Missed free throws, turnovers, and another Dwight injury is the strory in this one. The Lakers dropped another game, falling this time 86-92 at the hands of the Suns. Check DancingBarry's review:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
The Lakers blew a 13 point 4th quarter lead. Dwight Howard left the game with a re-aggravated shoulder injury with about 7 minutes to play and the Lakers up by 5. He'll be re-evaluated this morning.
Kobe Bryant posted this comment on his Twitter and Facebook after the game: "We r on track. Gave one away tonight, let it slip away from us but I like how we are playing as a team. It will all come together this way". He had 9 asssists in the game.
Even with better play as of late there will be bumps in the road like this. The Lakers just don't have much margin for error at this point.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Lakers vs Hornets (Pelicans) (1/29/13)
If this is how the Lakers have resolved to play, well then pull those pants up and let's roll Lake Show! The Lakers won for the 3rd straight game 111-106 against the New Orleans Hor-- err the New Orleans Pelicans.
The great team ball movement/player movement continued as the Lakers got essentially whatever they wanted on offense all night. New Orleans struggled to guard the pick and roll. The Lakers picked them apart finding open shooters and cutters all night. The Lakers defense was also stifling. Dwight Howard ended the night with 5 steals. There were a few break downs here and there, but overall it was good until the middle of the fourth when the team collectively fell asleep.
Kobe had 11 assists. Nash shot 3/4 from 3 point land, including the clutch 3 to fend off the Pelican come back off the feed from Clark. Dwight had 24 points. The bench contributed heavily with great play from Jamison, Meeks, and Gasol. Blake played decently in his return. The player of the game though is the Duke of Earl with a stat line of 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. This kid is ballin.
Notables:
The Good:
- Great team play througout
- Can't say enough about the player/ball movement
- Kobe's highest assist total through 3 games for his entire career
- It looks like the rotations and roles are settled
- Good job contesting shots on D
The Bad:
- Putrid free throw shooting
- Went too long in the fourth without going inside to Dwight. The team fell asleep defensively as well after going up 18 in the fourth (led to the lead being cut to 1).
It's nice to see the team continue to play the right way. Especially when they blew the 18 point lead. They didn't panic and go back to how they were playing before. It was a great sign. Now just continue it.
The great team ball movement/player movement continued as the Lakers got essentially whatever they wanted on offense all night. New Orleans struggled to guard the pick and roll. The Lakers picked them apart finding open shooters and cutters all night. The Lakers defense was also stifling. Dwight Howard ended the night with 5 steals. There were a few break downs here and there, but overall it was good until the middle of the fourth when the team collectively fell asleep.
Kobe had 11 assists. Nash shot 3/4 from 3 point land, including the clutch 3 to fend off the Pelican come back off the feed from Clark. Dwight had 24 points. The bench contributed heavily with great play from Jamison, Meeks, and Gasol. Blake played decently in his return. The player of the game though is the Duke of Earl with a stat line of 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. This kid is ballin.
Notables:
The Good:
- Great team play througout
- Can't say enough about the player/ball movement
- Kobe's highest assist total through 3 games for his entire career
- It looks like the rotations and roles are settled
- Good job contesting shots on D
The Bad:
- Putrid free throw shooting
- Went too long in the fourth without going inside to Dwight. The team fell asleep defensively as well after going up 18 in the fourth (led to the lead being cut to 1).
It's nice to see the team continue to play the right way. Especially when they blew the 18 point lead. They didn't panic and go back to how they were playing before. It was a great sign. Now just continue it.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Lakers vs Thunder (1/28/13)
Could this be? Do my eyes deceive me? Has this Lakers team found an identity?
Today they beat the Thunder 105-96. It was a must win, as are the rest of the games for the Lakers, because of the huge hole the Lakers have dug for themselves this year. The team showed up and showed us not only what they're made of, but what they're capable of doing. If they continue to play like this, there will be no problems contending for a title. They played hard, they played smart, and they played together. Like any competent basketball team should.
Coach D'Antoni has made some adjustments over the last few games that I think have been crucial. First of all, starting Clark and bringing Pau off the bench has several benefits. It adds athleticism and defensive versatility to the starting lineup. It adds a clear number one option off of the bench (Pau). It allows the Lakers to have a post threat in the game at all times. And lastly, it gives Pau more rest and more time in the post where he is most effective.
Everyone will point to Kobe's 14 assists in the last two games (each) and say he has become a more willing passer. The truth is he has always been a willing passer. Except he ain't passing it if you're not going to do anything with it. The biggest adjustment I saw the Lakers make today was to MOVE when Kobe gets doubled or tripled. Finally players were cutting and diving to the rim. Kobe is an intelligent enough ball player to find them, and he did. BOOM. 14 assists. It's simple. If they can continue to cut off ball, there is no guarding the Lakers. Anyone remember that '08 Lakers team when we first got Pau? If you don't go back and watch how Lamar Odom would dive off ball and receive dime after dime from the Mamba. Same thing.
