Lakers Blog

i thought we're good in defence when kwame is our center... sonics scoring 50+ points... with still 2:24 sec. in the 2nd quarter.. it's proven that we're both good offensive and defensive when Bynum is around.

Posted by: darkhangelsk | January 14, 2008 at 08:07 PM

jon k...you are funny.."lamar's nefarious foot!"

haha...yah i know....maybe the Pope can bless it.
dang.
up by nine again!!

COLORADO SPRINGS LOVES THE LAKERS!

where is Hugo Boss? anybody else in colorado want to get together for the Suns/lakers game thurs???

Posted by: Lakers4realz | January 14, 2008 at 08:07 PM

AK/BK...You guys are at courtside, so can you check to see if Kwame is really a white guy? I mean, on that dunk he's got to have a vertical of...ooooohhh...around 7 inches. Thanks in advance for verifying.

Posted by: CornerJ | January 14, 2008 at 08:07 PM

Jon K, Xodus and Korey,

Mihm went up to block Wilcox's shot, then came down on Rashard Lewis' foot.

Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | January 14, 2008 at 08:07 PM

wow even on that nice dish for that wide open dunk kwame stil cant get much air or hang time. its kindastrange. must be that twenty pounds he put on

Posted by: andand | January 14, 2008 at 08:08 PM

Korey,

You may be right, but I thought he came down on Lamar's foot.

I'm not hating on Lamar. It just sucks that Bynum is hurt and perhaps I'm looking (desperately) for someone to blame.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PERSON WHO DESERVES THE TRUE BLAME IS MICHAEL TENIENTE! JERK!

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:09 PM

AK,

Alright.

Then it's clear. Michael Teniente is to blame.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:11 PM

jesus the sonics are on fire right now

Posted by: andand | January 14, 2008 at 08:11 PM

Wha.....Huh?

Posted by: PhxLkrFan | January 14, 2008 at 08:11 PM

I thought Kwame was supposed to bring more defensive structure?

Guess not. These guys are getting w/e shots they want. And Kobe isn't helping with all of his long jumpers leading to fast breaks.

Posted by: Xodus | January 14, 2008 at 08:11 PM

Andrew Bynum is the Lakers best player. Yea yea yea, kobe is our best scorer and co leader but Bynum is our second best offensive player and by far our best defensive player. If tonight is any indication of how we are going to play defense without Bynum than we better hope we can score 110 every night because we can't even defend a bad team like the sonics.

Posted by: jon | January 14, 2008 at 08:13 PM

Kwame has no lift because his ankle is still messed up. that was mentioned earlier on the telecast.

Posted by: sixonezero | January 14, 2008 at 08:14 PM

Defense is UNACCEPTABLE!

What the heck are they thinking?

Play some D. If he fakes, don't bite. Obviously he's gonna shoot it. He's hot! If he shoots, CHALLENGE!

Don't leave him open for a minute!

Play smart, react, read, play some freakin D. UNACCEPTABLE!

Posted by: Faith | January 14, 2008 at 08:14 PM

Seems is gonna be harder than expected...

Posted by: laker from the south | January 14, 2008 at 08:15 PM

This game has no "structure". Too many points. Seriously, the Lakers must decide to play better defense during this stretch where they are short handed. With Kwame anchoring things defensively, this shouldn't be a problem.....LOL!!

Posted by: bronxlakerfan | January 14, 2008 at 08:15 PM

The reason Kwame hasn't made a defensive impact is that 1. the Sonics don't rely on an inside scoring threat, which Kwame specializes in defending. 2. they are just hitting everything from the outside, rather than getting points off of pick n rolls, which Kwame also specializes in defending. Second half, the Lakers will have to outscore them if they stay that hot

Posted by: DTC | January 14, 2008 at 08:16 PM

Lakers look tired.

Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | January 14, 2008 at 08:16 PM

There's the difference. When we have Drew, there isn't any penetration without a second thought. None of the shots have to change with Kwame in the game.
The defensive effort in the first half was atrocious at times. Taking way too many chances at steals and not playing the lane properly led to a lot of easy layups.
Guess I should get used to this, although I think I might have to scale it back while Drew is out, because I can't seem to stay mentally sane while I watch professional
basketball players perform at such a low level.

Posted by: PhxLkrFan | January 14, 2008 at 08:17 PM

tim,

No way. No way.

We will NOT be a .500 team without Bynum. We will be better than that. Other players will step up.

Still, I'd like to see Bynum back as soon as possible.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:18 PM

I'm not hater but if we can get someone who actually willing to play, I'll trade Kwame and Odom in the heartbeat. Kwame, no desire (I can't believe this guy playing in his contract year) Lamar - no heart/desire. We have 21M or more in combined salaries, it should be some trade out there. I thought Lamar will step up in lew of Drew's problem, no way. You just can not change person no matter what. We need people like Turiaf, even without huge talents but with heart and desire to do something to help a team.

