Lakers 106, New Jersey 87: Who are they to stand in the way of history?
League rules mandated 48 minutes of basketball had to be played, but practically speaking the Lakers' 106-87 romp over the Nets Sunday night at Staples was over the instant iconic PA announcer Lawrence Tanter introduced Trenton Hassell and Josh Boone as New Jersey's starting small and power forwards. A few things were abundantly clear: A) this was not going to be a fair fight, B) an obvious lack of high end NBA talent and a brutal run of injuries meant Jersey had come by its (heretofore) 0-16 record honestly, and C) it mattered not if they were coached by Lawrence's Frank, Tanter, Taylor, Welk, or Arabia (or in this case, Tom Barrise, manning the sidelines for Frank, fired by the Nets Sunday morning), New Jersey was a virtual lock to tie the NBA's record for worst start to a season.
The Lakers used a 17-4 run at the end of the first quarter- one in which the Nets scored all of 12 points- to remove "virtual" from the equation. 36 minutes later, the Nets had indeed lost their 17th consecutive game, officially making share of history the only thing they've won all year.
The monumental disparity in talent between the two squads makes it tough to draw many- any- real lessons about the home team's play. Truly this was a night for rubbernecking this wreck of an NBA franchise. Still, a few notes:
- Just as they did Saturday night, the Lakers didn't toy with an inferior opponent like an orca might a penguin. Nope, they just got down to eating, never leaving even the slightest ray of hope for the Nets. No question the Lakers haven't played top shelf teams of late, but the trend has been to get ahead early, and it's a positive one.
- Kobe Bryant made five three pointers tonight, one shy of his total for the month of November. Phil Jackson said after the game that it was important for Kobe, who dedicated his summer to post work and has practically lived there to this point in the season, to again find a rhythm in his face up game. Kobe downplayed it, but doesn't strike me as the sort to be satisfied with the 20% clip at which he was hitting triples coming into the game, and noted that he spent time over the course of the day working on his jumper.
- Jordan Farmar hit three of his four attempts from downtown, and finished with 15 points. He and Shannon Brown both seem to be benefiting from Phil Jackson's move to shorten the guard rotation, basically at the expense of Sasha Vujacic.
Truly, this night was about the Pluto Nash-esque train wreck that is the once-proud Nets. That doesn't mean we don't have Lakers video. Click below for the moving pictures.
BK
Pau Gasol, on his ability to distribute the ball. His seven assists equaled Bryant's output for the team/game high.From there, he talks about what's happening to the Nets and how he can relate:
Kobe, on LA's execution and how they've avoided playing down to recent competition. One thing that helps is defensive consistency:
More from Kobe. Asked how he would handle a long losing streak like New Jersey's, or perhaps the 13 game losing streak Gasol endured a few years back with the Grizzlies, Bryant's face wrinkled. "I've got to believe I'd score 100 before I'd go 0-13." Something would have to give. "If I have to take every shot, make every shot, we're winning one (honkin') game."Farmar, on his play against the Nets, including a great hustle play to block a Rafer Alston layup at the end of the first quarter (a sequence that likely pleased his coaches more than the 15 points he scored):
Phil Jackson, on how the Lakers played against New Jersey, maintaining consistency and focus:
More from PJ, on Kobe's outside shot, Lamar Odom's play Sunday night, and his empathy for the Nets:
ok, you got me for the moment. Who said 'who am I to stand in the way of history?'
Posted by: phred | November 30, 2009 at 12:58 AM
It was a losing candidate for something, right? ah man, i should so know this. On the other hand. HEY MAN, THE GAME IS OVER! I DO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN MYSELF TO YOU, HATE CRIME PERSON! SCHNAP, that's going to bug me. I definitely know this.
