On October 08 2012 12:33 krndandaman wrote: anyone watching the lakers preseason game? the lakers seem to be meshing pretty well already and some of the players look really ready for the season- especially MWP and Hill.
If you mean that game vs GSW not really a shocker. The Lakers biggest issue is their bench and they don't have the on ball creators like Miami or OKC to play around with wild lineups. That was actually a major reason why Miami stomped OKC in 5.
Yea I meant the game vs GSW. Lakers bench improved during the offseason and honestly, as long as they can rely on Meeks a bit so that Kobe gets more rest during the regular season, then I'll be happy.
Last year the Lakers were forced to run Kobe 38mpg because they did not have a legitimate 2 guard to take his place and Brown did not want to put Goudelock in that position. Floor lineups of Steve Blake and Derek Fisher (replaced by Sessions late) while Kobe rested were absolutely atrocious.
All Meeks, or Jamison if necessary, has to do is play the 2 better than those scrubs and there will be a VAST improvement. I greatly await the day where I stop seeing Blake put up bagels consistently when forced to play the backup 2.
lmao. I don't know how they are going to do it. Conventionally they would rest Kobe/Nash mid way in the first and let the other play for 2-4 minutes extra since neither can play 10 minute quarters (or really, should).
2nd quarter one of them starts while the other rests and the only time they are on the floor together is to end the half and start the 3rd again. Of course this is a pipe dream and really they need an off the bench creator. Princeton offense or not NBA teams without good perimeter creators tend to get stomped.
ETA: What do you think their lineups are going to be?
Who knows what Brown is going to do regarding lineups and subs, that dude is an enigma. They had even less talent last year on the bench and PG spots in addition to zero depth at SG so I'm not quite as worried.
Figuring out rest between Kobe/Nash/Meeks/Jamison/Blake is a hell of a lot better of a problem than Kobe/Fisher/Blake/Goudelock
Stevie Blake and Duhon will be looked at as expiring contracts halfway through this season b/c both their deals expire next season so Lakers will flip them for a backup PG =P. Partly kidding, partly hoping....I am still waiting to see if they sign Barbosa, who imo, would be a better backup than Blake and could prob get for the vet minimum.
It will be surprising if Goudelock even makes the team this year.
I actually think having Barbosa run the offense of the second unit would do wonders for them. He'll get eaten up defensively but that's much better than what the bench looks like right now.