If there's one thing this Lakers team has done consistently this year, it's play well when they're backs are against the wall. They did just that tonight to get the 103-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Earlier in the day both the Mavericks and the Jazz won their games. With the Jazz tied and the Mavericks only behind by 1 game, all the pressure was on LA to get the win. They responded with one of the best efforts of the season. Although bruised and battered, every player who stepped on the court gave maximum effort. Kobe set the tone by playing all but 22 seconds of the game. That's in spite of his age and in spite of the bone spur in his left foot. Dwight gave multiple efforts on both the offensive and defensive ends. His hustle was key in punishing the Kings in the paint. Meeks is always all over the court with his hustle, and he got a key defensive stop late in the 4th when the Kings were about to tie the game.
Steve Nash left the game after only about 2 minutes of action. Steve Blake filled in quite nicely by scoring 15 points on 5/8 from downtown. The Spaniard looked a lot more like "The Spaniard" with 12 points and 10 assists. Dwight Howard was a monster on both ends of the court. As stated earlier, his multiple efforts really made the difference. There were several plays where he missed his initial shot, and then immediately jumped again to get the rebound and shoot again. He had 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. Superman anyone?
The Lakers won this game tonight by relying on their defense and not turning the ball over. Great effort tonight.
Notables:
The Good:
- Dwight would not be denied tonight. Was the player of the game tonight
- Still sippin that Vino. The Mamba is just ridiculous. He put up 19 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds on a bum foot.
- The Lakers weathered the hot shooting 1st quarter of the Kings. The role player stepped up perfectly
- Balanced team scoring
The Bad:
- There were a few rebound the Lakers should have secured but didn't, which kept the game a lot closer
- Missed technical free throws by Kobe and Jodie :P
On a free throw line jumper in the 2nd quarter, Kobe Bryant passed Wilt Chamberlain to be 4th on the all-time scoring list. It's an incredible accomplishment. Hopefully Kobe continues to move up that list. It also may have been the Lakers last game in Sacramento.
However, the Lakers have no time to get sentimental. They're in the middle of a heated playoff spot battle. Their next game is at home against the Dallas Mavericks which is sure to be a playoff-like atmosphere. Stay tuned...
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Lakers at Bucks (3/28/13)
This season the 2nd of a back-to-back has been a guaranteed loss for the Lakers. It was no different Thursday night when they fell 103-113 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Check Dancing Barry's review:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Kobe and Nash sustained injuries but are listed as "probable" for tonight's game against Sacramento. With Dallas and Utah both breathing down their necks this playoff race is heating up. The Lakers have to take the challenge and play with everything they've got, or else not making the post season is all too real possibility.
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Kobe and Nash sustained injuries but are listed as "probable" for tonight's game against Sacramento. With Dallas and Utah both breathing down their necks this playoff race is heating up. The Lakers have to take the challenge and play with everything they've got, or else not making the post season is all too real possibility.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Lakers at Timberwolves (3/27/13)
The Lakers won a much needed game last night 120-117 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. I missed the action except for the final minute so check DancingBarry's review:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
One positive of MWP being out is the Lakers can field a quicker team with Jodie Meeks being in the starting lineup. The negative to that is they lose size.
Tonight they'll play the Bucks. They need to win tonight to complete their first back-to-back sweep of the season. Go Lakers!!!
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
One positive of MWP being out is the Lakers can field a quicker team with Jodie Meeks being in the starting lineup. The negative to that is they lose size.
Tonight they'll play the Bucks. They need to win tonight to complete their first back-to-back sweep of the season. Go Lakers!!!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Lakers at Warriors (3/25/13)
I missed this one and I'm not that upset about it. Didn't want to see another loss. The Lakers have dropped their last 3 games falling to the Warriors (103-109). This isn't a good time to be on a losing streak. Check DancingBarry's review over at Lakersground:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
After the game MWP was diagnosed with lateral tear in his left knee. The Lakers will release a timetable for his return after he meets with team doctors. It doesn't sound good. This team hasn't been healthy once all year long.
Pau doesn't yet have his legs back either. I think he should be coming off the bench. We'll see what adjustments the Lakers can make. They are only ahead of Utah by 1 game in the standings. They play Minnesota on the road tonight.
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
After the game MWP was diagnosed with lateral tear in his left knee. The Lakers will release a timetable for his return after he meets with team doctors. It doesn't sound good. This team hasn't been healthy once all year long.
Pau doesn't yet have his legs back either. I think he should be coming off the bench. We'll see what adjustments the Lakers can make. They are only ahead of Utah by 1 game in the standings. They play Minnesota on the road tonight.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Lakers vs Wizards (3/22/13)
Well that was unexpected. After an emotional boost from the return of Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers collapsed in the second half to fall to the Wizards 100-103.
The Lakers were firing on all cylinders to start the game. They led by as much as 18 and were up by 16 at the break. Although Gasol was clearly out of rhythm the offense was clicking. It was working beautifully with Bryant, Nash, and Blake all being distributors and Dwight, Meeks, and Jamison being finishers. The Lakers were finally able to stagger Bryant/Nash and Howard/Gasol to constantly maintain that inside/out presence. How did they lose then you ask? The 2nd half tells the tale...
