Sprung: How the Lakers are surviving without Kobe and Nash

Career Highs	Number
Points/Game	12.9
FG %	50.3
3 FG%	46.8
3’s Per Game	2.3
PER	15.1
TS %	65.7
eFG %	62.9
O Rtg	118
WS/48	.127

Meeks told Sheridan Hoops that he’s always been a scorer and just wants to keep the proper mindset and help the Lakers win games.

“I’m always a confident player, but I know whenever I come in, like I said, regardless whether I’m starting or not, my role doesn’t change,” Meeks said. “Whenever I get my shots, I try to the best of my ability to knock down a high percentage and play hard on defense.”

Meeks was a Laker last season, when the team made a coaching change five games into the campaign and there was obvious tension between D’Antoni and some of the players. But Meeks has nothing but praise for D’Antoni.

“Coach does a great job of instilling confidence in all of his players,” Meeks said. “He doesn’t worry about or get upset at mistakes as long as you’re playing hard. So I think that gives everybody a free mind to go out there and play.”

That confidence extends to the bench, which leads the NBA in scoring with 46.3 points and 5.2 made threes per game. The league’s most dangerous second unit is led by Farmar and Young, and D’Antoni isn’t shy about their minutes.

“We have a lot of scoring off the bench and I’m not afraid to play them against anybody,” D’Antoni said.

Meeks said that “one guy can’t replace Steve or Kobe, so we have to do it collectively as a unit. I think we’re doing a pretty good job of it.”

That bench production starts with Farmar, who returned to his hometown team after spending last season playing in Israel. He’s averaging nearly 10 points and five assists per game and is playing well defensively.

Farmar said that replacing Bryant and Nash is “a constant work in progress. I think as a unit we’ve done a good job.”

He said it took a while to figure out the right lineups, rotations and minutes distribution. “Through the whole process we’ve stuck together and we’ve been willing to do whatever is asked of us, to try to get some things done,” Farmar said.

D’Antoni is certainly a fan of Farmar’s.  “I think he knows his role and I think he embraces it,” D’Antoni said. “He knows that if he goes good I’ll leave him in all game.”

Blake said that Farmar is “playing with a lot of confidence and good rhythm. His jump shot is great right now. So he’s using that to his advantage, getting into the lane and finding guys.”

Farmar said that while D’Antoni likes a tight rotation, he’s been playing 10-11 players per game “because everyone has earned their spot or earned those minutes. It’s been working so far.”

It’s also been working for Young, who so far is posting career highs in field goal percentage, PER and win shares per 48 minutes while averaging over 14 points.

After LA surrendered its 48-21 lead, it was Young who scored 10 points in the third quarter and five in the fourth to lead the Lakers to the win.

“I thought Nick Young down the stretch hit some huge shots,” D’Antoni said. “He played really well to kind of get us out of our funk.”

Along with the boundless energy and swag he brings to any team, Young says he has thrived in D’Antoni’s offense more than in any other during his career.

“D’Antoni is a great coach that knows how to motivate you and give you that comfort out there,” he said. “That’s what I need. I don’t need to be looking over my shoulder, like when I make a mistake I’ll come out.”

So with D’Antoni leading this small-name, selfless group that is jelling and playing well together, the Lakers are hanging around in the uber-competitive Western Conference, even without two of the best players to ever play their respective positions.

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