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Undervalued contributors
The supporting cast is vital to the Lakers' success
Posted: Friday June 07, 2002 12:22 PM
Updated: Sunday June 09, 2002 7:47 PM
There is no nickname, colorful or otherwise, for the Los Angeles Lakers players
not named Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Michael Jordan's
teammates were known as the "Jordanaires" or, as M.J. called them,
"my supporting cast." We can't refer to the Lakers group as the
"Sugar Shaqs" or the "Bryanteers" because any moniker must
encompass both All-Stars. Planet Laker revolves around two suns, not one, as
Planet Bull did. For the sake of convenience, I'm going to call them -- let's
see -- the Lakesters.
It is not easy being a Lakester. You have to figure out how to pick your spots
around Shaq and Kobe (in that respect, it's kind of like being in the physics
department with Einstein), and the headlines you do get usually concern
how you've failed to prop up the
superstars.
Or
...
It's incredibly easy being a Lakester. You don't have to be that great a player,
you don't have to take the big shots in crunch time (unless you're Robert
Horry), and every June they measure your digits for a championship
ring.
How good are the Los Angeles role players? It's a relevant question because, I
assure you, two guys alone cannot win a championship. Maybe three, but not two.
That means that at least one of the Lakesters has to play consistently to give
Phil Jackson a chance to fill up all his fingers with jewelry. Let's take
a look at some of them.
HORRY: The best-known Lakester, he's the kind of player for whom some
team would pay scads of money, then be disappointed. The forward's main skills --
3-point shooting and interior defense -- are helped immensely by his being on
this team. His clutch marksmanship is beyond reproach, but even he admits that
he feels absolutely no pressure on those shots because he's not supposed
to be the one winning
games.
Laker value:
A
Non-Laker value:
C
DEREK FISHER: He's a point guard. Is he a real good penetrator? No. Does
he create a lot of shots for his teammates? No. For himself? No. Is he the guy
you want breaking pressure? No. But he makes just enough outside shots -- that
aspect of his game has gradually improved as the playoff stakes have increased
-- and plays enough chin-in-the-chest defense on the opposition's point guard to
make him a good fit for Shaq and
Kobe.
Laker value:
B
Non-Laker value:
D
RICK FOX: He is supposed to be a good low-post player, but how do you
post-up with Shaq on the court? He is supposed to be somewhat creative with the
ball, but how do you get creative shots off with Kobe on the court? He is
supposed to be a serviceable 3-point shooter, but don't you want Horry
taking most of those? Still, Fox does just enough and always seems to be there
when the Lakers need something. Plus, he gets serious Hollywood points for being
married to Vanessa
Williams.
Laker value:
B
Non-Laker value:
B-
BRIAN SHAW: He looks old and slow. Sometimes his shots clang off the rim.
But, as much as any Lakester, he understands what the triangle offense is about
and won't let too many minutes go by before pounding the ball into Shaq. You
watch, the Lakers rarely suffer a net loss when Shaw is on the
court.
Laker value:
B
Non-Laker value:
D
LINDSEY HUNTER: He's lost some -- no, a lot -- of confidence as a
shooter. But he, too, will play some gutsy defense and be a good team guy. He's
basically Fisher
Lite.
Laker value:
C
Non-Laker value:
D
DEVEAN GEORGE: With his athleticism, he should be better. He seems lost
much of the time (though not nearly as lost as Samaki Walker). George is the kind of guy who
might show more game on another team. On the other hand, he would show less
ring.
Laker value:
C-
Non-Laker value: C+
WALKER: He's playing out of position as a back-to-the-basket center
in the Lakers' triangle offense. Of course, I'm not sure what his position
is.
Laker value:
D
Non-Laker value:
D
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum covers the NBA beat for the
magazine and is a regular contributor to
CNNSI.com.
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