<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Lakers haven't played a quarter of the 2007-08 season but it's clear that a major weakness for them is a lack of toughness when center Kwame Brown is not in the lineup. Brown, who has missed the last eight games because of a sprained ankle and knee, may be offensively challenged but he provides a physical presence for the Lakers.</p> "The only missing part that I have always insisted about is that we need a tough guy on this team," Coach Phil Jackson said about the Lakers, who start a two-game trip at Minnesota on Tuesday. "Kwame Brown has been that guy for us. Even though he's not personality-wise, but physically, he is a guy who can knock people around and seal our middle. That's what is missing and we miss him when he's out." It's not that Brown, at 6-feet-11 and 270 pounds, is the Lakers' only big man. But Brown is the team's most equipped to get the job done. Andrew Bynum, the team's 20-year old 7-foot center, is still learning on the job and has to pick his spots when to be aggressive in order to stay out of foul trouble. Ronny Turiaf, listed as 6-feet-10 and 250 pounds, has the heart to get it done but he's often overmatched by bigger and stronger players underneath the basket. Chris Mihm, a 7-foot, 265-pound backup center, is still trying to regain his legs after missing all of last season because of injury. Vladimir Radmanovic, 6-feet-10 and 235 pounds, plays more like a shooting guard than a power forward. In the Lakers' 104-97 loss to Orlando on Sunday, their inability to shut down the paint was evident. Magic big man Dwight Howard had his way in the second half and finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shot. Jackson said he hopes to have Brown back when the team returns to Los Angeles for two games at Staples Center next week against Golden State and San Antonio. After Brown is cleared to return, the key will be to "get him in basketball shape," Jackson said. "If you don't it will come back and haunt you in another way," Jackson said about Brown's injuries. "He's working hard to come back. We have to give him credit for that."</div></p> Source: LA Times</p> We need Danny Fortson.</p>
Re: PJax: I would love Danny Fortson on this team, that's an enforcer who would step up to the plate whenever anybody on the team was fouled hard.</p> </p>
Re: PJax: LA should make a play for Artest and Bibby, offering up Odom, Fillers and a first rounder...</p>
Re: PJax: Trading Farmar is a HUGE NO-NO. I see him turning into a Tony Parker type of player. Also, if Javaris Crittenton becomes as good as the Lakers expect him to be, the Lakers can get MAJOR value in the future for Farmar or JavaMan.</p>
Re: PJax: Jordan Farmar as a Tony Parker type of player? I don't see it. I think Farmar is expendable, because of Crittenton. Sure, Farmar might be better now but Crittenton's potential is much greater, IMO.</p>
Re: PJax: No doubt Java will become better than Farmar, but Farmar just continues to grow and grow. Once he reaches the peak of his ability is when we trade him for a lot of value, because we have Java whose going to be a baller as well. Kind of like Steve Nash and Barbosa, Nash being Java and Barbosa being Farmar. Who wouldn't trade good value to get Barbosa in this league? That's the same situation Java and Farmar are going to be in soon.</p>
Re: PJax: I question your intelligence if you compare Javaris Crittenton, the 19th overall pick to an MVP player in Steve Nash. I like Jordan Farmar as well, but if you call him untouchable, there is seriously something wrong with you</p>
Re: PJax: I NEVER said he was like Steve Nash. I said it will be the same situation in LA in a couple of years as it is in Phoenix now. We are going to have two very good point guards so we can trade our secondary PG for solid player(s). So why trade Farmar or Java unless you are getting a supertalent right now?</p>
Re: PJax: Rick Carlisle on ESPN2 just said "if the Lakers want toughness go get Danny Fortson. He is out there somewhere."</p>
Re: PJax: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Rick Carlisle on ESPN2 just said "if the Lakers want toughness go get Danny Fortson. He is out there somewhere."</p> </div></p> Rick Carlisle is a smart man. Fortson is exactly what this team has needed since Shaq was traded. Perfect situation for him to step in and be the enforcer on this team.</p> </p>
Re: PJax: Considering the only center we had tonight was Chris Mihm, I don't see why that wouldn't hurt....</p>
Re: PJax: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Considering the only center we had tonight was Chris Mihm, I don't see why that wouldn't hurt....</p> </div></p> I don't think Fortson would play center for us, he's listed at 6'8, but he's more like 6'6. LOL. He's undersized to play center, but he'd be great at the PF position for us. We need his toughness though without question.</p> Dale Davis and Jackie Butler are still free agents, too.</p> </p>
Re: PJax: My bad. lol. We were without Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, and Ronny Turiaf today. Any big body would have helped us. Hopefully we will go out and sign a Danny Fortson or Jackie Butler, because I don't have much faith in Brown or Mihm staying healthy at all, and sooner or later, I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them out at the same time. We might as well go out and sign someone now instead of waiting for the last minute and having to wait for them to adapt to the triangle</p>
