milesfides wrote:crazyeights wrote:So Sasha is a better half-court passer merely because he's longer? I honestly cannot recall very many entry passes from him.
Well, that's because his role has changed since he joined the Lakers. For the past two years, he's been used as a catch-and-shoot 2/3. Yet he joined the Lakers as a point guard, a position he's played for years in Europe.
Height plays a major factor in entry passes, it's simple physics. A height advantage allows for better passing angles around defenders. Which is why guys like Ron Harper, Brian Shaw, Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Lamar Odom, all had significant ball-handling duties under Phil Jackson.
Farmar is a good passer in transition. But both he and Fish have trouble getting the quick entry pass into the post, which in my opinion, has been a big reason why Bynum and Gasol haven't been involved as much as they should have in these early games. Good ball movement should go north and south, penetrating or kicking out for high percentage shots.
This is why Kobe still has to come out beyond the 3-point line and play a major playmaking role.
This is also why Fish takes questionable pull up jumpers so frequently, because he doesn't have the passing lanes, nor does he have the quickness to beat his man off the dribble.
Imho, the reason why our starting lineup doesn't have as much fluidity, better ball movement, is precisely due to Fisher's inability to initiate the offense as a playmaker, as well as Radmanovic's quick trigger and poor passing.
I think our current offense is best with a two man game between Kobe at guard and Gasol in the high post. They are our two best playmakers in the halfcourt.
I like the sideline triangle on the strong side consisting of Vujacic at guard, Bynum in the post, and Ariza at the wing, especially since Ariza is hitting his outside shot and moves so well without the ball (baseline to baseline cuts). I agree with EE, I like how Ariza is moving the ball as well, it's quite surprising.
Imho, I think that's the most logical and strongest primary lineup, whether it's used to start and/or end games, that should be our workhorse lineup.
But Vujacic is a key substitution for Fish (Ariza for Radamn is a foregone conclusion).
As far as defending little guards go, I feel Vujacic has done well against them in the past. Especially getting under their skin. Secondly, I don't think our current guards do so well against them either, and I think Vujacic will come out ahead on either one of them. Lastly, our zones and our bigs will help discourage penetration. The small guards will get trapped and passing lanes will be denied. Vujacic just needs to harass them as usual, and that will be better than what Fish or Farmar can do.
And I disagree with the idea that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." We were rolling last season all the way until the Finals until we were exploited, most notably at point guard and small forward.
If we're playing for championships, there's no room for complacency, and we need to prepare and anticipate issues that might bite us in the ass down the line.
Let me tell you, Fisher taking pull up J's would play right into Boston's hands. Same with Radmanovic. We need to get Bynum and Gasol involved more, and it can't be just Kobe doing that, or else we'd see another repeat of a Kobe zone.
Everybody must try to play complete basketball, that's Lakers basketball, and both Radmanovic and Fisher have better replacements behind them.
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