Posted by: phred | November 30, 2009 at 01:00 AM
"I've got to believe I'd score 100 before I'd go 0-13." Something would have to give. "If I have to take every shot, make every shot, we're winning one (honkin') game."
that is the reason why the Lakers only have one season without playoff with kobe... even with players like Kwame, smush, and Luke in the starting line up.
This guy si ULTRA COMPETITIVE... he doesnt like to loose and he show it..
GO LAKERS.. 2008 - 2011 NBA CHAMPS
the fourth three peat for PJ
Posted by: kobe.4.mvp | November 30, 2009 at 02:26 AM
Jordan Farmar...Give me 15 straight games of that style and standard of play..
The way Farmar played was bang for bucks...Good game by him..
Bynum with 5 blocks...I still dont mind if his numbers drop but he still has an impact on the game..
The scoring will come in bunches but 5 blocks wont..Keep it up..
Stock standard for the team we played..well done....
How about them Wolves beating "Kenyon my team is the best Martin" and his little Nugget helpers....Go Kurt Rambis...
Questions without notice...Is the Blazers coach on the hot seat yet?...
How long can they be an emerging team for?
You can only be a young team for so long..
I know they have some injuries but so do many other teams...
Posted by: Thirty2 | November 30, 2009 at 02:47 AM
I don't know if it's due to the fact I am now currently fresh on my mind and fully awake (while I was certainly not as sharp during the chat this past night: and that is ALL due to the morpheus prawness sparkled over the game, sure), but reading this post immediately got me going newly about what seemed for ages a game played between a basketball team and an accolade of stiffened shapes barely moving.
It was not actually. Deceived under dozens of minutes of nothingness, there were actually many clues to follow so that we can keep creating this season killer's book, accordingly to your lovely piece of writing.
It's always a huge pleasure to read insights here, KBros. Everytime you provide to me notes to look after, and great points of view about the technical aspects of the game.
Really, to me no game has to be useless, so what you underlined someway helped me stop thinkin this game might have been so.
I appreciated the instincts backing the starters driven at make the Nets a corpse as soon as possible. I'm not for pity when it's about sport: I'd take a diminished effort as a no respecteful behavious exactly against the adersaries. One of the most ashaming thing when it's about sports, truly.
Lakers were serious tonight and it was fair.
Then of course we got to wander into the "trial" stuff, which is just demanded in such openly banned from surprises kind of games.
I hope that questions tonight were right. And I also hope answers were what PJ had in mind to get back from court.
The easiest things are gone and we have a decent week ahead. I still want the killer attitude shown.
Don't know about you, but I don't like that yet we aren't on top of our division. I don't want anybody else towering us, no matter in which stat.
So guys... just keep doing work. We got ya all, babes.
Posted by: ZairaAmaterasu | November 30, 2009 at 02:57 AM
BK,
I can't believe you're making fun of Pluto Nash.
HOW DARE YOU, BK?!?!? HOW DARE YOU??!?
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 30, 2009 at 05:42 AM
Good morning,
Ironic that our two backup guards have back-to-back birthdays. So let's start the day with a Happy Birthday Jordan Farmar-Shannon Brown Band Wagon.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | November 30, 2009 at 05:44 AM
Farmar's still cocky, but his attitude appears to be improving, a bit more relaxed and humble.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 30, 2009 at 05:54 AM
The game ended as they should. We're the Champions playing at home against a team without leadership, psychologically broken, and terribly injured.
I have one real concern (and it's not Sasha, believe it or not): Adam Morrison.
Against a HORRIBLE team, Ammo got some minutes, but not much production. People like to rag on Luke and Sasha and how much they're paid, but they do produce at times (and Luke consistently makes his teammates better)... and I just haven't seen moments of intense production from Ammo. I'm concerned.
It's a year later, he knows the system, he's healed... when are we going to start seeing moments of brilliance from Ammo like we did at Gonzaga or even during Summer League (to a lesser extent)?
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 30, 2009 at 06:05 AM
Glad that one is over. I couldn't even watch it. Lakers vs. Nets. It's just not fair. I hope they steal a win soon.
