Jackson’s Experiment Continues…

Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson continues to mix up the lineup during exhibition season, running Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Vladimir Radmanovic in and out, waiting to find a winning combination. Odom, for example, started at the Lakers’ first two exhibitions but came off the bench on Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings (in which the Lakers triumphed). As for the recently mended Bynum, he started against the Kings but came off the bench for the first two exhibition games. Ariza started the first two games but came of the bench Sunday, while Radmanovic started Sunday and remained a reserve the first two games. The only players who have started in all three exhibition games are Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol.

Jackson told the L.A. Times, I’m alternating a few guys out there together, see how they play.” Bryant backed his coach, telling the Times, “Phil is still playing with the lineup. It’s tough to really know what that lineup is going to look like, or what we want it to be while he still tinkers with it.” Odom is in the final year of his contract yet when asked about his preference to start he remained neutral about Jackson’s lineup experiment. “I’m not the coach. It don’t mater. I’m comfortable in my own skin,” Odom told the Times, concluding, “Everybody in this league knows I can play.” Does Jackson?

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