Payton Has Regrets

This is from David Aldridge

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Los Angeles Lakers guard Gary Payton, frustrated by what he said was both limited playing time and the team's triangle offense under Phil Jackson, said on Saturday that he may leave the team after the season. Payton signed a two-year deal with the Lakers but has an option to get out of the deal after the season.

"If that's the way [Jackson's] going to be, that's the way he's going to be, and I'll probably have to move on," Payton said.

With no rancor, Payton expressed frustration with his role in the team's offense. He isn't the focal point of the Lakers' attack, which features Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Payton goes minutes at a time without shooting. And while Jackson juggles minutes among Bryant, Payton, Derek Fisher and Kareem Rush, Payton said Saturday that he shouldn't be the one who has to sacrifice his game.

"They're going to have to satisfy Shaq and Kobe," Payton said. "They get 40 [minutes]. So we don't know. Whatever way [Jackson's] gonna do it, he'll do it. But I'm just going to state that I'm not pleased with my minutes I'm getting, because I don't think I'm productive being that way. And a lot of people see that. They see that I'm not comfortable with this. And it's affecting my game. My game is me playing minutes, and as the minutes go on, I get more productive and more productive. And I can't do that."
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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">This is from David Aldridge



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I just posted that in the last reply.

 

After reading the new article Accord & Notmuchgame posted from espn, its pretty much clear its like I said in my earlier post. Alot of Gp frustrations come from situations like what occurred on TV like week, when MIke Bibby str8 tried to clown GP down the stretch of that game. Bibby was knocking down jumper after jumper then running back down the court dancing. That is frustrating to a player like GP because he knows if the Triangle wasnt there he would have went right back at Bibby. Point guards have been giving GP the business all season & he hasnt had the opportunity to go back at them because of Phil's system.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">After reading the new article Accord & Notmuchgame posted from espn, its pretty much clear its like I said in my earlier post. Alot of Gp frustrations come from situations like what occurred on TV like week, when MIke Bibby str8 tried to clown GP down the stretch of that game. Bibby was knocking down jumper after jumper then running back down the court dancing. That is frustrating to a player like GP because he knows if the Triangle wasnt there he would have went right back at Bibby. Point guards have been giving GP the business all season & he hasnt had the opportunity to go back at them because of Phil's system.</div>

Kobe had to go through the same process, and if that helped the Lakers win 3 titles, I don't see why Payton is complaining if he really came to L.A. for a ring...I realize its a difficult transition, but as a veteran, he should know to keep his thoughts to himself and do what they signed him to do...play defense and pass the ball to Shaq/Kobe....

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe had to go through the same process, and if that helped the Lakers win 3 titles, I don't see why Payton is complaining if he really came to L.A. for a ring...I realize its a difficult transition, but as a veteran, he should know to keep his thoughts to himself and do what they signed him to do...play defense and pass the ball to Shaq/Kobe....</div>

Agreed, but that easy for us to say but hard for an all-star like GP to do. Right now GP only gets like 11 or 12 shots a game, thats kind of low for a guy who can drop 20pts easy, even with Shaq & Kobe their. But like I said in an earlier post the triangle offense has never been built to fit a dominate point guard, so GP shouldnt expect Phil to competely change his offensive sets. But Phil needs to also under stand that he has never had a point guard(pippen wasnt really a point) with the skills of payton so he should give a little too.

I think Phil should do what Flip is doing with the Big 3 in Minny. Flip usually lets Spree free lance in the 2nd quarter while Cassell & KG are on the bench. But when Cassell & KG are on the court, he keeps the ball in one of their hands & Spree falls back as a 3rd option. But Spree doesnt complain because he knows that hell get his chance to have scoring opportunities when KG & Sam go to the bench.

So maybe Phil needs to try incorprate a time in the game(for like a 4-5 minute stretch,when Shaq & Kobe are resting) where GP plays with the bench & he is able to be the man. He can free lance, set his type of tempo & get thye plays ran thru him. That might help to keep him happy.