tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38032276539961531242024-03-14T08:55:16.554-07:0016 Rings And CountingOn the Lakers and their never-ending quest for NBA gloryTrevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-89654035888518802802015-03-28T16:28:00.002-07:002015-03-29T08:17:52.474-07:00Lakers Tank In Real TroubleThe Los Angeles Lakers currently sit with the 4th-worst record in the league and are on pace to lose more games than at any point in franchise history since moving to LA. It's not all bad though, as the Lakers draft pick this summer is top-5 protected, which offers the team a roughly 83% chance at keeping the pick if they finish with the 4th-worst record.<br />
<br />
With the team eliminated from the playoffs long ago there are many Lakers fans on board with the tank, encouraging the team to lose as much as possible. Coach <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottby01.html">Byron Scott</a> has made a few moves towards that goal, including giving more minutes to young players and outright benching veterans such as <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hilljo01.html">Jordan Hill</a> and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boozeca01.html">Carlos Boozer</a> in order to help secure more losses.
Unfortunately, these changes might not be enough. Thanks to the play of several contract-year players, most notably <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01.html">Ed Davis</a>, the Lakers find themselves only three games up in the win column on the 5th place Orlando Magic.<br />
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Three games may sound like a large lead but the Magic have won just one game in their past ten attempts. To make matters worse, the Lakers play a number of weak opponents down the stretch, including the Sixers, Wolves, and Kings (twice).<br />
<br />
It's entirely possible that the Lakers could drop to the 5th spot, which would lower their chances of keeping the pick all the way down to 55%, only slightly better than a coin flip. To lose their draft pick after the worst season in franchise history would not only be insult to injury but it would also deprive the Lakers fan base of the little hope that they have left.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39lf7J9BtPGFMwLep1NaJZbQQIltcaFQdLckwE6qXLihmnwPHjPYd3KP-AeUN12fGvwY1mk5-6sAXloIZ5aWbpWGUdvsKX8X-qpLRTPbqFiHGa7Q3TE5qVzaqTaqR-mamecstvg3jYWP5/s1600/Lin+bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39lf7J9BtPGFMwLep1NaJZbQQIltcaFQdLckwE6qXLihmnwPHjPYd3KP-AeUN12fGvwY1mk5-6sAXloIZ5aWbpWGUdvsKX8X-qpLRTPbqFiHGa7Q3TE5qVzaqTaqR-mamecstvg3jYWP5/s1600/Lin+bad.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
The good news is that the Lakers can control their own destiny. If they can find a way to lose the remaining games on their schedule they will, at worst, end up tied with the Sixers for the 3rd spot. While losing 11 games straight is a tall order for any team, there is a method by which the Lakers could make that result at least somewhat likely: bench their top 4 players.<br />
<br />
Lakers GM <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kupchmi01.html">Mitch Kupchak</a> has <a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/mitch-kupchak-says-lakers-top-priority-is-preparing-for-the-nba-draft/2015/02/20/">admitted </a>that the team is looking to build for the future both with their young players and through the draft, and as such Coach Scott has given the young players more minutes. However, for much of the season Scott has also continued to play contract-year veterans <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boozeca01.html">Carlos Boozer</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hilljo01.html">Jordan Hill</a>, and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01.html">Ed Davis</a>. Each of them are giving everything they have game-in and game-out because their livelihoods are at stake, and it's costing the Lakers valuable losses in the process.<br />
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While it's true that Byron has recently moved Boozer and Hill to the bench it hasn't been enough, as the team picked up a tank-crushing win over Minnesota anyway. Had the team gone full-throttle on the tank and benched Lin and Davis in addition to Boozer and Hill the Wolves game would have likely resulted in a loss, and if Byron had pulled the trigger two games earlier than that they might have been able to manage a loss to Philadelphia as well. Those missed opportunities are in the past though, and right now the team needs to focus on simply wracking up as many losses as possible over the final 11 games.<br />
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Take a look at the PER for each player on the team at this point in the season:<br />
<br />
<div class="sr_share_wrap">
<table class="sr_share" data-freeze="3" id="" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px sold #aaa; font-size: .83em; overflow: auto;">
<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col class="sort_col"></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<th align="right" class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="ranker" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Rank">Rk</th>
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="player" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Player</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip sorttable_sorted sort_col" data-stat="per" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #ffffaa; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<b>Player Efficiency Rating</b><br>A measure of per-minute production standardized such that the league average is 15.">PER<span id=""> ▾</span></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="3" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="4" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="left" csk="Davis,Ed" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Ed Davis</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">25</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20.4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="6" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="7" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="left" csk="Bryant,Kobe" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Kobe Bryant</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">36</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">17.7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="4" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="5" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="left" csk="Boozer,Carlos" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boozeca01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Carlos Boozer</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">33</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16.7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="2" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="3" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="left" csk="Hill,Jordan" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hilljo01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jordan Hill</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">27</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16.5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="1" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="2" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="left" csk="Lin,Jeremy" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jeremy Lin</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">26</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="7" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="8" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="left" csk="Clarkson,Jordan" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jordan Clarkson</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">15.3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="12" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="13" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7</td>
<td align="left" csk="Black,Tarik" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blackta01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Tarik Black</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14.6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="8" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="9" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td align="left" csk="Young,Nick" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Nick Young</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">29</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14.3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="5" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="6" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td align="left" csk="Ellington,Wayne" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellinwa01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Wayne Ellington</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">27</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="0" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="1" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10</td>
<td align="left" csk="Johnson,Wesley" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnswe01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Wesley Johnson</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">27</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="13" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="14" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11</td>
<td align="left" csk="Brown,Jabari" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownja01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jabari Brown</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="10" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="11" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12</td>
<td align="left" csk="Sacre,Robert" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sacrero01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Robert Sacre</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">25</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="9" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="10" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13</td>
<td align="left" csk="Price,Ronnie" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pricero01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Ronnie Price</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">31</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="11" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="12" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14</td>
<td align="left" csk="Kelly,Ryan" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kellyry01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Ryan Kelly</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="14" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="15" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">15</td>
<td align="left" csk="Henry,Xavier" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/henryxa01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Xavier Henry</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="15" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="display: table-row;">
<td align="right" csk="16" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16</td>
<td align="left" csk="Randle,Julius" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/randlju01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Julius Randle</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">-7.5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot></table>
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2015.html?sr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#advanced">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/28/2015.</div>
</div>
<br />
With Kobe injured the top players on the team are Lin, Davis, Hill, and Boozer. Sitting those 4 down would do wonders for the team's chances of losing out and securing their draft pick. Doing so wouldn't hurt the players either, as each of them has had plenty of time over the course of the season to prove that they deserve solid contracts next year.<br />
<br />
To that point, Davis, Hill, Lin, and Boozer currently find themselves in a no-win situation. If they play well and the Lakers win then they are hurting the franchise immeasurably by lowering the odds of the team keeping the draft pick. However, if they play poorly enough for the team to lose then they could be negatively impacting the value of their next contract. The only solution that is a win for both the player and the franchise is to not play at all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVjwq1gn6t1T7ruGcNtpbUsTccI22lt-mDB70hkE2zQhRTcZMMnnh3VvfXtEjtesOq5z1NLRNBUenFrwOUghlBNNsTIdC2oPzI4HSEfbx0oELIRZhsRO3msfRDdoPGXqp8eVF9UMv1rE1/s1600/war+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVjwq1gn6t1T7ruGcNtpbUsTccI22lt-mDB70hkE2zQhRTcZMMnnh3VvfXtEjtesOq5z1NLRNBUenFrwOUghlBNNsTIdC2oPzI4HSEfbx0oELIRZhsRO3msfRDdoPGXqp8eVF9UMv1rE1/s1600/war+games.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></div>
<i> Kind like this. 80's movies are awesome.</i><br />
<br />
While benching the top-4 Lakers on the active roster might seem underhanded it would be par for the course in what has been a wild tank race. Philadelphia and New York have either traded or benched their most talented players, while Minnesota is bubble-wrapping their more injury-prone guys by keeping them in street clothes with relatively minor maladies.
The only choice the Lakers have in order to even the playing field is to sit their veterans, leaving the team with a rotation that would look something like this:<br />
<br />
PG: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> (35 min)/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellinwa01.html">Wayne Ellington</a> (13 min)<br />
SG: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownja01.html">Jabari Brown</a> (35 min/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellinwa01.html">Wayne Ellington</a> (13 min)<br />
SF: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnswe01.html">Wesley Johnson</a> (35 min)/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellinwa01.html">Wayne Ellington</a> (5 min)/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kellyry01.html">Ryan Kelly</a> (8 min)<br />
PF: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kellyry01.html">Ryan Kelly</a> (30 min)/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blackta01.html">Tarik Black</a> (18 min)<br />
C: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blackta01.html">Tarik Black</a> (18 min)/<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sacrero01.html">Robert Sacre</a> (30 min)<br />
<br />
Obviously it's a short, 8 man rotation, but that lineup would allow the Lakers plenty of time to evaluate their young players for next year while losing as many games as possible. In a lost season there is simply no reason to continue to give minutes to known-commodities like Lin, Boozer, Hill, and Davis. Let those players begin to focus on their pending free-agency while the younger guys get all the minutes they can handle to learn on the job.<br />
<br />
It won't be pretty, but at this point the Lakers have no choice but to go all-out in their tanking efforts. To do anything less is simply tempting fate, which wouldn't be wise given the Lakers luck over the past three seasons.<br />
<br />
<i> For more Lakers analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a> and also check out my work at <a href="http://silverscreenandroll.com/">silverscreenandroll.com</a> </i>Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-62317415003443134862015-03-19T13:09:00.000-07:002015-08-01T14:34:05.873-07:00Young's Rocky 14/15 Season Highlights Lakers Free Agency Mistake<div>
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News broke yesterday that <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01.html">Nick Young</a> knee injury is worse than originally thought and his season could be in jeopardy. The Lakers energetic scorer was revealed to have a small fracture in his knee cap, and while he won't need surgery to repair it the amount of rest required for it to heal as well as the time it would take to get back in shape suggests that Young's year is likely over, and that may not be a bad thing. Reality is that given the way the season has gone so far for Swaggy P (Young's alter-ego) shutting it down may well be what is best for everyone.<br />
<br />
Last season Young was one of the few bright spots for the struggling Lakers, providing timely scoring off the bench and an infectious smile that made him a favorite amongst teammates. Fans enjoyed his bravado as well. His ability to make seemingly impossible shots kept the Staples Center rocking even during a season in which the team set the franchise record for losses.
Unfortunately Swaggy P has morphed into Swaggless P this season as he has proven incapable of duplicating last season's success.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s2cnisukPKU9gJ5qjQE78Sf8oBEMOjF9E6vR3YpJ1l7R_db1qKPsQdVlgn_ufvww5lRE6H7t6za1-FKN406aIAOCHc8Wlz_vudL80I-_TGk47nmTVqK_T8zn23nQGg92xIjQYR31yAGG/s1600/Nickyoungbrokenhand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s2cnisukPKU9gJ5qjQE78Sf8oBEMOjF9E6vR3YpJ1l7R_db1qKPsQdVlgn_ufvww5lRE6H7t6za1-FKN406aIAOCHc8Wlz_vudL80I-_TGk47nmTVqK_T8zn23nQGg92xIjQYR31yAGG/s1600/Nickyoungbrokenhand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Young has also spent a large portion of the season on the bench with a variety of injuries, including the first 10 games of the season due to a torn ligament in his right (shooting) hand suffered while defending <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html">Kobe Bryant</a> in practice.
For a guy who specializes in scoring points a serious injury to a shooting hand can be difficult to recover from, and it could partially explain Young's struggles from the field this season.<br />
<br />
To dig deeper let's take a look at Young's stats from last season compared to this one (per 36 minutes):<br />
<br />
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<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="season" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="If listed as single number, the year the season ended.<br>★ - Indicates All-Star for league.<br>Only on regular season tables.">Season</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="8" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01/gamelog/2014/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2013-14</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">28</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">17.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.435</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.386</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.468</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.825</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22.8</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="9" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01/gamelog/2015/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2014-15</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">29</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">17.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.366</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.369</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.363</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.892</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20.3</td>
</tr>
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</table>
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01.html?sr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#per_minute">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/19/2015.</div>
</div>
<br />
Looking at his numbers adjusted for minutes it's easy to see that when he has played this season Nick has produced at roughly the same level as he did last year, with the one major exception being that his field goal percentage has dropped significantly. Compounding the problem, Young doesn't really do much else aside from score, as he is worse-than-average as a passer, rebounder, and defender. His one NBA-level skill is scoring the basketball, and if he can't do that effectively then there isn't much reason for him to be on the court.<br />
<br />
All of this brings us back to a question that had to be asked last summer: should the Lakers resign <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01.html">Nick Young</a>? He had put up career numbers in a contract year, which can be a red flag. At the same time though he was the heart of the team and had been embraced by the fans and the community. Ultimately, the team made the decision that his scoring ability off the bench, positive attitude, and connection with the fanbase warranted awarding him a 4-year, $21.5 million deal with a player option in the final year.<br />
<br />
For Nick the deal has been an excellent one, as not only is he making millions of dollars but he has also increased his exposure tremendously by being one of the most visible players on one of the NBA's glamour franchises. He is dating rapper Iggy Azalea, has a legion of fans, and found himself side-by-side with Joel McHale on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNDlH0Bl13M">"The Soup</a>" last week. Even his <a href="http://lakerholicz.com/nick-young-has-a-new-hairdo-do-you-think-his-new-look-is-swaggy/2015/03/18">haircut is news</a>, proving that life is good when you are a Laker.<br />
<br />
For the Lakers franchise though the Young signing hasn't quite been a slam dunk.
<a href="http://www.16rings.com/2014/07/lakers-in-limbo-offseason-of-confusion_20.html">At the time</a> I felt like the Young deal was a good one for the Lakers, albeit in a vacuum. His deal pays him, on average, just over $5 million per year, which isn't a bad for a guy who can create his own shot in a pinch. However, as I mentioned back then, while Young's deal is solid the opportunity cost was tremendous as there were other players available who wold have offered better value.<br />
<br />
For example, compare the numbers put up per 36-minutes by Young to those of Isaiah Thomas (signed a similar 4-year deal):<br />
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<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="right" class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="ranker" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Rank">Rk</th>
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="player" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Player</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="0" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="1" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Thomas,Isaiah" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomais02.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Isaiah Thomas</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">25</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.422</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.379</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.454</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.874</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22.6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="1" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="2" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Young,Nick" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Nick Young</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">29</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">17.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.366</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.369</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.363</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.892</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20.3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot></table>
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2015&p1=youngni01&y2=2015&p2=thomais02&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#per_minute">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/19/2015.</div>
</div>
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<br />
Thomas is also life-long Laker fan and by all accounts wanted to sign with the team but no offer was made. He is nearly 4 years younger than Swaggy is and is producing far superior numbers with a nearly identical usage rate. It's clear that while Young is beloved by Lakers fans Thomas would have been a much better choice based on on-court production, although it must be said that the Lakers would likely not be in a position to retain their draft pick this year with Thomas on the roster in place of Young.<br />
<br />
Young's poor shooting this season has also essentially killed any trade value that he might have had, which was a risk the Lakers knew they were taking when they signed him. They gambled on a player who put up good numbers in a contract-year and thus far it has burned them . A younger, more talented player like Thomas was almost guaranteed to produce at a higher rate than the contract that he signed, which creates trade value. Swaggy, on the other hand, was always more of a 50/50 proposition to provide value relative to his deal.<br />
<br />
All that said, if Young's shooting percentage goes back up to 42% or so next season and he continues to be a big shot-maker then his trade value will go back up, especially since there will be one year less on it and the salary cap will be increasing, making his deal less of a hit.
While Young's deal isn't crippling it hopefully has shown the front office how dangerous it can be to give a long-term deal to a player like Young. Fan support can be a good thing for a player, but fans cheer with their hearts and it's on the front office to sign the player that will help the franchise win instead of the fun guy that excites the crowd. We will have to wait until this summer to find out if the the Lakers truly learned their lesson.<br />
<br />
As for <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngni01.html">Nick Young</a>, Lakers fans can only hope that he recovers fully from his latest injury and can find his swag again this summer. Until then, let's enjoy one of his other claims to fame: making multiple appearances on Shaqtin A Fool.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/HsnfLVjR79s/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HsnfLVjR79s?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i>For more Lakers analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i><br />
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<br />Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-64984736295054691952015-03-10T13:01:00.000-07:002015-08-01T14:34:33.310-07:00The Rise of Jordan ClarksonNearly 9 months ago <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> sat and watched as his NBA dream nearly slipped away. In the 2014 NBA Draft one name after another was called but none of them belonged to him. A guard out of Missouri, Clarkson had been optimistically projected to be selected somewhere near the end of the first round, but as the 30th pick was taken his name was still on the board. At that point he knew that he would be a second-round pick at best, which meant no guaranteed money or roster spot. Still, he hoped to hear his name announced on draft night. <br />
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That's when Lakers GM <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kupchmi01.html">Mitch Kupchak</a> sprung into action, purchasing the 46th pick in the draft from the Washington Wizards for $1.8 million in the hopes of selecting the young Filipino-American guard.<br />
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Kupchak and the Lakers saw something in Clarkson that other teams either overlooked or undervalued. He has a wingspan of 6'8", which is longer than average for a 6'5" human being. The extra 3 inches of length on his arms means that he has an easier time getting his shot off over the top of defenders and defensively can cover more territory. While "wingspan" might be a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/6/29/3125272/jay-bilas-wingspan-video-nba-draft-2012">Jay Bilas drinking game</a> on draft night it's also a valuable commodity in the NBA...just ask <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/antetgi01.html">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>.<br />
<br />
Beyond his impressive physical measurements the Lakers also noticed that Clarkson's efficiency over the final stretch of his Missouri career had dropped considerably, and with good reason. While most teams simply saw that his Field Goal percentage plummeted from 48% to 39% and wrote him off the Lakers understood that he was under tremendous emotional strain due to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-jordan-clarkson-20150104-story.html">his father's cancer diagnosis. </a><br />
<br />
That Clarkson was able to compose himself and play as well as he still did spoke to his character, even if his on-court stats had suffered and caused many teams to doubt him. The Lakers took a gamble that his production during those final two months at Missouri was an aberration caused by his the uncertainty of his father's illness and not indicative of his true potential. In other words, the Lakers, an organization known for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12375351/nba-los-angeles-lakers-stuck-stone-age">being behind the times</a> in terms of analytics, were able to look past the numbers and see the young man behind them. They recognized things that simply could never be reflected on a stat sheet, and happily selected Clarkson with the 46th pick.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWk8ybf3Of9Jad5A0YM-eG82KO17woC_ti9BNVuK30ZGsBdRxwHCcgUuwZaTD9-sP8Ay4Wo_i20zboMWcNgCUYivquaeRScy8qD_WYWvrCQmQwwez2zlju-T-KfqIggyjJ-Mhjhjh8pjk/s1600/Clarkson+Conley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWk8ybf3Of9Jad5A0YM-eG82KO17woC_ti9BNVuK30ZGsBdRxwHCcgUuwZaTD9-sP8Ay4Wo_i20zboMWcNgCUYivquaeRScy8qD_WYWvrCQmQwwez2zlju-T-KfqIggyjJ-Mhjhjh8pjk/s1600/Clarkson+Conley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> is the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the hottest names in basketball. He has gone from a draft day free-fall to battling the likes of <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/conlemi01.html">Mike Conley</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rondora01.html">Rajon Rondo</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parketo01.html">Tony Parker</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walljo01.html">John Wall</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lillada01.html">Damian Lillard</a>, and the rest of the NBA's plethora of incredible point guards. Not only is he holding his own against the very best the NBA has to offer, he's finding success against them.<br />
<br />
His strong play has certainly been a welcome development in Los Angeles. In a lost season, the game-by-game improvements that Clarkson has shown have been just about the only thing keeping Lakers fans tuning in. <br />
<div>
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<div>
He's using his undeniable quickness to get into the lane and wreak havoc on opposing defenses. Clarkson's play in the pick and roll, considered to be one of his weaknesses heading into the season, has turned into one of his major strengths. While he still occasionally makes the wrong read or tries to force a bad pass his mid-range jumper has become nearly automatic.</div>
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<div>
He has also developed a dependable floater that allows him to score over the top of rotating bigs. Whether he blows by his defender with pure speed or uses a pick to slither into the lane, Clarkson's floater has enabled him to become a threat in the paint even when he can't quite get all the way to the rim.<br />
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His footwork and ability to read the defense have also improved immensely, as visible by the<a href="http://lakerholicz.com/see-move-jordan-clarkson-made-kobe-bryants-face/2015/03/09"> nice up-and-under move</a> he put on former Defensive Player of the Year <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chandty01.html">Tyson Chandler</a>. He occasionally pulls off gems like that, where the influence of footwork gurus like Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant is clearly evident.<br />
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That's not to say that there isn't a lot of work to be done still, as Clarkson has to become a better shooter from three (31%...yikes) and still can get caught out of position on defense. His wingspan (drink!) does help him make up for mistakes on the defensive end but he has a ways to go to realize his full potential there. Ideally, once he gets better at reading angles and anticipating what the offense wants, he will become a long-armed terror, picking off passes, creating deflections, and getting a hand in the face of perimeter shooters. </div>
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Complaints are minimal though, as they should be. For any rookie he's doing a great job, but for the 46th pick in the draft he has been absolutely phenomenal.<br />
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To further illustrate just how impressive <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> has been, take a look at how he stacks up compared to other guards from the 2014 draft (I went with per 36-minute numbers to get closer to comparing apples to apples):<br />
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<div class="sr_share_wrap">
<table class="sr_share" id="" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px sold #aaa; font-size: .83em; overflow: auto;">
<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="right" class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="ranker" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Rank">Rk</th>
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="player" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Player</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="season" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="If listed as single number, the year the season ended.<br>★ - Indicates All-Star for league.<br>Only on regular season tables.">Season</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Games">G</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="gs" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Games Started">GS</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="0" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="1" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Clarkson,Jordan" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jordan Clarkson</a></td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2014-15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">40</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">19</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.438</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.314</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.472</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.814</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="1" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="2" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Exum,Dante" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Dante Exum</a></td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2014-15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">19</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">62</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">21</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.355</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.321</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.411</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.645</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="2" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="3" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="LaVine,Zach" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lavinza01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Zach LaVine</a></td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2014-15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">19</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">56</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.420</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.288</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.454</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.813</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="3" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="4" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Payton,Elfrid" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paytoel01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Elfrid Payton</a></td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2014-15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">64</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">45</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.415</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.167</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.427</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.542</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.0</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="4" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="5" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Smart,Marcus" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Marcus Smart</a></td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2014-15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">47</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">18</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.359</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.325</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.413</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.667</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.4</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="5" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="6" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Stauskas,Nik" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stausni01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Nik Stauskas</a></td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2014-15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">21</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">55</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.344</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.280</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.411</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.872</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot></table>
