Ramon Sessions has a lot on the ball as he learns Lakers’ ways
Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions had 6.6 seconds remaining in the first half to make something happen.
Plenty of time.
Sessions inbounded the ball to Pau Gasol, who gave it right back to Sessions, who
sprinted from one end of the court to the other and made a layup with 1.8 seconds left.
“That was in seventh or eighth gear,” Sessions said. “I pulled it all out.”
Sessions finished the Lakers’ 120-112 victory Sunday over the Golden State Warriors with a season-high 23 points on seven-of-10 shooting and nine assists.
He gave the Lakers a much-needed scoring option after center Andrew Bynum left the game early in the first quarter because of a left ankle injury team officials described as a “moderate sprain.”
Sessions dished six of his nine assists to Kobe Bryant, who posted 40 points on 16-of-28 shooting.
“He’s going to have some big games,” Coach Mike Brown said. “It’s a luxury to have a guy like Sessions being able to run the show.”
Bryant said he delivered a message to Sessions before that show, mindful that Sessions cracked only single digits in points and assists in two of the last three games.
“He has to be more aggressive offensively,” Bryant said. “He’s got to put up numbers because we had felt lethargic at the start and we needed a pace changer.”
Sessions provided that by attacking the basket, hitting open jumpers and connecting with open teammates.
On one play, Sessions curled off a pick-and-roll and found Gasol in the lane for an open dunk, giving the Lakers a 93-84 lead with 10:11 remaining.
With the Lakers holding only a 112-109 edge with 1:59 remaining, Sessions set Bryant and Metta World Peace up on consecutive three-pointers to secure the win.
“He made a lot of good decisions,” Gasol said. “It proves how good of a point guard he is.”
Sessions has said he remains uncomfortable with certain defensive schemes, some of his teammates’ tendencies and how he should play at shooting guard. But, as Brown pointed out, he will have to learn any remaining concepts “on the fly” because the compacted NBA schedule limits practices.
As his play to end halftime on Sunday demonstrated, however, Sessions has quickly adapted.
“I’m starting to feel comfortable,” he said. “I want to be one of the great point guards in the league. So I’m trying to get it all down.”
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