Lakers News: Scrutinized Second Unit Still in Limbo
The best starting lineup doesnโt win the NBA title.
The best eight- or nine-man rotation does. And while itโs no news that the Los Angeles Lakers boast the most talented starting five in the league, their bench is still nothing to write home about.
Through three preseason games, LAโs projected second unit has failed to impress.
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Antawn Jamison, who was signed as an offensive spark, is averaging just 5.3 points per game while shooting 33 percent from the field. Jodie Meeks, another free agent acquisition that was supposed to be significant, has only played major minutes in one gameโand in it he went 1-for-7.
At point guard, Steve Blake has scored just two in 24 minutes of play. Chris Duhon, whoโs competing with Blake to back up Steve Nash, has scored zero in 18.
On the wing, Devin Ebanks and Chris Douglas-Roberts have shown flashes of scoring ability, defense and athleticism, but not nearly consistently enough.
Itโs no wonder that, according to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, Mike Brown said prior to the Lakersโ game on Saturday, โNone of the backup spots are set.โ
Now, struggles in a few exhibition games seem like nothing to worry about. After all, LA has names on its bench. Those namesโJamison, Meeksโlikely just have yet to shake off the rust.
But the Lakers may not be content with waiting for their bench to come around.
Mark Stein of ESPN reported that Blake and Duhon are on the trade block. He also mentioned that the likes of Derek Fisher, Kenyon Martin, Gilbert Arenas, Leandro Barbosa, Josh Howard, Mehmet Okur, Mickael Pietrus and Michael Redd were still free agentsโthe majority whoโve already been recently linked to LA.
Stein also tweeted that Jose Calderon isnโt a possible addition, at least according to the floor generalโs agent:
"For those asking about Calderon-to-Lakers Twitter talk today, Calderon's agent Mark Bartelstein says: "There's absolutely nothing to it."
โ Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 14, 2012"
With none of the backup spots set, itโll be interesting to see if Mitch Kupchak helps Brown make his rotational decisions easier or not in the coming weeks.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicatedย writer.






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