Live from Staples- Lakers vs. Grizzlies
Just one K Brother tonight. Be nice to me.
BK
Kobe, Walton, Drew, Odom, Fish starting for LA, Gay, Gasol, Darko, Conley, Miller for Memphis.
10:45- LO misses an open layup- something that's been a problem for him lately, but it's followed up with a Walton jumper to get the Lakers on the board. Memphis hot early, though, and the Grizz are up 6-2 early.
7:13- Not a lot of whistles so far. Lakers down 11-8, as Memphis started the game hot, and with some easy looks at the basket. Mike Miller already has seven points on 3-3 shooting. Kobe's going to have to pay closer attention to him if he's going to stick him tonight. He can score in bunches. Offensively, the Lakers haven't really found much rhythm moving the ball. Most of the points have come in one form or another off the break- a dunk for Kobe, a putback for Fish, a jumper for Walton. That sort of thing.
6:30- Memphis 13, Lakers 10. Miller again gets to the hoop, though, but the Lakers get the ball back on the offensive foul. On the next possession, Walton takes the entry, makes a quick dribble, then goes up with the left hand for the bucket. Now that he's using the left more often, his options in the post are opening up considerably.
Walton cuts to the basket on the next trip for another easy bucket. Now they're starting to get some better looks.
4:25- Kobe knifes to the basket for and and-one. The Lakers are on a 12-5 run, and are officially taking control of the game. The're getting inside, either through dribble penetration or the post up, which has helpe dthe percentage. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies are doing the same, and are also geting a lot of clean looks. Miller has been particularly effective against Kobe, and Gasol and Darko have also done a good job inside. But the penetration has been too easy for Memphis.
3:24- Kobe hits a pair of FTs, 25-22 LAL.
2:42- Timeout on the floor. Fair to say this hasn't been a defensive battle. Lakers up by one, 27, 26. Miller has done most of the damage, with 13 for Memphis. If LA can get some stops, they'll be fine. Ariza and Farmar into the lineup after the TO.
Ariza will now guard Miller, Kobe takes Navarro.
END OF THE FIRST- Lakers 31, Memphis 29. This has been a rough showing on the defensive end for LA thus far, in part because Miller has been lighting them up, taking advantage of a sick Kobe. Pau Gasol found some space in the middle for six points, and it's generally been hard for LA to stop the sort of penetration that can lead to easy looks for the opposition. On the other end, they're taking care of the ball (2 TOs), and are shooting 45%... not much has to change there. Eight dimes on 12 FGs indicates some good ball movement, too.
SECOND QUARTER:
Farmar, Ariza, Kwame, Ariza... and Coby Karl start the second quarter. I'm wondering if Critter's poor performance Friday has hurt him a little.
9:11- Kwame makes a nice move on Gasol, but misses the layup. Lakers could have used those points, as Memphis has gone on a run to take a lead. Miller has hit a couple threes, and continues to just torch them.
Ariza hits a three from the corner to stop the run a little, then Kwame makes up for the miss with a layup on Gasol. Lakers up 38-37.
7:12- Tiemout on the floor, the Lakers have taken the lead back, 40-37. Kobe, Walton, Turiaf in coming out of the TO, and Ronny hits his first jumper. Happy birthday indeed. Farmar follows with a finger roll at the hoop off a Memphis turnover. 11-0 run for LA. 44-37 LAL.
5:58: Farmar hits a three, and the run goes to 14-0, and the pressure goes up defensively as the Lakers force another turnover.
4:51- Timeout on the floor. Lakers on a 16-0 run have taken a 12 point lead. Good work by the seconds/combination of the first/seconds to build the lead. The defensive pressure has gone up as well, as the Lakers have forced four TOs in the quarter. Memphis has made only three FGs in the quarter, two by Miller who is now back in the game.
Kobe picks him up again. He looks like the intensity level is up on that end, too. I think the first go round ticked him off.
:45.8- 61, 51 LAL. Drew has made some nice plays offensively, showing off some good moves and a little handle in the lane. With eight boards, he's having a nice night there, too. Not his most effective as an interior defender, as the motion Memphis is using has forced him (and his teammates) into some late rotations. But the Lakers have taken control of the game with a 13-20 quarter from the floor.
