2006–07 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2006–07 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 59th in the NBA and 61st overall. The season ended with the Lakers being eliminated in five games in a rematch against the Phoenix Suns from the 2006 playoffs in the First Round.

2006–07 Los Angeles Lakers season
Head coachPhil Jackson
General managerMitch Kupchak
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaStaples Center
Results
Record42–40 (.512)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(Lost to Suns 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFSN West, KCAL
RadioAM 570 KLAC

The Lakers finished in second place in the Pacific Division, 7th seed in the playoffs. Ultimately, even though team captain Kobe Bryant was the leading NBA scorer with 31.6 PPG, the Lakers were defeated in five games by the Suns. This was the second consecutive season where the Lakers had their season ended by the Suns.

Draft picks
Main article: 2006 NBA Draft

In the NBA draft, the Lakers, as expected, chose young talent. In the draft, the Lakers selected Jordan Farmar, the PG for UCLA with 26th pick. Los Angeles also traded their 51st pick (Cheick Samb) to the Detroit Pistons for SF Maurice Evans. The Lakers also had a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, trading away a future second round pick for J. R. Pinnock.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 26 Jordan Farmar Guard  United States UCLA
2 51 Cheick Samb Center  Senegal WTC Cornellà (Spain)

Roster
Roster listing
2006–07 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
C 54 Brown, Kwame 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1982–03–10 Glynn Academy
SG 24 Bryant, Kobe (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978–08–23 LMHS
C 17 Bynum, Andrew 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1987–10–27 SJHS
PF 43 Cook, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 258 lb (117 kg) 1980–12–04 Illinois
SG 6 Evans, Maurice 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978–11–08 Texas
PG 5 Farmar, Jordan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1986–11–30 UCLA
SF 2 McKie, Aaron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1972–10–02 Temple
C 31 Mihm, Chris  7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1979–07–16 Texas
PF 7 Odom, Lamar (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1979–11–06 Rhode Island
PG 1 Parker, Smush 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1981–06–01 Fordham
PF 10 Radmanović, Vladimir 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 234 lb (106 kg) 1980–11–19 Serbia & Montenegro
C 21 Turiaf, Ronny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 249 lb (113 kg) 1983–01–13 Gonzaga
SG 18 Vujačić, Sasha 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1984–03–08 Slovenia
SF 4 Walton, Luke 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1980–03–28 Arizona
PG 3 Williams, Shammond 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 1975–04–05 North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2007-07-17

Injuries and surgeries

Besides the signings, L.A.'s most notable move was the injury bug. Kobe Bryant, the reigning scoring champion had successful surgery on his knee and would decline playing for Team USA at the 2006 World Championship, where they finished 3rd, with bronze.[1]

Center Chris Mihm, who was the starting big man before having an ankle injury, also underwent successful surgery and was not expected to play at all in the upcoming season.[2]

Regular season

The beginning success

The Lakers started their season opener hosting the Phoenix Suns, the team who knocked them out of the playoffs. Kobe Bryant was out, allowing Maurice Evans to play in his place. Centers Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm were out on injury, forcing Bynum in their place.

Even with two of their starters out on injuries, it didn't seem to affect the team, as Odom led the team until Bryant recovered. The next night at Oracle Arena against the Golden State Warriors, Odom had stats, almost recording his first triple-double of the season, 22 points with nine rebounds and nine assists. Ronny Turiaf, known for his sideline celebrations, had career-highs in almost every category, including 23 points and nine rebounds for a 110-98 win. Bryant also sat this out.

Going downhill

By March, the Lakers were in disarray. Radmanović was fined $500,000 for lying to the organization about his injury, Walton, Brown and Odom were playing on injuries, and despite some 40-point games, Bryant was unable to stop the Lakers fall. Coach Jackson suffered his first seven-game losing streak of his career in result. It seemed impossible for the Lakers to make the playoffs. Bryant decided to step his game up even further.

Kobe Bryant scored 65 points against the Trail Blazers on March 16. He also scored 60 points against the Grizzlies on March 22.