Posted by: LAL_Fan | January 14, 2008 at 08:18 PM

18 shots for Kobe thats too many in one half. The Lakers got the lead by sharing the ball and scoring.

Posted by: Laker Lover | January 14, 2008 at 08:18 PM

Kwame's defending on the inside but most of the Soncs shots have been on the perimeter so can't blame Kwame for that.

Ronny's outplayed Kwame so far but Kwame's been decent so far. Wally's World keeping the Lakers subdued tonight, Kwame, Odom and Ronny have been good.
Our point guards gotta stick closer to their man..

Checking around the league, is Caron Butler a baller or what? He pretty much led a late comeback by himself to beat the Celtics. I've always liked Caron's game but
didn't think he'd be THIS good. He's tearing it up.

Lakers should come out strong in the 3rd and put this away as usual.

Posted by: Bynumite | January 14, 2008 at 08:18 PM

jon,

Bynum is in no way the Lakers' best player. He's our third or fourth best player, but he brings an element we really need.

Thank God we have Braveheart on this team. One thing you can always count on, Braveheart plays with all his energy. It matters to him.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:20 PM

bronxlakerfan,

You got be kidding!!! If Kwame ancoring something, it's not a defense it's his oversized calves to the floor. He wanted a bigger minutes, as I see now he is not deserving even 15 minutes per game. What a waste

Posted by: LAL_Fan | January 14, 2008 at 08:21 PM

Lakers give up 62 points in a half to a team that has averaged 85 points in their last 5 games. Must play better defense in the second half. Right now it seems to be Kobe ball and the bench. Already I see the huge difference with Andrew being out, but I'll share my thoughts on it a few games down the road. I want to see how things play out in the next few weeks and then I'll give my report. Go Lakers!!!

Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 14, 2008 at 08:22 PM

Lakers need to be locked in a room and watch UCLA play defense. Phil may want to hire Ben Howland to coach D to this team. Seriously, every Sonic is wide open on nearly every shot. They're hitting 54%+. That's sick.

Posted by: CornerJ | January 14, 2008 at 08:22 PM

Sonics avg 96 pts a game. We're probably going to hand them 130

Posted by: DTC | January 14, 2008 at 08:23 PM

DTC,

How about just defending his men? Or this not his specialty either?

Posted by: | January 14, 2008 at 08:23 PM

lets do this in the second half!

Posted by: Lakers4realz | January 14, 2008 at 08:24 PM

Tell em faith ... lol

Posted by: Taliq | January 14, 2008 at 08:24 PM

bronx,

With his tree trunk calves rooted to the ground the Sonics won't have a chance! LOL

Posted by: Xodus | January 14, 2008 at 08:24 PM

Don’t fret Laker nation, as president Roosevelt once said – “We have nothing to fear but Kwame playing center” Or something like that. We're fubar!

Posted by: HmrHed | January 14, 2008 at 08:24 PM

Kwame's ankle will slow him down for another two weeks, methinks.

I hope Mihm is healthy soon.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:26 PM

Lakers can still get the win tonight but need better defense in the second half. Lakers must expect every team's best effort because we're the hated Lakers. Get the win and then some rest before Thursday's showdown with the Suns for the division lead. Go Lakers!!!

Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 14, 2008 at 08:26 PM

Gee..Faith.....So how do you really feel about the Lakers' first half defense? Seriously, I agree 100% that they've got to step it up.

Posted by: bronxlakerfan | January 14, 2008 at 08:27 PM

ohhhh... no wonder the Sonics announcer sounded so familiar, its our old buddy Steve Snapper Jones! He's an opposing team announcer I actually like - not a homer and knows his bball, a lot more than I can say for most others

Posted by: DTC | January 14, 2008 at 08:27 PM

By the way, whoever came up with the nickname "Bynumite" should be given a medal from Laker Nation.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:28 PM

Lakers got the lead by playing defense. Lakers lost the lead by letting them have whatever they want.

It's like they had a brain fart or something. STOP THE FREAKIN BALL!

Posted by: Faith | January 14, 2008 at 08:28 PM

Sonics shot 54% in the percent in the first half and outrebounded the Lakers 26-19. We can't afford to let that continue, must buckle down now. Go Lakers!!!

Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 14, 2008 at 08:28 PM

What did I just say?

Posted by: Faith | January 14, 2008 at 08:29 PM

HmrHed....now, that was funny!! "Nothing to fear but Kwame playing center." Classic!

Posted by: bronxlakerfan | January 14, 2008 at 08:30 PM

"probably kwame brown"

not a bad guess!

go lakers!

Posted by: Kelly | January 14, 2008 at 08:30 PM

Please put back in the second unit.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2008 at 08:31 PM