Game Thread - Lakers at Bobcats
March 31, 2009 | 3:58
pm
Odds are Vlad Radmanovic will get more opportunities to punish his old team than Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown will get to hurt their former employers. Let's hope the DNP-CD Party reigns triumphant! For whatever reason, this Bobcats crew remains a steady fly in the ointment.
The jabber box is below.
AK
Well, I'll be the first to say it...
Farmar played like crap tonight.
Of course he had a lot of craptacular help from Josh Bowel,
Sahsa Vujabrick, Trevor Airballriza, and Kobe had another bad
shooting night as well.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | March 31, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Luke was the only bench player able to hit a shot, and even
he cooled off late in the game.
But even with all that, the starters were on the floor only down
by 2 points with 5:31 left... and they flat out gave it up from there.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | March 31, 2009 at 06:22 PM
FARMAR Sucks.
The next Smush Parker.
Smush Farmar.
Vujacic the Next Brian Cook. Bust of a contract.
Posted by: Tom | March 31, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Who is worse? Farmar or Smush?
It is sad to even ask the question.
Posted by: Tom | March 31, 2009 at 06:25 PM
tomorrow will have the first 3 games loss of the season. that is for the stat people. we have to fill up all the columns
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | March 31, 2009 at 06:25 PM
LEBRON REGULAR SEASON MVP.
Kobe Bryant Finals MVP ... Hopefully.
Posted by: Tom | March 31, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Jordan: "My advice to Kobe. Punch Farmar and Vujacic and Josh in the face. It will wake them up. Trust me."
Posted by: Tom | March 31, 2009 at 06:26 PM
I thought they were going to lose
Posted by: never | March 31, 2009 at 06:29 PM
it seems that kobe is giving a way or away his back to back mvps to lebron...not a good idea for all the fans who have been following him all the way...this could have been his time not only to him but to all the fans all around the world...very disappointing...
Posted by: jon | March 31, 2009 at 06:32 PM
do these guys (management) have a clue?, they are supposed to be basketball experts yet they gave sasha vujacic $5 mil a year and let Turiaf walk away while they have to play gasol a zillion minutes every night?
Posted by: david | March 31, 2009 at 06:33 PM
Who would of thunk it. Cleveland the Best team in the NBA. I'm feeling this Labron thing and I don't even like him. There is something wierd with that team. They are very scary. Lakers have shown nothing the last two games. We traded our Out side shooter. Now no one is afraid of our shooters wihich is causing major problems. I hope Bynun coming back rejuvinates thais team for a playoof run. Give me a break 84 points the last couple of games. Where's our offense? Are the teams playing zone? Whats up. We look tired and this is when we should be gearing up. Help me out guys, whats going on?
CrzyFan
Posted by: CrzyFan | March 31, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Wow.........good thing we don't see crappy teams in the playoffs.
Posted by: janaya | March 31, 2009 at 06:37 PM
OK......4-2 on this trip will have to do.....but when the Lakers get back to LA they have to rest Kobe and Pau.....Kobe is going through a stretch with tired legs......Cleveland already has home court......Lebron is definitely MVP.....But they still have to slug it out with Boston to get through the finals.....I personally think that it will be LA vs Boston again.......Boston is looking at the big picture getting everyone healthy to battle with Cleveland in the East finals.....it seems as if the Lakers are concerned with the best record and getting Kobe the MVP....The guy shot 36% (10-28) again tonight .....Whether he wants to or not he needs to rest!! Lets get Bynum back into the flow of things.....and go into the playoffs well rested. At full strength the Lakers are the best team in the league .....Get the best record next year with Bynum ...maybe even make a run for 70 wins.......The most important thing right now is to make sure Kobe, Pau, and Bynum are healthy, fresh, and ready to make a run deep into June.......
PL
Posted by: PL | March 31, 2009 at 06:38 PM
Wow! Just plain, Wow! Let's get whatever amount of wins we need to secure home vs Magic or Celts and sit KB, Pau and Fish down till they are healthy and ready to go in the playoffs.
