Lakers 119, Jazz 109: Punches taken... and handled
I imagine tonight's 119-109 win over the Jazz is likely to spark emotions of discontent among certain Laker faithful. After all, a lead reaching twenty shriveled down to three with just as many minutes left in regulation. Lockdown D was a scarce commodity. Sloppiness was at a premium. Deron Williams looked unstoppable (mostly because he was). And the Lakers, while undoubtedly the superior squad, hardly resembled a juggernaut, save one absurdly prosperous quarter.
I, however, will sleep fine tonight.
Not because I'm "satisfied." And not because I think this win cemented a Larry O'Brien future and I've begun camping out a spot on Figueroa, but rather because Utah gave the Lakers their best flurry of punches, and the Lakers withstood everything they had without any real problems, all things being realistic.
And I expected that push, by the way. Say what you want about the Jazz not being as good as the Lakers (and they're not), but Jerry Sloan teams are as likely to lay down in surrender as a Monty Python knight. A fight is guaranteed, especially in the playoffs. But nothing witnessed convinced me that Utah has the slightest prayer of taking this series. I'm not even convinced they can play much better, and they never truly threatened to snatch victory from the Lakers' mitts. I imagine balling in Salt Lake will recharge the Jazz's batteries, and probably enough to help avoid a sweep. But that's about the extent of the success, because save a total Laker collapse, they're just not good enough. End of story.
For the Lakers, though, the larger goal was met. As Derek Fisher reminded us (video below), playoff victories need not be pretty. They need not be dominant. They just need to add up. Does that mean improvements aren't in order? Hardly, and Fish predicted a Wednesday practice likely to contain the adjective "from hell." But any way you slice it, the Lakers are 2-0, no worse for the wear and keeping the best possible pace. For now, I can live without being inspired to puff out my chest. It's a little early for such behavior even after the gaudiest of blowouts.
The breakdown is below.
The Good
- The first quarter: Honestly, labeling the Lakers' opening twelve minutes merely "good" is sort of like calling "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" an "influential" album. Mother of all that is holy, the Lakers spent that debut frame on fire in ways usually reserved for video games and the Harlem Globetrotters. 18-21 from the field for a ridiculous 86%. 4-5 from behind the line. Three players (Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol) perfect on every try. Fourteen assists to create eighteen buckets, Trevor Ariza the high man with a quintet. Two dozen points in Utah's paint. 41 total points. And here's the kicker... Kobe Bryant was responsible for just a trio.
Seriously. By the time that quarter ended, if the Loch Ness monster, Santa Claus and Tupac Shakur ambled onto the court to mop up sweat, I wouldn't have been shocked. Nothing could have seemed far fetched after witnessing that purple and gold clinic. - The Guys who played well: For the sake of simplicity (It's late, I worked alone and I'm tired), any Laker who
pops up here got my thumbs up: Trevor Ariza, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Shannon Brown. All five stood out in a variety of ways.
Bryant had another night of balanced excellence. 26/6/9 on the evening, the first half spent facilitating the offense and tossing around some beautiful passes, the second asserting his scoring prowess. In either mode, he was often masterful. LO poured in 19 off the bench. Gasol racked 22 points and swatted two huge shots- the latter forcing a 24 second violation- with about 90 seconds to go. TA went 5-6 from the floor for his 13 points, fell just short of a double double with nine assists and hit a dagger trey down the stretch to put the Lakers up by eight. Brown added a dozen from the pine and remains in the zone from behind the arc (2-3).
The Bad
- Turnovers: For all the excellent ball movement on display (particularly to kick off the game), the Lakers grew increasingly sloppy as the game continued. After starting out the contest with just a trio of gaffes to their credit, they appeared dead set on making up for lost time. Eighteen more followed, many of which were due to sheer carelessness rather than cunning anticipation or relentless pressure from Utah. Kinda puts a damper on 33 assists, doncha think?
- Defense: Given the pomp and circumstance to the Lakers' first quarter, it was easy to forget that Utah hit a none-too-shabby 57% of their shots. They also enjoyed bountiful buckets over the second (63%) and fourth quarters (53%), rarely feeling much in the way of serious resistance from
the Lakers. At the very least, Deron Williams, who racked 35 points (18 from downtown alone) and dished out nine dimes, needs to find life more difficult.
So what was the problem? Those turnovers didn't help matters, accounting for nineteen enemy points. Odom cited a need for better rebounding. Andrew Bynum was even more specific. "I don't think we're not giving effort. A lot of people keep saying that, but I think that it's just that we're not playing smart. Somebody comes off the screen-roll and nobody picks up the roll guy. Three people do the right thing. Two don't. Just stuff like that." - Rotations: Many a live blogger wasn't happy with the floor units Phil Jackson employed. You can add PJ to that list as well. "I think it was my fault," said Jackson of the dwindling lead. "Substitution probably hurt us a little bit in the course of the game." PJ also hinted at a shortened rotation come Thursday in Utah.
Jordan Farmar, whose scant 3:38 of burn featured one bucket and a few near turnovers may get squeezed even further. I actually wouldn't be shocked if he didn't remove his warmups during Game 3. Sasha Vujacic had a couple of good moments, but didn't distinguish himself much over fifteen minutes, either. I could see his run being reduced, particularly with Brown outplaying him on both sides of the ball.
