By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
July 9, 2006
His final semester at UCLA ended a few weeks ago, but it looked as if Jordan Farmar had been doing a little studying on the side.
The Lakers draft pick showed the same poise he had in two seasons with UCLA and, an added bonus for Lakers followers, demonstrated some decent knowledge of the triangle offense Saturday in the Summer Pro League at the Pyramid of Long Beach.
Farmar, drafted 26th overall, had 17 points and three assists in 31 minutes of an 89-87 Lakers loss to the Memphis Grizzlies' summer league entry.
The competition will be significantly more challenging in a few months, but all in all, not a bad debut for Farmar.
"He as well as anybody has picked up the offense the quickest," said Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who is in charge of the summer league team. "He seemed like he came in and had been studying it or something. He knows what we're doing. He understands what we want him to do."
Farmar showed the ability to penetrate and took numerous trips to the free-throw line, making seven of nine from there. He also demonstrated the same on-court vocal command he had at UCLA.
Farmar said he was acting mostly on instinct. No studying for the triangle.
"To me, it's pretty much basic principles," he said. "I just get it."
A key for Farmar over the next few months is to get stronger. He is listed at 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, slightly generous in each category.
There will be eight more summer league games, and then there will be a lot of lifting. Training camp begins in early October.
"Once this is over, get to work," Farmar said. "When you get in there with the big men, you've got to box out and rebound."
Danilo Pinnock, whom the Lakers acquired from Dallas on draft day for a future second-round pick, had 16 points. Andrew Bynum had 12 points.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basket...nes-sports-nba
Farmar Makes Good Impression
Linear Mode
