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Written by Don

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 17:30

Early days - LA's played 4 games, winning 3 and losing 1. Now, whilst quite a few fans were mortified over the loss to Dallas - at home no less - ... thus far - I like what I see. Looking at the games we've played thus far, we have:

a win vs LA Clippers (99-92)
a loss against Dallas at home (80-94)
a win vs Atlanta, at home (118-110)
a win in Oklahoma City (101-98)

Nothing that would have anyone rushing to write a blog-piece, agreed. But when you factor in that Pau Gasol's out, and Ron Artest is still as yet working to be part of the whole - well, it's not a bad start to the season.

The big thing that has me smiling tho' is the 'big thing' in the middle for the Lakers. Andrew Bynum has had 3 double/doubles in 4 games, and is really beginning to look like the player that he's being paid to be. Factor in his improved FT shooting (83.3% thus far this season), and he's going to be a big part of why a lot of teams are going to dread playing LA this season. His explosiveness is still yet to be there... but it's coming. I'd hazard a guess and state that that's more an issue of confidence, than physical ailment. The knee's good. Bynum just has to trust in it.

A lot of people are getting to know Shannon Brown a little better. His highlight reel dunk in the game against the Mavs had non-LA-fans oooh-ing and aaaah-ing.

Nothing new for us LA fans, but it's good to see a Laker get some lovin'! I predict that Shan-WOW will continue to eke more and more minutes, and he's going to surprise more than a few opponents this season with his athleticism.

Artest has actually fit in reasonably well for a new addition. Yes, he's put up some awful shots - but I'm hoping that the scoreline against the Thunder could be the norm.

- 20 points off 6-8 shooting (including 2-3 3pters and 6-8 FTs); 6 assists; 5 steals.

And a helluva lot of intimidation. Very effective indeed. If Ron Artest can sustain that kind of performance, it'll make the excellent start to the season that Trevor Ariza's enjoying at Houston all that more bearable.

On "more bearable" - I kid. Kinda.

Ariza's doing well - and proving sceptics like me wrong. And for that, I'm happy. Make no mistake: he would never have enjoyed this kind of success in LA. He was simply too far down the totem pole.

The move/switch (with Artest) simply gave him something that he didn't have in LA. Room to continue his game. Lakers fans shouldn't bemoan the growth of his game in Houston, as it was never going to happen in LA. I still like the move in getting Artest. It was the right thing to do, and games like he played on Durant are the reason why.

Speaking of Ariza/Houston, they provide the second biggest test thus far for LA (the first being Dallas at home on Oct 30th). Houston are proving a lot of their detractors wrong. They are 3-1, and just went into one of the most difficult venues in sports - Utah's ESA - and beat the Jazz at home. Trevor Ariza's been a very large part of that. He's doing everything he's always done, only now he's averaging 21.3 points per.

LA travel into the Toyota Center for their first back-to-back set of games, and we'll see if Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum and co. can continue their run... and end Houston's 3 game win streak. Oh... and of course Kobe.