A Quarterback

[Magicontinues]

First things first I really enjoy the spirit of this team. They remind me of another team I really enjoyed watching ... those Sac teams who passed and shot very well.

Unfortunately they, like the old Sac teams, lack defensive toughness. This is something that has been widely discussed by everyone including myself who has always professed to what I deem to be a very soft team including Gasol (a fantastic offensive machine).

Defense is important and we desperately need more coaching on that end but I think what this team sorely lacks is a quarterback. Phil alluded to this last week in an interview in reference to Gasol and its something I really agree with.

It doesn't really matter at what position this quarterback plays. A quarterback in basketball can play at any position. Traditionally they are at point guard. With the Bulls, Pippen was clearly the quarterback. I always thought Odom would be our quarterback from the power forward position. I was wrong (now I know that he is a much better rebounding Derrick McKey w/o McKey's jumper).

The quarter back for our team for as long as I can remember has been Kobe. That's cool when we had Shaq in his prime but the moment Shaq left and Kobe became the undisputed first option we should've made it a top priority to find someone to get him the ball. To Kupchak's credit, I think he thought like me, that Odom could learn or blossom to become our quarterback but it obviously hasn't happened.

Kobe cannot be our number one option and our quarterback. It pained me to watch the Finals last year when whenever the game became tight and we obviously needed a bucket, Kobe would bring the ball up and try to maneuver the offense in a way that would give himself a good look. It didn't work. He had to work way to hard just to get in a position to score. He was trying to do way too much. This resposibilty makes a player old really quick (McGrady is a perfect example as he has always been asked to do it all including being a qurterback. The weight is really unbearable on anyone's shoulders and, like McGrady, can cause back problems).

I have always liked Farmer's game although I thought he was a little too erratic. More importantly I thought he was the definition of a quarterback but lacked the outside shot to be a good fit with our team. To his credit he has made himself into a respectable shooter. Now we see that he lacks the defense at the point that we sorely lack and hasn't neccessarily shown the leadership and quarterbacking skills he showed us all in college. I still think he IS a quarterback but that Farmar just doesn't fit our more structered offense. He tried to adjust his game last year with great success but I think more and more he is coming to the realizarion that he doesn't want to change. He wants to play HIS game which is predicated on him being able to make plays and mistakes knowing that his coach will not have him on a short leash. Given the right opportunity, Farmar will be a solid starter on a team that affords him the freedom that he needs to be an effective quarterback. He'll probably play remarkably better defense then too.

Farmar is a quarterback but isn't the most comfortable in our system and seriously lacks defensive intensity so unfortunately he may not ever reach his full potential with us (I hope I am wrong though). We clearly have another quarterback on our team not named Kobe or Farmar or Odom.

His name is Luke Walton. He is the definition of a quarterback. He can and will get Kobe the ball, run the offense and get others involved. Luke is very unique in this way. However, In addtion to simply needing a quarterback we need a quarterback who can play sigificant minutes without ever really being a liability. Luke is a truly unique ball player but he is also unique for a ball player in that he is extremely UNathletic. He can't guard opposing small forwards with any substantial athleticism. I really hate that Luke wasn't blessed with speed or lateral quickness. Again he is exactly the quarterback we need but he CLEARLY is a liability. If he continues to be our quarterback Paul Pierce will continue to lick his chops come June. It won't be pretty.

Sooo, what's a quarterback? I dont get it Kobe is a quarter back at times, he initiates the offense, at other times it's Lamar, other times it's Fisher or Farmar. Kobe takes over as Quarterback in crunch time, as he should and has been as far as I can see (4 rings) pretty successful at it.

You think Luke should be our full time quarterback? Oh brother.

[ALL HAIL]

I'll say it very clearly then:

The Lakers need a guy to get the ball to Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol. Kobe can't continue to bear the brunt of the quarterbacking duties at his age. Primary scoring options like Jordan, Duncan, Olajuwon, Pierce, and every other champion over the age of 28 had guys to get them the ball except Kobe. Luke Walton WOULD be perfect if he could handle the ball and if he wasn't a MAJOR defensive liability.