As for guys who won't likely feel a pinch but not due to how they killed it... Derek Fisher was either "clutch" or "uncharacteristically wild," with very little middle ground, and Bynum failed to build on a monster first quarter (5-5, 10 points, 1 block, 1 dime, 2 boards in just seven minutes). Drew also bobbled a few passes as the game wore on and later admitted to getting gassed, an issue likely to continue until a certain amount of games are under his belt. But on the bright side, it was an upward trend from Game 1, where he made virtually no impact whatsoever. Baby steps.
VIDEOS
Derek Fisher, on the importance of winning, no matter how you win
Pau Gasol, on grinding out a tough win object width="320" height="265">
Andrew Bynum, on the Lakers' defensive issues
AK
woooooo
Posted by: never | April 22, 2009 at 01:46 AM
who cares about Utah's moral victory. nothing can be taken away from being 2 games from going fishing.
memo to Jazz:
you're good but just not good enough. Boozer just doesn't have the grit or resolve of a winner. D Will does but it ain't enough.
Chief Triangle just found the second coming of Randy Brown in Shannon Brown.
His championship puzzle is now complete. nyahahahaha
GO LAKES!
Posted by: sixonezero | April 22, 2009 at 02:45 AM
I hate to rain on the parade, but unless we pick it up and win game three in a very hostile environment, it's coming back 2-2. After an atrocious first game on our defensive boards in which we gave up an amazing amount of offensive rebounds, we were only marginally better this game, and gave up many extra possessions in the fourth quarter. The same kind of performance in Utah, and with Okur playing, and we lose by 10.
Foul calls will go against us in both games, and you can expect Bynum, Gasol and Odom to be in foul trouble in both games. We need to activate DJ and let Morrison model his suit. We will need DJ's six extra fouls and some rebounding toughness, and Morrison is completely useless. He plays worse defense and takes fewer shots than Sun Yue. Another big body would possibly help and we lose nothing by deactivating Morrison.
The main thing is effort on the boards and avoiding stupid turnovers (is it my imagination, or did Kobe have more stupid turnovers in this game than any in recent memory?).
We will still win this series, but the goal should be to put them away quickly and get ready for another physical series against either Houston or Portland. It does seem ridiculous that the number one team gets the hardest bracket. We can't afford to dither around with Utah.
Posted by: Mr. Clutch 4 ever | April 22, 2009 at 03:04 AM
Lakers will go 16 and 0 in the playoffs.
Posted by: Cesar | April 22, 2009 at 04:46 AM
I NOTICE THAT ALL LA TIMES WRITER AND THEIR ARTICLES ARE ALL NEGATIVE AND NOTHING TO BE CHEERED UP FOR, WHY THEY CANT WRITE POSITIVE THINGS, ALL THEY SAID IS PRAISING HOW GOOD UTAH IS BLAH BLAH BLAH, ARE THEY ROOTING FOR UTAH, FOR FISH HE SHOULD ADMIT HIS VERY BAD MISTAKE, HIS THE ONE THAT LET LOST LAKERS 20 POINT, IM NOT WORRID IN UTAH, LAKERS IS JUST WARMING UP, UTAH GIVE ALL THEIR EFFORT TONIGHT BUT STILL LOST, GLAD PHIL ADMIT ITS HIS FAULT, CRABS HAVE NO POST GAME AT ALL, I BELIEVE MO WILLIAMS IS A BALLHOG,
Posted by: JOHN OF MANILA PHILS | April 22, 2009 at 05:03 AM
A Purple & Gold Good Morning to all,
As my team leads its first round Playoffs series 2-0, I wake up feeling compelled to speak out on all the negativity and hate. The Lakers have just completed a regular season with 65 wins. In the quest for a Championship, it's two wins down and 14 to go.
Yet the early headlines say, "Jazz find chinks in L.A.’s armor, open up doubt for rest of playoff series" and "Lakers get wake-up call in win over Jazz." Worse, throughout the Game Chat there was a plethora of comments throwing out words like "morons" and "idiots."
Huh?
AK is right when he says "Utah gave the Lakers their best flurry of punches, and the Lakers withstood everything they had." We've all seen in the past games like this when the Lakers fold and end up taking it on the chin. These Lakers did not fold. By the final buzzer, they built the lead back up to 10.
Like the Lakers themselves, sports writers and we fans must respect the opponents. After all, Utah, too, played a regular season well enough to make it to the Playoffs. As we move forward the Lakers will be facing even better teams.
What we saw Tuesday night was a Lakers team with both the talent and the will to win. In Kobe Bryant the team has a leader who not only has the will to win but believes he needs it to cement his legacy. Was the win pretty? Hardly. But these Lakers don't win pretty. They just don't.
I'd like for the Lakers to win "pretty." I'd love to see them play the textbook basketball I believe they're capable of. But 14 more "ugly" wins en route to a Championship will be satisfying enough. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | April 22, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Good write up, AK.
While reading the "Rotations" part of the article the name that came to mind was Jordan, and then voila! right below that was his name. I thought he made very little impact on the game, and Brown is making him look very third string.
Pau's game, Brown's game, LO almost perfect, DFish with some oh-so-pretty treys, Trevor's hustle and three's as well, and then 24 in the second half - wow. It's looking good.
That said, I totally agree with AK, that the Jazz won't go away because they're a Jerry Sloan team. Gotta respect his coaching ability, that's for sure. But overall, the Lakers will take this series. Bottom line. And I think Sloan knows it. But he won't go down without trying to KO us, and actually, I think they'll have a great game three.
Sad HOU lost last night but I realistically didn't think they'd win them all. Still, would have been nice to go into Houston 2-0. POR will have a much harder time winning in Houston, so I think it's where the series will be won.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | April 22, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Well we won the game, had a perfect start, and the outcome of this series against the Jazz is pretty much a Lakers victory in four or five.