Notables:
The Good:
- Solid defensive scheme and effort
- Great cutting off ball
- Great bench play
- Mental toughness
The Bad:
- Poor free throw shooting
- Foul trouble for Howard
Bottom line is, despite their record the Lakers still have a chance. They MUST continue to play like this. They really only have 1 critical weakness when they play to their potential. #GoLakeShow
Today they beat the Thunder 105-96. It was a must win, as are the rest of the games for the Lakers, because of the huge hole the Lakers have dug for themselves this year. The team showed up and showed us not only what they're made of, but what they're capable of doing. If they continue to play like this, there will be no problems contending for a title. They played hard, they played smart, and they played together. Like any competent basketball team should.
Coach D'Antoni has made some adjustments over the last few games that I think have been crucial. First of all, starting Clark and bringing Pau off the bench has several benefits. It adds athleticism and defensive versatility to the starting lineup. It adds a clear number one option off of the bench (Pau). It allows the Lakers to have a post threat in the game at all times. And lastly, it gives Pau more rest and more time in the post where he is most effective.
Everyone will point to Kobe's 14 assists in the last two games (each) and say he has become a more willing passer. The truth is he has always been a willing passer. Except he ain't passing it if you're not going to do anything with it. The biggest adjustment I saw the Lakers make today was to MOVE when Kobe gets doubled or tripled. Finally players were cutting and diving to the rim. Kobe is an intelligent enough ball player to find them, and he did. BOOM. 14 assists. It's simple. If they can continue to cut off ball, there is no guarding the Lakers. Anyone remember that '08 Lakers team when we first got Pau? If you don't go back and watch how Lamar Odom would dive off ball and receive dime after dime from the Mamba. Same thing.
Notables:
The Good:
- Solid defensive scheme and effort
- Great cutting off ball
- Great bench play
- Mental toughness
The Bad:
- Poor free throw shooting
- Foul trouble for Howard
Bottom line is, despite their record the Lakers still have a chance. They MUST continue to play like this. They really only have 1 critical weakness when they play to their potential. #GoLakeShow
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Lakers vs Jazz (1/25/13)
Missed this one, but I had to watch the highlights! The Lakers beat the Jazz 102-84. Kobe messed around almost got a triple double (14 points, 14 assists, 9 rebounds). The rest of the team's scoring was well balanced, and most importantly they played great defense. Check DancingBarry's review:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Now the only question is can the Lakers continue this sort of play? If they can they would certainly make the playoffs and be the team the fans have dreamed of since the off-season.
They'll face the best team in the west on Sunday, giving them the perfect opportunity to show us what they're made of.
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
Now the only question is can the Lakers continue this sort of play? If they can they would certainly make the playoffs and be the team the fans have dreamed of since the off-season.
They'll face the best team in the west on Sunday, giving them the perfect opportunity to show us what they're made of.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Lakers at Grizzlies (1/23/13)
A Wednesday road game is almost impossible for me to catch. Check DancingBarry's review: DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
The team fought hard in the first quarter, struggled in the second, and then Howard went down again with another shoulder injury.
It ain't pretty. And that's an understatement. Tough times for Laker Nation.
The team fought hard in the first quarter, struggled in the second, and then Howard went down again with another shoulder injury.
It ain't pretty. And that's an understatement. Tough times for Laker Nation.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Lakers at Bulls (1/21/13)
Broken record....broken record. Played like crap and another loss. It was tied going into the fourth, and the Lakers melted down. They dropped tonight's game 83-95.
There's a ton of stuff I could analyze, but it matters not. Stu Lantz pretty much summed it up when he asked the question "Do they believe in themselves?" It doesn't look like they do. If you don't have confidence in yourself, you will suck at basketball (or any sport for that matter)- point blank. The Lakers are playing with zero confidence.
Notables:
The Good:
- Clark was solid
- Pau looked good in his bench role
- Nash was more aggressive shooting wise
The Bad:
- Kobe still had no legs. Poor shooting
- Dwight had an awful game. Get stripped waaay too much
- Made Kirk look like an all star
- Poor defensive communication
Final verdict?....
Expect a trade soon.
There's a ton of stuff I could analyze, but it matters not. Stu Lantz pretty much summed it up when he asked the question "Do they believe in themselves?" It doesn't look like they do. If you don't have confidence in yourself, you will suck at basketball (or any sport for that matter)- point blank. The Lakers are playing with zero confidence.
