There's no reason to play Black over someone who is 7 foot and can barely dunk on a Fisher Price hoop, that can't block shots, terrible rim protector, black hole offensively, is a human victory cigar for opposing teams, can't run pick and roll and shouldn't be seeing minutes on an NBA squad. Wait a second...
He's a way better offensive fit if our goal is to develop the yougins and especially DAR ... but it's not the case ... It makes little sense for me to play very slow Hibbert who is a floor spacing killer with our "big young 3" who would thrive in an uptempo offense . Given our roster , Tarik would be the best fit . It doesn't mean Hibbert can't play occasional minutes with the starters .
I like Tarik, and I think he shows promise, so I won't denigrate him. Hibbert gives defense, passing, and stability. That's what the young guys need.
Doesn't mean you can't run with Hibbert and Kobe on the floor. JC, Russ and Randle can push it and have Kobe be the trail man. Hibbert can trot along if there's no bucket. Don't think spacing is a problem either, he can knock down the mid range jumper, that opens up the paint for Randle or JC. He's also a good passer for a big man. Only complaint is his rolling ability. His defense though, it helps. Start DAR, JC, KB, JR, RH. Take DAR out early for Lou, JC runs offense. 2nd quarter let DAR play with shooters (Lou/Nick), pick and pop Bass and pick and roll Black.
That makes waay too much sense. :Headpoint: thinks you're out of your mind though. Stop with the arm chair stuff ..... it's why he is paid the big bucks and not you.
So is Boron going to cost us Tarik? They have to make decisions on rest of his under $1 million contract by next Friday and others. He never plays him. But that's on Scott the A-hole. If Mitch and Jim buy into Scott's lack of interest in him whatsoever, then that is on them and reflects badly on their player observations ....I think myself. Also Metta for rest of his $1.5 million and Huertas.
Finally I read the stupid (IMO) interview Mitch did with the excuses about not moving on "until Kobe's gone" and now saying this season is dedicated to him. WTF??? A throw away season for the guys who are the future of your franchise? Is that also excusing the piss poor performance of the team this year he put together, because of Byron Scott's coaching?? And yeah, because of Scott it does look like Black is going to get cut to save a few hundred grand according to this quote where he's not even mentioned as a valuable young player but Anthony Brown is. “This is a year that’s dedicated to Kobe and his farewell. From my point of view, it gives me complete clarity. … We know what our [salary] cap situation is going to be like…. “We feel in the last two years that we’ve gotten at least five attractive young players,” said Kupchak, listing Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown.” Who here or anywhere that knows anything about pro basketball would rank Brown higher than Black on your depth chart, let alone start him and give Black continuous DNPs after how well he did as a rookie and how hard he worked this summer with the other young dudes. WTF are these two guys finding not to like about what a likely improved version of this guy below would have brought this year had Scott not just f***** him?
I still can't understand why Bass is playing C for godes sake...I know we don't have a real backup C but Black at least provides a strong big body. I don't know why he has been in Byron's dog house ever since the end of last season.
At this point I'm wondering if Black did something or has done something the Lakers don't like? What is wrong with him? Did he kill a puppy? Did he steal from the company? What did he do to Byron and Mitch?
Even with all the other crap going on, in my opinion the complete non use of Tarik and how he is treated is the biggest travesty of the season. Well, other than the nameless still being coach.
I'm wondering the same thing. He HAD to have done SOMETHING. I mean, as recently as Summer League he was showing how great he was. He was the second best player on our Summer League team by quite a significant distance behind Clarkson. That guy is going to sign with another team this offseason and put up good numbers next year.
Eh, if we cut him loose, we'll regret it, especially at that price. Under this new CBA coming up, where decent role players are getting millions, for a us to have decent backup like Black for less than 1 mil and not use him, or even cut him, is idiotic. Some other team would pick him up fast, and he'd contribute. But I guess since he doesn't have a jumper and enough of a mean streak, he can't play. F*** B0ron.