But these team is not a team that gives me confidence.We´re the most talented team in the league,great coach, but we´re lacking something and that is very clear.
Maybe we will be able to win the championship despite our shortcomings, especially since this year´s Cavaliers are not as good as last year´s Celtics,but I am worried wih our defense, lack of sense of urgency, lack of toughness.
I remember when our threepeat team would let inferiors teams open a two digit win and everybody, including the opponent knew that late in the 3rd quarter and in the 4th we would make our move, play great defense and blow them away,killing the adversary´s confidence in the process.
Now our team does the exact opposite thing:play well in the beggining, become overconfident,and by the end of the game the other team has turned an easy game into a one or two possession game.
Yeasterday for a moment looked like that infamous game that we lost to the Sixers at home on a last second shot by Iguodala.That he hit the shot didn´t bother me, but the fact that we let an easy game become loosable by our lack of better defense and understandind in the 4th quarter.
I believe our players need to watch game four of the nba finals against the Celtics again, just as a reminder.
Anyway I am glad that we are winning. Game 3 in Utah is gonna be the hardest one,because they know that it is their last chance.I am curious to see how the Lakers respond to the challenge.
Posted by: bcb | April 22, 2009 at 07:04 AM
The Lakers best players for the playoffs are (with plus/minus from this game)
1. Kobe Bryant +17
2. Pau Gasol +17
3. Lamar Odom +6
4. Trevor Ariza +11
5. Shannon Brown +9
6. Derek Fisher +6
7. Andrew Bynum -3
8. Luke Walton -3
This should be the playoff rotation. The first six are excellent defenders - the Lakers' best. Hopefully Andrew can get better as the playoffs progress.
The Lakers can play Sasha and Jordan in spots. But they haven't shown much for the playoffs. Shannon Brown is just playing too well in the pressure packed atmosphere of the playoffs.
The Lakers traded Rad for Shannon as far as I'm concerned. That is Kupchak's 2nd greatest steal - filling up a hole greatly in need of filling at the point-guard spot. Given how athletic, defensive minded but can be great offensively he can be (he came in second only to Lebron James, remember, in a state high school dunk contest, but gave the best dunk), he puts a lot of power into the Lakers game.
Posted by: James Katt | April 22, 2009 at 07:18 AM
Go LAKERS!
2 of 16.
Posted by: Lakers Fan 24 | April 22, 2009 at 07:23 AM
A nice solid playoff victory. The very notion that we are going to run a Jerry Sloan team out of the building in the 1st q & they are going to roll over and die is just absurd people. We just have to make sure we don't take our foot off of their throats & PJ now realizes he can't simply play everyone in the playoffs, so it's goodbye to Jordan and Aloha Shannon who may wind up being the steal of the year...thanks Mitch! Now we go to Utah where we need to finally bring some urgency to our play. If we do that the series will be over in 2, maybe 3 more games and we can focus on Portland or Houston. Let's make sure we have our guys back. Go Lake show!
Posted by: Lifetime Laker | April 22, 2009 at 07:29 AM
I just hope that Farmar doesn't have a nervous breakdown. I've been hoping that they'd find another option, but now that it's happening I feel for the guy.
On the other hand, chalk up another one for Mitch and Phil for picking up Shannon Brown, former McDonald's All-American and helping him to find his game.
Lakers are going to be more focused on the road and will roll in Utah.
Bring on the Blazers!!!
Posted by: East Nyboer | April 22, 2009 at 07:32 AM
I love Pathetic Laker fans.."oh, this is the year"...."gonna win all playoff games straight"....
They look the same as last year ....Explosive offense with no Strong defense..
It won't be shock to me if they lose to the Blazers.....The spurs would be that last hope!
A new King will be finally crown...and his name is not Kobe "Crybaby' Bryant
ALL HAIL KING JAMES!!!
Posted by: Spanky Jones | April 22, 2009 at 07:58 AM
Good morning Laker FamBam!!! Salutations to Mamba, Charles, LakerTom and the rest of the purple and gold gang.
AK,
I couldn't have put it any better. I kept saying last night on the live blog that the Lakers took the Jazz best punch and still beat them. The Jazz played like a desperate team and Sloan is using every motivational tool in the world to get his team going and yet the Lakers are up 2-0. I'm sure the Jazz will get an emotional lift from their home crowd and the return of Okur(I'm sure he'll play), but I believe the Lakers will snatch game 3 away from them.
It's funny how Skip Bayliss said that between the Cavs and the Lakers, the Cavs have been the more impressive team so far. He said that the Cavs have made the Pistons look worse than they are and the Lakers have made the Jazz look better than they actually are. I think he's wrong of course because I think the Jazz are a better team than the Pistons and would beat the Pistons in a 7 game series right now. Pistons bigs Wallace and McDyess are strictly jump shooters now and Kwame is well, Kwame. Rip seems to have lost a step and is declining and Prince is inconsistent. I think the Pistons best player right now isn't Rodney Stuckey, but Will Bynum which is saying a lot. It also comes down to matchups as well. For the past 3 years, especially this year, the Pistons just don't matchup well at all with the Cavs while the Jazz, though not as talented as the Lakers, have always been a tough matchup for the Lakers.