That's how the half ends, 61-51 LA. Not necessarily their best effort (the defense has been spotty) but they're up by 10 at the half against a bad team. That's about what you'd want and expect. Another solid half, and they'll take the game.
More to come.
THIRD QUARTER:
9:44- Lakers up 66-53 and haven't given an inch to start the second half. They've avoided letting Memphis come out of the gate with the sort of run that would have brought them back into the game.
8:52- Drew down, holding his knee (looks from here like his left, but it's hard to tell...) The entire bench has cleared out to go attend to him. Hopefully he's okay...
...yep, it's his left, but he's still not on his feet yet. Now he's up, and being helped significantly. He can't walk on the thing. He's trying, but he's not able to put weight on it, and now is being helped by Ronny and Kwame off the floor. He's not putting any weight at all on the leg. In a nice gesture from Lakers fans, as he goes into the tunnel, a "Bynum, Bynum!" chant goes up.
Sometimes these things look a lot worse than they are, but down through the tunnel he was putting no pressure at all on the leg.
5:38- To say the energy has gone out of the building a little would be an understatement, but at least the lead hasn't gone anywhere. Lakers still up 72-59. Kwame to the line, misses the first, and the second. Still a 13 point lead.
3:08- Lakers still up by 9, as Gasol hits a shot off the glass. They've clearly lost a litle bit of energy and rhythm offensively, as they've gone almost exclusively with jump shots since Drew went out of the game. The ball still has to move, players still have to move. They can't live on the perimeter, just because Drew isn't there. Attack the rack.
2:30- Memphis on a 6-1 run, closing the game to six. Lakers need to put the biscuit in the basket. They've been stuck in the 70s for a while now.
1:09- Ronny takes a give and go from Ariza, and gets fouled going to the hoop. He makes one of two, but fari to say this has been a lousy quarter fro the Lakers offensively. Fortunately, Memphis can't hit a shot, either, and the D has been reasonably good.
Farmar hits a HUGE triple to end the quarter and push the lead back to 10, 80-70. That was a huge, huge shot.
FOURTH QUARTER:
The Lakers have to go inside. They can't be content to sit out and launch jumpers all night. Meanwhile, in the big picture, they have a serious issue with frontcourt depth if Drew is out for a while. Mihm isn't coming back anytime soon. Vlad is hurt. That leaves Ronny to what, back up both LO and Kwame? Yikes. Or they go reeeeeeeeeal small.
10:54- Credit the Lakers with getting very, very aggressive defensively. Critter combined with a bunch of teammates to force a steal, then convert a tear drop after pressuring the Grizzlies after a 54 miss, then forced another TO on the other end. This after Ariza nearly forced a steal a couple possessions before. Points have been a struggle over the last 15 minutes, but they're making up for it.
7:05- This game has gone the way of molasses. The Lakers have put in 26 points in the half, and Memphis 27. They've played some nice defense, in terms of pressuring the ball, etc., but things are starting to go Memphis' way as the Lakers are having less success putting the ball in the hole.
And as I was thinking, you dan't leave LO and Kobe on the bench much longer, they both come back in at the 6:03 mark.
5:47- Timeout on the floor, as Kobe just got T'd up. Honestly, I coudln't tell what he was upset about, adn nobody sitting around me picked it up, either. Memphis is on an 11-0 run, with a FT to come. They've brought the lead down to two, and have started to take any and all momentum away from the Lakers who haven't had a clean look in a long time. With Kobe back in the game, that should improve, but I have a feeling they're going to stay very Kobe-centric for the rest of the game. Hopefully he can get them through.
The Lakers haven't had a FG in four minutes, I think.
5:00- Ronny in for Kwame coming out of the TO- Not sure why it took so long for PJ to get LO and Kobe back in the game. That'll be one he'll likely be asked after the game...
2:54- Lakers tied up at 91, but will get two FTs from Lamar coming out of the timeout. Overall, they've only scored 30 points in the second half, and Memphis is currently riding a 17-4 run.