Even in the 1st half the Lakers struggled with turnovers, but in 3rd quarter it really came back to bite them. The Wizards chipped away at the lead by converting turnovers into easy scores. Pau Gasol was one of the main culprits as he clearly did not have the timing or chemistry with his teammates in his first game back. To make matters worse the Lakers failed to contest Washington's shooters. Kobe left Ariza wide open on several possessions. At other times players rotated to help protect the paint but left a shooter open behind the line. MWP committed a crucial offensive foul with the Lakers down by 2 in the waning moments of the fourth. From there it would've taken a couple miracle 3's to force overtime. Kobe got one, but not the other. Coach D'Antoni was not happy with the team's effort after attaining the lead.
Some turnovers are expected when new lineups are played, but sheesh. And there was no excuse for the D.
Notables
The Good:
- Offense in the 1st half was superb
- Defense in the half court was good most of the 1st half
The Bad:
- Terrible perimeter defense/awareness
- Too many turnovers
- No killer instinct when up big
- Pau looked terrible (I believe he'll get back to form though)
- Jamison injured his right wrist (shooting hand)
Bottom line is the Lakers should have won this game. They can't afford performances like this with such a tight race for a playoff spot. Hopefully Pau gets back into it sooner rather than later.
I'm not sold on Pau being in the starting lineup just yet. Not because he isn't starter quality because he definitely is. But the Lakers had a rhythm with Clark starting. He fits better with the starters because of his athleticism, and bringing Pau off the bench allows him to play in the post. We'll see how Coach D'Antoni sets the rotations in the coming games. However, there aren't many more games left.
The Lakers were firing on all cylinders to start the game. They led by as much as 18 and were up by 16 at the break. Although Gasol was clearly out of rhythm the offense was clicking. It was working beautifully with Bryant, Nash, and Blake all being distributors and Dwight, Meeks, and Jamison being finishers. The Lakers were finally able to stagger Bryant/Nash and Howard/Gasol to constantly maintain that inside/out presence. How did they lose then you ask? The 2nd half tells the tale...
Even in the 1st half the Lakers struggled with turnovers, but in 3rd quarter it really came back to bite them. The Wizards chipped away at the lead by converting turnovers into easy scores. Pau Gasol was one of the main culprits as he clearly did not have the timing or chemistry with his teammates in his first game back. To make matters worse the Lakers failed to contest Washington's shooters. Kobe left Ariza wide open on several possessions. At other times players rotated to help protect the paint but left a shooter open behind the line. MWP committed a crucial offensive foul with the Lakers down by 2 in the waning moments of the fourth. From there it would've taken a couple miracle 3's to force overtime. Kobe got one, but not the other. Coach D'Antoni was not happy with the team's effort after attaining the lead.
Some turnovers are expected when new lineups are played, but sheesh. And there was no excuse for the D.
Notables
The Good:
- Offense in the 1st half was superb
- Defense in the half court was good most of the 1st half
The Bad:
- Terrible perimeter defense/awareness
- Too many turnovers
- No killer instinct when up big
- Pau looked terrible (I believe he'll get back to form though)
- Jamison injured his right wrist (shooting hand)
Bottom line is the Lakers should have won this game. They can't afford performances like this with such a tight race for a playoff spot. Hopefully Pau gets back into it sooner rather than later.
I'm not sold on Pau being in the starting lineup just yet. Not because he isn't starter quality because he definitely is. But the Lakers had a rhythm with Clark starting. He fits better with the starters because of his athleticism, and bringing Pau off the bench allows him to play in the post. We'll see how Coach D'Antoni sets the rotations in the coming games. However, there aren't many more games left.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Lakers at Suns (3/19/13)
No luck in the valley of the sun this year. The Lakers got pimp smacked 76-99 last night against Phoenix on the road. It was the second of a back-to-back, where the Lakers have yet to win both games in those situations this year. Check Dancing Barry's review:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Sounds like the team didn't have enough left in the tank from the game before. That's always tough when you have older guys and injuries. The good news is Utah lost and they've got three days before they play again. They must bounce back and keep the playoff push going.
BTW I can't stand when the other team wears some dumb jersey and we have to wear our home jersey's on the road. It's a personal pet peeve of mine.
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Sounds like the team didn't have enough left in the tank from the game before. That's always tough when you have older guys and injuries. The good news is Utah lost and they've got three days before they play again. They must bounce back and keep the playoff push going.
BTW I can't stand when the other team wears some dumb jersey and we have to wear our home jersey's on the road. It's a personal pet peeve of mine.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Lakers vs Kings (3/17/13)
Balance. Balance. Balance. The Lakers defeated the Sacremento Kings 113-102 with an offensive attack that came at all angles.
From the onset the Lakers looked sharp, agressive, and comfortable. They ran a bevy of scren/rolls, drive and kicks, and low post touches for Dwight. Dwight was frequently doubled so he kicked it out to the open man who knocked down the shot with regularity. This is what's meant by the term "inside-out" basketball. The idea is you force the defense to respect your inside game so much so that they have to abandon defending the perimeter as well, thereby giving you open looks.
This means nothing however if your players don't make those shots. Last night the Lakers had no problems in this area converting 57% of their field goals. It should be noted that the Kings are not exactly know for their defense (to say the least). However, the Kings can score the ball in bunches, and they also have a glutten of the Lakers perennial achilles heel: speedy guards. The Kings's guards that fit this mold include Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas, & Marcus Thornton. For the most part that threat was neutralized by Mr. Dwight Howard. He blocked 5 shots, but just his presence alone altered several more. The Kings tried to take advantage when he was out of the game, but the Lakers did a decent job of defending the paint in his absense. It also helped that he was not in early foul trouble in this game.
