Jordan Clarkson Question

[ALL HAIL]

Why isn't he getting a chance to play any minutes at PG?

Do you think the front office traded for him to be a SG or a PG?

At PG, wouldn't he be a better backup than Price?

[Penberthy]

Generally rookie PGs, especially 2nd rounders don't get much burn bc the whole "speed of the game" issue causing a lot of turn overs. I'm guessing it has to do with that, and that he will get the ball in his hands more often further down the season after some more acclimation.

[ChokeFasncists]

At the beginning of preseason he was chucking and didn't show ability to facilitate, Scott declared him SG and only played him as such thereafter.

[ALL HAIL]

I never saw hik play in college, but I thought the front office traded for him to be a PG.

Considering the severe lack of production there, it seems they'd give him a chance there to see if he can provide a spark.

With the way this team is constructed, we need lots of offense from the PG spot; it looks like he could help in that regard.

If he's not ready, the Lakers need a more offensive upgrade over Price at backup PG.

In the offseason I was suggesting a guy like Bobby Brown, wyo I still think would fit well, but Will Bynum iw even more proven.

I can't begin to understand why the Lakers haven't either signed a more offensive PG (over Price) or promoted Clarkson to fill that role. What do they have to lose?

[tugs]

This might sound absurd but his style of play is what Kobe is looking for. Someone who wants to create for himself but has the ability to set up others, and most importantly, has the balls to do it. if Lin continues to underperoprm playing next to Kobe, I'd want to see JClark start.

[what would jack bauer do?]

I think it may be his defense. It's very suspect, he doesn't dig in right into his man and his defensive stance is way to upright. He gets crossed up too easily.

[ALL HAIL]

This might sound absurd but his style of play is what Kobe is looking for. Someone who wants to create for himself but has the ability to set up others, and most importantly, has the balls to do it. if Lin continues to underperoprm playing next to Kobe, I'd want to see JClark start.

I was thinking the exact same thing, but at this point I'd settle for him getting all the backup PG minutes.

You're right though. Other than what would probably amount to a great deal of boneheaded plays, he seems to have the "balls out" mentality that Kobe is pushing for.

He's going to make a ton of mistakes, but given the need for scoring, Ronnie Price is not a very good option IMO.

If Scott really hates him at PG, they need to waive Price and sign an upgrade pronto.

Offensive PGs "like" Nate Robinson, Will Bynum, Jeryd Bayless, Bobby Brown, and Ramon Sessions all fit the bill of what this team needs.

Hell, at this point, Jannero Pargo would be an upgrade.

[ALL HAIL]

I think it may be his defense. It's very suspect, he doesn't dig in right into his man and his defensive stance is way to upright. He gets crossed up too easily.

This may, in fact, be the main reason indeed.

Every scouting report I read on Clarkson this summer tated he lacked lateral quickness.

I still believe in this team, even without Randle here, but Lin needs a fire lit under him, and usually the best way to do that is to put a more desperate (yet talented) guy behind him to push him.

The best way to get Lin going is for his backup to drop 20 points one night; that's just not happening with Ronnie Price.

[ChokeFasncists]

Lin's problem isn't motivation, he's thinking too much and probably one reason is there's too much pressure and anxiety.

[ALL HAIL]

Lin's problem isn't motivation, he's thinking too much and probably one reason is there's too much pressure and anxiety.

You're splitting semantical hairs.

Lighting a fire, motivating, and feeling pressure and anxiety are all so very closely related that they don't need to be debated. If he were properly motivated with an immense fire lit under him, the pressure and anxiety would dissipate.

Let's just agree that Lin's struggles are "mental". He's in his own head too much; he's a "depressed" player right now who we all wish would come "out" of it.

My theory is that a little competition off the bench could "calm" him down a bit, that sitting on the bench (at times) watching his backup do what he should be doing could prove to be the magic pill he needs.

Maybe the threat of a talented backup taking his minutes and, thus, risking his NBA mortality, will help open his eyes to the survival game that he is playing with his career; maybe he can stop feeling the pressure so much and start feeling the opportunity.

[ChokeFasncists]

Lin's problem isn't motivation, he's thinking too much and probably one reason is there's too much pressure and anxiety.

You're splitting semantical hairs.

Lighting a fire, motivating, and feeling pressure and anxiety are all so very closely related that they don't need to be debated.

Hey, God is in the details. You're saying since he's feeling too much pressure more pressure should be applied? I'm not sure that is always a good idea.

If he were properly motivated with an immense fire lit under him, the pressure and anxiety would dissipate.

The keyword here would be "properly". I don't think giving him more motivation would work but if it's "proper" that naturally means it would be good. Again, more motivation might work, but it could backfire.

Let's just agree that Lin's struggles are "mental". He's in his own head too much; he's a "depressed" player right now who we all wish would come "out" of it.

My theory is that a little competition off the bench could "calm" him down a bit, that sitting on the bench (at times) watching his backup do what he should be doing could prove to be the magic pill he needs.

Maybe the threat of a talented backup taking his minutes and, thus, risking his NBA mortality, will help open his eyes to the survival game that he is playing with his career; maybe he can stop feeling the pressure so much and start feeling the opportunity.

That's possible but it could also become a vicious cycle. IMO letting him figure it out by trial-and-error, experimentation, hopefully getting more comfortable and confidence would work. Who knows? Let's hope we get the proper solution with the proper way and he plays better from now on!

[laduane1]

Maybe he is showing why he fell to the second round.

[Tonyism74]

With so many injuries, im wondering why we aren't using him more at either the PG or SG positions. Many posters sold this guy as the real deal. Either he is really bad overall, or is suspect defensively. Im hoping he gets a chance to showcase his ability...

[Danny Darko]

Scott is old school. He's not ready to turn it over to a rookie guard who's out for himself. I love Jordan and he's going to be really good but he did get early minutes and it was mostly selfish chucking.

[bws94]

Clarkson looks really talented but doesn't look like any type of a PG at this stage to me. Maybe an emergency one. Price is an assists machine, he had 8 in all of 17.5 minutes last night. Price also can be disruptive on D, has a good instinct for getting in lanes and stealing the ball. Price's scoring is a weak point, but he has some good strengths and his chemistry with Davis is very good.

Clarkson hasn't been used much but he will be at points in the season and we'll learn more about him.

[ChokeFasncists]

Scott apparently prefers Ellington and he is playing well enough.

[laduane1]

Phil Jackson never played his rookies and it came back to hurt him when Lakers got older and those young players could not step up due to he did not play them enough. Play the guy, they put 1.8 million into getting him.