The last three games the Lakers have struggled down the stretch. They've made mental mistakes costing them the game. In the Raptors game, the the Lakers kept leaving Jalen Rose open allowing him to make some uncontested clutch baskets. In the Knicks game, Lakers had 4 turnovers in the 5 minute overtime, and the Lakers blew the lead by shooting some questionable 3 pointers down the stretch, Chucky Atkins committing a senseless foul, and Luke Walton passing up a shot to tie the game. Last night against the Celtics, Kobe didn't score a single point in the final period and in the Knicks game he only took 5 shots in the final period. Last season and earlier this year, Kobe was the Laker closer. According to 82games.com our best 5 man unit consists of Atkins-Bryant-Jones-Odom-Cook. With the Lakers latest dilemma and team breakdown, who would you put on the court to close out games?
I actually agree with that lineup. Jones has been a lot more consistent than Butler for us this season, and Mihm tends to disappear on road games/4th quarters. Atkins has been pretty solid offensively for us, eventhough he has been a defensive liability. I would have to say it all depends on the situation we are in in the 4th. If we are down and need to score a lot of points I'd go with that lineup, but at the same time that lineup is pretty weak defensively.
The problem with Mihm is his night and day performances. When the Lakers are the home team he plays great on both ends of the court, but on the road he turns into a shell of himself and gets is in constant foul trouble. Good point, the situation definitely factors in on who should and should not be in the game. What I am looking for is, who should be on the court to close the games when game can go either way?
IMO the only two who we can rely on at both ends at the end of the game are Kobe and Jumaine Jones. Odom fits into that lineup as well by default because hes the only other one that seems to have produced anything in the clutch. Like I said it is all Circumstantial because our defenders can't seem to score (Grant) and our offensive players( Atkins & Cook) can't defend. Atkins almost falls into our closing lineup by default as well, because he's the only other "PG" we have. Sasha is too inexperienced for cluch plays and don't even get me started on Tierre Brown. The only position we can really be making changes is the center spot, with either Mihm, Grant or Cook. All three are our most inconsistent players at both ends of the court. We really don't have any other options than the current lineup we use.
Mihm Odom Jones Kobe Atkins ^That would be my end-of-the-game lineup. The reason I'd have Jones over Butler is the 3-ball threat. Also, note Luke Walton isn't on my list, nor will he ever be again, lol
Luke shouldn't even be on the team My list would be: Chucky, Kobe, JJ, Lamar, Cook THey are all capable of knocking down perimeter shots if Kobe drives and dishes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Luke shouldn't even be on the team My list would be: Chucky, Kobe, JJ, Lamar, Cook THey are all capable of knocking down perimeter shots if Kobe drives and dishes.</div> I like Mihm over Cook because he can rebound...the Lakers lost the other night because they couldn't get a defensive rebound at the end. plus, Cook has missed two wide open game winners this season ...one was against the Kings...I forget the other....so much for those Robert Horry comparisons
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">I actually agree with that lineup. Jones has been a lot more consistent than Butler for us this season, and Mihm tends to disappear on road games/4th quarters. Atkins has been pretty solid offensively for us, eventhough he has been a defensive liability. I would have to say it all depends on the situation we are in in the 4th. If we are down and need to score a lot of points I'd go with that lineup, but at the same time that lineup is pretty weak defensively.</div> I agree as well.
