Chapter 84: Experts Are Not Optimistic, Away Game Opener
Alright, here's the revamped version with a more casual, slangy vibe:
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So, the Lakers' coaching crew just locked in their 15-man squad for the new season, and yeah, even the injured Derek snagged a spot.
Centers: Shaquille, Greg Foster.
Power Forwards: Mark Madsen, Horace Grant, Robert Horry, Stanislav.
Small Forwards: Rick Fox, Devean George.
Shooting Guards: Kobe, Brian Shaw, Isaiah Rider, Mike.
Point Guards: Alaric, Ron Harper, Derek Fisher.
The media's throwing shade at the Lakers, with ESPN calling out three big issues.
First off, the power forward spot's a mess with old dudes and rookies, no real athleticism. Robert got hurt in preseason and is gonna miss the opener against the Trail Blazers.
Second, the offense is all about Kobe and Shaquille doing their solo thing, no third scorer in sight. Isaiah's struggling with the triangle offense, and the bench? Weak sauce.
Third, the point guard situation is a disaster. Besides two makeshift point guards who can't defend drives, there's just rookie Alaric, who looks lost in the NBA's fast pace. Small guards get picked on, just like Tyronn back in the day.
The media's not feeling Alaric. They think his summer league hype was just 'cause the competition was weak. Fans on the NBA site aren't holding their breath for him either.
If he's so good, why's he been riding the bench all preseason?
Everyone's got their doubts. Maybe he's inconsistent on offense, sucks in practice, or his defense is trash and gets exposed on the court. No one's thinking it might be 'cause Isaiah's salty about his role, and Phil's keeping Alaric as a secret weapon for the opener.
A reporter from Charlotte hit up Hornets' GM Bob Bass. This time, Bob didn't trash Alaric. At 70, Bob's not looking to make the same mistake twice.
Your enemies know you better than your friends.
Bob wants Alaric to flop, but he's got a feeling it's not that simple. A guy who can break the summer league scoring record would be a key player on the Hornets, not just a benchwarmer.
All the negative talk actually helped Alaric. Phil's already planning to use him a lot in the second quarter to speed up the offense. The Lakers can't just lean on Shaq and Kobe; others gotta step up.
During the Bulls' two three-peats, Michael and Scottie Pippen played a ton, but the role players were just as crucial. Phil likes to have his stars play more while spreading the minutes among the rest. On paper, their stats look average, but combined, they're just as good as the opponent's stars.
Phil's got no choice but to roll with Alaric at point guard. With Derek out for a while, Ron and Brian's combined offense isn't even close to an average starter on the other team.
Phil benched Alaric in preseason, but in regular training, he lets him go all out.
As long as Alaric, Isaiah, Devean, Robert, and Mark are on the court together, the bench offense isn't bad. They can counterattack fast and space the floor for pick-and-rolls in half-court sets. Defensively, they're solid against perimeter drives and won't get exposed easily.
After three weeks of tweaking, Isaiah's chilled out. He admits Alaric's better with the ball. During fast breaks, he can go hard after getting a pass, and in half-court sets, he can space out and wait for his shot, cutting in when the time's right. Fewer shots, but better accuracy.
Alright, let's give this a more laid-back, slangy twist:
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Phil tried throwing veteran Greg in as the backup center, which made the pick-and-roll game better, but dude's not as quick, tough, or good at rebounding as Mark.
Greg's a known name in the NBA. Since he joined the league in '90, he's always been a backup, averaging like 12 minutes a game.
He's 6'11" and weighs 240 pounds. He's been to the Finals twice with the Jazz, so he's got mad experience. He's great at setting screens to open up shots for his teammates, has a decent mid-range jumper, and can even hit the occasional three. Last season, he nailed five threes, and in the playoffs, he went 2-for-5 from deep.
After practice on the 29th, Phil had a one-on-one with Alaric.
"I'm gonna give you more minutes in the regular season. How long you stay on the court depends on how you play. Control the tempo on offense and be decisive when you drive. On defense, just stick to the point guard, especially when chasing through screens. I need you to help carry the load, got it?"
"Got it, Coach. I'll get it done," Alaric said, giving Phil a salute.
Phil chuckled and patted him on the back. "Don't overdo it tomorrow. We got a flight in the evening, so don't be late."
"Will do, thanks."
The Lakers' first game is an away match against the Trail Blazers. By now, David knows how to hype up rivalries. The Blazers got knocked out by the Lakers in the last quarter of last season, and their guys are itching for payback.
On the evening of the 30th, after dinner, Alaric headed to the airport and boarded the team's "Sky One" private jet with his teammates.
Playing in a big city has its perks, not just the exposure but also the comfort when flying to away games. NBA games often mean cross-time-zone flights, and bad rest can mess with your game. Not all teams have private jets; most use charters for away games.
The Lakers' black private jet is tricked out, with spacious and comfy seats. When powered on, the seats glow golden, super fancy, matching the purple and gold theme.
Inside, the jet's got circular seating arrangements. The tables are perfect for meals or holding cups. When unfolded, they make a big table for players to play cards or whatever.
There's a small storage cabinet between the sofa and the partition behind it, where you can stash stuff like tissues and personal stereos. On the other side, there's a first aid kit, all set up by the staff.
Alaric sat with Mark, chatting about the game on the way.
The scouting reports on the opposing players were handed out before boarding. The coaching staff wants everyone to know their opponents, even the bench guys should seriously check out the reports and ideally watch some game videos.
Mark was hyped, muttering, "I hope I get more minutes. Don't let my energy go to waste. I think I can handle Rasheed Wallace."
Mark's itching to play and compete. Alaric found him to be a bit of a maniac. During team practices, he often got assigned to guard Shaquille one-on-one, which thrilled him. He'd front and body up Shaquille, daring to play tough against him.
His style is a lot like Chuck Hayes, the 6'5" center from the Rockets in Alaric's previous life, just taller. It's wild that a non-offensive blue-collar player like Mark can last nine seasons in the league. He's even less offensive than Chuck, who occasionally showed a floater, free throws, and even had triple-doubles at his peak.
After checking out the scouting reports, Alaric felt he had a shot to break out. The Blazers' starting and backup point guards are small guards like him, which he doesn't sweat, not even Damon Stoudamire.