Man, you can just see the frustration in KB's eyes. I wonder what he's thinking. You better hurry Drew and you better bring your A-game or we are in some kinda trouble.
Posted by: DJ | March 31, 2009 at 06:41 PM
TO ALL THE COCKY, AVID, BLIND LAKERS FANS,
What can you say now that they lost back to back to non-elite teams like Hawks and Bobcats (Bobcats w.t.f.) while the Cavs won 13 straight. Can you still mightilly say "What are we playing for......RING" The way they're playing they will be lucky to get out of the second round. Do I still see somebody who still believe that Kobe should win over Lebron for the M.V.P. title? Have you seen what the King have done the last 15 games and what Kobe did nothing for the same number of games? Now tell me does Kobe deserves to even be mention as a candidate along with James and Wade. For sure the Lakers bloggers here will accuse me of being fair-weather fans. I am just being realistics THIS TEAM WILL GO NOWHERE. They will be out in the second round at the most. They don't have the quality of a championship caliber team. Thanks for the ride.
Posted by: rafanico | March 31, 2009 at 06:47 PM
We never play well against the 'cats...but...
Look at the stats...
Charlotte's bench:23 points
Lakers bench:11
FTs
Charlotte:17-22
Lakers:4-6
We took 29 more shots...and shot 16 fewer FTs...
Really?
As poorly as we played, and we played poorly, please tell me you have EVER seen numbers like that...ever?
I don't pretend to know what's going on with the bench, but I'll say it again...
We need veteran leadership off of the bench...
Robert Horry
Fill in your other choices here...
And, Larry Brown has Phil's number...
Still, our starters outscored theirs...
and they shot 16 more FTs on 29 fewer attempts...
and 2 of our 6 attempts were on technicals...
Really?
Come on...have you ever seen or heard of a team shooting the ball 97 times and going to the FT line twice?
let me say that again...we played poorly...
but we shot the ball 97 times and went to the FT line twice...
I challenge anyone to find that in any other NBA game...ever.
You won't.
Posted by: christopher blake | March 31, 2009 at 06:50 PM
whats going on with the photoshop contest?
Posted by: ajax | March 31, 2009 at 06:55 PM
all the commentators/scouts around the NBA know that lakers HAVE PROBLEMS with fast point guards.
bringing in fish was like applying a band aid that comes off after a shower. ha has nothing to teach farmar because he is a spot up shooter. yes he has great experience but one can not teach that. also, he was one of the least important players from the old team.
i never seen such a bunch of stiffs together on a team. kupcake is a total bust. except kobe, no other player can create anything. except LO, but that is offensive fouls.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | March 31, 2009 at 06:56 PM
rafanico, you seem to be from space. If you want to talk about teams who dont have the "quality of a championship caliber team" why dont you look at the Cavaliers from the earlier part of the season and last year. Kobe bryant will shut out lebron james, if he MAKES it to the finals. I really think the celtics will show lebron and his D-league team which team is better. Oh, and lebron having the ball at all possible times doesn't make him the best, haha. The cavs will have to lose sometime, lets just hopee its not to the wizards hahaha.
Both the cavs and lakers are putting on an act, one team is acting like their better than they are, while another is playing far worse than their potential. Come playoff time we will see the state of both teams. The celtics did not look like a championship team in the first 2 rounds of the playoffs, but then they hit a completly different switch come finals. It really doesn't take 2 months to mentally change, I mean look at the cavs, who knew they could win hah
Keep getting cocky Cav fans, thats what the Lake show needs. It feels good to know that we're not number 1 all that time because that can put way too much pressure on players.
