Which LA Lakers Point Guard Should Kobe Bryant Play with the Most?

The 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers have a three-headed monster at point guard. As a result, one can only speculate which one of them will be best suited to play alongside Kobe Bryant when he returns from his horrific Achilles tear.

The five-time champion has played with Jordan Farmar, Steve Blake and Steve Nash previously in his career, and each combination has affected the Purple and Gold’s overall play.

It’s worth noting that Bryant was paired with these individuals under different coaching staffs, which had an impact on the Lakers’ results as well.

We will look at previous performances with Bryant and these floor generals. From there, we will try to establish with which point guard the two-time NBA Finals MVP should play the most.

 

Jordan Farmar

Jordan Farmar was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2006-07 to 2009-10 under Phil Jackson. Those teams were consistently among the league’s top 10 offenses by virtue of Jackson’s famed triangle offense.

The system relied on reads and reactions based on the way defenders are operating on the floor. For instance, if a player is overplaying the man on the wing, the triangle offense might call for the big man to run into the high post for a catch while the wing player cuts backdoor. This will prompt a quick pass from the free-throw area for a score and finish.

Watch below as Pau Gasol executed this with Kobe Bryant, except they did this from the low-post area:



This is pertinent when discussing Farmar’s pairing with Bryant because the triple-post system does not require a true point guard. The philosophy is based on the adjustments of all five players on the floor as opposed to the playmaking skills of a floor general.

Consequently, Bryant and Farmar had their fair share of one-on-one opportunities under Jackson and capitalized off them. Farmar was...

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