Greater Need: Athleticism or 3-Pt Shooting?

[italianleather]

Which do you think is a bigger need?

Jerry West basically said that we need speed and fresh legs if we want contend next season.

Personally, I thought our lack of 3 point shooting allowed Mavs to effectively pack the paint.

[TyCobb]

I got to go with a PG with solid on ball defense. I'm sure there will be some of those players available via Draft.

[LAzPhenom]

I got to go with a PG with solid on ball defense. I'm sure there will be some of those players available via Draft.

not available to us, all we got is 2nd round picks

i think steve nash would be a great addition to this team since he is fill the pg position up and can shoot the three. At the same time i think we need to trade for two athletic forwards, preferable a sf, and pf

[TyCobb]

Well, Draftexpress.com's latest mock has the Lakers taking Shelvin Mack with the first of their four second rounders. He's young, 21 years old, and comes from a great defensive basketball college (Butler).

[italianleather]

I got to go with a PG with solid on ball defense. I'm sure there will be some of those players available via Draft.

I contest that a defensive minded coach is more important. Watching Barea dominate us like peak CP3 with the high pick and roll made me wana smash my TV.

- The big did not hedge well
- The PG did not go under the screen (Barea is not that good of a shooter)
- No one else rotated once Barea go into the lane

Just poor defensive fundamentals & communications all round.

PS: Don't get me started on doubling on mediocre bigs and leaving dead eye shooters wide open...

[Jajwanda]

All it is really is you need to find some quality players at PG, SG/SF. Probably three inexpensive guys, that's it. The Lakers can become arguably the best defensive team in the league if they sign a good defender at the PG spot. Remember how much better they became when Ariza took over for Radmanovic back in 2008? Expect that kind of improvement again when Fisher is gone. They could be absolutely suffocating especially when Odom is in there instead of Pau.

The larger need is actually on offense where the team can be suffocated on that end. They need a second threat on the perimeter and the easiest spot to acquire that would be at PG.

The Lakers with a solid defensive PG that can do it all would be not just somewhat better, they would be FAR better. If the defense knows that there's a second guy on the team that can penetrate and attack the basket that destroys their entire defensive strategy. One of the most obvious things about the Laker roster that's frustrating is that the team cannot do anything when Fisher and Artest are forced to put the ball on the ground. It's not out of skill when either of those two are driving to the basket. It's by design from opposing defenses.

If you put a SF with a balanced game, say even Tayshaun Prince and at PG Jarret Jack, the team would destroy Dallas. Not just beat but DESTROY.

I can't emphasize enough just how inefficient the Laker offense is for having three of the league's best big men and a still extremely capable Kobe Bryant. This team could be that much better.

[semi-sentient]

5-19 vs 9-20
2-20 vs 8-25
3-13 vs 12-29
5-24 vs 20-32

[H00PDREAMS]

I got to go with a PG with solid on ball defense. I'm sure there will be some of those players available via Draft.

not available to us, all we got is 2nd round picks

i think steve nash would be a great addition to this team since he is fill the pg position up and can shoot the three. At the same time i think we need to trade for two athletic forwards, preferable a sf, and pf

TY youre right! Lakers have David Lighty (OH), Deandre Liggins (UK) and Scotty Hopson(TN) all expected to go somewhere we might pick. Lakers have a strong history of picking up key pieces from top tier schools. Players with pedigree these kids fit their modus operandi

Nash? Are you kidding I love the guy but we might as well keep Fish in the starting line up.

[chefy]

5-19 vs 9-20
2-20 vs 8-25
3-13 vs 12-29
5-24 vs 20-32

nuff said

[SniperHawk10]

5-19 vs 9-20
2-20 vs 8-25
3-13 vs 12-29
5-24 vs 20-32

nuff said

[Gek]

I thought Kobe was working on his three point shot? I'd like to see us get athleticism and task Kobe with the 3s.

[Payaso]

5-19 vs 9-20
2-20 vs 8-25
3-13 vs 12-29
5-24 vs 20-32

good god.

[snaquille oatmeal]

I got to go with a PG with solid on ball defense. I'm sure there will be some of those players available via Draft.

I contest that a defensive minded coach is more important. Watching Barea dominate us like peak CP3 with the high pick and roll made me wana smash my TV.

- The big did not hedge well
- The PG did not go under the screen (Barea is not that good of a shooter)
- No one else rotated once Barea go into the lane

Just poor defensive fundamentals & communications all round.

PS: Don't get me started on doubling on mediocre bigs and leaving dead eye shooters wide open...

THIS!

really? our hopes to get better and win a championship next year are based on second round draft picks? really Ty? really?

[LAzPhenom]

I thought Kobe was working on his three point shot? I'd like to see us get athleticism and task Kobe with the 3s.

where did you heard that kobe was working on his threes???

[TyCobb]

really? our hopes to get better and win a championship next year are based on second round draft picks? really Ty? really?

The Lakers could win the championship next year if they didn't add squat. They just need to rest and get healthy. We've lacked a solid on ball defender for years, so why not draft some with the 2nd round picks? It's cheap and it adds some more youth.

[snaquille oatmeal]

really? our hopes to get better and win a championship next year are based on second round draft picks? really Ty? really?

The Lakers could win the championship next year if they didn't add squat. They just need to rest and get healthy. We've lacked a solid on ball defender for years, so why not draft some with the 2nd round picks? It's cheap and it adds some more youth.

because second round picks generally suck. it is crap shoot with those guys and it ussually takes a few years for them to develop anyway. get a proven defensive minded point guard that can shoot the three with the second round picks and the MLE somehow and call it a summer (after we get a new coach).

[BEazy]

Its hard to find a stud in the second round. Most of these guys that fall in the second round will probably be there for summer league purposes.

[DEEP3CL]

Well, Draftexpress.com's latest mock has the Lakers taking Shelvin Mack with the first of their four second rounders. He's young, 21 years old, and comes from a great defensive basketball college (Butler).

I thought I saw a report where Mack said he was staying in school ? I like Mack's game, a solid PG with decent range.

[TyCobb]

I thought I saw a report where Mack said he was staying in school ? I like Mack's game, a solid PG with decent range.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/b ... decisions/

That was May 9, 2011. He's still in the draft, unless it was a more recent article that you read that said he was returning for his senior season.

[tayzer]

A defensive coach will be the solution. Fix the pick and roll defense and we will smash the Mavs. We need to rip on of those celtics assistant coach or the bulls coach to show these guys how to play correctly.