<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The points finally came for Smush Parker, a momentary release in an otherwise frustrating start to his season. The Lakers' point guard scored a season-high 15 points Tuesday against the Clippers, making five of 11 shots, an uptick after averaging 8.5 points and shooting 36.5% through the first 10 games. "It's funny that I come out a little slow the first couple games and people write me up like I can't play," Parker said. "But I just go out and play hard every night. The first 10 games, I just forgot to have fun. [Tuesday], I just went out and had fun." It wasn't just people writing him up. His coach noticed a drop-off as well. A little more than a week ago, Coach Phil Jackson seemed bewildered when asked what was wrong with Parker, saying, "I have no idea. . . . He's just not in the rhythm of the game right now." Jackson again made reference to Parker leading up to the game with the Clippers, saying the Lakers' perimeter defense would be limited until Kobe Bryant was 100% and until Parker "gets back that edge that he had as a stealer and as a disrupter defensively that he carried last year." Parker is in the last year of a contract that pays him $798,000 this season, a comparatively small salary for an NBA starter. The average league salary is about $5 million. Parker, 25, averaged 11.5 points and shot 44.7% last season. </div> Link There's no doubt in my mind that Parker had his best game so far in the season against the Clippers. He was hitting his shots, was actually pesky on defense, and he didn't make a lot of stupid turnovers. Let's see if his play can carry on throughout the season
I'm still not set on Smush. I realize he had a nice game the other day, but he still needs to do this consistently now. Until he shows some consistency and a willingness to play a little defense and stops making the bonehead mistakes he makes, I'm not gonna completely believe in him nor will I really think he deserves the startng job.
<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Who would you guys rather see start at PG? Odom? Vujacic?</div> Odom plays power forward, and has been excelling, so I see no need to switch him to the point guard position. Sasha plays with a lot of heart, but flat out sucks. Who I rather see start at PG is Jordan Farmar.
Jordan Farmar seems be the only guy playing great at PG position. He plays pretty good defense and doesn't loose the ball as much as Smush. Jordan can also shoot the ball with confidence. Hopefully his ankle injury wont bother him too much and he gets back on track.
I think,smush is a very talented player,but the thing that he strugled the most is whit his confidence and his consinstency,sometimes he had a spectacular play and posterized somebody,but other times he do turnovers and bad shots that makes him look like he never played basketball in his life,if he still play this inconsistant,smush parker is gonna be in the bench or on the trading block.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, what can you expect from a guy that didn't even play ball the whole summer?</div> Kobe didnt play ball either and look how fast he shook the rust. It all about work ethic...
<div class="quote_poster">Trench Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe didnt play ball either and look how fast he shook the rust. It all about work ethic...</div> Kobe didn't play ball this summer because he was recovering from knee surgery. Smush didn't play because he couldn't find a basketball court anywhere in Los Angeles (BS excuse). Either way, I agree with you. If you have a good work ethic, and train hard every off-season, you have the opportunity to get back into shape real quick. In Smush's case, he has no work ethic
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">He was hitting his shots, was actually pesky on defense</div> Pesky on defense? I saw Sam Cassel go by him several times in a row, and Smush practically let him do that. Smush doesn't slide on defense, and he plays with his hands up. He seems to think that his man can't go inside because of the big guys coming to help, but he appears to have forgotten something called the mid-range jumper. Smush sucks on defense.
