Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis was brought on to help improve the team's defense, but he also had his fair share of thoughts about how to improve the team's offense.
"The [Lakers] still have big people and I think you have to take advantage of the big people," said Rambis in a phone interview with The Los Angeles Times on Thursday. "You can't ignore them because they are an asset to your offense."
Even though the Lakers lost Dwight Howard in free agency, they still have Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill, as well as newly free-agent acquisition Chris Kaman, as their assets.
With Kobe Bryant still recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon, and with Steve Nash almost finished in his recovery process from hip, hamstring and back injuries that bothered him late in the season, the Lakers will rest on the talents of Gasol, who still hasn't been cleared completely from knee procedures to help alleviate tendinosis.
"In order to run, you need a push guard. That's Steve Nash," said Rambis. "It remains to be seen whether he's coming back from his injuries, and continues to [push] at an elite fast-break pace."
Rambis added:
"You need guys that can really get out and fill the wings because that pushes the defense down," said Rambis. "That's not necessarily the way that you would look at this team and describe them. You might say that with Nick Young, but it's not necessarily Kobe's forte nor was it Metta World Peace's forte last year.
"It's difficult for them to run at a real fast pace," said Rambis. "That doesn't mean you can't push the ball and add some thrust into your offense and play offense before the defense is set. That makes it a lot easier."
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