RealGM

it might be a bit premature seeing as the Lakers have played only two games against potential 8-11 seeds in the WC

but has anyone been mightily impressed with radman's new found defensive fervor??

and to add more icing on the cake, ariza has seemingly developed into a reliable 3pt threat on occasion...

its like having all our weaknesses all sewn up (except luke), we might not even need to trade lamar for a better fit come deadline time...

right now, it seem rad's doing quite well with the starters but would anyone prefer ariza start instead??

No need for that. We are two different teams put together into one. The starting unit is a tough half court team that can execute the offense and make extra passes to get high % shots and Radmanovic and Fisher fit that mode for spacing purpose and Fisher's familiarity with the offense is a huge +ve.

The 2nd unit on the other hand is up tempo to run the already tired and beaten teams into submission. As such, the best talents of Farmar/Odom/Ariza in the open floor is being utilized to the max by the coaching staff. We are in a position where we can play each player for 24 mins to the max and still beat more than half the teams in the league. Then we have our 10 - 15 that can plug holes or cover injuries on either unit.

Teams will have to play their best, focussed basketball and make a high % of their shots to beat us on any given day, either home or road and a lot of credit needs to go to Phil Jackson and his coaching staff for master minding the rotations and monitoring player minutes. We need to play game 7 of the playoffs (if needed ) like we did on game 1 against Portland, which is a luxury most teams do not have and there is no point taking the starting 5 in stone and pride in it because in the end, on our 10 deep rotation every player is going to play the same minutes and we have the luxury of playing Kobe and Pau for at the max 32 MPG so there's no need to tinker with or fix a very well oiled machine.

Not yet.

Not with the team playing so well. Keep Ariza gunning with the second team.

Shooting can come and go, but defense has to be there all the time. In that sense, Ariza is a step ahead, but that doesn't even mean he'll start on our team. He probably won't, considering how effective our second unit is.

But it does mean he has a better chance of finishing games, and I think that's the only thing that matters on this deep team.

either way, its a breath of fresh air when you see rad and ariza visibly improve in this way

I think that they can keep this up. I know there will be some nites when some things wont go right, but I feel that they will play very well this season. I wouldn't change anything about this team either. I must say that our team has the power to go all the way too.

Front Court rotation is just sick

Bynum-C
Gasol-PF/C
Odom-SF/PF/C
PowellPF/C
Mihm-PF/C
Ariza-SF/SG
Radmanovic-SF/PF
Walton-SF/PF

Back Court rotation is sick as well

Fisher-PG/SG
Farmar-PG
Bryant-PG/SG/SF
Vujacic-PG/SG/SF
Ariza-SG/SF
Odom-PG/SG

This is another reason I like our team because we have the ability to switch players in and out at every position

ace,
i always wanted to know if you were that cute chick in that picture or are you a dude lol

Hey i thought it was the other way around. Vlad for his shooting and Ariza is known for his D.

I'm glad that both are pulling their own weight this season thus far. I love seeing ariza making them 3s. Now teams have to spread out their defense knowing he can take that shot.

But i agree with you guys in leaving him as part of the 2nd crew and vlad with the first. Two different types of plays but when utilize effectively.. they're lethal. Like that new maxima commerical. hehe

If Ariza stays healthy and keeps up that shot then him and Farmar would be nice additions to the starting lineup. Maybe next year.

All of the above

We arguably have the best starting lineup in the nba, but i love watching our second unit play! keep it going and don't change a thing.

The second unit now (given its only been two games) has been a complete joy to watch. There have been a few minutes where things havent gone their way (easy fast breaks, ect), but for teh most par, theve been by far superior to what the other teams have matched up against them.

I would say this bench is better all around than the 3-Peat Lakers benches.

So far, Radman's defense is more improved than Ariza's shooting. Either way, we can't go wrong starting either of them. Healthy competition will only make both of them better. I'd give the nod to either one, depending on the opponent.

I suppose Ariza should come from the bench, always. He better fits with the 2nd unit playing tha up-tempo style with Ariza scoring fast-break points and cutting to the basket.
Vlad spreads the floor much better than Ariza's improved shooting, in my opinion.
Plus Radmanovic playing so well in defense makes me forget all his past pieces of art.

I think we shouldn't change what works very well...

j-far wrote:No need for that. We are two different teams put together into one. The starting unit is a tough half court team that can execute the offense and make extra passes to get high % shots and Radmanovic and Fisher fit that mode for spacing purpose and Fisher's familiarity with the offense is a huge +ve.

The 2nd unit on the other hand is up tempo to run the already tired and beaten teams into submission. As such, the best talents of Farmar/Odom/Ariza in the open floor is being utilized to the max by the coaching staff. We are in a position where we can play each player for 24 mins to the max and still beat more than half the teams in the league. Then we have our 10 - 15 that can plug holes or cover injuries on either unit.

Teams will have to play their best, focussed basketball and make a high % of their shots to beat us on any given day, either home or road and a lot of credit needs to go to Phil Jackson and his coaching staff for master minding the rotations and monitoring player minutes. We need to play game 7 of the playoffs (if needed ) like we did on game 1 against Portland, which is a luxury most teams do not have and there is no point taking the starting 5 in stone and pride in it because in the end, on our 10 deep rotation every player is going to play the same minutes and we have the luxury of playing Kobe and Pau for at the max 32 MPG so there's no need to tinker with or fix a very well oiled machine.

I like this guy.