April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12), small forward Metta World Peace (15), center Robert Sacre (50), small forward Earl Clark (6), point guard Steve Nash (10) and point guard Steve Blake (5) watch game action from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers had one of the worst benches in all of basketball. This year may be the same. One of Lake Show Life’s brother sites, King James Gospel, ranked the best benches in the NBA, and the Lakers came in 27th out of 30. The Lakers were ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and the Charlotte Bobcats.
It’s definitely understandable to have the Lakers ranked that far down. With Kobe out, and assuming the starting lineup is Nash/Meeks/Young/Gasol/Kaman, the bench would have Jordan Hill, Steve Blake, Jordan Farmar, Ryan Kelly, Elias Harris, Wesley Johnson, and Robert Sacre. When Kobe comes back, Jodie Meeks will move to the bench. Those nine players are not scaring any teams.
The bench could get even weaker during the season. Last year, the Lakers suffered a lot of injuries, and this year could be the same. Steve Nash is fragile, Pau Gasol is still rehabbing his knee, and sometimes, injuries just happen. I may put the Lakers a few spots ahead of what King James Gospel had them at, but I can agree for the most part.
What do YOU think? Is the Lakers bench ranked too high, too low, or just right? Let us know in the comment section down below!