Posted by: JAC | March 31, 2009 at 07:01 PM
LTLF
whowwwwwww. everything to defend your boys, F and L. no, Farmar had 2 TO trying to pass to gasol. did u ever mentioned his defense. i guess not, there is no statistic for NONE.
also, i never read you calling names before. how come u don't have some new FRESH nicknames for Farmar and Luke. u and your statistics always seem to be OBJECTIVE. pathetic. today both u and Jon K proved to be morally hypocritical. so much for the elders of the blog. have some onion rings. +/-
and no bunny for U.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | March 31, 2009 at 07:03 PM
The Lakers were awful tonight, no energy. Fisher 6, Ariza 6 and Walton 6 that's 666 from three players who were supposed to match Kobe diminishing shooting stint. That's is a bad omen on the eve of April Fool's Day. We are the fans who are fools in believing what the homers say that we do not have any problem. The beast will cure the problem. Where is the beast at the time he is needed most? He is there at the Playboy Mansion having is own sweet time wading at the pool and getting a rehab and B/M too (body massage).
What happened to the Lakers bench?
Gasol is dead tired playing as a starter and a bench mob supporter too. Problem is that he was expected to catch thoee Farmar's blind passes to the opponents. Sasha, the machine can't buy a shot so he hustles Felton and gets a T shot, that's the job of Sasha, being pesky machine than a his previous role. Farmar, Sasha and Walton - the alignment of non-achievers, not sure of themselves which team will they want to play in the future. Right now, they are pure liabilities. Well, they are better of than the two former Bobcats, yes we saved money from acquiring them but we could also lose money for missing the big dance b/c of their presence or absence. They are completely useless, no help at all. Vlad was a dismal happy-go-luck snowboarder but at least he helps, he plays, he rebounds than just sit around w/o any use. Do the Lakers have any other reliable offense on top of Kobe and Pau? I think the homers have all the answers with their fuzzy stats.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 31, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Rafianco ..Thanx for the ride? Is this where you get off? or is this "HOW" you get off! Just a BUMP on the road and you BAIL OUT! This must be your last post on this blog?
KICK ROCKS BUDDY!!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: ChicNstu | March 31, 2009 at 07:06 PM
You would think this was the last game of the season the way people are talking.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | March 31, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Yes, probably LeBron, having a super year, will win the MVP. However, Kobe IS in the discussion, particularly because he seems to always play regardless of injury or sickness. He always laughs when a report asks if he's going to play tonight! I don't recall James playing hurt, even D-Wade sat out a game and then came back and scored over 40, wasn't it? He must have really been hurt the day or so earlier? Hopefully PJ will have the brains (?) to rest KB, Pau and Fish for when it really counts.
Posted by: DJ | March 31, 2009 at 07:27 PM
This team looks pretty raggedy right now.
Late game let-downs taking the place of last years WC surge.
Is it due to a lack of pressure?
I'm not talking about from the Staff, I liked that Phil left everyone out there for an extended time. But it looked like we just had problems against there physicality.
That and a lot of missed, open, looks by just about everyone not named Luke Walton or Lamar Odom.
The rash of turnovers by the 2nd unit near the end of the third didn't help. I can't fathom why We sometimes lack the ability to make an entry pass. Farmar called for the high post screen and roll, got two guys to cover Gasol...then passed it to him. Farmar looks like he's taken Vlad Rad's roll of space cadet these days. I think, even if they win it all, he might not be around next year, or will have to win minutes guaranteed this year back. I thought ti notable that Shannon Brown was the first off the bench, even though he was dreadful. He's not as good a PG as Sasha is.
I have to say, I like everything about Sasha except that he has pretty much gone with his sling-shot style jumper. He is always drifting left or right. He never raises straight up and he has stopped putting his man in the pop-corn machine and going right back up. He should try to draw more contact, too instead of trying to get the shot off. He's an excellent free-throw shooter. He seems as if he's bound and determined to get a shot off as opposed to drawing the foul. Those are veteran instincts that may come with time.
The big issue was that the Lakers couldn't over-come a sub-par Kobe game and a non-effecient Pau Gasol game. Ariza missed shots, too. Odom showed up, but was relegated to the bench for much of the 2nd half, mainly because of a LAAAAAAAAAAAAME offensive foul. Fish was solid.
Let's just hope that we don't face Charlotte for the Lary O' B.
