Jackson, Lakers Hope to give Crittenton more Play Time

With five guards, Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been hard pressed to get Javaris Crittenton into the game, but all that could change soon, according to an article published Friday, Jan. 11, on the Press Enterprise Web site.

Crittenton, a  six-foot-five shooting guard who was recruited this year from Georgia Tech, has been averaging 3.2 points and playing an estimated eight minutes per game. While his shooting average is a little more than 50 percent, Crittenton feels confident that he can be successful in any position Jackson decides to put him in. With Sasha Vujacic was sidelined four games ago with a injured ankle, Crittenton was put in as Kobe Bryant’s right-hand man - a role that has him continually on his toes, according to the Press Enterprise report.

“He’s been having me get out on the floor and run,” Crittenton said of Byrant’s practice demands. “He’s like, ‘Go down the floor and run. Don’t touch the ball.’ He’s trying to teach me to be versatile, and it’s teaching me to play without the ball. It’s good … it feels kind of bad at times because I want the ball in my hands.”

Although he’s only played in 16 games thus far this season, Crittenton is hopeful he will become a more significant player during the rest of the season and Coach Phil Jackson is confident that could be the case. Regardless, fans would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn’t make it out to at least one of the Lakers games this season. What are you waiting for? Get a pair of Lakers tickets right here at Stubhub.com!

Permalink - Posted in General on January 16, 2008 - Post a comment