The bench duo of Blake and Jamison really hurt the Kings, and they've been coming into their own as of late. Jamison had 27 points and 9 rebs off the bench. That is HUGE. Blake? Well he only had 16 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Not too shabby huh? I think the key for him has been being agressive. I always thought Blake could play. It would drive me insane though when he would drive through the lane only to pass up a wide open layup to kick it out to someone for a three. I'd pull my hair out when he would receive a wide open three point opportunity from a kick out and then hesitate to shoot. Which would undoubtedly throw off his timing and wind up in a missed shot. I'm glad to say that Blake is no more. The current Blake has confidenc galore, and it's only helping his team. Good job Steve.
Notables:
The Good:
- Ball movement and offensive flow was simple, and executed well
- 6 of the 7 Lakers who played were in double figures
- Dwight showing DPOY type performances
- Watching the team enjoy playing together
- Another win while awaiting Kobe and Pau's returns
The Bad:
- Up until the 4th, couldn't really stop the Kings from gettim good 3 point looks
- Some bad defensive lapses. On a few plays the Lakers perimeter players left shooters to help Dwight stop dribble penetration. Don't do that. Dwight's got it.
The Lakers are in action again tonight taking on the Suns in Phoenix. Still no Kobe, still no Pau, but the Suns are without some players too. The Lakers need to get this win, adn then they'll get a few days off before Friday's game.
From the onset the Lakers looked sharp, agressive, and comfortable. They ran a bevy of scren/rolls, drive and kicks, and low post touches for Dwight. Dwight was frequently doubled so he kicked it out to the open man who knocked down the shot with regularity. This is what's meant by the term "inside-out" basketball. The idea is you force the defense to respect your inside game so much so that they have to abandon defending the perimeter as well, thereby giving you open looks.
This means nothing however if your players don't make those shots. Last night the Lakers had no problems in this area converting 57% of their field goals. It should be noted that the Kings are not exactly know for their defense (to say the least). However, the Kings can score the ball in bunches, and they also have a glutten of the Lakers perennial achilles heel: speedy guards. The Kings's guards that fit this mold include Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas, & Marcus Thornton. For the most part that threat was neutralized by Mr. Dwight Howard. He blocked 5 shots, but just his presence alone altered several more. The Kings tried to take advantage when he was out of the game, but the Lakers did a decent job of defending the paint in his absense. It also helped that he was not in early foul trouble in this game.
The bench duo of Blake and Jamison really hurt the Kings, and they've been coming into their own as of late. Jamison had 27 points and 9 rebs off the bench. That is HUGE. Blake? Well he only had 16 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Not too shabby huh? I think the key for him has been being agressive. I always thought Blake could play. It would drive me insane though when he would drive through the lane only to pass up a wide open layup to kick it out to someone for a three. I'd pull my hair out when he would receive a wide open three point opportunity from a kick out and then hesitate to shoot. Which would undoubtedly throw off his timing and wind up in a missed shot. I'm glad to say that Blake is no more. The current Blake has confidenc galore, and it's only helping his team. Good job Steve.
Notables:
The Good:
- Ball movement and offensive flow was simple, and executed well
- 6 of the 7 Lakers who played were in double figures
- Dwight showing DPOY type performances
- Watching the team enjoy playing together
- Another win while awaiting Kobe and Pau's returns
The Bad:
- Up until the 4th, couldn't really stop the Kings from gettim good 3 point looks
- Some bad defensive lapses. On a few plays the Lakers perimeter players left shooters to help Dwight stop dribble penetration. Don't do that. Dwight's got it.
The Lakers are in action again tonight taking on the Suns in Phoenix. Still no Kobe, still no Pau, but the Suns are without some players too. The Lakers need to get this win, adn then they'll get a few days off before Friday's game.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Lakers at Pacers (3/15/13)
Last night I said other players would have to step up in Kobe's absense, and that's exactly what they did. Among key contributions from Steve Blake, MWP, and Antawn Jamison the Lakers defeated the Pacers 99-93 on the road.
Indiana came into the game as the 2nd seed in the Eastern conference. They've gotten that status by having the league's top ranked defense, and they play well at home. The Lakers were ready to meet that challenge.
In a move that surprised no one, yet amazed everyone at the same time, Kobe Bryant was in the starting lineup. Only one day removed from a high ankle sprain received at the hands of Danhtay Jones. Despite his ankle swelling to grapefruit-like proportions, the Mamba wanted to play. He only played the first 12 minutes and shot 0-4. However the emotional boost he provided just by stepping on the court can't be underestimated. The Lakers fought hard from the opening tip. The energy could be seen on both ends of the court.
Early on the Lakers shot poorly, and Dwight got into foul trouble. Indiana punished the Lakers inside with any small ball lineups they ran. The Lakers D was energized though which allowed them to stay in the game. They started out with an 11 point deficit in the 1st, then later opened up an 11 point lead of their own in the 2nd behind Dwight's dominance. Dwight was forced to sit again, and the Pacers trailed by 5 at the break.
The second half was a dogfight with MWP, Blake, and Jamison taking the scoring burden. There were several lead changes, but the score was tied at 87 with 1:30 to go in the game. Nash threw a pass to D12 who had secured deep post position for an and-1. On the next Lakers possession Jamison drilled a 3. The Lakers got a stop on the defensive end and Jamison got fouled. He made 1 of 2 free throws. Indiana's George Hill then made a 3, but on the ensuing in bounds play the Lakers beat the Pacer's full court pressure to get a Howard dunk on the other end. It was a free throw shootout from that point on. Great win.