In the March 16th game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Bryant recorded his second-highest outbreak of his career with 65 points, single-handedly winning the game after being down by 12 with four minutes in regulation.

He continued by getting 50, 60, and another 50 in games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets respectively. By doing so, Bryant recorded the second-longest streak of scoring 50+ points in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain. Two days after his game against New Orleans, Kobe ended his streak in a game against the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles with 43 points. Bryant's high scoring month continued. He scored 53 in an overtime loss against the Houston Rockets two games later.

But Bryant's scoring binge, which led to the team's five-game winning streak, was followed by the aforementioned seven-game losing streak. Throughout the season, the Lakers were 14-6 in games where Bryant scored 40+ points.

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Phoenix Suns 6121.744-33–828–1311–5
x-Los Angeles Lakers 4240.5121925–1617–2410–6
x-Golden State Warriors 4240.5121930–1112–296–10
Los Angeles Clippers 4042.4882125–1615–268–8
Sacramento Kings 3349.4022820–2113–285–11
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Dallas Mavericks6715.817-
2 y-Phoenix Suns6121.7446
3 x-San Antonio Spurs5824.7079
4 y-Utah Jazz5131.63415
5 x-Houston Rockets5230.63415
6 x-Denver Nuggets4537.54922
7 x-Los Angeles Lakers4240.51225
8 x-Golden State Warriors4240.51225
9 Los Angeles Clippers4042.48827
10 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets3943.47628
11 Sacramento Kings3349.40234
12 Portland Trail Blazers3250.39035
13 Minnesota Timberwolves3250.39035
14 Seattle SuperSonics3151.37836
15 Memphis Grizzlies2260.26845

