Farmar Vents to Phil about his role

[mr-EEE]

he shouldnt say anything to phil. phil knows were everybody belongs and to me farmar is in the right place in our team.

[hermes]

each player needs to know what their role is/where they belong

and if farmar doesn't and phil does then he should ask

[TonyMontana]

each player needs to know what their role is/where they belong

and if farmar doesn't and phil does then he should ask

I agree and hopefully he now understands what is expected of him.
Lets see what happens from here.

[Danny Darko]

What the?

What are you guys complaining about, that Farmar showed some initiative by approaching Phil Jackson and asked him to clarify his role?

Maybe Farmar should have the standard thing, pout, sulk, passively aggressively distance himself from his teammates and coaching staff?

This just shows me how much Farmar wants to succeed on the Lakers. Great decision on his part, a constructive way to find ways to contributing again.

No way I'm glad he took it to Phil. I would be over his game even without anything in the news. To me he's just not the fit we need. I've really thought that all season long and what the icing on the cake amounts to is his attractiveness on the market. He's got enough contract left for a team to want his growing potential and skills. And we can get a stopper pg who fits our needs better.

[fareweatherfan]

I agree with both schools of thought here.

(1) I've been over Farmar since he hit the wall last season. I'd be more accepting of his inconsistency if he had a better attitude. What puts it over the top for me is that I feel as though he has an undeserved (unearned) sense of entitlement. Confidence is great out of young guy, but Jordan's always been cocky, not confident (and no, cockiness doesn't suppose confidence).

(2) I like to see a young guy go to his coach behind closed doors and try to better himself for the sake of the team. Thats what kills me with Jordan, he's shown that rare desire to work and train to be great. But why doesn't it translate consistently on the floor? I think it comes back to his cockiness, he has a good game or two and he starts drinking the Kool-Aid.

He's good, but he's nowhere as good as he thinks he is. Once he figures that out, he'll be able to be great.

[Sedale Threatt]

There's just enough self-pity in Jordan's comments that this seems like a little bit more to me than a case of him simply seeking guidance from his coach.

I don't know, I admire the fact that he made a proactive effort here, but it just seems like he's trying to justify, or deflect blame, from the fact that he's playing like total crap right now.

"I was trying to go out there and do what I was told. Every time I would do what they asked me to do, it seemed like it was the wrong thing at that time, the wrong choice."

Sorry, Jordan, but suck it up. This is a man's league, and you've got to play like one to survive.

This is his third season, and even though he's still very young he should have, in my opinion, a much better grasp on things. Not just what we're trying to specifically do as a team but how to manage an NBA game in general.

Especially the fact that, no matter how much you might be struggling on offense, you can always, always, always put forth defensive effort. That has obviously not been the case this season with Jordan, and that is squarely on him.

All in all, there isn't a player on the roster that I'm more disappointed with. After how well he played during the preseason, I really expected him to take another huge leap this year. Instead he's totally regressed.

At the same time, I've wondered dating back to last season exactly how well this team is coached from a technical standpoint. Jackson's acknowledged strength as a coach is managing egos, about dealing with veteran teams and keeping them on task.

This team does not fit that bill, and in my opinion needs a firmer hand than Jackson seems willing to provide. There are so many moments on defense where it seems as if we simply don't know what we're doing -- terrible rotations, stupid switches, failure to help one another. Just a total lack of basic, fundamental organization.

With that in mind, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Jordan has a legitimate beef.

I think it's probably a little bit of both, and in my opinion this is not a ringing endorsement of either.

[ddubb]

There's just enough self-pity in Jordan's comments that this seems like a little bit more to me than a case of him simply seeking guidance from his coach.

I don't know, I admire the fact that he made a proactive effort here, but it just seems like he's trying to justify, or deflect blame, from the fact that he's playing like total crap right now.

"I was trying to go out there and do what I was told. Every time I would do what they asked me to do, it seemed like it was the wrong thing at that time, the wrong choice."

Sorry, Jordan, but suck it up. This is a man's league, and you've got to play like one to survive.

This is his third season, and even though he's still very young he should have, in my opinion, a much better grasp on things. Not just what we're trying to specifically do as a team but how to manage an NBA game in general.