It is good news that Farmar and Brown seem to be responding to increased minutes. Those two playing well could make a big difference over the long haul of the season. It's too early to get excited, but Jordan has been making much better decisions of late. For so long he would penetrate to a spot outside the lane, about 10 feet from the baseline. There are no passing angles for a little guy in that area. He seems ot have learned where to be in the triangle of late and he looks much better out there.
On to real NBA teams....
Tom D.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | November 30, 2009 at 07:09 AM
Jordan Farmar is a great talent who will have an above average NBA career. Farmar turns 23 today and is improving on court decision making. Mitch "Cupcake" as many call him recognizes Farmar talent and his youthful basketball mistakes.
Farmar should be the starting PG.
Hopefully Lakers and Lakers fans will give Jordan a chance.
Posted by: Todd | November 30, 2009 at 07:15 AM
This Tiger Woods thing is driving me crazy. So the police are issuing a search warrant now to get to the bottom of Tiger's single car accident--an accident with no drugs or alcohol involved and no one else injured. This is stupid and crazy. How many of us would tolerate a police department insisting on coming to our house and interviewing us after a minor car accident? The law is on Tiger's side. The problem is that in this TMZ culture, people really believe they have a right to the intimate secrets of their neighbors' lives and this is bogus.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | November 30, 2009 at 07:20 AM
I think it is still too early to give much pro to Jordan Farmar. He had a lot more bad games than good games. Also, to remind you all, this is his contract year.
Posted by: imeg | November 30, 2009 at 07:45 AM
I'm secretly hoping that the Nets lose their next game, so the Clippers will no longer have the worst starting record in NBA history. Perhaps it'll finally break the "Clippers curse."
There is a reason why Fear suggested that we start a war in New Jersey, after all.
http://tinyurl.com/yej9d6u
Go Clippers!!!!
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 30, 2009 at 08:06 AM
The insanity continues. Yesterday 5 of the top 7 stories on CNN were about Tiger Woods' minor fender bender. Here's some choice garbage from the mouths of choice dweebs:
Jay Mariotti: "The public deserves to hear exactly what happened in the wee hours of Thanksgiving night outside his mansion in Windermere, Fla."
Why? Because he makes more money than us? So this allows that all his personal family secrets become public fodder? I want to know what Jay was doing the last time he had a single car accident.
This one's nice too:
Mark Kriegal: "Tiger Woods and his handlers would have you believe that this is a privacy issue. In fact, it's a Tiger issue. More than 12 years after he won his first major, a decade into his tenure as the world's richest and most recognizable athlete, the public — his global audience of would-be consumers — has no real idea. Who is Tiger Woods? What does he stand for? You don't know. The sportswriters don't know. It's even money Tiger knows. He's an industry as much as he is a person."
