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lakersfanjeff
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Post subject: DJ Mbenga plays important role in Lakers' practices
 Posted: Oct 12, 2009 - 08:03 PM PST
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Laker GM
Joined: Aug 12, 2009 Age: 23
Posts: 3093
Location: Pasadena, CA
  
votes: 14
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The 7-0, 255-pound third-string center uses his size and strength to push his teammates. Coach Phil Jackson has not said how he plans to use Mbenga this season.
DJ Mbenga may be the third-string center, but his role on the Lakers is no less important.
Mbenga is the physical force that brings it every day in practice.
At 7-0, 255-pounds, Mbenga has the size and strength to push starting center Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol when he moves from power forward to center.
Mbenga plays hard on defense. He looks to block shots. He looks to push his teammates.
"He changes our practices around," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said about Mbenga. "He gives us a physical aspect. He's a contesting defender, and that makes it tough for the [starting] white team and the [second] blue team to just run overrun [teams]."
Unfortunately for Mbenga and the Lakers, he has had to deal with a hip flexor.
That has slowed Mbenga during training camp, limiting his practice time.
He missed the first five practice sessions and then practiced in preparation for the first exhibition game last Wednesday.
But the injury flared up at the shoot-around and Mbenga was unable to play.
Mbenga also missed the second exhibition game last Friday night against the Golden State Warriors.
He was able to get back to work Monday, getting in a little bit of practice. But Mbenga still is not 100% healthy just yet.
"He lost a little bit at practice this afternoon, but he's running better," Jackson said. "The pressure was too much, too many big guys coming at him from the blue [practice] team. But he'll get it back by tomorrow."
Over his five-year career, Mbenga averaged just 1.7 points per game.
Last season with the Lakers, he averaged just 2.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 7.9 minutes in 23 games.
But it was more about the practice sessions for Mbenga.
That's where he has made his biggest impact.
Jackson is not ready to say how and if he'll use Mbenga during games this season.
"We definitely want to use him," Jackson said. "He's a guy that we rely on to be a backup. But what his minutes are going to be, I can't tell you that."
Link: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-la ... 3719.story |
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LakerRRTX
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Post subject: RE: DJ Mbenga plays important role in Lakers' practices
Posted: Oct 12, 2009 - 11:57 PM PST
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Big-Time Laker Fan
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 803
Location: Round Rock, TX
votes: 9
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| I would love to see DJ played consistently this year. I don't mean for big minutes, that would be silly. But he could play for relief minutes that would prepare him to be used further in case of injuries or for situational matchups in the more important games (playoffs). The guy is a capable center and no one would work harder @ D and rebounding. |
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“Oftentimes your strongest, toughest people don’t say a lot, it’s the quiet ones you have to worry about." (Derek Fisher)
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