Josh Powell's overlooked skill
Lost in all the reasonable hubbub over the Laker bench's erratic play is the rather steady offense courtesy of reserve Josh Powell. 59% from the floor is impressive in and of itself, considering JP's game tends to consist more of pick and pop J's than dunks. But eyebrows are truly rising upward at a 60% success from behind the arc. Granted, he's only launched five treys, the sample size a mite small to label Powell the next Reggie Miller. That he's grown comfortable enough from that distance to average nearly one per game is hopefully a nice sign of things to come this season.
What I doubt these number mean, however, is steady minutes for Powell once Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are back. Their presences, along with Lamar Odom's, make PT tough sledding for Powell, who's simply not their caliber a player. And like many role players, the returns can be diminishing over increased minutes, anyway. Powell's not a particularly good passer and tends to suffer working off the dribble, meaning he doesn't create for himself or others. He's also the least effective defender among the team's true bigs and lacks the foot speed needed to check small forwards.
In other words, there are limits, which is generally for players generally considered limited, as most people would describe Powell.
But what may be Powell's best quality, on display this season and throughout his Laker career, is an ability to remain "ready." Powell's ability to enter a game- often without a specific awareness of when, or even if, that invite will come- and immediately find the game's flow is a crucial commodity for a role player. And it's not possessed by all of them. Among the Laker reserves, Powell and Shannon Brown are the most blessed with this particular skill set (with DJ Mbenga close behind). Only Brown has a permanent role in the rotation, but Powell's focus is a nice asset to have in the ol' hip pocket.
The secret to this success, in my estimation, is that Powell knows his role and, the occasional ill-advised postup attempt aside, doesn't try to do more than he's capable of. As Kurt Helin over at Forum Gold and Blue properly notes, J-Peazy is a professional. On more than a few occasions last season, BK and I noted how of any Laker, Josh Powell arguably made the most of his minutes. This campaign is kicking off like a mirror of the previous and it's worth taking a few minutes to acknowledge.
Plus, "Jesus" likes what he sees, which has got to count for something.
AK
Powell, the first time he played against the Cs, showed his mettle. When the bully boys were testing him he stood his ground stoically. You could see the Cs back off when he just stared at them, to use the phrase, with the unfeeling dull black eyes of a great white.
Posted by: p ang | November 08, 2009 at 02:59 PM
[josh powell slips a twenty to AK after the last game]; JP- Hey, see what you can do for me, huh? AK- [rubs finger along nose, 'the sting' style, nods]
Hey, you know what i think about trading for so and so, or dumping so and so? I think mitch kupchak is our gm. I can sleep easily, knowing that he is able to do his job without me having to worry at all. If he wants Captain jack, or the answer, or nenad krstic, hey, it's probably a good idea. If he doesn't, well, good, cause nenad krstic sucks.
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE LOVE
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: phred | November 08, 2009 at 03:07 PM
Josh Powell has always had offence it is his deffence that is suspect. It doesn't matter if you score 25 a night if you give them all back at the other end.
Posted by: Marco | November 08, 2009 at 03:46 PM
Yeah Josh Powell and Jordan Farmar really played the best game I've seen so from them in a laker uniform i thought. Being that the bigs will be back soon, its good to show PJ who the next guy should be coming off the bench. Sasha wasn't bad either. I think going foward we really have to focus on two things: 1)chemistry and 2)rebounding/defense. Look if Artest and Kobe can get on the same page then we are about to steamroll teams. And limiting 2nd chance opportunities along with an occasional steal or block doesn't hurt either. It's a matter of bending the others team will, making them give up. Kobe did that with ron the last game and the other guys picked up the remaining slack. But when the bigs get back it can't have this shaq,kobe, malone, payton feel. Its got to be natural, fluid, like they've been playing ball together for ages. We got to know artest's sweet spots and he needs to know everyone else's.
This is so funny because it's the beginning of the season guys! We are talking MVP in October and November. Talk about OCD. The truth is, the C's will lose, the Magic will also, so will the spurs, and so on. The Lakers need to worry about the Lakers! If our chemistry is good, really everything else should fall into place. Let's hope PJ has the right philosophy to get Kobe, Thrilla, and Bynum to buy into to sharing the ball and trusting each other. Obviously, LO and Gasol already do that a little too much.
By the way, what is going on with LO? He was kinda good then kinda bad, why does he stick out like a sore thumb when he plays bad? And DJ Mbenga, good job buddy, but STOP SHOOTING THE BALL. I know you're starting but don't ever shoot the ball unless its a dunk or a lay in, please. I know the coach can't actually say that but, i can. Play d and rebound only please, that's your specialty. Your not in the real lineup dude. Although I really applaud your effort. Some other guys on the bench should actually take notes.
