Los Angeles Lakers: Should Point Guard Andrew Goudelock Get More Minutes?

Andrew Goudelock, nicknamed Mini Mamba, is already a shining rookie in the eyes of Lakers fans, but for some reason, coach Mike Brown does not see it that way. Mark Medina of the LA Times reported that Goudelock said Coach Brown pulled him aside early last week to explain to him that he was going to be getting less playing time. Goudelock said:

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It's an experience thing. I'm a rookie, obviously. We got a lot of experienced guys on this team and it's close to playoff time. The knowledge and experience they have is very valuable. That's the biggest component of it that he expressed to me.

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A huge problem the Lakers have, and have been having all year, is their bench's inability to produce points. With the addition of Ramon Sessions, there's no question about who the Lakers starting point guard should be, but their second unit's leader is up for debate.

Right now Steve Blake, the Lakers veteran point guard, averages 24 minutes a game and a whopping five points. He's also eight years Goudelock's senior and it shows in his speed. Goudelock is averaging 4.4 points a game in 10.7 minutes. This means Goudelock scores nearly the same as Blake in half the time.

An even more impressive stat is that in games when Goudelock plays more than 15 minutes, he scores nine points on average, and the Lakers win 66 percent of the time. So he almost doubles Blake's average playing 10 less minutes than Blake. He's also 36.2 percent from the three point. Blake is 31 percent.

A question one might ask Coach Brown is, if he can't get experience in the regular season, when will he? It seems that experience would be more important in the playoffs, and the scorers would be crucial to getting there.

Kobe wouldn't throw around the name Mini Mamba if he didn't think the kid deserved it. This makes you think, maybe Goudelock did something to make Coach Brown mad, or maybe Coach is feeling the pressure that being a Laker holds. Whatever it is, the stats are inarguable, as is the energy Goudelock brings off the bench.