Los Angeles Lakers | Walton Should Start?

As it stands Vladimir, Radmanovic is the starting small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers.

He is known for his three-point shooting—a great asset when you have two seven-footers in the paint. 

The problem with Radmanovic is when he is not shooting the ball well, he is anything but an asset. He can be downright liability to the team. He is not a great ballhandler. He is not a good rebounder and his defense is okay, at best. Which why I say he should not be starting.

But who should start?

Most of you out there would say Trevor Ariza or Lamar Odom, but I disagree. The chemistry on the new fast-paced "bench mob" is awesome. I wouldn't change anything with the second lineup. Besides, neither Odom or Ariza is exactly a marksmen with the three-ball.

Which be brings me to my point that Walton should start. Here is why. Luke has shown that he can hit the three in a spot-up situation. Walton knows the triangle offense probably better than anyone on the team besides Derek Fisher or Kobe Bryant. So even when he is not shooting well, he will at least make the right cuts and the proper passes—unlike Vlad.

Walton is a much better ball handler, which would allow Kobe and Fish to play off the ball more. Walton is also more of a playmaker than Vlad. This would allow the Lakers to play a little faster with the first unit, because Walton can lead a break unlike Vlad.

Walton also plays better defense. He not a good man-to-man defender but he is an efficient team defender.

In my opinion, Walton is a more complete player than Vladimir. But as long as Vlad is  shooting 44 percent from three-point land like last year he will continue to start. But if he continues to play a erratic as he has the past three games against New Orleans, Dallas and Houston, it may be time for change.

And I vote for Luke Walton.

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