May 3rd, Payton at the point

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Lakers stuck with Payton at the point

By Terry Brown
NBA Insider

Monday, May 3
Updated: May 3
9:23 AM ET

The question isn't whether Gary Payton should be starting the fourth quarter for the Los Angeles Lakers, but rather if he should be starting at all.
"It's very frustrating," Payton said in the San Antonio Express News after shooting 1-for-8 in Sunday night's loss to the Spurs, "because I know I can go back at the kid. I've been playing against (Parker) since he's been in the league. When he gets going, you have to go back and get him. You've got to make him play. He gets tired, too. But we don't do that. We don't go back and get him so he can get in foul trouble."
But which kid is he talking about?
Houston Rocket point guard Steve Francis simply went over him in the first round.
Steve Francis
First-round stats: 19.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 7.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 42.9% shooting
Gary Payton
First-round stats: 8.4 ppg, 3 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.6 spg, 37% shooting
San Antonio Spur point guard Tony Parker is going around him in the second round.
Tony Parker
Second-round stats: 20 ppg, 4 rpg, 9 apg, 3 spg, 42.1% shooting
Gary Payton
Second-round stats: 4 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg, 0 spg, 12.5% shooting


Gary Payton
Point Guard
Los Angeles Lakers

Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
FT%
82
14.6
4.2
5.5
.471
.714
And does anyone really think he'd be doing any better against Mike Bibby or Steve Nash or Sam Cassell in this bracket?
Or Jason Kidd, Baron Davis and Stephon Marbury in the other?
As columnist Bill Plaschke wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "Can we finally conclude that when the Lakers claimed to have found two championship answers last summer, they were only half right? While the stark differences between Malone and Payton make for good locker-room drama, at this point, one wonders if it would have been better to see Malone show up last summer with someone else.
"Say, Tyronn Lue."
Sure, after making nine all-star teams and being named the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year, Payton is going to the Hall of Fame. He's been named to eight all-defensive first teams, seven All-NBA teams and two gold-winning Olympic teams.
But so far in the playoffs, it can be argued that he is the absolute worst point guard in the field.
This is how he ranks in the field of 16 starting point guards in the postseason:
Scoring: Last
Field goal percentage: 15th (18-for-54)
Rebounds: 13th
Assists: 11th
Steals: 10th
It gotten so bad that Phil Jackson started benching him the fourth quarter of games against Houston. Payton then complained about playing time, the offense and his role on the team.
It was the same thing Sunday night. After the game, while Karl Malone took the blame for the loss in the locker room, Payton was pointing out that he wasn't getting any help from his teammates.
But that may be the only reason why the 14-year veteran is still playing.
Off the bench, the Lakers are pathetic.
Derek Fisher: One assist per game to 1.5 turnovers while shooting 37.1% from the field.
Devean George: Five points in first three playoff games.
Rick Fox: Three points in the first five games and DNP in Game 6.
Kareem Rush: Two turnovers and two fouls in nine minutes Sunday night and yet to make a pass that hasn't been deflected.
There is no one to start in place of Payton at point guard. There is no one to replace Kobe Bryant at shooting guard if he is to run the point. There is nowhere to hide the Glove and his gaudy career accomplishments.


Tyronn Lue
Point Guard
Orlando Magic

Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
FT%
76
10.5
2.5
4.2
.433
.771
Payton is going to start Wednesday night for the second game against the Spurs because, well, the Washington Wizards signed Tyronn Lue as a free agent in 2001 and the Orlando Magic picked him up in 2003.
Lue wouldn't be able to stop Parker completely, but he could keep up with him. He'd understand his role within the triangle and in the locker room. And the Lakers would expect and adjust to Lue scoring seven or eight points per game like Payton is doing now.
But Payton missed four shots in the paint Sunday night and committed two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter.
"Gary will find his way too," Phil Jackson said in the Los Angeles Daily News of his veterans. "They'll find their way as they go through this one. Having a game against them gives them a little expertise they can work with for the next one."
Well, here's a little expertise just in case anybody has missed it.
So far in the playoffs, the Lakers are operating at a devastating deficit in statistical contribution at the starting point guard position.
They are giving up, on average per game, 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
This isn't Ron Harper and two buckets of ice filling in as the Lakers win their first NBA title of this generation. This isn't A.C. Green or Horace Grant being reclaimed off the scrap heap to go along for the ride. This isn't Brian Shaw being invited on the bench for his veteran wisdom and a calm, cool bucket every once in awhile.
Or is it?
Next year or the year after that or the year after that, Payton will officially retire as, perhaps, one of the 10 best point guards in the history of the game.
But to say that he is best point guard on the Laker team today doesn't mean much at all.

 

[SweetD]

I could see Malon going back to Utah or he might even land in Denver. I think that would be best

 

[George O'Brien]

I could see Malon going back to Utah or he might even land in Denver. I think that would be best

Last night on Sports Center, Malone really sounded like he is ready to retire. It was after a tough loss, but unless he is going to get a ring -- what's the point? I would put the odds he retires at 4 to 1.

 

[elindholm]

I would put the odds he retires at 4 to 1.

Which way, for or against? And are you already assuming he won't get his ring this year?

He could play for the scoring title, of course. That might not be enough motivation, but then again, it might. For all the work he has put in over the years, he'd have to think carefully about letting that goal get away, especially if he doesn't win a ring.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

I'm sorry, but as much as I hate to listen to GP whine, he still is a very good point guard. I tend to believe that he is good, just not on the Lakers squad. If you put GP on a team like Denver he would be very effective. GP needs to have the ball in his hands in order to be effective. On the Lakers, he is at best the 3rd or 4th option.
If the Lakers want to win this series, they better find a way to dump the ball into O'neil's hands just about everytime down the floor.

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm sorry, but as much as I hate to listen to GP whine, he still is a very good point guard. I tend to believe that he is good, just not on the Lakers squad. If you put GP on a team like Denver he would be very effective. GP needs to have the ball in his hands in order to be effective. On the Lakers, he is at best the 3rd or 4th option.
If the Lakers want to win this series, they better find a way to dump the ball into O'neil's hands just about everytime down the floor.

I didn't watch the game, but the reports said that the Lakers had a huge number of turnovers trying to get the ball to Shaq.

As for GP, he will have no trouble finding work although most playoff teams already have guys they like. (Boston likes Chucky Atkins - go figure). One weird idea would be him going to the Clippers.