I'm writing the season preview for the Lakers, and I'd like to have everyone's opinion. First, I'll give two logical starting five's...and then a couple that could help the Lakers out in all five spots on the court. Tell me: 1. which you think the Lakers will go with, and 2. which you believe to be the best starting five. Here we go...realistic starting five first. C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Lamar Odom/Brian Grant/Brian Cook SF - Caron Butler/Luke Walton/Jumaine Jones SG - Kobe Bryant/Kareem Rush/Devean George PG - Chucky Atkins/Sasha Vujacic/Tony Bobbitt C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Brian Grant/Luke Walton/Brian Cook SF - Lamar Odom/Caron Butler/Jumaine Jones SG - Kobe Bryant/Kareem Rush/Devean George PG - Chucky Atkins/Sasha Vujacic/Tony Bobbitt Now for the other concepts... C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Brian Grant/Luke Walton/Brian Cook SF - Lamar Odom/Devean George/Jumaine Jones SG - Caron Butler/Kareem Rush/Sasha Vujacic PG - Kobe Bryant/Chucky Atkins/Tony Bobbitt C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Brian Grant/Luke Walton/Brian Cook SF - Caron Butler/Devean George/Jumaine Jones SG - Kobe Bryant/Kareem Rush/Sasha Vujacic PG - Lamar Odom/Chucky Atkins/Tony Bobbitt Personally, I believe they will go with the first lineup...and then, if needed, they will put Kobe at the point for certain games or during the 2nd and 3rd quarters for games against the Kings and Spurs (teams that have really quick point guards that will shoot). When the Lakers play the Heat, Kobe should play the 2, with Odom sliding down to the SF spot and Grant starting so he can defend Haslem. What do you think?
I know Lamar has handles, and some above average passing skills, but he is no PG. No way the 4th option happens. He won;t be able to keep up with the quicker guards.
Option 2 is more realistic and would be the most productive. Option 1 is too small a lineup to survive in the west. Odom cant handle the likes of Duncan/Garnett/Nowitzki and will be a defensive liability as a PF. Lakers will be easily outrebounded and outplayed in option 1.
Im pretty sure theyll go with option 2 but i just love this one: C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Brian Grant/Luke Walton/Brian Cook SF - Lamar Odom/Devean George/Jumaine Jones SG - Caron Butler/Kareem Rush/Sasha Vujacic PG - Kobe Bryant/Chucky Atkins/Tony Bobbitt Ive been talkin bout this lineup for a while to my friends and stuff and i think itd work. kobe could be great at the point and it would give us a pretty big lineup...
C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Lamar Odom/Brian Grant/Brian Cook SF - Caron Butler/Luke Walton/Jumaine Jones SG - Kobe Bryant/Kareem Rush/Devean George PG - Chucky Atkins/Sasha Vujacic/Tony Bobbitt and I dont like any of the other lineups, Kobe wont be able to produce on offense if he has to keep up with the quick guards and same goes for Odom
I like this one. C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Brian Grant/Luke Walton/Brian Cook SF - Lamar Odom/Devean George/Jumaine Jones SG - Caron Butler/Kareem Rush/Sasha Vujacic PG - Kobe Bryant/Chucky Atkins/Tony Bobbitt
Option 2 is IMO the most likely one, since there has been so much talk about Odom playing SF, and Grant should be the PF
C - Vlade Divac/Chris Mihm/Slava Medvedenko PF - Eddie Griffin/Brian Grant/Luke Walton/Brian Cook SF - Caron Butler/Devean George/Jumaine Jones SG - Kobe Bryant/Kareem Rush PG - Lamar Odom/Chucky Atkins/Sasha Vujacic I wouldn't be surprised to watch Odom play point-forward on offense and have Butler at the 1 on defense. Odom was solid as a PG for the Clips a couple years ago. Granted I only watched two games in the summer league, Sasha looks more comfortable on the court when he's dictating the offense. He seemed to struggle offensively an off-guard. I don't see Kobe defending the 1 because of the muscle weight he's put on this summer. 1150 is saying Eddie Griffin will sign with the Lakers...I'll "pencil in" EG as the starting PF until Malone makes his comeback ( ).