Kobe has played fantastic the first two games conjuring up images of MJ passing to John Paxson, Steve Kerr or BJ Armstrong for wide open shots and then taking big shots when needed. This bodes well for Kobe because his mates will come through for him because he's trusting them. The key for Kobe is to continue this for every round of the playoffs including the finals when we get there. Clearly the biggest diffence so far in these playoffs for the Lakers is the play of Trevor Ariza and Shannon Brown. Hopefully they continue their stellar play in Utah.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 22, 2009 at 08:04 AM
Not the best win in the world, but a win in the playoffs is a win in the playoffs. Thursday's game should be the toughest. I think we come out extra focused in SLC and get the sweep, just like the Nuggs last year.
I also want Lamar Odom to not go unnoticed. Sure its only been two games but Lamar has been playing good lately. Hopefully he doesn't dip in any of the rounds and keeps it up. I'm sure you all remember Odom's memorable 3rd quarter against the Cavs...
Lamar = Finals MVP
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | April 22, 2009 at 08:09 AM
The REAL test for Shannon Brown will be how he handles the road.
If he can play BIG on the road, in one of the toughest places to be successful in then I will be SOLD SOLD.
We need role players that play the same home/away. Those guys are invaluable.
I'm crossing my fingers and I think it can happen.
And we need it bad with Fisher's age showing and Farmar's regression.
Posted by: Korey | April 22, 2009 at 08:10 AM
So... Andrew has looked iffy in games because of.... Rihanna? Seriously?
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | April 22, 2009 at 08:14 AM
James Katt ...
I concur but I'd still give Sasha a few minutes, he proved last year he could be a factor in the playoffs. Farmar on the other hand dissapears once april comes around, I wouldn't mind seeing him see mbenga like minutes during this playoff run.
24 + 16 + [1]7 = The Purple Tinted Golden Age
Posted by: Taliq | April 22, 2009 at 08:24 AM
BK,
From a previous thread:
"So I think that's where the higher sense of physical play comes from. It's not like guys all of a sudden say, "Okay, I'm going to start running faster! I'm going to start jumping higher!" I think it's a combination of those things."
You probably don't remember "PF Flyers", do you?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 22, 2009 at 08:29 AM
bronx,
>>> Kobe deserves a better whistle than what he got last night. He got fouled in the
>>> act at least four times with no call. Williams manhandled him on a turnaround
>>> jumpshot, and that particular no-call led to a Korver conversion. A five point
>>> swing. That elbow that cost Kobe the tech was not directed at Millsap....
>>> Kobe was taking a swing at the poor officiating.
It’s a crying shame for sure. If Kobe got the ref love that Wade and LeBron get, he would be averaging 5 points per game more. Of course, AK will chime in that this is just another over reaction by overly loyal and defensive Kobe fans. And in case you didn’t know, there is no longer any Kobe bias in the media. It’s just our imagination. LOL!
JMNSHBO!
DNFTT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 22, 2009 at 08:29 AM
I'm glad the Lakers won. I don't think that I was one of those crazies that was yelling "morons" or "idiots" during the game chat, but I certainly wasn't happy with the way the Lakers played. It gets frustrating to watch the wild swings that happen to this team.
It's almost like once they hit the 20pt lead mark in any game, they turn it into coast mode. Just looking to bide their time until the end of a game. I think if they actually played with a consistent effort through a whole game, they would win every game by 30 pts. Seriously. Ok, maybe 20.
I'm glad they won. Another notch in the belt on the way to 16 wins.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | April 22, 2009 at 08:31 AM
THE POWER OF THE LUCKY BARSTOOL COMPELS YOU!
THE POWER OF THE LUCKY BARSTOOL COMPELS YOU!
37-1.
Yep.
I'm starting to worry a bit. Even when the Jazz cut down the lead, my heart didn't even jump. I just settled down, leaned back, and relaxed. The lucky barstool was in action.
37-1.
Still... despite the lucky barstool's incredible statistics. We can't just rely on the lucky barstool.
It didn't win us a Championship last year.
Defense wins Championships and we have to play smart and not let huge leads disappear.
We are the best team in the NBA. Period.
And that doesn't mean a damn thing until we've won that Championship. I hope this team keeps that in mind.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2009 at 08:37 AM
I'm done with Jordan Farmar. I told my cousin as soon as PJ put him in that our lead was gonna dwindle to 7 points. And sho-nuff, it did.
If his foot is really that sore, sit him down for the remainder of the series. With the emergence of Shannon Brown, Farmar is more of a liability than an asset.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | April 22, 2009 at 08:39 AM
blitz,
>>> Bynum after 10 first quarter points didn't score. Sheesh I wouldn't mind his scoring
>>> had other factors didn't come into play. His defense short of blocked shots was
>>> horrible. His screen and roll and help defense. Sheesh if offense means his defense
>>> goes/suffers then wake him up. If it was lateral movement then it is understandable
>>> but hell no it was mere being aware of his surroundings.
There you go again, blitz. Hurry up! Only 14 more games left for you to pile onto Drew, Farmar, or whatever player does not live up to your biased idea of how the game is played. Give Drew a break. This was just his sixth game back from injury. He is playing with a brace that limits his movement and explosiveness. He still is struggling with conditioning. Yes, he still blocked 4 shots and basically kept the Jazz from successfully attacking the rim. A far cry from the DUNK, LAYUP, DUNK, LAYUP, DUNK that we see every time Drew leaves the game and Pau moves over to center. If you don’t believe me, count the dunks and layups made when Pau is at center versus Drew. Never seen a post from you all positive. Wonder why that is, blitz? The sun never shines?
JMNSHBO!
