July 9th: "Farmar Makes Good Impression" "Lakers are close to a deal with Shammond Williams"

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Farmar Makes Good Impression
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
July 9, 2006

His final semester at UCLA ended a few weeks ago, but it looked as if Jordan Farmar had been doing a little studying on the side.

The Lakers draft pick showed the same poise he had in two seasons with UCLA and, an added bonus for Lakers followers, demonstrated some decent knowledge of the triangle offense Saturday in the Summer Pro League at the Pyramid of Long Beach.....................

snippet:

The Lakers are close to a deal with Shammond Williams, a 6-1 guard who has played with six NBA teams. The Lakers are trying to complete financial discussions with Williams' pro team in Spain.

Williams, 31, has career averages of 6.1 points and 2.5 assists with Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, Denver, Orlando and New Orleans. He last played in the NBA in the 2003-04 season.

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Briefs: Farmar tops Lakers in SPL debut

LONG BEACH - The Lakers lost their Summer Pro League opener, 89-87, to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon at the Pyramid.

The Lakers' top draft pick, Jordan Farmar from UCLA, made a successful debut and second-round draft pick J.R. Pinnock impressed in scoring 16 points, hitting 6 of 9 shots from the field.

Farmar finished with a team-high 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 30 minutes. He earned praise from coach Kurt Rambis for playing within the triangle offense.

"He seemed like he came in and had been studying it or something because he knows what he's doing," Rambis said.

Farmar said: "To me, it's pretty much basic principles. One thing triggers a series of events, and I just get it."

Andrew Bynum had 12 points and five rebounds but played only 20 minutes because of foul trouble.

- Ross Siler

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Opener a mixed bag
Farmar shines while Bynum struggles in loss
BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - The Lakers' summer-league season opened Saturday with Andrew Bynum picking up a foul 38seconds into the first quarter and ended with an 89-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at the Pyramid.

In between, Jordan Farmar made a successful Lakers debut and second-round draft pick J.R. Pinnock impressed in scoring 16 points, making 6 of 9 shots, and played ahead of Von Wafer down the stretch.

Bynum has been a regular at the Lakers' practice facility since the end of the playoffs, but didn't have the chance to show his progress Saturday. He finished with 12 points and five rebounds but played only 20 minutes because of foul trouble.

"He made at least two or three silly fouls, getting himself up in the air or coming down on somebody's back trying to block a shot," Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis said. "He can't give them those. Those are the ones we've been trying to stress to him. There are some situations where people drive and you just take it on the chest. And there are other ones where you go up and block. He has to learn the difference between the two."

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Looking to Find Some Loose Changes
July 9, 2006

Showing what anyone knows, the locks weren't all locked up and the NBA's balance of power, which wasn't supposed to change much this summer, did.

While still waiting for Allen Iverson and his shoe to drop, here's what we've seen to date:

The Lakers kiss their salary-cap strategy goodbye.

This must have been the summer of their discontent for them to make their big move for … Vladimir Radmanovic?

They will insist nothing has changed, but everything has. The Lakers are no longer hoping to sign a star in 2008 but trying to improve, one veteran's exception at a time.

For two seasons they carefully preserved cap space, first for 2007, then 2008. It cost them Antonio Daniels last summer, but that's the point. Does anyone think the season would have been a lot different with Daniels?

The key was bearing the pain, but that was hard for owner Jerry Buss, who had such high hopes two seasons ago, giving Rudy Tomjanovich a $6-million salary, which was what he paid Phil Jackson — the first time around — who won three titles for them.

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Slaughter's pro chances require defensive stance

UNION-TRIBUNE
July 9, 2006

LONG BEACH – Marcus Slaughter's introduction to professional basketball has been humbling.

First, he went undrafted. Now, he's gone unrecognized.

San Diego State's expatriate forward probably left campus prematurely, but he certainly deserved a better fate than the statisticians accorded him in his Pro Summer League debut yesterday afternoon.

Slaughter's box score line showed two missed field goals, two missed free throws and oddly omitted the one basket he actually made – a nifty reverse layup indicative of rare agility.

No matter. If Slaughter is to land a job with the Los Angeles Lakers, it will be because of his stops rather than his points.

“In college, you come in and you're a scorer,” Slaughter said. “Then, when you get to the next level, they've got like five people who can score 20 points – especially on this team when you've got Kobe Bryant.

“They're not looking for somebody to score. (Lakers coach) Phil Jackson is looking for somebody who can run the offense, somebody who plays great defense and just follows the game plan. That's what I'm trying to do. My whole philosophy of scoring has changed.”

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

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