The Space Cadet Blasting Off

I don’t know if anyone has noticed besides 3-point starved fantasy basketball owners, but Vladimir Radmanovic is starting to become a very solid basketball player. And I’m not just talking about his outside shooting. There was never really a question, okay, he kind of made us question last year, but outside of that, his outside game was never in doubt. He could always stroke the long ball. That’s why Mitch signed him two summers ago to the tune of 31 million over five years. This deal was done in spite of having newly inked Brian Cook and soon-to-be long-contract Luke Walton.

The “Space Cadet” as he was so lovingly deemed by Phil Jackson last year, has seemed to come back down to earth. I’ve always liked his game in spite of that dumb look he always seems to have no matter the situation. He can pass, and is a willing passer. He can board a bit (as evidenced by his career high 14 boards against Sacramento). He’s even shored up that non-existent defense, working to stay in front of his man and usually getting a hand in his opponent’s face.

The best change that I’ve seen in Vlade, however, is his activity around the basket. I don’t know if the coaches have specifically talked to him about this newfound skill, or if he’s been watching Trevor Ariza game tape, but Vladimir, on nearly every shot other than his own, dives towards the basket and uses his 6-11 frame to at least try and touch the ball. I’d say about 85-90 percent of the time he fails, but during that other 10-15 percent, he often makes positive things happen. He’ll get tip outs to teammates on the perimeter. He’ll get putback buckets. He’ll get offensive rebounds.

And it’s these little aspects, nuances that he contributes, like the hockey assists and the hand up on defense that have added to his game and made it possible for him to stay on the floor even when his high-arching shot isn’t falling. For instance, against Dallas last week, he went cold shooting 2-8 and 0-4 from beyond the arc. Yet, he squeezed in 2 assists, 3 rebounds and a block and a steal. A block and a steal? He’s more active, and he’s playing with energy. That energy carried over two nights later went he went off for his 21 and 14. For the month, he’s shooting a scalding, and I mean scalding 52 percent from 3. The Lakers, despite their cough up in the Rose Garden, are starting to play really well. Odom and Vlad Rad are heating up at the right time.

Get excited Lakers fans, but don’t forget about the other players. Those MVP chants for #24 are great and all. But like KB’s learned this year, a team has more than one member in it.

Kobe’s appreciating his teammates more, you should take notice too.