Notables:
The Good:
- Clark was solid
- Pau looked good in his bench role
- Nash was more aggressive shooting wise
The Bad:
- Kobe still had no legs. Poor shooting
- Dwight had an awful game. Get stripped waaay too much
- Made Kirk look like an all star
- Poor defensive communication
Final verdict?....
Expect a trade soon.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Lakers at Raptors (1/20/13)
I missed the game today as it started at 10am PST. Unfortunately Dancing Barry from Lakersground.net also missed the game. Even more unfortunate is the Lakers lost 103-108.
Cold shooting night for Kobe, ejection from Dwight after 17 minutes of play, and this is the result.
The Lakers are still 2 1/2 games out of 8th place. They've got a lot of work to do. They'll get another shot tomorrow against the Bulls.
Cold shooting night for Kobe, ejection from Dwight after 17 minutes of play, and this is the result.
The Lakers are still 2 1/2 games out of 8th place. They've got a lot of work to do. They'll get another shot tomorrow against the Bulls.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Lakers vs Heat (1/17/13)
The Lakers put forth a good effort, but they got beat by the defending champion Heat tonight 90-99. With a much smaller lineup, the Heat played their usual high pressure defense to combat the Lakers size. In the same way we saw Kobe ball hawking opposing point guards to disrupt their offense, Miami jumped out on every Nash screen roll. It was effective most of the night.
The Lakers defense wasn't too shabby either. It was their 16 turnovers in the first half that did them in. Kobe was also not shooting well throughout the first two quarters. So at the break they led by only 1 despite holding Miami to 2/28 outside the paint.
Miami opened up 9 point lead in the 4th, but Kobe started hitting his shots and the Lakers tied the game at 90 apiece. From there the Lakers couldn't counter Miami's pressure defense and got some poor possessions. Wade, Allen, and LeBron hit jumpers to seal it.
Notables:
The Good:
- Dwight was dominant when the Lakers were able to pass it to him
- Pau looked decently aggressive on offense
- Good effort overall
The Bad:
- Too many turnovers, and a lot were unforced
- No halftime adjustment to the Heat D
- It's another loss
First, I want to see the Lakers' coaches scheme properly to beat pressure defense. Secondly, in the 3rd when LeBron started dominating (with no Howard on the court) why didn't somebody foul him? Pau especially because he was the Lakers' rim defender. When a guy is bulldozing to the rim at will somebody has got to lay him on his back. I'm not saying make a dirty play, but take a good solid foul. Maybe make him think twice before driving the lane. I don't know, that's just how I was taught to play the game.
The Lakers defense wasn't too shabby either. It was their 16 turnovers in the first half that did them in. Kobe was also not shooting well throughout the first two quarters. So at the break they led by only 1 despite holding Miami to 2/28 outside the paint.
Miami opened up 9 point lead in the 4th, but Kobe started hitting his shots and the Lakers tied the game at 90 apiece. From there the Lakers couldn't counter Miami's pressure defense and got some poor possessions. Wade, Allen, and LeBron hit jumpers to seal it.
Notables:
The Good:
- Dwight was dominant when the Lakers were able to pass it to him
- Pau looked decently aggressive on offense
- Good effort overall
The Bad:
- Too many turnovers, and a lot were unforced
- No halftime adjustment to the Heat D
- It's another loss
First, I want to see the Lakers' coaches scheme properly to beat pressure defense. Secondly, in the 3rd when LeBron started dominating (with no Howard on the court) why didn't somebody foul him? Pau especially because he was the Lakers' rim defender. When a guy is bulldozing to the rim at will somebody has got to lay him on his back. I'm not saying make a dirty play, but take a good solid foul. Maybe make him think twice before driving the lane. I don't know, that's just how I was taught to play the game.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Lakers vs Bucks (1/15/13)
The Lakers got the win 104-88 tonight, and it started with their defense. In fact, I liked their defense so much I'm not even going to talk about their offense. Ok maybe I'll talk about the offense a little bit because it was good too :).
Since the Cavs game on Sunday, the Lakers have decided to have Kobe match-up with the opposing team's best guard. It worked on Sunday, and it worked again tonight. With the way the rules are, it's almost impossible to stop elite NBA point guards. But what Kobe is doing defensively is nearly just as effective. He is picking up them up full court in an attempt to get the ball out of their hands. He may be slower than them, but his length gives them trouble as well. The Lakers also bring a second defender into the driving lane, choosing to leave a player open. The opposing PG almost has no choice but to give the ball up to the open man since it's the right "basketball play." However once they do, that forces the player who receives the pass to then become the facilitator (provided the defense rotates quickly), which they are normally not comfortable with. Put simply, it disrupts their offense. The results: Jennings shot 4-14 from the floor. And like Coach D'Antoni mentioned it even seems to gets Kobe more wired up for offense if you can believe that. The downside is it creates mis-matches for the Lakers as well. Tonight Nash had to guard M'bah a Moute who is around 6'8". However Dwight is always ready in the help position. Credit the Lakers' defense for the win tonight. Lots of effort, hustle, and communication defensively. It should also be noted Earl Clarke did a great job making Monta Ellis work for everything.