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2015&p1=lavinza01&y2=2015&p2=exumda01&y3=2015&p3=clarkjo01&y4=2015&p4=smartma01&y5=2015&p5=stausni01&y6=2015&p6=paytoel01&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#per_minute">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/10/2015.</div>
</div>
<br />
Keep in mind that <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/exumda01.html">Dante Exum</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smartma01.html">Marcus Smart</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stausni01.html">Nik Stauskas</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paytoel01.html">Elfrid Payton</a>, and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lavinza01.html">Zach LaVine</a> were all lottery picks and yet <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> is currently out-dueling them all on a per-36 minutes basis. At this point the Lakers are getting more bang for their buck out of the 46th pick than the Jazz are out of the 5th pick.<br />
<br />
While most would point to the fact that Clarkson has been given a larger role in the Lakers offense compared to his competition 3 of them (Smart, Exum, Payton) are currently starters and another (LaVine) has been in and out of the starting lineup and has received solid minutes off the bench. Only <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stausni01.html">Nik Stauskas</a> hasn't been given a major push by his team, and the numbers that he has put up help to explain why. Otherwise, Clarkson's contemporaries have had somewhat similar opportunities to produce for their respective teams. <br />
<br />
Even some advanced statistics like PER recognize Clarkson as the best of the bunch, although not all do. It must be noted that Smart's defense gives him the slight edge in some metrics, such as Win Shares. Clarkson also has the highest usage rate, suggesting that his competitors might come closer to having the impact he has had with a few more touches on the ball.<br />
<br />
It also bears mentioning that Clarkson is the oldest of the group, which helps explain why so many NBA teams passed on him on draft day. In a league where upside is king, choosing a 19 or 20 year-old over a 22 year-old who is currently a better player is common, as it's expected that the younger player has more growth potential.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/mSRg3kF2wk0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mSRg3kF2wk0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<i> Even if that 22 year-old can do this to the 19 year-old</i><br />
<br />
Still, that shouldn't take away from the fact that the Lakers found themselves a true steal. If the 2014 Draft were to be re-done today Clarkson would likely find himself taken in the top 10 instead of falling to the middle of the second round. It's a testament to the organization's ability to identify talent, which is of note because the team will have as many as four draft picks this coming summer.<br />
<br />
The Lakers didn't pick Clarkson just because they owned a draft pick and got lucky on a shot in the dark, they recognized the skills that Jordan possessed and then did what was necessary to go out and acquire the pick used to draft him. That's smart and insightful management, something that the Lakers haven't been accused of lately.<br />
<br />
Of course we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> still needs to be given time to learn and grow as a player, but what we have seen so far has been very, very promising. The rest of the league has taken notice too. <br />
<br />
After Clarkson had <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-grizzlies-20150307-story.html">lit up the Grizzlies</a> for 25 points and forced them to put defensive ace Tony Allen on him down the stretch, Memphis PF<a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/randoza01.html"> Zach Randolph</a> said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "I didn't know who the dude was. 2nd round pick? Who evaluatin' this talent?" </i></blockquote>
<br />
A few days later, before a showdown with Dallas, Mavs Coach Rick Carlisle <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-julius-randle-cleared-20150309-story.html">weighed in on</a> Clarkson:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px;">"Early in the year, like a lot of rookies, he was inconsistent and unsure, wasn't sure what his game was," Carlisle said. "Now you look at him, when you go for 25 against </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px;">Mike Conley</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px;"> in Memphis, and you've got a pretty substantial lead in the fourth quarter, you're getting it done. He's doing a great job."</span></i></blockquote>
Carlisle also credited Byron Scott for Clarkson's progression, stating:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 27px;">"One of the remarkable things about this progression with Clarkson was that he really appeared to be more of a two guard than a point guard," Carlisle said. "He's really getting a feel for playing the point, and that's great coaching." </span></i></blockquote>
It's quotes like these that should give Lakers fans some comfort with the rebuilding process that is currently taking place (although to be fair it's not just Scott working with Clarkson, as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqmDBPqypO4">Steve Nash</a>, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html">Kobe Bryant</a>, and <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boozeca01.html">Carlos Boozer</a> have also been in his ear). While it isn't as fast as some want it to be and the team isn't losing quite as many games as just about everyone would like right now, young players like Clarkson are being given opportunities to grow. If and when this franchise turns things around it's going to be because of guys like him, who were well scouted, acquired, and then given the support needed to develop into quality NBA players.<br />
<br />
To underscore how successful Clarkson has been up to this point I'll leave you with the numbers he has put up as a 22 year-old rookie compared to those produced at the same age by the guy Clarkson is compared to most often, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellismo01.html">Monta Ellis</a>:<br />
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<div class="sr_share_wrap">
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<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="right" class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="ranker" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Rank">Rk</th>
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="player" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Player</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="year_min" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="First year">From</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="year_max" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Last year">To</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Games">G</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="gs" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Games Started">GS</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="0" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="1" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Clarkson,Jordan" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Jordan Clarkson</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2015</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2015</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">40</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">19</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.438</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.314</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.472</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.814</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="1" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="2" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="left" class=" bold_text" csk="Ellis,Monta" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellismo01.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Monta Ellis</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2006</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2008</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">207</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">128</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.495</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.285</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.520</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.761</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">17.7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot></table>
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&y1=2015&p1=clarkjo01&y2=2008&p2=ellismo01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#per_minute">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/10/2015.</div>
</div>
<br />
To make these numbers even more impressive, consider that Ellis was in his third NBA season at that point, well past many of the rookie mistakes that Clarkson currently makes. Lakers fans, celebrate this one small victory. It might not be much, but <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> has given LA a reason to smile, even if only for a moment or two.<br />
<br />
<i>For more Lakers analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i></div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-32501625874746966352015-03-07T17:11:00.003-08:002015-03-08T14:17:01.965-07:00Jordan Clarkson Season Highlights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/zPMmaUQH2CA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Just for a little bit of positivity in another tanktastic season, here are JC's highlights thus far. Mitch and (especially) Jim may get criticized for the Lakers terrible records over the last few seasons but they sure hit it out of the park finding Clarkson in the 2nd round. I love that they had to go out and buy a pick to specifically get him, shows that they identified a talent that other teams undervalued and then spent the necessary money to acquire him. <br />
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It's very possible that the Lakers found the top point guard in the 2014 draft with the 46th pick. Unreal. Bright future for this young man. <br />
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Ok, now back to the tank.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc5HXVNdV1iiyhZm6u1sAcqGkS0IJ7LgvA9CIsEUsLeHTJunf59as1KWWWVa519SPP-4Z9-SzmMbFRSZ6_Dd-SWCrccsR-cz6Zh_ZMwcuKRTN0Fuxf1PCIx9QyWT7Y1BP0sLMWzurTYPh/s1600/tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtc5HXVNdV1iiyhZm6u1sAcqGkS0IJ7LgvA9CIsEUsLeHTJunf59as1KWWWVa519SPP-4Z9-SzmMbFRSZ6_Dd-SWCrccsR-cz6Zh_ZMwcuKRTN0Fuxf1PCIx9QyWT7Y1BP0sLMWzurTYPh/s1600/tank.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-32261134468487139542015-03-07T14:23:00.000-08:002015-03-08T14:24:47.163-07:00Lakers Fans Can't Support LinsanityThe Lakers are experiencing a bout of Linsanity, and oddly enough, fans aren't too happy about it. While his play has been inspired the timing has been terrible for a franchise that is fighting to keep its draft pick. This has led to a conflict of priorities between the contract-year point guard and fans of the purple and gold. But how did we get to this point?<br />
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This past summer the Lakers made a <a href="http://www.16rings.com/2014/07/grading-lin-young-and-hill-acquisitions.html">deal with the Houston Rockets</a> to absorb <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> contract into their cap space, with Houson's 2015 first-round pick heading to LA as payment. The Rockets were doing everything they could to free up cap space to chase after <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/boshch01.html">Chris Bosh</a> in free agency, a pursuit that ultimately yielded a "thanks, but no thanks" from Miami's star power forward.
With Houston's failure to land Bosh and their subsequent decision not to match the contract Dallas offered to restricted free agent <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parsoch01.html">Chandler Parsons</a> it appeared as though the Lakers had pulled off a major coup: they got a talented player plus what would potentially be a mid-round draft pick for nothing more than cap space. Unfortunately, like everything else in Laker Land, things haven't worked out as planned. <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01.html">James Harden</a> and his prehensile beard have dragged the Rockets to a great record, moving their pick to the end of the first round. Even worse, <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> is poised to deal a big set-back to the Lakers rebuilding efforts.<br />
<br />
When the 2014/2015 season started expectations for Lin were high. While no one anticipated a return to his original Linsanity days in New York it did seem likely that he would be significantly better than he was in Houston. The Rockets essentially use <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01.html">James Harden</a> as their point guard, while their actual point guard is one in name only, instead acting as a "3 and D" player, which is a role that just doesn't fit Lin's skill set.<br />
<br />
Coming to the Lakers was supposed to allow Lin, and pick and roll specialist, with the ability to play his game and use the presence of <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html">Kobe Bryant</a> to make defenses pay for not paying enough attention to him. That didn't happen though.<br />
<br />
He couldn't solidify himself as the Lakers starting point guard even with <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nashst01.html">Steve Nash</a> lost to a luggage injury (no really) and the only remaining competition being journeyman <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pricero01.html">Ronnie Price</a> and rookie combo guard <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a>.
He looked timid more often than not, and especially so when sharing the floor with Kobe. Aside from an odd game here and there, Lin has spent the majority of the season proving that he was a quality NBA back-up and nothing more rather than re-staking his claim as a star player.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZv6QOy8-BzHtQp5tQzFOupylQ739FitVRtBLtRempmQIbZOR4D2lptSppTd9XZ8y_FDaTnAoYGhFVrpYjS2Zs8c3YDGKptKY3jeOs0_o1WwjO_5aAnSDmQ9mngMwZsFMltSYC_CeLDCl/s1600/Lin+bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZv6QOy8-BzHtQp5tQzFOupylQ739FitVRtBLtRempmQIbZOR4D2lptSppTd9XZ8y_FDaTnAoYGhFVrpYjS2Zs8c3YDGKptKY3jeOs0_o1WwjO_5aAnSDmQ9mngMwZsFMltSYC_CeLDCl/s1600/Lin+bad.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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He has been such a disappointment that there were rumblings of him being shipped out of LA. At the trade deadline two weeks ago many expected that <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> would find himself wearing another uniform, but he wasnât playing well enough to garner trade interest and his $8.3 million expiring contract wasnât all that valuable thanks to a seldom-used rule that requires the Lakers to actually pay him around $15 million. Not surprisingly most owners didnât want to fork out that kind of cash for a so-so backup point guard.<br />
<br />
For Lin things couldn't get much worse, as he is going to be searching for a new contract this summer and the NBA is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of league. Teams simply aren't going to pay him a big contract for those magical few months in New York. He needed to improve his play, and fast, if he wanted to get a solid deal this summer.<br />
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With that being the case the All-Star break provided the perfect opportunity for Lin to clear his head and find his focus. The result has been an incredible, or dare I say Lincredible, improvement in his production.<br />
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Take a look at his numbers on the season:
<br />
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<div class="sr_share_wrap">
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<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
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<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="season" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="If listed as single number, the year the season ended.<br>★ - Indicates All-Star for league.<br>Only on regular season tables.">Season</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="mp_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Minutes Played Per Game">MP</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per Game">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per Game">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per Game">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per Game">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per Game">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per Game">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per Game">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per Game">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds Per Game">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds Per Game">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per Game">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per Game">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per Game">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per Game">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per Game">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_g" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per Game">PTS</th>
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</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="4" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01/gamelog/2015/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2014-15</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">25.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.437</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.365</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.465</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.775</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.9</td>
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<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html?sr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#per_game">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/7/2015.</div>
</div>
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Compared to what he's done since the All-Star break:<br />
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<th align="right" class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="ranker" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Rank">Rk</th>
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="opp_id" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Opponent">Opp</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Minutes Played">MP</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pf" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Personal Fouls">PF</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points">PTS</th>
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</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="55" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="54" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">54</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BRK/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">BRK</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1451" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">24:11</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.667</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.250</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.625</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">18</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="56" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="55" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">55</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">BOS</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1816" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">30:16</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.667</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.333</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.667</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">25</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="57" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="56" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">56</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">UTA</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1418" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23:38</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.250</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.000</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.000</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="58" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="57" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">57</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">MIL</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1749" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">29:09</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.400</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.500</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.833</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="59" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="58" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">58</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">OKC</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1932" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">32:12</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.500</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.333</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.833</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">20</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="60" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="59" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">59</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHO/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">CHO</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1815" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">30:15</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">16</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.563</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.750</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.000</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="61" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="60" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">60</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">MIA</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1742" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">29:02</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.417</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.250</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.500</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="63" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="right" csk="61" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">61</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MEM/2015.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">MEM</a></td>
<td align="right" csk="1611" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">26:51</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.200</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.000</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.000</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot></table>
<div class="sr_share" id="" style="font-size: 0.83em;">
Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>: <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01/gamelog/2015/?sr&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool#pgl_basic">View Original Table</a><br />
Generated 3/7/2015.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
To say that he has been a different player over the past two weeks would be an understatement, as almost all of his numbers have jumped significantly. Also consider that Lin's two weakest games of the stretch were against Utah and Memphis, where rookie <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a> did the heavy lifting. Lin mostly took a backseat in those games and allowed other players around him to grow, showing maturity and selflessness.<br />
<br />
Looking beyond the stats, the eye test has shown that <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> has morphed into a whole new animal. Gone is the timid, brick-tastic guard who was making his New York days look like a fluke. The new version of Lin is aggressive on both ends of the floor, confident in attacking the basket, and runs the pick and roll like a master. He's got defenses scrambling and on most plays manages to either get himself to the rim or find an open shot for a teammate. When neither materializes his jumper has become a reliant weapon and his handle and quickness provides enough space to get his shot off in tough spots. In short, he has been the player that everyone thought the Lakers were getting when they fleeced the Houston Rockets in July.<br />
<br />
Here's the problem though: the only person <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a>'s outstanding play is helping is <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a>. He has resurrected his career and if he can keep up this level of play will have made himself millions of dollars more than he would have otherwise, and no doubt on a longer contract too. Good news for him, bad news for his team.<br />
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The Lakers have been mired in a losing season besieged by injuries, and as a result have found themselves as the 4th-worst team in the NBA based on standings. The one benefit of having a poor record is usually a high draft pick, but the Lakers will have to give theirs to the Sixers if it falls anywhere outside the top 5 (thanks <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nashst01.html">Steve Nash</a>!). This is where the conflict between Lin and Lakers fans rears it's ugly head.<br />
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At this point, with no hope of making the playoffs the only thing the that fans have to look forward to is the draft, and due to the NBA's lottery system even 4th place doesn't guarantee them of keeping the pick. In fact 4th place only offers an 83% chance of the Lakers hanging onto their pick, and the numbers get drastically worse should they move up in the standings.
This makes Lin's resurgence incredibly dangerous, as with every win the Lakers add to their record they get another step closer to losing their coveted draft pick. This would be a nightmare scenario for the franchise and their legion of supporters.<br />
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<i>No. Please God no.</i><br />
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Fans are fully aware of the Lakers precarious position, and have made the decision that while no one likes losing it is a necessary evil at this stage in the rebuild. First round picks are incredibly valuable in today's NBA, and the Lakers simply have to keep theirs if they want to move forward with building a championship team. Anyone getting in the way of that goal risks drawing the ire of the fans, especially when it's someone like Lin who isn't likely to return next season.<br />
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<i>*An interesting side note: pre All-Star break Lin wasn't likely to be brought back next year thanks to his poor play and fit alongside Kobe. Post All-Star break Lin may be even less likely to be brought back because now he's going to demand too big of a contract for the Lakers to pay him and still be able to chase superstar free agents. It's too bad, because post All-Star Lin has combined nicely with <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkjo01.html">Jordan Clarkson</a>. The two of them make for a terrorizing whirlwind of slashing, scoring, and dishing, like two purple and gold Tasmanian Devils.</i><br />
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From the fans perspective <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> is earning himself a bigger pay day at the expense of the Lakers future. For a fan base that has suffered through three unbearable seasons this is adding insult to Linjury.
While the Lakers are currently on a 4-game losing streak, every game has been agonizingly close and the margin for error between them and their tank opponents (PHI, ORL, DEN, SAC, MIN, NY) is razor thin. A single win could end up making the difference between keeping the pick or losing it, and there is no question that the team is much more likely to suffer unwanted victories with Lin playing at his best. As a result fans are on edge each and every game, desperate for losses and painfully Lin push them in the wrong direction.<br />
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This truly is unfortunate, as under just about any other circumstances Lin's resurgence would have sparked a massive outpouring of support from Lakers fans around the world. If the Lakers were in the playoff hunt instead of the cellar then he would have practically be considered a saint by this point. Instead, Linsanity version 2.0 has sparked a collective groan from Lakers fans, along with frustration at the poor timing of his improvement (poor for the team, anyway).<br />
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If anything Lin should be applauded for his tenacity. His job is to be the best basketball player he can and he has battled through adversity to finally bring his best to LA. Fans should be (and are) directing their frustration at Coach <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottby01.html">Byron Scott</a>, who continues to play the hot hand (usually Lin) during crunch time. Who plays how many minutes is his decision to make, and if he doesn't understand how crucial it is that the team loses then thatâs on him and the Lakers organization for not setting him straight.<br />
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Still, it's understandable that fans would be frustrated with Lin's impressive Lazarus act. After everything that the Lakers have been through over the past few years tensions are running high in LA. With 21 games left on the schedule every game matters (in a weird, tank-tacular way), and with so much at risk fans are agitated. It's a perfect storm for fans to turn on their own players, even though both sides clearly understand the others motivations.<br />
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What it all adds up to is that it's going to be a long 5 weeks until the end of the season. The best-case scenario wold involve Lin continuing to play well and the Lakers not winning. It's an unlikely outcome, especially with games against NY, MIN (twice!), and PHI (twice!) still left on the schedule. We have to hope though, because <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/linje01.html">Jeremy Lin</a> is, from all accounts, a good guy and good teammate. Fans want to be able to want good things for him, but simply can't support him at the expense of the team. If he forces too many wins onto the Lakers record and loses the pick for LA fans, well, that's going to be just Linsufferable.<br />
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Ok, I'll stop with the puns now.<br />
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<i>Follow me on twitter for more tank-related commiserating <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i>Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-35637392340697616092015-03-01T09:26:00.001-08:002015-03-11T22:51:16.249-07:00By Winning Lakers Risk Losing It AllThe past week has not been a good one for the Los Angeles Lakers. While most fan bases would be celebrating a 3-game win streak Lakers fans are bemoaning their bad luck and cursing coach Byron Scott. Due to the nature of the ill-fated Steve Nash trade the Lakers only keep their 2015 draft pick if it falls in the top 5, a place where the Lakers haven't been in 33 years. The team is currently in a very tight race to the bottom, and much to the dismay of the Laker faithful, the recent win streak has put that pick in serious jeopardy.<br>
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However, the rage of Lakers fans has roots well beyond simply losing the draft pick. To fully understand the situation we have to hop in the DeLorean and take a short trip back to February 19th, 2015. </div>
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Effectively eliminated from playoff contention, the Lakers found themselves tasked with rebuilding their once mighty brand. Fans had surprisingly come around on the idea of a complete tear down, preferring to have young talent to watch grow instead of yet another win-now move that sacrifices the team's future.<br>
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That being the case, many fans were hoping for the Lakers to make a move by the 3 pm ET trade deadline on the 19th, and ideally it would be one that would help the Lakers lose more games this season in exchange for future picks or young players. The players they hoped to see shipped out included Jeremy Lin and Jordan Hill, both of whom may not be back in purple and gold next year.<br>
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The Lakers <a href="http://www.16rings.com/2015/02/why-lakers-lost-big-at-trade-deadline.html">opted not to move in that </a>direction, instead choosing to be one of the few teams that didn't make a move at the deadline. While most everyone, myself included, believed that it was a missed opportunity to help secure the draft pick and build for the future, no one was overly upset about it. After all this was Mitch Kupchak's M.O.: if teams don't meet the asking price for his assets then no trade takes place. Period. <br>
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While the team hadn't decreased it's talent level like their competitors in New York and Philadelphia things were still looking up. </div>
