SHOOTING GUARD
Starter – Kobe Bryant, 30 minutes/game
Backup – Nick Young, 25 minutes/game
Reserve – Jodie Meeks, 20 minutes/game
Mar 30, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jodie Meeks (20) reacts after the Lakers made a basket against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Lakers defeated the Kings 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The minutes/per game might look a bit skewed on this one, but given the current roster situation, the Lakers don’t have many small forward options. As a result, Kobe and Young will be splitting lots of time at the small forward position. Regardless of the roster situation, Bryant can not play the 38 minutes a game he played last season. We saw what the result was and regardless if the Achilles injury was a direct result of too many minutes, his body was breaking down before that final straw.
The Lakers did the right thing in bringing in another shooting guard in Young. Young is starter on most any other team in the league, meaning he can take a huge load off Bryant. He’ll spend a decent amount of time at the small forward position, but Meeks is also a more than capable backup who will give many minutes this year. The three of them will have a big role in this year’s squad as this is likely the deepest and most talented position on the team.