On offense the Lakers shared the basketball well. Went inside early and often. Dwight and Kobe both had 31 points shooting 78% and 63% respectively. In the first half the Lakers had 14 assists on 15 made baskets. They had 30 total assists for the game. That's what Coach D'Antoni's offense should look like.
The only thing I'm worried about now is what the defense will look like when Pau returns. He is a better overall player than Clarke, but his diminished athleticism due to injury and age make Clarke the better defensive fit. The Lakers rotations won't be nearly as quick. I think the best bet is to Bring Pau in off the bench. It gives the Lakers a legit 6th man, and a put Pau in the post where he is most effective. We'll see what Coach D'Antoni decides.
Notables:
The Good:
- Doberman style team defense
- Offensive execution
- Good job by Steve, Earl, and Kobe guarding out of position
- Dwight great all around game
- Only 8 turnovers
The Bad:
- Gave up too many offensive rebounds
- Sometimes the Lakers took bad early 3's without anyone in rebounding position
- Bench lull at the end of the 1st quarter let the Buck back in the game
The defending champs come in to Staples on Thursday. Let's see what the Lakers can do against them...
Since the Cavs game on Sunday, the Lakers have decided to have Kobe match-up with the opposing team's best guard. It worked on Sunday, and it worked again tonight. With the way the rules are, it's almost impossible to stop elite NBA point guards. But what Kobe is doing defensively is nearly just as effective. He is picking up them up full court in an attempt to get the ball out of their hands. He may be slower than them, but his length gives them trouble as well. The Lakers also bring a second defender into the driving lane, choosing to leave a player open. The opposing PG almost has no choice but to give the ball up to the open man since it's the right "basketball play." However once they do, that forces the player who receives the pass to then become the facilitator (provided the defense rotates quickly), which they are normally not comfortable with. Put simply, it disrupts their offense. The results: Jennings shot 4-14 from the floor. And like Coach D'Antoni mentioned it even seems to gets Kobe more wired up for offense if you can believe that. The downside is it creates mis-matches for the Lakers as well. Tonight Nash had to guard M'bah a Moute who is around 6'8". However Dwight is always ready in the help position. Credit the Lakers' defense for the win tonight. Lots of effort, hustle, and communication defensively. It should also be noted Earl Clarke did a great job making Monta Ellis work for everything.
On offense the Lakers shared the basketball well. Went inside early and often. Dwight and Kobe both had 31 points shooting 78% and 63% respectively. In the first half the Lakers had 14 assists on 15 made baskets. They had 30 total assists for the game. That's what Coach D'Antoni's offense should look like.
The only thing I'm worried about now is what the defense will look like when Pau returns. He is a better overall player than Clarke, but his diminished athleticism due to injury and age make Clarke the better defensive fit. The Lakers rotations won't be nearly as quick. I think the best bet is to Bring Pau in off the bench. It gives the Lakers a legit 6th man, and a put Pau in the post where he is most effective. We'll see what Coach D'Antoni decides.
Notables:
The Good:
- Doberman style team defense
- Offensive execution
- Good job by Steve, Earl, and Kobe guarding out of position
- Dwight great all around game
- Only 8 turnovers
The Bad:
- Gave up too many offensive rebounds
- Sometimes the Lakers took bad early 3's without anyone in rebounding position
- Bench lull at the end of the 1st quarter let the Buck back in the game
The defending champs come in to Staples on Thursday. Let's see what the Lakers can do against them...
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Lakers vs Cavs (1/13/13)
Didn't matter who it was against the Lakers needed a win badly. Through good ball movement and player movement, the Lakers got what they needed winning 113-93. It also didn't hurt having Dwight Howard back :).
Howard had 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks in around 30 min. Kobe was looking for him early and often. This set the tone for the game. They dominated from start to finish in large part due to sharing the ball properly. The result was ending the night one assist shy of their season high (32). The Duke of Earl again produced putting up 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Does a stat line like that sound familiar? It does to me because it screams Lamar Odom. The Lakers may have found a diamond in the rough here.
