Ramon Sessions speaks of difficulties in acclimatizing with Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Update
The Los Angeles Lakers said goodbye to long time point guard Derek Fisher this season after winning five NBA World Championships with him on the roster. His replacement was Ramon Sessions, a younger, quicker point guard brought in from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Although Sessions seems to have settled in well with Los Angeles, performing at a reasonably high level and injecting some much needed pace into the side, he did have a tough time starting off. Sessions was traded in to Los Angeles at the deadline and the player admits it was tough getting up to pace with everything.
“It was definitely challenging,” Sessions said. “The shortened season was already tough. Then, to be traded to a team like the Lakers with a different system was even tougher.”
Ramon went on to describe that he didn’t really have many detailed practice sessions with Los Angeles and had to learn everything on the go. That wasn’t easy because the Lakers did not play a conventional style of basketball and there were many different aspects to their game he had to cater for.
“There aren’t as many pick-and-rolls as you would normally run in a typical NBA system and there are all kinds of different calls.”
Add to it that it was Kobe Bryant’s team, with the super star notorious for his hogging of possession; Ramon’s task was not made much easier. In fact, even apart from Kobe there were many more established players on the roster, such as Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace.
“It was difficult to come in being the new guy and also the young guy when you have Kobe, Bynum, Pau and Metta, guys who want the ball, and it’s your job to get them the ball,” Sessions said.
All in all, Sessions did a good job. While the Lakers, or any other team, would miss the experience and leadership provided by the veteran Derek Fisher, Ramon gave them an edge in quickness they often seem to be lacking.
The point guard’s future though is not yet clear and although he is expected to stay in Los Angeles, nothing can be certain before the next NBA season begins.
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