Mike Brown indicates Andrew Goudelock is out of rotation
Coach Mike Brown doesn’t plan to use rookie guard Andrew Goudelock in the regular rotation much anymore.
He appeared only in garbage time in the Lakers’ 109-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday and didn’t play in the Lakers’ loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. Brown said the reason has less to do with Ramon Sessions’ arrival to the Lakers’ backcourt and more to do with the postseason awaiting in a little more than a month.
“We’re shrinking it a little bit,” Brown said of his rotation.
Because of that, Brown in recent games has paired Sessions with multiple guards, including Kobe Bryant and Steve Blake. Meanwhile, Brown has played forward Matt Barnes at shooting guard while Metta World Peace played at small forward. Goudelock’s strong outside shooting (36.2% from three-point range) helped elevate his time in the rotation, but concerns arise on whether an inexperienced player could sustain such performances in the playoffs.
‘Goudelock has been good for us and had some great experience,” Brown said of his rookie guard, who is averaging 4.4 points in 10.7 minutes a game. “He needs to keep himself mentally and physically ready in case his number is called. But we’re about to get busy right here. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it with some guys who have been to the dance before. Metta has been there and Matt has been there.”
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