This BS is very, very scary to me. I've seen this same play performed every Thanksgiving on the Twilight Zone marathon and in clips of Joe McCarthy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5u-QVk3PFU&feature=related
How about this one, too. This about sums of this mess:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znH6tcglC1k&feature=related
Let the man be.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | November 30, 2009 at 08:10 AM
D*O*M*I*N*A*T*I*O*N (AKA THE 70-3 BANDWAGON)… And before Edwin and the wall flowers faint in exasperation, you can’t tell me that they don’t feel it, too. The Lakers have truly become the Yankees of the NBA. -LT
~~Thank you that there is a little humility left in your post that you missed 9 games or perhaps, it was just a typ0. LT's glass half-full is no longer half, it is overflowing that it could fill up any reservoir or a dam. It endangers humanity of thin skinned individuals. LT, I am one of your admirers on your tremendous basketball knowledge, only sometimes it is out of control and need a friend to provide you little therapy of reminders. We are winning in the last six games, Lakers are really on the top. Your Bynum fatigue could be in the All Stars, perhaps 4 Lakers are qualified to be there. This is an opposite scenario of three years ago. However, must we shout it to the world that we are the greatest NBA team today? Must we brag to the hilt, that we are unbeatable and possible to dominate this league? This kind of thinking needs a little caution, you might be entering the zone of invincibility that drawn the greatest leaders and best minds to dictatorship or fanatical zealots. I don't mean to be a moralist to remind everyone that gluttony is a sin, so is too much fan dom about players and our team. Basketball is just an entertainment and not a way of life. There are more important issues from day-to-day that a Laker fan in California needs to confront like: joblessness and home foreclosures, caring a sick family member and holiday depression, dwindling savings in retirement age. These are more important than being a fanatical follower of millionaire players by blowing our horn to the loudest, raising our chairs to the highest for everyone can see, forecasting dynastic rule to the longest. LakerTom, you are a smart fan in this blog and I would not even put myself on your level. Many fans in his blog are following your lead. They think you are omnipotent and always correct in all your pronouncements. I, a fellow old timer got your ire lately and took the blows for being a maverick fan. That's OK. I would rather say it than hide it.
Who said this quotation: "Smart is when you believe of what you read or see. Brilliance is when you know which half to believe." Peace.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | November 30, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Jon K,
I've been watching Adam Morrison very closely these recent games. I stick around to watch the 4th just so that I can glimpse his play.
He's not "producing" for two reasons: the few shots he's taking, he's missing; and he's not getting very many open looks at all and is playing the game quite well - refusing to force the issue.
He could improve these by moving better without the ball - and why he doesn't do that now is perhaps that he doesn't see himself as the focus when he's out there (but perhaps he should be more aggressive without the ball). Other than this, he seems to be doing what he's supposed to do.
Aside from his lack of scoring (which I'll admit I wish it were higher), he's actually playing quite nice out there!
I can't say he's "not" productive, because he is sort of filling in that Luke Walton-type role where he acts as grease in the offense. He can't pass nor post like Luke, but he's sort of modeling his position from what I can tell so far.
It's disappointing that his shot hasn't fallen more - some of this could be lack of PT.
I'd much rather cut back on Sasha's minutes (though he played okay last night) than Morrison's. I still say Morrison has additional upside that we haven't seen yet, but the guy is frankly playing like the consumate team mate right now.
He's definitely on the winning bandwagon.
And for that, I don't fault him.
Let's hope he continues to play stronger during these winning stretches, and perhaps his niche will get carved out.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | November 30, 2009 at 08:55 AM
This BS is very, very scary to me. I've seen this same play performed every Thanksgiving on the Twilight Zone marathon and in clips of Joe McCarthy:Posted by: wesjoenixon | November 30, 2009 at 08:10 AM
WESJOENIXON YOU ARE MY HERO...OUT FREAKING STANDING!!!
MAMBA24
Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 30, 2009 at 09:03 AM
ZairaAmaterasu,
I am with you all the way. I can't stand the fact that there are teams above us in any statistical category. However, I want even more. I want it to be us that dethrones those pretenders. I want Phoenix to continue to win games, as we will, until we meet. I want it to be them on a long winning streak, just like us, until they fall, dishearteningly to the mighty Lakers.
That would be poetic justice. I would have it no other way.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | November 30, 2009 at 09:08 AM
We’ve got the best player, team, coach, and owner and we are going to win at least 6 of the next 10 NBA championships. Or maybe all 10 of the next 10. : )) Posted by: LakerTom | November 29, 2009 at 09:54 PM
OOOOOOOOHHH WEEEEEEEE!!! Sign me up for the Laker Tom fan Club...
OUT FREAKIN STANDING!!!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 30, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Todd,
You're preaching to the choir.
Jordan Farmar ought to be starting as of yesterday.
