Lakers vs. Celtics: Winter Encourages Jackson To Look To His Bench
By Roland Lazenby | NBA Finals, Boston Celtics, Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers face a mismatch at small forward in their battle with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
If you’re a Lakers fan, you’re also hoping to see them rebound better.
That’s why Lakers consultant Tex Winter has asked coach Phil Jackson to think about using the services of deep subs Trevor Ariza, Ira Newble and Chris Mihm.
Winter made the suggestion Saturday as he and Jackson huddled at practice.
“Phil indicated that he’s going to stick with what he’s got for now,” Winter said.
Ariza, who spent much of the second half of the season out with an injured foot, is now back practicing hard and looking absolutely great, Winter explained. He added that the same is true for both Newble and Mihm, who likewise has battled injuries.
“All three of them look really sharp, like they’re ready to play,” Winter said.
At 6-8 with impressive athleticism, the 22-year-old Ariza could give the Lakers an option against Boston’s Paul Pierce, who played impressively throughout the playoffs.
Newble is a 6-7, 33-year-old veteran who appears to be a viable option for minutes, Winter said.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the 7-foot, 265-pound Mihm, who has played sparingly for the past two seasons due to injury.
Mihm is healthy and ready to go for the first time in months and could prove to be a big help as the Lakers try to hold the strong, physical Celtics off the boards.
“They all could probably help us right now,” Winter said. “But Phil is reluctant to make changes now.”
Certainly it might seem awkward to introduce any one of the three into the proceedings in Boston.
However, once the series swings to Los Angeles Tuesday night it might not be totally out of the question for Jackson to use one or more of the three reserves.
The Lakers coach has been long known for listening to Winter’s counsel, then taking time to make up his mind on how to proceed. After all, Winter, the developer of the triangle offense, has been assisting and advising Jackson through each of the Hall of Fame coach’s nine championship seasons in Chicago and Los Angeles.
The series itself could eventually dictate Jackson’s choices. If the Lakers continue to struggle on the boards and to struggle defending the physical Pierce, then the subs might be an obvious answer.
At 6-8, Ariza has the length and quickness to trouble Pierce. Ariza was acquired early in the season to give Los Angeles just the kind of lengthy, athletic defender that would be needed in a championship series.
His injury, however, slowed his adjustment to the intricacies of the triangle offense, and that may be a factor in Jackson not using him. “Phil likes the way the current group has developed offensively,” Winter said. “And that’s certainly true. They have all grown in their roles.”
When he’s been healthy, Mihm has shown himself to be a serviceable NBA center, one capable of providing minutes against Boston’s strong and active frontcourt.
Roland Lazenby is the author of The Show, The Inside Story Of The Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers In the Words Of Those Who Lived It.
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I think it might be too late of a stage to call on Mihm and Newble, who haven’t played a minute in the post-season. Ariza, who played only a handful of garbage-time minutes, would be a risk as well. I think the Lakers will be fine tonight.
I think the Lakers will be fine … next season.
… but seriously,
‘Rebounding Differential’ is what’s won the first two games of this series for the Celtics.
Now that the scene is shifting to the West Coast, expect the Lakers to outrebound the Celtics and get themselves back into this series.
If not, this series is going to be over lick-a-dee-split and it’s going to provide a war-chest of Motivation for the Lakers next year, during their ‘Season of Destiny’ (i.e. 70 Wins & the 2008-2009 championship).