Cook is the #2 scorer Lakers are looking for…

[venturalakersfan]

[dewit8]

I love the fact that Cook got 7 and 10 boards two out of the last three games, but he can't board. He committed no fouls last night, but he can't play defense. He doesn't drive, yet last night he dunked after head-faking Stromile Swift, and drove on another play that drew a foul. The last two nights are a microcosm for this team. When Kobe and Phil show confidence in a player, he, in turn, plays much better. When our players walk onto the court knowing Kobe thinks they suck, and knowing Phil will yank them as soon as they screw up, they play not to screw up. And that usually makes it worse. Will Cook score like this every night? Probably not. But he can shoot, he can rebound, he can play inside, and he can play defense-- IF he's allowed to do so without the feeling he could get yelled out for one mistake.

[Walter Sobchak]

Hasn't Cook said he plays better when he starts cause he's all warmed up or something to that effect? I think depending on the matchup, Cook is a legit starter. If there's an imposing post player on the other team, then maybe Cook should come off the bench, although sometimes against those types of players he could be used to pull them away from the basket on defense if the Lakers go with a small lineup (not to start though).

I liked that last night Kobe was really looking for Cook and Smush to try to get them going first. At times I thought Kobe was maybe too unselfish in the first half, but I can't argue with the results. Kobe has the confidence in himself to know he can turn it on whenever, so it was great to see him trying to make sure some other scorers were established first. Kudos all around
_________________
"People don't think it be like it is, but it do." - Oscar Gamble

Just a reminder folks: "a lot" is two words. So is "no one".

[iml84myd8s]

[Smel Counts]

Cook must start. Kobe needs a safety valve on the floor with him as much as possible. Cook is the only other Laker who consistently shoots well enough to be that safety valve. Until we get another reliable safety valve, Cook needs to get big minutes.
Actually, we can afford to lost Odom minutes to foul trouble more than Cook minutes.
God we need more shooters.

[El Ocho]

[Freakout]

People forget when we went 5-1 on our first tough road trip it was without Kwame and Cook filling in.

[BigVeece]

I love what cook is doing for this team right now.. lets not jump the gun though.. let him have a solid month or so.. just last week or so, everyone was ready to ship him out.. remember, he had a stretch like this last year too... so lets just sit and wait...

We'll see what everyone is saying about him when he puts up a crapy game...

[ThePageDude]

[mike_dee23]

I despised Cook last year... and still think he needs to play defense instead of just waiting to take charges... but he is the only dependable mid-range shooter on the Lakers. I just worry about those Cook-KG/Cook-Duncan matchups... but yeah, I'd say start him for now.

[Tarzan008]

Oh yes this is now quite apparent.......Cook and Kobe must be joined at the hip when it comes to court-time.....

Other teams were leaving the 4 & 1 spots to triple Kobe,to trap him as well.......

Kobe would see doubles and triples all game long now since the 81 point game......But With Cook showing he is a legit threat,teams now can only send doubles Kobes way.................most likely the 1 postion,leaving Parker/Sasha......

Kobe can handle doubles half the time easy,make them pay with passing out of them and when it's single coverage it's as easy as Cake for Kobe.just has to pick his spots........because of Cook Kobes game will now become much easier,and in turn Cook too will prosper,they need to be on the court at the same time most of the time.....This is what was needed,a guy that could score if left open.......I expect Cook to get 14 to 20 on any given night with this formula......While Kobe can still get his with the extra space due to Cook being a threat if left un-guarded.....

With Cook being an OK rebounder,we can still get by because Lamar boards real well,and we still have Mihm and Kwame at center......

[mike_dee23]

Heck... just thinking about it, put out Sasha, Smush, Kobe, Cook and Mihm... surround the dude with shooters - even though Sasha needs to just shoot the ball sometimes... let Sasha be the initiator.

[wolfpaclaker]

To me, Cook needs to become a better rebounder.

He just needs to play harder on defense. Yes he is a bad defender. No arguments there.

But he has two assets. One - is that he clearly has a brain. Anyone that takes a charge well knows how to read an offense. Second - He has good length. Meaning that if he works on his timing and strength he can be a better shotblocker and rebounder.

So while I don't see Cook ever to be a good defender, I think there's a chance that he can give a team more positive than negative if he can push up those rebounding and shotblocking numbers (8 boards, 1.5 blocks would be what I'm looking for)

[Hector the Pup]

Cook doesn't stand a chance of getting anywhere near 8rpg and 1.5 bpg.

[Showtime_Returns]

Put Cook in the starting lineup and any coach with a pulse will exploit his weaknesses. Cook isn't starting material, but he does blow away the no one can play with Kobe argument. Kobe needs a 2nd option that can feed off him ala Cook. Trading Odom for R Lewis would net us that 2nd option.

[dewit8]

THe problem PageDude, is that the rebounding stat really means nothing. That's all based on games played. Some of the games he only played for 3 minutes. Plus, Kwame and Odom need to rebound their ass off, bcause that's their greatest value to the team. And as for the negative plus/minus-- who the hell cares? Last year, 82games.com ranked the players based on how many points the team scored with that player on the court. Kobe Bryant not in the top 50. Brian Cook-- 25th overall. Did that make Cook more valuable? Hell no! But you saw what he's done WITHOUT battling Mihm for the boards. And people overlook the fact he gets at least two offensive rebounds a game. As far as defense goes, if Phil puts Cook on KG or J. O'Neal, that's his fault for being so dumb. Odom or Mihm should guard them, with Cook guarding Blount (Minn) or Croshere (Ind).

[ThePageDude]

[shnjb]

[shnjb]

I also noticed other gems from your post.

Brian Cook, no matter how hard he works on timing and strength, cannot be a 8 rpg and 1.5 bpg guy in the NBA.
Maybe in the NCAA, but not in the NBA.

You know, usually, in the NBA, only very athletic players can average close to 1.5 bpg, unless they are seven footers with long arms.

Our best hope is that Cook will box out more and play smart on defense to minimize his deficiencies, but to ask or even IMAGAINE Cook of being a shotblocker/rebounder extraordinaire is a fantasy.

In fact, 8 rpg and 1.5 bpg would be satisfactory numbers from a very good starter-quality PF.
That's young Horace Grant type numbers really, who has been voted on the NBA defensive teams in the past.

[CrimsonLaker]

Cook is a defensive liability, but is still better than Smush defensively. When Mihm comes back, I want Kwame still starting. We had a nice groove with that starting lineup. When cook was coming off the bench he had a couple nice games going 5-5 or 7-7. One of the main problems we have is not having someone to score when the bench is out there. I'd like to see Cook anchor our bench and that is just as important as a starting role imo. He can be our 6th man.

[wolfpaclaker]