This will be Sasha's breakout season

mike_dee23 · Franchise Player Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 11703

It's funny. Last summer the Sasha hate was incredible. The funny thing is that during the regular season the hate disappeared because most fans noticed how his defense and hustle benefitted the team. Then his shot started falling more consistently. Then the playoffs came and Sasha was incredible in his role as the 3rd guard. He provided that spark that Dancing Barry always wanted from him during the regular season. The improvements Sasha had made throughout the regular season really showed during the playoffs.

Inexplicably, maybe it's the return of some of last season's posters who hated Sasha for the 10 minutes he played his rookie season, or maybe it's just posters who are copycats and think the funniest thing is to make fun of the skinny white kid from Slovenia who plays his heart out every game.

THAT SAID, I can guarantee you that Sasha is hitting the weights, trying to get stronger. I can also guarantee you that Sasha is working on his game. I hope he is working on his mid-range game. He seemed to love pump faking the 3-pointer, taking a couple of dribbles in and shooting an 18-20 footer. Next season I will bet that he hits a good chunk of those and his shooting percentage will increase dramatically.

PLUS, with the addition of Radman, Sasha no longer has the pressure of being called the Lakers best shooter. (Phil said that Sasha is the best shooter in practice, but it doesn't translate to games.) Hopefully Radman will teach Sasha to calm down when shooting.

Sasha will improve his shooting percentage to about 42 percent last year, 40 percent from 3-point land. He will also be a better defender. I also think he will be willing to take more risks with the ball offensively. Sasha will average 8 to 10 points per game and 3 or 4 assists per off the bench. Plus his defense will be very good. The guy can be very good.

jmfilter · Sixth Man Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 64

I agree! It takes Foreign players to adjust, just look at Dirk and Stojakovic! They started lighting it up in their 3rd season.

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

I agree, its like Andrew Bynum with Sasha: Mean and impatient fans insisting that he must be GREAT in order for him to be effective for the Lakers. Whats wrong with having a solid bench anyways???

I also agree that Vlad Rad is going to spread some poise and confidence over Sasha's way...

Sasha could be deadly for the Lakers off the bench next season...
_________________
Kevin Love. 2015.

JP_Lakerfan · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

Good post Mike_dee23!

If Sasha improves as much in year 3 (this one 06/07) as he did from his rookie year to his second year, I will be satisfied. People on this board are impatient. The Lakers are young and improving. Give the kids some time to develop. Sasha, Smush, Bynum, Turiaf and now Famar, need time and will improve.

Dr. Laker · Franchise Player Joined: 12 Apr 2002 Posts: 17110

ajaxxx · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

sorry I taught it said will sasha breakout this season because he is going through puberty.

lakers1969 · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

What's funny during Game 4 Lakers 2006 play-off, I was @ sec 117 and I was sitting next to 4 young Armenians Sasha fans and the whole row was like what Sasha! But he did not choke just like "cough" Smush "cough".....he's a good kid and very personable, he began attacking the basket as well. Working out with Kobe this off-season will surely improve his game.

JasonPR · Starting Rotation Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 746

I don't know....with Evans, Farmar and possibly a sign and trade aquisition at the point and the chance of Smush staying.....I don't think Sasha will even break out of his warm ups.....unless he is traded to another team....

bambam · Star Player Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 9013

mike_dee23 · Franchise Player Joined: 03 Feb 2005 Posts: 11703

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47594

insidepresence · Star Player Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 3901 Location: Ca

breakout in what? acne? syphilis? cause he can't defend the pg position for any prolonged stretch of time, so I don't see him breaking out into anything more than a 3 pt specialist

TACH

TACH

LakersPimp · Star Player Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2226

dcarter4kobe · Franchise Player Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 17687

Pauly · Rookie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 10

I wish Phil would have played Sasha more in the Phoenix series. Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't he shooting 40% beyond the arc in that series compared to Smush shooting like he was afraid of getting beatdown by Kobe (resulting in poor shooting). Sasha just needs time on the court and more time learning the offense (like every player on the team). But i agree that it will be tough for him to get playing time with Evans, Famar, and Parker on the roster. This should be a wake up call for him to step it up 2 notches and prove to management that he belongs on the team. I'm assuming Sasha will be on the SPL squad right?

flashakadrano · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1028

well he couldn't get much worse.

he does hustle, he gives the effort, and can shoot, in practice.
he may be a good practice player, but he's a nbdl player to me.

he probably wouldn't even be a star player in the nbdl, which is pretty sad when you think about it.

Pauly · Rookie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 10

it all comes down to confidence. You can be the most talented, athletically gifted player in the world. If your confidence is not there, you will get eaten alive. I played with many clowns at the park that were more athletic, talented than me but what what made me better than them was my confidence. Sasha showed flashes of confidence during the reg season and the postseason. If he doesn't stand out in the SPL and the preseason, he will be gone sorry to say. Me personally I hope he gets better for the sake of his Laker future because when he's on his game, Sasha can be a solid contributer on both ends of the floor. Sasha has heart and talent, he just needs to grow a bigger pair.

Pauly · Rookie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 10

its surprising that Kobe hasn't rubbed off on Sasha more. Kobe's got the biggest pair in the NBA, Sasha should take notes.

TACH · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:

Pauly · Rookie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 10

he needs time on the court without the fear of the being (bleep) slapped by Phil, Kobe. Sasha got minutes don't get me wrong but he needs to get his head in the right place before playing his 8 minutes. If Sasha had brass ones playing 8 minutes a game, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Weightroom, SPL, shooting drills, that goes without saying when working on your game. What Sasha needs is two shots of Jack before tipoff. It wasn't like Sasha was getting 4 points a game every game. There were a ton of games where he had no points, but there were some games he had 8 to 12 points with a couple of steals. Its an obvious confidence issue. Any guy can go to a bar and look at girls, but its the shabby (and not so shabby) guys with the gabbing skills and confidence that go home with some company for the night. Sometimes its not the numbers you need to look at. Hopefully Sasha will find his mojo this upcoming season.

TACH · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:38 am Post subject:

EHL_2 · Star Player Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 5330

No, he won't break out, and we'll be here to make sure you remember.

PassiontoWin · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:50 am Post subject: