Mental note, the Spurs can hit open jumpers
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Remember to tune into "Purple, Gold and Blue" at noon today. Click the show icon on the side of the page. UPDATE: 2:23- the Podcast is up. Pretty lively discussion. Also, some of PJ's postgame comments have landed him in a touch of hot water. I'm sure there will be more questions about it later tonight before the Houston game.
Good to know. That information should be deeply imprinted on the brains of every Laker after Tuesday night's 107-92 loss in San Antonio. The big problem? A soft and gooey middle, not unlike the creamy center of an Oreo or Three Musketeers bar. And the protective layer of chocolate (or cookie, should you prefer) didn't do much to prevent infil---
OK, enough of that. We like sweets as much as the next guy, but it's basically this simple: The Lakers couldn't stop penetration (see photo), and they did a wretched job of both helping and recovering to mark shooters on the perimeter. Worse, they made things easier for San Antonio, turning the ball over a whopping 15 times in the first half to help the champs build up a 16-point halftime lead. Help is not something San Antonio needs (can't say the same for L.A., though, or anyone else trying to figure out what they were doing defensively). Kobe didn't freak out when it was over, perhaps reflective of an improving sense of leadership for this year's bunch. (Though not, perhaps, reflective of a desire to stay in L.A.)
Perhaps he can lead Lamar Odom to some Advil after the oft-injured forward tore a tendon in his right pinkie during the first quarter. LO won't miss any time, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Less painful were the performances of Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar, about the only nice things to look at in the box score.
The Rockets have a couple shooters of their own, so maybe the purple and gold will keep that in mind as they head to Houston for the second half of their Texas back-to-back (6 p.m., KCAL, ESPN). The Rockets also played last night, and also lost, in their case to Memphis. So somebody is going to leave the arena very disappointed tonight.
Kobe says he's not buying MJ's house, but given all the locations he's been connected to, there will likely be more stories of real estate shopping in his future.
Jermaine O'Neal's name keeps getting thrown around, though not so much with the Lakers anymore.
Turns out .4 didn't just inspire the Lakers and their fans. San Antonio found some motivation, too, and L.A. has paid for it since.
Just saw this in David Thorpe chat in ESPN:
****************************************************************
Ricardo (London, Canada): hey D-Thor (like that name?!) Just listening to The Herd this past hour and Phil Jackson said that Kobe wanted veterans but management didn't want to bring people in and that they're headed in a different direction. It's official, Kobe's out!!! ..... right?
SportsNation David Thorpe: (12:05 PM ET ) Sounds that way, yes.
****************************************************************************
Is this true?
Posted by: Jai | November 14, 2007 at 09:39 AM
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WED. NOVEMBER 14 2007
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I MAMBA24 PROMISE NEVER TO MAKE ANOTHER LAKER WIN PREDICTION, TO KEEP MY BIG MOUTH
CLOSED AND STICK WITH WHAT I KNOW, WHICH IS NOTHING. MEA CULPA
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55 WIN BANDWAGON MEMBERS:
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(2) MAMBA24…………………………....(22) SLO GAL ………………………………..(42) THIRTY2
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(6) HOBBITMAGE………………….…..(26) FAITH……………………………………(46) Violater
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((8) DAVID WHANG…………………...(28) COMPLEX_BROTHA…………………..(48) Houston Laker
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(20) DAN DAN THE LAKER FAN…...(40) CHRIS H.
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READY TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON BUT:
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Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 14, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Only one thing to say... and I said it on yesterdays blog... GUARD THE THREE POINT LINE!!!!!
Lakers should be embarrassed and ashamed!!
Posted by: keifo | November 14, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Why was this interview not in any LA paper? Bcos it does not paint Kobe as surly?
http://startelegram.typepad.com/mavs_fullcourt_press/2007/11/former-maverick.html
Former Maverick Kobe Bryant
Came down to San Antonio to interview Kobe Bryant and get a story for the Mavericks-Spurs game on Thursday in AAC and what a great interview several of us had with Bryant.
He was funny throughout, joking about rumors of where he was going to be traded. At one point, when he was asked about rumors that he was going to come to Dallas, he said: "I think they've got me playing on Mars, too."
Mark Cuban admitted the Mavericks inquired about Bryant. Who wouldn't? But Cuban said Dirk Nowitzki was untouchable and the Lakers responded that so was Bryant.
The idea that Dallas could get Bryant without trading Dirk was ludicrous. Only one way that happens and that's if Bryant lays down on the job -- if he purposely dogs it on the court. And one thing about Bryant -- he's much too proud to do that and too concerned about his legacy.
Let me put it this way. If I'm the Mavericks, I tell the Lakers, "You can have every player on our team except Dirk. You can have Howard, Harris, Terry, Stackhouse -- everybody except Dirk -- and we'll take Bryant and whatever you want to throw in to make it work under the cap."
And you know what? Unless, again, Kobe had quit on the team, the Lakers would never do it.
The rumors of Bryant being traded to Chicago were stronger and there were also rumors about a Kobe-Gilbert Arenas deal in Washington. So with Kobe joking about everything, someone asked him:
“Did you enjoy your career more as a Maverick, a Bull or a Wizard.”
“As a Celtic,” Bryant said, and laughed . “Hawk maybe. Naw, it’s crazy. It gets to a point where you laugh about it.”
-- Jan Hubbard
Posted by: James | November 14, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Does anyone think that Spurs have better talent than the Lakers? If you do, you're wrong.
Sure, Duncan is one of the best big man ever, but after him the pickings are pretty slim. Even Duncan is one of the least athletic centers/PF to make the all-time elite list. Parker and Ginobili are good/above average players for their positions, but take them off the Spurs and you'll see that just about every team in the NBA has a Parker and a Ginobili. Who else? Old man Bruce? 36 years old and he played like a 36 year-old his entire career. Look at his career stats:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3167/career;_ylt=AmIEF3WtDyrwKR3uzvt7H.qkvLYF
What would posters here say about Bruce if he was Lakers.
I don't think anyone on the Spurs is even worth an honorable mention beyond those four.
Now look at what the Lakers have. Kobe, Lamar, Bynum (who by the way is bigger, taller, quicker, more athletic and probably stronger than Duncan), Farmar (almost the same player Parker was his rookie year) Fisher, Radman (tall, strong, quick, athletic, great shooter).
If you bring in a scout from Pluto, who has never seen an NBA game and have him evaluate players from both teams individually, how many would he pick from the Spurs in his top 5 picks? Top 10?
Both top 5 and top 10 would be dominated by the Lakers.
So why are the Spurs Champs and Lakers chumps?
Posted by: HAB | November 14, 2007 at 09:58 AM
Phil said today that Kobe is going to be traded before the end of the trade deadline
Posted by: Zakee | November 14, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Phil said today that Kobe is going to be traded before the end of the trade deadline
Posted by: Zakee | November 14, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Pss...Phil I know you make 10 billion a year and have 99 rings but how about putting your best players on the floor to start the game? Is that really to much to ask for? The starting five should be:
Bynum
Turiaf
Odom
Farmar
Kobe
But I know your come back is Bynum's Conditioning and Defense and you like the Vet or the Rook. I say BS, Kwame or Mihm or Fish are not going to get us there. You start Mihm at Center.. are you nuts.. And then the big coaching decision at half, the best you can do is start Kwame???? What the ######!!!
I really don't know what Phil is trying to accomplish but it's clear he's not interested in winning. It's like he wants to start in the hole at the beginning of the game. I don't get it.
BYNUM NEEDS TO START!!!!
FARMAR NEEDS TO START!!!
WAKE UP PHIL!
BD
Posted by: BD | November 14, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Here's the thing...
Good teams are supposed to make you look bad. We looked BAD.
We had way too much turnovers, most unforced, and our offense looked discombobulated.
Our defense had no excuse, but in the bright side we did shut down TD. You're supposed to stop the stars right, and make the role players beat you? Well the Spurs has world class role players (no pun intended).
We need to find a way to improve our D. Our rotations were horrendous. Our defense pathetic. We NEED to find a way to play better D, if we want to play well, and be better.
Posted by: Faith | November 14, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I hope Kobe's not gone. If he is, I bet PJ is too!
Posted by: Charles | November 14, 2007 at 10:19 AM
that game was bizarre last night. Bynum came in, Duncan picks up a quick foul guarding him and has to go out, Oberto comes in, immediately gets a foul trying to guard Bynum and then... nobody passes the ball to Bynum until the final few minutes of the game??? I mean... yeah, Bynum got a few touches here and there but WHAT THE ??? Then... after Bynum stops getting touches, Kwame comes in and they start feeding HIM the ball???
Then, after an 18-2 run against Kwame and the Lakers needing some scoring, who do they trot out there for most of the 3rd quarter? I don't get it, I don't understand why they are screwing with Bynum like this. I know they don't want to put too much of a load on him but... ???
Posted by: TaosHum | November 14, 2007 at 10:24 AM
So glad Phil likes having maybe the best 2nd team in the league but I want the best starting five in the league. And that doesn't include Kwame or Mihm or Fish, Phil!
Posted by: BD | November 14, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Can somebody tell me the name of that defense the Lakers were using last night? The one where you frantically run at the open jump shooter? I don't think it's a very good one...
Tom
Kobe complains on every call too. And that's a lot more often than Vujacic.
Posted by: Andy B | November 14, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Charley Rosen says the Lakers' mistakes are correctable. But are they really when they're the same ones, with the same personnel, as 2 years ago?
Posted by: McGarnagle | November 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
"Now look at what the Lakers have. Kobe, Lamar, Bynum (who by the way is bigger, taller, quicker, more athletic and probably stronger than Duncan), Farmar (almost the same player Parker was his rookie year) Fisher, Radman (tall, strong, quick, athletic, great shooter)."
-HAB
are you serious? Really, i know you hate kobe, and this is so you can "prove" how kobe makes his team worse, but oh my god! I really don't know if i can take this seriously or not. Whatever.
Too bad you fail to mention they have other all stars on their team. And i love bynum, but dont even think of comparing the best PF in the history of the nba with a 20 year old kid whose never averaged 10 ppg.
Posted by: greek dude | November 14, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I really enjoyed Ted Green's article. The frustrating thing about defenders getting caught in no man's land because they sag off the guy they're guarding but aren't really close enough to affect the ball-handler is that the one game they didn't do that was against PHX. It's not as if the guards effectively stopped Nash's dribble penetration. They just took away all of his passing options. Parker may be more comfortable scoring and his teammates less reliant on him setting them up, but it seems that adopting the same defensive philosophy they used against the Suns would've been something to try last night. Against NO too.
***Kwame Brown comes in and the Lakers immediately go -13 in the span of six and a half minutes? Seems like San Antonio confidence was bolstered at being reminded "Oh yeah, I almost forgot Kwame's on this team. What a joke. LOL!!!!" Regardless of the fact he was effective in keeping Duncan away from the basket, did a decent job on help defense and did manage to convert a couple of offensive plays - the guy was -17 for the game! If the team went -17 while he was on the floor then he had to be the reason!***
Posted by: lakers_sth | November 14, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Zakee,
"Phil said today that Kobe is going to be traded before the end of the trade deadline"
WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?
Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 14, 2007 at 10:34 AM
taoshum,
i feel you bro. we dont feed our offensive weapon in the middle, drew, but we feed kwame?
Posted by: greek dude | November 14, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Phil, why not do the unthinkable, how about starting Bynum??? Oh that's right, he doesn't deserve it, Mihm or Kwame do. Nice box score Kwame and Mihm 2 rebounds in 21 minutes.
