Archive for the ‘Purple Reign’ Category

Purple Reign: The Starting 5 questions of the Off-Season

While the off-season may now be just a drag, and seeing our Lakers celebrate as the final seconds of an amazing NBA season expired is but a distant memory, there’s still plenty to think about. To debate. Between friends, fans, and those outside of the purple and gold love.

Five questions stand out, however, and what kind of fan would I be if I didn’t have my own opinions on ‘em!? Well, there’s nothin’ to it but to do it!

5. What will happen with our point guard situation? The trio of Fisher/Farmar/Brown looks fine and dandy, but what’s to be expected?

The only definite thing going forward will be that Fisher will see less minutes through the season while Farmar and Brown continue to grow in the triangle offense.

Fisher has come through time and time again in clutch situations, and is loved by the fans and the organization (and the team), but there’s no need to give him an excess of minutes when there are two younger guys who both should be putting it all out there to prove they can each lead this team at the point. Save Fishers legs for another deep playoff run, and acclimate the younger guards to being a more integral part of the team.

Farmar has been in the system for a few years now so expect him to see the brunt of the back-up minutes starting up the 09-10 season. However, Shannon Brown looked good out there last season even though he was a mid-season acquisition. If Shannon continues to show his talent on the court and continues to grow with the triangle offense, he could definitely see those minutes that were once Farmar’s. Farmar is on a contract year, and as the past has shown, guys who have that last year to prove themselves typically play with a bit more to prove, but Brown should have just as much motivation to get out there and give it his all. Regardless of what happens, all three should provide solid minutes and the tandem of Brown/Farmar should definitely be more potent this season.

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The Pre-Season Outline

Another preseason has come and gone, and it is time to look back and reflect on what we’ve seen from our young team.

The headline of this preseason was obviously the return of our young center, Andrew Bynum. He came into this preseason looking like a man-child — I could hardly recognize him at first. It made me so eager to see him take the floor for the first time since January, that when he actually did, it gave me the chills. You can tell he’s not quite 100%, as he does not have the explosiveness to go up for dunks and blocking shots that he once had, but he’s showing he’s getting back to “pre-injury form” each game.

If there were any doubt whether he and Pau Gasol, or “Bryant’s Giants” (my choice for the new nickname) would work, it should be put to rest. The two have gelled nicely and faster than I expected. They have been active in looking for each other on the court, and we have seen Bynum be on the receiving end of some great passes in the post, most made by Gasol. Having them in the lineup together has taken pressure off of Gasol, and he’s been hitting mid-range jumpers throughout the preseason consistently.

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