Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:41 am Post subject: The Back up Center position
HI All,
I don't know if this deserves its own thread, but I was hoping we could get a dedicated discussion on this topic.
It looks like Big Roy so far will be a pretty good starting center. But the big question is who will be the back up center who plays significant minutes. I'm not talking about garbage minutes when the team is down 20 or up 30, I'm talking about close games and Roy needs a breather or maybe he is in foul trouble. The Lakers need a back up who can more than just hold down the fort....they need someone who can help the second unit rally or build upon a lead.
As you all well know, the main candidates are Black, Sacre and Upshaw.
As someone here has mentioned, it seems BS may not be satisfied with Black and Sacre.
Sacre is Sacre....he doesn't do much to help, doesn't really make big mistakes, but he is just taking up space on the roster.
At first I was excited about Tarik Black, young, energetic, strong, defensive minded....but it appears he still hasn't learned any offensive skills. He can barely shoot a free throw. He still has no outside shot and he is not big enough to just dunk on people all day. He's not a great shot blocker and I haven't seen that great defense some people talk about. I'm not sold.
Upshaw has potential but he's not ready yet. But the Lakers should think about the future and hold on to him. He can shoot, he can run, he can block shots. And he's young. If he can just control his demons.
Ok, nothing here that you don't all know.
Now the thing that I think will stir the pot is if Brandon Bass can perform well as a small ball back up center. I think everyone is looking for their version of Draymond Green. Bass can shoot mid range shots, he is a good rebounder, he's strong and he has a good motor. I think he's supposed to be a good defender (Can anyone confirm?)
If the Lakers go with Roy, Bass and Upshaw as their centers.... waive Sacre, trade Black (maybe a package with Nick Young if you really want to get rid of him)...trade or waive Kelly......Maybe there's room for MWP (or Panda friend or whatever he wants to be called now).
If Bass can hold his own defensively he might be a good back up center since he is not a clutz on offense.
And maybe this will make room for Holmes if he impresses. (has he played yet?)
Bass, Looking like the Rotation Backup Center. But we haven't seen Upshaw yet. _________________
"Through the legs to the left, through the legs to the right, we don't run them Laker plays, we just Kobe fadeaway..."
Joined: 05 Jul 2001 Posts: 4356 Location: Oxnard, CA - The Nard
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:45 am Post subject:
I would rather have Black and then Upshaw in that role. The thing with Sacre is he is a terrible rebounder especially in traffic, last night in that game in OT he should have secured a rebound in his zone but could not get to it, closing minutes. He has issues with rebounding and protecting the rim, no idea what he is good at other than eating big burrito's and getting tattoo's. Time to cut this ese.
I agree that Sacre needs to go. My point is that Black is not "untouchable" (slight exaggeration) and that Bass could be an upgrade over Black and also help free up more roster space for guys like MWP. They kind of need to clean up the PF logjam and get rid of some of the deadweight on the team.
And also, it's a good way to give more minutes to Bass and Randle....and even Nance.
I agree that Sacre needs to go. My point is that Black is not "untouchable" (slight exaggeration) and that Bass could be an upgrade over Black and also help free up more roster space for guys like MWP. They kind of need to clean up the PF logjam and get rid of some of the deadweight on the team.
And also, it's a good way to give more minutes to Bass and Randle....and even Nance.
sucre is hands down the worst player in the nba, not including those undrafted rookies which we have a glut of
I would rather have Black and then Upshaw in that role. The thing with Sacre is he is a terrible rebounder especially in traffic, last night in that game in OT he should have secured a rebound in his zone but could not get to it, closing minutes. He has issues with rebounding and protecting the rim, no idea what he is good at other than eating big burrito's and getting tattoo's. Time to cut this ese.
Yea I was steamed, Sacre had position to secure that rebound. So what happens, while he's standing and waiting for the ball to come to him, the Utah player BEHIND him go's after the ball and get's it. I'm not even gonna bring the ref into this Rob should have went after that ball like his job depended on it cause in my opinion, it did, _________________ "If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear". Ive always loved that quote. Thats "mamba mentality" we don't quit, we don't cower, we don't run. We endure and conquer.
I would cut Sacre, no matter what. He simply can't be in our roster.
"What if Upshaw (bleep) things up?". "What if Black doesn't become a decent Center?". Well, then let's go after someone else! Really, it's not that hard to find something better than Sacre. _________________ ....
Joined: 05 Jul 2001 Posts: 4356 Location: Oxnard, CA - The Nard
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 10:07 am Post subject:
mde24 wrote:
PROPHET wrote:
I would rather have Black and then Upshaw in that role. The thing with Sacre is he is a terrible rebounder especially in traffic, last night in that game in OT he should have secured a rebound in his zone but could not get to it, closing minutes. He has issues with rebounding and protecting the rim, no idea what he is good at other than eating big burrito's and getting tattoo's. Time to cut this ese.
Yea I was steamed, Sacre had position to secure that rebound. So what happens, while he's standing and waiting for the ball to come to him, the Utah player BEHIND him go's after the ball and get's it. I'm not even gonna bring the ref into this Rob should have went after that ball like his job depended on it cause in my opinion, it did,
That Utah player was a guard too, not a big. Cut this dude.
I was honestly shocked when I got the news we re-signed Sacre. I thought we already had enough game film to determine he's not an NBA talent. I would've rather rolled the dice on a D-League or even overseas player. Sacre must go.
Keep black. Develop Upshaw. Use bass in a pinch in small ball center.
use black to get rid of n young. use bass/metta as backup C with upshaw developing
Metta @ C? o lord no......I would test Holmes (Positions 3-5) though; he has the body/weight... _________________ Lakers need to build a freaking team !
What's the best case scenario for Sacre? 3rd string center
Same for Upshaw? Could easily be backup center in a year or two, possibly starting material. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Scott needs to stop (bleep) around and give Sacre's preseason minutes to Upshaw. There's way more potential with Upshaw. Sacre is the worst player in the league with Ryan Kelly coming in 2nd.
What's the best case scenario for Sacre? 3rd string center
Same for Upshaw? Could easily be backup center in a year or two, possibly starting material.
Why even keep him, he could barely play on Team Canada over Olynyk. Bass is a better center than Sacre.
Upshaw is a project but could pan out. I don't see any upside coming from Sacre either. I think our backup is Black and I guess we need to see Upshaw play various games before we make a case for him one way or the other.... _________________ Lakers need to build a freaking team !
Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 90299 Location: Formerly Known As 24
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:34 pm Post subject:
As I posted elsewhere, team seems to be looking at Bass's strength and quickness, which give you what Tarik brings (while adding an outside shot), and mating that with a guy like Kelly, who brings the length and rim protection that neither Bass nor Black possess. And an outside shot fr spacing.
Black may lose a numbers game simply because Bass and Kelly are a better fit than Black and Bass.
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