Defending Sasha

Posted on LakersGround.net on 5/10/06.

Hector the Pup wrote:
Sasha was given minutes by Phil Jackson because there was no other option.

His minutes dropped in the playoffs and he didn't even play every game. That says all that needs to be said about what Phil thinks about Sasha.

Oh, come on. His minutes per game dropped all the way from 12.8 to 10.8. In the playoffs, coaches typically shorten their bench. BTW, Vujacic was one of four Lakers to have a positive net PER for the playoffs (link):
Bryant +15.9
Odom +3.8
Vujacic +2.8
Evans +0.7

Vujacic stats were very comparable to Beno Udrih's (while playing on a worse team) and Udrih did have his minutes drastically slashed in the playoffs (21 minutes over 20 playoffs games).

Vujacic is OK for a third string guard. Unless he dramatically improves, I see this season as his last. However, he is far from the worst player in NBA.