DNFTT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 22, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Nobody can beat the Lakers in these playoffs except the Lakers themselves. It may be an oxymoron statement but it is the truth.
Utah Jazz gave everything with all their nastiness and higher shooting percentage but the length and depth of the Lakers carried the ball game. Of course, we expected an adjustment from Jerry Sloan, he is not sloth coach from Utah for two decades & he's no ordinary coach vying only for COY and move on to another team. He ist a great disciplinarian and a lifetime teache, a true HOF coach. All the best traits in basketball were exhibited by the Jazz, their energy, fighting spirit despite the odds and never-say-die attitude from a diminutive PG and recovering PF Boozer. Some people say that if Mehmet was there, they could have won. Let him play that would produce a 4 1/2 Utah team. Never play in the playoffs half healthy or else you add a liability to the running game and endurance to absorb those blows and challenges.
What is good about the Lakers, there are still a lot of potentials to be tapped. Again, I would like to reiterate that I prefer Mbenga in this forthcoming trip to Salt Lake than Adam Morrison. Mbenga could deter the physicality in the post and help in blocking, rebounding and spread the fouls absorbed by Drew and Pau. Secondly, Farmar should not lose confidence for losing minutes due to the resurgence of Shannon, he should show some life and go for the win. Thirdly, same is true for Sasha, it is "haste makes waste" when he's doing those jerky guarding and dribbling on the floor. Got to relax a little bit and read the play. Fourthly, Bynum is also trying too hard to make those dunk shots. Let the game come to you by knowing your guards, the refs. and using different methods in going to the hoop. His mentor developed the hook shots, the mid jump shots or sky pass or bounce pass for teammates, Drew should be patient and learn those techniques. Don't think of Rihanna at all times when you're going for the hole, got to apply a little creativity in accomplishing the same objective. LOL!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 22, 2009 at 08:47 AM
AK - excellent game review and wow even going solo and buring the midnight oil.
They are just not good enough. That is the killer statement.
And if every one of us could listen to Derek's 49 seconds on what it takes to hoist the O'Brien - there shouldn't be anymore Fish haters like there were last night. Dude is a CHAMPION and will be there when we need him.
Back to the Jazzz - they are demoralized. There was one point late in the 4th where the camera showed DWill. He looked exhausted. And he knows he has to keep this team on his shoulders for at least 4 more games to pull off the shocker. That is the demoralizing fact for him, their floor leader.
While the Jazz sure have fight - they just don't have the guns. It's like the Pirates of the Caribbean movie where they are launching everything they can (silverware) into the cannons. And it's not pretty...
Expect more of the same for the next two games - I believe we can still sweep this team but their desperation worries me so I am hoping we get this next game to really back them into a hole. And it would help for us to jump on them tomorrow since they might have a rusty Okur playing and we don't want him to heat up.
LGL - 14 mo!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 22, 2009 at 08:50 AM
lakers_sth,
>>> Instead of knowing when to help, they help all the time and that will
>>> naturally include some times when they shouldn't. I'm putting this on
>>> the coaches b/c they've taken a lot of the (defensive) decision-making
>>> out of the players' hands (ironic considering the offense is all about
>>> reading and making the right decisions).
Great point. You would think the Lakers would try to develop the same set of read-and-react type system defensively since that is what they do offensively. And what is even worse than helping all the time is getting caught in no man’s land because players are not sure what to do in certain situations. Of course, we seem to have that problem even at the end of the game leading by 3 when we allow an open 3.
And 3-point shooting is where this hesitancy really kills us. I’ve never understood why we EVER leave certain players open during a game, such as Korver for the Jazz, who is really there only high percentage 3-point shooter with Okur out. Or why we allow anybody to get a wide open high percentage corner 3. As Drew matures, I hope we’ll see the Lakers change their defensive philosophy and look to shut down the rim AND the 3-point line, forcing teams to take the dreaded midrange shot.
JMNSHBO!
DNFTT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 22, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Add me to the list of optimists - playoff teams are going to make runs against us, it's to be expected. Thursday should be a great battle, it's a must-win for Utah.
I was sorry to see Mutombo go down last night.
Posted by: dave m | April 22, 2009 at 08:56 AM
blitz,
>>> Bynum nearly choked with his 10 points in the first quarter than nothing
>>> afterwards and his horrible help defense though 4 blocks isn't too shabby.
>>> Sasha being another choker again with ZERO points and 2 fouls (one 95
>>> away from the basket which helps bring the penalty situations and changing
>>> the dynamics of playing defense).
>>> Jackson says the rotation will tighten up even more so hopefully less
>>> minutes of Sasha even. I'm glad the other choker is sitting on the pine
>>> watching how a REAL Laker step up to the plate (Shannon).
You’re the choker, blitz. What is the matter with you, man? In this one short post, you call out 3 Lakers players as chokers and then insinuate that Shannon Brown, who has only been with the team for a short period and really has proved nothing long term yet, is a REAL Laker in some form of insult to Jordan?
Here’s a news flash for you, blitz, You are NOT a REAL Lakers fan. Turn in your jersey.
JMNSHBO!
DBFTT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 22, 2009 at 09:02 AM
There are 2 schools of thought here:
1) Any playoff win, especially against a team as good as Utah (an 8 seed only due to injuries) is a good win.
2) Every game is a test of your team - talent, mental and physical toughness, killer instinct. Letting big leads slip are a sign of trouble looming down the road.
Of course both are right. A win is a win and it just takes 16. Building 20 point leads against Utah is at least as impressive as losing them is distressing, probably more. this is a good, fundamentally sound team with a truly great player leading them. Utah only makes runs after the Lakers get such a big lead that a Utah run is likely. The Lakers won both games virtually wire to wire.
By the same token one must wonder if last night's effort would be enough to win in Utah, much less anywhere in Texas or in Cleveland. After last year's 24 point letdown against Boston any Laker fan who gets the yips when they lose big leads is certainly not a bad guy or a disloyal fan, just reasonably frightened.
I think the Lakers need to rethink Kobe's split personality -faciliator early, dominator late.
He is damn good at both roles. But this team plays a lot better when they run the offense and involve everyone. They have built these leads with diversity, not one on one plat
There have been a few Laker teams where Kobe had to take over down the stretch, where it made them a better team. Kobe can't do that 48 minutes, so he would involve his teammates, then take over the last 5 minutes and lead them to victory.
This team, though, is so talented and deep. They are better when they run the triangle than when they go into the Kobe Show with 4 guys watching. Crunch times mean Kobe dribbling in traffic and taking high degree of difficulty shots. It is spectacular to watch, but it is not neccessary. This tean is better with more variety.
Kobe made some tough shots last night, but that is a dangerous way to live, and he shouldn't have to. He also turned it over trying to drive through 4 guys. So did Gasol, on the next posession. That sort of 1 on 3 or 1 on 4 stuff isn't needed with this balance of talent on the floor
The best posession at the end of the game was Kobe drawing a crowd and dishing to Ariza for a WIDE open 3.
The years of one man taking over at the end can mercifully end, and the Lakers can beat teams in the second half they same way they do in the first.
If it comes down to one shot, sure, that's Kobe. But not when there are 15 posessions left in the game.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | April 22, 2009 at 09:02 AM
YOU COULD SAY:
The Lake show took the Jazz best shot.
OR the Jazz took the Lakers best 1st quarter shot and whittled it to 3 at Staples.
Anytime LO shoots 90% the Lakers are in for a good night. It unfortunately doesn't happen often. Utah might shoot as well at home, we undoubtedly won't.
Prediction: we win anyway.
Great series to start with. The next one will be a war no matter who comes out of it. We'll be ready.
Note:
Obviously, the nation (is Portland really in the "nation"?) wants Kobe / Ron Ron 2. Mic them both and you'd get the highest NBA rating of all time.
Posted by: Vman | April 22, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Good Morning Charles and Larry,,,Good Morning Everyone...
well another game where we looked unbeatable for a little less than a half, playing picture perfect basketball, playing to our strengths and totally dominating....
then we forgot all that and became complacent, maybe even bored (?) with the knowledge we can beat this team when we want...
really came down to lack of concentration and poor decisions...Fisher in particular just had an uncharacteristic terrible stanky ranky game (tell us how you really feel)...
but I still don't sense our team is too worried, again maybe having the knowledge that they can beat the Jazz even when playing our B or C game as it were....
that being said, I (probably along with every other Laker fan) would sure like to see us play an entire 48 minutes...the wake up call for that may come on Thursday, where I almost expect us to lose, especially if we don't bring and sustain our A game throughout, seemingly...
anyway Brown is continuing to play at a high level that makes Farmar expendable---what a trade Mitch...
Ariza didn't play as well as in game 1 (Captain Obvious) but still played well...I love it (as we all do no doubt) when Lamar is aggressive to the rim---he needs to continue that throughout the play offs (Captain Obvious)....
more passes to Pau and Bynum please...
still would rather see Mbenga dressed than Morrison...
let's focus and bring it on Thursday boys...
speaking of Thursday, is it yet?
" no one will be watching us, why don't we do it in the road?"
" so I thought to myself, 'a little fermented curd will do the trick'"
AS ALWAYS, AS EVER, YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY (AND SEASON) TO BE A LAKER FAN !!!
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | April 22, 2009 at 09:13 AM
AK --
Their "best"? Without Okur? On the road? Are you kidding?
I agree with you that we shouldn't be worried. I'm just saying, the Cavs are holding (admittedly crappier) opponents to 80-90 points a game.
Posted by: BS | April 22, 2009 at 09:14 AM
It's funny how all the media in the world is coming down hard
on the Lakers for not absolutely killing the Jazz last night.
The Jazz are actually a good team. Yes, they are missing Okur
at the moment, but they still have one of the best PGs in the league
(Williams) plus a perennial all-star Boozer plus one time all-star
Kirilenko plus some good role players in Korver, Millsap, and Miles.
They were good enough to go 48-34 in the tougher Western
conference, despite missing Boozer &/or Williams for long stretches.
And the Lakers are catching flack for letting a team that good
get back into a game with them.
Meanwhile, on the same night, Cleveland played a team
that
finished 39-43, and weren't really that good. That record was
padded in the early season when they had Chauncey Billups.
Now they have Rodney Stuckey playing suckey. They have
the empty shells of what used to be Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun
Prince, and Sheed. And they have Kwame Brown.
But this bad, bad, much worse than Utah team started out
the fourth quarter down TWENTY SEVEN to the Cavs and
managed to get it back to within 7 points. Mike Brown isn't
as liberal as Phil Jackson. He put his starters back in when
the lead was reduced to 16, but Detroit got it all the way down
to 7 against the team who gives up the least points per game
in the NBA.
So why aren't we seeing anything about Cleveland's letdown?
They relaxed too much, let an opponent get close in the fourth
and still won, just like the Lakers.
