Jimmy Smith: Lopez immediately becomes the team's starting center

[glepurple]

Bynum at age 20 and 21 was better than Cousins at the same age. There's no debate. More efficiently offensively, much better defensively. Bynum was the Lakers best player this past season and he was their best player in the playoffs. He was the 2nd best player on the Lakers before the Gasol trade. The Lakers struggled this post season because Kobe was coming up lame in the 4th quarter. His shooting percentage was awful. Also Gasol disappeared.

Bynum's post game at 20 and 21 was very good. He had hook shots with both hands, superior first, and played much stronger. People forget how good he was because of the injuries.

In what universe did Cousins average 30 and 12 in April? He averaged 19 and 10 and he almost took 20 shots per game during that month.

Bynum was not better than kobe last season...bynum has yet to show he can be the number one option. Are you saying bynum was better than kobe because of numbers or what cause bynum has yet to show he is capable of carrying a team. Two post seasons in a row he has failed to dominate. Yeah kobe has shot poorly in the postseason as well...but he was the only guy playing with fire. Its funny how you ignore bynums lack of defense against mcgee and faried....and his bad shooting in the post season (thunder)yet you bring kobes numbers up. Kobe was the only guy who wanted the ball down the stretch. But like i said cousins can do everything bynum can do offensively in his second season. Once he stops shooting all those jumpers...his fg% will increase.

If you watched cousins play...he doesn't take a lot of bad shots despite his high usage rate...he just settles for too many jumpers. His defense is lack there of. But as far as scoring and rebounding he's on par with bynum and is definitely better than any young center in the game. Also you have to take who bynum has played with. He has played with the best sg since mike and two outstanding forwards in gasol and odom.

[Pelicans78]

Bynum was not better than kobe last season...bynum has yet to show he can be the number one option. Are you saying bynum was better than kobe because of numbers or what cause bynum has yet to show he is capable of carrying a team. Two post seasons in a row he has failed to dominate. Yeah kobe has shot poorly in the postseason as well...but he was the only guy playing with fire. Its funny how you ignore bynums lack of defense against mcgee and faried....and his bad shooting in the post season (thunder)yet you bring kobes numbers up. Kobe was the only guy who wanted the ball down the stretch. But like i said cousins can do everything bynum can do offensively in his second season. Once he stops shooting all those jumpers...his fg% will increase.

If you watched cousins play...he doesn't take a lot of bad shots despite his high usage rate...he just settles for too many jumpers. His defense is lack there of. But as far as scoring and rebounding he's on par with bynum and is definitely better than any young center in the game. Also you have to take who bynum has played with. He has played with the best sg since mike and two outstanding forwards in gasol and odom.

Overall, Bynum was their best player when you add in his defense. Not talking about being a go-to-guy offensively, but overall. Kobe took alot of shots last year, but he came up short against OKC. Also, the Lakers never have good PGs so its hard for Bynum and Gasol to get looks. Think how much better Bynum will be with Nash running the offense.

Again, his post game at age 21 isn't on par with Bynum. Cousins shoots better from the perimeter, but Bynum is bigger and taller and was more effective in the post. He doesn't have to shoot jumpers. His footwork became really good working with Kareem. Plus, he developed strong hook shots with both hands. He was more effective in the post compared to Cousins. He does have a better situation, but Cousins fell in the draft when he should have easily been the 2nd pick. Folks were concerned about his attitude and possible work ethic issues. He has all the talent in the world and could easily be an All-Star center, but he has alot of work to do with his conditioning (which is also worse compared to Bynum's at the same age), and relying on too many jumpers. Fortunately, the Kings drafted a frontcourt dude who likes to settle for jumpers as well so maybe Cousins will get less chances to shoot them.

[glepurple]

Overall, Bynum was their best player when you add in his defense. Not talking about being a go-to-guy offensively, but overall. Kobe took alot of shots last year, but he came up short against OKC. Also, the Lakers never have good PGs so its hard for Bynum and Gasol to get looks. Think how much better Bynum will be with Nash running the offense.

Again, his post game at age 21 isn't on par with Bynum. Cousins shoots better from the perimeter, but Bynum is bigger and taller and was more effective in the post. He doesn't have to shoot jumpers. His footwork became really good working with Kareem. Plus, he developed strong hook shots with both hands. He was more effective in the post compared to Cousins. He does have a better situation, but Cousins fell in the draft when he should have easily been the 2nd pick. Folks were concerned about his attitude and possible work ethic issues. He has all the talent in the world and could easily be an All-Star center, but he has alot of work to do with his conditioning (which is also worse compared to Bynum's at the same age), and relying on too many jumpers. Fortunately, the Kings drafted a frontcourt dude who likes to settle for jumpers as well so maybe Cousins will get less chances to shoot them.

I agree with some of your points...i just am a big fan of cousins and i feel people look too much into his attitude. He is not a cancer like some seem to think. I think bynum is a real good player...but i just don't think he is a clear cut number one option (cousins still has a way to go to). One last thing about cousins tho...you mentioned how much better bynum would be with nash. But if the kings had a real good pg cousins would be that much better also. Isaiah thomas is a good young guard...but he looks to score a lot.

[Pelicans78]

I agree with some of your points...i just am a big fan of cousins and i feel people look too much into his attitude. He is not a cancer like some seem to think. I think bynum is a real good player...but i just don't think he is a clear cut number one option (cousins still has a way to go to). One last thing about cousins tho...you mentioned how much better bynum would be with nash. But if the kings had a real good pg cousins would be that much better also. Isaiah thomas is a good young guard...but he looks to score a lot.

I'm not sure if Bynum can be a number one option, but he has the skills to be one, especially if he gets touches. He does need to work on double teams and passing better out of them.

Cousins has talent too, but he needs to be in better condition. Bynum was in poor shape at age 19, but when Kobe called him out in the offseason, Bynum shed alot of pounds and became a beast by the start of the 2007-2008 season at age 20. Cousins needs to work hard as well. He has all the tools. I do think they need to dump Tyreke Evans and stick with Cousins, TRob (who loves to shoot jumpers as well), Thornton, and Thomas. Evans dominates the ball too much and isn't efficient at it. Honestly, Cousins has too much potential not to be a perennial All-Star. But he needs to shed about 20-25 pounds. That will allow him to attack the basket more, defend better, and score more efficiently.

[glepurple]

I'm not sure if Bynum can be a number one option, but he has the skills to be one, especially if he gets touches. He does need to work on double teams and passing better out of them.

Cousins has talent too, but he needs to be in better condition. Bynum was in poor shape at age 19, but when Kobe called him out in the offseason, Bynum shed alot of pounds and became a beast by the start of the 2007-2008 season at age 20. Cousins needs to work hard as well. He has all the tools. I do think they need to dump Tyreke Evans and stick with Cousins, TRob (who loves to shoot jumpers as well), Thornton, and Thomas. Evans dominates the ball too much and isn't efficient at it. Honestly, Cousins has too much potential not to be a perennial All-Star. But he needs to shed about 20-25 pounds. That will allow him to attack the basket more, defend better, and score more efficiently.

Agreed I think evans should be moved as well. Also I think trob will make it a lot easier on cousins going forward.