2:11- Kobe to the line with a chance to give LA the lead back after Juan Carlos Navarro gives the Grizz a lead with a triple. Second chance points there for Memphis, who got the long rebound off a missed jumper.
Kobe makes two, but Hakim Warrick gets fouled by Kwame and will go to the line. He makes the first. Tied at 95. The Grizzlies are really working the high screen, and are finding some good looks. Though generally they've been jumpers. Warrick makes the second, and Memphis is back up by one.
1:19- Terrible foul from Kwame, jumping the screen and fouling Navarro about 35 feet from the basket. Lakers get lucky when he misses both. Still a one point Grizzlies lead. Wow, that was a bad foul.
38.9- Lakers up by three after a great Kobe layup off a steal. Good thing Kobe got a hand on the pass from Memphis, because they had Gasol wide open down low off the pick and roll. But Kobe got a piece of Miller's pass, and the break was on. Memphis calls timeout, get the ball in to Gasol int he post- the ball rotates over to Gay, who hits the triple.
Fans on their feet.
Good ball movement on the possession, as Luke drops the ball into Kwame, who is fouled on the way up- hit in the eye, it looks like. He'll go to the line with a chance to put the Lakers up. Gay picks up his sixth in the process.
Kwame misses the second, and the Lakers get a tough break as Walton tracked the rebound, but was on the line before he could call timeout.
GAME SET MATCH: Contact on the last play, but Kwame does a nice job contesting the shot, and the lay in falls short. Nice play by 54. Lakers win by 1.
More to come....
BK
Mike,
Please don't go off about Kwame. He was the hero, but it was more like Munchausen Syndrome.
I believe that Kwame can fill in admirably. Be a beast, but he has to slow down.
Go Lakers.
Posted by: mel | January 13, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh...that Grizzly Guard got fouled twice there. Once by Fish and then by I can't make a in-the-paint Kwame B. Crossing my fingers that
Bynum's okay.
Posted by: Seph | January 13, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Lakers luck out at the end as that horrible officiating crew swallowed their whistles on that last play on what clearly appeared to be a foul by Brown on Lowery. Poor officiating really sucks the life of the entire league. Even though the Lakers benefited from that non-call, you hate to see incompetence. Memphis played hard and deserved a fair whistle.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | January 13, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Kwame + Coby + Jarv = useless men.
Why does not Lakers free the 3 slots?
Posted by: xk | January 13, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Man, I really wish Bynum the best of luck, hope it's not serious. Lakers fans all over, let's pray it's not serious because our season may really just rest on this little
injury right here
Posted by: Dallasguy | January 13, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Kwame + both draft picks + Javaris for Kurt Thomas. HAS TO BE DONE
Posted by: | January 13, 2008 at 08:51 PM
HA Ha Ha
I would make that trade only if you change it to;
Kurt Thomas and 2 draft picks for Kwame only!
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | January 13, 2008 at 09:09 PM
25-11...but drew down.
i would have rather LOST the game and still have him.
I hope he comes back soon.
Good luck to us with Kwame out there against DAllas, SA, and denver...sigh.
wow...what bad luck...i think it is almost to the same number of GAMES last season that LAMAR goes down with a knee sprain at the Houston Rockets place...
Posted by: Lakers4realz | January 13, 2008 at 09:09 PM
I know its unreasonable but FIRE GARY VITTI!
Posted by: p ang | January 13, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Mike T....come on give all of your Bynum body language and he's winded crap! Come on! Say it! I'm in the mood right now! You mean to tell me that Kwame Brown
couldn't even muster the fortitude to go up and bang that freaking ball. That petty foul was no excuse....hands down I've seen it over and over again, Kwame is a
softer player than Bynum! And how do you explain the Lakers coughing up that lead when Bynum went down with the injury....oh let me guess, they fell in love with
the three? Maybe if they had Bynum in there to change the complexity of the offense then I garauntee you they wouldn't fall in love with the three, in fact they
would have had better shots! And explain to me how we gave up more points in the paint when Kwame was in and Bynum wasn't. Explain it without your body
language and sweat and fatigue and all the other crap that you normally throw in your posts. Maybe I'm the only one in the blog who wants to hear your explanation
for Kwame's pathetic play tonight, leading to almost costing us the game....and that foul in the closing seconds....we just got lucky they didn't call it because guess
who they would have called it on...yup you guessed it right...that is if you are rational.