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To their credit, the front office and coaching staff had been doing a solid job navigating the difficult waters of team building. On February 20th, the day after the deadline, <a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/mitch-kupchak-says-lakers-top-priority-is-preparing-for-the-nba-draft/2015/02/20/">Mitch Kupchak admitted </a>that he was looking ahead to the draft and that would be the team's focus for the remainder of the season.<br>
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While his statements didn't exactly justify not making a deadline deal, Mitch's words were still exactly what Lakers fans wanted to hear. The team had realized the situation they are in and would be putting aside their pride to build for the future. Even prickly coach Byron Scott had been getting in on the act, as his lineups helped both improve the future and secure the pick by giving major minutes to the few young players on the roster.<br>
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To fans it was as though the skies parted, flowers were blooming, and birds were singing. Not only were the Lakers making smart public statements about their situation but they were actively making moves within their roster to help facilitate a brighter future. After a season and a half of misery the Lakers were finally prepared to do what was necessary to properly rebuild.<br>
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The product on the court reflected the team's long-term goals. Jordan Clarkson was showing flashes of brilliance, and fans loudly promoted him as the steal of the draft at the 46th pick. Second-year forward Ryan Kelly was shooting threes at a high percentage, indicating a solid future as a stretch four. Rookie Tarik Black dominated the boards, and while he lacked skill in other areas his elite rebounding could be a major asset. <br>
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The good vibes kept rolling when news broke on February 21st that injured rookie and 7th overall pick Julius Randle was <a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-julius-randle-will-definitely-participate-in-summer-league/2015/02/21/">back to working out </a>at the Lakers practice facility and would be good to go for summer league. <br>
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The icing on cake, of course, was that not only was Scott prioritizing minutes for the young players and allowing them to play through their mistakes, but also that veteran players who aren't likely to return to return next season were firmly planted to the pine.<br>
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Clearly, the organization had learned its lesson from last season, when a contract-year Nick Young got hot down the stretch and dropped the Lakers 2014 pick several spots. That wouldn't be happening again; this time there was a plan in place and the team wasn't going to allow contract-year players chasing big paydays to potentially ruin the team's shot at finding a future cornerstone. Not this time, when winning games could mean losing the pick completely rather than just dropping down a bit. <br>
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It was smart, rational decision making from an organization that had been anything but for so many years. For the first time in a long time it felt o.k. to be a Laker fan again. <br>
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Down the stretch the team would be bad, but bad with a purpose. Fans were salivating over the thought of landing a player like Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns in the draft and pairing them with Randle on the Lakers front line of the future. Add Jordan Clarkson to the fold on the perimeter and young role players like Kelly, Robert Sacre, and Black to the mix and the Lakers would have something they haven't had in a long time: hope. <br>
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It was at that moment, on February 22nd, just when fans had finally begun to feel hopeful for the future, that it all came crashing down. For no apparent reason the team undid all of their previous success and made moves that can only be described as self-destructive. <br>
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With the Boston Celtics in town, Scott's rotations were flipped on their head as veterans usurped the minutes that were supposed to go to the Lakers youth. Contract-year players had huge games in an attempt to secure their next payday, and worst of all, the Lakers won.<br>
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Down the stretch against the Celtics it was Jeremy Lin and Wesley Johnson who got hot, scoring 25 and 22 points respectively.<br>
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Inexplicably, Scott rode the two veterans, both of whom are unlikely to return to the Lakers next season, to victory. Ryan Kelly and Jordan Clarkson stayed glued to the bench, while Tarik Black played a total of 4 minutes. Scott decided that veteran Carlos Boozer would draw the start and the returning Jordan Hill would soak up the rest of Black's valuable minutes.<br>
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Fans hoped that these moves were made simply because the hated Celtics were in town, and as a Showtime Laker it was in Byron's blood to defeat them by any means necessary. Unfortunately, the same scenario played out again three nights later against the Utah Jazz, only this time it was Jordan Hill, set to be a free agent this summer if the team doesn't pick up his $9 million option, who couldn't miss. Hill's unwanted surge hit the team with yet another painful victory.<br>
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The only positive to take away from the Jazz game was the play of Jordan Clarkson, as the 46th pick in the draft dominated his rookie counterpart Dante Exum, who was taken 5th overall.<br>
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<i>Clarkson also provided this highlight-reel dunk over Exum. Beautiful stuff.</i><br>
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On February 27th the Lakers took on the Milwaukee Bucks, and disaster struck once again. Veteran Wayne Ellington (yep, you guess it...also in a contract year), carried the team down the stretch with his clutch shooting. Clarkson, despite playing well, watched the game from the bench during crunch time as Ellington and Lin handled the ball and pushed the Lakers to another unbearable victory.<br>
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As a result of this untimely three-game win streak the Lakers currently sit at 16-41, 4th-worst in the league and ironically three games ahead of Minnesota and Philadelphia win column. They have also uncomfortably gained ground on the 5th-worst Orlando Magic, who sit at 19 wins, and the sliding Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, both of whom have 20 victories. In other words, not only are the Lakers not improving their chances of keeping their draft pick, they are are dangerously close to moving up to 5th, 6th, or even 7th and all but ensuring that the pick will be gone.<br>
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Even if they manage to stay at 4th the Lakers have a nerve-wracking 17% chance of losing their pick completely, which is way too high considering the importance of adding young talent at this juncture.<br>
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Fans in the know loudly protested via social media but Coach Scott simply laughed off their criticisms and proclaimed that the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-fyi-20150227-story.html">Lakers won't tank</a>. The only explanation he could give for actions was that he wanted to build a winning culture and that attempting to get a good draft pick just backfires anyway (in spite of all of the evidence to the contrary). Scott chose to blatantly ignore the fact that winning with players who won't be with the team after this season doesn't help build a winning culture in any way, shape, or form. <br>
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Of course, this is the same Byron Scott who began the season by stating his belief that thee-point shots don't <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24756818/byron-scott-on-3-pointers-i-dont-believe-it-wins-championships">win championships</a>, and last week stuck his foot in his mouth again when he <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/26/lakers-coach-byron-scott-i-dont-believe-in-analytics/">spoke out against analytics </a>and admitted that he doesn't use them. In ESPN's rankings of team's who use analytics to help in their decision making the Lakers finished <a href="http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12331388/the-great-analytics-rankings#nba-lal">second-to-last</a>, showing that both Scott and the organization are dangerously behind the times. <br>
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It's something of a unique situation, where an intelligent and progressive fan base is finding itself at odds with a coach who prefers old-school methods and thinking.<br>
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As such, it would appear as though Scott is lashing out at a world that has insulted his values. The game has changed, the NBA is now populated with stat-geeks, free-flowing offense, and refers to players with terms like "efficiency" and "return on investment". It's a stark contrast from the NBA that Scott and the Showtime Lakers dominated, and while fans have caught on and understand the value of losing to win, Scott is offended by the notion. To outside observers it looks as though he's striking back at those who support the Lakers rebuild by attempting to unravel it in spite of the roster it would leave him with for the future.<br>
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Shooting the franchise he loves in the foot in order to prove a point would be maniacal, but then again, the moves being made right now are just that crazy. It's as though Scott, and by proxy the organization, has reverted back to the "we're the Lakers, everyone will come play for us" mantra that poisoned the past few years. They were one of the last teams to attempt to adapt to the new CBA and the analytics movement, and since February 22nd they appear to have regressed back to their non-progressive, reactionary stance. <br>
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Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that the hope that the Lakers had built up is now inexplicably gone. Fans are justifiably in an uproar, as not only is the team winning, but they are winning at the expense of their young players. <br>
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In the most apocalyptic scenario, the team would lose their coveted draft pick and players like Jeremy Lin, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill, Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Wayne Ellington will earn themselves contracts with other teams, leaving the Lakers with nothing to show for the worst season in franchise history. That outcome would be one that would undoubtedly cost the most popular franchise in the league a large chunk of their massive fan base.<br>
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Throughout the past few tumultuous years the fans have stuck it out, refusing to abandon their beloved franchise when the chips are down. Their resolve, however, only goes so far. To lose the 2015 draft pick by self-inflicted means would be to lose all hope for the future. Not only would it prove that the roster will not be winning anytime soon but it would also confirm the whispered fears that both the coaching staff and front office are not capable of bringing the team back from the brink.<br>
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Fans can only sit by and watch the team that they love make self-destructive decisions for so long before they have no choice but to distance themselves from it. Lakers fans are, if nothing else, a passionate bunch, and the past few seasons have been a painful experience. At some point the strain becomes too much and the ties will break.<br>
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The Lakers organization are lucky in that they have a fan base that is not only knowledgeable enough to understand the necessity of a rebuild but also patient enough to stand strong during it. However, by self-inflicting numerous wounds on the team over the past week the franchise is playing a dangerous game. Consciously making the decision to rob the fans of hope will only drive them away, some permanently. <br>
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The final 25 games remaining on the schedule will be some of the most crucial in the team's illustrious history. If the madness of the past week and a half is allowed to continue and they lose their draft pick the Lakers will find themselves in a free fall, spiraling out of control. Reverse course and, depending on the records of their competitors, the team just may restore hope after all. <br>
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The fork in the road has two clear paths: Lose and have hope for the future or win and risk losing everything. For the sake of the fans, let's hope they choose wisely.<br>
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<i>For more Lakers analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA </a> </i><br>
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Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-8892706498787833672015-02-19T20:27:00.000-08:002015-03-08T14:49:56.294-07:00Why the Lakers Lost Big at the Trade DeadlineThe trade deadline has passed and wow was it an exciting one. A flurry of activity erupted on Twitter right before the clock ran out, with nearly every team making some sort of move. Unfortunately the Lakers were one of the few teams that opted to sit on the sidelines this go-round, and it may come back to haunt them. <br />
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Most of the Lakers buzz involved soon-to-be free agent Goran Dragic, who made it clear that he wanted out of Phoenix and that he would only sign long-term with the Lakers, Knicks, or Heat. While the Lakers pursued the deal they ultimately decided that giving up assets for Dragic just didn't make sense when they can attempt to sign him in free agency this summer. There was also concern that adding Dragic now would cause the team to win too many games and thus forfeit their top-5 protected draft pick. <br />
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<i>The Suns reportedly asked the Lakers to remove the top-5 protection from the pick as part of the deal. The Lakers, of course, laughed their asses off. The Suns stuck it to the Lakers in the trade for their sleeper agent Steve Nash, but Mitch Kupchak isn't going to get fooled twice by the same organization. </i><br />
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While the Lakers ultimately decided that adding Dragic now wasn't in their best interest they were hoping that Phoenix would end up simply keeping their disgruntled point guard, as that would give the Lakers the best shot of signing him in free agency. If he were to be traded to another team it would have been best for LA if he had gone to New York and helped the Knicks win, which could have improved the Lakers draft position. <br />
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Unfortunately neither scenario happened, as Phoenix sent Dragic to Miami, where he is likely to stay. They have a team ready to win now and play in the Leastern Conference, which offers more opportunity for success than the buzz saw that is the West. For the Lakers this leaves one less free agent to pursue this summer, which isn't good for a franchise that's hurting for talent and has money to spend. <br />
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When the Lakers refused to remove the top-5 protection on their pick Phoenix opted to move it in a multi-team deal with the Sixers and Bucks that netted them Brandon Knight. The Lakers pick wound up in the hands of the Sixers, and that's where the real trouble begins. <br />
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The Lakers made the decision that keeping their draft pick and the precious few other assets that they own was more important than taking another risk on a guy who would be a free agent in a few months. <br />
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<i>No one can really blame them for going this route after Dwight Howard's heel turn two summers ago. He hit the greatest franchise in sports square in the back with a steel chair then spray painted H-O-U across their chest. </i><br />
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While the decision to not improve the roster right now by giving up assets is certainly defensible, they also didn't make any moves to improve their chances of keeping their draft pick. Currently the team sits fairly comfortably in the 4th spot, with a 4-game "lead" in the win column over the Orlando Magic. However, they also have only 1 more win than the Sixers, 2 more than Minnesota, and 3 more than New York, leaving them tantalizingly close to improving their lottery odds. <br />
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Out-tanking their cellar-dwelling oppoenents would be incredibly beneficial, as currently all it takes for the Lakers to lose their draft pick this year is two teams behind them in the draft to jump ahead in the lottery, which isn't out of the question (they have a 44.7% chance of losing the pick if they are 5th, a 20% chance at 4th, a 4% chance at 3rd, and 0% at 2nd or 1st). <br />
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Some thought that the Lakers would attempt to improve their draft odds by trading players for draft picks (first or second rounders). While they don't have many valuable trade chips they do have somewhat productive players like Jordan Hill, Jeremy Lin, Wayne Ellington, and Nick Young. Mitch Kupchak has always demanded top value for his assets though, and apparently no team was willing to meet the asking price.<br />
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Unfortunately, while the Lakers stood pat, two of the three teams that they are chasing in the tank race made moves to become significantly worse. The Knicks went through with their long-rumored plan to shut down Carmelo Anthony for the year and Sixers gave away Michael Carter-Williams and KJ McDaniels for draft picks (including the Lakers top-5 protected 2015 pick).<br />
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<i>At this point the Sixers are so hell-bent on obtaining all the draft picks that they are even sacrificing quality young players to the tank gods in order to do it. MCW and McDaniels were inspired picks by the team but their lust for terrible play can't be sated. The team had started to actually win games, which simply isn't tolerated. </i><br />
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To make matters worse the Lakers play the Knicks once more this year and the Sixers twice. While fans were hoping to see the Lakers lose those games that outcome is now extremely unlikely. Additionally, with the Sixers now owning the Lakers pick they will have extra motivation to do whatever it takes to lose to LA and push the Lakers up in the standings.<br />
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Minnesota, on the other hand, may have decreased their on-the-court production slightly by swapping Thad Young for Kevin Garnett but it's possible that KG's veteran leadership will end up being a positive for the up-and-coming team. At the very least he will provide a feel-good story for the team to focus on for the rest of the season. <br />
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It also has to be mentioned that the Wolves have recently seen Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, and Kevin Martin return to their rotation from various injuries. With a full compliment of players they are not nearly as bad of a team as their record would suggest. Unfortunately, while the Wolves didn't make any major tank moves they do have an absolutely horrific schedule for the remainder of the season, because that's just the luck the Lakers have these days. <br />
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Needless to say it's now very unlikely that the Lakers are going to be able to drop below the 4th spot in the tank race. They had been doing a fantastic job of losing over the past few weeks but there is just too much talent on the squad (no, seriously) for them to hope to keep it up. Their schedule is one of the easiest in the league down the stretch, which doesn't bode well for the tank. <br />
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At the deadline the Lakers made their decision to throw all of their eggs into the draft pick basket but that has become an even more dicey proposition with the tanktacular moves that their competition made. While Byron Scott has promised lineup changes it's hard to imagine that he'll find a better tank squad than the current starting lineup of rookies Jordan Clarkson and Tarik Black, second year players Robert Sacre and Ryan Kelly, and the surprisingly effective Wayne Ellington. It's more likely that whatever moves he makes will improve the team, and thereby hurt the franchise long-term. <br />
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The team is on very thin ice and every win from here on out will be a giant step backwards in the Lakers rebuilding process. It's a nightmare scenario but Lakers fans could be forced to watch a Nick Young hot streak derail the tank for the second year in a row, only this time the franchise would be robbed of their pick entirely. The Lakers didn't overtly hurt their cause at the deadline but the moves made around them sure did.<br />
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29 nerve-wracking games left for Lakers fans, and then a lot of praying for good luck (for a change) in the lottery. <br />
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<i>Follow me on twitter for more tank talk <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i><br />
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-31216740117446891492015-02-16T20:04:00.000-08:002015-03-08T14:50:30.021-07:00Why Waiving Carlos Boozer Makes Tons of SenseLast summer the Chicago Bulls used the amnesty provision on power forward Carlos Boozer, the former All-Star whose salary was standing in the way of the team signing Pau Gasol away from the Lakers. In a nutshell, Boozer's skill as a player had deteriorated to the point where the Bulls decided to pay him his full salary of nearly $17 million to <i>not</i> play basketball for them.<br />
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In a strange twist of fate, it was the now Gasol-less Lakers who ended up submitting the winning bid for Boozer's services in the waiver process. The Lakers won with a bid of $3.25 million, which was certainly a discounted price for a former All Star (Boozer still receives over $13 million from the Bulls...he certainly isn't hurting for cash). <br />
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Laker GM Mitch Kupchak genuinely seemed surprised that the team won the Boozer waiver auction, and it didn't make much sense from an outsider's perspective. The team had just come to terms with PF/C Ed Davis, and it was assumed that he would be the team's starting power forward alongside Jordan Hill. Boozer's arrival threw that into question. <br />
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The Lakers had also drafted teenage power forward Julius Randle and retained Ryan Kelly, both of whom were projected to play power forward. Even if the Lakers intended on sliding Davis into the role of backup Center to Jordan Hill the addition of Boozer appeared to create something of a log jam at the team's big man spots, and that was without mentioning serviceable center Robert Sacre to the mix. <br />
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Fans didn't have very high expectations for Boozer after seeing his play trend downward in Chicago. It eventually got so bad that Coach Tom Thibodeau had taken to benching his bald-headed big man during crunch times in games, citing his lack of defense as a major concern. Add in the log jam situation and the possibility of Boozer stealing precious minutes from prized rookie Randle and it's safe to say that fans were less than enthused about the Lakers newest addition. <br />
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Still, the role that Boozer would play with the Lakers was clear: off the court he would act as a mentor to the Lakers young players and help them adjust to the league, while on it he would do everything he could to prove that he deserves another contract when his current one expires this summer. <br />
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To almost everyone's surprise the Boozer experiment has been a success on both fronts. He's played well and actually put up numbers that are on par with those he did before his final season in Chicago, suggesting that his putrid last season with the Bulls may have been an outlier. He also handled a demotion to the bench professionally, and has used the opportunity to prove that while he might not quite be an NBA starter anymore he can still score fairly easily against the backup bigs of most teams in the league. <br />
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He's also been a solid presence on the Lakers and set a good example for young teammates Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black (who was acquired off waivers as well), and Kelly. Unfortunately Julius Randle's (Boozer's intended protege) season-ending injury limited the amount of on-court time he had with Boozer, but Carlos has undoubtedly had a positive impact on the roster regardless. <br />
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However, it's time for that partnership to end. While Boozer has by all accounts been a model employee there is simply too much for both the Lakers and him to gain by parting ways. He's ineligible to be traded because he was claimed off of waivers but he can still be waived by the team, which would allow him to sign elsewhere.<br />
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Boozer has proven that he still has what it takes to be an NBA player, and chances are good that a playoff team in need of a big man would scoop him up. At this stage in his career allowing him to join a team with a shot at making a deep playoff run would be a classy move on the part of the Lakers, who have long been cultivating a reputation as a player-friendly franchise (hence giving Kobe the huge contract, sending Steve Blake to the Warriors last year, standing by Xavier Henry during his troublesome injuries, etc.).<br />
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Allowing Boozer to have his freedom sends the message to the league that the Lakers are an organization that does what's best for their players and treats them fairly. <br />
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Of course, there are some on the court benefits to letting Boozer walk as well. For one, it frees up some minutes at the power forward position, which would allow Ryan Kelly to stop spending so many minutes at small forward, where he is an awkward fit at best. <br />
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Secondly, Boozer has been playing well enough that the Lakers have come close to winning a few games due to his efforts off the bench. While his veteran leadership would certainly be missed it's unlikely that Carlos will re-sign with the Lakers in the offseason, and having him around for the final 29 games of the season simply isn't worth the risk of his play causing the Lakers to win a few too many games and lose their precious 2015 draft pick as a result. <br />
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At this point the draft pick is just too important to the rebuilding process to risk keeping Boozer around, especially when parting ways with him could be so beneficial to both parties. Fans have certainly appreciated the effort and professionalism that Carlos Boozer has shown all season, but it's time for the experiment to come to an end. <br />
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<i>For more Lakers news and analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i>Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-88648237724009330852015-02-16T13:29:00.000-08:002015-03-08T15:01:26.681-07:00The Return of the Lakers<br />
It's no secret that the Lakers have a long road back to relevance. The past few seasons have featured one mistake after another compounded by a nearly unprecedented run of bad luck. With very few assets in the cupboard they are going to have to be mistake-free in four key areas: 2nd chance players, draft picks, free agents, and trades. Let's take a look at how they can move forward in each area.<br />
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<b>Second Chance Players</b><br />
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In the current NBA one of the most important factors when building a team is a player's production on the court compared to the length and value of their contract. The CBA has made exceeding the cap increasingly punitive, and as a result finding productive talent on team-friendly contracts has become a must (this is why the value of first round picks has skyrocketed, as the cost of their contracts is low compared to their average production).<br />
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There is now extra incentive for teams to leave no stone unturned when searching for talent. Players who went undrafted or washed out with other franchises can typically be signed at bargain prices and to unguaranteed deals, which means that if they don't perform they can simply be cut (this is why the Lakers <a href="http://www.16rings.com/2014/12/welcome-to-lakers-tarik-black.html">claiming Tarik Black</a> off of waivers was such a smart move). <br />
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While the odds of one of these players panning out are slim the benefits of finding a diamond in the rough can be immense. Hassan Whiteside and Jeremy Lin might be the most sensational reclamation projects, but players such as Wesley Matthews, Brad Miller, and John Starks also went from being undrafted to relative NBA stardom. Occasionally good players do fall between the cracks or are undervalued by their teams and it takes an astute GM to identify and acquire them.<br />
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While these players will ultimately get a big payday their initial contract can bring extreme value for their teams. Whiteside, in particular, has taken the NBA by storm this season and will play out the remainder of this year and next on a minimum deal, which is an incredible return on investment for the HEAT. Likewise Jeremy Lin made a fortune for the Knicks while toiling away on a minimum deal before signing a big contract with the Houston Rockets.<br />
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Let's not forget that drafted players can also find themselves washing out with the team that selected them. Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes for a player to realize their potential. Chauncey Billups and Kyle Lowry exemplify this phenomenon, as both found stardom after leaving their initial clubs. Finding a player who is undervalued by their current team but has untapped potential can also be a major coup for teams smart enough to pounce on them.<br />
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To their credit the Lakers have done fairly well with second chance players. While the odds of any of them turning into stars is incredibly slim they have still managed to pull solid backup-level talent from the NBA recycle bin. Over the past two seasons they have successfully (and cheaply) brought in Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, Xavier Henry, Jodie Meeks, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Farmar, Nick Young, Wayne Ellington, and Ronnie Price. They also wisely claimed undrafted rookie Tarik Black off of waivers.<br />
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Almost all of them have at least proven that they can be decent role players off the bench, which has to give Lakers fans a little bit of confidence in the team's scouting department. Still, the Lakers have to keep plugging away. They have a team stocked with players who would be ideally suited to a reserve role, but haven't been able to strike gold and find a starter...yet. <br />
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<b>Draft Picks</b><br />
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The Lakers find themselves in a tricky situation with their draft pick this season, as it's slated to go to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Steve Nash trade unless it falls in the top 5. As of this writing the Lakers sit with the 4th worst record in the league, giving them a decent chance of keeping the pick but also an uncomfortably high possibility of losing it.<br />
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While keeping the pick this year almost certainly means losing it next year there are no guarantees that they will have another opportunity to be this bad again, and landing a top pick in the draft is the best way to rebuild a franchise. <br />
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Should they keep the pick this year then next season the team will essentially be adding two lottery picks to their roster as Julius Randle will be returning from his broken leg and foot surgery. If the team is going to get back on track bolstering their squad with two young, talented players on rookie contracts would be a great way to start. <br />
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<i>Yes please. Or any top 5 guy, really.</i></div>
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With everything that is at stake it's going to be incredibly important for the Lakers to lose as much as possible. Losing isn't fun but it has to be done with the goal of improving the team in mind. Should the Lakers win too many games down the stretch and be forced to surrender their pick to Phoenix then this entire season of misery will have been for nothing. It's a fate far worse than having to endure a few more meaningless losses.<br />
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Tanking adequately enough to keep the pick may require the Lakers to trade moderately productive players like Jordan Hill, Jeremy Lin, Ed Davis, and possibly buy out Carlos Boozer, who is ineligible to be traded. As I've<a href="http://www.16rings.com/2015/01/most-tradeable-lakers.html"> mentioned before </a>the Lakers trade assets may not bring much in return in the way of first round picks or young talent but clearing those players from the squad will help them keep pace with other teams that are actively making (or preparing to make) tank moves, like New York and Minnesota. <br />
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Let's also not forget that the Lakers have had some success finding talent in the second round. Ryan Kelly, Jordan Clarkson, and Robert Sacre were all found in the second round, and all three are currently in the starting lineup, along with undrafted Tarik Black and Wayne Ellington, who was barely a first round pick (28th in the 2009 draft). While none would be starting on competitive teams they all have the skills to be useful role players, and Clarkson in particular could develop into a starter-level player. <br />
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The Lakers need to do whatever they can to restock their draft picks after spending so many years trading them away. While second round picks aren't as sexy as firsts they are certainly easier to obtain, and at this point the team can't be too choosy. At the end of the day the draft is simply the best way to add young talent to a team that is starving for it, and the Lakers need to do everything they can to add more picks to their arsenal, even if that means tanking and trading away the few valuable players they have on the roster.<br />
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<b>Free Agents</b><br />
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The Lakers have always considered themselves to be an attractive destination for free agents, with their championship history, warm weather, and massive fan base all enticing the best players to don purple and gold. While all that may still be true they are no longer in a position to spend their way back to relevancy thanks to the draconian CBA.<br />