No wonder Phil goes with you guys. Great offense with great rebounding at the center position. 2 years of Smush, and now, I get Mihm to start against SA, then were down big, and Phil makes the classic coaching decision, lets start Kwame for the 2nd half and will sit Bynum. Brilliant! With this type of coaching it is going to be a very frustrating year to say the least, and now what Odoms is hurt again. Just keeps getting better.
The only thing that might make me feel better is a victory tonight against the Rockets.
Go Lakers!!!
BD
Posted by: BD | November 14, 2007 at 10:38 AM
TaoHum,
In compliment to what you are saying, I also felt Odom should've exploited Finley and Ginobili guarding him.
Posted by: Charles | November 14, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Yes I will shut up about the GAURANTEES. That was a GRADE A ass kicking in the hands of the SPURS.
Posted by: rayray | November 14, 2007 at 10:39 AM
I know people are going to be up in arms about the Lakers defense but their defense looked fine to me, 92 points isnt going to win many games in this league.
The Spurs scored over 20 points on turnovers, thats not bad defense thats bad offense.
Combine that with the fact Kobe shot 0-5 from 3s and had several others go in and out and you get the final score.
Poor Mike Ts guy Kwame WAS in the game during the end of the 2nd quarter when the Spurs went on the huge run to effectively put the game out of reach.
What happened to Kwames "presence"? Guess that 1 rebound and 0 blocks must imprress 9 rings, thats really hard to replace.
Posted by: Laker Lover | November 14, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Anybody know why Sasha didnt suit up? I thought it was 15 guys strong?
Posted by: zen | November 14, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Since we only have the Bi -Annual and the Mid Level exception next year, would you guys be open to signing Jamaal McGloire instead of Kwame if Jamaal was open to getting paid $4-5 million?
Any news on how McGloire is doing in new jersey? I wonder why his playing time dropped in Portland?
I feel he would be a more cerebral backup C/PF over Kwame and has about the same strength and wingspan....
Posted by: Charles | November 14, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Zakee,
Sorry, but I don't believe he said that.
Posted by: zen | November 14, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Phil is going to manipulate the lineups tonight so we will lose. He already has full power with the team and is dating the owner's daughter. But he just wants to lose now..Look for him to put Brown in when they are down by 15 so the Lakers have no chance. Actually he can leave Brown in and they can still lose. So look for Phil to put the worse lineup possible so he can lose. He's tired of winning.
Posted by: zen | November 14, 2007 at 10:50 AM
The HELP! defense article you linked to is awesome. It's about time someone said it. I was ready to tie someone to Bowen with a leather strap. Our defense makes me nuts.
Posted by: dustin b | November 14, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Andrew Z and Ex,
In response to your posts in the previous thread I'd like to ask you a question. We all know The Spurs are better than us (thank you, Mr. Obvious) but you've got to admit that our mistakes ARE correctable. Despite center rotations that I'm less than pleased with and Luke Walton's shoddy early season play our frontline played well enough to make Tim Duncan disappear.
If guys like LO and Walton had made decent defensive rotations and closed out on shooters it may have been a different game. We may not be the most talented team in the league, but we can compete with most. Phil and the coaching staff just need to figure out how to clean up the mental errors. This is the second week in a row where we've left three point shooters wide open.
....And stop over passing. 15 first half TOs is ridiculous.
Posted by: Xodus | November 14, 2007 at 10:52 AM
greek dude,
>>>Really, i know you hate kobe, and this is so you can "prove" how kobe makes his team worse
No, actually the point I am getting to is not directly Kobe-related.
I did give Duncan his props in my post. He is still the best big man in the game today. But, he had a lousy outing last night. 5 points, 5 boards? Who do they have beyond Dunc? Are Parker and Ginobili that great? Ginobili is not even a starter for them. Do the Spurs dominate the league almost year in, year out because they have better talent than the rest of the teams?