Posted by: rhon.salmon | January 13, 2008 at 09:10 PM
With Bynum not in the floor... some of the guys should step-up.
Kwame really sucks..hope we have deal him already before this injury.
We have big teams in the next few days...hope someone can step-up
for Bynum..
Posted by: shaggy | January 13, 2008 at 09:10 PM
can someone with a higher education than me......(im a pesant....common).....let the blue wiggle know.......Kwame Brown cant play at an NBA standard full stop.....
....we have 9 million reasons to trade him....even for a block of ice........maybe even a fridge door.....What a joke
Posted by: Thirty2 | January 13, 2008 at 09:11 PM
C'mon everyone, give Kwame some credit for hitting a free throw and then challenging the possible game winning shot. I mean, Kwame didn't have a good game at all by any stretch of the imagination, but under the circumstances(Andrew's injury)and finding himself on the foul line at the end of the game, he at least gave a chance to win and we did. I don't doubt for a minute that we were on our way to blowing them out before Andrew got hurt, but we won in the face of adversity. Here's where Kwame needs to show his value for our team. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 13, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Be nice to Kwame, he is all that we've got. Peace to his agent on the blog.
Lakers won by a hairline after losing Drew, what happens if it was Kobe suddenlyback to a nowhere team. I think the injury of Drew was a blessing in disguise that it happened during the season not during the playoffs. This time this bunch will be tested however we do not have an insurance Center, how far will Vlad or Chris are coming back from their injuries? Indeed, this will be a hard struggle but once they overcome the hump, the greater will be the triumph in the end.
If the Chargers can do it without Rivers in the end as well as Tomlinson and LaDainian, then Lakers should do it without Socks, Mihm, Vlad and Sasha.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 13, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Man did we ever luck out. The refs completely blew that non-call on Lowry's drive to the bucket. He got totally hammered by Kwame. This is SOOOOOOOO like last year. I think I'll take up lawn bowling until Baby comes back.
Posted by: CornerJ | January 13, 2008 at 09:11 PM
That was a no-call foul on Kwame, but the refs weren't calling a lot of fouls in this game, so I'll take it.
6 straight wins, baby!
I hope Bynum will be okay. Hopefully, he's only out for 2 - 3 weeks with a sprain. In the meantime, I hope the Lakers can weather the storm.
Offensively, Kwame has been playing awful of late. He's going to have to pick it back up. You cannot miss a two-handed dunk like that!
Lamar also needs to pick up his game. He's been missing a lot of layups & fumbling the ball.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Stephen Ward | January 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM
This is when Fisher being signed with the Lakers is going to hopefully pay huge dividends. This is just a small injury. Injuries are inevitable. They should now use this as fuel to prove they don't need Bynum (even though they do). Kwame is good enough defensively but not offensively. They are all going to have to man up and so is Lamar. He's going to have to start playing like an all-star now. They need to stay POSITIVE!!!. BYNUM WILL BE BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!!!!.
Posted by: johnny | January 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM
i think when brown got hit in the eye, he lost concentration. But, I don't know.
I think when Bynum got injured, everyone panicked, everyone was shocked.
I almost got a heart attack with almost all of Brown's moves especially defensively.
Nice double team by Memphis to bryant down the stretch.
The lakers team looks like a D-fender team without their main center... they blew up a 10+ lead.
ALl I can say is, lucky win. They hold on to it.
Posted by: bynum_theman | January 13, 2008 at 09:14 PM
We pulled out one ugly game. Sickening too see Drew go down with that injury. Can we cut Coby Karl and bring in PJ Brown or even C-Webb? Kwame is just not going to cut it as a starting enter.
