Lakers probably will start season with 15 on roster
LAKERS
Early in training camp, the Lakers considered carrying just 13 players, but now it appears DJ Mbenga has earned a roster spot and that rookie guard Joe Crawford will get the nod over Coby Karl.
All indications are that the Lakers will open the season with 15 players, the maximum allowed by the NBA.
Early in training camp, the Lakers considered carrying 13 players, which would have given the team flexibility to pick up another player or two during the regular season.
But now it appears, based on their play in training camp, that backup center DJ Mbenga has earned a roster spot and that rookie guard Joe Crawford will get the nod over Coby Karl, who made the team last season as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Guards Brandon Heath and forward C. J. Giles also are pushing for a spot that may be hard to come by.
The Lakers already have 13 players under contract who are assured of making the team.
Crawford was drafted out of Kentucky in the second round by the Lakers with the 58th pick in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has to make the team for his contract to be guaranteed.
"It's definitely more pressure coming in not guaranteed," Crawford said. "You don't know what these guys [the Lakers' coaching staff] are thinking every day. You just have to stay confident. You're going to have some bad days, but you have to be strong and pull through it."
Crawford has played in all three exhibition games, averaging 8.3 minutes and 2.7 points. "If I make this team or if I don't make this team, I'll be better the next time this situation comes around," Crawford said.
If Crawford does stay with the Lakers, he'll probably play some in the NBA Development League for the Lakers' D-Fenders team.
Open forum
The 1,100 season-ticket holders who watched the Lakers open practice today at Staples Center were generally sedate during the session.
"That's kind of the way the players are in a lot of practices," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson quipped. At first the fans didn't cheer, or applaud, as they sat quietly eating the box lunches the Lakers provided.
Jackson said Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw explained the practice drills to the crowd. "It got boring, boring, boring," Jackson said, smiling.
A few fans took pictures, but they were mostly quiet during the drills.
Then the Lakers started to scrimmage and the crowd came alive, yelling, screaming. When Kobe Bryant leaped up and grabbed an offensive rebound and scored, the crowd cheered.
Jackson joked he had "no idea" of the benefit of having fans watch the Lakers practice.
