Lineup Changes

[laka4life]

We have to change something up before we give up any hope of having Homecourt.

Fisher
Kobe
Ariza
Powell
Gasol

Brown
Vujacic
Ariza/Kobe
Odom
Mbenga

First, Jordan Farmar should never see the court again.

Second, Luke Walton should never see the court again.

Third, Ariza and Kobe are just going to have to suck it up til Drew gets back.

Fourth, Odom has been solid since returning to a starting role and this isn't a punishment. We need him to help the bench. They blow so many leads it's about to take a toll on this team mentally.

[Slava]

You don't have to move Odom to the bench to make it better. Odom and Kobe could stay on longer and play with the bench for a few minutes and give Brown and Powell some minutes with the starting 5. To be honest though if Farmar plays with discipline and Sasha "gay band" Vujacic starts knocking down his share of shots, we'd be in a much better situation.

[laka4life]

You don't have to move Odom to the bench to make it better. Odom and Kobe could stay on longer and play with the bench for a few minutes and give Brown and Powell some minutes with the starting 5. To be honest though if Farmar plays with discipline and Sasha "gay band" Vujacic starts knocking down his share of shots, we'd be in a much better situation.

"If Jordan plays with discipline"

Oh ****. If were honestly banking on that, **** our season. Cuz it might as well end now.

[laka4life]

You don't have to move Odom to the bench to make it better. Odom and Kobe could stay on longer and play with the bench for a few minutes and give Brown and Powell some minutes with the starting 5. To be honest though if Farmar plays with discipline and Sasha "gay band" Vujacic starts knocking down his share of shots, we'd be in a much better situation.

You're counting on things that haven't happened all year. That's like me saying we should let Luke shoot 20 three pointers a game and hope he goes back to his 2006 first half form of hitting half of his three point jump shots. That's ludicrous.

Fact is, we got played last year. Vujacic is not what we thought he was, and we should've traded Farmar a long time ago while he had any value.

[Slava]

He's the f'in PG on that unit man and if he doesn't get out of his slump, we're pretty much handicapped for the rest of the season and playing our only other PG for 40 mins who of course is an aging veteran is not doing any good in the longer run.

[laka4life]

He's the f'in PG on that unit man and if he doesn't get out of his slump, we're pretty much handicapped for the rest of the season and playing our only other PG for 40 mins who of course is an aging veteran is not doing any good in the longer run.

He's the f'in PG on that unit??? Really???

Well he sure as hell hasn't played like it since last year.

No, we're not handicapped. We're handicapped right now. Instead of sitting on our asses and doing nothing about it, we could try Brown, we could play god damn Sun Yue for petes sake. Who the **** cares.

The point guard of the triangle offense has to create spacing with 3 point shooting, penetrate when open, be a solid passer, and play defense.

Not one of those things I just named Jordan does well on a consistent basis.

Not one.

[TylersLakers]

I'd love to see this.

PG: Derek Fisher [32]/ Shannon Brown [16]/
SG: Kobe Bryant [26]/ Sasha Vujacic [22]/
SF: Trevor Ariza [34]/ Kobe Bryant [14]/
PF: Josh Powell [12]/ Lamar Odom [36]/
C: Pau Gasol [40]/ Josh Powell [4]/ DJ Mbenga [4]

It's time to get Sasha some confidence, playing with Kobe, etc. Most importantly, it's time to cut out Jordan Farmar and Luke, although I am a little flexible with Luke.

[Slava]

Look dude if you want to throw Jordan under the bus its alright because he's been terrible off late but suggesting that Sun Yue and Shannon Brown are going to do better is not the solution. Shannon Brown's basically been on the team for 3 weeks and admitted to not knowing how exactly the offense works and I wouldn't even need to talk about Yue because he's been playing worse than Farmar in the d-league. I can see Brown replacing Sasha as a 2-guard but Farmar's place in the rotation is tough to be filled up.

The trade deadline has passed and we need to make it work with whatever pieces we have at this moment. Farmar is one of the most important pieces outside the starting 5 and Drew and if he doesn't improve we'll just have to put extra miles on our starters again.

[laka4life]

I'd love to see this.