Notables:
The Good:
- Great team win
- Hustle was evident all over the court
- The offense was decisive. Guys looked comfortable and aggressive. Very sharp and crisp.
- D12 was dominant when he was on the court
- Blake, Jamison, and MWP picked up the slack
- Mamba sucked it up for the betterment of the team
- Defense was outstanding
The Bad:
- Nash took a minor injury to his right calf
This was a great win for building chemistry and trust. We even got to see Coach Kobe on the sidelines again (remember last year?). Pray that the Lakers continue to get healthy and then the sky is the limit. The Lakers next play the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Go Lake Show!!!
Indiana came into the game as the 2nd seed in the Eastern conference. They've gotten that status by having the league's top ranked defense, and they play well at home. The Lakers were ready to meet that challenge.
In a move that surprised no one, yet amazed everyone at the same time, Kobe Bryant was in the starting lineup. Only one day removed from a high ankle sprain received at the hands of Danhtay Jones. Despite his ankle swelling to grapefruit-like proportions, the Mamba wanted to play. He only played the first 12 minutes and shot 0-4. However the emotional boost he provided just by stepping on the court can't be underestimated. The Lakers fought hard from the opening tip. The energy could be seen on both ends of the court.
Early on the Lakers shot poorly, and Dwight got into foul trouble. Indiana punished the Lakers inside with any small ball lineups they ran. The Lakers D was energized though which allowed them to stay in the game. They started out with an 11 point deficit in the 1st, then later opened up an 11 point lead of their own in the 2nd behind Dwight's dominance. Dwight was forced to sit again, and the Pacers trailed by 5 at the break.
The second half was a dogfight with MWP, Blake, and Jamison taking the scoring burden. There were several lead changes, but the score was tied at 87 with 1:30 to go in the game. Nash threw a pass to D12 who had secured deep post position for an and-1. On the next Lakers possession Jamison drilled a 3. The Lakers got a stop on the defensive end and Jamison got fouled. He made 1 of 2 free throws. Indiana's George Hill then made a 3, but on the ensuing in bounds play the Lakers beat the Pacer's full court pressure to get a Howard dunk on the other end. It was a free throw shootout from that point on. Great win.
Notables:
The Good:
- Great team win
- Hustle was evident all over the court
- The offense was decisive. Guys looked comfortable and aggressive. Very sharp and crisp.
- D12 was dominant when he was on the court
- Blake, Jamison, and MWP picked up the slack
- Mamba sucked it up for the betterment of the team
- Defense was outstanding
The Bad:
- Nash took a minor injury to his right calf
This was a great win for building chemistry and trust. We even got to see Coach Kobe on the sidelines again (remember last year?). Pray that the Lakers continue to get healthy and then the sky is the limit. The Lakers next play the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Go Lake Show!!!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Lakers at Hawks (3/13/13)
This one wasn't pretty folks. In fact, it got downright ugly at the end of it. The Lakers fell to the Hawks 92-96.
The Lakers had no legs throughout, Dwight was in foul trouble, and they struggled to score against the shorthanded Hawks. All night the Lakers missed open looks. They found themselves down by 14 in the first half. A heroic 3rd quarter from Kobe brought them within reach to start the 4th.
The Lakers took a 4 point lead early in the 4th, but then they took a lot of 3's and pretty much missed them all. Yet they found themselves down by 4 with around 25 seconds to play. Kobe hit another ridiculous turn-around 3 to bring them within 1. They then had to foul to extend the game, and Atlanta's Kyle Korver made 1 of 2 free throws leaving the door wide open for LA. Down by 2, Kobe came down the court guarded by Danhtay Jones. He took one of his patented baseline fade-aways to tie the game and...it missed. Kobe was next seen reeling in pain on the ground. Jones walked under Kobe during his shot, and when Kobe landed he landed on Jones' foot causing him to severely sprain his ankle. No foul called on the play. The Hawks secured the rebound, hit two more free throws, and the game was over.
It simply was a dirty play. It's well known in the sport of basketball that you don't undercut a shooter. It's dangerous. And this play was proof. The NBA should be ashamed of themselves if Jones is not punished (which it doesn't look like he will be). Especially since he has a history of doing these types of dirty plays. He admittedly tripped Kobe in the 2009 playoffs. I mean can you imagine what suspension would have been handed down if this were MWP? Or if the play had injured LeBron? The league has a HUGE double standard and it's honestly a disgrace.
I love the Lakers, but the NBA is the most unscrupulous sports organization there is.
Notables:
The Good:
- Played like crap, but had a chance to win
- Utah also lost, so for the moment the 8th seed is retained
The Bad:
- Earl Clark sprained his ankle
- Kobe sprained his ankle
- Tired legs in the second of a back-to-back
- Brick city from three point land
These injuries couldn't have come at a worse time. The team is finally getting it together, and Pau is on the cusp of a return. They are in the middle of a playoff berth dogfight. Now this. Other players are going to have to step up.
The Lakers had no legs throughout, Dwight was in foul trouble, and they struggled to score against the shorthanded Hawks. All night the Lakers missed open looks. They found themselves down by 14 in the first half. A heroic 3rd quarter from Kobe brought them within reach to start the 4th.