Posted by: Laker Kev | January 13, 2008 at 09:02 PM
We don't need to cut anyone , we still have a roster spot open. We traded 2 for one, Cook And Evans for Ariza so we still have an open spot on roster.
We can sign PJ for short term or a few 10 day contracts and see how he fits in. Or any other serviceable big.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | January 13, 2008 at 09:16 PM
its a bitter win.....
Posted by: joetoronto | January 13, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Not so sure that was a foul - Kwame went pretty much straight up in the air, and he didn't swing down with his arms.
Darko did the same thing when Kobe got contact, but the difference is that Darko would swing for the ball and hit Kobe's arm.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | January 13, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Trade Kwame.....he sucks.
Posted by: | January 13, 2008 at 09:20 PM
one thing that i enjoyed over the last 2 weeks....was that lamar has reduced his turnovers per game...
tonight he had only 1....and in my opinion...we are such a different team..when he doesnt have 4 or 5 and seem outta control..
since he is such a good rebounder, i'd like him to not hang around the 3line so much...but...i'm about to give up on that..
fortunate win...--this game almost reminds us of the team we were prior to bynum's increased playing time
Posted by: laker32 | January 13, 2008 at 09:24 PM
one thing that i enjoyed over the last 2 weeks....was that lamar has reduced his turnovers per game...
tonight he had only 1....and in my opinion...we are such a different team..when he doesnt have 4 or 5 and seem outta control..
since he is such a good rebounder, i'd like him to not hang around the 3line so much...but...i'm about to give up on that..
fortunate win...--this game almost reminds us of the team we were prior to bynum's increased playing time
Posted by: laker32 | January 13, 2008 at 09:24 PM
DAMN.............
SO WERE STUCK WITH KWAME...........
Notice how they focus on kobe sending 2-3-4 guy's at him.
WOW..........know LO an LUKE has to look to pick up the slack.........were FLUCC.........because it was their man who was running at KOBE to double him.
KWAME 3pts 3 reb in the second half .......WOW...........this is last year all over again.
Posted by: COMPTON FINEST | January 13, 2008 at 09:25 PM
While Socks is down, LO and Kwame should take a crash course program from the Cap and continue the inside penetration Drew used to do, catching in the air and dunking. LO should learn that technique, he's 6'10" with long arms. In the thick of the fight, someone has to pick up the responsibility left behind, it cannot remain there as a vacuum because that was success this team has been enjoying for a couple of months now. Don't let Drew be indispensable, it should be a team concept. If not "catch and shoot" go for Ariza and Turiaf in the closing minutes than relying with Luke and Lamar.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 13, 2008 at 09:25 PM
good sign is that andrew can stand and doesn't seem to be in much pain. he looked pretty upbeat on the interview. fingers crossed Laker fans...
Posted by: sixonezero | January 13, 2008 at 09:27 PM
There's no point in complaining about Kwame. We're stuck with him. Might as well root for him. He is a Laker after all, and we are only as strong as our weakest player.
As far as Drew...injuries are a part of the NBA. Every team and player goes through it. All we can do is hope for good news tomorrow (sprain?) and a quick recovery. Hopefully he will only be out for a couple of weeks and be back in time for that monster road trip.
Keep your fingers crossed, Laker nation....
Posted by: bynumite | January 13, 2008 at 09:27 PM
I think Phil's bizarro substitutions are a good thing. You'll lose a game here and there but the experience is valuable. What other team gets to play 12 players/
And on top of that, he's not going to "rescue" them when they start letting the game get away. Players learn accountability.
Those 12 will come in handy during the Playoffs. Coaches don't go deep in the bench during Playoffs but you never know when a key player goes down.
I mean look at Phoenix, they never played their bench for years, now they have serious depth issues. Player development is the key to sustained competitiveness.
Frustrating at times sure, but it pays big dividends in the long run.
Bynumite's goiing to be out for awhile, here's to seeing Kwame light it up for a few weeks.
Posted by: Bynumite | January 13, 2008 at 09:28 PM
saw this on the espn recap
"Brown, a 38-percent foul shooter, connected on his first attempt to give the Lakers a 100-99 lead before missing the second."