Posted by: HAB | November 14, 2007 at 10:53 AM
It's funny how Bynum always seems to be snagging rebounds and scoring buckets over multiple defenders while Kwame gets a free path to the basket. It actually makes sense if you think about it odds-wise. The scouting report on Kwame is his missed shot/fumbled pass to made shot ratio is 3:1. For every 4 offensive plays he's involved in, he creates 3 fast break opportunities for the other team - thus putting the Lakers defense at a disadvantage.
Kobe's calmness could be chalked up to it being very early still in the season and his belief this team can grow and get better. Or it could be that every demoralizing loss like this quietly vindicates him.
Posted by: lakers_sth | November 14, 2007 at 10:56 AM
The Lakers know the Spurs. They played the Spurs a couple of years ago and beat them when nobody thought they could. Then last year we got the best of them.
It's the same thing as 2 season ago when we couldn't beat them.
Collapse and dish out is what the Spurs did until we adjusted. We adjusted when we had Kwame play Duncan one on one and kept everyone else home on the shooters.
Last night it was nothing close to it. I could really tell because by the time Kwame came into the game...it looked as if the Spurs were doing a lot of screens off the ball to free people up.
I don't remember if the Spurs started the game that way. But whatever...the Lakers went away from everything we done over the last year and a half when we've been beating the Spurs.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | November 14, 2007 at 11:00 AM
calm down everybody.
except for the large amount of turnovers, i thought the lakers played pretty well in san antonio.
having chris mihm start, with socks to back him up is a good formula for now.
kwame brown MUST be used like a ben wallace. defend and rebound. on the offensive side of the ball, JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY.
we limit the turnovers, and last night's game is much closer.
socks' confidence is growing with each game.
phil knows and sees it. so does kobe.
hopefully they can both admit they were wrong (like myself), and move forward with bynum as part of this team.
the lakers WILL beat the rockets tonight. if the lakers simply take care of the ball better, we can hang with any team in the league.
we also have to remain healthy.
we got beat by the defending champs last night, the spurs did what they were supposed to.
let's limit the turnovers tonight, and whip the rockets!
c'mon lake show!
Posted by: tha show | November 14, 2007 at 11:00 AM
zen,
because sasha is irrelevant.
kind of strange to read 'why was sasha in street clothes?'
to me, it's a sign that things are getting better in laker land.
Posted by: tha show | November 14, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Zen,
In the NBA you can only suit up 12 players per game. So even though we had 15 healthy players, we could only suit up 12.
Which sucks coz like Vman said, maybe last night was Sasha's big moment (with his pink undershirt lol).
Posted by: Faith | November 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM
zen: "Anybody know why Sasha didnt suit up? I thought it was 15 guys strong?"
You can only have 12 active. Sasha and Karl were in suits. Either Cook or Critt was the third inactive player. I thought the blog would be jumping up and down that neither Cook nor Sasha played last night.
Posted by: lakers_sth | November 14, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Xodus,
"but you've got to admit that our mistakes ARE correctable."
In theory. The question is whether or not the players on this roster can correct them to the level required to be a contender. For that to happen, a number of players have to significantly improve. Typically, you don't get that that high a "return rate" on young players, and established players typically don't change significantly.
I think the likelihood of that happening is questionable, at best, which is why I think the F.O. needs to look at improving the team via trade. (Free agency upgrades aren't an option re the salary level the team is at now.)
Posted by: exhelodrvr | November 14, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Xodus-
It's not just an issue of a player or two, it's the discipline and structure for the entire team. It just doesn't take four guys collapsing on the penetrating player to keep things in line. Guys have to do a better job of recognizing when they actually are in a position to help, or when it's another player's job to help. Walton has really struggled with that, for sure, especially since he needs to be extra careful b/c his recovery speed isn't as good. But the guards got killed a bunch with it, too. Farmar, Fish, Kobe, etc. It was a real, true team breakdown, one that needs to be corrected quickly.