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Now the Laker brain trust has to be incredibly selective about who they spend their cap space on, and how long they issue those contracts for. This is an area that the Lakers have struggled in lately, giving Kobe his massive $48 million/2 year deal, Jordan Hill $18 million/2 years with a team option rather than unguaranteed (a huge difference for trade purposes) and Nick Young a $21.5 million, 4 year deal that takes him well into his 30s (actually, the Nick Young deal isn't terrible, but the opportunity cost is, as they could have had Isaiah Thomas for the same price).<br />
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There is a lot of pressure on the team to improve and do so quickly. Their large fan base and media spotlight has made their suffering more visible than most bottom-feeding teams. Jim Buss has also given himself a deadline to either improve or resign, and Magic Johnson has also externally put pressure on the team with his comments about Buss' ability to right the ship. <br />
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All of these things add up to a very dangerous off-season coming up this summer for the Lakers, one where agents and rival GM's alike will be preying on their desperation. If they panic and throw big money at an aging quasi-star (there are several available this year) they could well find themselves stuck in mediocrity for longer than anyone anticipated. <br />
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If the Lakers attempt to apply a band-aid to the massive wound they are suffering from they will only prolong the agony. Instead, they need to focus on finding two types of players: A. Young talent with star potential and B. Players that will sign team-friendly contracts. <br />
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This team isn't constructed to attract a superstar just yet, but the Lakers have been in swing-for-the-fences mode for a while now in spite of the impetuousness of the plan. As I <a href="http://www.16rings.com/2015/01/thirsty-lakers-and-free-agent-drought.html">wrote previously</a>, this offseason is full of a strange mix of aging stars and restricted young talent. The Lakers must resist the temptation to throw money at the former group. It's one of the most crucial decisions they have to make this summer, and if they give in to desperation and settle that contract will come back to haunt them.<br />
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If they can target younger players, even those who are restricted, they can sell the LA lifestyle. Winning with the Lakers means more than winning with any other franchise because of the history of the organization and the insane popularity that comes with it. If a player has an eye towards becoming a true star in the league then Los Angeles is the place to do it. The team is simply better off throwing money at a restricted player that can grow into a star than an aging, past-his-prime unrestricted player. Even signing no big names would be better than overpaying the wrong player in the long run. Unfortunately, the Lakers seem poised to make a poor decision this summer, but fans have to hope that patience and reason win the day.<br />
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<b>Trades</b><br />
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Historically the Lakers have done fairly well with trades. Mitch Kupchak has swung a number of deals that ended up benefiting the team, such as the Pau Gasol trade, Jordan Hill trade, Jordan Clarkson, etc. However, there is also cause for concern. <br />
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The Lakers have shown that they can be extremely slow to adapt to changes in the league. In 2005 they traded Caron Butler for Kwame Brown in part because it would allow Lamar Odom to shift to small forward, which the team thought was Odom's natural position. Of course they did this right when the league was changing it's rules and small ball and outside shooting became more prevalent, which meant that using Odom as a three was a terrible decision, as was trading for Kwame (although his expiring deal did lead to the Pau trade...if only expirings were still as valuable today). <br />
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They also criminally undervalued first round picks for years, trading them away in one deal after another, assuming that those picks would always be late in the first round because they would be at the top of the league. They traded away three first round picks in the trades for Dwight Howard and Steve Nash only to have both players burn them in their own way.<br />
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Still, Mitch Kupchak is an experienced master in the art of the trade. He refused to deal Pau Gasol for second-round picks at the deadline last year because he knew that would damage his trade position in the future. He's always held out for top-value on his players, and while sometimes that means that nothing happens it also means that teams know they can't low ball the Lakers. <br />
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This is a good thing for a team that is desperate for assets. If a team wants Jordan Hill at the deadline they will have to pay for him. If someone wants the Houston Rocket's first round pick this summer (owned by the Lakers due to the Lin trade) they will need to pay full price for it. Mitch will either get top value or not trade at all, which is a great quality for a GM to have.<br />
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<i> You will give us all the picks. </i></div>
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At times he has been guilty of paying too much to obtain other players who didn't pan out (looking at you Steve Nash), but in the end there are few general managers in the league who can work a deal like Kupchak can. <br />
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It won't be easy, especially when the franchise is under so much pressure to improve, which can erode trade leverage very quickly. Just like with free agents though the Lakers have to have patient. Making no deal is better than making the wrong deal. If they can find a way to use their cap space intelligently to pry young players and picks away from teams (like they did the Jeremy Lin deal) then the rebuild will be that much shorter.<br />
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It's going to be an incredibly important trade deadline, final stretch, and offseason for the Lakers. The choices they make (or don't make) are going to impact the success of the team over these next few years of rebuilding. It's a lot of pressure, and we all hope that Mitch, Jim, and Jeanie are up to the challenge.<br />
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<i>For more Lakers goodness follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA </a></i><br />
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<br />Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-60556900946863894992015-02-02T19:58:00.003-08:002015-08-01T14:32:17.475-07:00Kobe Bryant: The Way ForwardFor the past 19 years Kobe Bryant has left us awe-struck and mesmerized. The incredibly talented shooting guard brought Lakers fans along with him on a dizzying rollercoaster ride to the top, filled with incredible highs and crushing lows. Now, with his third season-ending injury in as many years, is the ride over? If it isn't, where can Kobe Bryant possibly go from here?<br />
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It's not out of the question for Bryant to consider retiring. He said as much <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-kobe-bryant-plaschke-20150118-column.html">recently</a>, admitting that it has "crossed my mind". For the die-hard Laker fans that have been following Kobe since he came into the NBA as a 18-year old it's hard to imagine him hanging up the sneakers. He always seemed so unstoppable, like a force of nature. He never quit, never rested, and was always laser-focused on his goal of being the best. This single-minded obsession, of course, may be part of why he's had so many issues over the past few seasons.<br />
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Until recently Kobe was known for his ability to play through pain and brush off injuries that would have sidelined other players. After 19 years of cheating Father Time though, it may well be that all those minutes on the court, the battles through deep playoff runs, have simply caught up to him. <br />
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At this point it's entirely possible that Kobe, over the course of the next 9 months of grueling rehabilitation from his torn rotator cuff, decides he doesn't want to do it anymore. His workouts are the stuff of legend, often running much longer than a normal basketball routine. Now, as his body ages, Kobe has turned to <a href="http://la.eater.com/2015/1/16/7554559/bone-broth-has-officially-arrived-kobe-bryant-is-a-convert">unconventional diets </a>and <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/11/kobe-bryant-back-in-germany-for-annual-knee-treatment/">therapeutic treatments</a> to squeeze just a few more seasons out of his tired body. <br />
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The lifestyle that's required just for him to be prepared to play an NBA game is exhausting even without the night-in, night-out pounding of actually getting out on the court. Still, while the notion that Bryant might retire isn't out of the question, it's extremely unlikely that he calls it quits at this stage of his career. <br />
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Many will point to the fact that retiring would require him to give up the $25 million that he's owed next year (and would free up that money on the Lakers cap), but the money isn't really the issue. $25 million is certainly a lot of money, even to someone as wealthy as Kobe, but it won't be what keeps him on the court next season.<br />
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Instead, what keeps Kobe in Mamba mode will be his disdain for the results produced in the past three seasons. He's long spoken about wanting to leave the Lakers in good hands, both on the court and off. His <a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/kobe-bryant-plans-to-recruit-free-agents-praises-mitch-kupchak/2015/01/22/">praise</a> of Laker GM Mitch Kupchak shows that he knows the team is in good hands off the court, but on it is another story. <br />
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Last season was the worst in the team's history with a record of 27-55, and they are on pace this year to lose even more. To go out with potentially the worst record in Lakers history while sidelined with yet another injury simply isn't an exit befitting one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. The way Bryant has fought over the course of his career has shown that he isn't the type to slip off into the night quietly, and he certainly won't let something like a bum shoulder be his death blow.<br />
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The chance to put the Lakers in a better situation and exit with grace will, in the end, lure Kobe back into the fold next season (along with the small matter of $25 million). The question then is, at 37, what can we expect to see from him? <br />
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On the court we certainly won't be seeing a return to his MVP days. With his athleticism waning Kobe will need to rely instead on his intelligence, and fortunately for him he just may be the smartest player in basketball. No one studies the game the way he does, and his use of angles and arsenal of moves and counter moves will allow him to still be an effective player. <br />
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In fact, we may have already seen the blueprint for how Kobe can still be a successful offensive player. With defenses keying on him Kobe's legs didn't allow him to shoot with the kind of efficiency needed to be the number one option. However, he did show that when he wants to be he can be an incredible passer in spite of his reputation as a gunner. He had four games with double-digit assists this season, including a whopping 17 against the Cavs. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EfmhaGAZ2h2JhjAkK0x_8JIR9g-EU39WKaiHPk8RvPuafujDHgnvg0dNefvXqcsMuMReSDX-Ky3VYh9ZZuafnORbxywcUZ_kL-Yb2nSzzRW42eArsSKlhbwqGPOQOuKWKH0B5vyYhvUK/s1600/Kobe+pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EfmhaGAZ2h2JhjAkK0x_8JIR9g-EU39WKaiHPk8RvPuafujDHgnvg0dNefvXqcsMuMReSDX-Ky3VYh9ZZuafnORbxywcUZ_kL-Yb2nSzzRW42eArsSKlhbwqGPOQOuKWKH0B5vyYhvUK/s1600/Kobe+pass.jpg" width="320" /></a>In those games Kobe was almost, dare I say, Nash-like in the way that he moved the ball and used his intelligence to find great looks for his teammates. He was able to hide his athletic limitations while being a positive force on the offensive end. <br />
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Switching full-time to the pass-first version of the Mamba wouldn't be easy, but if there is anyone who can reinvent himself at this stage of his career it's Kobe. Defensively he would still struggle to keep up with the young legs of the league, but at least on the offensive end he would be a positive for the Lakers.<br />
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Of course he would also need to play limited minutes (possibly off the bench) and probably rest on back-to-backs, but that comes with the territory of being 37 while having the kind of mileage on him that Kobe does. The good news is that there is a clear path for Kobe to take that will allow him to continue to thrive on the court. There were too many times this year that he tried to still be the scorer that he used to be, and it was painful to watch him fail to be able to get to that level. Employing the pass-first strategy full time would allow Kobe to go out and help the team without constantly reminding everyone of the player he once was. <br />
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Off the court Bryant will be in full mentor mode, which might be uncomfortable for him. The team will likely continue to look for younger talent, and will add pieces to surround inexperienced players like Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Ryan Kelly, Tarik Black, and whoever the Lakers get in the 2015 draft (assuming they keep the pick). These players will need guidance, and assuming Carlos Boozer departs that will leave Kobe as the lone veteran voice on the team. <br />
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It's going to be crucial that Kobe acts as a teacher to these young players. His work ethic is incredible, and of course he's going to lead by example, but being a true teacher is something that Kobe has struggled at. The young guys will need help with not just X's and O's on the court but how to be professionals off it as well. It's going to require a lot of patience, but he will have to be up to the challenge. With a young team around him in need of guidance the Lakers will desperately need Kobe to fully embrace his role as a mentor. <br />
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Truly, the need for Kobe to be a mentor is poetic. Back in 1996 current Lakers coach Byron Scott was playing in what would be his final season as an NBA player, and he was given the task of mentoring the 18 year-old rookie Kobe Bryant. They formed a bond that has endured through the years, and it only seems right that Scott is around to see things come full circle. It's time for Kobe to become the mentor that Scott was (and is) to him. <br />
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He's also going to be an important part of the recruitment process during free agency this summer. While the Lakers can no longer sell winning a championship with Kobe, they can highlight all the advantages of playing in LA, and more specifically, for the Lakers. <br />
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As the most popular (and profitable) franchise in the league by far winning with the Lakers brings more attention, popularity, and gratitude than it does elsewhere. Being a Laker means being a star, and Kobe knows the dedication and appreciation that the fans of Los Angeles show to their beloved legends. <br />
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The fact that the Lakers opted to pay Kobe $48 million over the final two seasons of his career also sends a message to players around the league that they take care of their stars, There aren't many people who can better explain the loyalty that the Lakers show than Kobe. <br />
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Of course all of this doesn't mean that the Lakers will hit a home run in free agency, and as I've <a href="http://www.16rings.com/2015/01/thirsty-lakers-and-free-agent-drought.html">mentioned previously</a>, there isn't much talent truly available this off-season anyway. Still, there are few players in the league that command the respect that Kobe does, and having him as a recruiter can only help Mitch Kupchak in his quest to add players this summer. <br />
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Kobe is unquestionably one of the greatest players in NBA history, with a career for the ages. Fans and players alike will be talking about his work ethic, his drive, and his overwhelming skill for years to come. The final chapter has yet to be written though, and over the next 16 months we will all watch, captivated as always, while Kobe Bryant rages against dying of the light. <br />
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<i>For more Lakers analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i><br />
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<br />Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-58833818620957504832015-01-25T07:08:00.003-08:002015-03-08T15:19:06.876-07:00Kobe Gets the News About His Rotator Cuff Injury<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hard to watch. Tough times for Lakers fans right now. </div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-30612909725696012422015-01-24T20:00:00.002-08:002015-03-08T15:19:51.458-07:00Are the Lakers Tanking?On Friday the Lakers received the news that Kobe Bryant is most likely <a href="http://www.theplayerstribune.com/ok/">out for the season</a> thanks to a torn rotator cuff. That night the purple and gold were set to take on the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, and Coach Byron Scott decided to make drastic changes to the team's starting lineup. Scott benched Ed Davis, Wesley Johnson, and Ronnie Price in favor of Ryan Kelly, Robert Sacre, and rookie Jordan Clarkson.<br />
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While Scott claimed that these were moves he was planning on making with or without Kobe the timing does seem a bit suspect. With a 12-32 record, good for 4th-worst in the league, the Lakers are more than halfway through the season and will clearly not be competing for a playoff spot. If the playoffs are out of the question (and they are) then the team has significant incentive to lose as many games as possible, as their 2015 draft pick goes to the Phoenix Suns unless it falls in the top 5 thanks to the Steve Nash trade disaster. <br />
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However, with the hyper-competitive Kobe Bryant in the fold the Lakers had to do everything they could to win at all cost. While Kobe was steadfastly supportive of Laker GM Mitch Kupchak and proudly stated time and time again that he would not seek a trade there was still pressure on the team to perform well for their star player. <br />
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They even attempted to trade for proven commodities like Rajon Rondo in order to get Kobe some help and make a push this season. Without Bryant though that pressure is gone, and the team can focus on rebuilding. <br />
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Enter Coach Scott's lineup shuffle, which saw three players with an average age of 27.6 replaced by players with an average age of 23. That average will drop even lower when 25 year-old Robert Sacre is replaced by Tarik Black, which Scott asserted would happen as soon as Black returns from an ankle injury. <br />
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Along with Black the fantastically named Kelly Clarkson combo figures to be a big part of the Lakers future, and giving them valuable minutes now will not only speed up their development but will also allow the team to pick up a few more valuable losses while the young bucks go through their NBA growing pains. <br />
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The Lakers, to their credit, have long been steadfastly anti-tank, but in this case they canattempt justify their actions by explaining that the team wasn't winning anyway. With more minutes the younger players they will be better prepared to contribute next season, which will likely be the last of Bryant's legendary career. <br />
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Of course they will also be more likely to hang onto their pick as the losses mount and teams below the Lakers in the standing begin to move up (New York has been winning recently and the Wolves have Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, and Nikola Pekovic returning, which should increase their win total). Expect the Lakers to downplay this benefit though, as again, they don't want to appear to be tanking.<br />
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Regardless of what they call it, the Kobe-less Lakers "youth movement" makes almost perfect sense. There are just a couple of things that still stand out as odd about Scott's decisions, at least at first glance anyway. <br />
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Specifically, starting 27 year-old Jordan Hill over bouncy big man Ed Davis and giving the backup point guard minutes to Price instead of the 26 year-old Jeremy Lin. However, there is method to the madness behind these calls as well.<br />
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As mentioned previously Lin and Hill are two of the most likely<a href="http://www.16rings.com/2015/01/most-tradeable-lakers.html"> Lakers to be dealt</a> prior to the trade deadline on February 19th. By moving Hill from the Center spot to Power Forward the Lakers will be able to showcase the versatility that his jumpshot provides while still getting him the minutes needed to put up solid numbers. If Hill proves he can effectively play both PF and C that just makes him an even more valuable trade chip. <br />
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Furthermore, shifting Ed Davis, a player the Lakers would like to keep, to the bench squad to play alongside Carlos Boozer allows him to get minutes as a Center. While Davis has proven valuable with his rebounding, shot blocking, and efficient finishing around the rim his lack of range outside of 10 feet means that he may ultimately need to transition to the Center position full-time in order to avoid killing the team's spacing. <br />
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Davis' lack of bulk may prohibit such a move, and there is no better time than now to find out if that is the case. If the Lakers are going to spend big money on Davis this summer (and they will have to if they want to keep him), then they need to know if he can be the team's defensive anchor. What better way to find out if he can handle the job than by slotting him next to the defensively challenged (to put it mildly) Carlos Boozer?<br />
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Unlike Davis, who merely saw his role adjusted, Jeremy Lin suffered the indignity of being benched completely against San Antonio. Scott did hint that Lin would play in the future and was by no way out of the lineup permanently, but the message was clear that if Lin doesn't start playing up to his potential then he won't be seeing the floor. <br />
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Most likely this isn't about turning Jeremy Lin into a valuable contributor for this season's Lakers. Instead, it's about increasing his diminished trade value. Currently Lin has little value around the league, so making a drastic move like benching him for an entire game makes sense. If Scott can get Lin playing his best basketball over the coming weeks it will be easier to find a taker for the popular point guard, who the Lakers are unlikely to bring back next season. If the move back fires and Lin sulks instead of picking up his play, well, he didn't have a ton of trade value anyway so little was lost. It's a low risk, medium reward gamble on the Lakers part. <br />
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With their anti-tanking stance the Lakers, rightly or wrongly, won't ship players out for less than they are worth just to help the team improve their draft pick. This tactic burned them two seasons in a row with Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, but given the precedent teams know they will have to pony up full price in order to obtain the Lakers trade assets. If they are going to demand top value for players like Lin and Hill they will need to be producing at their highest level, which explains the motivational tactic that was Lin's one-game benching as well as Hill's transition to Power Forward. <br />
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So, are the Lakers tanking? No, of course not, the Lakers don't tank. They are simply building for the future by giving major minutes to younger players who just so happen to not produce a lot of wins at this stage of their careers. In other words...yeah, they are tanking, they just won't admit it.<br />
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And it's about time.<br />
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<i>For more Lakers insight follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringNBA</a> </i><br />
<br />Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-60730309809033046802015-01-22T20:33:00.003-08:002015-03-08T19:32:54.913-07:00Thirsty Lakers and the Free Agent DroughtThe Los Angeles Lakers have long enjoyed being one of the league's glamour franchises. With warm weather, a star-studded fan base, and a history blessed with championships there has been simply no better uniform to wear than the Golden Armor. <br />
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Not surprisingly the Lakers were able to lure in the top talent in the league through either trade or free agency. Stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Kobe Bryant were brought in to continue to grow the Laker legend. Meanwhile the draft had been kind as well, allowing the team to land all-time greats like Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Andrew Bynum (<i>just kidding</i>).<br />
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Today things look considerably different for the Lakers, with an aging and injured Kobe Bryant as the team's only star player (Nick Young would disagree, but he'd be the only one). They are doing what they can to improve the roster, and are rumored to have attempted to land Rajon Rondo, Brook Lopez, and Greg Monroe via trade. While all of these players are talented they don't represent the typical superstars that the Lakers chase after, which is indicative of a serious problem.<br />
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The NBA changed the rules on the purple and gold, with small markets ganging up on the profitable behemoth during the last Collective Bargaining Agreement. In spite of all the money teams make off the Lakers in the form of profit sharing they were determined to pull a Treaty of Versailles on the Buss family's franchise, because that totally worked out well for the world. <br />
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Small-market owners not only wanted more parity in the league but they also wanted to see the Lakers nerfed for as long as possible. One of the ways that they went about doing that was by making it incredibly difficult for young players to break away from the teams that drafted them, limiting the Lakers ability to add talent. Today, due to restricted free agency most players don't truly have the opportunity to leave for greener pastures until they have been in the league for as long as 8-9 years.<br />
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The only way for players to avoid this and get out before then is to play for the qualifying offer presented to them in their 5th season, which is a one-year deal and typically pays well below the going rate. The drawbacks of a move like this are enormous, as a star player would likely be turning down a max deal in order to accept a qualifying offer. A max contract is not only worth more than double the qualifying offer in a players 5th year but it also lasts for 4-5 years at the highest pay rate possible, which means that even if a star player despised the team that drafted them they would have to be willing to risk tens of millions of dollars in order to leave.<br />
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In other words, Anthony Davis will be staying with the Pelicans for a long, long time. <br />
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So what does all of this mean for the Lakers? They have hoarded cap space in order to chase superstar free agents but, for this summer at least, there really aren't any available. Instead of poaching guys like Shaq in free agency or Pau Gasol via trade the team now has to choose from the likes of Rondo, Monroe, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic, Jeff Green, Luol Deng, and DeAndre Jordan...all quality players to be sure, but franchise-saving superstars? Not quite.<br />
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And yet each of the players on that list will command a max or near-max contract. That's what happens when the supply of free agent talent is low and many teams have cap space to burn. </div>
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Most of these teams also have rosters that are closer to winning than the Lakers 2015 lineup, which currently features only Young, Tarik Black, Ryan Kelly, Julius Randle, and farewell-tour Kobe on guaranteed deals (Ed Davis has a player option he is going to opt out of, while Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black, Robert Sacre, and Jordan Hill all have team options). Suffice to say that the Lakers are currently not set up to win in 2015. Free agent magnets they are not. <br />
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To make matters worse, except for Jordan and Monroe, every player on that list is in their late 20's already, which means that by the time the contract is over they will be well into their 30's. They may be solid players, but given their ages they may not be willing to wait for a season or two while the Lakers rebuild.<br />
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The free agent list looks a little better for a team needing young talent when restricted free agents like Kawhi Leonard, Tobias Harris, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Brandon Knight are added to it but their incumbent teams are likely to match any offer. Even if the Lakers somehow get one of these guys to put pen to paper and sign with them they will never actually make it onto the Lakers roster.</div>
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Similarly there will be a number of big-name (and big money) stars of yesterday available at the trade deadline, but players such as Deron Williams would be more of a hindrance than a help to the rebuilding Lakers. <br />
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The bottom line is that it's unlikely that the Lakers will be able to find significant help in free agency this summer or the trade deadline in February, and that spells trouble for a team that will undoubtedly be feeling the pressure to improve. The fan base is getting restless, Kobe is on his last legs, and let's not forget that Jim Buss promised to resign if the Lakers aren't contending again in three years. It's under conditions like these that teams make bad decisions, and the Lakers are no different.<br />
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However, the nightmare scenario for Lakers fans isn't one where they don't land any help, it's making a panic move to attempt to win now. This would come at the cost of their few remaining assets or precious cap space and would likely return a player that might get a few headlines but wouldn't make much of a difference in the win column. The margin of error is so small that a mistake like that could be absolutely devastating to a franchise that has had nothing but bad luck for years now. They simply aren't ready for win-now moves, and the consequences of jumping the gun too quickly are steep (just ask the Nets).<br />
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It's not fun, but the Lakers will have to be incredibly shrewd with their assets this year. They need to continue to search for under-appreciated young talent while doing what they can to add draft picks. Maybe they will be able to find a diamond in the rough. Meanwhile, they can rent out cap space if need be the way they did in the Jeremy Lin trade in exchange for more picks to add to their nearly-empty war chest.<br />
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Above all else, they must resist the temptation to sign a Luol Deng or Rajon Rondo-type player or trade for big money, low production "stars". Those are band-aid moves. The equivalent of filling an empty stomach with McDonald's instead of waiting a little longer to get to what you are really craving. Sure, it would be satisfying in the short term, but soon you would be wishing that you had waited just a bit longer to find what you truly wanted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQ2Ov3eN7ozI4fvkxADl6WE172f1oPeCu2HFT1kVxwV72Fkn4OdSWOqMAu84nLdPiKojvpeUMgXUu1pTb43Ndd4veCVFoXQYhGmaqkKJomZPQA8Le0aU2txVtw7NPYB-kS4-wFQdg4EVq/s1600/mcdonald.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQ2Ov3eN7ozI4fvkxADl6WE172f1oPeCu2HFT1kVxwV72Fkn4OdSWOqMAu84nLdPiKojvpeUMgXUu1pTb43Ndd4veCVFoXQYhGmaqkKJomZPQA8Le0aU2txVtw7NPYB-kS4-wFQdg4EVq/s1600/mcdonald.gif" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
<i> Never settle. Good Lord he's frightening.</i><br />
<br />
If they play their cards right the Lakers could head into the 2015/2016 season with 2 early 1st round picks added to their roster (Julius Randle and whoever they draft with a top 5 pick this year), young role players like Sacre, Black, Clarkson, and Kelly, plus plenty of cap space to facilitate moves that bring in talent or more picks. Build around youth and make the franchise into the fun, exciting brand that it used to be. Wins will follow eventually as the team is built from the ground up, and when the time is right the opportunity to add championship pieces will present itself.<br />
<br />
All it takes is a little patience from the fans, a lot of luck, and a front office with self-control and will power. Let's hope that all involved in Laker land are up to the challenge.<br />
<br />
<i>Follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a> for all things Lakers!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-54331056032715149452015-01-17T20:47:00.000-08:002015-03-10T17:44:41.394-07:00Most Trade-able Lakers<div class="MsoNormal">
The NBA Trade Deadline is about a month away (Feb 19th) and
we have already seen a flurry of activity from teams like Cleveland, Oklahoma
City, and Dallas, who have added a little extra firepower for a playoff
run. Of course we have also seen teams
like Boston and New York do the opposite, dealing away talented players in
order to build for the future and obtain a few more ping pong balls in the
lottery.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Lakers, meanwhile, find themselves in a precarious
position. They currently have the
4th-worst record in the league, and only keep their draft pick if it ends up
1-5, otherwise it goes to Phoenix thanks to the Steve Nash disaster. Logic says that they should deal anyone who
isn't part of the long-term plan for picks or young assets who need to develop,
which would help the Lakers have a better chance of keeping their pick. In other words they should tank, and tank
hard. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the Buss family have been vocal detractors of the
tanking strategy employed by teams like Philadelphia and Boston. They don't believe tanking works, and feel
like losing their pick this year isn't a big deal because it means they would
keep their pick in 2016 (retaining the 2015 pick means Phoenix gets the Lakers
2016 pick unless it is in the top 3). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Complicating matters is the presence of Kobe Bryant, who is
nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career.