38%, has there ever been a worse % on paper? wow--thats ridiculous....i'm trying to think of all the bad freethrowers in the league (ben wallace, shaq, chris dudley).......
Posted by: laker32 | January 13, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Wow what an awful thing for one of the brightest young stars in the NBA. I really hope for him that whatever the extent of the injury he stays positive and the lakers dont rush him back. The kid was already our second best offensive player and easily the best defensive weapon the Lakers have. It was painfully obvious our defense isn't nowhere near as good without him in there. As for our present team, without a dominating inside force our defense will suffer but our offense may suffer even more with Kobe jacking up more shots. If that happens we have no chance of getting far into the playoffs but hopefully kobe stays playing a smart game. Sure Kobe should take more shots with bynum down but not try to go for 40-50 pts every night. What a bummer.
Posted by: jon | January 13, 2008 at 09:29 PM
History repeat itself.. I hate to think of it. I hope this season we mananged to find some solution on how to overcome games and win with some guys are iin the sideline. Last year was a tough for everyone because of injuries, we never performed well in 2nd half of the season. If not by Kobe, we may not make it in the playoff .
4 guys down, who's next?
Posted by: trio | January 13, 2008 at 09:29 PM
History repeat itself.. I hate to think of it. I hope this season we mananged to find some solution on how to overcome games and win with some guys are iin the sideline. Last year was a tough for everyone because of injuries, we never performed well in 2nd half of the season. If not by Kobe, we may not make it in the playoff .
4 guys down, who's next?
Posted by: trio | January 13, 2008 at 09:29 PM
it's turiaf's time to shine. really, he's gonna go off. just you watch boys and girls.
I'm gonna be playing and partying with the predator in my dreams tonight....
Love, Bret
(by the way I called Bynum's injury like 3 days ago and I feel horrible)
Posted by: Bret | January 13, 2008 at 09:34 PM
MESSAGE TO KOBE:
Go and take a look at the Detroit game when we played them this year.
Check out the first quarter and the third quarter defense. Revert back to that defense. That is championship caliber. And it'll get you through with wins that resemble the Celtics.
Remember that the Celtics are winning with defense and little points in the paint. I read that the majority of Garnett's points are from the 12 foot range. Hardly nothing in the middle from Garnett or Perkins.
Transition points!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | January 13, 2008 at 09:35 PM
hate to say this guys but...ANDREW BYNUM is out for the season
Posted by: mike | January 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM
MY BAD
KWAME............1 PT AN 3 REB IN THE SECOND HALF
A FAR CRY FROM WHAT WE USE TO SEEING...........We should hurry up an trde KWAME-LO before they value drop.........an its droping every second they play.
Posted by: COMPTON FINEST | January 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Wow. Tomorrow we go up north for a back to back without Bynum. Hopefully he'll be fine soon. Is it time to get a Larry Turner or someone for a short 10 day contract?
I don't want our energy to go back to Kobe to do everything, because that'll be taking a step backwards. Since PJ has been playing everyone, hopefully our Lakers will come closer and win in Seattle and play hard back at home.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | January 13, 2008 at 09:40 PM
This could be dejavu all over again. Last year we had a similar record and the inuries started to mount. Please God, I'll eat my veggies and pick up my dirty socks - oh no, did I say "socks" I mean my dirty clothes., if you just bring him back soon. Please. I apologize for every bad thing and trade suggestion I ever said about him. I'll never do it again - Hey, anybody want to trade LO and Kwame for JO before the trade deadline? Sorry, I can't help myself.
Posted by: Lincoln Laker | January 13, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Sigh, hey fellas. I've had 2 ACL surgeries (left and right) playing basketball. It takes about 4-9 months for recover. The discrepency depends obviously on how the person heals as well as how fast your muscles recover. i would normally say at least 6 months for regular people, but these pros are watched and treated 24 hours a day. Does that make a person heal faster? Not a bit... but at least they'll get his muslces back to normal a lot faster we would ever.
Bottom line. If he tore his ACL or PCL, he's done for the season. If it is a sprain or a slightly torn MCL (which doesn't require surgery) then he'll probably be back anywhere between a month or two. If it isn't seroiusly, at least it's only January and not March or April.
