Live from Staples: Lakers vs. Clippers
A few interesting bits of tid, generally on the Bynum front, before the game, because the game itself doesn't exactly prompt a whole lot of conversation:
- Andrew Bynum won't accompany the team to Sacramento, but Phil Jackson told the media "there's an outside chance we may activate him before the week's out." That's good news.
- The worry many of you have about Bynum re-injuring himself against Memphis, because of all that bad hoodoo that seems to exist between Drew's knees and the Grizzlies franchise? Yeah, Bynum has made the connection, too.
- When he returns, the decision about whether or not to start Bynum could very well be related to how his knee responds to warm ups, sitting on the bench after a run, and all that good stuff. They want to make sure his PT pattern doesn't create unnecessary risk for re-injury. There's a solid chance he could go back to a starting role, even if he can't play more than 15-20 minutes initially.
- While they're keeping an eye on the Hornets, the Lakers have narrowed their scouting for the first round to Utah and Dallas. "Utah's a team that's extremely physical, and those games are always tough on their home floor. It's a very difficult battle," Jackson said. "Dallas has played a lot of games this year without Josh Howard. We've played them three times without Josh Howard. He's a difference maker."
Chatter box below.
BK
I thought The Lakers had it in the bag last year. This year I have no doubt they will win it all. With the team they have I don't think any team can really take them if Kobe doesn't want them to. Once the playoffs hit it is all a done deal.
www.strategicbookpublishing.com/TheGH4Effect.html
Posted by: Scott Snyder | April 05, 2009 at 07:04 PM
I don't think I've ever been so irritated about a win more than this one tonight. Wow, pathetic Lake show!
Posted by: Long Live Chick | April 05, 2009 at 09:10 PM
you guys this was a classic 2009 lakers regular season game. This is what we do man. u gotta let it be it just who the lakers are. U guys did not see us play like that vs the rockets because we cared more about that game so its all good people. Lakers= GAMBLE
but in sac town we gotta fight like a pit bull
Posted by: omega | April 05, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Game on the bag but not with the 2nd team of the Lakers closing the game. Clippers could beat the the Lakers 2nd team anytime of the day. Anyway, it is still a W for the Lakers in the end in honor of Fatty's dramatic return.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 05, 2009 at 09:22 PM
Very unimpressive win.
Before the bench supporters can make their argument I will say this:
After leading by 19 and Gasol fouled, Randolph made a free throw and and then DJ who received so much love in the game before traveled and after making 1 or 2 the box out was poor and Gordon got a jumper. Jordan then threw the ball away and fouled and ALL the momentum went with the Clippers.
It isn't just +/-, it is momentum swings and the bench FALTERED in the Clipper surge in the 4th and even the starters coming back almost didn't hold it.
Even though the starters except for even Odom didn't perform up to standards. And Jordan did well at first to give him credit.
Anyone wants to argue that Trevor is a good spot up shooter even??
Otherwise even though it tastes kinda bad because of the damn surge:
CLIPPERS SUCK TODAY....CLIPPERS SUCK TOMORROW...CLIPPERS WILL ALWAYS SUCK FOREVER!!! AND EVER!!!
Posted by: Kobeblitz | April 05, 2009 at 09:25 PM
Whatever.
Hard to give a game against the Clippers much analysis. Let me just say, I didn't like the way we played the last 6 minutes. Think Phil should have left a combination of reserves and starters in, didn't need to pull everyone. Sasha gave up a 3 to Fred Brown and PJ started yelling at him. Maybe he could have got to him quicker, but it's Fred Brown shooting a 3. That cut the lead to 10 and all the starters came back. They played like crap in that final 5, partly because they probably had ice on their knees already. Speaking of ice, they were all ice cold, letting Clippers get within 2. Kobe took some horrible shots as the offense bogged down into watching Kobe go one on one. (This type of offense in crunch time is not going to win us a championship believe me.
Good news on Bynum. I think we're gonna see some minutes on Thursday. Just a hunch.