Especially the fact that, no matter how much you might be struggling on offense, you can always, always, always put forth defensive effort. That has obviously not been the case this season with Jordan, and that is squarely on him.

All in all, there isn't a player on the roster that I'm more disappointed with. After how well he played during the preseason, I really expected him to take another huge leap this year. Instead he's totally regressed.

At the same time, I've wondered dating back to last season exactly how well this team is coached from a technical standpoint. Jackson's acknowledged strength as a coach is managing egos, about dealing with veteran teams and keeping them on task.

This team does not fit that bill, and in my opinion needs a firmer hand than Jackson seems willing to provide. There are so many moments on defense where it seems as if we simply don't know what we're doing -- terrible rotations, stupid switches, failure to help one another. Just a total lack of basic, fundamental organization.

With that in mind, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Jordan has a legitimate beef.

I think it's probably a little bit of both, and in my opinion this is not a ringing endorsement of either.

Very well thought out post. I have watched more Lakers ball than usual this year and have to agree. It just seems that despite all the skill on the court for you guys, there are basic Defensive fundamentals missing.

Some of the specifics I have noticed:

Getting back after a made basket. Time and time again I see the the other team throw a fullcourt pass and get a layup when the ball is taken out. Another thing is defensive rotations. When they are motivated, they are flying all over the place getting stops, but more times than not that third or fourth pass finds someone absolutely wide open. Another thing about rotations, if you do them correctly, you should draw charges. The help should get over in time to beat the offensive man to the spot and draw the charge. LA just doesn't take charges. I can't tell if its poor rotation or just that shying away from the contact, my guess is a bit of both.

It does seem that Phil is taking for granted some basics to the game that a lot of your younger guys could really benefit from learning. Guys like Farmar, Sasha, Pau, Luke and Vlad are absolutely killing you on defense, giving up all those points at home to the Knicks should be a wake up call. Something tells me it wasn't though.

[Danny Darko]

^^ yeah, I'd say your specifics of the D is the exact problem and it's cultural not ability based. Due our culture problems bull-headed cocky young guys are a particular detriment when so many of our players are young and do need to be in learning mode.

Even so Farmar is a good player and if he's given starting minutes on a team we trade him to it will likely seem like they robbed us, but really it would be worth it to get a culture change and a more fitting skill set. Guys like Earl Watson come to mind.

[Sedale Threatt]

Actually, Pau is a very underrated defensive player. He might be the only guy on the roster that I can't really complain too much about, him and possibly Ariza.

Any shortcomings he has come from the facts that, A. He's not very strong; and B. He's not overly athletic. Despite that he usually does a good job staying in front of his man and forcing them to shoot over him. He's not Dennis Rodman, but he's solid.

Otherwise I can't disagree with much else, especially our lapses when getting back on defense. This is such a fundamental concept, yet we neglect it time and time and time again. Any you take a **** jumper and fail to immediately run back to your own basket, that should be an immediate time out.

But as we all know, that's not Phil's style. It works well with some teams. Others, like this one, I don't think it's an effective strategy.

[DEEP3CL]

Cancer tendencies?
I thought a cancer in the locker room is one who undermines other players, coaches, and ultimately the team. I have heard no evidence that Farmar has done that.

Yes...............you saw my words correctly cancer tendencies. Unless you really know the Jordan I've saw since high school and college and heard the stories I've heard you'll know where I'm coming from. Bottom line his disdain for being coached is a MAJOR problem, and if your refusing to digest that then your fooling yourself that there is no problem.

[Sedale Threatt]

That sounds interesting. More details.

[Sonny_D1]

Lakers guard Jordan Farmar has a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, an MRI revealed on Saturday. He is headed to Los Angeles where he will undergo further testing on Monday.

It's unclear how long Farmar will be sidelined. If he needs surgery, it could be months. While he is out, expect Sasha Vujacic to pick up extra playing time. Lamar Odom could also spend more time in the backcourt with the second unit.
Source: Orange County Register
Related: Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic

http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/ ... knee/7284/

[hermes]

mitch might be forced into making a move again, depending on the severity of the injury