Notables:
The Good:
- Ball movement and player movement. I love the dives to the basket whenever Kobe got doubled. A MUST
- Dwight was dominant inside
- Duke of Earl continued his trend of playing well
- Jamison added 16 off the bench
- Kobe only had to play 28 minutes
- Active defense
The Bad:
- 22 is too many turnovers
- Too many offensive rebounds given up
Everyone has written the Lakers off at this point. Calling them a failed experiment. A team with superstars that can't get along. Old. Slow. Not good enough.
I believe it's up to them to write their own history.
Howard had 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks in around 30 min. Kobe was looking for him early and often. This set the tone for the game. They dominated from start to finish in large part due to sharing the ball properly. The result was ending the night one assist shy of their season high (32). The Duke of Earl again produced putting up 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Does a stat line like that sound familiar? It does to me because it screams Lamar Odom. The Lakers may have found a diamond in the rough here.
Notables:
The Good:
- Ball movement and player movement. I love the dives to the basket whenever Kobe got doubled. A MUST
- Dwight was dominant inside
- Duke of Earl continued his trend of playing well
- Jamison added 16 off the bench
- Kobe only had to play 28 minutes
- Active defense
The Bad:
- 22 is too many turnovers
- Too many offensive rebounds given up
Everyone has written the Lakers off at this point. Calling them a failed experiment. A team with superstars that can't get along. Old. Slow. Not good enough.
I believe it's up to them to write their own history.
Lakers vs Thunder (1/11/13)
Missed the game due to a busy Friday night. It definitely wasn't expected to be a win playing against the Thunder with the rash of injuries the Lakers have suffered throughout the season. Check Dancing Barry's review from Lakersground:
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
They desperately need a win, and they'll have a shot today playing against the Cavaliers.
DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
They desperately need a win, and they'll have a shot today playing against the Cavaliers.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Lakers at Spurs (1/9/13)
A valiant effort tonight, but alas, no W. The Lakers lost a tough battle tonight against the San Antonio Spurs on the road in the second of a back to back. They fell 105-108 in their second game without their entire front court (Howard, Gasol, and Hill). Steve Blake is also still out and recovering from surgery.
They fell behind by double digits multiple times, but they never quit. A team as shorthanded as the Lakers needs to play desperate. They definitely delivered in the energy aspect. Kobe's shot was off to start the game (as well as his free throws), but MWP and Nash kept the team afloat. Kobe turned it on again in the second half after getting a technical foul for complaining about a no call on a drive to the hoop. The Lakers missed several defensive assignments throughout (Kobe a few times) leading to easy buckets for San Antonio. Earl Clark was undoubtedly the game's hero for the Lakers by putting up 22 points and 13 rebounds. It was an extraordinary effort from the Lakers's 4th string PF. When opportunities arise, guys have to step up, and that's what he did.
The Lakers were able to cut the deficit to 3 with about 2 1/2 minutes to go (from 17). They even got multiple consecutive stops from that point on. The only problem was they failed to convert on the other end. MWP missed a layup in a 4 on 2 break. Jamison missed a corner 3 on a feed from Nash. Then Ginobli hit a 3 to put the Spurs up 6. Earl Clarke responded with a 3 of his own and the Lakers got another stop. Kobe took a tough 3 that went long, and the rebound was tapped out to Clarke who missed a last second attempt.
Notables:
The Good:
- Career night for Clarke. Hopefully he can continue to play well while the other bigs get healthy. He also played excellent defense on Ginobli
- Solid effort
- 4th Q defense
The Bad:
- Too many missed assignments
- Too many second chance points allowed
- Missed shots in the final 2 minutes
The Lakers have lost to the Spurs by a combined 5 points this season. The first meeting they had no Nash and no coach. This time they had no Pau, Dwight, or Hill. Unfortunately all that matters is that they count as 2 losses on a horrible record.
They fell behind by double digits multiple times, but they never quit. A team as shorthanded as the Lakers needs to play desperate. They definitely delivered in the energy aspect. Kobe's shot was off to start the game (as well as his free throws), but MWP and Nash kept the team afloat. Kobe turned it on again in the second half after getting a technical foul for complaining about a no call on a drive to the hoop. The Lakers missed several defensive assignments throughout (Kobe a few times) leading to easy buckets for San Antonio. Earl Clark was undoubtedly the game's hero for the Lakers by putting up 22 points and 13 rebounds. It was an extraordinary effort from the Lakers's 4th string PF. When opportunities arise, guys have to step up, and that's what he did.
The Lakers were able to cut the deficit to 3 with about 2 1/2 minutes to go (from 17). They even got multiple consecutive stops from that point on. The only problem was they failed to convert on the other end. MWP missed a layup in a 4 on 2 break. Jamison missed a corner 3 on a feed from Nash. Then Ginobli hit a 3 to put the Spurs up 6. Earl Clarke responded with a 3 of his own and the Lakers got another stop. Kobe took a tough 3 that went long, and the rebound was tapped out to Clarke who missed a last second attempt.