That's it.

[Magicontinues]

I'll say it very clearly then:

The Lakers need a guy to get the ball to Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol. Kobe can't continue to bear the brunt of the quarterbacking duties at his age. Primary scoring options like Jordan, Duncan, Olajuwon, Pierce, and every other champion over the age of 28 had guys to get them the ball except Kobe. Luke Walton WOULD be perfect if he could handle the ball and if he wasn't a MAJOR defensive liability.

That's it.

Kobe seems to be doing ok as is. Jordan could score at will even over 28, so can Duncan, Olajuwon etc, the great ones don't need someone to get them the ball, they need to be the one handling the ball most of the time.

Luke Walton?

[Slava]

I'll say it very clearly then:

The Lakers need a guy to get the ball to Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol. Kobe can't continue to bear the brunt of the quarterbacking duties at his age. Primary scoring options like Jordan, Duncan, Olajuwon, Pierce, and every other champion over the age of 28 had guys to get them the ball except Kobe. Luke Walton WOULD be perfect if he could handle the ball and if he wasn't a MAJOR defensive liability.

That's it.

The post is too crowded as it is. If Kobe posts up either LO or Artest is making the post pass. If Pau or Drew is in the post Kobe, LO & Ron can do the business and when its a drive and dish offense we have Kobe doing that job.

You can't compare out offensive options with Duncan/Jordan teams. Those teams depended on those guys getting in the scoring zone on every possession. Kobe doesn't have to do it here.

[Dr Aki]

I think that Kidd will sign with us this off-season for cheap. Him and Kobe are good buddies, and he's already made a lot of money.

is that why he signed an extension with the mavs? prior to this season starting??

[snaquille oatmeal]

I think that Kidd will sign with us this off-season for cheap. Him and Kobe are good buddies, and he's already made a lot of money.

is that why he signed an extension with the mavs? prior to this season starting??

ahem!....did you check the date of that post?

[ALL HAIL]

Jason Kidd would have made us dominant though. Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol would have loved playing with Kidd.

Unfortunately he was playing for the only team right now in the NBA that would overpay for him. Mark Cuban was not about to allow Kidd to leave and go to the Lakers. He threw like 8 or 9 mill at Kidd over three years and that was a wrap.

Best believe that if Cuban had gone cheap the Lakers would have scooped him up for a deal similiar to Artest's (but shorter). With Kidd secured, they would have probably held out hope that Ariza would lessen his stance and give his hometown team a discount.

[ShowtimeFan]

Tell ya what, you give me a dollar and I will give you a quarter-back...

As loyal as the Lakers have been to D-Fish, we gotta let him go this off-season, there are lots of better PG's out there and for our MLE we can get one.

I love Brown and Farmar coming in together off the bench..

[ALL HAIL]

Kobe seems to be doing ok as is. Jordan could score at will even over 28, so can Duncan, Olajuwon etc, the great ones don't need someone to get them the ball, they need to be the one handling the ball most of the time.

Luke Walton?

All great ones (champions) over a certain age, WHO WERE FIRST OPTIONS in their offense had SOMEONE to get them the the ball -- all.

Kobe needs to utilize is temendous footwork closer to the basket and somebody's gotta be acquired who Kobe knows will set him up.

Luke Walton is exactly the template I'd be looking for in a quarterback with regard to his overwhelming willingness to unselfishly feed post. For that (feeding the post) he is superb.

[larry14r]

Tell ya what, you give me a dollar and I will give you a quarter-back...

As loyal as the Lakers have been to D-Fish, we gotta let him go this off-season, there are lots of better PG's out there and for our MLE we can get one.

I love Brown and Farmar coming in together off the bench..

