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Originally Posted by King Glorious
The Lakers went out and took a weak area and made it much worse by signing Nash. He couldn't stop me from getting around him. It's a huge problem and it was made worse by bringing in a coacb that can't spell defense. But to me, the biggest problem comes from an inability to find a way to make use of two of the best big men in the game. D'Antoni has stated that he doesn't like slow, post it up kind of team and he's never coached an elite post player. He's unable to adjust. Any system that puts Earl Clark in and takes Gasol out is wrong.
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The coach is not the biggest problem in LA. True his system doesn't work with the players that are on the roster but what system could work with two incompatible big men (both who have been injured), a 38 year old PG (who has been injured), a 34 year old Kobe, a slower MWP and pretty much nothing else. What system exactly would make this roster work?
Lets face facts, Nash needs to be hidden on defense AND he cant play 35 minutes a game anymore. An NBA game is 48 minutes long and the dreck that has to play 30% of the game when Nash is on the bench is putting LA at a big disadvantage. Nash is still a great shooter who is finding his legs but at this stage he is what he is. Funny thing is Kobe is in a similar spot as he is already wearing down from overuse being that LA has nobody even replacement caliber to give him a rest. His defense is where he is taking rests and with Nash on the court...well you know. Gasol is a really good low post player that would be most effective if the offense was run through him which is like the antithesis of the D'antoni system (irony is that they rarely even run that system the way it has been traditionally run because they have nobody that can shoot save Nash). Plus gasol seems like he has been ass hurt by almost being traded last year and the constant criticism from Kobe and the coach (and the front office behind the scenes). Howard SHOULD benefit from playing with Nash and playing the pick and roll game but he just doesnt look like the same guy and he wants nothing to do with the ball down the stretch because of his FT shooting.
Everyone says that they should be able to utilize the two big men to their advantage but the problem is that they are more or less incompatable on the court at the same time and even when they arent, they have completely different low post games. It is really hard to have too many variations of offensive schemes especially when the entire team hasnt been healthy and the reserves are god awful.
Of all the issues that the Lakers have the bench is the absolute worst. Remember when the Cavs added Jamison a few years ago to get them over the top? LeBron who makes everyone better couldnt help that corpse. Now a few years later he is a rotting corpse. Steve Blake got hurt which meant that they have been using Chris Duhon and Darrius Morris to run the offense when Nash isn't in the game. Duhon is in his 9th year of poor PG play and Morris who started 17 games this year has 67 assists and 42 turnovers despite not being asked to do anything but get the ball to the other guys. Earl Clark who was recently made a starter is still the same Earl Clark that couldn't get minutes for Orlando. At least he isnt ancient and can guard wings decently. Jodie Meeks only skill is shooting and he is currently shooting 38%. Devin Ebanks is shooting 32%. Jordan Hill was actually coming around but is now out for the season.
In the end there is no system that can keep guys healthy. The Lakers have no reliable perimeter shooting, nobody that can guard quick PG's or shooting guards except for Kobe who hasnt been choosing to do that much. They are slow. They dont appear to like each other very much. And everyone forgets that they got bounced out of the playoffs on their ass in Phils last year. He is not a miracle worker, he never won anything (outside of his fine work with the Albany Patroons) without having 2 of the best 3 or 4 players in the league and the current version of Kobe, Nash, Howard or Gasol arent that. Kobe wasnt good enough 2 years ago to carry a team on his back, he hasnt gotten better and this season has a long way to go.