Notables:
The Good:
- Career night for Clarke. Hopefully he can continue to play well while the other bigs get healthy. He also played excellent defense on Ginobli
- Solid effort
- 4th Q defense
The Bad:
- Too many missed assignments
- Too many second chance points allowed
- Missed shots in the final 2 minutes
The Lakers have lost to the Spurs by a combined 5 points this season. The first meeting they had no Nash and no coach. This time they had no Pau, Dwight, or Hill. Unfortunately all that matters is that they count as 2 losses on a horrible record.
Lakers at Rockets (1/8/13)
Missed the game due to the earlier start time. Check Dancing Barry's review: DancingBarry's Thoughts and Smiley Ratings
With their best 3 bigs out due to injury (Pau, Dwight, and Hill), AND the team already struggling there was not much to expect in this loss.
Congratualtions on Nash getting to 10,000 assists for his career. I'm sure he's much more concerned with his team's place in the standings however...
With their best 3 bigs out due to injury (Pau, Dwight, and Hill), AND the team already struggling there was not much to expect in this loss.
Congratualtions on Nash getting to 10,000 assists for his career. I'm sure he's much more concerned with his team's place in the standings however...
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Lakers vs Nuggets (1/6/13)
There's not even a point to writing a game summary tonight. It's the same as the last game, and the same as in most of the Lakers' losses: poor defensive communication, disjointed offense, and getting generally out hustled by the other team. The Lakers lost 105-110. Down the stretch they had an opportunity with Howard getting a key block, however, after he secured the ball he threw a bad pass that was intercepted and scored by the Nuggets. So far, that play has been a microcosm for the Lakers' season. Fans can only pray at some point they turn it around. I still believe they can.
Notables:
The Good:
- Nash looked a little more aggressive which I liked.
- Offense in the first half looked pretty good. 19 assists as a team
- Earl Clark coming in cold and hitting 2 free throws after he was chosen by Coach Karl (due to the injury to Pau)
-The Lakers forwards played well in the first half
The Bad:
- Too many offensive rebounds allowed
- Too many points in the paint allowed
- Poor transition defense
- 18 turnovers
- Falling further below .500
At this point the Lakers can either pack it in and fold or suck it up, get back to the drawing board, and get to work son! We'll see which path they choose.
Notables:
The Good:
- Nash looked a little more aggressive which I liked.
- Offense in the first half looked pretty good. 19 assists as a team
- Earl Clark coming in cold and hitting 2 free throws after he was chosen by Coach Karl (due to the injury to Pau)
-The Lakers forwards played well in the first half
The Bad:
- Too many offensive rebounds allowed
- Too many points in the paint allowed
- Poor transition defense
- 18 turnovers
- Falling further below .500
At this point the Lakers can either pack it in and fold or suck it up, get back to the drawing board, and get to work son! We'll see which path they choose.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Lakers at Clippers (1/4/13)
The Lakers were looking forward to this game as a measuring stick. They got their answer. They're good, but they're not quite there yet as a team. They fell to the first place Clippers 102-107. Although the Lakers never led, they battled back from 18 and 19 point deficits. Amongst a bevy clutch buckets from Bryant, and a clutch 3 from Nash, the Lakers pulled within 2 (97-99) with about a minute left in the game. CP3 drove to the hoop and was blocked by MWP, but a foul was called on Dwight Howard. It was his sixth foul so he had to leave the contest. On the next play Kobe attempted a tough 3 that barely rimmed out. Chris Paul made 2 free throws to extend their lead to 6. Jodie Meeks hit a 3 pointer on the following play, but CP3 made his free throws from then out, effectively ending the game.
Early on in the game the Lakers were force feeding Dwight. These were mostly post looks. It was a good strategy because Dwight was scoring and getting the Clippers frontcourt into foul trouble. The only problem was the Lakers defense couldn't get stops on the other end. They went into the second down 22-29. It was a manageable deficit. To start the second however Coach D'Antoni went with a Morris, Meeks, Peace, Gasol, Howard lineup. As color announcer Stu Lance pointed out, Coach D'Antoni should always have at least Bryant or Nash in the back court, and Gasol or Howard in the front court. In that manner you always have at least 1 shot creator and 1 inside threat on the court at all times. I couldn't agree more. Especially with Blake and Duhon out, the Lakers have no facilitator on the second unit. The Clippers were able to expand their 7 point lead to an 18 point lead during that stretch, until Bryant and Nash re-entered the game. When their two hall-of-fame guards came back in, they cut the 18 point lead down to 4 (which the Clippers were able to push back to 10 by the half).
