The Lakers won Pacific Division and Western Conference titles last season with a starting five of Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Vladimir Radmanovic.
So why would Phil Jackson mess with success? Because he can? Because he wants to see what else might or might not work now that Andrew Bynum is back from his kneecap injury?
Everyone assumes that Bryant, Fisher, Odom, Bynum and Gasol might be the Lakers’ starting five for opening night Oct. 28. However, Jackson let it slip after Friday’s practice that he might just go back to last season’s starting five when the Lakers open 2008-09 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jackson could still play Bynum and Gasol together. He could still play Bryant at small forward and Odom at point guard. He could still use Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton in the backcourt. He can do all these things because the Lakers have exceptional depth.
So, stay tuned because this is when it starts to get interesting.