Posted by: mikefloss | April 05, 2009 at 09:38 PM
This is VERY strange. The Mark Heisler article about too much Bynum criticism about the playmate debacle (which I totally agree with, he was having a little fun so what). What was weird about it was that he cited a bloggers comment, and I believe its from this blog:
http://tinyurl.com/dmljy5
"With Bynum, there was a Great Disturbance in the Force, although most people were understanding, apart from talk show hosts and the usual percentage of people displacing rage, as in this post to our Lakers Blog:
"disgusting. trade him. trade him for marc gasol. then he'll always be injured since he'd be in memphis. serves him right. what a [bad word].
"Posted by: pinkalink""
I totally agree with the guy, who cares if Bynum was at the playboy mansion, but its strange that journalists read this blog. I've noticed recently that journalists have cited bloggers thoughts in their articles.
Very odd.
LG
Posted by: LG | April 05, 2009 at 09:41 PM
So we have a 19 point lead against the Clips...what do I do? Change the channel. I check back a couple of minutes later and the lead is cut down to one.
They did extend the lead, but its troublesome that they blew it again. When your up by that many points, DONT PUT THE OTHER TEAM ON THE LINE! Play sound defense, keep them off the offensive glass, run the clock and get quality shots. Simple.
I feel like the bench may be too confident. But these won't be the rotations in the playoffs and Phil REALLY let the bench get some minutes, which is good at this point of the season.
The point is, it was a regular season game against the Clips, I don't think this will happen in the playoffs.
LG
Posted by: LG | April 05, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I watched the post-game interview with Farmar and Walton. These guys said, we were fine and we were great!! Walton said the starters didn't need to come back in. Farmar said, we got the lead to twenty so we did well!
I'll only say this once, but the second unit worries me. Knowing you have a problem is half of solving it. Remember Forest Gump, "My legs are just fine and dandy." Well great!!
We will be champions!!
GOOOoooOOO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: JohnnyP | April 05, 2009 at 09:48 PM
Good Evening Charles, Good Evening Everyone...
don't know what the hell is going on but on my Dish Network League Pass the game was all cut up mixed with some worthless guys jabbering (Steve Smith and Scott Pollard (!!!!) ) mixed with the same highlights over and over and every now and then they would cut to the game live....
so i got to watch about a total of a quarter or less of the game---so didn't get to watch the come back by the Clippers at all--so I can't really comment on the game at all...
except the free throwing stunk so bad I would rather smell fresh lark vomit...
anyway I don't know who thought up that brilliant broadcasting conccpt but it need not happen again WTF ???
AS ALWAYS, AS EVER, YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY (AND SEASON) TO BE A LAKER FAN!!!
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | April 05, 2009 at 09:57 PM
Meh. I hate those games where we let the competition back in it. Up nineteen should have stayed nineteen. It's the Clippers, people. (No offense, Jon K.)
That said, I like the W and I'll take it. Stupid Cleveland had to win again, but did I really expect them to lose? Not so much.
Sorry Butler, I think PHO is done for the season. And even if somehow they did sneak in we're talking about a team that's right now 19 or so games behind us in the standings. It's just not happening this year, dude. I think we're more likely to have Utah or Dallas. I'll take Dallas, thank you very much. We always seem to smoke them. Utah is a lot harder matchup for us and for some reason those guys really bring it when they play us. I actually like Utah as a team. I think they're fun to watch, but mostly because they're a Sloan team and bring a lot to the table. But I digress. You're outta here, Butler. It's over for the Suns.
I'm really looking forward to the Portland game. I so want them to kick the crap out of the TB's. I'll even listen to their terrible announcers if I have to. I just want the W. VS Nuggets will be interesting too. Always gotta watch the Kings but I say we win that. Heck I say we win all three.
Come on, postseason!!!! Good news about possibly getting Drew back. Would be fun to have him back for the Portland game. Inside presence wouldn't hurt against them.
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!
KICK THE CRAP OUTTA PORTLAND!!!!!!!!!!!! (Mostly because they think there's a rivalry and there isn't, and because they make such a huge deal outta beating us. Stupid Portland.)
I LOVE LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | April 05, 2009 at 09:58 PM
Im glad KG doesnt go to Playboy parties cuz I could only imagine what would be written here ... had it been KG instead of Bynum!
An extra 100 lbs on your shoulders must be great for your knees!