The Lakers would love to give Kobe one more chance at winning a
championship by partnering him with a superstar who can act as the heir to the
throne. They thought they had that
player when they traded for Dwight Howard, but when the going got tough he
turned tail and ran. For now they are still searching for that
next star to help Kobe ride off into the sunset.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Strengthening the
case that the Lakers are anti-tanking (in spite of their record) is the list of
players that they have reportedly been interested in trading for this season:
Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe, Brook Lopez, Rajon Rondo, and Dion Waiters. Acquiring any of them would not represent a
tanking move, especially considering the fact that the Lakers were using the
2015 first round pick that they received from Houston in the Jeremy Lin deal as
bait. Tanking teams rarely, if ever,
part with picks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That being said, it would appear that the Lakers are looking
to acquire younger quasi-stars in any trade rather than draft picks. Just who are they looking to deal in order to
obtain such a player? Here are the 5
Lakers who are most likely to be traded: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>***Carlos Boozer would
top this list but league rules say he cannot be traded because he was claimed
off of waivers. Lakers fans can breathe
a sigh of relief, Boozer will be shooting rainbow-jumpers and flexing to the
crowd when the team is down 20 for the rest of the season.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>5. Ed Davis-</b> Davis was one of the best bargain signings of
the summer when the Lakers nabbed him on a 2-year deal worth $2 million with a
player option after the first year. He
won a starting role over Carlos Boozer part of the way into the season and
hasn't looked back since. While he isn't
a star on either end of the court his rebounding, rim protection, and efficient
finishing would be coveted by a number of teams. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UlsfraQAwu7srwELlJr-z03kb1MeX8lWxucxWUdxGunitdkc_GV__yEz3qzFE1Ehohyuwg1q3Uma3kHn15Moqn5Q5niyqpPiMfFpdZALfHzB_QFGUuSIni81kSAEbleKlPICpLIqTpd2/s1600/Ed+Block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UlsfraQAwu7srwELlJr-z03kb1MeX8lWxucxWUdxGunitdkc_GV__yEz3qzFE1Ehohyuwg1q3Uma3kHn15Moqn5Q5niyqpPiMfFpdZALfHzB_QFGUuSIni81kSAEbleKlPICpLIqTpd2/s1600/Ed+Block.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, at 25 Davis is the kind of young player the Lakers
want to hang on to. His contract is
essentially an expiring deal, as chances are slim to none that he picks up his
second year option (he is using the same strategy Nick Young did last year,
signing a below-value deal and putting up numbers on a bad team for a year,
then cashing in). As a result teams
won't be willing to give as much for him as they would if he was signed on a
cheap deal long-term. Ed Davis at $1
million is an incredible bargain, but if retaining him next season means paying
him $7-9 million next year? Some teams
will not be interested in doing that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It also has to be said that the Lakers landing Davis at such
a cheap price in the first place was likely due to his agent, Rob Pelinka, who also
represents Kobe Bryant, Carlos Boozer, and Wesley Johnson, in addition to
former Laker Chris Kaman. As a result he
has a good relationship with Lakers management and likely agreed to Davis' well
below-value deal knowing that playing big minutes for the Lakers would provide
the exposure necessary for Ed to land a more lucrative, long-term contract in the
future. Trading him now would go back on
the good-faith, win-win deal that the agent and the team struck this summer,
particularly if Davis were to be sent to a team that would use him sparingly
off the bench. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Lakers also have the inside-track to bring Davis back
long-term as they did with Nick Young last year, and having a good working
relationship with his agent means that they should be able to find a solid
number that would give Davis a substantial raise while still offering good
value to the team. That said it only
takes one team throwing crazy money at Ed to derail everything and put the Lakers
in an uncomfortable position of either overpaying or watching yet another
talented big man leave in free agency.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With all that said an Ed Davis trade is unlikely, but never
say never in the NBA. If the Lakers
decide that they don't want to risk losing Davis for nothing this summer or
that they don't want to pay him his going rate when his contract is up they
might move him now if they can find a deal that is worth rocking the boat with
his agent. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. Nick Young-</b> Swaggy P has had his ups and downs this year
but his scoring off the bench and ability to create his own shot can be very
valuable. Unlike Ed Davis though, who
would draw interest from both contending and rebuilding teams, Young's market
will likely be limited to teams who are looking to contend for the title and
feel that bench scoring is their biggest weakness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For what he provides Young is signed to a solid deal that
pays him just over $16 million over the next three seasons. While he may not be the best defender or
playmaker out there his skills in these areas have improved beyond what his
reputation suggests. He could fit well
as a contender in a role similar to the one that Jamal Crawford enjoys with the
Clippers, coming in to spark the bench and also close out games. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the Lakers the problem with trading Young is that the fans
have taken a liking to his, well, swagger.
On any given night he's a threat to get hot and carry the offense all on
his own, and he plays the game with a flair that can be a lot of fun to
watch. He is a player that's hard not to
like and he connects with the fans.
These are things that could prove valuable once Kobe retires after next
season and attendance drops. As such, he
may have more value to the Lakers than he does to other teams. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmlWRz5_ubMIpsFffPgeduCCdHwM36CJaNd9cm-_t2yc0VIqNgexdDBxjQf89MrevhpoWv1RVnDInZM299dhyphenhypheni0WKz84TvtgCH-EkzRDQhy0pyQFNW29HCZfhHjFsriNiHWd-NpORp4dC/s1600/nick+young+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmlWRz5_ubMIpsFffPgeduCCdHwM36CJaNd9cm-_t2yc0VIqNgexdDBxjQf89MrevhpoWv1RVnDInZM299dhyphenhypheni0WKz84TvtgCH-EkzRDQhy0pyQFNW29HCZfhHjFsriNiHWd-NpORp4dC/s1600/nick+young+poster.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>See what I mean?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, if the right deal for a young quasi-star comes along
the Lakers shouldn't hesitate to part with Young's swag. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3. Jeremy Lin-</b>
Linsanity hasn't made an appearance in LA after all. While no one expected Lin to return to the
numbers that he put up during that magical run in New York the general
consensus was that the Houston offense wasn't a great fit for him and that a
change of scenery would allow him to better fulfill his potential. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, it would appear that we were very, very wrong. That's not to say that Lin is a terrible
player, but most expected him to prove that he was a starting-caliber point
guard and to be an aggressive, attacking presence on the offensive end. Instead Lin has looked unsure of himself,
struggling to fit in playing alongside Kobe and unable to provide the kind of
defense that Byron Scott needs from him.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fact that he lost his starting job to Ronnie Price, a
journeyman who was a long-shot to even make the roster, doesn't help Lin's case
either. This is especially troubling
since this is the now the second team on which Lin has lost his starting role
to a defense-first guard who struggles offensively. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's doubtful that the Lakers will want to bring him back
next season, but given his struggles to find a footing in LA who is going to
want him? Fortunately for the Lakers advanced
statistics are a thing and most of his numbers are on par with the ones that he
produced in Houston, where he was considered to be at least a solid
backup. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given the league-wide depth at the point guard position it's
unlikely that the Lakers find a team desperate to add Lin. Ideally they might be able to find a
team that would like to audition Lin in a backup role and would part with a
young, under-utilized player in order to do so (similar to the Steve Blake for
Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks deal last year). Moving Lin would also free up playing time
for Jordan Clarkson, who the Lakers need to find minutes for to aid his
development.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeremy Lin is also a large expiring contract ($15 million
this year but just over $7 million counts towards the cap) so it's possible he
could be used in a deal to take back the massive salary of a disgruntled star,
similar to the way Kwame Brown's expiring contract helped bring in Pau Gasol
years ago. Those deals are rare these
days but it is still an option. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2. Jordan Hill- </b>Jordan Hill and his dreadlocks have played inconsistently this year but overall he's shown himself to be a
starting-quality PF/C . He can stretch
the defense just enough with his 20-foot jumper to create space on the offensive end while providing excellent rebounding. His rim protection
leaves something to be desired but he can be a presence as a weak-side shot
blocker. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Statistically Hill has regressed a little since last season,
giving some credence to Mike D'Antoni's assertion that Hill plays better in
limited minutes when he can fully expend his energy in shorter bursts. Still, he would be an excellent big man for a
contending team to scoop up and use in a platoon with a couple of other solid
interior players. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the Lakers moving Hill seems to be a no-brainer, as the
team isn't going anywhere this season and it remains to be seen if they will
want to bring him back next year. They
also have a log-jam in the front court since the acquisition of Tarik Black. Hill and the untradeable Carlos Boozer are
eating up a lot of minutes, and some need to be freed up for younger guys like
Black, Ryan Kelly, Robert Sacre, and Ed Davis.
The situation has been so bad that Kelly has had to play small forward
in order to get on the floor and Sacre, a young center on a cheap contract, has
seen his playing time disappear completely.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tricky part of trading Jordan Hill is his contract. He makes $9 million this year and has a team
option for $9 million next season, but unless the option is picked up he is
treated as a player on a one year contract, and as such has a de facto no-trade
clause. The team receiving him would not
be able to go over the salary cap in order to resign Hill next year, so he
would have to agree to any trade unless the second year option is picked
up. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hill, for his part, has zero incentive to accept a trade
that doesn't involve the second year of his deal being picked up. He is the starting center for the league's
most popular franchise, which means his exposure can't get any better. As a player who is currently on an expiring
deal putting up numbers and getting lots of minutes on a bad team can be very
lucrative (just ask Nick Young). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even so, the Lakers should be able to find a team willing to pick up the option and pay Hill $9 million next year. With the salary cap rising his deal isn't a bad one, and several teams have need of another big man. The only
question is whether or not the Lakers asking price will be met. They won't give him away as being able to bring him back next year with their team option provides insurance should
they strike out on free agents this summer. Plus at 27 Hill isn't past his prime and would be a solid player to have going forward, so the Lakers won't be desperate to deal him unless they get the right offer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ultimately though it makes too much sense to not get a deal
done. The Lakers need the minutes for
younger players and Hill has value around the league. If the Lakers can find a team willing to part
with a young wing player they will pull the trigger and enjoy the roster
balance that comes with it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1. Steve Nash-</b> That's right, Steve Nash is still on the
Lakers roster..well, his contract is anyway.
The man himself has distanced himself from the team following the preseason
announcement that he would miss the season due to nerve issues in his back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOzV2AigBHQVvwDZ2rTpgALArhSMZ4h4zyCX4O_yyqzKqToUaq17Yc5j5BIbrNi7Oi8d9TT1xQsfVyyxE7Z6S50TD8MLr5N4du1a-Mvd62X9RpxpnsrBKAB6upjQgklv8G6egRa-SplGc/s1600/steve-nash-injury1-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOzV2AigBHQVvwDZ2rTpgALArhSMZ4h4zyCX4O_yyqzKqToUaq17Yc5j5BIbrNi7Oi8d9TT1xQsfVyyxE7Z6S50TD8MLr5N4du1a-Mvd62X9RpxpnsrBKAB6upjQgklv8G6egRa-SplGc/s1600/steve-nash-injury1-1024x576.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This confirmed what fans already knew: that Nash's career
was over, and that Nash
should have retired medically (with full pay) last season. Had he done so his contract would
have come off the Lakers books and given them more money to spend last summer. Nash admitted that he wanted to be paid the
remaining $9 million on his contract, but since medical retirement would have
provided him just that his decision to not go that route comes off as
malicious. He is now something of a
villain in Laker Land (and a hero in Phoenix), but he just may prove useful to
the Lakers in spite of his efforts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since Nash is missing the season for medical reasons the
bulk of his expiring deal is being paid by insurance, which means that any team
trading for his contract would not only be getting an expiring deal but also
one that will cost them only a fraction of what the deal is actually
worth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teams looking to dump a large contract to save money can't
do much better than that, and it appears as though the Lakers are determined to
get something useful out of Steve Nash after all. Most trades that the Lakers are rumored to be
pursuing involve a package of Nash's contract and Houston's 1st round pick,
with the goal being to acquire a young talent in return. Should the Lakers be unsuccessful in that
endeavor they may be forced to switch their focus and use Nash's deal to absorb
an ugly contract while picking up draft picks as compensation, which just may
be the better course for them in the long run anyway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless of the outcome the Lakers will explore every
opportunity to turn Nash's contract into something valuable, making him the
most likely Laker to be traded by the deadline. </div>
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</div>
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<i>Want more Laker news and analysis? Follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a>!</i> </div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-26064365613367273812015-01-17T12:48:00.003-08:002015-03-10T17:45:03.118-07:00Let It Tank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gNE1Vju1ftM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Ok this is sorta anti-Lakers but it's hilarious, Tank hard!Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-27673781887842586542014-12-29T10:45:00.002-08:002015-03-10T17:45:22.591-07:00Welcome to the Lakers Tarik Black<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj7N1omFEEplZWoz-fVO5S8Pq5eTKftHgmVOPY1L39sRHJKaQ4jKtWieYn5taejk-ZLt42JwnW1Y5wWFmlKbNDMQKAEeSgv8c-ZF5Vnp8wIMNmVLx7fToN3dIx8bdIevDdgua8998GUmc/s1600/tarik+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj7N1omFEEplZWoz-fVO5S8Pq5eTKftHgmVOPY1L39sRHJKaQ4jKtWieYn5taejk-ZLt42JwnW1Y5wWFmlKbNDMQKAEeSgv8c-ZF5Vnp8wIMNmVLx7fToN3dIx8bdIevDdgua8998GUmc/s1600/tarik+black.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>Yesterday the Lakers claimed former-Rockets center Tarik Black off
of waivers, giving them yet another unproven big man with some potential.
Black was waived by Houston in order to make room for the incoming Josh
Smith. The Lakers had to waive swingman Xavier Henry to add Black.
Henry is recovering from a torn achilles and is out for the season.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
It's not exactly a headline-grabbing move,
even though Black did start for the Rockets for a number of games while Dwight Howard
was out and has shows the ability to be an excellent rebounder. However, the true genius of adding Black to the roster is in the
details of his contract. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Black is on an extremely team-friendly
deal, making just $507,336 this season. His contract goes up next year to
$845,059, which is still hardly a blip on the radar in the NBA world.
After the 2015-2016 season the Lakers can make him a restricted free
agent with a qualifying offer of $1.2 million. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Now here's beauty part: his contract is
also fully unguaranteed. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>As
a result Black can be waived at any time and his contract instantly comes off
the books. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This gives the
Lakers tons of flexibility that can allow them to make any number of moves this
year and next. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
For example, let's say Black pans out and
proves to be a solid NBA backup and someone the Lakers would like to
develop. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They would then
have a plethora of bigs to put on the trade market, including Jordan Hill,
Robert Sacre, Ed Davis, and Ryan Kelly, each with their own strengths that may
appeal to certain teams. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
On the flip side if Black shows that he
just isn't an NBA-caliber player at this point (which is possible, his PER is
actually slightly worse than Sacre's), the Lakers can simply waive him. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It's unlikely they make such a move
this season, but doing so over the summer could free up a little extra cap
space. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They could also look
to trade Black himself to a team looking to gain cap room in exchange for a 2nd
rounder or as part of a larger deal. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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The bottom line is that Tarik Black is a
very low-risk investment on the part of the Lakers. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>If he turns out to be a solid addition
then Mitch Kupchak will look like a genius, if not he can be cut with no harm
done. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You don't win titles
with moves like this one, but every little bit helps. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> </div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-33168803681508855052014-11-16T20:45:00.001-08:002015-08-01T14:29:11.398-07:00Winter Soldiers<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."</b></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b> -Thomas Paine-</b></i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> December 23rd, 1776</b></i></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The immortal words of Thomas Paine once echoed through the American colonies, inspiring a wave of patriotism that ultimately led to the British defeat at the hands of George Washington's Continental Army (with a massive assist from the French, Spanish, and Dutch, of course). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">However, when Paine wrote "The Crisis" things weren't going so well for Washington's not-so-merry men. The excitement of the unlikely triumph at Concord was long gone, as was the cautious optimism stemming from the moral victory at Bunker Hill. </span>More than a year had passed since those feel-good stories and in that time the American Revolution had played out just like everyone expected it to: with the British dominating. They had one of the greatest armies on Earth with professional, well equipped soldiers and were taking on a Patriot side that was essentially just farmers with guns. <span style="background-color: white;"> It was like last season's Lakers, with inspiring wins over the Clippers and Rockets to start the year off but then reality set in that the Lake Show just didn't have the talent to compete. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The British were rolling and the Continental Army could do nothing but retreat. Essentially, the British were in LeBron James' version of heaven, where their superteam could coast to one victory after another without having to challenge themselves. After enduring the British front-running for so long the idealistic Americans were ready to break. The losing had taken its toll and more than a few were questioning whether maybe, just maybe, this whole "take on the world champs with a bunch of plucky rookies" thing was such a great idea. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00AnWhLdKiQxF_ughP6qhZaafGGeYbRfM-s35QqWnB0N8n9TO0nuL0iooHXb6ZsbgHoz8wPfHeWBaBiLpC2rFQdI_gf_s8ip7LeELGWqal6rwVoWfz6FKPjONbMxSjiKgSgD8wLxMmTFO/s1600/lebron+kyrie+tickle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00AnWhLdKiQxF_ughP6qhZaafGGeYbRfM-s35QqWnB0N8n9TO0nuL0iooHXb6ZsbgHoz8wPfHeWBaBiLpC2rFQdI_gf_s8ip7LeELGWqal6rwVoWfz6FKPjONbMxSjiKgSgD8wLxMmTFO/s1600/lebron+kyrie+tickle.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <i>They have tickle fights in LeBron's heaven too. Don't ask.</i></span></div>
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The bandwagon began to empty and the great Revolution was running on fumes when Thomas Paine picked up his pen and preached perseverance. While the credit for the continuation of the Continental Army can't solely go to Paine his words unquestionably made an impact. It was fitting, as Paine had previously written "Common Sense", the pamphlet which helped inspire the colonial Americans to take up arms against the British. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he wrote "The Crisis" Thomas Paine had to find a way to convince the demoralized American troops to continue fighting. Using his uniquely inspiring style Paine focused on describing a certain character trait that was necessary for success to be found. While Paine never mentioned this trait by name he alludes to it in his denouncement of the soldiers who were quitting on the Revolution. What America needed was Winter Soldiers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Paine, what he called Summer Soldiers are today known as front runners. The guys who are flexing and shouting when things are going their way and they are steamrolling inferior competition, but are quiet as soon as things get tough, the guys who won't do the dirty work necessary to get the win.</span><br />
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<i>*Ugh that's two LeBron references already. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead, Paine reached out to the men who were made from a different stock. The guys who never stop fighting in spite of the odds. The men who let nothing stand in their way. The ones who push themselves farther and farther until history marvels at their greatness. These were the Winter Soldiers that Paine sought. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">His words found friendly ears, allowing Washington to lead his freshly-inspired troops into a confidence-boosting victory at the Battle of Trenton. The Revolution was saved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similarly, the Los Angeles Lakers currently find themselves in a moment of crisis. The greatest franchise in the history of sport has been reduced to record-setting losses and embarrassing play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many fans have hopped off the bandwagon amidst a barrage of heckling and media pessimism. The haters celebrate the demise of the former Goliath, shouting "how the mighty have fallen!" with a pride that suggests they feel as though they somehow played a part in slaying the giant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It appears as though the Los Angeles Lakers are in need of a miracle. Like the Continental Army they find themselves hopelessly outgunned and overwhelmed on a nightly basis. Their opponents simply have more firepower, more proven soldiers, and they know what it takes to win.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washington, of course, could sympathize with Kobe Bryant. Both men found themselves supported from behind by a rabid fan base that is desperate for victory. In front of them stood an enemy that appears to be unbeatable To their left and right, fighting alongside them, was a rag-tag bunch who simply doesn't have what it takes to win. And yet both men fought on, never willing to admit defeat. At some point though, even the great ones need help. </span></div>
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<i>* We've learned three things so far this year: 1- Kobe can still play at a very high level. 2- Kobe has no one on the team he can rely on night-in and night-out. 3- Steve Nash is secretly still a Phoenix Sun...has to be, just no other explanation. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's apparent that the Lakers need to re-stock their cupboard, that they need new stars to lead them into the future. Just as George Washington found his army replenished when the French and Spanish agreed to join him the hope amongst the Laker faithful is that Kobe will eventually get a similar kind of help. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, before that can happen the Lakers need to prove themselves worthy of assistance, just as the Continental Army had to prove that they had what it took to win before the French or Spanish would sign on. Free agents need to see that the Lakers organization will not back down and will keep after it until they are back on top. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lakers quite simply haven't shown that yet. They are missing a crucial piece: Winter Soldiers. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing that Thomas Paine prescribed for the Continental Army nearly 240 years ago is precisely what the Lakers need today. </span></div>
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Just as Paine wasn't speaking to solely one portion of the army, the entirety of Lakers Nation must find their own Winter Soldiers if the team is going to turn things around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Front Office</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Over the past few years the Lakers front office has been faced with one challenge after another, from Stern's heinous actions and Dwight's cowardly ways to the death of the beloved Dr. Buss. Now the Buss children, most notably Jimmy and Jeanie, have to step in to fill their father's sizeable shoes during the most tumultuous time in Lakers history.</span><br />
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With more questions than answers the media narrative about the Lakers front office seems to be that Mitch is a skilled GM and Jeanie is a competent leader. Jimmy, on the other hand, makes poor decisions and is undeserving of his position at the helm of basketball operations. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLWdArs6eLeWYUoNzA9wVHvfm54RmUleCWvQUcADi2oI0ZhB4-10VdunsWLKDr5U1zfyQU9DC1tcsGPOA3zRqUQK8hTpjR_3JN6kORo4O3K1j8S2jiM3fXToc38iLAUc9IMRHM8PnJBNM/s1600/jim+and+jeanie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLWdArs6eLeWYUoNzA9wVHvfm54RmUleCWvQUcADi2oI0ZhB4-10VdunsWLKDr5U1zfyQU9DC1tcsGPOA3zRqUQK8hTpjR_3JN6kORo4O3K1j8S2jiM3fXToc38iLAUc9IMRHM8PnJBNM/s1600/jim+and+jeanie.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result power agents are sending their clients elsewhere, unconvinced that the front office can right the ship and return the Lakers to glory. Obviously that is a perception that will take time to change, and that's where Jimmy, Jeanie, and Mitch all must show their ability to be Winter Soldiers. Jimmy in particular must persevere in spite of all the negative publicity. Living up to his dad's legacy will be difficult, but in time Jimmy will have the opportunity to win over the legion of Lakers fans. </span><br />
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With the mounting losses the Lakers front office will continue to be abused in the media. Jimmy will, rightly or wrongly, continue to be the media's scapegoat. However, they must not panic. To swing for the fences too soon through either free agency or trade could result in the team being stuck in mediocrity for much longer than anyone wants to see. </span><br />
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With limited assets it is increasingly important that the front office continues to make shrewd moves, like the deal with Houston that landed Jeremy Lin and a draft pick. There have been a number of missed opportunities as well but to be fair the Lakers are in an unfamiliar situation and need to learn how to truly rebuild. Jimmy and Mitch must be opportunistic in free agency (as they were with Ed Davis) as well as on the trade market. They need to build a core that will compete hard and generate positive press before they will be able to find the home-run move. </span><br />
