The Los Angeles Lakers have played some of their best basketball recently, but one player’s absence has been noticeable. Rookie Tarik Black hasn’t touched the floor in the last five games as head coach Byron Scott replaced him in the starting lineup with Carlos Boozer.
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Despite his lack of recent minutes, Scott says that Black will get back on the floor according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
He doesn’t need to do anything. He’ll get back in,” Scott said of Black. “I have a pretty good timetable on when I’ll use him. I’ll let you know when that is.”
Even though he hasn’t been seeing the floor, Black says that he has been using his time in practice to get better so he will be prepared when his number is called:
It’s just time I can use to learn and how to get better on the floor and study my game,” Black said. “I’m watching to see how they function and what they do right and what they do wrong. So when I step on the floor, I can be better.”
Black has played well in his time in Los Angeles, averaging five points and five rebounds in 16 games with the Lakers. His rebounding and defense were a source of praise from Scott, but the Lakers’ frontcourt is pretty crowded with Ed Davis, Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer all playing extremely well right now.
Hopefully, Black is able to see more minutes soon. Scott has spoken about changing his rotation soon and getting Black on the floor more should be a priority as the rookie has flashed some decent potential in his short time with the Lakers.
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