Truth & Rumors > NBA

Kobe causes logjam at small forward

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It's not a bad problem, but, well, it's definitely lingering there for the Lakers -- too many players fighting for too few minutes. There's a logjam at small forward, especially since Kobe Bryant shifted there from shooting guard to make room for Lamar Odom's move to the backcourt. Even if Bryant played less than 38.9 minutes a game (his average last season), it would be hard to squeeze enough time out of the position for Trevor Ariza, Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton.

Los Angeles Times

Kobe Bryant, AP Kobe Bryant, AP
October 6, 2008  08:43 AM ET

They could start by shipping Luke Walton somewhere. He can't play defense, can't take advantage of mismatches on offense, and just plain sucks. I keep hearing how great he is and how he does so many things, but all I see him do is make 1 nice pass a game, turn the ball over 3-4 times and miss open shots.

October 6, 2008  08:49 AM ET

Luke Walton is trash. I was surprised they gave him that contract they did.

October 6, 2008  09:01 AM ET

Why are they screwing around?
Kobe is a 2 guard......the BEST 2 guard of his generation.
what can they POSSIBLY gain?

October 6, 2008  09:17 AM ET

Kobe should be at the two guard. Anyway, I think it's time to move out Luke Walton. I just don't see the reason why Phil keeps him around.

October 6, 2008  09:26 AM ET

odom to the backcourt is this supposed to be a joke?
anyone seen his poor conditioning lately - tubby

jgb you are right kobe is the best 2 guard at the moment - generation wait and see
leave the man in his rightful position

odoms fat arse will be the 3 way PF/C with gasol and bynum so no one loses minutes (dont forget cheerleader turiuf is gone

kobe didnt really handle the 3 all that well last year anyway and i think the lakers are just talking sh/t or they are in real big trouble - man the rockets are going to be good

October 6, 2008  09:27 AM ET

When did they decide to move Odom to shooting guard? Did I miss something?

October 6, 2008  09:34 AM ET

Luke Walton has outlived his usefulness, to put it nicely.

October 6, 2008  09:35 AM ET

You can move Odom anywhere on the court but it still wont give him heart.

October 6, 2008  09:44 AM ET

In other news, the Suns moved Shaq to point guard to get a bigger mismatch.

Lamar is a mismatch to any player in the league anyways. He is faster than the big guys and bigger than the small guys (playing the 4,5).

Oh yeah, and he can't shoot worth of **** from the outside.

October 6, 2008  10:03 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

When did they decide to move Odom to shooting guard? Did I miss something?

Yes, you did. Lst week they decided to move him to point guard. It's an experiment that won't work in the long run and Kobe is a shooting guard. The best shooting guard in the NBA. I think they are only trying to see if they can create a "secret weapon" type line-up for a playoff run. If that's not it, then Phil better stop playing around before he's unemployed again.

October 6, 2008  10:09 AM ET

For all the "Why they aren't we moving Walton?" ers...The world just doesn't revolve around what LA wants or don't want ALL the time.....No one wants the bloated contract Walton has, period! That's why he isn't being moved; So get over it, and play ball. It's already pre-season, and if LA hasn't figured out who plays what position, then they are in trouble.

October 6, 2008  10:19 AM ET

Kobe is the best period, it doesn't matter where on the floor you put him. Personally I like Luke Walton. He is a smart player who rarely makes bad decisions and does alot of things that don't show up on the stat sheet like hustle, fill the passing lanes, box out.......If they are going to trade somebody they should trade Odom. As far as making room for Trevor Ariza and Radmonovich, I just dont think they are worthy of minutes. If they want to play then they should bulk up and try to get in at power foward.

October 6, 2008  11:00 AM ET

Why is this an issue. Teo scrubs not getting time why is that news? Just leave Kobe and sg, fisher at point, Odom and sf pau and bynum at the 4 and 5. The if you want Odom to run the point some time let him do it from the SF position.

October 6, 2008  11:00 AM ET

teo = two

October 6, 2008  11:16 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

jgb you are right kobe is the best 2 guard at the moment - generation wait and see

Who is a better 2 guard since Jordan retired from the bulls (2nd time)?
And that's 10 years ago.....

October 6, 2008  12:00 PM ET

Well Vladmir is a keeper hes pretty good in clutch. this should be a no brainer.

October 6, 2008  12:05 PM ET
QUOTE(#14):

Kobe is the best period, it doesn't matter where on the floor you put him. Personally I like Luke Walton. He is a smart player who rarely makes bad decisions and does alot of things that don't show up on the stat sheet like hustle, fill the passing lanes, box out.......If they are going to trade somebody they should trade Odom. As far as making room for Trevor Ariza and Radmonovich, I just dont think they are worthy of minutes. If they want to play then they should bulk up and try to get in at power foward.

Well the article isnt too much ojn where to put Kobe. They are talking about his h=bench counterparts so get off his Jockstrap man its to early for that.

October 6, 2008  12:24 PM ET

This is a non story here. All the other scrubs can share 10 minutes of every game...leave Kobe's minutes alone. Any idiot can see that.

October 6, 2008  12:29 PM ET

Here is the solution, stop playing Walton. He sucks and doesn't bring much to the table. I would take Odom, Ariza and Radmonovic over him any day. I wish my dad was a famous basketball player so for some reason everyone thought I was good too. Kobe should stay at the 2 though. Moving him to the 3 for any long stretch is just dumb.

 
October 6, 2008  12:36 PM ET

Man... this sounds like a worse idea than playing the Goods at the point... maybe they should leave well enough alone. Trade the Goods, let Kobe and Ariza start, let them be a defensive tandum... something the Lakers lacked was matching the defensive intensity of the Celtics last year... wasn't that why they brought in Ariza originally? Surely they didn't bring him in to score (read: dunk-only and miss every shot he takes). The guy was instantly among the elite 2's in the game when he entered the league at 18 and was only coming off the bench.... I mean, seriously now... no-brainer.

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