Lakers Rumors: How Ramon Sessions Would Help LA
The Los Angeles Lakers have arguably the worst point guard situation in the league. With backup point guard Steve Blake injured, the Lakers have relied on two rookies, Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris, to share the role with Derek Fisher. This season, Fisher is averaging 5.1 points, 4.1 assists and two rebounds a game. Not the kind of production you look for in your starting point guard.
For the Lakers to have any real shot at the title this season, their point guard play has to improve. With no point guard on the roster currently giving them solid production, the Lakers have been seeking trades to acquire one.
As reported by Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers have shown interest in acquiring Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ramon Sessions. I find it funny how Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had a say in preventing the Lakers from getting Chris Paul, and now his team might be trading them one of their own point guards.
Sessions would be a great roster addition to the Lakers. Here is why:
Fast Breaks
1 of 4The Lakers are one of the slowest teams in the NBA.They play slow because they don't have a decent point guard to push the ball down the court. This is why the ball is always in Kobe Bryant's hands. With a competent point guard, the Lakers can speed up their pace, making them harder to defend.
Sessions could help the Lakers get easy buckets by improving the fast-break game. Right now the Lakers offensive philosophy is "Let Kobe Score." His usage rate is a ridiculous 38.0. Sessions only averages four assists a game, but his assists stats should improve on the Lakers because he won't be playing behind the fabulous rookie Kyrie Irving.
Get the Big Men the Ball
2 of 4The Lakers have two of the best big men in the NBA, yet they don't use them as often as they should.
It's hard to get big men the ball without a good point guard. When the point guard isn't much of a threat, it allows the other team to cheat and help defend the low post.
With Sessions on the court, he will open up the court, giving Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum more open looks.
Kobe Bryant
3 of 4As I mentioned earlier, Bryant's usage rate this season is a ridiculous 38.0. He doesn't score as easily as he used to, with most of his points coming off jumpers.
A better point guard would make life easier for Bryant. He wont have to possess the ball as much, improving the overall team play of the Lakers. Believe it or not, right now Bryant has to possess the ball as much as he does because that gives the Lakers their best shot at winning.
Having Sessions on the team will reduce Bryant's crazy workload, while also improving his overall effectiveness.
Solid Point Guard
4 of 4The NBA is now a point guard league. The Lakers currently don't have a good one on the roster.
If you look at the best teams in the NBA, most of them have good point guards. The Los Angeles Clippers have Chris Paul. The Chicago Bulls have Derrick Rose. The Oklahoma City Thunder have Russell Westbrook.
You don't have to have an All-Star point guard to win the NBA Championship (last year the Mavericks started veteran Jason Kid), but you at least have to have a competent one. The Lakers don't even have that.
The Lakers didn't have an elite point guard when they won three straight championships, but they could at least count on Derek Fisher stepping up in the crunch. Now he may be too old.
By bringing in Sessions, the Lakers would receive a solid point guard who can score and dish the ball. He could make life easier for Bryant, the two big men and improve the overall team play of the Lakers.