If we compete for it all. Until we actually compete for 48 down to a man, I'll expect a tough Jazz or Spur team to knock us out in 7.
go lakers
just kidding,
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | March 31, 2009 at 07:30 PM
JAC,
I'm sure one of those cocky fans will come out. At least the Cavs begun the season playing like the second tier team then blossomed into a championship caliber team, while the Lakers begun like they were the depending champion then beginning to look like a better version of the Clippers. Yes Kobe will shut out Lebron (of last year) but not the Lebron of this year. I am a Laker fan but I'm telling you right now, Bryant will eat the dust of James if ever they see each other in the Finals, but I doubt it as I said this Lakers right now will not be able to get out of the second round not unless Bynum will come back the same player when he got injured (because of Kobe) You were saying Lebron having the ball all the time, maybe you are the one who is from the space. Do you know who many triple doubles Lebron have compare to Kobe? Now tell me who's the one hogging the ball?
Posted by: rafanico | March 31, 2009 at 07:31 PM
Chrisopher Blake-
We need veteran leadership off of the bench...
And, Larry Brown has Phil's number...
Couldn't agree more, since we roasted the 76ers over an open spit (not toally fair, because they had been ravaged by injuries up until that point...oh yeah, and we had Shaq in his prime) Larry Brown has made it his personal mission to show Phil who's who. He's got a team that fits his personality.
Well, the only way to get that this late in the game would be to start Farmar and bring Fish off the bench, which I REALLY don't see happening...ever. Unless Fish is hurt and even then I'd be more likely to suit up Brian Shaw.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | March 31, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Lake Show Fam Bam,
Don't worry about these losses. What the Lakers need to focus on is getting some rest for their starters. The Lakers have always played down to the competition.... It's always been like that.... Everyone seems to be panicking over these losses. No worries, we have the west locked up, we weren't going to catch the Cavs anyway. As long as we stay in front of Boston we should be fine.... We don't need home court against the Cavs.... We never play well against the cats and especially since they have Larry Brown as a coach now... He's Phil's kryptonite.... Don't panic folks, championships aren't won in the regular season.... In the post season the starts will be logging heavy minutes anyway. When we get Bynum back with the Bench blobs he should anchor down the middle... We can have him run with the slobs Gasol or Odom....
With Odom coming off the bench I felt like the slobs were running a lot more. They seem to thrive in that type of system... Half court... with farmar having to make decisions... not such a great idea... But anyway, next year I really feel like Kobe should convince AI or Kidd to sign with the Lakers for a chance at a championship. They really need some consistent production from their point guards.... Fisher is old and farmar is too unstable.
Posted by: BenchSlobs | March 31, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Peeps,
The world is not going to end, but the Lakers certainly have some huge problems that need to be fixed ASAP.
1. How many times does Kobe need to shoot it? 28 shot attempts is ridiculous.
2. Earth to the bench, 11 points aint gonna cut it.
Until Kobe can trust his team and learn to not shoot it a bizzillion times, give the MVP to Bron. Now there's a stud.
Rest your horses, let's get ready for the "real" season, the playoffs.
Posted by: Phil is Lord of the Rings | March 31, 2009 at 07:47 PM
the thunder stunt SA in SA. looks like except the CAVS and the KING, all the team sux at this moment.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | March 31, 2009 at 07:48 PM
Hey folks-
A couple people have asked about the photoshop contest. We've had a bunch of really funny submissions, and will have a post up about it tomorrow, just to give a couple more time to trickle in.
Thanks!
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | March 31, 2009 at 08:00 PM
Honestly, we got what we deserved tonight. We have not played that well really since whipping Phoenix on a Thursday night. The 2 games in Texas were pretty good but we had just got whipped by Portland.
Phil Jackson has decided since Bynum went down to overplay Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant. He also did not lobby for keeping Chris Mihm who would have been an extra big man option for Jackson to make adjustments with and most importantly help Powell and Mbenga give Gasol some rest. It's biting Phil in the ass now.
Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar especially are playing like 2 guys that want to be looking for jobs this summer. They are the main reasons that it appears that we miss Radmonvic a TON. They can't hit outside shots. They have not developed a game inside of the 3 point line. They don't defend well enough especially Farmar. For all of Farmar's moxie and cockiness he has been destroyed by Phoenix in 2 of 3 playoffs and can anyone recall him playing very well in last yr's playoff either.
JORDAN FARMAR, your LAKER LIFE IS ON THE LINE. STEP UP OR SHIP HIS ASS OUT.
Last but not least, God bless Kobe Bryant and I love the guy as much as anyone but big fella this is YOUR LIFE and LEGACY flashing in front of your eyes. If you don't win this June 2009, the whole world is going to CLOWN the hell out of you and on top of that question your stature overall in your career. If you win it all on the other hand, you are validated for LIFE.
Whatever it takes, GET IT DONE team. Playoffs are coming in 18 days!!
Posted by: LakerBake | March 31, 2009 at 08:04 PM
rafanico
First off, doubt you're a laker fan, don't kid yourself please. Second, if someone is having a triple double almost every game, he has the ball in his hands pretty much HALF the game, sorry to burst your little bubble.
oh, and the better version of the Clippers? haha, last time i checked, the clippers have won just as many as the lakers have lost, so i really dont see that as the "better version" of the Clippers.
You seem to be one of those bandwagon fans who have no insight on data and reality. The truth is, the lakers probably dont care about your opinion or mine. You should learn how to make judgements AFTER the season is over, so be quiet and we'll see how this year ends. Last time I checked, the playoffs haven't started yet, and it really doesn't matter how well you're playing leading up to the playoffs because it is a different season and many things can change. Also matchups and etc can benefit the players or put them to a disadvantage.
Bottom line, don't call yourself a Lakers fan.
Posted by: jac | March 31, 2009 at 08:09 PM
i love how people are getting worked up over these losses hahah relaxxxxxxx imagine you were san antonio right now.
Posted by: bert | March 31, 2009 at 08:10 PM
"let's get ready for the "real" season, the playoffs."
Phil is Lord of the Rings I'm with you.
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | March 31, 2009 at 08:14 PM
ok let me start off with saying that this game i thought we were gonna loose before it started. Because the bobcats are tuff team than there record shows, they look up to the lakers so they want them to proove themselfs to beat la it makes them happy. But as i was watching the game we should have beat them easily if kobe had made more shoats. We played bad but we were in the game but after kobe made back to back threes, we went down hill from that point on. Gasol was to nice, odom did his part, fisher was ok, kobe sucked, farmer sucked, luke did his part, sasha sucked, mebenga sucked, Josh sucked, trevor sucked, and brown does not count.
AFTER MILWAUKE GAME GASOL SHOULD NOT PLAY FOR THESE GAMES
LA CLIPPERS, SACRAMENTO, MEMPHISHIS
KOBE DOES NOT NEED ANY REST HE DOES NOT EXERT AS MUCH ENERGY AS GASOL. HE NEEDS EVERY GAME TO GET HIS SHOOTING BACK SO PEOPLE STOP SAYING KOBE NEEDS REST HE DOES NOT. HIS LEGS ARE FINE. HE WILL JUST TAKE BRAKES ON D FOR THE GAMES THAT DONT MEAN ANYTHING.
Posted by: omega | March 31, 2009 at 08:16 PM
Momentum wise something looks weird or not right. I know this team is so tired of waiting on the playoffs but what about good habits. What's the bench scared of? They seem to have no confidence.
This is quite concerning. Maybe the momentum starts tomorrow but there's only so much feel good that can be squeezed out of a win over Milwaukee in Wisconsin. However, we need to handle the business.
