Lakers fans have their own ideas about Phil Jackson's lineup

Question: Hey, a couple of days ago I was watching some homemade DVDs that I made of some Lakers games from a couple of years ago or so -- from before Chris Mihm's ankle injury, and it's easy to forget that Mihm was really playing pretty well then -- easy to forget because the whole season is so easily forgotten and swept under the rug. But now here we are in 2008 with 2009 nearly upon us, and supposedly Mihm is healthy for the first time in a long time, but it's Josh Powell picking up those minutes that go to a third center. So I have to wonder, and I have to ask, is Chris Mihm really that far gone that he can't even back up [Andrew] Bynum and [Pau] Gasol in a third center role? He was pretty good. If there's no way he could even get a shadow of his former self back, then what's he still doing on the Lakers' bench?

Thanks,

Scott Hansen, Phoenix

Answer: Well, first of all, Mihm still is on the Lakers bench because the team is paying him $2.5 million this season. I don't think Lakers owner Jerry Buss would be willing to pay Mihm all that money to be sitting on the beach in Hawaii.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson has always liked having an abundance of big men on his teams. Jackson already has a nine-man rotation, and even that is hard on those players, who all want more playing time. Jackson has set his big-man rotation of Bynum, Gasol and Lamar Odom. Unfortunately for Mihm, he is the odd man out.

To Mihm's credit, he has been a true professional and continues to work hard so that when his opportunity comes he'll be ready. After the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, Mihm went to the weight room to work out. He hadn't played and was disappointed -- again -- but that didn't stop him from congratulating his teammates and working out nonetheless.

Q: I recently posted a blog suggesting that the Lakers change their starting lineup. Get Odom back to the starting unit, move Gasol back to center position, and let Bynum come off the bench. They were so effective last year I can't understand why Phil Jackson keeps on putting two 7-footers to start the game even against an undersized front court of Miami Heat.

What's your take on this?

Thanks and regards,

Carlo Linga, Makati, Philippines

A: Well, I guess more minutes as a starter would give Odom more opportunities to miss more layups -- as if he doesn't miss enough already.