After two straight embarrassing losses, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni hinted at yesterday’s practice that changes to the starting lineup were a definite possibility.
The Lakers learned yesterday that point guard Steve Nash will be out at least two weeks with nerve irritation in his back as the 39-year-old point guard had to remove himself from Sunday night’s 113-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the New Orleans Pelicans in town tonight, the Lakers will implore their sixth different starting lineup according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA.com:
Jordan Hill will start tonight over Kaman. Meeks in for Nash
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 12, 2013
Steve Blake will slide over to the point guard spot in place of Nash as the Lakers look to end a two-game losing streak tonight at Staples Center. The backcourt of Blake and Meeks should be somewhat effective as both are averaging double-digit points and Meeks has been arguably the Lakers most improved player through eight games.
In the frontcourt, Hill will take over for Chris Kaman, who started the past two games. While Kaman put up some nice stats, D’Antoni wasn’t a fan of how slow he and Pau Gasol played together.
Against Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis, putting the physical and energetic Hill against him should hopefully slow him down after his monstrous 32 point, 12 rebound and 6 block game against the Lakers last Friday.
It isn’t clear if this starting lineup will stick beyond tonight’s game, but you can’t fault D’Antoni for trying to mix things up as the Lakers look to get back in the win column.
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ICYMI: Pau Gasol expressed frustrations about the Lakers season thus far.
