Image via WikipediaDuring the next week leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23, I will be covering some of the most promising prospects that the Los Angeles Lakers should have their sights on when they're finally on the clock. With four second-round selections, including picks 41, 46, 56 and 58, they have a pretty good chance of finding a diamond in the rough. To start things off, we'll take a look at Georgia Tech point guard Iman Shumpert.
Throughout the 2011 NBA playoffs, one of the biggest problems the Lakers faced was veteran point guard Derek Fisher's inability to defend against quicker, more talented point guards like Chris Paul or Jason Kidd. Fisher has been a staple in the Lakers' lineup for years, but his age and sloth-like speed is starting to become the Achilles' heel of a team that already has plenty of other issues on its plate. Hence, a new, young point guard is arguably their most dire need this off-season. Shumpert's outstanding defense from the point guard position is what makes him such an interesting prospect for the Lakers.
Shumpert spent three years as part of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, during which time he proved himself to be one of the better defensive point guards in college basketball. He does a great job of using his quick feet and athleticism to stay in front of his opposition and makes life difficult for them with tenacious on-ball defense. By the end of his junior year, he had racked up 207 steals, including 2.7 per game during the season. Part of his ability to be a great defender is his sensational mix of size (6'6'', 222 pounds) and speed. Although he never made too many blocks (17 career), he did a good job of rebounding from the point guard spot (5.9 per game).
Another one of the deficiencies in Fisher's game was his ineffectiveness as a facilitator in the Lakers' offense. He was never a true passing point guard, forcing Kobe Bryant to be both the scorer and the passer. However, with a point guard who can take over the passing duties, Bryant can focus on being a scorer/play-maker. Even though he's known primarily for his excellent defense, Shumpert also boasts some impressive passing.
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