In addition to bagging clutch threes, James Posey contributed to the Kobe Bryant Defense Alliance. Now Posey works for the New Orleans Hornets while the Cs have relied on the improvement of younger players to mitigate the loss.

Boston also waved bye-bye to veteran post player P.J. Brown and has yet to point Sam Cassell toward the playing floor.

 The Newcomers

Bynum, who is giving the Lakers 28 minutes, 12.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, has had a reasonable impact on the scoreboard and a profound impact on the efforts of his teammates. More on that in another category.

Despite the prevailing criticism of their defense, the Lakers are coughing up three fewer points per 100 possessions than last season. Observers with X and O responsibilities believe Bynum's shot-blocking ability is a major reason for the improvement. 

The Upgrades

An improvement of almost 2.5 dimes per game seems impressive, but doesn't factor Rondo's increased ability to break down a defense and create an open shot after another teammate makes the extra pass.

Another young Celtic performing beyond last year's level is center Kendrick Perkins, who — with three additional minutes per game — has provided upgrades in scoring (9.1 from 6.9) and rebounding (8.5 from 6.1).

With Posey in New Orleans, Tony Allen's improved health provides Coach Doc Rivers with a bouncy, defensive-oriented role player to guard the opposition's top wing player when Pierce needs a break. Tony's injury issues kept him from giving Boston much against the Lakers in last season's Finals.

For the record, the Cs are receiving slightly better numbers this season from Big Three charter member Ray Allen. 

Now playing up to his considerable speed, Ariza has become a bit more of a factor on offense and ranks as a relative stopper on defense.

Everyone else is either right where they finished last season or down, suggesting that Bynum has provided enough of a difference for the Lakers to achieve a faster start. 

Slippage

The return of Bynum has had a significant impact on    wholesale jordans free shipping     the playing life of forward Lamar Odom, whose drastic change in on-court burn (from 38 to 26 minutes per game) is greatly reflected in his numbers across the board.

Although reducing Odom's ability to contribute seems iffy, Lamar's inconsistent play against Boston made the Lakers vulnerable to his peaks and valleys. A drop in responsibility might keep Jackson's team out of similar trouble if Odom doesn't have it in a big game.

Ariza's jump in the pecking order seemed like a death knell for the minutes of Luke Walton, whose recent playing-time increase may have more than a coincidental link to L.A.'s 4-3 skid.

NBA roundup

With KG as the on-court enforcer and Rivers serving as a rock-solid psychologist, the Celtics know how to get where they want to be.

In terms of Xs and Os, the Celtics seem to be slightly more aggressive on defense, using on-ball pressure to coax dribblers into sideline trap areas, and doubling ball screens more frequently in late-game situations.

The Celtics also have become more sophisticated in double-teaming the post, sending a second player from different areas and different times (on the catch, on the pass, on the bounce, etc.). The tricky nature of having multiple post-doubling packages requires experience with the base system; this means that not having much in the Newcomer category could be a blessing.

Boston's offense still has its share of post isolations for Garnett, staggered double screens for Ray Allen jump shots and down-screens creating curl space for Pierce. But Rondo's improved attacking skills have given the Celtics more latitude to trot out their interpretation of the Dribble-Drive Motion offense.

While the spacing is quite a bit more pronounced, the Cs often limit their DDM commitment to Rondo's deadly simple ability to drive and kick.

But with Bynum and 7-foot Pau Gasol on the floor together, the Lakers are at least showing      cheap jordans for kids    more often on ball screens this season because of that second presence near the hoop to deter slip screens and collect rebounds.

With Bynum playing behind most centers, the Lakers are performing fewer post doubles, but have used their presumed quickness upgrade on the perimeter to double dribblers on the sideline and baseline.

Unfortunately, the required backside rotations during these doubles have been inconsistent and this weakness is magnified because Phil really uses his bench.

While the offensive pace has remained quick due to defensive-rebounding power, the main (and obvious) change has been the hi-low, Gasol-to-Bynum tweaks in the triangle.

We'll see if the Lakers can get it right in six more months.

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