Posted by: LakerBake | March 31, 2009 at 08:16 PM
you guys the reason the cavs are playing so well is b/c no one expected it. this is like how it was for the lakers last year. i't also the reason why they look like they are having fun.
where as the lakers have to play well b/c everyone expects it.
i think lakers will win, honestly in a series i don't think cavs can beat celtics.
the problem is rest the starters. also, when kobe is going through a slump the whole team suffers. not just b/c of the score, but b/c they lose confidence esp jordan and sasha. they have pressure on them to do well b/c right now they are playing poorly and kobe can't bail them out.
gasol is AMAZING but he is tired and i don't know if he can mentally carry the team when kobe can't
but in the end we WILL WIN
Posted by: laila | March 31, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Wow! Lakers are playing like one of the worst teams in the league right now!! No energy from the bench, as expected. Sorry LakesTom, I know that you were mad when everyone else jumped on the pathetic Farmar & Vujacic, but these two players are killing the Lakers! What a dumb backup PG we have...
I agree with most of you, let's rest Pau & Kobe right now. I hope we could get pass the second round this year, not looking good though..
Posted by: Wallace | March 31, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Why are we so concerned of Lebron every time the Lakers lose a game? We don't even know if they are going to the Finals. Let the Lakers take care of them and let the chips fall where they are? Right now, our problem is shallow bench. From a deep bench, it became shallow, not Lebron James, not Celtics but Lakers bench. Don't underestimate the capabilities of other teams during the playoffs outside of lakers, celtics and cavs. Worry your own players, create your own victories and carve your own destiny, that should be the Lakers standard not talking of what Lebron can do and cannot do? Well, we already faced the Cavs during the season, we beat them twice, can we not discuss on future opponents than giving credit on a dream match that is not yet in the making. Let us get to the playoffs with a strong bench and a well rested starting five. How? That's the problem, therefore focus on that problem.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 31, 2009 at 08:19 PM
>>>whowwwwwww. everything to defend your boys, F and L
Defend? All I said about Jordan was that he played like crap.
He did. Sunday's game he did a couple of positive things and
a couple of negative things. Tonight it was all bad. I made no
attempt to defend Jordan's play tonight.
Luke was at least hitting some shots and he also got 5 rebounds
6 assists, and a steal. He was the ONLY productive bench player.
Sasha sucked. Powell sucked. Farmar sucked. And Trevor
and Kobe also contributed mightily to the loss. If the bench
mob was up to snuff, they might have made up for a bad shooting
night by Kobe, but for a second game Powell and Sasha kept
jacking up shots and kept missing them.
They need to get their mojo back.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | March 31, 2009 at 08:24 PM
>>>also, i never read you calling names before. how
>>>come u don't have some new FRESH nicknames for
>>>Farmar and Luke?
Luke has been playing well lately, so lay off.
But Jar-Jar Bricks might be a suitable name for Jordie.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | March 31, 2009 at 08:26 PM
After all the "get pau more touches down the stretch" talk we've been hearing all over the place the past few weeks (which I totally agree with as a general principal by the way), shouldn't at least SOMEONE be saying SOMETHING about how dreadful he was down the stretch???
I mean I love Pau, and the team stunk up the joint. But recently when we struggle or lose, a lot of people point the finger at Pau's lack of touches. I think the problem clearly goes deeper. Because when Pau-pa-da-pau-pau ( As I shout out when he's on a roll) got touches down the stretch tonight he str8 blew it. Missed Jump shot...dropped pass through his hand from Kobe... and late forced move where he looked lost and overwhelmed.
Pau did not look clutch tonight. I'm not blaming him solely, but maybe WE should all revise our previous claims that getting Pau the ball late in games would be some kind of panacea--clearly it wasn't tonight.
Posted by: jandro | March 31, 2009 at 08:49 PM
I'm sure Andrew was furious that the team lost.
He probably watched a video of people doing squats, and rehabbing their knees.
Way to go Drew.
Maybe next time the Lakers lose you can do one squat, with a spotteer or something.
Keep up the hard word, kiddo!
Saul
Posted by: Saul | March 31, 2009 at 09:01 PM
jac (your name shd. not be capitalized to match the size of your brain)
At least I know when my team deserve to be praise and be criticized when they need to be. While you (a true Laker fan as you branded yourself) ignores everything, anything, whatever still saying high praises and still acts like their team is playing the best basketball in the planet. A hypocrite fan like you is not a true fan just like what you think. You are a blind fan who refuse to admit that their team is suck right now You call yourself a fan? A true fan admits when their team is not playing to the level of expectation of the majority, not a fake fan like you who still say and feel they are the best when they are not, You should learn to go down and not stay up high there when you're team don't deserve to be there.
