Fisher says the bench “will be OK”

November 25th, 2009, 9:31 am · 6 Comments · posted by JANIS CARR, OCREGISTER.COM

Derek Fisher often spends extra hours after practice working with the bench players. They shoot, they run, they talk.

But are the reserves learning anything from the veteran guard? No, not by looking at recent box scores.

Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar are in an offensive funk, Josh Powell hasn’t produced the numbers he was posting early on, DJ Mbenga hasn’t scored a point in the past three games — he didn’t even get off the bench against the Knicks and Adam Morrison is well, Adam Morrison.

Not even Shannon Brown’s dazzling dunks can hide the short-comings of the bench.

But Fisher said no one should worry about the bench. This sort of low-numbers production is going to happen on a talented team, he said. But it doesn’t always make it easier.

“We all try to keep a bead on each other. It’s a natural thing,” Fisher said. “At times, if they see me at times struggling or going through a stretch where I’m not doing so well, they will pull for me and tell me to stay with it.

“It’s just something that happens. Even though we are at the top level, guys still want to perform well, they still want to play. We understand that we have a very deep team and not everybody is going to get to play. Not everybody is going to get a lot of shots. When you’re in the midst of it, though, it’s difficult to deal with.

“Those guys will be OK, though.”

Always the voice of reason.

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Niko says:

November 25, 2009 at 9:38 am

I think Sasha needs to start taking better shots. He somehow feels obligated to shoot it every time he touches it. I think Mbenga is rubbing off on him.

When the subs are in, you don’t see the ball moving like you normally would when the starters are in. So maybe you can start there.

J-Dizzle says:

November 25, 2009 at 11:13 am

He’s a shooter. He needs better shot selection and someone needs to teach him it though. He missed one open one last night unfortunately. As far as ball movement goes, that’s Farmar’s fault. It showed last night as well. Pissed me off too. He seems to think he’s Iverson or something.
- Niko says:
  
  November 25, 2009 at 11:20 am
  
  And then they both wonder why they dont see playing time.

urdoo says:

November 25, 2009 at 1:51 pm

You expect NBA players to improve. Both Farmar and Sasha have totally regressed… no new moves, no strengths, same body type, etc. They both play like clueless rookies right now.

J-Dizzle says:

November 25, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Can’t improve without the PT to do it. Sasha though is what he is. He has a particular role and the Lakers need to better utilize him for what he is. Farmar on the otherhand is a total bonehead and unwilling to play his position the way it’s meant to be played. He overhandles the ball, dribbles into trouble often and takes up pathetic errant shots while eating up clock time. Has plenty of speed and doesn’t know how to use it and doesn’t try hard to play defense. He likes to think he’s Steve Nash but without the skills.

Jon C says:

November 27, 2009 at 10:16 pm

I agree with Dizzle. Farmar strikes me as a guy who knows he is in a bit over his head, so he tries too hard to do things he really can’t do.

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