Posted by: jayden24 | November 08, 2009 at 03:50 PM
AK
"He's also the least effective defender among any of the team's true bigs, without the foot speed needed to check small forwards"
If Luke Walton's foot speed allows him to check small forwards in this league can you HONESTLY suggest that Walton's foot speed is better than Powell's??
Powell has the ability to learn and improve enough to check some small forwards in this league because in my opinion he has the physical ability and more importantly the desire to play defense. It's up to the coaches to recognize this and teach and motivate Powell and maximize his strengths and potential while minimizing as you suggest "his limitations"
Josh Powell went out this summer and worked on his game...... that much is obvious and this helped him because when PREPARATION meets OPPORTUNITY.......that usually equals a better chance for success.
AK that's not something you're "blessed" with that's a learned characteristic both physical and mental preparation for the opportunity. I would bet you this trait has been furthered by his proximity to Kobe either through conversation or example.
To simply call it a "blessed" skill set minimizes the hard work that goes into being "ready". Instead of assuming it's simply a blessing......... try having a conversation with Josh, Shannon, and especially Mbenga and see what it takes to be "ready" for your opportunity at the pro level in basketball..........you may learn something.
Posted by: pfunk36 | November 08, 2009 at 04:01 PM
There are two players right now in the free agency that I like as players in the interim at a minimum salary namely: Bonzi Wells and Desmond Mason. Bonzi did well in China as an offensive players and also headcase job but I think PJ and Kobe could restrain him and help the 2nd unit. Another is Desmond Mason who was waived by the Sacramento Kings. If a player like Mason is told that he belongs to a Championship team and his services are needed, don't u think he will get that motivation to perform based on what he capable of doing.
As I suggested in the previous post, we don't have to trade our 2nd units but let's sell them for CASH and draft picks for the future.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | November 08, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Good observation. I like when role players like J-Peazy get some praise for donig what they do. I'm still not satisfied with the overall performance of the Lakers bench. But it's not because of Josh Powell. Josh is doing his part whenever he is called off that bench.
Let's just hope some of the other bench players will better understand their roles like Powell does, and start performing at a higher level.
Posted by: Chase | November 08, 2009 at 04:43 PM
NBA4ever,
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Thanks for your response. I actually think it would be a totally unnecessary risk for the Lakers to trade for anybody at this point in time, much less a potentially disruptive force like Stephen Jackson. We don’t need to make any moves right now other than to integrate a Ron Artest into our offense and get Pau and Drew back on the floor together so they can begin to develop a stronger chemistry.
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Having said that, however, if Mitch Kupchak were to suddenly announce that the Lakers had traded part of their bench for Stephen Jackson, I would be out in front leading the cheers because the guy is a player that I have always coveted for the Lakers, one that I was glad the Spurs let go, and one I do not want the Cavs to get. As you so aptly noted, the man can play shut down defense on the perimeter. Jackson could give the Lakers the potential to become one of the great defensive teams ever.
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I don’t know whether Stephen has reached that point in his career where winning was more important than minutes or even starting but the reason he wants to leave the Warriors is because ownership has not lived up to promises to bring in more veteran players, specifically they refused to include Curry in a trade for Stoudemire, leaving the team overcrowded with guards and pushing Jackson to play the 3.
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Jackson is a very good ball handler and excellent passer, averaging 6.5 assists per game last year with the Warriors. He is not an efficient shooter (40% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc) but has shown to be pretty clutch when the game is on the line. At 6-8 and long, we can play and defend all three perimeter positions with skill. From what he says, he wants to play for a contender. He could have just shut his mouth and cashed the checks but at 31 he knows this was his last contract. Now all he can do is try to force a trade to a contender who is willing to accept the 4-year $40M contract.
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Anyway, as always, we have the best front office in the NBA and I’m confident that they will make the right decisions at the right times to give the Lakers the best possible roster to defend our title
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Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 08, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Laker Fam,
Thanks for your response to my earlier post regarding Allen Iverson.
I just watched the Thunder absolutely spank Orlando tonight. OKC has a very good young talent and only need more time together to become a very good team. That Harden kid was a nice pick by them.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | November 08, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Link for tonights game? anyone?
Posted by: boba | November 08, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Josh Powell is better than Ronny Turiaf.
Period.
I miss you, Ronny, but we got an upgrade.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 09, 2009 at 12:24 AM
I remember JPow when he played with the Clips. I even remember him from college. He's better than most people give him credit for. He may be our best kept secret. If noone thinks he can play, they'll back off and he'll scorch them. Keep him around. He'll continue to play well. BTW, DJ can score, man. Let him shoot.
Posted by: camdog | November 09, 2009 at 05:13 AM