Los Angeles Lakers wing Taurean Prince has been a fixture in the team’s starting lineup so far this season. But on Saturday against the New York Knicks, he found himself having to adjust to a different role.
Head coach Darvin Ham moved him to the bench and went with Rui Hachimura at small forward in the starting lineup. It seemed to work, as the team scored a 113-105 victory at Madison Square Garden and ended New York’s nine-game winning streak.
Fans have criticized Ham for keeping Prince in the starting lineup and giving him heavy minutes despite Prince’s defensive shortcomings. After Saturday’s game, Prince said coming off the bench helped him be more aggressive offensively.
Via Lakers Nation:
“I mean it does allow me to be more aggressive with the second unit but at the end of the day, my job stays the same, to do whatever it is to help us win as many games as possible. Whether that’s starting or coming off the bench, you can’t be salty about it. You got to be a professional and do what you got to do to get it right.”
He had 16 points on 6-of-10 field-goal shooting and 3-of-6 from downtown versus the Knicks. Despite coming off the bench, he still played 33 minutes, while Hachimura logged 19 minutes.
Whether Lakers fans love or hate Prince, he does have to play a significant amount of minutes because he’s one of the team’s few legitimate spot-up 3-point shooters and floor spacers.