Posted by: 131-92 | April 05, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Meaningless game. A win's a win right now. A 40 point win against the Clippers would not have gained any more momentum for the play-offs than this did.
Posted by: Bruzer | April 05, 2009 at 10:06 PM
I just wrote a long diatribe and erased it. That 4th quarter was ridiculous. We should probably just go with an 8 or 9 man rotation. Including Bynum.
Posted by: dave m | April 05, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Evening Dave M and Edwin, good to hear from you.
Boy, is coach mad at these guys. I was a little upset at the effort, but PJ got me going when he walked out of the presser.
Then Foxy went off on a post-game rant, mentioning two guys let him down?! Followed by Nixon speaking all doom and gloom.
They all sort of sounded like us here on the blog, on a bad day. Maybe THEY ARE reading this stuff, Rick Friedman?
Don't ever underestimate the power of the LA Times Lakers Blog! lol .
Fatty- Who cautions everyone here. Now that we have the power to influence the media, we must use it wisely and responsibly. And he is also glad he's not one of the Lakers at practice tomorrow, because Coach is not in a good mood.
Posted by: Fatty | April 05, 2009 at 10:53 PM
If you really want to know what went truly wrong mikefloss is 16 offensive rebounds the Clippers got. 16!!
Defense isn't enough to win championships. Also have to be a rebounding team (Lakers are the top team in rebounding but still gave up 16 offensive rebounds) plus your offense can't be out of sync like lately it has been.
Aside from LO, Pau, and so and so from Kobe/Trevor, the rest of the team isn't that high on rebounding PARTICULARLY the bench. Mbenga is a shot blocker not a consistent rebounder and Powell has the will but not the skill to rebound (need both to rebound well).
When Bynum's back I'll be more relieved since either Bynum or Odom on the bench gives them an additional rebounder off the bench and send Powell and Mbenga to the end.
ONe thing that Ronny was missed was shot blocking and the ability to be an okay back up center. Neither Powell nor Mbenga has adequately fulfilled that. Bynum's return at the end of the week will solve that.
Posted by: Kobeblitz | April 05, 2009 at 11:00 PM
bruzer so true
the whole thing was a yawn fest.
the real tests comes against denver, utah and at portland. winning at portland would be the biggest statement of all
Posted by: jac | April 05, 2009 at 11:31 PM
from foxsports.com
"I'm a Laker fan for life, and I believe that Jordan Farmar should start and that Derek Fisher should come off the bench. This way, D-Fish would be fresh for the end of the game. What do you think? — Lalo Chavez, Los Angeles, CA"
this guy is either on drugs or he has not been watching the lakers play.
Posted by: Tom | April 06, 2009 at 01:14 AM
LAKERS HAVE BYNUM HEALTHY THEY WILL DOMINATE PLAYOFFS LIKE THEY DID BACK IN 2000. NOW IF BYNUM IS IS NOT FULL STRENGTH THEN LAKERS STILL WIN IT ALL BUT ATLEAST GOING TO GAME 6-7'S...
LAKERS OVER CAVS IN 6 GAMES
SMILYGREEN
Posted by: smily green | April 06, 2009 at 01:53 AM
131-92,
yes I know what 100 pounds on my shoulders feels like, and I weigh 100 lbs less than Bynum. Look sir, Bynum is on the brink of return, it's conditioning at this point. A second or 2 of excited effort, you should know about that, is not a problem. According to all his reports and other people's comments, his knee is back to stable with no next day pain. People, get off his back, let him have a bit of fun for all the hard work he's put in. After signing the contract, he could have half-assed his workouts, but he did not, he went about it professionally. BTW, 131-92 is the same as 93-92, it goes down as a W. Do you ever have a bad day? No? every day goes great? Well that's just wonderful. Another thing, get off this blog, it's a Laker blog. Where does KG have a house to kick back? If you want you can even see it on one of those satellite maps, it's not on the ocean side of the highway, and it doesn't look that great. The Lakers (IMHO) are not in sync, and are not as strong as last year. If they win it all, it will be quite an accomplishment. It's been a long frustrating season.
humanomaly (aka The Anti-Crust)
Posted by: humanomaly | April 06, 2009 at 02:49 AM