phil Jackson as a rookie. That might sound like an insult directed at the greatest coach in the history of the game but try telling any rookie that playing for PJ is fun. Known for his general disdain of having to bring along young and inexperienced players Jackson gave Ebanks the best seat in the house for Laker games during the 2010-11 season.

So entering his second season it stood to reason that things could only get better for Ebanks as he got a clean slate with Mike Brown.

Things started out well for Devin who earned himself a starting gig coming out of the abbreviated preseason. With Metta World Peace making the move to the sixth man role vacated by Lamar Odom it was already understood that Ebanks was starting but wouldn’t be getting starter’s minutes. Turns out he wouldn’t be getting any minutes. After only a few starts Ebanks was back in the same seat he had on Jackson’s watch.

Before long it was back to the D-League for Devin as he was a complete after thought in Brown’s rotation.

Then opportunity came knocking again in the form of a Metta World Peace elbow to the dome of James Harden. Once again Ebanks was elevated to the starting lineup and had some impressive showings in the playoffs. Of course once World Peace was back in the lineup it was back to the end of the bench for Devin.

Now he’s slated to be a free agent and Ebanks’ agent said earlier in the season that his client would be pursuing other options. No telling what the Lakers think of Devin but his frame, athletic ability and shooting touch are a nice building block for the type of player they’ll need going forward. As a rookie Ebanks was drawing Trevor Ariza comparisons. We know how well it worked with Ariza playing his role with the Lake Show. If Ebanks is anything similar the Lakers could already have one piece of the championship puzzle…that’s if they re-sign Devin and finally commit to developing him.

Like the Lakers, this topic poses more questions than answers. After Game 3 we were all left with those similar musings on our beloved Lake Show.

The lack of depth, varying degrees of effort, lack of commitment to defending and for good measure there was also a brief Baby Bynum sighting all on display in Game 3’s deflating defeat. We never know what to expect from the Lakers, that is nothing new. What is even more unexpected is Denver’s sudden advantage on the glass. Who saw that coming?

After Game 1 it looked like the Lakers were just going to out-size their way through this series. Then Ty Lawson found his groove in Game 2 while JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried bullied the Laker bigs in Game 3. Thanks to George Karl getting maximum effort from his frontline the Nuggets have turned this series on its head. Suddenly the smaller Nuggets are playing bigger than the taller Lakers.

There is only one excuse for not winning the war on the glass when you’re boasting Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. All fingers point to the effort department.

Sometimes trying harder is all it takes. Bynum pretty much admitted as much when asked why his team fell flat under the Mile High altitude on Friday. That has got to change in Game 4.

Getting back to our original question, it seems like if ever the Lakers were faced with a must-win this year it would be today. For all intents and purposes this is the one you’ve got to get.

Today offers the Lakers the opportunity to be one step closer to closing out the series and one road win away from taking Denver’s swagger. Mike Brown knows he needs to get an inspired effort out of his men.

Getting Kobe Bryant back to his form from the first two games would help too. Kobe’s jumper disappeared thanks to L.A.’s lack of an interior presence. When Bynum and Gasol aren’t keeping the defense honest the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of Bryant. Safe to say a more balanced scoring attack would benefit everyone in purple and gold. That is where the Lakers can steal a page from the Nuggets’ playbook.

If Denver is going to take away L.A.’s size advantage then the Lakers have got to get more offensive contributions from unexpected sources. If Ramon Sessions, Devin Ebanks and Matt Barnes all crack double-figures in addition to what the big three bring then this should be a 3-1 series heading back to SoCal.

But we know all too well what happens when you start counting those purple and gold chickens before they hatch. For the immediate future the Lakers just need to focus on being focused while picking up their energy level to match Denver’s undying activity. Hopefully any Cinco de Mayo celebrations the Lakers may have participated in were muted. Last thing we need is to give Denver all the momentum. Then that will result in a certain must-win scenario. No question about that.