Well D-Fish leaving well that will be Fish's called for that one. Also I think we need to spilt the MLE because we have more than one need not only we need a PG we need a swingman as well to give Kobe and Ron a break.

[ALL HAIL]

The post is too crowded as it is. If Kobe posts up either LO or Artest is making the post pass. If Pau or Drew is in the post Kobe, LO & Ron can do the business and when its a drive and dish offense we have Kobe doing that job.

You can't compare out offensive options with Duncan/Jordan teams. Those teams depended on those guys getting in the scoring zone on every possession. Kobe doesn't have to do it here.

Was the post too crowded for Worthy, Kareem, and Magic?

Why is it too crowded for Gasol, Bryant, and Bynum?

It doesn't have to be with guys like Isiah Thomas, Tiny Archibald, Chauncey Billups. Jason Williams, Dennis Johnson, Norm Nixon, Avery Johnson, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Gary Payton, Tony Parker, Maurice Cheeks, Rajon Rondo, Sam Cassell or "second option Kobe" getting them the ball.

As it stands now and for the conceivable future, Kobe is our first option on offense. He won't really give up his shot attempts to "play Pippen" to Bynum and Gasol's "Jordan".

If we don't get a guy in there who delivers the ball for 7 or 8 assists a game, one of three things will happen:

1. We trade Gasol or Bynum for a dynamic PG.

2. A mediocre PG is acquired via free agency, at which time this PG is effective in disrtibuting the ball which allows Bynum, Gasol, and Bryant to flourish together.

3. A mediocre PG is acquired via free agency, at which time this PG isn't effective and Bynum doesn't develop over the length of his contract.

[Slava]

You're looking at this team from a very strange perspective dude. We are not built like the Spurs or Bulls of those years. Other than MJ and Pippen those guys had no high caliber offensive creativity, the same with Parker, Ginobli and Duncan.

Re: Worthy, did he operate that much in the post at all? He was a great finisher off fast breaks with Magic and that's what I know of his game.

We have 3 high caliber offensive players and 2 others who are better than average and as such Kobe can alternate between being the quarterback and finisher from time to time.

[ALL HAIL]

With all due respect your wrong about Worthy.

He was wicked with his back to the basket .... maybe the most effiecient I've ever seen. Right up there with McHale, Olajuwon, Dantley/Aquirre, Jordan and I know I'm forgetting a few (Duncan and Malone among others). Worthy was an absolute beast down low; a definite low post option.

I hope your right about the quarterbacking efforts taking on a more collective look but I don't think that will really pan out effectively in the end. I think it's gotta to be clearly defined so that guys don't cower from the resposibility in crunch time, which is when the quarterback needs to assume some type of control by getting it to Kobe in the best possible spot.

Kobe can't keep working this hard people!

Oh and add Kareem, James Edwards, and Wayman Tisdale to that list.

[daddyfivestar]

Worthy had everything- back to the basket moves (with the best spin in the game), face up moves (with a first step comparable to Dr J and Nique in that era), midrange jumper (solid and extended his range as his career), and run the floor (arguably best finisher of the era). He was fundamentally expert in all of those facets.

Re Quarterback:
Let's say all of the RFA's are unavailable, and no trades are happening, and it's UFA's only...

Who quarterbacks and for how much?
Duhon, Blake, Ridnour, Nate, Dooling, Alston...

Or go back to Farmar or Fisher?

[Magicontinues]

Kobe seems to be doing ok as is. Jordan could score at will even over 28, so can Duncan, Olajuwon etc, the great ones don't need someone to get them the ball, they need to be the one handling the ball most of the time.

Luke Walton?

All great ones (champions) over a certain age, WHO WERE FIRST OPTIONS in their offense had SOMEONE to get them the the ball -- all.

Kobe needs to utilize is temendous footwork closer to the basket and somebody's gotta be acquired who Kobe knows will set him up.