The Lakers struck quick with a 7-0 run to start the 3rd, but the Clippers responded with a 7-0 run of their own. Then the Lakers found themselves down 19 points in the 3rd, but fought back to bring it within 2 before the crunch time moments I described earlier. There were also some injury scare moments with Howard (shoulder) and Jordan Hill (ankle). They will be evaluated soon.
Notables:
The Good:
- The Lakers showed some heart coming back from big deficits. Ideally they would keep falling behind by double digits though.
- The Mamba was clutch and efficient all game (15/25 FG). Only 1 or 2 of his shots was forced.
- Nash shot the ball really well. I would like to see him shoot more.
- Jordan Hill gave a big spark off the bench. He's part of the reason the Lakers bench almost matched the Clippers bench (27 points vs 30 points). Although it should be noted the Clippers were without Jamal Crawford
The Bad:
- The Lakers gave up too many offensive rebounds
- Poor performances from Pau and Metta. Both shot 1/6 from the floor. There was one play where Pau received a pass 2 feet from the rim, and he couldn't even jump to shoot. His health issues are serious.
- Inconsistent play offensively and defensively.
- Lack of player movement offensively
- No defined team "style." Are they uptempo, slow it down, in the middle?
- Why wait till the 4th to play bettter defense?
- Dwight still looks way less than 100%.
Adjustments still need to be made strategically. I liked the Dwight guarding Griffin matchup in the 4th. I didn't like Nash and Bryant sitting to start the second. I'm still worried about the Spanish Wonder Pau fitting in. I think when fully healthy, he's versatile enough to do it, even being naturally a little flat footed. But it's clear he's not and it makes the team very slow on defensive rotations. The front office is probably entertaining trade ideas at the moment. Hopefully he can get healthy and do what he does best, play basketball at a high level.
Early on in the game the Lakers were force feeding Dwight. These were mostly post looks. It was a good strategy because Dwight was scoring and getting the Clippers frontcourt into foul trouble. The only problem was the Lakers defense couldn't get stops on the other end. They went into the second down 22-29. It was a manageable deficit. To start the second however Coach D'Antoni went with a Morris, Meeks, Peace, Gasol, Howard lineup. As color announcer Stu Lance pointed out, Coach D'Antoni should always have at least Bryant or Nash in the back court, and Gasol or Howard in the front court. In that manner you always have at least 1 shot creator and 1 inside threat on the court at all times. I couldn't agree more. Especially with Blake and Duhon out, the Lakers have no facilitator on the second unit. The Clippers were able to expand their 7 point lead to an 18 point lead during that stretch, until Bryant and Nash re-entered the game. When their two hall-of-fame guards came back in, they cut the 18 point lead down to 4 (which the Clippers were able to push back to 10 by the half).
The Lakers struck quick with a 7-0 run to start the 3rd, but the Clippers responded with a 7-0 run of their own. Then the Lakers found themselves down 19 points in the 3rd, but fought back to bring it within 2 before the crunch time moments I described earlier. There were also some injury scare moments with Howard (shoulder) and Jordan Hill (ankle). They will be evaluated soon.
Notables:
The Good:
- The Lakers showed some heart coming back from big deficits. Ideally they would keep falling behind by double digits though.
- The Mamba was clutch and efficient all game (15/25 FG). Only 1 or 2 of his shots was forced.
- Nash shot the ball really well. I would like to see him shoot more.
- Jordan Hill gave a big spark off the bench. He's part of the reason the Lakers bench almost matched the Clippers bench (27 points vs 30 points). Although it should be noted the Clippers were without Jamal Crawford
The Bad:
- The Lakers gave up too many offensive rebounds
- Poor performances from Pau and Metta. Both shot 1/6 from the floor. There was one play where Pau received a pass 2 feet from the rim, and he couldn't even jump to shoot. His health issues are serious.
- Inconsistent play offensively and defensively.
- Lack of player movement offensively
- No defined team "style." Are they uptempo, slow it down, in the middle?
- Why wait till the 4th to play bettter defense?
- Dwight still looks way less than 100%.
Adjustments still need to be made strategically. I liked the Dwight guarding Griffin matchup in the 4th. I didn't like Nash and Bryant sitting to start the second. I'm still worried about the Spanish Wonder Pau fitting in. I think when fully healthy, he's versatile enough to do it, even being naturally a little flat footed. But it's clear he's not and it makes the team very slow on defensive rotations. The front office is probably entertaining trade ideas at the moment. Hopefully he can get healthy and do what he does best, play basketball at a high level.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Lakers vs 76ers (1/1/13)
I don't know what kind of New Year's resolutions the Lakers made, but it certainly didn't look like they were related to improving as a basketball team. They dropped their game tonight against Philadelphia 99-103. The Lakers started off cold from their 3 days off, and quickly found themselves in an 11 point hole. They battled back against that deficit all night. They were able to take the cut it to 2, tie, and even take the lead by 4 (in the 2nd quarter), but they could never string together enough offensive/defensive sequences to control the game. Credit Philadelphia for playing hard. However, there's no question the Lakers were capable of winning this game.
