Nick Young didn’t join the Los Angeles Lakers to play defense. He signed in Hollywood to shoot.
That much was clear from Day 1, the moment Young put pen to paper. For more than a half-decade, he’s been known for his (inefficient) scoring and nothing else. Why would he change now? He wouldn’t. And he won’t.
When Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily Newstold Young that the Lakers weren’t going to be playing much defense this upcoming season, the volume-shooting guard essentially concurred.
“I guess we’re going to just run and gun,” he responded.
Well folks, there you have it. The answer to all of Los Angeles’ problems. Running and gunning is what they should have been doing all along. You know, with a 34-year-old Kobe Bryant, 39-year-old Steve Nash and 33-year-old Pau Gasol. Running a fast-break heavy offense with them is possible, right?
Eh.
Mike D’Antoni undoubtedly began foaming at the mouth upon hearing Young utter those words. For most of his head coaching career, he’s implemented an uptempo offense, a system that helped turn Amar’e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson into superstars, and elevate Nash’s status even further.
Those days are gone, though. These Lakers aren’t built to run, this version of Nash included. They’re old, un-athletic, old, devoid of a lethal transition threat and, well, old. Running and gunning then isn’t an option. Living and dying by structured half-court sets—that’s their only option.
Now doesn’t that sound like fun? I didn’t think so. Especially for Young, a habitual chucker who only knows how to operate under an unconditional green light.
Which brings me to my next point: Kobe.
There may not be enough shots to go around in Los Angeles this season. Kobe is known for attempting an inordinate amount of field goals, as is Young. Combining the two could prove detrimental.
Or perhaps not.
Swaggy P came to the Lakers for a reason. We know it wasn’t to play defense, but it was to play next to Kobe, the franchise superstar and future Hall of Famer. He’s not about to take shots away from the Black Mamba (right?).
Instead, the Lakers should worry about fitting him into their half-court scheme. Using him in transition as a spot-up shooter or even trailing slasher is obviously preferable. Quick possessions call for quick shots, and if there’s one thing Young can do, it’s shoot quickly.
Tinseltown isn’t poised to embrace a seven-seconds-or-less blueprint, though. Fifteen-seconds-or-less even seems like a stretch at this point. Kobe is working his way back from a ruptured Achilles, and Nash and Gasol are coming off injury-riddled campaigns of their own. Sprinting up and down the court any more than they have to isn’t likely to be recommended.
So Young will have to holster that itchy trigger finger of his more than usual. Not only will he cede shots to Kobe, he’ll be operating within a half-court oriented system.
Unless, of course, the Lakers decide to throw caution to the wind and run like all their players are five years younger. Swaggy P would feel right at home. Kobe, Nash and Gasol? Not so much.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