PG: Derek Fisher [32]/ Shannon Brown [16]/
SG: Kobe Bryant [26]/ Sasha Vujacic [22]/
SF: Trevor Ariza [34]/ Kobe Bryant [14]/
PF: Josh Powell [12]/ Lamar Odom [36]/
C: Pau Gasol [40]/ Josh Powell [4]/ DJ Mbenga [4]

It's time to get Sasha some confidence, playing with Kobe, etc. Most importantly, it's time to cut out Jordan Farmar and Luke, although I am a little flexible with Luke.

A fan after my own heart. Wow....I'm in awe right now Tyler....Thank you

[LLcoleJ]

laka4life.
You got this thread going, you are in the Farmar thread and the game thread. Please stop trying to evade the language filter. It is considered a violation of the TOS.

Tone it down. RealGM does warn, suspend and ban people who violate the TOS ( Terms of Service)

[laka4life]

Look dude if you want to throw Jordan under the bus its alright because he's been terrible off late but suggesting that Sun Yue and Shannon Brown are going to do better is not the solution. Shannon Brown's basically been on the team for 3 weeks and admitted to not knowing how exactly the offense works and I wouldn't even need to talk about Yue because he's been playing worse than Farmar in the d-league. I can see Brown replacing Sasha as a 2-guard but Farmar's place in the rotation is tough to be filled up.

The trade deadline has passed and we need to make it work with whatever pieces we have at this moment. Farmar is one of the most important pieces outside the starting 5 and Drew and if he doesn't improve we'll just have to put extra miles on our starters again.

Why am I going to throw him under the bus???

Because I would rather have Yue or Brown get burned every play but GIVE A FLYING **** AND TRY 100% of the time rather than lollygagging like Farmar.

He wants to get paid, that's it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If we lose because Brown and Yue aren't good enough, that's fine. Atleast I'll know that Phil put in the players who genuinely care.

Farmar....I think my Grandma could put more effort in on a nightly basis....She's 91.

[laka4life]

laka4life.
You got this thread going, you are in the Farmar thread and the game thread. Please stop trying to evade the language filter. It is considered a violation of the TOS.

Tone it down. RealGM does warn, suspend and ban people who violate the TOS ( Terms of Service)

My bad. A loss like that just makes me sick.

[TylersLakers]

Look dude if you want to throw Jordan under the bus its alright because he's been terrible off late but suggesting that Sun Yue and Shannon Brown are going to do better is not the solution. Shannon Brown's basically been on the team for 3 weeks and admitted to not knowing how exactly the offense works and I wouldn't even need to talk about Yue because he's been playing worse than Farmar in the d-league. I can see Brown replacing Sasha as a 2-guard but Farmar's place in the rotation is tough to be filled up.

The trade deadline has passed and we need to make it work with whatever pieces we have at this moment. Farmar is one of the most important pieces outside the starting 5 and Drew and if he doesn't improve we'll just have to put extra miles on our starters again.

I'm definitely feeling you on those points, man. As the playoffs come, our starters are definitely going to have to play 40 minutes a night. No question about it.

Although, one thing. Offense isn't the problem with this team. I'm pretty sure if we threw Shannon Brown out there with Sasha Vujacic, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, we'd be pretty good on the offensive end. It's the defensive end that Jordan Farmar is killing us on. I wouldn't care if he bricked a couple threes if he made an effort and played D. He came in tonight in the first quarter with three minutes and some change and the FIRST PLAY ANDRE MILLER GOT A LAYUP! Like, it's sickening.

Phil should strut up to Shannon Brown pre-game on Thursday and grab him by the jersey.

PHIL: "ARE YOU GOING TO AT LEAST MAKE AN EFFORT AND PLAY SOME DEFENSE FOR ME!?!?!?!?!"
BROWN: "Yes, sir!"
PHIL: "OKAY!"

Boom. Shannon Brown will go and at least try. You know what Jordan Farmar would say?

PHIL: "ARE YOU GOING TO AT LEAST MAKE AN EFFORT AND PLAY SOME DEFENSE FOR ME!?!?!?!?!"
FARMAR: "That's not how I learned in high school!"

Agh, so that guy just frustrates me on belief.

[Slava]

I'm not going to dispute Jordan's will to win. He's had a stellar college career and he's been pretty fine the first half of the season until he started complaining about lack of proper understanding with the coaching staff and he also reportedly had a talk with Phil regarding his role post the Miami game before he was injured.

While we talk about his failings, its worth noticing that he isn't getting that Pick n Roll play run for him, which he used to be very good at with Bynum and it was pretty much the best set play the bench would run consistently. There are quite a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out but is Farmar's will to win suffering now? I really don't expect that from anyone in a team mentored by Kobe and Fisher.

