To say that the Lakers fans are frustrated with how Tarik Black has been treated in terms of role and playing time so far this season would drastically understate that mentality. While Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass are lumbering on the interior with a severe lack of upside, fans harken back to last season when Black was a breath of fresh air for this team and showed a ton of promise.
That it’s now hard for Black to even see the floor on most nights out for the Lakers is not only frustrating, but also quite baffling. Black didn’t light up the box score last season and, frankly, the same can be said of his limited work this season. However, he brings an energy to the frontcourt that is often lacking for LA and does so consistently.
While Black may not be a future starter for the Lakers frontcourt as they continue down the road of rebuilding in the wake of several poor seasons and not the retirement of Kobe Bryant, but he has shown the makings of a potential valuable rotation piece. However, whether he is that type of player or not is never going to be realized if he’s not given the proper opportunities. When he has been given those opportunities, though, he’s been just as promising as he was last year.
Next: Anthony Brown