Eddie Jones

[LApwnd]

not gona lie here, not much of a player fan but he was my favorite Laker at the time, but anyways could we have still won with him instead of G. Rice? I know the knock on Eddie was he usually disappeared during the playoffs but with Kobe emergency had we waited on that aspect could we had won the ship in 99? I mean Kobe talent/size would've suffice being a 3 and might have covered up Jones disppearing act from time to time, it nots like Rice "lite it up" during his tenure here. Eventually we lost Rice too after 99, I read somewhere we didn't want to reup Jones either and that was part of the reason for the trade.

[dirtymike]

Well, in Rice's defense, back then the man to man defense was the only defense. Lakers opponents had a man in Rice’s grill every game. Especially in the playoffs. But, that assured the Lakers on a 4 on 4 and NOBODY could afford to double because the Lakers had Ron Harper, Shaw, Fox, and Horry from downtown. So having Rice made it possible for a lot of 1-on-1’s which created a lot of 3’s and Shaq being able to either go 1on1 down low or pass it out for the 3. The trade was needed. It kept the opponents honest!

[Sedale Threatt]

Rice just didn't fit all that well in the triangle. He definitely contributed to that first title -- I still remember him drilling a bunch of 3s on the road to put us up 3-1 against Portland. It was sweet to have a guy on the team that you was going to make a shot as soon as it went up.

But still, he was just a crappy fit who really couldn't do much else. Look how quickly Jackson got rid of him, and the fact we went on to win two more championships without him -- the first with relative ease.

As such, I've often wondered how we would have fared by keeping not only Jones but Elden Campbell, too. Obviously wouldn't have mattered much those first two years, but after that, one of our biggest problems was depth. Even though they were getting a little long in the tooth at that point, surely having those two around would have helped in that regard.

[LApwnd]

I felt bad for Jones during his tenure, every year his name came up in trade rumors even before Kobe started emerging. I mean Jones looked pretty good in the playoffs when he was in Cha/Mia, so maybe he eventually might have grown a pair had we kept him lol.

[Sedale Threatt]

I doubt it. That's just who he was, as a personality. Not everybody has that burning desire to dominate like Kobe does. Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Gordon Gekko, Dr. Doom...

[LApwnd]

I doubt it. That's just who he was, as a personality. Not everybody has that burning desire to dominate like Kobe does. Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Gordon Gekko, Dr. Doom...

that was a point I was trying to make, maybe Kobe game overtakes Jones lack of fire and Jones could merely be that great 3rd/4th Opt like we have in Odom now.

[Sedale Threatt]

That would have been an ideal fit for Jones.

[Jase]

I liked Jones, and wish we could have kept him. He seemed like the kind of guy who would willingly accept coming off the bench and just getting wins. I liked Rice, but we caught him at the tail-end of his career. That said, same thing can be said for Rock Richmond, Payton, Malone, J.R. Rider (kidding)...

[kblo247]

I loved Eddie, nick and elden too. Those 3 were the first lakers I ever got to see play live. They were exciting and the thought of Phil being given the roster that Del Harris sucked with always makes for an amazing what if and lol at anyone who says those Laker team Phil had were the best in the league talent wise.

What I think you are saying is could Eddie be the LamAr Odom post Pau of the team when Kobe emerged. I love him, but nope. He doesn't have it in him to just step up and carry big weight. I don't see him showing up in game 7 versus Portland. I don't see him stepung up when Kobe sprains that ankle versus Indiana in the Finals. There were times especially in the first run where Rice stood up with his back against a wall, which are the moments Eddie always shied away from in general.

If you skip to the second and third title team, he would have been a nice piece, but Fox, Fisher, and Horry had a whole different level of heart and composure that trumped his talent. Eddies talent was great, but those guys fought you, they werent afraid to take big shot and make or miss them, and they loved pressure which made them far more complimentary third pieces by matchup to Kobe and Shaq when they went on a tear.

Heck even Lamar for all his faults which in actuality were the opposite of Eddie as he disappeared during the seasonnat times, before Andrews emergence and Pau trade, was a guy who stepped up his game in the playoffs. LO wasn't never a question in the playoffs those 2 years pre Pau as he played well even hurt. Anhe also after the emergence of Andrew and Pau coming over, he kept at it. He was the guy logging the third most minutes, making plays, taking shots, and not being afraid to fail in our last repeat. Lamar could have used Eddie's regular season constancy, but in no way has his career been mired with being a playoff no show in Miami or LA as he has always stepped up and gave what he has in his tank.

Once again, I love Eddie. I loved his game. I loved his highlights. I loved his attitude. All that said, I'd put money on Derek Fisher before him at their Laker peaks to win me a game for it all and that says something about the difference in their hearts and mentality. Eddie just isn't that fighter who would look other teams in the eye and relish opposing crowds heckling n booing, while he responds with daggers to their hearts and a grin in his face. He was just too nice to flip the switch to being cold blooded as a Laker, Heat, And Griz.

[ahwi_quacoe]

You guys must not have watched the Playoff battles with Ai vs Eddie Jones ....... Eddie Jones was the one guy who could shut AI down on D, hit big shots, and even the handle the point guard positon at times ...
Eddie Jones was a beast ... there were just too many stars and personalities on the Lakers team to keep him around .

[NOODLESTYLE]

I've always wondered what the Lakers would have been had they kept EJ, Nick, Elden, and even Rodman (99) where Phil Jackson at least would have a chance to coach all those players.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ye_Zx6tsA[/youtube]

[LApwnd]

based on his performance in the East, I think Jones would've eventually overcame his "playoff choking" had he stayed with us unfortuantely I think what he got paid when he went to the East, we wouldn't have paid him that to be a 3rd/4th option though.