The Lakers took a 4 point lead early in the 4th, but then they took a lot of 3's and pretty much missed them all. Yet they found themselves down by 4 with around 25 seconds to play. Kobe hit another ridiculous turn-around 3 to bring them within 1. They then had to foul to extend the game, and Atlanta's Kyle Korver made 1 of 2 free throws leaving the door wide open for LA. Down by 2, Kobe came down the court guarded by Danhtay Jones. He took one of his patented baseline fade-aways to tie the game and...it missed. Kobe was next seen reeling in pain on the ground. Jones walked under Kobe during his shot, and when Kobe landed he landed on Jones' foot causing him to severely sprain his ankle. No foul called on the play. The Hawks secured the rebound, hit two more free throws, and the game was over.
It simply was a dirty play. It's well known in the sport of basketball that you don't undercut a shooter. It's dangerous. And this play was proof. The NBA should be ashamed of themselves if Jones is not punished (which it doesn't look like he will be). Especially since he has a history of doing these types of dirty plays. He admittedly tripped Kobe in the 2009 playoffs. I mean can you imagine what suspension would have been handed down if this were MWP? Or if the play had injured LeBron? The league has a HUGE double standard and it's honestly a disgrace.
I love the Lakers, but the NBA is the most unscrupulous sports organization there is.
Notables:
The Good:
- Played like crap, but had a chance to win
- Utah also lost, so for the moment the 8th seed is retained
The Bad:
- Earl Clark sprained his ankle
- Kobe sprained his ankle
- Tired legs in the second of a back-to-back
- Brick city from three point land
These injuries couldn't have come at a worse time. The team is finally getting it together, and Pau is on the cusp of a return. They are in the middle of a playoff berth dogfight. Now this. Other players are going to have to step up.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Lakers at Magic (3/12/13)
Suuuuuuppppaaaamaaannnnn IS IN DA BUILDIN!!! This game was all about the return of Dwight Howard to his former home. He did not disappoint in his first game back in Orlando, as the Lakers get the 106-97 win.
All eyes were focused on Mr. Howard to see how he would react to a hostile crowd. After the Lakers last game Kobe Bryant was quoted as saying, "Boos don't block dunks." D12 certainly took that advice to heart. He played with energy and intensity all night. The Lakers looked for him every chance they could. The Magic resorted to the Hack-a-Howard tactic several times tonight. Dwight wound up shooting a ridiculous 39 free throws, tying his own NBA record for most attempts in a single game. He responding by making 25 of them, setting a new Lakers record for most free throws made in a single game. D12 made 16 of 20 in Hack-a-Howard situations. That's just outstanding. Bravo sir. Talk about a plan backfiring. Ouch for Orlando head coach Jacque Vaughn.
There's not much to talk about in regards to the starter's offense tonight. With Orlando doing so much hacking the offense never really got into rhythm. However, when the 2nd unit was in the game they really ran the offense well. Blake and Jamison have great chemistry. It shows every time Jamison slips a screen and Blake rewards him with a pretty pass for a layup. Blake had 8 dimes, and he even took it to the rack once. Impressive. Bench play is especially critical on the road. The Lakers bench did their job tonight.
Notables:
The Good:
- Superman game. 39 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks
- Blake & Jamison was a killer 1-2 punch off the bench
- Pau is getting closer to coming back
The Bad:
- Closed quarters poorly
This game should provide closure for Dwight. He can now breathe a sigh of relief. Can't rest too long though, they'll play Atlanta tomorrow night.
All eyes were focused on Mr. Howard to see how he would react to a hostile crowd. After the Lakers last game Kobe Bryant was quoted as saying, "Boos don't block dunks." D12 certainly took that advice to heart. He played with energy and intensity all night. The Lakers looked for him every chance they could. The Magic resorted to the Hack-a-Howard tactic several times tonight. Dwight wound up shooting a ridiculous 39 free throws, tying his own NBA record for most attempts in a single game. He responding by making 25 of them, setting a new Lakers record for most free throws made in a single game. D12 made 16 of 20 in Hack-a-Howard situations. That's just outstanding. Bravo sir. Talk about a plan backfiring. Ouch for Orlando head coach Jacque Vaughn.
There's not much to talk about in regards to the starter's offense tonight. With Orlando doing so much hacking the offense never really got into rhythm. However, when the 2nd unit was in the game they really ran the offense well. Blake and Jamison have great chemistry. It shows every time Jamison slips a screen and Blake rewards him with a pretty pass for a layup. Blake had 8 dimes, and he even took it to the rack once. Impressive. Bench play is especially critical on the road. The Lakers bench did their job tonight.
Notables:
The Good:
- Superman game. 39 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks
- Blake & Jamison was a killer 1-2 punch off the bench
- Pau is getting closer to coming back
The Bad:
- Closed quarters poorly
This game should provide closure for Dwight. He can now breathe a sigh of relief. Can't rest too long though, they'll play Atlanta tomorrow night.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Lakers vs Bulls (3/10/13)
Another day, another W in Lakers nation. The Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls 90-81 at home in today's matinee game. I was out doing some rock climbing/bouldering an was unable to catch the action. Unfortunately Dancing Barry also wasn't able to do a write-up. :( Here are some quick ones I was able to see from watching highlights.
- Dwight is looking better and better. Maybe he is getting healthier or more comfortable. Probably both.
- Lakers defense was pretty good. They held the Bulls to 81. Probably has a lot to do with the previous point.
- Mamba was in facilitator mode. Probably resting his legs from the last two classic performances.
- Nash is still aggressive offensively and looking great in my opinion.
