Antawn Jamison Unhappy and Confused With Lack of Playing Time

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni kept backup forward Antawn Jamison glued to the bench on Tuesday night during a 101-100 win over the visiting Charlotte Bobcats. It was the first DNP-CD of Jamison’s long career, and he voiced his frustration to the LA Daily News: “I’ve never had this,’ Jamison said. ‘I’m going home and going to pray. I’m doing something I love to do. You just have to find the positives in life. We won.’ Jamison’s demotion coincided with Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni overseeing a number of moving parts. Pau Gasol returned to the starting lineup after missing the past eight games because of knee tendinitis. Lakers forward Metta World Peace has assumed the backup power forward spot. It’s possible Jodie Meeks will start at shooting guard, while Kobe Bryant slides over to the small forward position. Meanwhile, Jordan Hill also sat on the bench with Jamison. ‘Nothing they did to deserve it,’ D’Antoni said. ‘I’m just trying to figure out the best way to play the team.’ […] ‘I’m here to win a championship,’ Jamison said. ‘If me not being out there improves our chances, then you have to roll with it. Of course I’m not excited about it. I want to compete. I know if I’m out there, I can contribute. But what else can you do?’ Jamison then answered his own question. ‘You just have to stay positive,’ Jamison said. ‘It’s difficult. You never know. Next week, there might be 37 minutes again. You just have to stay positive and have to ride this ship until we find out what are we going to do. Right now, we’re all confused by what’s going on.’ Jamison then suggested the constant rotation changes has only contributed to that confusion. ‘In order for us to be successful, we have to establish an identity,’ Jamison said. ‘Of course injuries play a part. But we have to establish a bench. We have to know what we’re going to do with our starters. We have yet to do that. It’s kind of hard to get into a rhythm when you don’t know what’s going on. Your guess is as good as mine.'”