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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 25, 2006
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It's no secret who has been the least effective Laker in this series vs. Utah. It's the guy with a +/- that is a combined -32 over the last two games. Jordan Farmar is killing the Lakers.
So what do you do? You're Phil Jackson right now and you know that Utah's gameplan is to get Fisher two early fouls, so that they can play virtually 5 on 4 basketball since Farmar hasn't a shot in hell of guarding Williams. Fisher just picked up his 2nd. Do you:
A. Stick with Farmar. Show the young kid that you still have confidence in him, but risk another game of negative production from him. Or...
B. Bench him. Go with Sasha and Kobe in the backcourt, along with Luke at SF, using a trio of Luke, Lamar, and Kobe to bring the ball up and set up the offense. Risk here is that Farmar loses even more confidence and may not be effective for the remainder of the playoffs.
What do you do?
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 25, 2006
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It's a tough call, but I think I stick with him, although given a very short leash. If he's as ineffective in the first half as he has been, he's done and I use the Kobe/ Sasha backcourt when Fish is not in the game.
Farmar is terrible defensively, we all know that, and that's not changing, but I think his offense will come around on the home floor. Farmar is an extremely hard worker and I bet he's working on his game as I type this. He'll bounce back in game 5 and knock down a couple long balls off the bench.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 22, 2008
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Nori, you have highlighted what is obviously shaping up to be the key dilemna in this series, but I'd like to offer up one other radical option to possibly consider - a complete 360 on coventional wisdom:
Give Farmar the start on D-Will, at home on Friday night, (in what would be the ultimate vote of confidence) and see how it goes early, knowing that the move would obviously be something that Fisher would have to go along with and would do nothing to errode Fisher's confidence in himself. I see it as kind of being a win-win situation: if Jordan rises to the occasion and somehow manages to stay in front of WIlliams while holding his own offensively, the problem is automatically corrected...if Farmar struggles early and fails in the assignment, you give him the early hook and send Fisher in knowing that at least you made the best effort to show your faith and confidence in the kid in a big spot. What is there to lose? It would be early enough in the game where it really couldn't possibly affect the game's outcome...Fisher would be impervious to any implied slight - he'd ultimately get his minutes in any event while avoiding any chance of picking up any quick fouls to start the game.
This move might also (hopefully) have the added benefit of throwing Utah a little curve ball and perhaps the fresh look would give D-Will pause and throw him off a little.
I don't - it's probably a stupid idea, but thought it worth just throwing out there anyway.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 12, 2006
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Farmar starting? Are you crazy? Sorry man but this is the playoffs we don't have time to fix mistakes.
I personally think play him lest minutes. Throw him there for a couple of minutes to give D Williams different look on offense. But ultimately have D Fish or Vujacic playing.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 1, 2007
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Farmar has been playing aweul in the playoffs, but we need to stick with him. Phil will stick with him, because he has always believed in letting his players play through their slumps. I watched this kid all year, and I know he has it in him. Deron is schooling him left and right, but I think after 4 games, he should be getting some good looks at him. If anything, give him some hard ass fouls like those hackers do on the Jazz to Kobe and show him that he's not going to back down. I mean who cares if Farmar gets in foul trouble , right? Just make sure the fouls are hard enough that Williams doesn't finish. He is awful with his 3's in the playoffs, but I have confidence that he'll come around. Go Lakes.
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 30, 2008
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I agree with quicksilver. I am a firm believer in the way barkley and rodman conducted themselves on the court. Their philosophy was if you want me in foul trouble im gonna make you pay by hurting you. That what they did and i'm a firm believer in it
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:May 30, 2007
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Turiaf gave a hard foul and look where it got him. Barkley and Rodman didn't have to worry about getting a flagrant I or II called on them. Layups weren't permitted in playoff basketball back then, so every player expected a hard foul when going to the bucket.
I think that Farmar shouldn't be forgotten on the end of the bench, but he also shouldn't be given any increased PT in Game 5. He should get some minutes in the second half with the Lakers up by doubl digits, and then a close eye should be kept on him and he should be taken out if he doesn't break out of his slump. When the Lakers return to Utah for Game 6, then give Farmar 10-12 minutes and see if he can find the range again.
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 30, 2008
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You got a point there cowboy. Put in farmar and mbenga let deron drive then have mbenga give him a hard foul. Not hurt deron just let him now we aint playing get the flagrant1 give him the free throws next time deron will think twice before driving like that. It's dirty i know Jazz fans will probaly rip me for it but thats the way it was played when i was playing.
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