DPG21920
10-07-2008, 03:37 PM
http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/nba_tracker/posts/12141
Phil Jackson is in full-scale tinker mode with the Lakers this preseason. First there was talk about having Lamar Odom fill a reserve role. Then came word that Odom would be used as a ball-handling guard with Kobe Bryant moving to small forward. Now the Orange County Register reports that center Andrew Bynum could come off the bench unless his chemistry with Pau Gasol improves:
"It has been mentioned," Lakers consultant Tex Winter said of the coaching staff's internal discussions. "We played pretty well last year without him."
...
"Right now, they're very clumsy; they're not working well together," Jackson said. "We've got a group that played very well together last year. There are some things that we have to discuss and see how long we drag this out -- or how quickly we facilitate it, because I think we have got the ability to play exceptionally well if we use all our skill players."
...
Winter said a major factor in the slow start so far has been Bynum not giving maximum effort in practice.
"He's just not exerting himself, maybe," Winter said. "And most of the other guys are. I think he just needs to play a little harder."
Bynum has said himself that practice work hasn't had him completely riveted.
"This is the first year where it's kind of a little bit boring just because we have to run through the same stuff we already know," he said.
Phil Jackson is in full-scale tinker mode with the Lakers this preseason. First there was talk about having Lamar Odom fill a reserve role. Then came word that Odom would be used as a ball-handling guard with Kobe Bryant moving to small forward. Now the Orange County Register reports that center Andrew Bynum could come off the bench unless his chemistry with Pau Gasol improves:
"It has been mentioned," Lakers consultant Tex Winter said of the coaching staff's internal discussions. "We played pretty well last year without him."
...
"Right now, they're very clumsy; they're not working well together," Jackson said. "We've got a group that played very well together last year. There are some things that we have to discuss and see how long we drag this out -- or how quickly we facilitate it, because I think we have got the ability to play exceptionally well if we use all our skill players."
...
Winter said a major factor in the slow start so far has been Bynum not giving maximum effort in practice.
"He's just not exerting himself, maybe," Winter said. "And most of the other guys are. I think he just needs to play a little harder."
Bynum has said himself that practice work hasn't had him completely riveted.
"This is the first year where it's kind of a little bit boring just because we have to run through the same stuff we already know," he said.