When I look at the "second string" line-up of JF, UPS, Gasol, Lamar, Artest and the announcer says there's "2 starters" out there, I actually think it's more like 3 to 3.5. JF is a starter in my book. Lamar is more than a bench guy given his experience and abilities
Like a Jordan Farmar 42 inch vertical, the Lakers are on the rise!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | November 30, 2009 at 09:18 AM
In case anyone was wondering, the fabled free tacos is actually a coupon for the "2 tacos for a buck" deal at Jack-in-a-box. I was naively envisioning the Staples staff doling out tacos from a taco truck but guess this is the only way it makes logistic sense. Guess I'll keep mine as a souvenir.
Posted by: Scott | November 30, 2009 at 09:19 AM
I, a fellow old timer got your ire lately and took the blows for being a maverick fan. That's OK. I would rather say it than hide it. Who said this quotation: "Smart is when you believe of what you read or see. Brilliance is when you know which half to believe." Peace. Posted by: Edwin Gueco | November 30, 2009 at 08:19 AM
If you feel it, say it. But I think you got Laker Tom all wrong. He can take a hit with the best of us, but he is one hell of a writer. he just tends to get a little enthused with his subject, but when your subject is the greatest team on earth, with the greatest player on earth and the greatest coach and owner on earth and the potential greatest center on earth...Well what's there not to get enthusiastic about.
It's not being smug if your team can back it up and ours can. You notice how the trolls are slowly disappearing. Even a fool knows when his time is over and NBA the time for all other teams is over. THIS IS THE ERA OF THE LAKERS!!
Dynasty 4, Title 15!!!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 30, 2009 at 09:40 AM
Tim-4-Show,
I totally agree with you regarding Ammo.
I noticed it last night too. I know his shots are not going in, but he's not really shooting a lot. He's not succumbing to what Sasha tends to suffer from, which is as a shooter, they feel like he needs to shoot ever chance they get the ball.
Ammo is not doing that. What I noticed was that he is trying to run the offense and perhaps trying to fill the Luke role. He looks more in control. He needs more confidence.
I'm rooting for him.
Posted by: jq | November 30, 2009 at 09:40 AM
wesjoenixon, well said.
Posted by: mud | November 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM
only injuries and other acts of God can stop the Lakers this year. i pray they stay healthy. it's lot of fun when they win...
Posted by: mud | November 30, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Trade bate, Farmar, Sasha, Morrison are all on display?
Posted by: 2 PHATT | November 30, 2009 at 10:36 AM
marco-
I deleted your comment because I found the both the premise and the way in which your questions were phrased to be inappropriate for the forum. I'm sure it wasn't your intent, and perhaps it's a language/sensibility thing, but your discussion topic, I thought, brought little potential for positive discussion.
Thanks.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 30, 2009 at 10:55 AM
i cant wait till the LAKERS play some "contenders". the LAKERS are on a roll. farmar sucks. he shouldnt be starting at all. like someone said before, he has waaayyy more bad games than good games. he should have earned a starting spot a long time ago. if this guy cant beat old man fish as the starter than he shouldnt start. hes not a true point guard, he prefers to score. i dont think farmar would even start on a bad team.
Posted by: Chris | November 30, 2009 at 03:43 PM
The Lakers 4-star foursome of Kobe, Pau, Lamar, and Ron were given the signature nickname The "Ko P. La-Ron Dynasty" http://www.wiredprnews.com/category/sports. There was an omission that left out Andrew Bynum. The new "Ko P. LA-Ron Dynasty" is Ko-Kobe, P.-Pau, L-Lamar, A-Andrew, and Ron-Ron. When the Lakers play this unit the shortest player(s) on the court is Kobe and Artest both at 6'7. This would be the 5 best players on the court for one team in the NBA.
Posted by: Dunkadelic Kobe24 | November 30, 2009 at 04:19 PM
sasha sack/suks. that's what happened when you signed a big contract. nothing to do with the hair cut.
Posted by: khang | December 02, 2009 at 02:04 PM