L.A. Lakers: Why Ramon Sessions Is a Lock to Become Starting PG

If you've been paying attention to the Los Angeles Lakers, one thing is apparent: The Lakers are a better team with Ramon Sessions on the floor. You don't have to take my word for it, though. Take theirs. He seems to have a growing contingent of fans on the team. 

Perhaps the chief among them is Kobe Bryant, who did not have enough good things to say about Sessions after the game, according to ESPN LA's Dave McMenamin.

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"We just let him handle the ball," Bryant said of Sessions. "You saw me off the ball a lot, more than probably you've ever seen me. As a result, my night was a lot easier. I really didn't have to work. I had, what, 30 points? I didn't have to work for any of it because he's doing all the penetrating and I was getting great screens."

"He definitely takes pressure off of me," Sessions said of Bryant. "He lets me do what I do: be aggressive."

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And then again, 

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 "He made me one pass tonight that I saw, but I didn't think he saw, and he slipped it right between the defense. I was like, 'Ooh. Interesting.'"

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And on Sessions' speed?

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"There are a lot of players who have speed, but he understands how to change directions and he sees the floor extremely well," Bryant said. "That's the thing that makes his speed extremely valuable, that he can change gears."

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Bryant wasn't alone in his praise for Sessions. Pau Gasol has been impressed, too, according to The Associated Press.

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“He definitely is a point guard that creates a lot of pick-and-rolls, and gets us points in transition, too,” said Gasol, who went 13 for 16 from the field. “He gets in the lane, and he can knock down the shot himself.”

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Head coach Mike Brown said, "It takes some pressure off of Kobe because Kobe can go sit in the corner for a little bit and let Sessions play pick and roll. 

And here Brown says, 

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The kid Sessions made the game easy for everybody. He had a very good all-around game. You can see how his speed can help us, his ability to…turn the corner and get into the teeth of the defense.

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It's not just what people are saying either. It's evident in his production on the floor. Sessions is averaging 17.3 points and 8.6 assists per 36 minutes with the Lakers.

The Lakers are a far better team with Sessions on the court as well, outscoring their opponents by 18.4 points per 100 possessions. While that's based on only 100 minutes of play, it's a positive early indication of what he brings to the team. 

It's only a matter of time before the newest Laker works his way into the starting lineup. As to when that is, Brown only says, "it's something I'll have to talk about" (with his coaching staff). 

My guess is that Lakers Nation would like Brown to have that conversation sooner rather than later.