<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Before you get all angry about how Smush Parker ended the season, remember that the guy didn't perform like a starting point guard in the last leg of the playoffs because he really shouldn't have been a starting point guard in the last leg of the playoffs. Necessity being the mother of invention, Parker was forced to start 82 games. All in all, his play was fairly admirable. That said, the Lakers desperately need some backcourt help, and a perfect world (or even a reasonable one) Smush would be a backup. He'll have to compete hard over the summer and going into next year if he wants to hold on to the gig. Okay. On to the exit interview... The season didn't end in the way you wanted to. But have you had a chance to look at the whole season and see what you've accomplished? "It was a disappointing end to the season, but for myself looking back at the season it couldn't get any better-- actually, it could be better, but looking back to where I came from, being in the NBDL two seasons ago and now I was the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Who would have thought? Not in a million years I would have woke up one morning and said I was going to be the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and I'm playing for the Florida Flame right now." (Interesting note- Smush started to say "I am the starting point guard," and caught himself, instead stating "I was the starting point guard." It's an important distinction that shows he doesn't feel a sense of entitlement regarding the job leading into next year. It also prompted the next question.) You say "was," in the sense that you have to go back and get it again next year? "Oh yeah, definitely. Nothing's guaranteed for me, here. My name isn't Kobe Bryant. (Not a dig at Kobe. It's fair to say 8/24 has a roster spot locked up next year) Nothing is guaranteed. I still have to come back and fight and earn the respect of the players, the coaching staff, the fans, the media. I still just have to get better and grow as a player." Phil has said he wants to add speed and defense, and those are your things. Things you can bring, too. Are there things you haven't shown this team yet? "There's a lot of things I haven't shown myself yet. I know what I'm capable of doing, and I believe this year (was) just a learning expereince. And hopefully I can learn from things that I've experienced this year and grow as a player. You haven't seen the most of Smush Parker yet, and neither have I."</div> Source
Smush reminds me somewhat of Brian Shaw size-wise. If Smush keeps improving, he will become a nice veteran for the Lakers or any other team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Char:</div><div class="quote_post">Smush reminds me somewhat of Brian Shaw size-wise. If Smush keeps improving, he will become a nice veteran for the Lakers or any other team.</div> Too bad the comparison ends there. If Smush had the BBall IQ and skillset BShaw had, the Lakers would be in great shape for next season. I'm hoping Smush can develop into the player Kenyon Dooling was in Miami. Lockdown perimeter defender who stays infront of his man and scores within the offense.
Smush play defense? That's scary. He needs to improve a lot, I'm glad he knows that his job isn't safe here. That should light a fire under him.
Smush will never be a star, always just a solid veteran probably if he plays like this for the next season and more
Although Smush needs vast improvment, I still have to give him credit for the role he played for his first full NBA season.
i think smush is somewhat a savior for us this season. sure, at times he has had bad games, but if it wasnt for smush's emergence, who would we have a point guard? the old, injury prone mckie, who obviously has nothing, or very little left in the tank, or sasha, an unproven player who is inconsistent at the offensive end? in all seriousness, without smush, we may not have been the 7th seed, or even in the playoffs at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">the old, injury prone mckie, who obviously has nothing, or very little left in the tank</div> This is really hard to tell. Mckie was injured practically all season. IF he was healthy who knows what might have happened. Just because a player is injured doesn't mean they have run out of gas. I think the only thing Smush needs to work on is his shot a bit and his defense. I really don't understand people who say this person won't be a star, blah blah blah. I mean star is such a loose term, and even if you aren't a "star" you can still serve your purposes and be a good NBA player. Anyway
