The Lakers are a team with plenty of offensive options; the number and calibre of which allow them to explore different avenues for success. However, despite the various forms of implementation currently open to Los Angeles, one reality must remain constant—the ball must be kept in Steve Nash's hands.
Though the Lakers have one of the game's premiere isolation scorers in Kobe Bryant and are attempting to master the art of the Princeton offense—which relies on big men to do a majority of the passing from inside the post—Nash must be the team's instinctive end-all.
Because as easy as the Princeton offense is to understand, Los Angeles is complicating it out of necessity. With so many weapons, so many capable scorers in one vicinity, the Lakers cannot simply rely on one generalized offensive scheme.
Instead, the team must play up to the strengths of each individual player at different points, which calls for them to establish a balance of both new and old tactics.
And according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, that's exactly what they intend to do:
Right there on the Lakers' practice court, the old and the new were blended together like some sort of strange brew stirred by invisible hands from above. On one court, assistant coach Steve Clifford ran a group of players through some set plays culled from the team’s 2011-12 offense. On another, new offensive assistant Eddie Jordan ran the drills incorporating concepts from his trusty Princeton offense.
It is a mixture the Lakers must get right, or what is intended to be a soothing elixir for this reloaded roster will taste more like a rancid brew. Too much old, too little new, or any other combination that doesn’t heat the porridge just right will turn the Lakers— championship contenders again—into center stage for a basketball revolt.
Simply put, the Lakers' new-look of...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