The part that sucks the most is the psyche of a player after a first major injury. I tore my first knee dunking the ball (i'm 6'2"). I have to tell you, after you come back, you just aren't the same for awhile because you are scared of going down again... which sadly, in my case happened. Hopefully he'll get his confidence back and continue from where he left off, but something tells me we lost the dunking machine Bynum for the rest of this season (unless it was a freak thing and he's totally fine by tomorrow)
Hope that helps....
EVERYONE SAY YOUR PRAYERS TONIGHT FOR BYNUM. GO LAKERS
Posted by: LakerMark | January 13, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Trade Kwame and LO when your starting center goes down? IDIOT.
Posted by: sixonezero | January 13, 2008 at 09:43 PM
mike, it's just a sprain. It's not something that puts you on the shelf for extended amount of time.
This just makes it more imperative we play tough D. No more letting the opponents score over 100, it's gotta be below 90 now.
Posted by: Faith | January 13, 2008 at 09:43 PM
MESSAGE TO KWAME:
When you show on top, quit gambling! Just show to disrupt the flow of the offense. Over the course of the game that disruption will be more valuable than the 1 or 2 steals you might get and you don't pick up fouls.
Disruption is the key...not really the steal. The steals will come from your teammates with the disruption.
And quit stopping on plays that don't go your way. The devil is in the details! Run back even if you get screwed by the officials. Let your captain complain for you.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | January 13, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Mike - your ability to analyze basketball is somewhere between Kwame's ability to catch the ball and his ability to hit freethrows
Posted by: golal | January 13, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Mike Miller is a class act. Didn't put it on the refs. Nice considering his suspended dribble non call resulted in a 4 point swing.
Posted by: Vman | January 13, 2008 at 09:45 PM
OK Mike T. We agree....we agree with your boy, Kwame. I don't know you see a lot of things in Kwame's play that we don't see. Nonetheless, we agree....we agree, no alternative out there except your boy, Kwame unless you put the blog on hostage now that there is no C available to play.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 13, 2008 at 09:49 PM
its time for Kobe to take a shot at the scoring leader :P
Posted by: vincey | January 13, 2008 at 09:50 PM
So Bynum getting injured is the result of people calling Kwame out for not being able to catch balls, score, rebound or box out? The fact that we are clearly worse on offense and defense should tell you all you need to know.
We have two years of evidence to prove that we're not a very good team with Kwame Brown. Anyone who argues otherwise is delusional.
Posted by: Xodus | January 13, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Stu Lanz, Joel Myers, and Norm Nixon are acting like Kwame Brown fouled on the last play to end the game. They're talking with smirks on their face as if that was lucky it wasn't called a foul.
It wasn't a foul because Kwame jumped straight up. If Kwame had stayed on his feet and Lowery had crashed into him Kwame would have been called for a foul. But Kwame jumped straight up and the play was clean.
These guys just don't want the Lakers to succeed with Kwame. But the Lord is going to teach them not to treat people in their own organization with contempt.
Keep on talking crazy idiots!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | January 13, 2008 at 09:57 PM
I'm surprised nobody has picked up on that little 30 second snippet on FSN after the game. They talked to Bynum and he looks and sounds fine. He said something to the effect of "they put ice on it and it felt better right away. He was standing as he did the interview and said he can put weight on it, move it side to side, just that there's a little pain moving straight forward. I know he might be out for a bit, but it doesn't sound too serious. Here's to waiting for that MRI.
Posted by: Kurt G | January 13, 2008 at 09:57 PM
This is where we should be POSITIVE and let OPTIMISM reign. I think Bynum will be back in two weeks time if there are no broken bones. He is young and injuries easily heal when your bones and muscles are still at a tender age. If we all just wish for good things, then good things will come.
With regards to cutting any of the players, there is no need to because we have only 14 players at this time. Lakers can get one more player for help. How about calling Spain for Marc Gasol? I don't think he can play worst than Kwame ooops, sorry I should say as good as Kwame.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 13, 2008 at 09:58 PM