Lakers guard Farmar: I want to start
SINGAPORE (AP) - Los Angeles Lakers reserve point guard Jordan Farmar wants be a starter, either with the Lakers or another NBA team.
"I want to run a team and be the lead guard," Farmar said Tuesday on the sidelines of a basketball clinic in Singapore. "Hopefully, it can be here (with the Lakers)."
"There's a lot of jobs out there. I feel I have a lot to offer."
The 22-year-old Farmar averaged 6.4 points and 2.4 assists in 65 regular-season games last season as the Lakers won their 15th championship.
Farmar, who will be entering his fourth year with the Lakers, saw his playing time drop last season to an average of 18.3 minutes per game from 20.6 the previous season.
Farmar said he wasn't surprised general manager Mitch Kupchak fielded trade offers from other teams during the offseason.
"I've talked to Mitch a bunch of times and he says he's got a ton of offers and didn't consider trading me," Farmar said. "It's just you have to entertain all the offers you get.
"Since I haven't got traded, it means they want me here."
Farmar, who grew up in Los Angeles and played two seasons at UCLA, said veteran point guard Derek Fisher will likely begin next season as the starter again.
"Derek's had a great run," he said. "He's probably going to be the guy starting off. I just want to continue to push him."
Farmar said it's difficult to find opportunities to shine in the Lakers' star-studded lineup, which includes 11-time All-Star Kobe Bryant.
"It's hard. He's the best," Farmar said when asked about playing with Bryant. "He demands a lot of attention. He demands the ball a lot of the time."
"It's tough for any young player to come into a really good team and try to find their niche."
Farmar said he expects forward Ron Artest, who signed with the Lakers this summer, to fit in well with his new team.
"He's a great guy," Farmar said. "He's never had any problem with any of his teammates. He's coming over here because he wants to win."
Yeah, I would start him during the regular season and if it dosent work out they can just start Fisher in the playoffs. I'm pretty sure the Lakers could be as succsessfull with Farmar then with Fisher, only difference is that Farmar is a whole lot younger.
Nothing against Farmar as a BB player, but he should just keep little mouth shot.
Fisher is a proven playoff performer, not Farmer
Shannon Brown > Farmar
I'd rather Phil give Brown all of Farmar's minutes.
Want in one hand, in the other. Lakers should start Brown IMO.
Lakers should do it, I'd love it for Farmar to start, along with Walton and Mbenga starting as well
Fisher must start.
I don't think Farmar really realizes who lucky he is to have an NBA job, much less think it would be easy to get a starting PG job elsewhere in the NBA. Not that he doesn't have talent, but in honesty, he's a borderline NBA player, maybe an end of the bench caliber NBA player in really a great situation because he plays on a team full of players that demand double team and triple team attention. He sounds like he feels he could be a star in the NBA. I think if he were really to walk down that path, he'd be humbled quite a bit."There's a lot of jobs out there."
Farmar would suck as the Lakers starting PG. He doesnt have the composure nor the qualities to lead that team with that much talent to a championship. Hes a good backup. Thats the way it should stay.....
[[["Derek's had a great run," he said. "He's probably going to be the guy starting off. I just want to continue to push him."]]]
Bingo.
Considering how Jordy played when he started, I would give him the chance to start
Farmar = FAIL
This is tricky because Jordan really is a very talented offensive player. He doesn't get to showcase it very often because of the nature of our offense but he's very talented. He can score and create as well as some of the other point guards in the NBA. But his defense leaves a lot to be desired, and he tends to get careless with his decision making, especially with leads.
I wouldnt have a problem with him starting, though it wont happen, as long as Fisher saw the minutes toward the end of the game. Sort of like Bynum and Odom's deal. Our starting lineup needs more speed anyway, thats something i've been saying for a while. Give him a chance to show what he can do given minutes and more freedom, and if it doesn't work, have him relinquish the role and let him go this upcoming summer. I have a feeling he's going to have a good season since its his contract year, but I feel better about Shannon Brown. He's gonna be here for a while.
Very mature.
and vujabichLakers should do it, I'd love it for Farmar to start, along with Walton and Mbenga starting as well
Fisher will start but I could see SB and Farmar getting the bulk of the minutes to keep Fishers corpse fresh for the playoffs. Ego ears needs to STFU and play better until he starts whining for a starting gig in the NBA.
What's with these Laker scrubs having huge egos... Farmar would be below average on whatever team he was on. He's a point guard that doesn't know how to set up the offense. Turns the ball over then yells at his team mates. lol
Just package him with Ammo for a decent backup 1 guard please.
this is like oden demanding to start
I am astonished at how many Laker fans think SB is better than Famar. His ego and at ude seem questionable, but if he works hard and listens, I think he is definitely more talented than SB imo.
Shannon plays way better defense, is more athletic, shots the three just as good if not better and plays smarter.
Agreed on both. But, perhaps that's why Shannon Brown fits ok with the Lakers. They don't need a great passer at the point guard position with Kobe and Gasol and Odom often the primary facilitators on offense.
Shannon Brown isn't a 58% free throw shooter. But, he is more of a shooting guard than a point guard.
Edit: thought the 58% was referring to Brown. At any rate, Farmar really isn't that bad from the free throw line either. He even shoots over 80% in his combined three post seasons. Not really a big deal regardless because point guards on the Lakers aren't going to the free throw line much at all. And, if it's a problem, it would only be one late in games where you can put Fisher back in.
Then why was SB so average before? Why was Farmar's worst PER better than Shannon Brown's average PER? Why was Farmar's highest PER with the Lakers, much better than SB's even in SB's best year?
Can you have a PG that shoots 39% FG's and 28% 3PT's in the playoffs?
I just am not sold on the fact Brown is more talented than Farmar. He played very well, and the system fits, but all things equal, I think Farmar is better. Now, if Brown works and Farmar goes emo, then I can definitely see SB kicking Farmar out of the rotation.
Even in his worst year which was last year, Farmar had a better playoff PER than Brown this year.
Last edited by DPG21920; 09-01-2009 at 09:59 PM.
I dont think anyone's saying Shannon is more talented than Jordan. He clearly is not. But his skillset and at ude is right for the triangle defense. He plays defense, can hit the open 3, and has a humble demeanor. Farmar is better at creating his own shot and making plays for teammates, but those are a lower premium for us since the ball is in Kobe's hands on the perimeter most of the time, as Jordan said.
I'd like us to run some more traditional sets so that he can develop and showcase how good he can be, since I think that would also begin to get Kobe easier looks with the ball out of his hands a little more and perhaps increase his efficiency. Plus, I like Farmar. I've followed him for a while and he's a good kid, regardless of whether he's a little y or not. I want him to succeed and to be able to flourish if he can prove he's good enough to do it.
Pure talent and skills wise, Jordan is the best PG on our team. We all know that doesn't make you the best player though, so i'm hoping his maturity develops this upcoming season so he can maximize that talent without wasting it on poor decision-making and laziness on defense.
Shannon took much less money to stay with us when he had a great offer from Indy. I'd love to say I think Jordan would do the same but I can't, so I just hope he develops enough this season that PJ gives him enough room to play and grow so that he feels like he wants to remain a Laker.
If not, he'll be leaving town and i'll wish him the best.
I'd love for Kobe to not be the only playmaker in the backcourt anymore though.
Say what you want about his at ude and fit, but Famar is a better PG and player than Brown. Brown might work harder and fit his role better, but he is not the better player.
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