Bench Mob Needs to Get it Together

Mamba · Mar 16, 2009

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol came to Phil Jackson after Sunday's game and suggested they also be moved from the Lakers starting lineup to fix the still-struggling "Bench Mob."

At the same time, backup Jordan Farmar approached starter Derek Fisher to propose a trade: "I'll give you starting guys Luke Walton back and the rights to all future Andrew Bynum games if you'll just give me Trevor Ariza back."

And then DJ Mbenga chimed in with a brilliant solution to the problem of all that ails the Lakers reserve unit, but because he speaks in such a low mumble no one could understand what Mbenga said.

We're kidding around here — except about Mbenga's mumble. That is so indecipherable that Bryant was thrilled while competing in the Olympics that Mbenga chose to offer motivational support to him via text message instead of phone. But the idea that an inexperienced group of reserves won't be able to execute at a high level, especially on the road, is as great a concern as anything for a Lakers team with every reason to believe Bynum will be back next month.

The Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday for the third time in three tries this season, and they would beat them quickly if they meet in a first-round playoff, too. They will beat them even if Josh Howard is healthy, which he hasn't been in any matchup with the Lakers this season. They will beat them even if the Lakers reserves remain as scattered as they currently are.

There remains too much of the regular season to play in a Western Conference that is shoulder-to-shoulder on the lower levels to be seriously plotting how a Lakers-Mavericks series would break down, though. Some who watch the team regularly were saying at halftime Sunday that a Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers first-round series would go seven games because of the Lakers' past struggles in Portland. No way. The Lakers will be fired up and win their remaining game April 10 in Portland anyway.

Yet it is a legitimate question whether the Lakers can put the shine back on their bench unit by playoff time. We've seen how easy the games can be if the reserves are locked in to "take the heart out of teams," to quote Jackson's phrase describing just what the "Bench Mob" failed to do Sunday. The reserves certainly could use a little confidence boost in coming weeks because they don't have a ton of playoff experience on which to lean either.

"Can't be out there just jackin' up shots," said Walton, whose volunteering to join the bench should help create good shots in the half court and already did in victories in Houston and in San Antonio.

Walton played horribly Sunday in a classic situation of coming home from road success and letting down. But he will help stabilize the Farmar-run second unit that has lost its preferred style of attack since opponents adjusted to get back in transition defense.

Long before Sasha Vujacic missed 3-point shots on three consecutive Lakers possessions early in the fourth quarter, interpreting Dallas' zone defense as a personal invitation to play "Around the World," Jackson had reached a season high in frustration with Vujacic. After Jason Terry scored on a 15-footer early in the second quarter, Jackson called a timeout, got in Vujacic's face and went Bobby Knight on him with a shockingly hard slap on the butt as Vujacic moved past for a seat on the bench.

Farmar also needs to find his focus again. He could have had a grand entrance into the game Sunday late in the first quarter when Walton led him toward an alley-oop dunk upon seeing Terry too lax on defense. Farmar, however, didn't run hard on his cut to the basket and wasn't in position to do anything with the ball.

Given that Vujacic is healthy after battling so many minor injuries early in the season and Farmar had to miss a month after knee surgery, they're a little overeager. That is why it makes sense to have Walton help them read the defense and run the proper action in the triangle offense.

But that in itself is a disappointment to the Lakers, because it shows how Farmar has not progressed. When you start looking for long-term problems for this team that is well-built for the future, it's hard to find many — except there's reason for panic if Farmar isn't a suitable full-time lead guy with Fisher's contract expiring after next season.

Considering the current issues with the whole "Bench Mob" and how important he is to the future plan, monitor Farmar as much as you do fellow youngster Bynum the rest of the way. There's no doubt that Farmar's season-to-date numbers — 41.2 percent field-goal shooting, 58.7 free-throw shooting and 2.4-to-1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio — leave plenty of room for improvement.
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http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lakers-farmar-season-2336191-sunday-bench

Mamba · Mar 16, 2009

I'm glad people are starting to call them out. Pau's called them out twice, Luke once and Odom once. I'm just waiting for Kobe.

illmatic · Mar 16, 2009

I refuse to call them the "Bench Mob" any longer, just as I refuse to call Sasha "The Machine" anymore....You need to fucking earn it first!

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Bench Mob Needs to Get it Together

Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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