Lakers Q&A: obsessing on point guards
Readers’ questions for our Lakers beat reporter Broderick Turner.
Question: I’ve really enjoyed watching Jordan Farmar’s progress this year. In my opinion, he is developing at a level that will make him a good choice to become the starter at point guard next year. His turnovers are declining, and he is the only Lakers guard to consistently drive to the basket and attack the rim.
My opinion notwithstanding, we all know that both Jordan and Derek Fisher are not under contract for next year, and are eligible to become free agents. What are your thoughts on Jordan’s development, and if they choose to go in a different direction, what do you think are their interests / options?
Todd Anderson
Mission Viejo
Answer: Hey, Todd, nothing wrong with having an opinion.
But I agree with you. Jordan Farmar has made progress this season. Just think, last season, so many Lakers fans were down on Farmar.
But he has grown up, as a player and a person. He still has more steps to make to become a better player – like when to run the fast break and when to set up the offense, or when to look for his own shot or to get the ball to open teammates and to become a more focused defender.
Farmar will attack the offense, which is good because it breaks down the defense.
The Lakers do like Farmar a lot. He is a restricted free agent, which means the Lakers can match any offer he gets from another team this summer. As long as his price tag isn’t outlandish, the Lakers probably will look to bring him back.
Q: What do you think the Lakers are going to do next year about backup point guard or just the point guard position?
Keep Jordan Farmar? Get someone else?
Peter Yeung
San Gabriel
A: All this love for Jordan Farmar!
As I stated above, the Lakers would love to keep Farmar if he’s affordable. Don’t forget, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson doesn’t view his guards to play as traditional point guards. He likes a two-guard set out front. He also likes guards with size, like the set he had with Brian Shaw and Ron Harper when the Lakers won titles earlier this decade.
Those types of big guards who can run the offense, defend and shoot are hard to find these days.
But there is a place in today’s NBA for the smaller, quicker point guards. Farmar fits that bill.
The Lakers also like the development of Shannon Brown, considered more of a combo-guard.
Q: Here’s my question regarding point guards. Are there any really good defensive point guards in the NBA? Are there any great point guard defenders who are still under the radar? Any who play great D but aren’t as good on offense? Any up-and-comers, any vets? Can anybody shut down the good PGs?
Remember Kobe [Bryant] and Tyronn Lue did a good job on Allen Iverson in the Finals? I haven’t seen good PG defense since then for the Lakers.
Does it exist anywhere in the NBA or are these guys just too good on offense and/or unconcerned about defense?
Claude Hurwicz
A: Wow, this week’s questions are all about the guards. Interesting.
Well, the NBA is all about offense and the top point guards in the NBA like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo are all exceptional players with the basketball. One big problem with defending point guards in the NBA is that so many teams run pick-and-rolls from all over the court, constantly looking for mismatches, constantly looking to get big men like Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal farther out on the court.
So when you see your point guard like Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar get picked off by a screen, they need help from a teammate slowing down that point guard until they can get back on him.
But in reality, it’s difficult when so many teams run so many pick-and-rolls.
And if there were point guards out there in the D-League, Europe, on an NBA bench, they would be found and would be playing.
Readers can send their questions to our Lakers beat reporters Broderick Turner or Mike Bresnahan, but please put “Q&A” in the subject field. E-mail:
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