[laka4life]

It's just demeanor. The only time you ever see Jordan upset is when he's on the bench.

I'd atleast like to see him pissed off at himself after a turnover, missed shot, blown assignment, etc.

There's only so much Kobe and Derek can do. He's turning into a man now, and he needs to be responsible for his own shortcomings. We can't blame Kobe and Derek for Farmar's failings. It's his fourth year. Enough's enough.

I'm not asking for perfection, just show a little more damn heart and desire. He used to have it. I'm not saying it's been forever missing. I'm just trying to figure out where the hell it went.

[laka4life]

Besides I'm a firm believer you find out the true character in a man by putting him in a difficult situation.

Bench Jordan for a game or two. See how he takes it.

If he whines, pouts, and bitches, well plain and simple we made the right decision and his ass is outta here come May.

If he mans up, talks to Phil, sees what he needs to improve, and gives his all on the court once he shows in practice what he can do, we made the wrong call, and we show him we believe in him.

Don't baby him anymore. we can't just give him any more minutes. He has to earn them.

[Anklebreaker702]

I'd love to see this.

PG: Derek Fisher [32]/ Shannon Brown [16]/
SG: Kobe Bryant [26]/ Sasha Vujacic [22]/
SF: Trevor Ariza [34]/ Kobe Bryant [14]/
PF: Josh Powell [12]/ Lamar Odom [36]/
C: Pau Gasol [40]/ Josh Powell [4]/ DJ Mbenga [4]

It's time to get Sasha some confidence, playing with Kobe, etc. Most importantly, it's time to cut out Jordan Farmar and Luke, although I am a little flexible with Luke.

Are those minutes TL? If so, Powell & Mbenga need a lot more time than that.

[hermes]

You don't have to move Odom to the bench to make it better. Odom and Kobe could stay on longer and play with the bench for a few minutes and give Brown and Powell some minutes with the starting 5. To be honest though if Farmar plays with discipline and Sasha "gay band" Vujacic starts knocking down his share of shots, we'd be in a much better situation.

You're counting on things that haven't happened all year. That's like me saying we should let Luke shoot 20 three pointers a game and hope he goes back to his 2006 first half form of hitting half of his three point jump shots. That's ludicrous.

Fact is, we got played last year. Vujacic is not what we thought he was, and we should've traded Farmar a long time ago while he had any value.

doesn't mean things can't change


and i don't know if changing up the rotations is a good thing, since that's what got us into this mess in the first place

[TylersLakers]

I'd love to see this.

PG: Derek Fisher [32]/ Shannon Brown [16]/
SG: Kobe Bryant [26]/ Sasha Vujacic [22]/
SF: Trevor Ariza [34]/ Kobe Bryant [14]/
PF: Josh Powell [12]/ Lamar Odom [36]/
C: Pau Gasol [40]/ Josh Powell [4]/ DJ Mbenga [4]

It's time to get Sasha some confidence, playing with Kobe, etc. Most importantly, it's time to cut out Jordan Farmar and Luke, although I am a little flexible with Luke.

Are those minutes TL? If so, Powell & Mbenga need a lot more time than that.

Yeah, those are minutes.

Well, I think Powell playing 16 minutes a game and Mbenga playing a stretch of 4 in the first half is good. That's what Mbenga is doing right now. Depending on the match-up, he'd also get some more minutes depending. If we were playing a physical center, I'd rather have Mbenga in there than Odom or Powell getting banged on.

Plus, if Odom agreed to come off the bench, he'd still want 35-40 minutes a game. For Bynum, he's willing to accept 25-30 minutes a game but I don't think he would for J-Peezy. Also have to remember, once Drew comes back, we'll rarely see Powell or DJ, unfortunately.

Basically, that breaks down to..

Kobe Bryant: 40 minutes
Pau Gasol: 40 minutes
Lamar Odom: 36 minutes
Trevor Ariza: 34 minutes
Derek Fisher: 32 minutes

Sasha Vujacic: 22 minutes
Josh Powell: 16 minutes
Shannon Brown: 16 minutes
DJ Mbenga: 4 minutes

[hermes]

so the way to solve the problem is to bench farmar and put him in even more of a funk than he already is

of course playing his way out of it doesn't have a lot of merits either