Atkins Bemoans Rudy's Exit

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">His sneakers in hand instead of on his feet, Lakers guard Chucky Atkins couldn't wait 20 seconds for the final buzzer Thursday to get off the bench, start off the court and get away from the Lakers' seventh consecutive loss.

Asked afterward what would have happened if Rudy Tomjanovich hadn't resigned as coach Feb.2 and been replaced by Frank Hamblen, Atkins said: "We'd be a playoff team, without question."

Although Atkins took exception to Hamblen's assessment that the Lakers "quit" in this loss to Denver - "I don't know nothing about that. ... I don't give up," Atkins said - he didn't criticize Hamblen as much as Hamblen installing the triangle offense. Atkins said changing the offense has kept the Lakers from playing as a unit on both ends.

"We played a lot more together (under Tomjanovich)," Atkins said. "The game was a lot easier. Right now, we're in the triangle offense, and people are not really familiar with it. Spacing's bad. You have no place to attack and drive. A lot of time we settle for outside shots. We're in Game 67, and guys' legs are tired and the shots are coming up short.

"Look at the amount of jump shots and the amount of bad shots we shoot and the amount of bad shots we shoot fighting the shot clock - then look at how we played when we ran pick-and-roll plays and were putting guys in spots where they were able to attack. We played a lot better. We're struggling to score 100 points now."

Atkins (10 points) shot 4 of 15 from the field Thursday and committed four turnovers. Hamblen benched Atkins time after time for Tierre Brown and finally for good with 5:42 left for rookie Sasha Vujacic. But Brown, who shot 1 for 10, was worse than Atkins. </div> Source

What a classless jerk! Not only does that mean he's given up on the Lakers' still fighting to make the playoffs, he's dissing his headcoach, his teammates, and his fans. I like how Chucky always complains about offense, but never talks about being lit up on defense. The Triangle Offense isn't rocket science to learn. I hope he's benched for the rest of the season after that statement.

 

I agree with him, if Rudy didn't resign we would of been in the playoffs, but the stress was getting to Rudy, I don't blame him for resigning.

Sure, Atkins isn't the best player in the world, and he doens't play a lick of D, but Hamblen is the wrong man for the job. He accuses the team of quiting, of course that is going to light a fire under some players who are out there playing. Also, 7 losses in a row does affect your mentality.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with him, if Rudy didn't resign we would of been in the playoffs, but the stress was getting to Rudy, I don't blame him for resigning.

Sure, Atkins isn't the best player in the world, and he doens't play a lick of D, but Hamblen is the wrong man for the job. He accuses the team of quiting, of course that is going to light a fire under some players who are out there playing. Also, 7 losses in a row does affect your mentality.</div>
It might be the truth, but he should keep those comments behind closed doors. The Lakers are under heavy criticism as it is, and Chucky is a veteran leader on the team. He should know better than to air dirty laundry to the media. Also the timing is poor, the Lakers are already struggling and have been disappointing, why add fuel to the fire? All this coming from a player who has done nothing in this league to begin with.