What I'm tryin' to say here is: for you people getting panicky
because a good team (Utah) was able to close the gap with
the Lakers, bear in mind that a BAD team was able to do the
same thing against the Cavs.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | April 22, 2009 at 09:15 AM
During the waning minutes of the 4th Q., Boozer or Brewer beat the three Lakers Odom, Gasol and Ariza in the post for the rebound. That's the picture PJ should use in telling the players that this is not a David and Goliath duel. Gasol should get that ball like the Spiderman and don't bring the ball down when pygmies are trying to grab it. Height is might in basketball and Lakers should apply that advantage at all times.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 22, 2009 at 09:17 AM
By the way --
How intelligent was Bynum's comment about "playing smart" and team defense? This kid is gonna be something serious.
Lets do this LAKERS!
Posted by: BS | April 22, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Jon K
I'd feel a whole lot more confident in the bar stool if it were undefeated.
Obviously, some nights there are dark forces at work that are beyond a magic bar stool's ability to deflect...
as hard as that may be to imagine.
Posted by: Vman | April 22, 2009 at 09:21 AM
I understand the Fisher love.
And any true Laker fan will love Fisher for what he has done.
But seriously, Fisher is looking like one word...AGE.
Does age make you delirious? If so, Fish is the case in point. How many ill-advised, early jumpers can one man take? When did that become part of "his game"? Probably in Golden State where they play that kind of dumb ball...
The Fish I know love takes open shots, and plays hard on D.
He still plays hard on D, but it looks like he has lost confidence in his O. Just take the open shots man.
On another note:
IF Fish can show Shannon some DWill defense tricks, we will be ready to go at PG. DWill has unbelievable pace and rhythm to his game. On one play he took a dribble and hesitated. Once he saw Shannon Brown was waiting for him...he did the exact same thing, but this time stopped and pulled a J on the baseline. It was so beautiful . Only way you stop it is through tape study of tendencies....
Posted by: Korey | April 22, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Dave M,
I also feel bad about the injury of aging Mutombo. He is a great role model among NBA players, the real MVP in my book for all his achievements as a player and community organizer and provider. Others do it for the show, while others for their tax write offs, Dikembe is doing it for his poor countrymen in order to lift them from life's miseries. That fall could be his farewell exit as an NBA player.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 22, 2009 at 09:25 AM
Korey,
I agree; the Lakers "waste" too many possessions, and Fisher and Kobe tend to be the biggest culprits. There will be games/series where they can't afford to do that ten times in a game. Gasol and Bynum are the best options on offense.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 22, 2009 at 09:35 AM
All good points. Ultimately the Lakers are the better team and will win the series...but Utah hasn't given the lakers their best flurry of punches because they are without their 2nd leading scorer, who also happens to be their starting center.
Posted by: Denee | April 22, 2009 at 09:37 AM
BS,
"AK -- Their "best"? Without Okur? On the road? Are you kidding? I agree with you that we shouldn't be worried. I'm just saying, the Cavs are holding (admittedly crappier) opponents to 80-90 points a game."
I'm not counting on Okur to make much of a difference, if/when he's available. He won't be anywhere close to 100% and, more importantly, his presence doesn't do much to help Utah's D, which is where they're really hurting. Playing at home is an advantage, and like I said, I think Utah will avoid a sweep. But I honestly think last night was more or less as well as Utah can play, given their deficiencies (spotty health, D, performances) and that the Lakers are ultimately the much superior team. With room to improve as well.
And like you said, the Cavs are playing a MUCH crappier team, which is why you can't compare the situation. You're talking about a sub. 500 Pistons team- in the east, no less- that's appeared ready to call it day since April. The Jazz won 50 games despite a slew of injuries. Serious apples and oranges.
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | April 22, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Good morning CRUE!!!
AK / Rick / positive posters:
I'm the choir & you're preaching to it. Seriously - the haterade on the chat last night, coupled with "the sky is falling" media idiots today is making me want to puke. Lakers should be worried. Lakers aren't going to win the championship playing like that. BLAH BLAH BLAH.
We are 2-0 in a 4 game series against an extremely tough and very well coached squad. WHY are people complaining???? The wins aren't pretty enough? We don't focus 100% of the time? We lose interest after building a big lead? WHO CARES????????
Look - we are a championship calibre squad playing championship calibre basketball looking to win a championship. There will be "let downs" along the way because NO ONE can play at 100% focus for a full 48 minutes. That said - we're WINNING!! We're UP 2-0!!!
To all you negative nellies, all I can say is way to not let the sun blast your shadow. Can't you enjoy the ride? It's one thing to want perfection, it's quite another to expect it.
WE GOT THIS!!!! Get a clue.
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 22, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Reggie Miller was interviewed on the AM570 pregame and asked about whether the Lakers giving up leads is something Lakers fans should be worried about. He said the reason why fans are so worried is because the Lakers blew a 24 pt lead in game 4 of the Finals and the sting of that hasn't gone away.
That dark cloud formed and has hung over the team ever since the 7th game of this season back on November 12th against NO when they started the 4th quarter with a 20 pt lead and let it get down to 3 prompting PJ to talk about how the team had "sucked the joy" out of a win. What he didn't know was that the joy would be sucked out of the majority of the wins this season.
That is the nature of losing in the Finals. 2005 was different because the Shaq trade soon followed and expectations went in the basement. This squad is better than last year's team and expectations could not be higher. Having to grind through 100+ games just to get the monkey off your back for 4 losses last June is a hard way to ride.
Kudos to those of you who haven't watched the season under this cloud. But don't act like you don't understand why others have. Let's all just hope the Lakers get it done this year.