Record vs. opponents
2006-07 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOK NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–30–41–30–21–11–22–01–11–32–00–22–00–41–22–01–20–21–23–11–31–11–11–10–20–22–20–21–3
Boston 1–3—2–20–31–20–21–10–40–21–11–30–20–21–11–22–21–12–20–23–11–31–30–22–00–21–11–11–30–20–3
Charlotte 3–12–2—1–22–20–21–12–21–10–21–20–22–00–22–22–21–11–21–12–22–22–20–20–21–11–10–20–31–12–2
Chicago 4–03–02–1—2–21–11–13–11–10–23–10–21–11–13–14–00–21–32–03–11–22–11–12–00–21–12–02–20–23–1
Cleveland 3–12–12–22–2—0–20–21–32–01–13–12–02–02–01–34–02–02–11–12–21–23–10–21–12–02–01–13–11–12–1
Dallas 2–02–02–01–12–0—3–11–10–33–12–02–13–14–02–02–04–02–04–02–02–02–02–23–04–03–14–02–01–21–1
Denver 1–11–11–11–12–01–3—0–23–11–22–02–13–12–22–02–02–21–12–21–11–11–11–23–12–21–23–11–11–31–1
Detroit 2–14–02–21–33–11–12–0—0–21–12–22–02–02–02–13–11–14–01–12–14–03–11–11–11–10–22–02–10–22–2
Golden State 0–22–01–11–10–23–01–32–0—2–11–12–20–43–10–20–22–11–13–11–11–12–01–32–13–11–33–11–12–21–1
Houston 1–11–12–02–01–11–32–11–11–2—1–13–12–24–02–02–02–22–01–32–02–02–01–32–23–02–23–01–11–32–0
Indiana 3–13–12–11–31–30–20–22–21–11–1—1–11–12–02–24–00–20–41–12–12–22–20–22–00–21–10–21–20–20–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–02–02–00–21–21–20–22–21–31–1—2–23–02–02–01–21–12–21–11–12–02–23–12–20–42–20–21–31–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–21–10–21–31–30–24–02–21–12–2—2–21–10–23–12–01–20–22–01–11–31–23–12–13–11–12–11–1
Memphis 0–21–12–01–10–20–42–20–21–30–40–20–32–2—0–20–22–10–21–30–21–11–10–42–21–21–31–21–11–31–1
Miami 4–02–12–21–33–10–20–21–22–00–22–20–21–12–0—2–12–03–11–11–30–41–30–22–02–01–12–02–12–03–1
Milwaukee 2–12–22–20–40–40–20–21–32–00–20–40–22–02–01–2—2–01–20–21–31–32–10–21–11–12–01–11–30–21–3
Minnesota 0–21–11–12–00–20–42–21–11–22–22–02–11–31–20–20–2—1–11–32–01–12–01–32–22–21–21–30–21–31–1
New Jersey 2–12–22–13–11–20–21–10–41–10–24–01–10–22–01–32–11–1—1–14–02–22–20–20–21–10–20–22–22–04–0
New Orleans/Oklahoma City 2–02–01–10–21–10–42–21–11–33–11–12–22–13–11–12–03–11–1—2–01–10–20–31–23–10–42–20–21–21–1
New York 2–11–32–21–32–20–21–11–21–10–21–21–12–02–03–13–10–20–40–2—2–11–30–21–11–10–21–11–31–12–2
Orlando 1–33–12–22–12–10–21–10–41–10–22–21–10–21–14–03–11–12–21–11–2—2–10–22–01–11–12–00–42–02–2
Philadelphia 3–13–12–21–21–30–21–11–30–20–22–20–21–11–13–11–20–22–22–03–11–2—1–11–11–10–22–01–31–10–3
Phoenix 1–12–02–01–12–02–22–11–13–13–12–02–23–14–02–02–03–12–03–02–02–01–1—4–03–11–22–12–01–31–1
Portland 1–10–22–00–21–10–31–31–11–22–20–21–32–12–20–21–12–22–02–11–10–21–10–4—2–20–42–21–12–22–0
Sacramento 1–12–01–12–00–20–42–21–11–30–32–02–21–32–10–21–12–21–11–31–11–11–11–32–2—0–42–11–12–10–2
San Antonio 2–01–11–11–10–21–32–12–03–12–21–14–01–23–11–10–22–12–04–02–01–12–02–14–04–0—4–02–02–22–0
Seattle 2–01–12–00–21–10–41–30–21–30–32–02–21–32–10–21–13–12–02–21–10–20–21–22–21–20–4—1–12–20–2
Toronto 2–23–13–02–21–30–21–11–21–11–12–12–01–11–11–23–12–02–22–03–14–03–10–21–11–10–21–1—0–23–1
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–12–13–12–02–23–12–03–11–23–10–22–03–10–22–11–10–21–13–12–21–22–22–22–0—1–1
Washington 3–13–02–21–31–21–11–12–21–10–23–01–11–11–11–33–11–10–41–12–22–23–01–10–22–00–22–01–31–1—

Playoffs

Despite stumbling in the playoffs with a 42-40 record, after finishing March and April with a combined 9-14 standing, the Lakers felt something to prove. The Phoenix Suns had something to prove too. With a 61-21 record, the Suns hoped to avoid last season's epic seven-game series and steam-roll through the playoffs.

In the first game, the Lakers started out strong, with Bryant showing his usual scoring dominance with 28 points, holding the Suns to just 39 points. But the Suns, led by Leandro Barbosa led a furious comeback, highlighted a buzzer beater from just in front of the half-court line. L.A. lost the game 95-87, and Bryant having 39 points. But any hopes of putting up a better fight in the second game was soon dashed.

The Suns crushed the Lakers by 28 points, a 126-98 victory in Game 2. Phoenix defense held the Laker starters to just 51 points, while all six Suns, including all starters, scored in double-figures. Down 0-2, the series went to L.A. for a Game 3 which the Lakers won 95-89 before losing badly at home in Game 4 as Steve Nash dished out 23 assists in a 113-100 win. The Suns went back home and took Game 5 119-110.

