Lakers' playbook: Rice heats up
Coach's Edge
Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle early in the Lakers' Game 2 victory, and is listed as day-to-day. This moves Glen Rice from the third option to second, behind Shaq, of course.
The Lakers acquired Rice because he is a proven scorer, averaging more than 20 points for his career. His importance to the team increases, whether Kobe returns for Game 4 or not.
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ANIMATE THIS PLAY DIAGRAM WITH SHOCKWAVE |
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(A) Rice is an important option in the triangle offense, and the Lakers do run plays for him. Now they will just run more. Here is the old single-double: Rice reads his man and chooses his screen. Brian Shaw (20), who took Kobe's spot, gets the ball to Ron Harper (4) at the point. |
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(B) From a spot under the basket, Rice (41) has his choice of a double screen to the left, or a single to the right. Rice chooses A.C. Green's (45) screen, and pops out to the right to stroke his classic jumper. |
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