L.A. Lakers preparing to defend championship
By InsideHoops.com

The Lakers (Phil Jackson) hope to eventually move Kobe Bryant up to playing small forward. That would allow J.R. Rider, a fantastically-talented player (when he puts the effort in) to spend quality minutes at his natural position of shooting guard.

Bryant won't be changing positions today, tomorrow or the next day. With injuries in the Los Angeles backcourt, the team needs Kobe at guard right now. But future plans see Kobe gradually moving up to the 3-spot.

Kobe wants to play the wing position in the triangle offense. That's the same spot Michael Jordan occupied. That's the spot Kobe Bryant has wanted ever since the triangle came to the Lakers. Kobe's former job in the offense typically placed him right in the heart of the defense. Anything he did could draw defenders from both sides of the court. That wouldn't be the case with him on the wing, where he'd get to swoop along the baseline, cut around picks, and attach the basket from an angle, sometimes from behind the offense. It would give him more of a chance to create hell on any given play.

He wants it. It will happen. All in good time.

The switch won't occur until J.R. Rider has had time to learn the triangle offense (it takes everyone time) and Ron Harper to heal. Derek Fisher is out for a few months, so if Harper isn't healthy it may have to be the Bryant and Rider show in the backcourt for a while, leaving Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Horace Grant to do most of the work from the forward spots.

InsideHoops.com
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