Posted by: lakers_sth | April 22, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Haven't we been here before? A Laker team with a ton of talent that does just enough to win?
Remember 2000? Remember 2002? Our dynasty was a historic Portland collapse and a Horry miracle 3 away from being a one-ring team.
Given that the cast has mostly changed since then, but the team is still doing the same things, I tend to think this is a Phil Jackson related phenomenon.
But there's a plus side to his approach as well. Big leads allow you to pull your starters and rest them more than the other teams, which if all goes well means by the end of the series (and come finals time), your team is fresher, and your bench players are more experienced.
It's a gamble that sometimes catches up with you. But as PJ is prone to do, is a big picture, longer term, approach.
We'll beat Utah and everyone else in the West. We're not going to blow out every team in every game. Heck, I imagine things are going to be a lot different in SLC, where the crowd is very, very harsh and most officiating crews very obviously get intimidated.
Hopefully we can jump on the Jazz early and take the crowd out of it, and Phil won't go so deep into the bench so we can keep the Jazz down and the crowd quiet. 'Cause if it comes down to the wire in Utah, we're not getting any calls...you can count on that.
Posted by: Jason F. | April 22, 2009 at 09:46 AM
One time in the sixties, a great guard in the Philippines one said that the best way to guard a playmaker and good shooter is to deny him the ball. Unfortunately, that is hard to apply in NBA because D-Will is untouchable when he start his dancing and weaving around. However, that is a good strategy - don't let D-Will get the ball, he should either pass it or not receive it at all. He is the Kobe of Utah, tho' Kobe is not necessarily the D-Will of the Lakers.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 22, 2009 at 09:46 AM
No team has ever won all their games by blowouts in the playoffs. People can call it what they want, the fact is we're up 2-0, won both games by double digits and took the Jazz best offensive punch. Like Fish said, all that matters is getting the W. The only remote chance that the Jazz have of winning is if Kobe has to shoot more than he has to if others aren't contributing as they have been. But I don't see that happening because the Lakers are just too deep now and on any given night someone else could step up for them. Think about it, TA and Shannon has stepped it up big time the first two games, Pau and LO have just been solid and Kobe has been brilliant. Drew has still been limited, but could break out with a 20 and 10 at any time and Sasha, Luke and Farmar haven't really given us anything yet. The difference is Kobe doesn't have to do it all himself anymore because we have a more balanced, muti-faceted attack which is difficult to counter. Teams use to either concede and let Kobe shoot 30 times and hold everyone else in check or try to force the ball out of Kobe's hands to challenge others to beat them. That isn't the case anymore as teams must choose their poison which is lethal any way you slice it because now Kobe has a plethora of talent around that he trusts. Kobe can still some games by himself, but he doesn't have to do it anymore.
As long as Kobe sticks to the script, his supporting cast will help him win the ultimate prize much like MJ and the Bulls second three-peat run. The great thing is Kobe can still take over a game at any time as he did down the stretch of last night's game with his jumper and ASSIST on Trevor's dagger three. No doubt the Jazz will be amped up at home and with possible return of Okur, but keep in mind that this Lakers team that beat Utah last year now has Trevor and Drew healthy and another find in Shannon "UPS" Brown.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 22, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Vman,
I'm beginning to think that the lucky barstool should be renamed "The Barstool of Destiny." The ONLY night the barstool has not worked was Game Six of last year's Finals.
Something tells me that last year--as amazing and (ultimately) painful as it was--was necessary in how it ended. It taught a maturity to our young players that could not be learned otherwise.
Often our Greatest lessons in life are taught not through success, but failure.
And I believe that was the case last year.
And this year the lesson will result in Championship.
And in the following years: Dynasty.
People threaten the future by talking about the Cavs. I know the Cavs as well or better than anyone on this blog since I am the official Lakers secret agent reporting deep behind enemy lines from the gray decaying wastes of Northeast Ohio.
The Cavs cannot beat us and they will not beat us. It's not going to happen. People will shout otherwise, but it is wishful thinking.
I'm not saying that we are going to go 16-0 in the playoffs, though we are capable of that.
What I am saying is that the only team capable of beating the Lakers is the Lakers...
And they're not going to let that happen.
Not this year.
Not this year.
This is the year we've been waiting for since 2002.
It has finally arrived.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 22, 2009 at 09:58 AM
Lakers_st,
I listened to yesterday's interview with Reggie with regards to the Lakers giving up leads. He also praised the Lakers that they unbeatable when they are focused and it starts with Kobe. He is no MJ but he is another kind of unique athlete that could carry the team. Lakers have all the players on hand to support Kobe, so he can afford not to assert himself but use those assets at his disposal.
Of course, Laker fans are worried, there is just too much hooplah from the media and expectations from the masses of predictions coming from the Laker fans themselves. That is what is bad about fandome and adulation, there is just too much expectation in painting the end without going through the process of selecting the colors and the act of painting itself. Got to respect reality and put aside fantasy. When watching the Lakers playoffs, it is like listening to a symphony orchestra. Watch for the change of tunes. The Italians thought of that, too! Their word for “getting gradually louder” is “crescendo” (literally, “growing”). The opposite can be done, too. The term for “getting gradually softer” (the opposite of crescendo) which is “decrescendo". That is how I interpret the lead changes, it is part of the Lakers dynamics that I term potentials.
Enjoy the journey than expecting always the best of times.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 22, 2009 at 10:08 AM
New post.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 22, 2009 at 10:17 AM