The offense never had a rhythm the entire night. Scoring mostly on ISOs due to missing a bevy of open shots, the Lakers had only 8 assists at half time. They shot a putrid 3/22 from behind the arc. Pau & Dwight shot a combined 3/19 from the field. Several players missed a ton of open looks, and collectively the team shot only 39%. That will not get it done. Kobe scored 36 on nearly 50% shooting, but there were several forced shots. Despite all this, the Lakers found themselves down only 2 with about a minute left to play. A slow close out from Pau resulted in a 20 footer by Hawes. Then on the next possession Kobe was trapped off the dribble and threw an ill-advised pass where he thought Howard would be, resulting in a turnover and easy score for Philly. There was another play where the Lakers needed to foul to extend the game. Instead of doing that, their miscommunication allowed Jrue Holiday into a wide open lane for a dunk. The Lakers fell apart in the clutch, and that was that.
One continuing trend I really don't like is the extended minutes Kobe is having to play. I don't think he sat at all in the 2nd half. He is conditioned well, but you can see the lift in his jump shot start to fade late in the fourth because of it. He was 14/29 tonight, but most of his made attempts came at the rim. I thought his jumper was a little flat all night. He needs more rest. And with the way Meeks is playing I think they can get away with it. The team has a tendency to stand around when he has the ball, so it might be better for everyone. If Kobe is rested heading into crunch time tonight, I think the Lakers pull off the ugly W. Coach D'Antoni will have to find a better balance.
Notables:
The Good:
- Good bench contribution from Jordan Hill (10 pts, 8 reb), Meeks, and at time MWP (made his fair share of mistakes as well)
The Bad:
- Disappointing games from Kobe, Pau, Nash, & Dwight. I don't think any of them played how they are capable of playing. Nash didn't control the offense enough, Kobe forced it at times, Dwight missed too many bunnies and didn't run the lane strong, and Pau's shot was off.
- Poor defensive rotations. Several times I saw two players rotating to the same guy.
- Bad shooting from the field, 3-point land, and the free throw line.
- Poor ball AND player movement on offense
The Lakers have their work cut out for them. They've got the Clippers on Friday, which should show if they have or haven't improved.
The offense never had a rhythm the entire night. Scoring mostly on ISOs due to missing a bevy of open shots, the Lakers had only 8 assists at half time. They shot a putrid 3/22 from behind the arc. Pau & Dwight shot a combined 3/19 from the field. Several players missed a ton of open looks, and collectively the team shot only 39%. That will not get it done. Kobe scored 36 on nearly 50% shooting, but there were several forced shots. Despite all this, the Lakers found themselves down only 2 with about a minute left to play. A slow close out from Pau resulted in a 20 footer by Hawes. Then on the next possession Kobe was trapped off the dribble and threw an ill-advised pass where he thought Howard would be, resulting in a turnover and easy score for Philly. There was another play where the Lakers needed to foul to extend the game. Instead of doing that, their miscommunication allowed Jrue Holiday into a wide open lane for a dunk. The Lakers fell apart in the clutch, and that was that.
One continuing trend I really don't like is the extended minutes Kobe is having to play. I don't think he sat at all in the 2nd half. He is conditioned well, but you can see the lift in his jump shot start to fade late in the fourth because of it. He was 14/29 tonight, but most of his made attempts came at the rim. I thought his jumper was a little flat all night. He needs more rest. And with the way Meeks is playing I think they can get away with it. The team has a tendency to stand around when he has the ball, so it might be better for everyone. If Kobe is rested heading into crunch time tonight, I think the Lakers pull off the ugly W. Coach D'Antoni will have to find a better balance.
Notables:
The Good:
- Good bench contribution from Jordan Hill (10 pts, 8 reb), Meeks, and at time MWP (made his fair share of mistakes as well)
The Bad:
- Disappointing games from Kobe, Pau, Nash, & Dwight. I don't think any of them played how they are capable of playing. Nash didn't control the offense enough, Kobe forced it at times, Dwight missed too many bunnies and didn't run the lane strong, and Pau's shot was off.
- Poor defensive rotations. Several times I saw two players rotating to the same guy.
- Bad shooting from the field, 3-point land, and the free throw line.
- Poor ball AND player movement on offense
The Lakers have their work cut out for them. They've got the Clippers on Friday, which should show if they have or haven't improved.
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