RealGM

In the NBA, the last 5 minutes or so are the most important IMO. It comes down to who can execute. Who would be our finishing 5? obviously with matchups, it is going to change but I think it should be
Nash
Meeks
Kobe
Jamison
Howard

Run pick n roll with two 3 pt shooters (meeks, jamison) in the corners... some kobe in the post. In the past, Odom was so valuable on offense/defense. He and gasol would finish most games. i think jamison can fill that role and would work better and be a good replacement over gasol. what do you guys think?
p.s. i wish we had a good 3 pt shooting young defender at the small forward position. though not young, i love pietrus.

At the start of the season it will be the starting lineup who'll also finish the games(Nash/Kobe/MWP/Gasol/Howard)....I'm talking about close games
Let's hope we'll have some blowouts so the 2nd unit can do their thing late

If MWP doesn't pan out,I'm expecting Meeks or Jamison to take his place....no way Gasol is benched late in a close game

Close games? It should be our starters. Nash/Kobe/Metta/Pau?Dwight
Blow out games? Blake/Meeks/Ebanks/Jamison/Hill (basically, our second unit)

If its close, Nash-Kobe-Metta-Jamison-Pau. Hack-a-Dwight in effect.

I think Nash, Kobe, MWP, Pau and Dwight is how we should finish close games, thats the best lineup in the league plus I'd want Metta out there for defense.

Matt6288 wrote:I think Nash, Kobe, MWP, Pau and Dwight is how we should finish close games, thats the best lineup in the league plus I'd want Metta out there for defense.

Yeah this!
If its a close game, and we are up, the other team is going to be doing whatever it takes to win. Which mean the ball in the hands of their star player, or whoever is hot at that moment. So we would need Metta's defense making the opponent work hard for everything they get!

Sofa King wrote:If its close, Nash-Kobe-Metta-Jamison-Pau. Hack-a-Dwight in effect.

Should be or would be? Mike Brown doesn't have the strong personality to pull Dwight late in games to avoid the "hack-a-Dwight." Also seeing as Dwight is set to become a free agent as seasons end and his comment's about wanting to close games, I just don't see how Mike pulls Dwight out...

Sofa King wrote:If its close, Nash-Kobe-Metta-Jamison-Pau. Hack-a-Dwight in effect.

**** the bullsht he's going to have to knock'em down

the starting line up should definitely finish close games for us. as a whole, their defense is the best on the team. and as far as hack a dwight is concerned, the only game i remember a team really sticking to that strategy was GS, where dwight shot almost 50 free throws, and surprisingly enough, made half of them.

Im sure Dwight would be ok late in games if he has Nash to run the PnR with, plus he's worth keeping out there for defense...

I'm hoping to see a lot of:

Morris
Goudelock
Ebanks
Clark
Sacre

Finishing games if you know what I mean.

MoLakers wrote:In the NBA, the last 5 minutes or so are the most important IMO. It comes down to who can execute. Who would be our finishing 5? obviously with matchups, it is going to change but I think it should be
Nash
Meeks
Kobe
Jamison
Howard

Run pick n roll with two 3 pt shooters (meeks, jamison) in the corners... some kobe in the post. In the past, Odom was so valuable on offense/defense. He and gasol would finish most games. i think jamison can fill that role and would work better and be a good replacement over gasol. what do you guys think?
p.s. i wish we had a good 3 pt shooting young defender at the small forward position. though not young, i love pietrus.

Flawed line up, you're thinking all offense. It's no way you need 5 offensive minded guys like that line up on the floor. You don't have one guy that's dedicated to defense, outside of Dwight who can cover his guy one on one you have flawed defenders on the perimeter.

Not saying Kobe and the rest can't defend but good solid defense in the last 4-3 minutes is based strongly on rotations. Lastly the Lakers will make teams adjust to them rather the other way around.

Most likely we'll see this team.....

Howard
Pau
Metta ( or sub Antwan )
Kobe
Nash ( or Blake only if Nash is in foul trouble )

But it'll depend on what situation we're in, if we're behind most likely we'll lace the floor with shooters. If it's protecting a slight lead Metta will be on the floor no matter what, with Pau at center to repelled teams from going hack mode on Howard.

This is what I like about this team, we have some versatility. We won't have to depend on a set line up like last season.

Im not taking D12 out of the game. His defense is to valuable. As far as Im concerned the way we start will be the way we finish.

Finish with the starting lineup unless you're facing GSW or SAS.

at least we can now field an all-offense lineup or an all-defense lineup

lakers problems

nash
kobe
metta
jamison
pau

or
switch dwight for jamison

I dont understand the fear of having Dwight late in games. Did Shaq ever stop LA from winning due to this? In the end he is going to make some and miss some but his defensive impact in the late minutes will be crucial.

Defense wins games, but freethrow shooting wins championships.

The starting five unless we have a good size lead then the bench mob will finish the game off. Does anyone miss Barnes other than me?