Last year, Jodie Meeks started 50 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, a playoff team. Meeks is in his fourth season out of Kentucky, and the former Wildcat has a reputation for hitting from behind the arc.
Meeks’ average of 36.5 percent from long-range last year was down from 39.7 percent the season prior, but he’s shooting 40 percent this so far this season.
Last year, Meeks started 50 games for the Philadelphia 76ers, a playoff team. Meeks is in his fourth season out of Kentucky, and the former Wildcat has a reputation for hitting from behind the arc. Meeks’ average of 36.5 percent from long-range last year was down from 39.7 percent the season prior, but he’s shooting 40 percent this so far this season.
Two seasons ago, Meeks was Philadelphia’s preferred starter with 64 regular season starts. With significant time on the floor the last two seasons, the 25 year-old adds valuable NBA experience to the Lakers' bench.
With NBA experience, a reputation for hitting the three, and youth on his side, Meeks should be a regular off the Lakers’ bench.
Except that he’s not.
In the season opening loss against Dallas, Meeks played 13 minutes and shot a respectable 1-for-3 from the field, all three-point attempts. Since then, Mike Brown has only asked Meeks to step onto the floor on two occasions. During a five-minute spell against Portland, Meeks shot 1-for-2 from the field, hitting a three-pointer.
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Then, Brown decided Meeks was no longer his guy.
Meeks played four minutes in the blowout against Detroit, but he collected a game check for DNPs against the Clippers and the Jazz. As a reminder, the Lakers shot 4-for-23 from behind the arc against the Jazz. With others missing open threes, Meeks, surely, could have helped the Lakers on the night.
Meeks is not why the Lakers are losing. However, considering he was touted as a healthy addition to Mike Brown’s bench in the off season, he could just be one of the reasons the Lakers start winning—if he starts getting some minutes.
