Why is Russell not getting any time in the playoffs? So far after 4 games he's played a total of 2 minutes. He was playing well for us in the beginning of the season, then had a few games and I really haven't seen him since. I thought maybe they were trying to save him for the playoffs, but then eventually we stopped seeing him at all. Now the playoffs come around where we could use his defense and threepoint shooting, and he is no where to be found. Anyone know why he isn't getting time? Although I have liked the play of Kareem Rush I would rather see a defensive guard like Russell get a little more playing time. He was also our best 3point shooter this season, eventhough his numbers dropped when he stopped seeing playing time.. PLAY BRYON RUSSELL PHIL!!
Do not question the unparalleled wisdom of the Zen Master. Or so we're supposed to believe and accept.
Phil obviously wants to have a tighter rotation during the playoffs. Thats why you arent seeing russell or cook play in the postseason, outside of garbage time
Perhaps sometimes we should question the Zen Master. Russell is a great D player and should get more minutes. Perhaps against the Spurs when the Lakers finish with the Rockets
Yeah I think he should get more minutes against the Spurs too. Because Fox just can't quite get it together and Russell has alot of playoff experience. They can't do any worse at the SF. Deaven George is playing ok so that could do the job with these two playing the 3.
If you ask me, Fox should be playing the role that Russell's playing. Sitting on the bench watching the game because I'm so fed up with Fox's antics. I myself would perfer having Russell in there because he has so much playoff experience with his years in Utah, and he played alongside Karl Malone so I'm sure that could be an advantage for us. And I'm positive he still can stroke it well from the perimeter, so how are we supposed to be decent production if he's sitting on the bench? You know, Russell has played a total of 2 minutes this season, and do you see him complaining? Maybe Gary Payton should take a look at that.
He's not what the Lakers need right now. Defensively, Phil can rotate in Fox or Devean. Offensively, Phil can put in Fish or Rush. Russell hasn't been hitting his shots and neither has Fox but Jackson prefers Fox over Russell because of his toughness and familiarity with the triangle offense.
Remember guys, we never get to see what goes on during practice. Maybe Bryon just hasn't been doing it for Phil aside from what we see on the court.
The bottomline is there are not enough minutes for Russell to get playing time. He's the 4th guy on the depth chart at SF behind Fox, George, & Walton. Also Kobe has played a lot of minutes at the SF spot so the Lakers can have Fisher & Payton on the court at the same time. Russell doesn't have the quickness to play against the Rockets, because Francis, Mobley, and JJ can all put the ball on the floor and drive right past Russell. He would be another liability on defense in this series. I see his role being expanded against the Spurs. He will be used to bang Bowen and Turkoglu around.
Like Shape said, Russell isn't playing because of his lack of mobility isn't ideal against a "fast team." Right now, i agree that Fox is playing terribly...GP-Fish-Rush-Kobe is the ideal rotation IMO...