West First Round

(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers

April 24
Los Angeles Lakers 98, Phoenix Suns 126
US Airways Center, Phoenix
TNT
April 26
Phoenix Suns 89, Los Angeles Lakers 95
ABC
April 29
Phoenix Suns 113, Los Angeles Lakers 100
Staples Center, Los Angeles
TNT
May 2
Los Angeles Lakers 110, Phoenix Suns 119
Phoenix wins series, 4–1
US Airways Center, Phoenix

Last Playoff Meeting: 2006 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 4-3)

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kwame Brown 412827.6.591.000.4406.01.81.01.28.4
Kobe Bryant 777740.8.463.344.8685.75.41.4.531.6
Andrew Bynum 825321.9.558.000.6685.91.1.11.67.8
Brian Cook 652415.7.453.400.7233.31.0.4.46.9
Maurice Evans 761022.8.432.361.7872.91.0.5.28.4
Jordan Farmar 72215.1.422.328.7111.71.9.6.14.4
Aaron McKie 10013.1.647..1.81.3.4.02.2
Lamar Odom 565639.3.468.297.7009.84.8.9.615.9
Smush Parker 828030.0.436.365.6462.52.81.5.111.1
Vladimir Radmanovic 551517.9.424.339.7263.31.2.5.36.6
Ronny Turiaf 72115.1.549.000.6643.6.9.21.15.3
Sasha Vujacic 73412.8.392.373.8781.5.9.6.04.3
Luke Walton 606033.0.474.387.7455.04.31.0.411.4
Shammond Williams 30011.5.407.400.6671.31.0.4.03.1


Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kwame Brown 5526.6.528..5565.6.2.2.88.6
Kobe Bryant 5543.0.462.357.9195.24.41.0.432.8
Andrew Bynum 5011.0.533..4004.6.0.0.44.0
Brian Cook 5010.2.333.4291.0001.2.0.0.23.6
Maurice Evans 5016.4.385.385.1.6.6.4.05.0
Jordan Farmar 5522.8.429.200.8572.81.61.2.26.4
Lamar Odom 5538.4.482.273.50013.02.2.41.219.4
Smush Parker 5011.8.154.1671.0001.4.6.6.21.8
Ronny Turiaf 4012.0.357..7003.0.3.5.34.3
Sasha Vujacic 4010.8.556.250.1.0.8.3.02.8
Luke Walton 5525.6.389.417.7504.22.61.4.27.2
Shammond Williams 4020.0.400.250..81.8.0.34.5

Awards and records
  • SG Kobe Bryant
    • All-NBA First Team[3]
    • NBA All-Defensive First Team[4]
    • 2007 NBA All-Star MVP[5]
    • 06-07 NBA scoring champion (31.6 PPG)

Transactions

In their most notable move, L.A. signed three-point specialist PF Vladimir Radmanović to a five year/$31 million contract from cross-town rivals Clippers.[6] Addressing the need for veterans, they also signed PG Shammond Williams for a one-year, $5 million deal.[7] To make ties with existing players, L.A. signed Brian Cook to a 3-year extension.[8]

Devean George, who won three titles with the Lakers in the early 2000s declined FA and signed with the Mavericks, leaving Bryant the remaining player from the glory days.[9]

Most of the signings the Lakers did was sign and cut/trade. Pinnock, Mamadou N'diaye, Marcus Douthit and Devin Green were all cut before the season started.[10][11]

References
  1. Lakers’ star needs 8-12 weeks to recover, will be ready for NBA season
  2. LAKERS CENTER CHRIS MIHM UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL ANKLE SURGERY
  3. Bryant, Nowitzki, Duncan also part of All-NBA team
  4. Camby, Bryant, Bell round out All-Defensive team
  5. No booing this time as Kobe wins All-Star MVP
  6. Associated Press (July 2, 2006). "Radmanovic plans on signing with Lakers". ESPN. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  7. Lakers Add Guard to Mix
  8. LAKERS SIGN BRIAN COOK TO CONTRACT EXTENSION
  9. "Mavericks Sign Devean George". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  10. Los Angeles Lakers TRANSACTIONS
  11. 2006-07 Waivers
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