I think Farmar has been playing well this season, I just don’t agree he should start. I trust that Phil Jackson has reasons for starting Fish and having Fish in crunch time minutes.

My argument was that statistics can be looked at in different ways and be used to support different arguments, so you cannot have a starting argument just by looking at numbers. I’ve watched a majority of games and I do not see that Farmar is responsible for that increase in productivity as the numbers suggest. There is only one game I can remember where Farmar stood out, and that was his defense on D. Williams during that 6 point Fourth Quarter.

Also, basketballvalue.com has so many different statistics that I found completely different numbers than you did. And I found numbers to make my argument to show that you can do that with statistics. But I haven’t seen Farmar out play Fisher this season.

Fish has the luxury of being the least productive point guard in the league. He plays alongside Kobe, Lamar, Artest, Pau, and Bynum in an offense that doesn’t rely on a pick and roll or normal motion offense where he can rack up assists. Of course he is going to be pretty low producing. He doesn’t need to shoot, doesn’t need to get the statistics. I think Farmar still wants the points, where Fisher wants to run the O, play physical Defense, get some charges, and hit open shots. I’m just saying that Phil Jackson should be given the benefit of the doubt when he makes these starting lineups. I’d rely on him rather than the guys at Basketballvalue.com.

Finally, I think Farmar should be re-signed. IF we had the money. But unfortunately, that cash goes to Sasha and we can’t take that money back nor can we find a trade partner for (unless memphis does us another favor). And, the way Farmar wants to play is traditional point guard, and I think he’d be really good on another team while getting paid.

“Statistics are used by fans in much the same way that a drunk leans against a street lamp; it’s there more for support than enlightenment.” – Vin Scully

P.S. Lamar and Bynum play different positions too.

It isn’t just that lineup that Farmar is way better than Fisher in. Farmar has been better in just about every lineup that includes a few of the starters. That is why he has a much higher adjusted rating.

Overall rating is not accurate because it doesnt adjust for Fisher only playing with the starters, while Farmar has to play with the terrible bench a lot.

But it has worked this year. The Lakers have been unbelievably good when Farmar plays with Kobe and the other starters(albeit in limited time).

Your Odom and Kobe comparison is weird. First of all they play different positions. Kobe has a 16.66 rating this year, while Odom a 5.13 rating. I would be all for starting Odom over Bynum though, since Bynum’s rating is negative 6.6.

Also, don’t forget that the Lakers can’t keep starting Fisher for long. Already he is one of the least productive point guards in the league. We should at least give Farmar some starts to see if he is worth resigning and making the starter in the future.

PS–Formulas don’t show you the intangibles such hustle, heart, defense and willingness to learn. Let the kid play more Phil.

The same lineup with Fisher only has a rating of 3.16, but they played 228.90 minutes.

I don’t put too much stock into that type of nitpicking analysis because there will always be reasons for such a high number.

Fisher’s Overall Rating when he is on the court is 13.87 and Farmars is 6.54.

I think the stats are out there to make any type of argument, but I am pretty sure Phil Jackson knows what he’s doing. I say we keep Farmar on the bench and he can be the #2 guy we bring off the bench.

Also, based on his espn chat today, Farmar is a traditional point guard and wants the ball in his hands to make the decisions. Nothing wrong with that and he shouldn’t get rid of that mentality, but it doesn’t work in this offense, and really can’t work with an offense featuring Kobe.

I’m sure the statistics mean something, but I feel that they just help players agents make a little bit more money at the end of the year.

But if you want to look at the stats and look at the top players: Lamar Odom has a 12.50 and Kobe has a 7.58. By your logic, we should start Odom and have Kobe come off the bench.

Ouch, but true. Haha

Snoopy’s 100 percent correct; I wasn’t saying Farmar will be Nash.

In fact, re-read my post . That line that reads, “I’m not in any way suggesting Farmar is the second coming of Nash” was pretty clear, I thought.