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If they can endure the pain of the rebuilding process and make intelligent, long-term moves the Lakers will find themselves back in the hunt sooner rather than later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Team</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a Laker is far from easy right now. The players and coaching staff are reminded constantly that they are failing to live up the franchise's glamorous history, which can affect the confidence of even the most professional players. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kobe Bryant does what he can on a nightly basis and continues to defy all those who claim that his career is done. Still, at 36 he can't be expected to carry a team of journeymen to the playoffs regardless of how superhuman he appears to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The remainder of the Lakers players have to fight through these hard times, and they need to fight for something more than just their next contract. They need to fight for pride, both in themselves and the organization. Even as the losses pile up and frustration grows they have to continue to plug away, doing everything they can to improve both as a team and individuals. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BPd0e_P87Cz_MZdJYdi6XbpxEpLtmEKHDwP5ckZqqUVuoLTcJqPG4BAB_KmgZbx5opeIZefSqCvaRUpGooSS2YJg5ZnZdx6DQqV4Ngg9w3Z08YHy7l4no7KJNFEHWMc6OA2FoHUY28jZ/s1600/byron+scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BPd0e_P87Cz_MZdJYdi6XbpxEpLtmEKHDwP5ckZqqUVuoLTcJqPG4BAB_KmgZbx5opeIZefSqCvaRUpGooSS2YJg5ZnZdx6DQqV4Ngg9w3Z08YHy7l4no7KJNFEHWMc6OA2FoHUY28jZ/s1600/byron+scott.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similarly, Byron Scott and his coaching staff have to continue building a culture. It takes time for any coach to get adjusted to a new environment, but the early results for Scott have not been positive. His defense-first approach has fallen flat as the team doesn't have the athletes necessary to become as stingy as Scott would like. However, the coaching staff must continue to believe that someday the Lakers will be that team, that someday the future will arrive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Continental Army wasn't turned into a fighting force overnight. George Washington's side was undisciplined and unruly, and he found himself too often pushed into the role of disciplinarian. Washington resorted to brutal tactics to keep his soldiers in line and in camp, but ultimately the tough love paid off. When the Prussian drill instructor Baron Von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge he found a group that was inexperienced but malleable, one that could be transformed into something greater. And transform them he did, just as Byron Scott must do with the Lakers. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*If only we could pull a Bill and Ted and bring Baron Von Steuben to Lakers practices. That would be excellent.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coach Scott also has to realize that this season is about rebuilding. It's about establishing a culture not for the team as it's constructed now but for the team that will be brought together in the future. Being a coach is often a thankless job filled with uncertainty, but the coaching staff must not fall into despair. Losing doesn't always equate to a loss. To lose without growing, without building, that would be truly tragic. Regardless of the record the coaching staff and players must continue to push forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Fans</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the fans the past few years have been exhausting. Watching the purple and gold sink into obscurity has been excruciating, especially seeing as it all started with the diabolical actions of David Stern and his unjustifiable veto of the Chris Paul trade. Since that moment it's been nothing but maddening injuries, free agent misses, and Dwight Howard treachery. Meanwhile, the basketball being played on the court has been progressively getting worse and worse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The current Lakers team is just plain hard to watch as the losses are accumulating quickly. While it certainly isn't a situation that any fan want to be in there is opportunity to be found amidst the sorrow. For decades Lakers fans have been labeled as band wagoners, as front-runners who only support the team because of their success. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The time to change that perception is now. Lakers Nation must continue to support the purple and gold in spite of the hardships. Those who make it through these difficult years will come to appreciate the eventual return of Laker glory that much more. </span><br />
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Going into the battle of Bunker Hill there were many who expected the Patriots to turn and run at the first sight of adversity, just as many around the league expect Lakers fans to do now. But the Patriots didn't run, they stayed and fought, inflicting massive damage upon the British army and only retreating after they had ran out of ammo. In fact, they were so reluctant to give up the hill that the Patriot soldiers loaded bits of glass and nails into their rifles after they ran out of ammo, intent on inflicting as much damage as possible. </span><br />
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It's this kind of attitude that Lakers fans must have now. Support the franchise, support the coaches, and most of all support the team. Let the naysayers come and fire back at them. Prove that Lakers fans do not shrink in times of darkness but instead stand strong. The juice will be worth the squeeze. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Continental Army found their Winter Soldiers and Success followed. It's time for the Los Angeles Lakers to do the same. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Follow me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a> for more Lakers goodness!</i></span></div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-66172112580175863092014-11-02T17:24:00.001-08:002015-03-10T17:47:42.438-07:00Week 1 Wrap UpFour games into the Lakers season and it feels like an eternity. The most snake-bit franchise in the league over the past few years keeps taking one hit after another. The good guys were blown out by the Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns, losing by 18 and 20 points, respectively. The team looked to be in over their heads until a fantastic performance against the Clippers on Friday night sparked some renewed optimism amongst Lakers fans. The Golden State game featured a fantastic three quarters of basketball but a total collapse after that. It's been a trying start to the season with few positives.<br />
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Here is what we have learned so far: <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Can't Handle Losing Randle</b></span></div>
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Most fans understood coming into the season that this year would be a trying one. Wins would be difficult to come by but there was still some hope that maybe the squad could outperform expectations the way the Suns did last year, that maybe they could even sneak into a playoff spot. </div>
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However, even the realists who knew that a playoff run was all but out of the question had something to be excited about this season: the development of Julius Randle. The #7 overall pick had moments of brilliance during the preseason. The combination of size, strength, an explosive first step and a surprising ability to handle the ball had many projecting greatness for the bruising rookie. Randle wasn't dominant yet but the talent was clearly there. </div>
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For a team in desperate need of young talent a player with the potential that Randle possesses seemed like a gift from the basketball gods. Unfortunately those gods proved to be cruel and vengeful. Randle's leg broke, and as it did so did the hearts of Lakers fans. </div>
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After enduring an incredibly painful 2013-2014 season the one silver lining was landing a talent like Randle in the draft, but that was gone in an instant. Julius' season is over just as it was starting, robbing the team and the fans of the opportunity to watch the future develop right before their eyes. </div>
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We can only hope that Randle will be 100% next season and that when all is said and done this injury will be nothing more than a footnote in a long and successful career. For the next 12 months though Lakers fans can only wait and pray for the eventual return of their talented young forward. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Kobe the Nash</b></span></div>
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For the first two games of the season Kobe was in gunner mode, taking most of the shots on offense while everyone else on the team stood around and watched him. With a roster as week as it is playing 1 on 5 might have seemed like a decent idea, but it clearly wasn't working. Defenses focused all of their attention on Bryant, knowing that they could all but ignore the rest of the team. </div>
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It wasn't all Kobe's fault, as guys like Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, and Wesley Johnson seemed content to sit out on the offensive end while Kobe did his thing. It's tough to pass when no one is making an effort to get open. </div>
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By the time the showdown with the Clippers rolled around it was clear that things had to change. Lin especially had to get more involved on the offensive end if the team was going to have any kind of success. To his credit Kobe bought into this concept and made a concerted effort to be a facilitator and get his teammates involved. While he still ended up tied with Jordan Hill in Field Goals Attempted Kobe also finished with 7 assists, the most he's had this season. </div>
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On several occasions Bryant found himself with the ball in his hands and the shot clock winding down, which is usually Kobe time. He has a knack for hitting big shots from seemingly impossible angles, but against the Clippers more often than not Kobe moved the ball on to a teammate, forcing them to do something with the ball. </div>
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As a result the Lakers offense looked much more in-sync and cohesive, and the team nearly upset their heavily-favored Staples Center house guests. While he wasn't a Nash-level distributor or anything close to that it does appear that the Lakers offense clicks when Kobe makes an effort to get his less-talented teammates going. <br />
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<i>When Kobe passes good things happen...usually.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Ed Davis Is Better Than Carlos Boozer</b></span></div>
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It's not a huge surprise to anyone who saw Carlos Boozer play basketball last year but one thing that has really stood out thus far is that Ed Davis is better than him at nearly every aspect of the game. While Boozer is the better 15-foot jump shooter he is a liability everywhere else on the floor, committing an obscene number of turnovers against Phoenix (8) while shooting a miserable 42% on the season. </div>
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Ed Davis, meanwhile, is shooting 70% and has only turned the ball over twice all season. He has shown fantastic pick and roll chemistry with Jeremy Lin and is a consistent finisher around the basket. He also provides a real defensive presence for the woefully undersized Lakers. Davis is constantly contesting shots and forcing opponents to think twice before taking the ball inside. While this does lead to him picking up more fouls than he should it is still a breath of fresh air to see Ed swat a shot after watching Boozer's stuck in the mud version of defense.</div>
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Byron Scott has said that he isn't planning on making any changes to the starting lineup just yet but at some point Boozer has to find his way to the bench. Boozer should still get minutes thanks to the basketball gods cruel punishment of Julius Randle but Ed Davis is the better player now and the player the Lakers need to develop for the future. </div>
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It seems all but assured that Boozer's greatest career highlight will be<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaZTzt0EK5w"> this.</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> Jeremy Lin: Good vs. Evil</b></span></div>
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I was a huge proponent of Jeremy Lin heading into the season. I thought that a return to near-Linsanity levels was imminent and that he would be a bright spot in an otherwise dark Lakers season. Thus far I was wrong. So, so, wrong. </div>
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Lin is leading the league in turnovers by a decent margin and has looked out of sorts in 3 of the 4 games thus far, shooting just 34% for an average of 9 points and 5.5 assists. That's putrid. For perspective, take a look at these numbers two sets of numbers: </div>
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<th align="right" class="ranker sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" data-stat="ranker" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Rank">Rk</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pf_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Personal Fouls Per 36 Minutes">PF</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
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<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.929</td>
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<td align="right" csk="2" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.447</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.366</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.506</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.694</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12.2</td>
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Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>:<br />
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Player 1 is Jeremy Lin. The only significant advantages he has over Player 2 is in assists and free throw percentage. Outside of that Player 2 absolutely destroys Lin across the board. But just who is this mysterious Player 2? <br />
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This guy:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeSwKBvdpHFQrGC6iSaoS4tDQ7VcqPAnoT8Vcmx1Kp2J1b5I2Eu6BVajFDd6FMTLeCXMyjWlpLs2J3D3LYji-ZzsGpdRFHsERFHfEio_UvU0mSbFhztno80GF4nBrE33FsipsWXRVCqNG/s1600/10-12-2012-smush-parker-lakers-4_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeSwKBvdpHFQrGC6iSaoS4tDQ7VcqPAnoT8Vcmx1Kp2J1b5I2Eu6BVajFDd6FMTLeCXMyjWlpLs2J3D3LYji-ZzsGpdRFHsERFHfEio_UvU0mSbFhztno80GF4nBrE33FsipsWXRVCqNG/s1600/10-12-2012-smush-parker-lakers-4_3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'll wait a moment for everyone to stop throwing up. </div>
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Better? Ok, sorry I had to do that everyone, Yes, after four games Jeremy Lin is playing worse than Smush Parker. It's a level of awfulness that Lakers fans thought they would never see again, and yet, here we are. </div>
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The good news, of course, is that it has only been four games. By all accounts Lin is a much, much better player than what we have seen thus far. It's easy to forget after the ineptitude he displayed against Golden State but in the Clippers game Lin was actually very good. He was aggressive, assertive, and dynamic in his attack. That was the good version of Lin. The one we saw the other three games? That's Evil Lin (bonus points to those who recognize the He-Man reference). </div>
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In order for the Lakers offense to truly reach it's optimal performance Good Lin is going to have to make nightly appearances. Evil Lin needs to go away. Now. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Embrace The Tank</b></span></div>
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As a Lakers fan living in the Valley of the Sun I knew that I would hear about it when the Suns curb-stomped the Lakers. Phoenix fans tend to have a bit of an inferiority complex (probably due to their lack of championship hardware) and love to rub it in when the Lakers are down. It's a practice even taken up by their announce team, who mentioned several times during the game that they were thrilled to see the Lakers struggling. </div>
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However, it's no secret that this Lakers squad won't be making the playoffs, and that their draft pick winds up in the Suns hands should it fall outside the top 5 (thanks again Nash). With that said, my response to Suns fans attempting to heckle me was always simply "Thank you". 9 times out of 10 I had to explain the complexities of draft pick protection to the confused Phoenicians but their smiles faded quickly when they realized that by beating the Lakers the Suns had actually weakened their chances of getting the Lakers pick this summer. </div>
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With Randle sidelined for the year it's that much more important that the Lakers keep their pick this summer and are able to land another cornerstone with it. When it comes to bringing free agents to town the biggest and best stars want to see a team in place that is only a piece or two short from title contention, which means the Lakers need to accumulate as much talent as possible. </div>
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I'm not advocating losing on purpose, as that's a indignity that is reserved for Philadelphia. Instead, the Lakers should be looking at giving as many minutes as possible to guys who could be part of the future or could have value on the trade market. In other words, less minutes for guys like Boozer, Wesley Johnson, and Ronnie Price and more minutes for Jordan Clarkson, Ed Davis, and Ryan Kelly (when he's finally healthy). Even if going with the younger guys ends up costing the Lakers a game here and there (which is doubtful) the chance to find out who can be part of the long-term plan is worth it. </div>
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The West right now is a hornet's nest of very good teams. With the possible exception of Minnesota every franchise has improved while the Lakers at best stayed the same. Kobe's return helps of course but he can't be expected to put the team on his back anymore. As such it just isn't realistic to assume that Kobe can will the team to the playoffs in a loaded conference. It's time to find cornerstones for the future, and the draft is the best chance to do that. </div>
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It may not be palatable to impatient fans after last season's disaster but the best-case scenario for the Lakers this season is to retain their pick, and the only way to ensure that is to finish with a poor record. No one is going to out-tank Philadelphia, but if the Lakers can keep pace with teams like Orlando, Boston, and Minnesota (not out of the question) they could luck into a franchise player in the draft next summer. After the past few seasons if anyone is deserving of a little good luck it's the Lakers.</div>
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It remains to be seen just how bad (or good) this team will be but the absolute worst-case scenario would be finishing with the 6th-worst record in the league and handing over a great pick to Phoenix. If fans have to endure another sickening season of losses to avoid that then so be it. </div>
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Support the team through thick and thin. By all means, celebrate victories, but also know that with the losses comes a silver lining in the 2015 draft. </div>
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<i>For more Lakers analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a></i></div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-39031602107141829932014-10-27T21:31:00.003-07:002015-03-10T17:48:30.687-07:00My Basketball-Eve Wish ListIt's the night before NBA tip-off and I'm returning from a much-needed vacation to drop some more Laker-goodness. Everyone knows it's going to be a trying season with frustrating losses outnumbering the heartwarming wins. Some days Kobe will look like Kobe and others he will look like a guy barely hanging on. Nick Young will shoot the team into games as well as out of them. Some days Carlos Boozer will miss his jumpers while others he will just punch a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaZTzt0EK5w">referee in the cash and prizes</a>. Those are the ups and downs of an NBA season, and we have to be ready for them. <br />
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In spite of it all though us winter soldiers can't wait for the purple and gold to take the floor once again. It might not be Showtime, the Shaq/Kobe One-Two Punch, or even the Pau/Mamba connection anymore, but it's still Lakers basketball. </div>
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With the craven Dwight Howard and his floppy comrade James Harden awaiting the Lakers on opening night here's my wish list for this basketball eve. </div>
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Defend Dwight</span></h2>
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Last season's Lakers routinely got scored on in bunches and it made me want to punt kittens. While this year's squad doesn't have the personnel needed to be near the top of the league in defense I do expect them to at least be respectable. After all, that was the big selling point of hiring Byron Scott: a old-school, defense-first coach who would have the team competing hard every single night. The anti-D'Antoni, or maybe the Pretzels to his Pringles, if you will. </div>
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The Rockets lineup features Dwight Howard, who for some reason or another will be motivated to stick it to the team he already stuck it to. Jordan Hill, Robert Sacre, and Ed Davis are going to struggle containing Howard but if they can keep him from catching the ball deep in the paint and give the guards a chance to dig down on him Dwight will cough the ball up more times than not (Lakers fans set the world record for face palms after watching "Superman" act like the ball was made of buttered-up Kryptonite two seasons ago). </div>
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So on this basketball-eve I'd love to see Dwight Howard finish the game with 5+ turnovers. And a billion missed free throws. </div>
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Houston Can't Handle Randle</span></h2>
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The Rockets bench is significantly weaker than it was last season, thanks in part to the Lakers pilfering Jeremy Lin last summer. They also lost defensive stalwart Omer Asik, which means that the Lakers second-string should be going up against a Houston defense that is lacking in rim protection and bulk. </div>
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Enter Julius Randle. The Lakers rookie consistently improved his play during the preseason, eventually settling into a rhythm and showing a knack for pushing the ball coast to coast following a defensive rebound. On the offensive end his best moves saw him attacking after facing up from the perimeter, using his surprisingly quick first-step and strength to bully his way to the basket. </div>
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Houston's second unit seems well-suited to a Randle attack, and as long as the Julius can avoid throwing anymore <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEERr3AEzec">forearms to the throat (sorry Rudy Gay)</a> he should be able to have a solid night. </div>
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I'm wishing for 10 points and7 boards from Randle (20 minutes played) with a flash or two of future brilliance. </div>
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Put A Hurting On Harden</span></h2>
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I don't want to advocate any athlete getting hurt or any kind of dirty play, but James Harden is going to flop, fall, and fool the refs into one free throw after another. If he's going to get the call anyway the Lakers might as well get their money's worth. </div>
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Harden needs to feel it, really feel it, if he's going to drive into the lane and flail around in hopes of snagging a whistle. Make him think twice about attacking the paint so he has to settle for the jumper, which is still deadly but much more watchable than a parade to the free throw line. </div>
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<i style="text-align: start;">Maybe we need to bring back MWP for a game....</i></div>
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The Lakers have been talking about playing "smash-mouth defense" for the past week or so, and with Harden they need to really put that plan into action. Smash-beard defense? Sounds like a perfect basketball-eve wish to me. I want to see Haren held to less than 20 points on 40% shooting or worse with at least two or three plays that make him glad his beard provides a little shock-absorption. </div>
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Ronnie Price has a sore knee. Jordan Clarkson isn't quite ready for major minutes running the offense. Steve Nash is so old they ruled him out for the season because he hurt himself picking up a piece of luggage (I wish that was a joke). </div>
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Enter Jeremy Lin. The plucky point guard who set the league en fuego in 2012 finds himself on the grandest stage of them all going up against the team that relegated him to the bench in favor of Patrick "Westbook Kick" Beverly. </div>
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In fact, Lin's time in Houston was so unremarkable that he now finds himself underrated by fans and media pundits alike. The stigma of being reduced to a bench role caused many to overlook the fact that Houston mainly went with Beverly because they needed a defensive ace at point guard in order to take on the tough assignments that James Harden was unable (and unwilling) to handle. </div>
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The fact remains though that Jeremy Lin is a very good point guard. Maybe not an All-Star (although he will be one this year) but he will be much better than most expect. He's a hard worker who plays the game with fire and passion. The Staples Center crowd is going to love Jeremy Lin and he is going to do big things in purple and gold, mark my words. </div>
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On this basketball-eve I'm wishing for 18+ points and 6+ assists from Jeremy Lin, with a steal or two and a couple of threes thrown in for good measure. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">
Lastly, This....So Much This</span></h2>
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Just once. If there is any karma in the world the basketball gods will bring us an old-fashioned Kobe posterization of Dwight Coward. Tea, anyone? </div>
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<i>Don't miss Lakers vs. Rockets tomorrow night at 7:30! Follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a> for more Lakers fanaticism.</i> </div>
Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-59089632605960156862014-10-03T20:04:00.001-07:002015-03-10T17:53:21.501-07:00Top 5 Positive Storylines of the Lakers SeasonEveryone knows the Lakers are in a tough spot. They are a franchise based around championships that won't be contending anytime soon. They have an aging superstar who has suffered two serious injuries in consecutive seasons and just got an enormous contract extension. Their starting point guard is the oldest player in the league at 40 and looked completely finished as a player last season. Over the past two off-seasons they have lost two of the best big men of the modern era to free agency, receiving nothing in return save for cap space. They have also struck out in their pursuit of superstar-level talent, as they don't have a roster that would provide such a player with an opportunity to win a championship. Their draft picks have been depleted through poor win-now decisions that were made over the past few seasons, and in the midst of it all their owner, the benevolent Jerry Buss, passed away.<br />
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In short, the Lakers are slowly fading away, and the fans of the 29 other teams in the league are celebrating their demise. Fear not though, resilient Lakers fans. It takes more than a few down seasons to kill the greatest franchise in the history of sports. The Lakers will be back. Take these difficult times and use them as a way to make us appreciate the good times that much more. <br />
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With an eye towards optimism let's take a look at the top 5 positive storylines for the Lakers this season.<br />
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1. The Development of Julius Randle- Julius Randle is the one positive thing that the Lakers received for being so terrible last season. While some experts have questioned whether or not he has the upside of some other members of his draft class, such as Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, there is no question that Randle has the tools to be a very good NBA player. He has an ability to attack the basket and create off the dribble that few bigs can match. <br />
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He's not without his share of challenges, such as an over-reliance on his left hand and questionable defensive abilities. There are also concerns about his ability to shoot over lengthy defenders, which is something that nearly every NBA team has the days. <br />
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Still, every rookie areas of weakness, and only a year ago Randle was projected to be one of the favorites to be drafted #1 overall this summer, yet the Lakers landed him with the 7th pick. LA hasn't had a rookie of his caliber in quite some time and watching him grow as a player will be a joy to watch. <br />
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This should also make Lakers fans smile: When he was going through pre-draft workouts Randle, a life-long Lakers fan, c<a href="http://kysportsconnection.com/julius-randle-on-time-at-uk-disputes-skipping-celtics-workout/">hose not to workout a second time</a> for the Celtics (who had the 6th pick), which helped ensure that he would be available for the Lakers to draft at 7. Gotta love a guy who will pass on the Celtics so he can be a Laker.<br />
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2. Do or Die For Jordan Hill- Jordan Hill has long been a fixture on the Lakers bench, providing hustle, rebounding, and an interior presence that is a must-have in today's NBA. While Hill has struggled with injuries his game has intrigued Lakers fans, as many wondered if he could continue his production if given starter's minutes. <br />
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Next season the question should finally be answered. After the unceremonious departure of Pau Gasol the Lakers moved quickly and signed Hill, the next-best big man on the market (aside from restricted free agent Greg Monroe) for $18 million over two seasons. While this was a substantial pay raise for Hill the Lakers made a shrewd move when they made the second year of the deal a team option. <br />
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As a result, should Hill not live up to the expectations of his salary the Lakers can instantly free up cap space next summer by simply declining the option in his contract. He could also be an interesting trade chip for teams who are looking to clear salary cap space.<br />
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For Hill though, this contract essentially means that he has 9 million reasons why he should have the best season of his career. At 27 years old he is in his prime and will finally be given an opportunity to be the starting Center for the Lakers. In the past he has bounced around from backup PF to backup C, but also showed the most promise when starting at the Center position. <br />
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This year will provide an opportunity for Hill to prove once and for all that he deserves to start and can handle the responsibilities that come with it. Lakers fans should be excited too: in 8 games starting at Center last season (admittedly a small sample size), Hill averaged 16.6 points, 10 boards, and nearly 2 blocks per game. If he can live up to those lofty numbers then the massive contract that most pundits have mocked all summer will end up looking like a bargain.<br />
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3. Back to Defense- Last season the Lakers defense was apparently based on the strategies employed by France during World War 2. It was disheartening to see the opposition light the Lakers up each and every night. <br />
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With Mike D'Antoni preaching more offense than defense the Lakers got scored on in bunches. It was obvious to any poor souls watching that teams playing the Lakers were excited to run their offense because they knew that just about everything would work. Scrubs were getting career-highs on a nightly basis. In fact, it became a sound fantasy basketball strategy to play guys who would be going up against the Lakers because they were all but assured to put up big numbers. <br />
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So what has changed? Not much, except for the departure of Mike D'Antoni. Most of the Lakers squad remains the same from last season, which isn't necessarily a good thing. The team doesn't have a single player who would be considered a lock-down defender, and as such expectations for their defensive improvement have to be tempered. <br />
