Much was made of Ramon Sessions coming and Derek Fisher going at the trade deadline for the Lakers, but for now it is Steve Blake who is in charge of the Lakers' point-guard position.
Blake has ascended to the starting position vacated by Fisher while Sessions runs the second unit and learns Mike Brown's system. Sessions' athleticism is such that it might just be a matter of time before he is anointed the starter, but Brown isn't selling short how well Blake, a veteran, can run the star-studded starting unit.
"Until there's a time that I think I need to make a change," Brown said about changing starters. "But I don't see that time right now.
Brown said Blake will start "for the foreseeable future."
However, after Blake played the game's first eight minutes Sunday night vs. Utah, Sessions came in and played the next 13 minutes. It was during Sessions' stretch on the floor that the Lakers took an eight-point lead, but they faltered thereafter in a 103-99 loss.
The Lakers on Tuesday play Houston, which traded for Fisher on Thursday, but Fisher's contract was bought out, so the Lakers will not face their longtime guard on the court.
NOTES, QUOTES
Turnovers a problem in Sessions' first game
--The Lakers hoped for an upgrade at point guard by adding Ramon Sessions, but they committed a whopping 17 turnovers in the first half Sunday night against Utah. They still trailed just 45-44 at halftime. They finished with 24 turnovers, although Sessions and starting point guard Steve Blake had just two of them.
--Kobe Bryant shot 3 for 20 from the field Sunday night in the loss to Utah. He was succinct about his responsibility afterward, saying: "I shot like (expletive). Bryant's poor game didn't even come against noted Bryant defender Raja Bell, who was out with an adductor injury and was replaced by C.J. Miles and Alec Burks.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I play the tough guy role. I love it. That's what I do." -- new Lakers forward Jordan Hill.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--F Jordan Hill was active for his first Lakers game Sunday night vs. Utah, but he did not play ahead of Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy. Hill couldn't suit up Friday night vs. Minnesota because the Lakers' trade with Houston hadn't been finalized.
--F Matt Barnes could be looking at an increase in offensive production as long as new point guard Ramon Sessions is backing up Steve Blake. With Sessions on the second unit with Barnes, the Lakers hope to show some speed and get some easy baskets that have been rare for the team this season. Barnes had 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists Sunday vs. Utah.
--F Metta World Peace bowed out early Sunday night with left hip bursitis. World Peace played just 18 minutes. His absence was felt in one of the Lakers' weaker defensive games of the season: The Jazz shot 47 percent from the field.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Kobe Bryant (nasal fracture) is playing through the injury.
--G Steve Blake (costochaondral fracture) is playing through the injury.
--G Darius Morris (bruised left wrist) is day to day.
--F Metta World Peace (left hip bursitis) is day to day.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Steve Blake
--Shooting guard Kobe Bryant
--Small forward Metta World Peace
--Power forward Pau Gasol
--Center Andrew Bynum
Bench:
--Guard Ramon Sessions
--Forward Matt Barnes
--Forward Josh McRoberts
--Guard Andrew Goudelock
