Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:25 pm Post subject: The missing piece to the puzzle?
This is kind of a general question, but it focuses on Swaggy P. (I'm not sure if this belongs in another thread)
Can one non-superstar player make that much of a difference to a team? I'm not talking about carrying a team all the way to the championship, but at least to respectability and being reasonably competitive.
The Lakers won a rare game yesterday and coincidentally Swaggy P played his first game since going out with his hand injury.
How much of a difference could Swaggy P make for the Lakers?
With the return of Swaggy you get:
1. Consistent double figure in scoring
2. Someone to relieve some of the scoring pressure off Kobe.
3. Adds floor spacing
4. Three point threat
5. More bench scoring
6. Young and quick
7. Good free thrower
8. Can handle the pressure to take the last shot
9. Can create his own shot
10 Makes it harder for teams to double team Kobe or pack it in the paint.
11. Can play small forward.
Now most importantly,
1. The potential for less Wes Johnson
Conclusion: I think one non superstar player like Nick Young can make a difference....but we'll have to wait and find out.
Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 28464 Location: LA --> Bay Area
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:28 pm Post subject:
Nick is an all-star level offensive talent. His problem was always consistency and defense. Seems he's found both of those things since coming to the Lakers. Though he's 29 he spent most of his early years on trash teams, and he's really grown into his original potential. He's no roleplayer; his impact is about what you'd expect from a fringe all-star coming back to your team.
Good enough to take the team from bottom 2 to bottom 6; not good enough to lift the team to the playoffs. I think we saw that last year. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 18222 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:35 pm Post subject:
There's no doubt Swaggy's return helps for all the reasons you stated above, but let's keep it in perspective about who we played last night. The Hawks are a low-middle tier team who have respectable record based on a weak early schedule. I wouldn't have been shocked if we'd beaten them without Swaggy. _________________ "Suck it up. Don't be a baby. Do your job." - Kobe Bryant
Good enough to take the team from bottom 2 to bottom 6; not good enough to lift the team to the playoffs. I think we saw that last year.
Double edged sword for me....
Not good enough for the playoffs, might be good enough to lose that pick to the Suns..
If that happens, hopefully he's good enough to at least cover the 20 games won line I place a bet on a while ago in Vegas. _________________ LBJ + AD = More rings
Never argue with a fool - listeners can't tell you apart
Wilt's unstoppable fadeaway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9MgNfcGJA
NPZ's Magic Johnson mix: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Qbo0WqvOI
Joined: 15 Jul 2002 Posts: 6938 Location: searching for the mojo of Dr. Buss
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:38 pm Post subject:
our problem is defense, not offense. We were super-efficient last night and had great games by Kobe, Young, Boozer, Hill and Lin... yet we barely won as our defense was crap as always. Other than Kobe, the rest of those guys are known for inconsistency and bad defense.
Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 10775 Location: Hoosier Nation
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:43 pm Post subject:
yinoma2001 wrote:
Good enough to take the team from bottom 2 to bottom 6; not good enough to lift the team to the playoffs. I think we saw that last year.
We never saw the combo of Swaggy and KB. Certainly, we need to add more pieces to this proverbial puzzle to get to the next level, but I think the OP is onto something. KB is an all-star talent. If Swaggy can help him become a better teammate by allowing him to believe he doesn't have to do it all, then that is a pretty big step. _________________ Not a legend
Good enough to take the team from bottom 2 to bottom 6; not good enough to lift the team to the playoffs. I think we saw that last year.
We never saw the combo of Swaggy and KB. Certainly, we need to add more pieces to this proverbial puzzle to get to the next level, but I think the OP is onto something. KB is an all-star talent. If Swaggy can help him become a better teammate by allowing him to believe he doesn't have to do it all, then that is a pretty big step.
Not sure about the long-term synergy. Both are iso-heavy players. Swaggy helps Kobe get rest by allowing the team to have another scorer on offense. Put together, you can put more pressure on the D but teams know (at least with Swaggy) that when the ball gets to him it ends with him also. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Nick Young is not D-League material. We have about 5-6 guys on our team that's bordering D-League talent. Nick Young has enough height length to at least contest a shot.
Nick's offensive threat won't allow our opponents to sag down towards the paint and/or cheat/help out Kobe's defender. If they did, Swaggy made them pay. When the paint wasn't so clogged. JHill and Davis did their thing. Kobe was also operating in his sweet spot/post because his opponents weren't sagging so much in the paint. What a difference.
our problem is defense, not offense. We were super-efficient last night and had great games by Kobe, Young, Boozer, Hill and Lin... yet we barely won as our defense was crap as always. Other than Kobe, the rest of those guys are known for inconsistency and bad defense.
Yes, last nights formula is untenable. Were not going to have a great shooting night every night. However, I think with current lineup, we are near ceiling of how well we can play D. Something else has to give.
EDIT: And Swaggy was HUGE last night. I don't think we win without him.
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144474 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 2:29 pm Post subject:
Swaggy's return didn't prevent the Lakers from giving up 109 last night. They aren't winning many as long as that continues. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
The biggest thing for me wrt Swaggy's return is replacing Wes Johnson's minutes. Wes is a negative on both ends of the floor while Nick is a negative only on one.
Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 2415 Location: Far from home
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 3:37 pm Post subject:
Theoretically, a scoring specialist (Nick) could be a fine complement to a roster that needs scoring support, either in the main starting unit or as a spark plug from the bench. That doesn't mean he's likely to become much help to this Laker unit though. The team defense woes - the big problem - won't get much better with Nick around, and that suggests Nick's not gonna be much help in changing this team's fortunes.
The negative side is that he's essentially a redundant piece for what's already our strongest player, Kobe (a 6'6" scorer).
The most positive thing about Nick might be that he becomes a source for Kobe's personal salvation from overwork this season, as the guy able to reduce the old guy's minutes to sub-thirty mpg, if we're lucky.
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