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However, Byron Scott is an old-school, defense-first coach that if nothing else will have the team competing hard on that end of the court every night. While we can't expect the Lakers to transform overnight into a defensive juggernaut we should see their help rotations tighten up and their schemes become more sound and consistent. <br />
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At the very least they should return to respectability, which in these dark times is something to celebrate. <br />
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4. All Lin For LA- The biggest offeason move for the Lakers was arguably the trade for point guard Jeremy Lin. Instead of pursuing restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe or mini-might Isaiah Thomas the Lakers instead made a deal with the Houston Rockets to land Lin and a first-round draft pick. <br />
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While the deal itself was a phenomenal one for LA (especially after Houston whiffed at their attempt to land Chris Bosh with the money freed up by the trade) the acquisition of Lin gives a slight spark to an aging and relatively uninteresting roster.<br />
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While no one is expecting a return of the "Linsanity" days of 2012 there is no question that Jeremy Lin is a very good point guard. He isn't an All-Star level player (though he may be voted in as one) but he has a fantastic ability to get to the basket and finish. His mid-range and three-point game are nearly as good, making him a dangerous offensive player that can help the team in a number of ways. <br />
The biggest question marks surrounding Lin are his defense and his ability to run a team. Fortunately for Lin his competition at the point guard spot, Steve Nash, will be a great mentor in one of those areas while coach Byron Scott will help him with the other. <br />
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To top it all off Lin is in a contract year, which means that Lakers fans should get some great performances out of him this season. He connects to the fans, wears his heart on his sleeve, and competes each and every night. He just may endear himself to the Lakers and their fans that he sticks with the franchise long term. <br />
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5. Kobe Bryant: The Return- Kobe Bryant is perhaps the greatest Laker ever, having waged countless battles while wearing the Golden Armor. He is also in the twilight of his career and coming off two serious injuries which cost him nearly all of last season. Kobe spent the majority of his career defying the limitations of the human body and playing through injuries that would have decimated other players. It was as though he would simply Hulk up and become impervious to harm. <br />
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<i>Kinda like this</i><br />
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The question now is, at 36, is Kobe finally mortal? Or can he be the Black Mamba once again? We know that he won't be flying through the rafters like when he was 22 or have the defensive chops that he did at 28. He is still one of the most intelligent players in the league with no offensive flaws, and if he stays healthy could average 20 a night just on his savvy alone. <br />
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No one wants to see Kobe fade away in a sea of injuries, so a strong, injury-free season would be such a relief for a weary fan base. After paying Kobe $48 million for the next two seasons a healthy Mamba would also take some heat off of Lakers management and allow them to sell the team a bit more to potential free agents next off-season. <br />
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Kobe is the heart and soul of the Lakers, and while contention may be currently out of the question it's going to be phenomenal to watch Kobe defy expectations yet again. Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-38954231506851225342014-09-21T17:44:00.001-07:002015-03-10T17:54:34.004-07:00Lakers Potential Starting LineupWith just over a week until training camp the NBA season is slowly inching closer. For hoops heads like myself the off-season feels incredibly long, especially in a season in which the Lakers didn't make the playoffs. Sure the FIBA World Cup proved to be a minor distraction but it still doesn't scratch the itch for Laker basketball. <br />
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Fortunately things should be picking up shortly. Before we know it the preseason will have started and this season's edition of the Lakers will provide plenty to talk about. In fact, Byron Scott got things off to a bit of an early start with his <a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-byron-scott-shares-potential-starting-lineup/2014/09/10/">recent comments</a> about how he sees the starting lineup at this point. <br />
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According to Scott, he currently has this starting lineup in his head:<br />
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PG: Steve Nash<br />
SG: Kobe Bryant<br />
SF: Wesley Johnson<br />
PF: Carlos Boozer<br />
C: Jordan Hill<br />
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Ouchtown. Population: Lakers fans. <br />
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Looking over the Lakers roster it's clear that there isn't a sure-fire starting 5, or at least not one that would make any of the 29 other teams in the league cower in fear. However most fans (myself included) expected to see Jeremy Lin listed as the starting point guard instead of the rapidly aging Steve Nash. Nash is a legend but at this stage in their careers Lin is simply the better player.<br />
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There may well be method to the madness though. While Nash clearly isn't the player he used to be the Lakers have opted to pick up his full $9.7 million contract for the 2014-2015 season rather than waive him via the stretch provision and pay him just over $3 million for the next three seasons.<br />
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After Carmelo Anthony took the money to stay with New York the Lakers were left with several options on the free agent market that they decided weren't the caliber of player they are looking for. The decision to not pursue Lance Stephenson or Isiah Thomas is still a head scratcher, as both would have made the team into something resembling a playoff team. For whatever reason Mitch Kupchak, Jimmy Buss, and the rest of the Lakers decision makers decided that it would be better to hold off on a major free agent signing until next summer. <br />
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As such it makes sense to bite the bullet and get Nash's contract paid off now to clear up more space next summer when there may be more attractive free agent choices. <br />
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<i>Gasol Version 2.0? Yes please</i><br />
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One of the other benefits of eating all of Nash's contract in one season is that also gives the Lakers the opportunity to get whatever they can out of Nash's final season. Offseason reports suggest that Steve is in fantastic shape and feels like he has finally healed from the assortment of issues that plagued him last season. Then again nearly every player claims to be in great shape during the summer when they aren't going through the grind of an 82 game NBA season.<br />
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<i> Well, except Raymond Felton. He just feels hungry. </i><br />
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Assuming that the Lakers are going to try to squeeze whatever they can out of Nash then starting him actually makes some sense. At this stage in their careers Lin matches up better against other starting point guards in the league but when players get older it becomes more difficult to warm up. Time needs to be spent stretching aging muscles to prevent stiffness while younger players find it easier to just step on the court and play. If Nash were to go through a full warm up and then sit on the bench for 20 minutes before going in he very well may tighten up and have a more difficult time getting going. <br />
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We know Nash can't play many minutes anymore but if he plays for say the first 8 minutes of each half, using pre-game and half time to get loosened up, then he might be able to stay on the court more this season. That would keep his minutes at about 16 per game, leaving 32 minutes remaining at the PG position for Lin and occasionally Jordan Clarkson. <br />
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If this strategy works and Nash can at the very least not be a negative on the court then his expiring contract just may have a little bit of value around the league at the deadline. It's unlikely, but with Mitch at the helm you never know what kind of deal he is going to be able to pull off. Turning Nash's expiring contract into one with positive trade value would be a much-needed stroke of good luck for the most snake-bit team in the league. <br />
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The other questionable decisions in the Nash/Kobe/Wesley/Boozer/Hill starting 5 come from the small forward and power forward spots. Most assumed that Nick Young would receive a starting spot at Small Forward after he received a 4 year deal during the summer. However, Swaggy P seems to do his best work as an instant-offense player coming off the bench, so his absence from the starting 5 isn't necessarily shocking. <br />
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No, the perturbing part is Wesley Johnson sitting in as the Lakers starting SF. While Johnson does have impressive athleticism and can shoot the ball fairly well he also appears to coast through games, His athleticism would suggest that he would be a strong defender but his play on the court has yet to show that (Johnson's defensive rating last season of 110 suggests that he was well below average as a defender). <br />
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He is the type of player who would appear to perfectly fit in Mike D'Antoni's system and yet he still struggled in the "Shawn Marion-lite" role. He's also 27 years old, which means that his upside is limited. <br />
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On the plus side Johnson has been reportedly working hard with Kobe this off-season, but again, all off-season reports have to be taken with a grain of salt. If anyone can get some fire and hustle out of Wesley Johnson it's Kobe, and maybe playing together in the starting lineup will help, but to assume that the switch is going to suddenly flip to "On" at this point in his career is overly optimistic.<br />
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There was some hope that Xavier Henry, a.k.a. the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd1AvVECNm0">guy who killed Jeff Withey</a>, would get the starting nod but it's looking like he won't be up to full speed by the time training camp starts due to knee and wrist surgeries he underwent this summer. With Young playing better off the bench and Xavier not quite healthy Johnson essentially falls into a starting role by default. <br />
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Carlos Boozer getting the starting spot over Julius Randle also raised some eyebrows, as Randle is the most talented young player on the roster and it was assumed that he would be given plenty of minutes to develop while the Lakers aren't contending. Upon reflection though it's tough to complain much about this move. Rookies need to be brought along slowly, and while it would be great to see Randle step on the floor and dominate from day 1 it's just not realistic.<br />
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The team is better off setting him up for success by letting him learn the NBA game and get his feet wet playing off the bench and running against opposing bench players. Throwing him in against the likes of Duncan, Griffin, Love, Dirk, etc would be asking for him to do too much too soon. <br />
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<i>***The development of Julius Randle just might be the most important storyline of the season for the Lakers, along with Kobe's health of course. Randle's full potential is something of an unholy Chris Webber/Charles Barkley hybrid, and while it may be a long shot that he ever reaches that level it's going to be tons of fun to watch him grow. It's also going to be interesting to see how many times Bill Macdonald shouts "Can't handle Randle!" during Lakers broadcasts. I sense a drinking game coming on...</i><br />
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While the Nash/Kobe/Johnson/Boozer/Hill starting lineup might not be one that will set the world on fire, it does mean that the Lakers bench will be very, very interesting. Check out this lineup coming off the pine:<br />
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PG: Jeremy Lin/Jordan Clarkson<br />
SG: Nick Young<br />
SF: Xavier Henry<br />
PF: Julius Randle/Ryan Kelly<br />
C: Ed Davis/Robert Sacre<br />
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Now that's an exciting lineup. Every person on that list is capable of producing highlight-reel plays through a combination of skill, hustle, athleticism, and in the case of Nick Young, mountains of swag. That's a high-energy second unit that should give opposing team's all they can handle and then some. The case can be made that some bench players will have more success than the starters from time to time, which means that Byron Scott will have the luxury of mixing and matching his lineups based on who is hot that night. It's terrible for fantasy squads, but a great thing for the Lakers and their fans.<br />
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In a perfect world Nash, Kobe, and Boozer will use their veteran wiles to control the pace of the game, slow things down, and find efficient shots. When the reserves come in the pedal goes to the metal as Lin, Young, Randle,and the rest fly up and down the court in full attack mode. It's a little reminiscent of the Farmar/Sasha/Walton/Odom/Bynum "Bench Mob" (yeah yeah technically Bynum was a starter) that used to terrorize the league during the 2010 championship season. Ah memories.<br />
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<i>***I recently re-watched game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals (thanks NBATV). It was one of the uglier games that I can remember but there were so many iconic moments. Pau's hanging in-the-air, maybe he traveled maybe not put back, Kobe slamming Rasheed Wallace into retirement, Ron Artest tangling with Paul Pierce early in the game and then blowing kisses to the crowd after sinking the three with 2 minutes left, Lamar Odom playing out of his mind but still looking like he was coasting, Sasha's clutch free throws....good times. Let's hope it isn't too long before the Lakers are back where they belong, winning championships again. </i><br />
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Of course that's not to say that this coming season is going to be all Showtime and string music, because it's not. It's going to be a grind and there will likely be more low points than high, but if nothing else they will be entertaining. I can't say I agree with all of Byron Scott's picks for his starting lineup, and they may very well change over the course of training camp. For the time being though the most exciting thing about the Lakers starting 5 is the bench, and that may not be a bad thing. <br />
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<i>Follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA</a> for updates on all things Lakers!</i>Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-10047369622067291262014-08-26T20:26:00.003-07:002015-03-10T17:55:35.476-07:00Steve Nash: Friend or Foe?In the 1980's the Los Angeles Lakers electrified NBA audiences with their fast-breaking "Showtime" offense. They ran the break in a way that had never been seen before, whipping their fans into a frenzy and making the Lakers into the league's most popular franchise. The driving force behind the Showtime offense was none other than Magic Johnson, who had a knack for making passes that no one saw coming. <br />
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In an era where the NBA was obsessed with the number of points a player scored Magic made passing into an art form. Kids on playgrounds everywhere tried to mimic the no-look pass and get out and run like the Showtime Lakers. Magic's influence went beyond his team's wins and losses, he changed the sport itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQq23NhxLFWbId-2oTXkVFv-h7mx3n4kYvT6xpN_jLnroXXjZU2i_uhclCw1Q3_f-Fy-n9Udl4pXJwmo9LY6bpI9xTcowusYMcJJudVkZ35RScxMjJzy5lpOHq81UHEMLpMhdhDy9k1uv/s1600/jack+80s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQq23NhxLFWbId-2oTXkVFv-h7mx3n4kYvT6xpN_jLnroXXjZU2i_uhclCw1Q3_f-Fy-n9Udl4pXJwmo9LY6bpI9xTcowusYMcJJudVkZ35RScxMjJzy5lpOHq81UHEMLpMhdhDy9k1uv/s1600/jack+80s.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></div>
<i> And changed Jack Nicholson from crazy person into mascot.</i><br />
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Since those glorious days in the 1980's only one player has been able to make passing cool again: Steve Nash. <br />
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Nash's resume reads like one that is the stuff of basketball dreams: 8-time All-Star, 7-time All-NBA, and the cherry on top: 2-time MVP. He was the engine of the "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns teams that revolutionized NBA offenses and made terms like "stretch 4" part of the NBA lexicon. Perhaps more importantly Nash proved that a pass-first point guard can not only succeed in today's NBA, he can thrive. In an era when highlight packages are focused on dunks and aerial acrobatics Steve Nash showcased a below-the-rim game based on footwork, spacing, and great fundamentals. He used his passing to add sizzle, and while he didn't make the passes that no one saw coming like Magic could he did make the passes that no one could stop. <br />
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Nash played the game in such a cerebral way that he made his athletic shortcomings all but disappear. Players loved to play with him because they knew that on a Nash-led team they were going to get the ball in the best spot possible and would put up great stats as a result. Watching his Suns teams play was eerily reminiscent of a modern day Showtime, albeit with more emphasis on three-point shooting and without the swarming defense that Pat Riley's teams displayed.<br />
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So when the Lakers traded for Steve Nash two summers ago it seemed like a match made in heaven. A foursome of Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard (who was acquired shortly after Nash) were poised to rule the NBA, and when Nash's former coach Mike D'Antoni was added it appeared that the Showtime-era Lakers style would indeed be resurrected. <br />
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We all know what happened instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaDNRVupecxVI2k2pMatpVIOYfj2drVjh8NV1qrj66lvm3JpavTtHIbnRim5KicvZsZuPTc-N6NBPPTIZbjbaVcO4L6srXtJp1XjV11GfWfYN-qZtoimRylSB54635cIzj13-fnynLUB0/s1600/catastrophe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaDNRVupecxVI2k2pMatpVIOYfj2drVjh8NV1qrj66lvm3JpavTtHIbnRim5KicvZsZuPTc-N6NBPPTIZbjbaVcO4L6srXtJp1XjV11GfWfYN-qZtoimRylSB54635cIzj13-fnynLUB0/s1600/catastrophe.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>Pretty much</i><br />
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Nash spent the year bouncing on and off the injured list while he struggled to develop any chemistry with Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard. It became so bad that Nash was relegated to the role of spot-up shooter, as Bryant and the team as a whole were having more success with the ball in Kobe's hands instead of Nash's. <br />
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While there were many problems facing the Lakers during the 2012-2013 season for Nash perhaps the most difficult adjustment was to the lack of screens being set for him. Nash always thrived in the pick and roll situation, using screens to create the separation from his defender that he needed in order to operate. Despite the fact that many assumed Nash and Howard would be a perfect pairing Howard, who was recovering from back surgery, flat out refused to set screens. He would often slip the screen in order to avoid contact with Nash's defender, which can be a useful tactic but as soon as defenses caught on it left Nash out to dry trying to beat his man one-on-one. <br />
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That summer Dwight showed his true colors and abandoned the Lakers to leave for Houston, no doubt concerned about the durability of Nash and Kobe Bryant, who was recovering from achilles surgery. With Dwight gone and Kobe injured it was time for Nash to return to his MVSteve form and run the show. The Lakers spent the summer adding athletic shooters and stretch players like Wesley Johnson, Nick Young, and Ryan Kelly in the hopes that they would fit into Mike D'Antoni's system and allow Nash to bring out the best in them. <br />
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Alas, Nash (and seemingly everyone else on the team) suffered through one injury after another and the Lakers ended up posting the worst record in franchise history. While the team's record may not have been all his fault a closer look at the numbers revealed something more alarming: In an admittedly small sample size of just 15 games Nash posted the worst numbers of his career by far. <br />
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The typically can't-miss shooter shot just 38% for the season, and while that could be contributed to his chronic back problems the eye-test showed that he was a shell of his former self. When the Lakers needed the Steve Nash of old all they got was old Steve Nash. To most observers it was clear that Nash had crossed over the line and was no longer an even respectable NBA player anymore. <br />
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The history books are littered with players who stayed a year or two longer than they should have. We struggle and grimace right along with them, wishing that we could turn back the hands of time and allow them to become the player they once were. Since we can't, the only thing we can do is hope that they allow themselves to go out gracefully. Tap out. Retire. When the time is right. <br />
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That just isn't Steve Nash though. It wouldn't be true to the warrior mentality and rigorous physical regimen that has allowed him to sustain such a long and successful career. He's determined to go out on his own terms, after proving once and for all that he still has it. <br />
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Here's the thing though: he's killing the Lakers by doing it. <br />
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Under just about any other scenario seeing a player do everything they can to continue playing the sport he loves would be a heartwarming story. However, in the NBA there is such a thing as a salary cap (sorta) and because of that Nash's salary is taking up valuable space that could be used on a younger, more productive player, which is something that the Lakers desperately need. <br />
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While this alone isn't reason for Laker fans to turn on Nash we can't forget that during an interview last season he admitted that part of the reason that he isn't retiring is because of the $9.7 million owed to him. He stated<i> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><i>“The reality is, I’m not going to retire because I want the money.”. </i></span><br />
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Obviously this doesn't sound great to fans, especially considering that Nash has earned over $125 million over the course of his career. That's not to say that his statement is completely damning, but is does come across as greedy considering that the vast majority of fans will never come anywhere close to earning that kind of money. <br />
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Nash has reportedly got himself in absolutely tremendous shape this offseason and is doing everything he can to have a successful year, which aren't the actions of a guy who is truly just about the money. Still, the statement that he made stings. <br />
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To make matters worse the Lakers traded away their 2015 first round pick to the Suns in the deal that landed them Nash. At the time no one thought that it would be a strong pick but with the Lakers looking like long shots to make the playoffs that pick has become a very valuable one. The pick is only top 5 protected, and given the Lakers luck in recent years and their current respectable-but-not-good roster they will end up in the 6-8 range. <br />
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By trying to hang on and refusing to retire Nash is all but ensuring that the Lakers will have a worse record than if his salary cap space was free to be used on a more productive player. It's an odd situation, but Nash's decision to continue playing helps the Suns much more than it helps the Lakers. <br />
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The real tough part for Lakers fans to swallow is that Nash didn't attempt to qualify for medical retirement. Most fans understand that walking away from over $9 million isn't easy, even if you are a multi-millionaire already. Furthermore, hanging up his sneakers after such a horrendous year would be difficult for Nash to live with, as he clearly feels he has something left in the tank. However, had he applied for <i>medical </i>retirement as a result of his chronic nerve-root issues then not only would the Lakers have received the cap space they so desperately need but Nash himself would still have received his full salary. Win-win.<br />
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Of course to do this Steve would have had to accept that last season's injury-plagued, 15 game showing would be the last thing that fans would remember about him. It's never easy to go out on the bottom, but for the Lakers it clearly would have been the best outcome and very likely would have allowed the team to be a playoff contender this season. Over the past few years though nothing has broken the way they needed it to so Nash's decision was just one more unlucky outcome in a long line of them. <br />
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<i>*** The CP3 theft. Mike Brown. Mike D'Antoni. Nash's broken leg. Dwight's back and lack of heart. Kobe's achilles. Dwight's cowardice. Nash's nerve root issues. Pau's everything. Kobe's tibial plateau fracture. Dr. Buss' death. The entire Western Conference becoming stacked. The list goes on and on. Lakers fans would ask what else could go wrong but at this point that would seem to be tempting fate. </i><br />
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<i>Even Laker-haters are starting to admit that the Lakers deserve a little good luck now. Never thought that would happen! </i><br />
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So how should Lakers fans treat Nash? Assuming the rumors about Nash's improved health are true then fans should support him through it all. Cheer him on, even if it's only because of the player he was and not the player he currently is. Even in his diminished state Nash can still help the team if he can stay healthy. If he ends up on the injured list for the majority of the season though and the losses start mounting though even Nash himself has to realize that a solid amount of blame will be placed on him, and rightfully so. <br />
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For Nash's sake and the Lakers sake let's hope that he can return to form. Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-34757523585469696492014-08-09T19:22:00.000-07:002015-03-10T17:57:33.057-07:00Predictions for Next SeasonWe are in the midst of a strange, uncomfortable era of Lakers basketball. As much as Lakers fans love to spout the "championship or bust" rhetoric it's clear that this season's squad is going to fall far short of those aspirations. Fans do understand that every team has down seasons and the Lakers are no exception, but still something feels different this time. The fan base is shaken, unsure of what comes next. Of course they are right to feel that way, as over the past few years a series of mistakes compounded by the outright villainy of David Stern's infamous "basketball reasons" veto has left the team in the worst position in...well, ever. <br />
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Fans were tortured during the free agency period with rumors of Carmelo Anthony joining Kobe in LA but it wasn't meant to be (might be for the best). Then there was the group of young guns with plenty of potential, guys that would bring Laker fans hope for the future. Surely, Mitch would land at least one of Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas, Greg Monroe, Kyle Lowry, or Lance Stephenson. Once again, misses all around. </div>
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The team was left to pick through re-treads from last season and cast-offs from various franchises with high aspirations. The Lakers watched All-Star big man Pau Gasol walk out the door for less money in Chicago just one season after watching the skittish Dwight Howard do the same. Troubling times in Laker land to be sure. <br />
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Even while fans are uneasy though there is belief around the league that someday the Lakers will be back on top, if for no other reason than they are the Lakers and winning is what they do. It may take longer than anyone expected and longer than the Lakers faithful are comfortable with but someday the sun will once again shine on the Staples center. </div>
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There will be no parade down Figueroa street, and no one can truly say when we will see one again. However, what can do is focus on this season, the here and now. As Phil Jackson would say, "Live in the moment". <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0928C0B8C1PmwOosV3815mk4Qy7qHo6EB61mSjZdwUrHxl0MPxPCPAIPNaaA3Q9kd1_UOkXHiMg4Bf1LWsQSZ5LjM29sI1SUbVOkujszCqZbNRDRQBYCwyruRR5PJbNWaq_ifKCHr5t2/s1600/Phil_Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0928C0B8C1PmwOosV3815mk4Qy7qHo6EB61mSjZdwUrHxl0MPxPCPAIPNaaA3Q9kd1_UOkXHiMg4Bf1LWsQSZ5LjM29sI1SUbVOkujszCqZbNRDRQBYCwyruRR5PJbNWaq_ifKCHr5t2/s1600/Phil_Jackson.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
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<i>***Phil truly was the best. Part motivator, part teacher, full-time media abuser. Aside from Greg Popovich no one could play with the media quite like Phil could. He wasn't the best X's and O's coach nor did he pretend to be. Instead he focused on the X's and O's of life, on who his players were as people and what inspired them. </i><br />
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<i>I'm still in shock over the Lakers letting him leave for New York. He's one of a kind and in the top 3 of Lakers I'd want to sit down and have a drink with. (the others: Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and Magic Johnson. So much wisdom in that group. </i><br />
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<i>He also coached from a chair that can only be described as a throne. Phil Jackson: doing it before "Game of Thrones" was cool. </i><br />
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So what can we realistically expect from the 2014-2015 Lakers squad? On paper the team doesn't look very promising. This is the lineup that we have to look forward to on opening day (assuming Michael Beasley doesn't end up in a Lakers jersey as rumored, which I'm pretty sure would be a sign of the apocalypse):</div>
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PG: Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash </div>
