It was bound to happen—fans and media clamoring for Ramon Sessions to be the Lakers' starting point guard.
It just wasn't supposed to happen this soon.
Following the acquisition of Sessions from Cleveland and the subsequent trade of Derek Fisher to Houston, coach Mike Brown made it clear that "for the foreseeable future" Steve Blake would be starting at the point. That seemed fair, as Blake—when healthy--had done a good job backing up Fisher.
Blake, however, has been disappointing and ineffective in the starting role, going 2 for 12 with 13 assists in the last four games. He's averaging just a point and three assists per game since the trade. His numbers were 5.7ppg and 3.5 apg prior to his promotion.
Sessions, meanwhile, has added startling quickness to the Laker backcourt, moving sleekly on defense and making like a blur when he drives into the paint on offense. He's averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 assists a game in 27 minutes, and he's quickly making Brown's decision for him.
"It's going," Sessions said about his transition to the Lakers style of play. "We don't have much practice time, so I'm doing everything I can to get the extra work in. It's not just about myself, though. This is about all the guys and us becoming a better team.
"I just want to help with that."
He has, and in the process won over the man who can sometimes be the team's most vocal critic—Kobe Bryant.
"Before, I had to score and play-make for others as well," Bryant told the L.A.Times. "I don't have to do that now.
"His savvy's the most impressive thing. A lot of players have speed but he understands how to change direction, and he sees the floor very well. That's the thing that makes his speed extremely valuable...he can change gears."
If you're wondering why Cleveland would give up such a valuable commodity for two players glued to the end of the Laker bench—Luke Walton and Jason Kapono and a protected first round pick in June—it's simple:Kyrie Irving.
The brilliant rookie point guard from Duke is a huge part of the Cavaliers' future as they rebuild following LeBron James' southern sojourn to Miami. And with the Cavs not likely to make the playoffs, coach Byron Scott handed the starting PG job to Irving, who's averaging 19 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field. He also hitting three pointers at a forty percent clip. Sessions saw the writing on the wall and was happy to end up in Los Angeles with a contending team.
"Absolutely," he said recently after a game at STAPLES Center. "This is a great organization with a winning (tradition) and great players. I've only been here a little while, but I know it's a great place to play. And having a chance to go far in the playoffs makes it even better."
Sessions—who played collegiately at Nevada—has made a quick adjustment to the tendencies of his new teammates, making it look like he's been on the roster since the beginning of the season.
"Well, the Lakers aren't exactly a (low-profile)team; they're on TV a lot," Sessions said. "So I've been able to watch a lot of their games, and I've looked at a lot of tape since I got here. I've always done a lot of studying, watched a lot of film. Also, I was the new guy here, so I went up to a lot of the (players)—Kobe, Pau (Gasol), (Andrew) Bynum—and asked them certain things like where they want the ball and how I should give it to them. They told me, and it's made things a lot easier."
It hasn't made things any easier on Brown's decision-making process.
He obviously feels a loyalty to Blake, but he clearly being outplayed by Sessions. With the Lakers fighting for a high playoff seed, Blake needs to advance his game immediately, or the coach will be forced into making a switch. From Sessions viewpoint, though, starting doesn't really matter.
"Whatever (the coaches) want to do, that's fine with me," said the native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "I'm just here to help the team, whatever that it. Off the bench, starting—it doesn't matter as long as we keep winning games."