Luke Walton is exactly the template I'd be looking for in a quarterback with regard to his overwhelming willingness to unselfishly feed post. For that (feeding the post) he is superb.

So you want Luke to start?

Luke to play crunch time?

Luke to play 40 minutes a game like Kobe does?

All ridiculous and silly points. Luke can barely play the game except an occasional good pass and wide open shot, even then he is not that good a shooter, and you want him to play more just to feed Kobe?


The day Kobe just plays the post and someone feeds him the ball is the day he retires.

[ALL HAIL]

Who quarterbacks and for how much?
Duhon, Blake, Ridnour, Nate, Dooling, Alston...

Or go back to Farmar or Fisher?

The best distributor of that group is Alston then Blake, Ridnour, Duhon, Farmar, Fisher, then Dooling.

The best defender of that group is Dooling, then Duhon, Alston, Nate, Fisher, Farmar, then Blake.

The best shooter of that group is Ridnour, then Nate, Blake, Fisher, Farmar, Duhon, then Dooling.

Out of the guys you suggested, the best guys are Alston if he can shoot a little better and Blake/Ridnour if they could defend a little better.

That's a little depressing though, there've got to be better options out there.

[ALL HAIL]

So you want Luke to start? Luke to play crunch time? Luke to play 40 minutes a game like Kobe does?

All ridiculous and silly points.



The day Kobe just plays the post and someone feeds him the ball is the day he retires.

I agree those are all silly points ... I just didn't make them.

Luke Walton would be perfect as a quarterback if (capital I) he wasn't such a HUGE liability on defense against SFs and if (capital I) he could actually dribble.

Because he can't do these things he is completely incapable of playing more than 10 minutes a game if that.

I've always been one of the BIGGEST Luke Walton haters.

Mostly because a few years back some people were actually suggesting that Luke Walton was the Lakers second most important player (to which many of those guys will probably come on here and defend themselves by saying that back then ... he was; he wasn't and hasn't ever been that important).

However, objectively speaking, he does bring the type of unselfishness this team could use with Gasol, Bynum, and Kobe on the roster.

Should the Lakers play him more? Nope, not at all because as good as he is as a passer, he is AWFUL as a defender, dribbler, and shooter.

Also, playing in the post does not mean you have to retire. Jordan won three rings transforming his game into a back to the basket game. And I am in know way suggesting that he should ONLY play in the post ... just most of the time.

[daddyfivestar]

Good feedback on the PG options.

I didn't put in Felton because the CHA board feels he's going to get more than MLE.

Rox board says they're matching Lowry no matter what. Wiz board is torn on Foye, feels the most they'd match is 4/18 but they may just let him walk.

[ALL HAIL]

^The more I think about it, if we don't dump one of our centers we'll just be patchworking that PG position. We might find a diamond in the rough though.

If it were me and no trades were available, I'd sign a big, UNSELFISH, defender to be my starter. Think Larry Hughes (do it now to see how he fits) or Mardy Collins. Both of those guys can be had VERY cheaply.

Off the bench I'd sign an UNSELFISH, shooter/distributor. Think Blake, Ridnour, or even Mike Miller with Ron Artest (especially if he continue to lose weight) guarding the opposing teams's PG.

If no trades are available:

M. Collins (Hughes is just too selfish) - Mike Miller
Bryant - Brown (Tony Allen if Brown prices out)
Bynum - Gasol (not a demotion) - Mbenga
Odom - Powell
Artest - Damien Wilkins

Mardy Collins, Ron Artest, and Shannon Brown/Tony Allen would be expected to defensively lock down that PG spot. We know Brown or Allen can guard PGs all day,but how would Collins and Artest manage? I think they'd be solid but there are no guarantees.

[ALL HAIL]

In addition to being a beast on defense, Andre Iguodala could also do some "quarterbacking" as well.

Iguodala - Bryant - Bynum - Odom and Artest are very, very intriguing to me.