- Lakers were pretty cold from 3 to throughout. Shot 5-26. Ouch. Lol.
With today's win the Lakers actually have the 8th playoff spot. But nothing is for certain. They can't take anything for granted, and must continue to play well to move up the playoff ladder.
- Dwight is looking better and better. Maybe he is getting healthier or more comfortable. Probably both.
- Lakers defense was pretty good. They held the Bulls to 81. Probably has a lot to do with the previous point.
- Mamba was in facilitator mode. Probably resting his legs from the last two classic performances.
- Nash is still aggressive offensively and looking great in my opinion.
- Lakers were pretty cold from 3 to throughout. Shot 5-26. Ouch. Lol.
With today's win the Lakers actually have the 8th playoff spot. But nothing is for certain. They can't take anything for granted, and must continue to play well to move up the playoff ladder.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Lakers vs Raptors (3/8/13)
The bombs rained down from Vino and Nash as the Lakers tallied yet another come from behind win. This time their victim was the Toronto Raptors, and when the final buzzer rang the score was 118-116 at the end of overtime. I was fortunate enough to catch this one live.
In the first quarter the Lakers D was almost non-existent. They allowed the Raptors to put up 37 points. That's just unacceptable. But considering they featured lineups with Antawn Jamison playing center, the root cause is no mystery. There is just no rim protection and other teams know it. It's like open season for opposing guards. I find myself anxiously awaiting when Dwight can get back in the game to play some defense. In fact, in the 1st and 3rd quarters where Dwight only plays half the quarter, the Lakers gave up 37 and 30 points respectively. In the 2nd and 4th quarters where he plays them all, they only gave up 22 and 20 points. That's a remarkable difference, and it really shows how much this team misses Pau Gasol. (Who is getting healthier BTW).
The Lakers were down by as many as 14 in the 1st half, but they cut the lead to 6 by halftime. Like we've seen before, the Raptors' strategy was to take advantage of their size mismatches. Word is definitely getting out around the league about how to attack the Lakers small ball lineups. Poor Jodie Meeks. The Raptors went to Alan Anderson and DeMar DeRozan on the block against him at every opportunity they could. He fought hard though. At times he was simply over-matched by their size. That's how he wound up with 5 fouls.
That strategy worked well for the Raptors, but they forgot about one thing: Vino. Mamba. Bean. Whatever you want to call him the dude is just flat out cold blooded. With 29 seconds left in the game (Lakers down 4), Kobe caught the ball in the corner and fired a 3 that went straight home. After two Raptors free throws, the Lakers found themselves down 3 again. On the next play Kobe pump faked to get one Raptor in the air, and then let her fly...SWISH! Staples erupted. The Lakers stopped the Raptors on the ensuing play to force overtime. In OT the Lakers were down by three again, but this time Nash came to the rescue. He fired a pull up 3 off the dribble and it was money again. With the game timed tied in OT the Lakers once again turned to Kobe. This time the Raptors were determined to get the ball out his hands. They sent the double team coming from the center Aaron Gray. Their intention was to make Kobe pass. But he used their double team against them. He quickly dribbled around Gray, went into the lane and DUNKED it on 'em! Can't hate on that. Lakers win.
Notables:
The Good:
- Kobe (41 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds)
- 24 points and 13 rebounds for D12
- 22 points is good production from Nash
The Bad:
- Defense when Dwight is out.
- Making bench players from the other team look like all-stars
Good win. And with the Jazz loss, the Lakers are only .5 games back of 8th place.
I'd like to see the Lakers develop some type of defensive scheme to swing the tides in their favor when Dwight is on the bench. Right now that's their biggest weakness.
In the first quarter the Lakers D was almost non-existent. They allowed the Raptors to put up 37 points. That's just unacceptable. But considering they featured lineups with Antawn Jamison playing center, the root cause is no mystery. There is just no rim protection and other teams know it. It's like open season for opposing guards. I find myself anxiously awaiting when Dwight can get back in the game to play some defense. In fact, in the 1st and 3rd quarters where Dwight only plays half the quarter, the Lakers gave up 37 and 30 points respectively. In the 2nd and 4th quarters where he plays them all, they only gave up 22 and 20 points. That's a remarkable difference, and it really shows how much this team misses Pau Gasol. (Who is getting healthier BTW).
The Lakers were down by as many as 14 in the 1st half, but they cut the lead to 6 by halftime. Like we've seen before, the Raptors' strategy was to take advantage of their size mismatches. Word is definitely getting out around the league about how to attack the Lakers small ball lineups. Poor Jodie Meeks. The Raptors went to Alan Anderson and DeMar DeRozan on the block against him at every opportunity they could. He fought hard though. At times he was simply over-matched by their size. That's how he wound up with 5 fouls.
That strategy worked well for the Raptors, but they forgot about one thing: Vino. Mamba. Bean. Whatever you want to call him the dude is just flat out cold blooded. With 29 seconds left in the game (Lakers down 4), Kobe caught the ball in the corner and fired a 3 that went straight home. After two Raptors free throws, the Lakers found themselves down 3 again. On the next play Kobe pump faked to get one Raptor in the air, and then let her fly...SWISH! Staples erupted. The Lakers stopped the Raptors on the ensuing play to force overtime. In OT the Lakers were down by three again, but this time Nash came to the rescue. He fired a pull up 3 off the dribble and it was money again. With the game timed tied in OT the Lakers once again turned to Kobe. This time the Raptors were determined to get the ball out his hands. They sent the double team coming from the center Aaron Gray. Their intention was to make Kobe pass. But he used their double team against them. He quickly dribbled around Gray, went into the lane and DUNKED it on 'em! Can't hate on that. Lakers win.