Bottom line be an intelligent fan not a dumb one.
Posted by: rafanico | March 31, 2009 at 09:06 PM
christopher blake - actually, not only has it happened before, but it's been even worse. The Laker low for free throws in a game is 3! And that was in the '80s, when field goal attempts were even higher. Other teams have shot even fewer in a game.
Posted by: Jonathan | March 31, 2009 at 09:13 PM
I can't believe it's gotten so bad we're bringing in Shannon Brown as the first guard off the bench.
Ouch.
Posted by: Blaine | March 31, 2009 at 09:20 PM
Greetings Lakeshow Fans,
Ahhh...another "interesting" loss on the road to a very spry Bobcats team that is DESPERATELY fighting to make the playoffs in the East. Boy, did they play like IT! Dog days indeed!
What's "interesting" to note is that the two latest losses are uncharacteristic of who the Lakers REALLY are as a team...Let's take a look at free throw shooting...If a team shoots less than 10 a game, it tells you that there is a lack of ENERGY and a willingness to build a structure BRICK by BRICK. The bench did not help the cause as well. Hey, let's give Atlanta and Charlotte credit! They were UP for the Lakers at home as SHOULD be expected...
Like I've said before, it is so DIFFICULT to win games on the road...EVERYTHING practically has to go your way...The Lakers, the last time I checked, is a pretty DARN good road team this year (the best thus far).
With a bit of ADVERSITY happening ranging from Drew's absence on the court, the LACKLUSTER play from the bench since January and KB24's rash of NAGGING injuries, the Lakers is still in GREAT position to do special things come playoff time.
We sometimes tend to take our team for granted...KB24, for the most part, has been the one guy, besides Gasol, that has played his BEHIND off ALL season long...
Kobe has played MAJOR games and minutes for the last 13 years in both the regular season and playoffs and recently in Olympic play...We are asking this guy to be a "god" that can do no wrong on the court. He is not your typical 30 year old player...He's got MILEAGE behind those knees and ankles!
In the case of the loss to the Bobcats, guys like Kobe have learned to not OVEREACT to such a defeat...Players on other teams are just as talented as DO win games against VERY good teams...Remember, games count the most in playoff time. MATURE players look beyond last night's box score! They look to IMPROVE!
Despite these recent bumps, I expect the Lakers to be ready when it MATTERS! You see, look at teams like the Spurs and Celtics...they haven't been lighting up the win totals lately either...It's WAY too early to tell...Cleveland, on the other hand, because of its heavy home schedule down the stretch, is expected to finish strong. Let's not forget the Magic as well...EVERY team is DIFFERENT in the way it manages its personnel and personalities at DIFFERENT times during the season...Its' a PROCESS!
But it's NEVER too late to BELIEVE that Phil and the Lakers will make necessary adjustments and re-commitment up ahead. Phil has ALWAYS been a productive coach historically.
There are two concerns that I'm sure Phil will focus on the next two weeks: Bynum's return and giving the benchmob plenty of minutes to cleanse their long bout of poor play (giving the starters essentially a BREATHER!). You gotta believe that when both concerns move in a positive direction, the Lakers will be just FINE! Again, it's all about the PROCESS!
Overall, I certainly did not think since the season started that the Lakers would end up being 82-0! Losses happen, including bad HEALTH. Every team has unique issues when it comes to wins and losses...Life HAPPENS!
Last year's Lakers team is TOTALLY different from this year's version...I feel that we a toughened up a bit this go around...Our bench just has not been able to get over the hump YET! But when they do, WATCH OUT! The Lakers are currently not 58-16 for NOTHING!
I BELIEVE that when the playoff dust settles, we will be ready to claim the BIG PRIZE!
Laker pride through ALL and ANY ADVERSITY!
Posted by: Let's Go L's! | March 31, 2009 at 09:46 PM