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SG: Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, Jordan Clarkson</div>
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SF: Xavier Henry, Wesley Johnson</div>
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PF: Carlos Boozer, Julius Randle, Ryan Kelly</div>
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C: Jordan Hill, Ed Davis, Robert Sacre<br />
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For one thing, it's a near-certainty that next season's squad will be healthier than last. With 220 man-games lost due to injury the Lakers were attacked by the injury bug harder than any team in the league. It was a season filled with one improbable injury after another, to the point where each additional call of "Medic!" could only be greeted with disbelief. It was a nearly unheard of bout of bad luck that is unlikely to repeat itself.<br />
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The Lakers do have elder statesmen Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash on the squad, and neither can be counted on to play a full season at this point. Aside from them though we should see a much healthier team and therefore a more consistent one as well.<br />
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Speaking of the two Lakers who are a little long in the tooth, Kobe and to a lesser extent Nash will be important to the overall success of the team next season. After missing nearly all of last season no one really knows what Kobe has left at this point. If he can somehow come back to be the Kobe we saw pre-injury then this Laker team may have an outside shot at the playoffs. If he's the guy we saw for 6 games last season, who rushed back from injury and didn't quite have his legs under him, the Lakers will struggle and likely end up giving the Phoenix Suns a fantastic draft pick next summer (the Lakers pick going to Phoenix from the Nash trade is only protected 1-5).<br />
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Steve Nash played in just 15 games last season and put up the worst numbers of his career since his rookie season. It's extremely unlikely that he can be much of a positive impact on the floor at this stage in his career, but he can be useful as a mentor to young guards like Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson. Nash also drew the ire of Lakers fans when he admitted to trying to play one more season just to make sure he collects the entire $9.7 million remaining on his contract. He has a lot of work to do if he wants to go out as a fan favorite. Best-case scenario would be Nash logging 15-20 minutes per game as Lin's backup and putting up efficient offensive numbers. Worst case? Well it's hard to imagine things getting much worse than last season, but if Nash were to once again look completely done on the court and still push to get to the 10-game minimum to avoid medical retirement and rob the Lakers of cap relief then it would be rather difficult for him to show his face around Los Angeles again. <br />
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Outside of Kobe and Nash the Lakers squad is littered with players who have little chance of reaching All-Star status and no chance of becoming the superstar that the Lakers need. Ok, Julius "The Juggernaut" Randle has a shot at becoming an All-Star level player, but he's at least a few years removed from that level. The team is counting on guys like Jordan Hill, Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Jeremy Lin all having fantastic seasons (in contract years no less), which may be a bit of wishful thinking on their part. <br />
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As such the Lakers won't be winning any games on pure talent like they are used to. Instead they will find themselves in the relatively unfamiliar position of underdog against the majority of the league. Fortunately they have hired a coach in Byron Scott who is willing to get his hands dirty to build a team that will out-work their opponents, using a defense-first strategy designed to keep them in games that they wouldn't be able to based on firepower alone. <br />
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Scott's no-nonsense, defense-or-die approach is the exact opposite of Mike D'Anonti's "Seven Seconds or Less" strategy he used over the last two seasons. Lakers fans grew tired of seeing D'Antoni's team give up huge scoring runs to anyone and everyone, and if nothing else Scott should put an end to that. That's not to say the Lakers will suddenly become a lockdown team, as they are still fielding a lineup with shockingly few even adequate defenders, but Scott will at least bring them back to respectable levels. <br />
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<i>Byron Scott: At least he's not Mike D'Antoni</i></div>
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As fans last season we were let down. We saw a squad that was besieged by injuries, Kobe-less, Nash-less, and poorly coached. D'Antoni tried to force square pegs into round holes and it was often painful to watch. <br />
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So what can we expect from this season? For one expect a new defensive intensity but at the cost of a little bit of the team's offense. Expect to see Jeremy Lin have a fantastic season and quickly become a fan favorite. Expect to see the log jam at the PC/C positions battle each other all season long. Boozer is fighting for his next contract, Randle, Davis and Kelly are hoping to live up to potential, and Jordan Hill aims to prove he's a starting-quality center and worthy of his big contract. Expect to see Steve Nash bounce in and out of lineups while Jordan Clarkson learns the ropes. Expect Xavier Henry to endear himself to Lakers fans once again and ultimately win the starting SF spot with his defensive tenacity. And lastly, expect Kobe Bryant to move heaven and earth in his attempt to return to form for his final two seasons in the NBA. With Kobe in particular it's either going to be a season of celebration as an icon proves he's not going to go away quietly...or one of sadness as we watch a star fade. <br />
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Prediction: 36-46, miss the playoffs and hand a #10 pick to Phoenix. </div>
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Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-4809197816005576482014-07-28T21:25:00.001-07:002015-03-10T17:59:11.474-07:00Lakers in Limbo (Part 2)Last time we took an<a href="http://www.16rings.com/2014/07/lakers-in-limbo-offseason-of-confusion_20.html"> in-depth look</a> at the acquisitions of Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, and Jordan Hill, and made the determination that while these may be good pick ups in a vacuum (especially Lin) there is a lot of risk involved for the Lakers. They brought back the majority of last season's historically bad squad in the hopes that some consistency, health, and a coaching change (welcome Byron Scott) will lead to better results. However, the biggest let down comes from the opportunity cost of not signing relatively cheap, young players such as Isaiah Thomas and Lance Stephenson in order to secure the likes of Hill and Young.<br />
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While the Lakers whiffed on their big-money players (Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol) and may have made a few questionable choices on their mid-range signings (Young and Hill), they did very well with their bargain bin guys. <br />
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Let's take a look at the guys Mitch Kupchak nabbed to round out the Lakers talent-starved lineup. <br />
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<b>Carlos Boozer (1 year $3.25 million)-</b> To the Lakers surprise they managed to win the Carlos Boozer waiver auction with a bid of just $3.25 million, which seems like a small price to pay for a two-time All-Star. However, there's another way to look at this: in deciding to amnesty Boozer's contract Chicago made the decision to pay him over $16 million to play <i>against</i> them, and for good reason. <br />
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Make no mistake about it, using just about any metric Carlos Boozer is simply not a great basketball player anymore. He's a power forward who lives on the mid-range jumper but his ability to actually make that shot has declined dramatically. In the past 2 seasons Boozer has shot just 47% and then 45% on 2-point attempts (after only dropping below that mark only once before in his entire career), which is terrible for a post-player. <br />
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To make matters worse Boozer has become a matador on defense, consistently allowing his opponent to score whenever they want. He was never known for his defensive abilities but in his latter years it's gotten so bad that Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau opted to sit him during the second and fourth quarter of games in favor of defensive stalwart Taj Gibson. As scary a thought as it is, Pau Gasol is actually a better post defender than Boozer is. Yeah, let that one sink in for a bit. <br />
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As a 32 year old former All-Star Boozer will also be looking to play well enough to secure another contract after this season ends (hence his comments about feeling so great he might play another 7 years). While the positive side of that is that he should be extremely motivated all season, the negative is that if the Lakers start losing his not likely to stick to the game plan. Being on a winning squad gets players paid, but putting up numbers on a bad team will too (exhibit A: Jodie Meeks). With the Lakers looking like lottery locks it's a sure bet that once the hope of being a Cinderella team gets extinguished Carlos will be looking to get his, team performance be damned. <br />
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So what's to like about Boozer (besides a last name that guarantees jersey sales)? Well for one thing he excels at running the pick and pop on offense, something that Chicago hasn't really been able to do with Derek Rose sidelined with knee injuries. It's no coincidence that Boozer's field goal percentage dropped when Rose went down, as he no longer had a creator to get him open looks from 15 feet anymore. Fortunately for him Jeremy Lin is a fantastic pick and roll point guard, and his ability to finish at the rim should draw defenses in and provide Boozer the space he needs to do damage. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7aiIKEfEjhPyyIo7L86Msv256vVXsru0fC1O0JYGppxrOic6YmVk2hNohPirxE2mSq7Z4sPyKruRzKPdBi-k1lhfTF_aFG6tKva1TYT-N2R1IrK6fY4ZdTEmWGpR55GLCsVY7UmQjN_Z/s1600/Carlos-Boozer-Jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7aiIKEfEjhPyyIo7L86Msv256vVXsru0fC1O0JYGppxrOic6YmVk2hNohPirxE2mSq7Z4sPyKruRzKPdBi-k1lhfTF_aFG6tKva1TYT-N2R1IrK6fY4ZdTEmWGpR55GLCsVY7UmQjN_Z/s1600/Carlos-Boozer-Jersey.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Now making an appearance at every frat party in So Cal </i></div>
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He's also still a solid rebounder even if he isn't the beast on the boards that he used to be. Having Boozer combined with Jordan Hill and Julius Randle should at the very least provide the Lakers with a team that will have a rebounding edge on most nights. <br />
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Perhaps the most important thing that the Lakers got for their $3.25 million was the experience that Boozer brings as a 12 year veteran. Building around youth is great, but every young team needs a few veterans on the floor who can help relay the message from the coaching staff to the players. With Nash and Kobe both being injury concerns Boozer is one more voice of experience that will be needed over the course of a long season. This wisdom could really pay dividends in the growth of young post players like Ryan Kelly and Julius Randle. <br />
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Fans who are expecting to see the Carlos Boozer who the Lakers nearly traded Caron Butler for in 2005 will be sorely disappointed. However, for the price he is still an excellent signing. There is the risk that he will attempt to inflate his numbers and won't adapt well to being a role player, but just about every team in the league would take jump on the chance to have him on their roster for just $3.25 million. <br />
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<b>Xavier Henry (1 year/minimum)- </b>In his first year in LA last season Xavier Henry quickly grew into a fan favorite. His hustle on both ends of the floor and willingness to attack the rim were a nice addition to a team that was often in need of energy. While Henry wasn't an All-Star level player by any means he was certainly worth more than a minimum deal. <br />
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Check out his per-36 minute stats:<br />
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<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
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<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="season" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="If listed as single number, the year the season ended.<br>★ - Indicates All-Star for league.<br>Only on regular season tables.">Season</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="pos" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Position">Pos</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pf_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Personal Fouls Per 36 Minutes">PF</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
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</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="3" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/henryxa01/gamelog/2014/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2013-14</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22</td>
<td align="center" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">SF</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.417</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.346</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.439</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.655</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">17.1</td>
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Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>:<br />
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Not too shabby. The 1.7 steals stands out as does the 7 free throws attempted (although he needs to shoot better than 65% from the line). The other number that should jump out is his age. At just 22 Henry has plenty of time to grow and could very well turn into the wing defender that the Lakers sorely need. </div>
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It's not out of the question to think that Henry may even win the starting small forward spot considering Nick Young has historically performed better as a 6th man and the Lakers will need someone who can help make up for Kobe's defensive struggles on the perimeter. If he can prove himself as a starter he will be in line for a nice raise next summer.<br />
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While Henry received a minimum deal largely due to his offseason knee and wrist surgery, consider that Kent Bazemore put up similar numbers and also had offseason knee surgery but received double the amount of money and years. Bazemore is also 2 years older than Henry, and as such a solid argument can be made that X actually has the higher ceiling. All things considered the Lakers really got a steal. <br />
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Oh, and let's not forget that Henry murdered Jeff Withey last season and got away with it. That alone was worth a minimum contract. I could pretty much watch this play all day:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7h8zVlCmX4w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>Wesley Johnson (1 year/minimum)- </b>This contract is the one mistake I think the Lakers made with their lower-level guys. Johnson is long, athletic, and can shoot the three-exactly the kind of the player that should thrive in Mike D'Antoni's offense (just ask Shawn Marion). However, Johnson was largely non-existent last season despite receiving plenty of minutes (24.7 average) and playing in an offense that should have been a perfect fit. <br />
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His three-point shooting wasn't quite as good as advertised with only a 35% average and his scoring left a lot to be desired. He also wasn't a great defender in spite of his considerable athleticism, often appearing to coast through games. <br />
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While the risk is certainly small on a minimal contract Wesley Johnson is 27, which means there is little room left for upside. He is what he is: a phenomenal leaper and decent outside shooter but that's about it. In order to truly make it in the NBA players either need at least one elite skill or be extremely good across the board. Wesley Johnson fits neither description. <br />
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The signing of Johnson is a minor complaint because he likely won't be a rotation player but I would have preferred to see his spot go to Al-Farouq Aminu, who is just 23 and is already a terrific defender and rebounder. If he can lock himself in a gym all summer and start to nail the corner three at a higher rate he will be the perfect 3-and-D wing that so many teams covet. <br />
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<b>Ryan Kelly (2 years, $3.3 million)-</b> While there wasn't much to cheer about last season the development of rookie Ryan Kelly was one of the rare bright spots. He's a Nowitzki-style power forward who has the ability to step all the way out to the three point line which fits the way that NBA offenses are going these days. The Lakers drafted Kelly assuming that his ability to shoot would fit nicely in Mike D'Antoni's offense, but were pleasantly surprised when he also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket as well. <br />
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While Kelly isn't the most athletic player around he does play the game with intelligence and keeps his turnovers down, which coaches love. He also move the ball well and finds cutting teammates better than most post players, and as last season wore on he showed a surprising ability to block shots, using his length at 6'11" to get to perimeter shooters.<br />
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<thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="season" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="If listed as single number, the year the season ended.<br>★ - Indicates All-Star for league.<br>Only on regular season tables.">Season</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pf_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Personal Fouls Per 36 Minutes">PF</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
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</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="0" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kellyry01/gamelog/2014/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2013-14</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.423</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.338</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.476</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.815</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
</tfoot>
</table>
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</div>
Kelly's per 36-minute stats show just why the Lakers are so high on him. His minutes and role on the team bounced around like crazy last year but through it all Kelly stayed productive and showed the versatility that could make him a solid asset off the bench. He doesn't have any one thing that he truly excels at but he's good at just about everything. It's this kind of versatility that teams need more and more in the modern NBA in order to adapt to the myriad of offenses and defenses they will be faced with. <br />
<br />
In some ways he's essentially a taller Luke Walton, so Lakers fans do need to be thankful that 7-year deals don't exist anymore. Kelly will have to prove his worth over the next two season in order to get a longer deal in the future. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>You see, you wanna play your best in a contract year.</i><i> After that you can go back to being terrible.</i></div>
<br />
By locking up Ryan Kelly for the next two seasons at a relatively low price Mitch is giving his young power forward plenty of room to grow into a solid contributor. Ideally the Lakers have their 4s of the future in place with Julius Randle and Ryan Kelly on board, and an on-the-job tutor in place with Carlos Boozer.<br />
<br />
<b>Ed Davis (2 years/$2 million, 2nd year player option)</b>- I saved the best for last. The Ed Davis theft had fans around the league perplexed and cursing the Lakers good luck in landing a solid big for such a cheap price. At just 25 Davis still has plenty of upside but also has enough seasoning to help the team win now. <br />
<br />
He spent time as a backup in Memphis but wasn't getting the minutes he was hoping for, so a jump to the Lakers made plenty of sense. The idea from Davis' camp was to make him this season's Nick Young and have him increase his value by getting plenty of minutes in the Lakers sparse frontcourt, then opt out of the second year of the deal and cash in as a free agent. <br />
<br />
Well, that was the plan before the addition of Carlos Boozer and the signing of Ryan Kelly anyway. Now the Lakers are looking at something of a log jam with their power positions, with Boozer, Randle, and Kelly all competing for minutes at power forward while Hill, Davis, and Robert Sacre will battle it out for minutes at center. <br />
<br />
However, even with the sudden depth of the Lakers front court Davis no longer has to compete with set-in-stone starters like Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. If he shows up in shape, rebounds, and plays defense Davis will find minutes in Byron Scott's rotation. He's the favorite to beat out Robert Sacre and back up Jordan Hill at the center spot and could even steal some minutes at the 4 as well if Boozer declines or Randle struggles. <br />
<br />
Again looking at per 36-minute stats it's apparent that the Lakers have found themselves another solid post player who excels as a rebounder. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="sr_share_wrap">
<table class="sr_share" id="" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px sold #aaa; font-size: .83em; overflow: auto;">
<colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="season" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="If listed as single number, the year the season ended.<br>★ - Indicates All-Star for league.<br>Only on regular season tables.">Season</th>
<th align="center" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="age" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Age of Player at the start of February 1st of that season.">Age</th>
<th align="left" class="tooltip sort_default_asc" data-stat="team_id" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Team">Tm</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">FG</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fga_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FGA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Field Goal Percentage">FG%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">3P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">3PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg3_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="3-Point Field Goal Percentage">3P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goals Per 36 Minutes">2P</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2a_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Attempts Per 36 Minutes">2PA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fg2_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="2-Point Field Goal Percentage">2P%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throws Per 36 Minutes">FT</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="fta_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Attempts Per 36 Minutes">FTA</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ft_pct" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Free Throw Percentage">FT%</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="orb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Offensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">ORB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="drb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Defensive Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">DRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="trb_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Total Rebounds Per 36 Minutes">TRB</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="ast_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Assists Per 36 Minutes">AST</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="stl_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Steals Per 36 Minutes">STL</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="blk_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Blocks Per 36 Minutes">BLK</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="tov_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Turnovers Per 36 Minutes">TOV</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pf_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Personal Fouls Per 36 Minutes">PF</th>
<th align="right" class="tooltip" data-stat="pts_per_mp" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Points Per 36 Minutes">PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="" data-row="0" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01/gamelog/2011/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2010-11</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">21</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2011.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">TOR</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.576</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">8.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.576</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.555</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="1" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01/gamelog/2012/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2011-12</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">22</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2012.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">TOR</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.513</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.000</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.515</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.670</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">7.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="2" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01/gamelog/2013/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2012-13</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">TOT</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.539</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.539</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.617</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">13.8</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="3" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01/gamelog/2013/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2012-13</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2013.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">TOR</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.549</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">11.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.549</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.647</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.7</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">14.5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="" data-row="4" id="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="">
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davised01/gamelog/2013/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">2012-13</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">23</td>
<td align="left" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MEM/2013.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">MEM</a></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.517</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.0</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;"></td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">9.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.517</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">2.4</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">4.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">.569</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">6.8</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">10.6</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.5</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">0.9</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">3.1</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">1.2</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">5.3</td>
<td align="right" onclick="" onmouseout="" onmouseover="" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap;">12.2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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</tfoot>
</table>
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Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Basketball-Reference.com</a>:<br />
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If nothing else Davis' inclusion in the mix is going to make Byron Scott's job extremely hard when it comes time to determine his front court rotation. Given the horrendous number of injuries the team suffered through last year the Lakers have to be feeling more confident knowing they now have 5 (6 if Sacre makes a leap) frontcourt players who can at least be productive. If two of them can rise above the rest and prove themselves as starting-quality players the Lakers will be in great shape to compete night-in and night-out on the inside, which couldn't be said last year. <br />
<br />
All in all the Lakers offseason was a disappointment. Missed on Carmelo. Missed on Pau. Passed on Bledsoe, Monroe, Thomas, and Stephenson. Still, Lakers fans can take solace in knowing that while the big moves didn't go down the team hit it out of the park with the little ones. <br />
<br />
No they won't contend for a title this season, but getting Boozer, Henry, Kelly, and Davis for less than $10 million combined will at least give fans a team that they can get behind and cheer for. At this point in the rebuild that's really all we can ask for. Brighter days still lie ahead, and these dark days will only make the future in the sun that much more fulfilling for the Lakers faithful. <br />
<br />
<i>For more Lakers news and analysis follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/16ringsNBA">@16ringsNBA </a></i>Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3803227653996153124.post-85748719326043370192014-07-26T19:52:00.002-07:002015-03-10T17:59:22.225-07:00Welcome home Byron ScottAccording to <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11270271/byron-scott-agrees-terms-los-angeles-lakers-become-head-coach">ESPN</a> Byron Scott has reached an agreement to return to Los Angeles to coach the Lakers. Scott was a key member of the "Showtime" teams of the 80's and spent the final year of his career mentoring a rookie by the name of Kobe Bryant. I'll have full thoughts on the hiring of Scott later, but for now let's welcome him back to the fold by checking out some highlights from the Showtime era. <br />
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<br />Trevor Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14783304039458192716noreply@blogger.com0