Notables:
The Good:
- Kobe (41 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds)
- 24 points and 13 rebounds for D12
- 22 points is good production from Nash
The Bad:
- Defense when Dwight is out.
- Making bench players from the other team look like all-stars
Good win. And with the Jazz loss, the Lakers are only .5 games back of 8th place.
I'd like to see the Lakers develop some type of defensive scheme to swing the tides in their favor when Dwight is on the bench. Right now that's their biggest weakness.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Lakers at Pelicans (3/6/13)
Gimme dat! Got 'em coach!! On a MONSTER block by Dwight, the Lakers erased any hope the Pelicans had at evening the score, and went on to win the game 108-102.
Going into the second night of a road back-to-back after a physical game against OKC, it was well known the Lakers would have to dig deep. In the previous game Kobe aggravated his elbow injury. MWP sprained his ankle. Dwight's injuries have been well documented, and even Clark has caught a bit of the bug (see his braces and protective padding). To their credit the Lakers rose to the challenge. After Dwight Howard was forced to sit with early foul trouble in the 2nd quarter, the Lakers found themselves down by as much as 25 points. The game (and their season) was slowly slipping away.
In the 2nd half, the Lakers kept chipping away through Herculean efforts from Kobe Bryant and the huge bench spark or Jodie Meeks. Meanwhile Howard was almost single-handedly revitalizing the defense. His increased effort along with the rest of the team's intensity on that side of the floor changed the momentum of the game. It was instrumental in shutting down the Pelican's pick and roll attack. They held outscored the Pelicans 33-9 in the 4th quarter.
There were several key plays down the stretch. With the game tied at 102-102 Jodie Meeks played great defense of Eric Gordon and forced him to step out of bounds. Then Kobe and Dwight ran the high screen and roll forcing Robin Lopez to switch onto Kobe. In a few previous plays Kobe had attacked the lane HARD off of the screen. Kobe predicted Lopez would play it that way, so he stopped short for the pull up jumper -- money. With LA up 104-10r2 the Pelicans ran another pick and roll with Gordon and Lopez. Meeks got beat off the dribble by Gordon so Howard stepped up to contest the shot. Gordon then passed it down to Lopez who rose for the dunk, but....STUFFED! D12 got the block and recovered the ball. The Lakers called a timeout and then ran a pretty slick in bounds play that had the Pelicans defending the wrong basket. LOL. It gave Kobe a wide open dunk, and that was all she wrote.
Notables:
The Good:
- Vingtage Vino yet again. Putting up 42 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds on 67% shooting is just astounding. Especially at his age. In case you didn't know it, he's special folks...
- D12 was the defensive captain we need him to be. Impressive sir. Most impressive
- Meeks with 19 big points off the bench. His defensive effort was outstanding as well
- Largest deficit comeback win since 2002
The Bad:
- Defense in the first half
- Being down 25 points to anybody
- The Dwight foul trouble trend
People can say what they want about this team, but one thing is certain, they never quit. I think as long as #24 is on the roster that won't change. That will ALWAYS be a very scary thing for the rest of the league. With the win the Lakers pull within 1.5 games of 8th place and 2.5 games from 7th. Just gotta keep it up boys...
Going into the second night of a road back-to-back after a physical game against OKC, it was well known the Lakers would have to dig deep. In the previous game Kobe aggravated his elbow injury. MWP sprained his ankle. Dwight's injuries have been well documented, and even Clark has caught a bit of the bug (see his braces and protective padding). To their credit the Lakers rose to the challenge. After Dwight Howard was forced to sit with early foul trouble in the 2nd quarter, the Lakers found themselves down by as much as 25 points. The game (and their season) was slowly slipping away.
In the 2nd half, the Lakers kept chipping away through Herculean efforts from Kobe Bryant and the huge bench spark or Jodie Meeks. Meanwhile Howard was almost single-handedly revitalizing the defense. His increased effort along with the rest of the team's intensity on that side of the floor changed the momentum of the game. It was instrumental in shutting down the Pelican's pick and roll attack. They held outscored the Pelicans 33-9 in the 4th quarter.
There were several key plays down the stretch. With the game tied at 102-102 Jodie Meeks played great defense of Eric Gordon and forced him to step out of bounds. Then Kobe and Dwight ran the high screen and roll forcing Robin Lopez to switch onto Kobe. In a few previous plays Kobe had attacked the lane HARD off of the screen. Kobe predicted Lopez would play it that way, so he stopped short for the pull up jumper -- money. With LA up 104-10r2 the Pelicans ran another pick and roll with Gordon and Lopez. Meeks got beat off the dribble by Gordon so Howard stepped up to contest the shot. Gordon then passed it down to Lopez who rose for the dunk, but....STUFFED! D12 got the block and recovered the ball. The Lakers called a timeout and then ran a pretty slick in bounds play that had the Pelicans defending the wrong basket. LOL. It gave Kobe a wide open dunk, and that was all she wrote.
Notables:
The Good:
- Vingtage Vino yet again. Putting up 42 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds on 67% shooting is just astounding. Especially at his age. In case you didn't know it, he's special folks...
