The Lakers bench is directly responsible for the team's success and ascension to the top of the loaded western conference, maybe more so than any other team in the league. With Andrew Bynum's quantum leap this year and at times dominant play, to his injury, to Lamar Odom's inconsistent play, to Pau Gasol's addition to the team, to Fisher's hot and cold shooting, there were only 2 constants for the lakers this year...Kobe's play, and the bench coming in and maintaining leads and many times extending it. Without the energetic, inspired and selfless play of Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Ronnie Turiaf, Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza (before his injury), and Vladimir Radmanovic (before Bynum's injury when he came off the bench), this lakers team wouldnt have been nearly as dominant. Couple that with the fact that key laker players kept dropping like flies at different times this year, and these bench players were required to take on an even bigger role in the team's offense, in some cases even starting games, like Ronnie Turiaf did when Pau Gasol got hurt. Its always been the mark of a Phil Jackson coached team to strengthen the bench, playing the backups at key moments in games to help them develop a thicker skin in the playoffs, even if it cost them a win or 2 (laker fans hate seeing this happen). The other aspect of the lakers bench that makes them maybe the most feared bench in the NBA, is the fact that each player brings a different talent to the table. Farmar's ball handling and outside shooting, Radmanovic and Vujacic's marksmanship, Turiaf's hustle, rebounding and blocking shots, Luke Walton's great court vision and understanding of the triangle offense, Ariza's perimeter defense, this bench has got it all, and could probably beat the Miami Heat this year (sorry heat fans  )...
I'm out
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