And the "free safety" think Kobe tends to do (and did last night) just isn't an option against a strong, disciplined team like the Spurs. It results in some spectacular plays, like those great weakside blocks he had early, but a team like S.A. will quickly adjust and realize that often times he was guarding nobody in particular, then hit the open man. Not blaming Kobe by any stretch, but against good teams, EVERYONE has to do his job first, then move on from there. They don't have the defensive cohesion and discipline to freelance.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 14, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Ginobili is not even a starter for them
-HAB
dont even think about telling me ginobili hasn't been the best player on the spurs this year.
And no, they don't dominate cause they have better talent. It's a combination of coaching, defense, effort, chemistry, and talent. And duncan had a bad game cause we collapsed to the middle and left the 3 point shooters open.
So dont compare the talents of the lakers and the spurs. it's not even close.
"For every 4 offensive plays he's involved in, he creates 3 fast break opportunities for the other team "
-laker sth
lol
Posted by: greek dude | November 14, 2007 at 11:11 AM
on Odom, first of all, he's back 2 games and he's already injured... AGAIN! and then I guess? because of the finger injury last night, he dropped out of the game AGAIN, as he always does.
Now here.
NOWHERE.
Odom = 14 points. You can set your watch to it. One game is 18 pts, the next is 12 points... the next will be 8 points, the game after will be 20 points followed up by 8 points... etc. etc.
$13 million plus/season for this...
Posted by: TaosHum | November 14, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Parker was finals MVP last season, many people felt Manu should have won finals MVP on the SPurs last championship team. Manu would play at the 2 or 3 on almost all the teams in the league and Parker is among the top 5 pg in the league, that gives up an all-star core of 3 to add around. Bringing Manu off the bench is something Pops does to rein (sp) him in and give the 2nd unit energy but he's on the court at crunch time you can be assured of that. The Lakers don't have all star core of 3 or a super star core of 2, you need some combination of the above to win championships (and good role players, Bowen, Horry, etc.)
On another note what about Kobe, Kwame, Jarvis and Rad to the Knicks for Steph, Crawford and Zach, does that work under the cap rules? The Lakers would have a crowd puller in Steph (if not for skills then something), a power forward to play with Bynum in Zach and a shooting gaurd to replace Kobe. The Knicks would only need a point gaurd they would have Curry, Kobe, Lee and Q.
Posted by: max | November 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Just heard Phil Jackson's 10-minute interview to The Herd in ESPN Radio.
Key summary:
1. Kobe wanted veterans In Lakers just like Paul Pierce wanted in Boston. Boston movead ahead and got Pierce support, while the Lakers have decided to move in a different direction and build the team around the younger core they have got now.
2. When specifically asked about if the Lakers would get equal value by trading Kobe, Phil was non-commital. However, he did take a page out of history, and pointed to the trades of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem, and Shaq. In each of those trades, the team that traded the superstar has suffered, and the team that got the superstar won championships. And in the case of Philadelphia and Milwaukee, they are never the same. So Phil says, there is a lesson to be learnt here when you trade a superstar.
3. Although there is a everyday drama associated with this whole saga, the team is focused on carrying on its everyday routine, and things are moving along. However, Phil did point that, the Lakers are not alone in this. Lot of teams have had bad starts, and teams will start focusing on what they need to do to get back to winning. So Phil says, December and January are going to be important in how things will shape out.
Posted by: Jai | November 14, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Bynum should have gotten like 5-10 more touches last night. They had no answer for him in the post.
Posted by: zen | November 14, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Kobe Bryant says:
"They know this offense," Bryant said. "They knew it better than we did tonight. It's to be expected right now early in the season, getting guys back from injury, trying to build that rhythm a little bit. It'll come around."
You see? The players know what rhythm means to the game. The only one who doesn't seem to understand the concept is PJ.
