No NBA team has ever complained about having too many seven-footers. Piecing together a rotation in which those seven-footers coexist effectively is a different question altogether.
It's a difficult one, too, especially for a coach who privileges speed and shooting over size—and for a team that struggled to make the most of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol last season. The central challenge for the 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers isn't just about replacing Howard. It's about putting his replacement in a position to succeed alongside Gasol.
That replacement of course is 31-year-old center Chris Kaman. Though Kaman only has one All-Star appearance (in 2010) to show for his 10-year career, his ability to fill Howard's shoes shouldn't be measured in accolades alone.
What Kaman lacks in dominance, he makes up for with the specific skills he brings to head coach Mike D'Antoni's system, and you can take D'Antoni's word for it according to the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina: “I don’t traditionally love two bigs together. They have nice chemistry and they’re skilled.”
For his p ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Stephen Babb
Why LA Lakers Best Bet Is to Start Pau Gasol and Chris Kaman Together
October 11th, 2013 by Stephen Babb Leave a reply »
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