New Lineup and Matchup Possibilities w/Jimmy Jackson

critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

Okay, when Jim Jackson gets acclimated to our system and Tri, he can be a very valuable piece for us. Though he was in a serious slump at the beginning of this season, looking over his stats from last year is reassuring. Hopefully, the stretch at the beginning of this season was just a slump and nothing more.

Last year, JJ was an excellent 3-point shooter, defender, and at times an excellent playmaker and rebounder for his position (along with being a steady scorer with nice mid-range jumper and post-up ability). If he can come anywhere close to his performance last year, when he had 7 games with 5+ treys (23 games total with 3+ treys), 12 games with 5+ assists, 32 games with 5+ rebounds, 41 games scoring in double figures (including 7 out of 15 games of playoffs, and 25 games overall at a 15+ clip), we are in for a real treat.

Jim Jackson is a steal if he shows anything that he showed last year, especially the outside shooting, defense, and veteran leadership (along with his playoff experience, and he played very well last year in the playoffs, with five 17+ scoring games).

Here's a possible lineup with a productive JJ in the playoffs (minutes in brackets):

This gives us a solid 8-man rotation + two (Luke and Bynum). Sasha will get spot minutes when we want pressure defense and for certain matchups. Turiaf possibly too, but not likely. Luke is very likely to see minutes, so it's really a 9-man rotation, and I'm really hoping we utilize Andrew for at least 8 minutes (for seasoning plus he could be a real asset).

The key here is Kobe playing the 1. If Kobe can slide down to the 1 for about 8 minutes each half (especially since the Tri doesn't require a true point guard), then we can present some real matchup problems for other teams. Obviously, this would happen when guys like Tony Parker aren't in the game who Kobe would have trouble covering (ideally we'd take advantage of backups or big 1s like Billups). One particular matchup I like is this one, which would be especially deadly against Dallas:

This lineup gives us 3 guys who can easily hit jump shots and 3's, along with Lamar who on any given night can do the same (if he's on). Lamar and Odom make a nice 1-2 punch in the post, and Kobe, George, and Jackson all have post-up ability themselves. Defensively, we would be very solid. Our lineup would be dynamic, and we could always switch it around too, like bringing in Cook and going like this:

Bynum would be a nice piece in both of these lineups too because of his length, post scoring ability, and knack at reaching over guys for offensive rebounds.

I really like the pickup of Jim Jackson, and I understand more now why Phil really wanted another veteran 2...because, along with preserving Kobe, possibly he's thinking like me about running Kobe at the 1 as a mismatch for certain stretches of the game (perhaps especially against backup 1s, who #81 would dominate!).

We could be very deadly in the playoffs if Jim Jackson can revert to even 80% of his 2005 form, Devean George keeps playing outstanding, Brian Cook keeps sniping, Kwame models himself after Big Ben, Mihm stays healthy, Smush stays under control, and most especially Lamar plays with intensity every night with the season on the line (I expect he will).

Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great One · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject:

smush
Jackson
Kobe
LO
Kwame
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critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

sodapoppenski · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:16 pm Post subject:

We'll know soon enough about JJ's form I suppose.

The bright side is, his numbers from earlier this season were a result
partly of a tweaked injury or two - and also of being played very low
minutes for a rumored fall-out with D'Antoni during training camp (in
fact a later incident supposedly let to all his DNPs from there on).

Either way, he's not gonna be some savior for us I don't think.. but my
guess is he can still find his shot, and we've been needing another shooter.

Defensively he's not what he used to be, and he's kind of a 2/3 tweener
(that kind of limits us as far as his defensive capabilities to playing him
only solid minutes against a team with a slow or moderately quick 3, and
at the 3 - 2's will mostly burn him).

I still say it's a good pickup.

Not gonna make a huge difference, but let's hope he can provide a spark.

Serious NBA Fan · Star Player Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 2429

Or, we can go
Kobe
JJ
George
Odom
Kwame

Crazy LA Fan14 · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:21 pm Post subject:

Penny

JJ
Kobe
Odom
Mihm

Smush, George and Kwame off bench.
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sodapoppenski · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:22 pm Post subject:

thumpinghead · Star Player Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 5657

critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

I'm getting some serious deja vu right now...

sodapoppenski · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:31 pm Post subject:

critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

ishi331 · Star Player Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 7258

JJ replacing Luke at all minutes.

critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

Hopefully we'll see JJ soon...

critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

We're stuck with Smush and Sasha though, unless Kobe can defend the 1, because JJ can't do it.

KB8@LG · Starting Rotation Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 367

If Jim Jackson can take away all of Puke and Sasha´s minutes he would already have great impact.

Seriously Luke and Sasha combine almost 36 minutes. Thats like we play 3 quarters 4 on 6

venicebeach · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:34 am Post subject:

JJ take the spot of Sasha with the possibility of more minutes than him

reincarnatingDaBulls · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 311

Kwame/Mihm/Bynum
Odom/Cook/Turiaf
Kobe/George
Jackson/Walton
Smush/Sasha

Devin and Von will be ready next season hopefullyand we really should choose to keep either Devean or Walton this summer. I honestly prefer George as the back up SF over Walton. If Profit is better he will be a key pick up for our bench, being able to play the 1, 2, or 3 position. But hopefully by the beginning of next season the Lakers line up will look something like this.

Kwame/Mihm/Bynum
Odom/Cook/Turiaf
Kobe/George/Green
Jackson/Profit/Von
Smush/Sasha/ (miami's draft pick)

AirKobe8 · Star Player Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 8586

Sorry to cut you but George needs to play more than JJ.
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Sage_10 · Star Player Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 6668

Anything to get Sasha more bench time is fine with me although he played OK last night.

critical_beatdown · Star Player Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 2072

Sasha played good tonight, and I always like his aggression, but we definitely have a place for JJ. Hopefully we see that soon...