By: Kamron

Kamron — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:21:42 +0000

The problem would be that Kobe will have to guard the opponent PG, and Artest the opponent SG. Both are completely capable of doing so…
Neither is getting any younger. Particularly, having Kobe chase the likes of Chris Paul around the floor for 40 minutes seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Tire him out, get him in foul trouble, get him into a defensive positions/responsibilities that he’s not as used to (eg guarding the PG means less crashing the boards and more getting back on D). Plus, Artest’s strength these days is bodying SFs; if he tries to body fast SGs, he’ll spend a lot of time chasing and not much time making contact, he’s lost a step from his glory days (although none of the energy).
You’ve taken two very good defenders and made them worse by playing them out of position. And all for the benefit of a mismatch at the other end when what you really want is to get Kobe and Gasol going. Plus, you’re rotation is worse as well: instead of bringing Odom off of the bench to rest Gasol and/or Bynum, you’ve got to bring a lower-quality big off of the bench into the regular rotation.
IMO it’s not worth creating a mismatch at both ends of the floor unless you’re facing a talent deficit and hoping that you can utilize the mismatch better than your opponent can. Like going with a 3-guard rotation because you can’t put a good enough frontcourt on the floor to compete.
The Lakers are better off playing a normal rotation and trying to use their talent to win.

By: DT

DT — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:31:32 +0000

It might finally be time to move Walton or Odom into the triangle PG role. It is not a creation role in the triangle. The only requirements are being able to dribble, pass, and shoot 3s. The problem would be that Kobe will have to guard the opponent PG, and Artest the opponent SG. Both are completely capable of doing so, but it means Kobe will do a lot more running on defense and Artest won’t be available to man up against the better forwards in the league. Still, the offensive advantage of having an 3XL PG rotation of Walton, Odom, Vujacic could make the Lakers a nightmare matchup for many teams that have two or more regulars under 6’6″.

Comments on: The Lakers' backcourt is going to look dramatically different next season

By: Kamron

By: DT