The Los Angeles Lakers enter the second weekend of the 2011-2012 season with a 2-2 record without center Andrew Bynum. Here’s a look at the team’s keys to victory for this Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets:

Who will guard Ty Lawson?

Ty Lawson has been outstanding thus far for the Nuggets while averaging 22.3 points per game. The Lakers don’t have a lot of team speed to guard him on the outside, especially if Derek Fisher starts the game. However, the Lakers have proven to be much more physical this year than in the past, and I wouldn’t be surprised if head coach Mike Brown works to slow him down rather than stop him.

On Christmas Day, the Lakers did an outstanding job against the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose for most of the game, and I think they’ll try to use a similar game plan against Lawson. The team didn’t have the back court speed to keep up with Rose for all four quarters, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the Lakers adjusts to another point guard who can score.

How will Andrew Bynum perform in the middle?

Andrew Bynum returns to the Lakers lineup this weekend after serving a four-game suspension for his actions during the 2011 NBA playoffs. He’ll move back to center while Pau Gasol returns to his familiar forward role. The Nuggets’ Nene Hilario is a solid forward/center, but if Bynum is on his game, I don’t think Hilario can guard him. In fact, I don’t think anyone on the Nuggets can defend Bynum if he comes in with his “A” game. However, Bynum hasn’t played in over a week, and I’m not sure what kind of shape he’s going to come in with. Hopefully, he’s ready to go.

What will the Lakers get from the bench?

The Nuggets aren’t afraid to use a three-guard lineup, and since the Lakers lack speed, I think that’s the game plan Denver will use on Saturday. The Lakers will need to off-set if they wish to contain Aron Affalo, Andre Miller and Lawson, but their options are limited.

I love Derek Fisher, but he can’t keep up with these guys, and that means the Lakers will need to trust the bench a bit more. Steve Blake has already received solid minutes this season, but Matt Barnes still isn’t seeing much time on the floor. That should change this weekend, but we’ll find out how effective he is. Oh and don’t forget about Metta World Peace. He’s quietly having a solid season in reserve, but I’m not sure how Brown will use him against a three-guard package.

Derek Ciapala has been a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers since childhood. His favorite Lakers’ moment is when they beat the Detroit Pistons 108-105 in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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Yep, it’s another major L for the Lakers. Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Darius Morris and Derek Fisher made a delightfully awkward appearance on the show “X-Factor” last night, with three of them performing as back-up dancers for 50-Cent.

(H/T: Stiletto Jill)

While everyone talks about Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin has gone into the shadows but even though it is preseason, he called attention to himself as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the second consecutive game.

Blake Griffin is involved in the community. Here he plays with Marines on the Camp Pendleton marine Base.
photo by:Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy Wikimedia Commons

Blake Griffin lit up the outgunned Lakers for 30 points and put on a clinic as the Clippers won 108-103 in the second consecutive matchup between the Staples Center roommates. Griffin’s highlight play of the night was an emphatic slam as he drove the lane unchallenged off a Chris Paul bounce pass.

Griffin and Paul played like they have been together for years on offense but the key to this game was defense and turnovers and this could be a theme for both teams all season. The Lakers turned the ball over 22 times under pressure and they must work on their ball protection moving forward.

Griffin and Chris Paul showed how they will be unstoppable this season with several ESPN highlight moments against a Lakers team without their superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant sat out the game with a wrist injury that could lead to missed regular season games.

Derek Fisher played in his first game since dealing with months of negotiations to settle the NBA lockout and the rust showed but he did make some impressive plays. When Fisher and Kobe get on the floor together the Lakers will be a different team but the question all season will be a simple one: Can Derek Fisher hold up with the back-to-back games.

Were there any positives arising from the Lakers second consecutive loss in their own arena? One positive was watching Derek Fisher play well at times after a long layoff with limited practice. Aside from Fisher producing in his 24 minutes on the floor, the Lakers and head coach Mike Brown will have a tough time finding many positives in this game.

Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) is looking like a deer in the headlights in his first two games but he never plays well in meaningless games. Once Artest plays ten game in the regular season, Mike Brown and the Lakers coaching staff will know where they stand. Don’t figure in Artest as a strong sixth man off the bench, he can’t handle the pressure.

