Survival of the Fittest

Natural selection is the mechanism of evolution – changes in the condition of the environment determine how well a particular species survives. Their survival is dependent upon their characteristics; species lacking traits that are more suitable for survival become less prolific. The game of basketball has evolved from the days of James Naismith’s peach baskets to the high-flying, fast paced game it is today.

With that change has come the need for new skill sets, fresh characteristics necessary for survival and success. Although history favors teams with a dominant big man, after watching Brevin Knight, Raymond Felton, and Chris Paul decimate the Lakers for 50 points and 31 assists, I am resolutely convinced that this team does not need the inside presence that most Laker fans have been harping for. The NBA game has shifted towards a style of play that offensively stresses high percentage and quick movement of the ball to create open looks for shooters and cutters.

No one doubts the greatness of big players such as Abdul-Jabbar, Duncan, O’Neil, Chamberlain, and the lot, however, with truly dominant big men coming along once a generation of fans, the Lakers must adapt to this new style of basketball to ensure sustained long-term success – a success that comes without being handcuffed to the need for dominance on the inside and allows the Lakers’ first round draft pick, Andrew Bynum, to develop at his own pace to greatness. The Lakers organization has always been leaders of the basketball world and must be innovative in this new basketball revolution.

It is for this sustained success that the Lakers priority should be to get a quality point guard at the trade deadline. With a capable point guard, everyone on the team becomes better both offensively and defensively.

Considering defense was by far the weakest link for the 2004-2005 Lakers, and seemingly is the same problem for the current 05-06 group, the importance of the point guard on defense should be the first point of emphasis. As our own CL member Sky has schooled me, individual defensive skill is imperative to good team defense. The point guard must be able to stay with his man or the entire team suffers a domino effect of adjustment. Weak defense at the 1 creates a constant stagnation on defense with everyone trying to adjust because the player that just got by the point guard can now penetrate and create offense for his team. Frequently, this will lead to foul trouble for our “bigs,” as is evidenced by Chris Mihms’ foul issues of the past, because they are trying to compensate for the defensive breakdown caused by the point guard’s inability to play solid defense. Improvement at the 1 clearly will increase Chris Mihm’s playing time because he will be out of foul trouble and will give him the opportunity to be more consistent on both sides of the ball. The same defensive aid will be given to Kwame Brown and will allow for Laker big men to stay with their assignment.

Any cursory knowledge of basketball will show that the point guard is the general on the floor, making sure what the coach wants done is executed. He must know the strengths and weaknesses of his teammates and a natural leader. Point guards must also be unselfish, not shoot-first players. With this unselfishness comes the ability to evenly distribute the ball and create defensive problems for the other team – who are they supposed to guard if the point guard is distributing the ball evenly enough to have six teammates in double digits? With a good point guard, open shots are an often occurrence due to this distribution, leading to increased shooting percentages, and significantly lightening the load of Kobe Bryant, as other teammates would be constantly involved.

Look at the impact MVP Steve Nash has had on his teammates shooting percentages last season: Amare Stoudamire – 47.5% to 55.9%, Shawn Marion – 44.0% to 47.6%, Joe Johnson – 43.0% to 46.1%. With the distribution of the ball that Steve Nash has provided for the Suns, other players on the team are getting open looks at the basket and are converting successfully.

The Hornets have had a similar turnaround in field goal percentage, as well. A sorry team last year, losing over 60 games, this year’s squad has significantly improved, already surpassing their 18-win total from last year. Their biggest offseason acquirement? Chris Paul. The rookie PG has aided the franchise in turning the corner; averaging 16 points, nearly 6 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, Paul has added a new dimension to Byron Scott’s team, and has had a very similar effect on his teammates as Nash had with the Suns. Again, looking at teammate shooting percentage improvements: David West – 43.6% to 51.2%, Kirk Snyder – 37.2% to 43.7%. And 3 point shooting percentages? Speedy Claxton – up to 25.6% from 18%, Rasual Butler – up to 41.3% from 37.3%, neither one of whom was considered a three point threat before.

As all Laker fans witnessed tonight, Paul’s ability to knife through the defense and get the ball to the open man, constantly keeping players involved (six Hornets scored in double figures), kept the Laker defense on their heels all night. Paul has been doing this to opponents all season, so Laker fans shouldn’t feel as though they are the only impotent defensive team in the league, but this is a glimpse of what could be for the Laker organization upon acquiring a talented point guard.

This is by no means an indictment of Smush Parker (Aaron McKie, on the other hand ..); rather, this just shows how much more a need for a quality starting point guard the Lakers need right now in comparison to an inside presence. Its funny – when a 7 footer gets a great dish from a penetrating guard and has no one impeding his path to the basket, he’ll make that dunk at a high rate. Yes, even Kwame Brown can.

For the Lakers to significantly improve their roster, the most obvious change must be made at the point guard position rather than with the inside presence. This change literally will make everyone else on both sides of the ball better. To survive in this new basketball environment (and in the playoff hunt), the Lakers must pick up the necessary characteristic – a quick, solid point guard – to be naturally selected for success.

- bhatta

What should the Lakers primary concern be at the trade deadline - a beast in the middle or a floor general to initiate the offense? Share your thoughts and discuss this editorial in our ClubLakers.com forums!