D'Antoni considering moving kobe to SF, starting meeks

[dockingsched]

so we saw tonight that ebanks got the nod at SF, but he's pretty useless. glad to see meeks possibly get the nod instead.

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

Mike D'Antoni is considering starting Jodie Meeks. Really likes his play on both ends. He started 2nd half (Ebanks the first). Since D'Antoni wants to leave MettaWP on the bench so he can play PF, D'Antoni doesn't mind starting Kobe/Meeks as the wings. Esp. when Nash returns, having Meeks out there w/Gasol, Howard & Kobe to start does give LAL dangerous shooting for floor spacing.

KEVIN DING @KevinDing

Expect Kobe's days as the Lakers' starting shooting guard to end. Jodie Meeks likely will be starting there now, with Kobe to small forward.

i'm a big fan of the mwp to the bench move, i think he can be a really good spark off the bench and keeps the lakers mobile and quick. don't think there's too many pf's he''ll be facing that will cause him too many problems. with the 3-man big man rotation, i'd like to see hill probably moved for a serviceable SF. he's just the odd man out.


thoughts on the possible rotation moves? i like em, make the lakers more athletic, quicker.

[Father Time]

i too like these moves. and people said Mike was incapable of making adjustments smh.

[Jajwanda]

I just hate the 12 minutes that Pau-Howard have to play together on defense. Perhaps they can use Howard to guard PFs, with Gasol at C. That may do the trick to protect them.

[dockingsched]

really love how mwp took the move in stride, sacrificing for the team, love it

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

World Peace was entirely professional about coming off the bench. Said he's totally fine with it - "whatever it takes to win."

[Slava]

I actually liked starting with Ebanks. He did not make many errors while he was in there and made his open shots, leaked out for a pair of easy dunks.

Kind of like what we used to do with Devean George.

[Marionettetc]

Kobe did some of the most damage in his career at SF, so I'm ok with that. He's a little older and slower now, but he's strong enough to body any SF in the league.

Meeks can shoot and he hustles every play, can't ask for anything else from our bench guys.

[minifang]

This balances out the starting line up a lot more. Metta has the tendency to over dribble or want to create too often and his shooting is rather inconsistent. With Meeks, the floor spacing will no longer be an issue, especially with Nash get backs too. I'd rather have better offense and spacing than Metta's D.

[Hawaii]

I like the moves, Meeks is looking good out there and I think he works well with Kobe.

[Dr Aki]

do it.

MWP coming off the bench helps pau anchor the defense

[Jajwanda]

Can Howard guard PFs (non-stretch)? If he can then the team is set in its rotations. Dwight would become L.A.'s Ibaka on defense and Pau would be its guy down low.

[dockingsched]

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers

D'Antoni said after the game that Jamison and Hill are both, for the time being, out of the rotation. MWP is the backup 4.

i'd be shocked if hill isn't traded the best for sf they can get in return in a month when he can be moved.

[OakFlagrant2]

ASSTON IS SUCH A JACKASS

[AdonisDeMarion]

SF:Bryant
PF:Gasol
C:Howard
SG:Meeks
PG:Nash

Gasol slides over to the five and MWP comes in at the 4...looks great to me. Also Meeks and Morris has a grown on me and I love they way the play, such heart such passion

[So Gutta]

Honestly, I'd still like to see this starting 5 play a few times:

Nash
Kobe
Metta
Gasol
Howard

I'm not into this whole "Kobe is the SF" thing. Let's stick to the original script when Nash comes back. That's my hope anyway.

[hazy_01]

^Me too (disliking starting Kobe @ SF). We need bench scoring, Meeks+Metta (hopefully Jamison when he gets it on going again) will provide that and also I don't know if Kobe can guard the premier SF's of the league (KD, LBJ, Melo, etc). For certain match-ups it might effective but I rather keep the bench strong and perhaps seek a SF 3pt shooter/defender specialist somewhere in the league.

[LaLa]

Why the **** does D Toni keep messing with MWP in the rotation. He's been the most consistent defender, he's a good scorer, always tries hard and then he starts freaking Ebanks over him?! I mean I know we're winning now (how we're doing it is another matter) but he's becoming Mike Brown 2.0

[Optms]

Nope. He's no where near as bad as Mike Brown. This was the same coach that benched Meeks, slid Jamison to the 3, played Blake non stop despite his suckery and rendered Nash useless the few games he was active.

[carlquincy]

I'm pretty impressed with MDA's rotation so far.

When Pau went out, he started Jamison. But he sucked, so MDA played Hill more. Then he tried MWP to give us more speed and better spacing.

Most of his moves made sense.

I don't think MDA hates Hill, just that Hill is being squeezed out of rotation by better players (Pau) or better fit (MWP).

[kblo247]

Thoughts on this

1) Kobe goes from best SG without a doubt to the third best SF behind Durant and LeBron. Remember Melo is playing PF and making a case for being the best at it himself, which is why Amare isn't thinking of coming in and starting again in New York. Drawbacks is Kobe gives up some size to some guys, plus is he also has a noticeable quickness advantage he has exploited and rebounds, steals, and blocks shots at the 3 as he has had a block in 4/5 last games. Kobe's Kobe at the end of the day, as long as you watch the minutes he can handle being a SF better than a pg where he takes such a pounding on his hands and arms.

2) You need the foot speed. If you are trotting Pau at PF, something had to give and it is noticeable that it had to be Metta sadly. Now unlike with Brown it isn't a demotion because Metta has a green light and will stay get actual starter minutes, Brown would give him any ware from 15 to 25 while Pringles has already said he still has him at 30 plus and wants him to attack and exploit his matchups.

He just became the Odom of the team, and I think this makes Pau the Bynum on most nights as he will start and get his run with the bench unit as well, but he won't finish games. Dantoni rather have metas spacing from his shooting, ball handling, and ability to rotate late than Pau and I can't say I blame him. As for Dwight it pretty much means he got 35 minutes to do his thing while Pau eats up at least 12 at C (6 minutes each half) and the other 15-18 at PF.

3) Meeks is a Nash move. If he's going to dribble you need a set shooter, and not only a set shooter, but a guy who can guard PGs besides Kobe because Nsh sure in the hell ain't. You let Meeks shoot the 3 ball to his heart is content, and then guard PGs, while hiding Nash on the shooter and making him handle the ball.

4) We got actual trade bait worth a damn. We can't sell Ebanks or Blake, but we damn sure can Hill and Jamison to a team like the Sixers who need inside scoring with Bynum up int he air, for maybe a Nick Young or Wright, who could come to out team and be the backup 2/3 thus giving Kobe some legit rest as well.

5) I do think the one noticeable improvement out bench will have from this whole mess is Duhon and Morris. Yes Duhon ain't defending ****, but he can score, he can dish, he doesn't turn it over, and his 3 point shooting is among the best of all PGs in the league right now. Having him to rest Nash for 15-20 minutes is huge because the same role we are tried to give Blake for years and he's failed at, duhon as a starter showed he can at least do. And Morris can backup Meeks, and be used for simple defense and speed, which is why Mike was trying to give Ebanks a chance who sucked at it and as players to the bench, but as we saw Morris isn't as bad in 8 minute spurts or so or half in a group setting where he has Meeks/Kobe/Ron where he tell him simply defend, push it if you have a layup, and spot up in the corner like a very young Barbosa was told.

[TruSkool]

so if kobe slides to the 3, metta backs up gasol at the 4, where do Jamisons minutes go?