Christmas Day will provide answers to the Lakers season. Their patchwork lineup, without Chris Paul and Lamar Odom, must prove the critics wrong. If Kobe Bryant misses the first ten games of the season it could be the end of the Lakers hopes for 2012. A ten game stretch without the Lakers top producer in a shortened 66-game season will crush the Lakers.

*Todd Jacobs is a Southern California native and a longtime Los Angeles Lakers fan dating back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain and “The Logo” Jerry West.

Sources:

ESPN Clubhouse: Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers news and notes.

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The Los Angeles Lakers and their fans have been through plenty of turmoil leading up to the 2011-2012 season but a game against their roommates, the Los Angeles Clippers is not a priority for the former NBA champs. No matter how much the local media tries to stir the pot for their meaningless game December 19 in Staples Center, the Lakers, including Kobe Bryant, are not taking the bait.

Chris Paul
Photo by: L.A.’s Finest Wikimedia Commons

The intrigue of the Clippers newest addition, Chris Paul in his first game against Kobe Bryant is enough to get the Los Angeles area talk shows fired up for a day or two. Kobe shrugged off the question when asked by the media during a morning practice.

Bryant will play just under 30 minutes according head coach Mike Brown and Derek Fisher will not play at all. Fisher told the Los Angeles Times, “Just listening to your body and respecting the fact that, although we’re a team, we have individual needs in terms of rest, recovery and preparation. We obviously have to have a coach who’s willing to work with you and be open to communicating about those things. That’s essentially where it falls for me.”

Fisher lost the ability to put much practice time in during the lockout because of his close involvement with the day-to-day dealings as the main NBA union representative. Fisher, 37, needs plenty of rest this season and the Lakers will use him sparingly in the December and January regular season games.

The game is important from several aspects. The Lakers will have limited practice time during their grueling 66-game condensed schedule and they will need to see if their new additions mesh well with the veterans on the team.

Another important thing to watch in this first preseason game is the Lakers ability to defend. Losing Lamar Odom could be a bigger adjustment than many think. Odom did the little things that made the Lakers better and now someone will have to step up and fill his role.

With Kobe shrugging off the game’s importance does that mean who won’t put in an effort? Don’t count on it. Kobe loves the spotlight and he will want to put on a show for Lakers fans and show them who is still the man in Los Angeles.

Look for Bryant to also play hard on both ends of the court. He had a tough time with Chris Paul in the NBA playoffs last year and he will want to test himself against Paul in their first head-to-head matchup. Paul will be the player struggling in this first tilt between the stars of Los Angeles. Kobe will get his points in the 30 minutes he logs in this game and Paul will struggle as he tries too hard to win over his new fan base.

*Todd Jacobs is a Southern California native and longtime Los Angeles Lakers fan dating back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain and “The Logo” Jerry West.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times: Mike Brown may sit Derek Fisher for Monday’s game vs. Clippers

ESPN Clubhouse: Los Angeles Lakers stats and news.

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MANILA, Philippines – Los Angeles Lakers’ All-Star power forward Pau Gasol has canceled his trip to the Philippines.

Gasol was scheduled to visit the country on December 1 to do mission work with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which seeks to bring “understanding among people through hearing care,” according to the foundation’s website.

The Spanish player was supposed to do charity work and distribute hearing aids.

But Gasol had to cancel his trip after teammate Derek Fisher requested all Lakers players to be present in Los Angeles on December 3, when the NBA players will vote on the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

NBA players and owners reached a tentative agreement early this week that will end the 149-day lockout.

Gasol apologized to his Filipino fans on Twitter and Facebook, saying, “With a CBA vote upcoming, I am no longer able to come visit.”

“Obviously, I would’ve loved to be there, to experience your country, get to know it and interact with you. I promise you the next opportunity that I have, the next chance, I’ll be ready to make a trip and enjoy a few days and enjoy a great stay with you,” he added.

He also apologized to Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes, who was supposed to be his host for the visit.

“Sorry I can’t make it coach, but looking forward to meeting during a future visit. Good luck with the season!” Gasol tweeted.

Gasol and the Lakers are tentatively scheduled to open their regular season campaign against the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day.