As for this Ted Green write up. I thought I saw something not right when Kwame came into the game. The Lakers were playing a soft zone?
The guys writes:
"I’m so frustrated I want to foul Bruce Bowen six times myself and go in for a hot shower.
What’s undoing me is the joke they call NBA “help” defense.
You know, as in Help!, I’ve left my man and the shooters are wide open!
Or Help!, we look like we’re trying to double-team but we’re really playing Monkey in the Middle.
Or Help!, I look like I’m trying but I’m really saving my legs and energy for the playoffs."
And later:
"The more I watch the NBA, and I’ve been watching and covering and writing and broadcasting, I have to confess, for 40 years, the more I am confounded by this concept of what I believe to actually be some kind of soft zone.
Soft being the operative word.
Why can’t the wing defenders stay home and guard their men? Why can’t those perimeter defenders stay home and take the challenge of stopping the man they’re assigned to? Why can’t the centers and power forwards, the big guys, come over and challenge or put a hard foul on a driver at the conclusion of the play?
Playing this type of basketball just strips Kwame of what he does best. Post up one on one defense, which allows everyone else to stay home on the shooters. That's how we've been beating the Spurs over the last year and a half.
Now all of a sudden we change that?
What is on PJ's mind?
You can complain about the roster but as long as PJ does all these questionable thing...I won't believe it. I want to see Kwame Brown's defense for 32-34 minutes a game and the Lakers not win before I believe it.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | November 14, 2007 at 11:28 AM
Kobe's going to be traded?
Wow, that's a shocker... meanwhile back on Earth... our front office used to be the one that pulled off stuff like the 07 Celtics.
And:
Lamar Odom has come to the dance late but he'd better get his groove on soon.
This team still needs what it's needed since he came here, another consistent "go to guy" for around 14 million per season.
If there wasn't a clock ticking on this there would be reason to be optimistic. Any knowledgeable fan can see the talent and versatility on the team. Next year, this could start to work. Will there be a next year?
Posted by: Vman | November 14, 2007 at 11:29 AM
lakers_sth & Faith & the show,
Thanks. But the thing is that Phil wants to put the worse matchups on the floor because he wants to the Lakers to lose. If that was the case Cook and Sasha should have suited up! Although I think Sasha would have his best year if he was playing.
Posted by: zen | November 14, 2007 at 11:30 AM
It's games like last night that make me wish I were a betting man. I'm not sure why, but I saw that blowout coming days in advance - just way too many mentions in the press about how well the Lakers matched up with the Spurs last year, and then all the coverage about it being Fish's first game back after .04... it was destined to be a stomping.
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | November 14, 2007 at 11:32 AM
For PJ to do a interview after a loss and bring up the Kobe sage...that's interesting. Kind of makes me think he's taking the spotlight off his coaching. Maybe he read the Ted Green write up and needed to say something.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | November 14, 2007 at 11:33 AM
"You see? The players know what rhythm means to the game. The only one who doesn't seem to understand the concept is PJ."
Your kidding right? Who do you think taught Kobe about the Rhythm of baskerball? It certainly wasn't Del Harris!
Posted by: zen | November 14, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Jai,
Phil also mentioned that there are trades non specific for Bryant that are in the works, to add to the statement about Jan-Feb being very important.
Thanks for brining that up.
Posted by: Charles | November 14, 2007 at 11:33 AM
TaosHum
(Odom = 14 points. You can set your watch to it. One game is 18 pts, the next is 12 points... the next will be 8 points, the game after will be 20 points followed up by 8 points... etc. etc.)
As sho I know "Fat meat is greasy" ur comment above is accurate! Aint nuttin worse than a man wit talent..being so inconsistent. I would be surprised if Lamar comes back with 18pts..15brds!..Nah more like..wait what did he score last night?..just subtract 7pts from the and subtract 5brds and there you have it.
Posted by: Lakeraholic | November 14, 2007 at 11:33 AM