Lakers To Shift Starters
by: Staff | Views: 2,146
The Los Angeles Lakers have entered training camp and it looks like Phil Jackson has some new ideas for the team. If it’s any indicator of the level of change Jackson is looking to make he entered camp clean shaven, no zen master mustache and beard.
They were all happy to get to the Finals last year, but it wasn’t enough. They are hungrier than ever this year to win and with the stable of players they have it just might happen.
Andrew Bynum, listed at 7′1″, is back as a starter after having a season ending knee injuring in January of last year. Pao Gasol, listed at 7′0″ was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies shortly thereafter and finished out the season at Center. With both players returning in starting form this year how will the dynamics shake out?
It appears that Jackson is going to shift Gasol to Power Forward and leave Bynum at Center. Will this work? Last season skeptics thought the Lakers lacked the physical presence to match up with the Celtics in the Finals so this may be the answer.
Jackson’s other move is to put Lamar Odom at small forward, or possibly not start him at all, in favor of Trevor Ariza. When you look around the league at other small forwards such as Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce and the number they put up last year, I’m not sold on Odom being the #1 man. His shooting was lackluster last year and he didn’t seem to play with the same consistent passion and drive that other guys did. He will also have to find his shooting from the perimeter.
It should be an interesting pre-season to see how this all shakes out.
(Photo: NBA.com/Lakers)