- D12 was the defensive captain we need him to be. Impressive sir. Most impressive
- Meeks with 19 big points off the bench. His defensive effort was outstanding as well
- Largest deficit comeback win since 2002
The Bad:
- Defense in the first half
- Being down 25 points to anybody
- The Dwight foul trouble trend
People can say what they want about this team, but one thing is certain, they never quit. I think as long as #24 is on the roster that won't change. That will ALWAYS be a very scary thing for the rest of the league. With the win the Lakers pull within 1.5 games of 8th place and 2.5 games from 7th. Just gotta keep it up boys...
Lakers at Thunder (3/5/13)
Ran out of gas. The Lakers couldn't score in the final 6 minutes and lost the contest 105-120 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They were within 5 points prior to that stretch after being behind by as many as 18.
I only caught the game in spurts, so I'll defer the review to good old DancingBarry:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Tonight they'll face the Hornets on the road. It should be tough on their older legs, but they'll need to use their second wind to bring home the W.
I only caught the game in spurts, so I'll defer the review to good old DancingBarry:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Tonight they'll face the Hornets on the road. It should be tough on their older legs, but they'll need to use their second wind to bring home the W.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Lakers vs Hawks (3/3/13)
Hawks? Klosed. The Mamba struck again spewing venom as he did it, and the Lakers defeated the Hawks in a thriller 99-98.
The Hawks strategy in this game was to fast break the Lakers to death, and also take advantage of their size mis-matches. They went repeatedly to Al Horford over MWP or Jamison, and Josh Smith over Kobe. They had some success doing that. The downside to their strategy was that it took away their strength of running their point guard Jeff Teague in the pick & roll. Historically the Lakers have had trouble defending the pick & roll with speedy point guards. The Lakers did their best to defend with a much smaller team.
The Lakers led by as many as 16 points in the 3rd quarter, but they let Hawks back in the game by turning the ball over. It led up to a tie ball game with about 2 minutes to go. And that's when the Mamba struck. He threw down a MONSTROUS jam over Josh Smith that fired up the team. In each ensuing possession he drove to the rack repeatedly either scoring or drawing a foul. A miscommunication between Dwight Howard and MWP allowed a wide open layup for Al Horford, and the Hawks led 98-97. On the next play Kobe took Horford to the rack and scored again with an acrobatic finish. That the Hawks with the ball down by 1 with 9 seconds remaining. It was time for a defensive stop. A similar play was run by the Hawks, this time getting Josh Smith a wide open look under the basket. Fortunately he fumbled the pass. The Lakers then swarmed him, and tipped the ball when he tried to pass it out. Steve Blake intercepted the pass and that was all she wrote.
Notables:
The Good:
- Some retro #8 Frobe dunks in this game. (Recommend you watch the highlights if you missed it)
- Nash looked VERY aggressive tonight, and every point was needed
- Solid contributions from MWP and Jamison
- Got a win despite a lot of missed easy ones, and miscues
The Bad:
- 21 turnovers
- Offense was stagnant at times
- Bench was outplayed
The Lakers next play OKC in Oklahoma on Tuesday. As Kobe said in the post game interview, "Let's get it on." Vintage Vino.
The Hawks strategy in this game was to fast break the Lakers to death, and also take advantage of their size mis-matches. They went repeatedly to Al Horford over MWP or Jamison, and Josh Smith over Kobe. They had some success doing that. The downside to their strategy was that it took away their strength of running their point guard Jeff Teague in the pick & roll. Historically the Lakers have had trouble defending the pick & roll with speedy point guards. The Lakers did their best to defend with a much smaller team.
The Lakers led by as many as 16 points in the 3rd quarter, but they let Hawks back in the game by turning the ball over. It led up to a tie ball game with about 2 minutes to go. And that's when the Mamba struck. He threw down a MONSTROUS jam over Josh Smith that fired up the team. In each ensuing possession he drove to the rack repeatedly either scoring or drawing a foul. A miscommunication between Dwight Howard and MWP allowed a wide open layup for Al Horford, and the Hawks led 98-97. On the next play Kobe took Horford to the rack and scored again with an acrobatic finish. That the Hawks with the ball down by 1 with 9 seconds remaining. It was time for a defensive stop. A similar play was run by the Hawks, this time getting Josh Smith a wide open look under the basket. Fortunately he fumbled the pass. The Lakers then swarmed him, and tipped the ball when he tried to pass it out. Steve Blake intercepted the pass and that was all she wrote.
Notables:
The Good:
- Some retro #8 Frobe dunks in this game. (Recommend you watch the highlights if you missed it)
- Nash looked VERY aggressive tonight, and every point was needed
- Solid contributions from MWP and Jamison
- Got a win despite a lot of missed easy ones, and miscues
The Bad:
- 21 turnovers
- Offense was stagnant at times
- Bench was outplayed
The Lakers next play OKC in Oklahoma on Tuesday. As Kobe said in the post game interview, "Let's get it on." Vintage Vino.
Lakers vs Timberwolves (2/28/13)
The Lakers got another win over the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-94 Thursday night. It marked the Lakers 21st straight victory over Minnesota. Lakers shot lights out from downtown (16 for 32). I was out of town, so check Dancing Barry's review for the game:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Their next opponent is the Atlanta Hawks, which they will play tonight. The Lakers are currently 2.5 games back of Houston for the 8th playoff spot so every game counts. They've got to get this one tonight.
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Their next opponent is the Atlanta Hawks, which they will play tonight. The Lakers are currently 2.5 games back of Houston for the 8th playoff spot so every game counts. They've got to get this one tonight.
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