Los Angeles Lakers Off-Season Thread

[King Sancho Fantastic]

LAL Scrimmage Notes: 9/21/12

With training camp rapidly approaching, more and more Lakers players have been working out at the team’s facility, going through individual drills, lifting and now getting some 5-on-5 run in.

On Friday morning, veterans like Metta World Peace, Antawn Jamison, Jordan Hill and Steve Blake joined youngsters such as Darius Morris and Darius Johnson-Odom for a full court scrimmage.

We took some notes:

- Metta World Peace is in absolute peak shape. Much was made last season about how MWP came in out of shape and didn’t find himself until halfway through the season due in part to injuries he wasn’t able to treat during the lockout. But he says he’s 15 pounds lighter than he was last fall, and from watching him play, he’s not lying. We interviewed Antawn Jamison after the scrimmage, and he couldn’t stop raving about how great MWP looks and is playing. With attention focused on Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, this could spell trouble for opponents.

- Speaking of Antawn Jamison, you can see almost immediately why he’s averaged 19.5 points per game for his career. The guy just has a knack for the bucket, whether it’s utilizing his unique array of floaters and leaners, or finding the space in the half court to get himself open for a jumper. He told us how excited he is about the team vibe he’s already feeling, with new/hungry blood from himself, Nash, Howard and Jodie Meeks* joining the likes of Bryant with a championship in mind. Jamison can’t stop smiling as he walks around the facility.
*Meeks was also in the building, but did not scrimmage.

- Steve Blake looked good for the Lakers late last season and in the playoffs, earning many of the crunch time minutes over Ramon Sessions, and earning the trust of his coaches and teammates in the process. Several assistant coaches mentioned how consistent Blake has been in workouts this summer, and noted that he played for Eddie Jordan his first two seasons in the league for Washington. That he and Jamison are familiar with Jordan’s system is a nice benefit for the Lakers.

- Darius Morris has improved his jumper over the summer, not to mention his physique, thanks to leading all Lakers in time spent at the team’s facility. His hard work looks to be paying off so far, with the test to come in training camp when he’s matched up against Nash or Blake.

- Jordan Hill looked very good in the scrimmage. While watching him dunk, rebound and even hit some face up jumpers, assistant coach Darvin Ham said he expects Hill to have a fantastic year off L.A.’s bench, backing up Howard and Gasol with his constant energy and activity at both ends that earned him playoff minutes last season.

- Darius Johnson-Odom was described by one coach as “bouncy,” and you’ll agree when watching video of the scrimmage. The rookie was flying all over the court, even treating us to a version of J.R. Rider’s “Eastbay Funk” afterwards. DJO is the type of player that plays better when those around him are better (Las Vegas Summer League wasn’t his type of atmosphere), and his defense and athleticism stood out in the run.

- Derek Fisher, a free agent, was in the building to work on his game, permission granted by GM Mitch Kupchak. Fisher is of course not on the roster, but it’s not uncommon for free agents or players on different rosters* to play at other team’s facilities before camp starts.
*Thunder guard Lazar Hayward was also in mix, often chatting up his college teammate at Marquette DJO.

- Big men Robert Sacre and Jeff Somogyi showed themselves capable of playing with the more experienced bigs on L.A.’s roster, and will have a chance to show what they can do in training camp. Each 7-footer did some scoring, some boarding and some blocking in the scrimmage. Making the roster isn’t going to be easy for any of the younger players, but the opportunity will be there.

http://blog.lakers.com/lakers/2012/0...e-notes-92112/

[King Sancho Fantastic]

5 minutes with Jamison after the scrimmage.

[PauloCatarino]

Originally Posted by King Sancho Fantastic

5 minutes with Jamison after the scrimmage.

Nice. Props.

"Kobe has 5, but you couldn't tell". I just hope that the players all have that state of mind.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Like the defense by DJO on Morris right up until the flop. Lol Dude has bounce too.

[Seuss]

So is Derek Fisher hanginng, praying the Lakers throw him a bone?

[elcap15]

"Derek Fisher, a free agent, was in the building to work on his game, permission granted by GM Mitch Kupchak. Fisher is of course not on the roster, but it’s not uncommon for free agents or players on different rosters* to play at other team’s facilities before camp starts."

Lakers cant even sign him until March, because of the new trade rules. We should just sign him as a coach.

[Cris]

LAKERS SIGN CHRIS DOUGLAS-ROBERTS

L SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Chris Douglas-Roberts, it was announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Douglas-Roberts, a three-year NBA veteran out of the University of Memphis, was originally selected by the then-New Jersey Nets in the second round (40th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. Douglas-Roberts has appeared in 155 NBA games (53 starts) for the Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, recording career averages of 7.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.6 minutes.

Most recently, the 6-7 forward spent the 2011-12 season playing for Virtus Bologna of the Italian League. In 34 games, Douglas-Roberts averaged 12.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 27.0 minutes.
http://www.nba.com/lakers/releases/1...ouglas-roberts

...

[MojoPin]

Wow that's awesome. Better than Ebanks and Morris.

[elcap15]

I find this signing interesting. CDR is not a floor spacer, or a particularly good rebounder or defender. He just kind of creates another logjam at SF and duplicates a lot of what Ebanks does. he is not just training camp fodder either. I think he could be an upgrade over Ebanks, but I was hoping Ebanks would just get better.

[Cris]

Here's practice from a couple days ago. Looks like a 5v5v5 scrimmage.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

That lob from Kobe to Dwight would have been sick! Lol

[Cris]

Someone want to change this to the Lakers Pre-Season Thread?

If anyone is interested in seeing the Lakers Team Charter Plane this year: This Is It

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Bad news.

@KevinDing: Bad news for Lakers bench. Jordan Hill has herniated disk in his back. Will be re-evaluated in a week.

Looks like Sacre will most likely make the squad.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

Dwight will make his debut on Sunday as per WOJ.

[Basel]

Can't wait.