Thursday 4/12
> Different game same story for my Lakers. As usual they scored enough points to win, but then in typical fashion they the opposition score a few more. If there’s one thing I need to see next season from my boys it’s a serious commitment to playing defense from day one. To hell with working on the triangle because scoring points in not their problem.
The other challenge in LA is finding another dynamic player, preferably a pass first PG that can defend, so that some of the pressure is removed from Kobe Bryant’s shoulders. Just take last night for example. The Lakers were outscored 32 to 17 in the 4th quarter. Included in that was a 26 to 8 run to finish the game. Included in that was a spurt of 10 to 0 that ended up being 16 to 1. Just plain awful.
The reason for that ineptitude is that no one on LA can make a clutch play except Kobe. Luke Walton & Ronny Turiaf, while nice role players, lack the athleticism necessary to consistently finish around the rim in the NBA. Then there’s guys like Smush Parker, Sasha Vujacic & Brian Cook who have no clue how to play when the pressure is on. The problem with that is, all those guys play crunch time minutes periodically. I’m excusing Lamar Odom (left shoulder), Jordan Farmar (20) & Andrew Bynum (19).….for now anyway.
At this point I’d rather have the Lakers miss the playoffs all together. The rationale being that they are going to get swept in the first round no matter who they end up playing. That being that case, they may as well be in the lottery with at least a slight chance of getting lucky.
> Games of note tonight…
- New York at New Jersey
- Denver at New Orleans/Oklahoma City
- Indiana at Miami on ESPN
- Lakers at Phoenix on ESPN
The other challenge in LA is finding another dynamic player, preferably a pass first PG that can defend, so that some of the pressure is removed from Kobe Bryant’s shoulders. Just take last night for example. The Lakers were outscored 32 to 17 in the 4th quarter. Included in that was a 26 to 8 run to finish the game. Included in that was a spurt of 10 to 0 that ended up being 16 to 1. Just plain awful.
The reason for that ineptitude is that no one on LA can make a clutch play except Kobe. Luke Walton & Ronny Turiaf, while nice role players, lack the athleticism necessary to consistently finish around the rim in the NBA. Then there’s guys like Smush Parker, Sasha Vujacic & Brian Cook who have no clue how to play when the pressure is on. The problem with that is, all those guys play crunch time minutes periodically. I’m excusing Lamar Odom (left shoulder), Jordan Farmar (20) & Andrew Bynum (19).….for now anyway.
At this point I’d rather have the Lakers miss the playoffs all together. The rationale being that they are going to get swept in the first round no matter who they end up playing. That being that case, they may as well be in the lottery with at least a slight chance of getting lucky.
> Games of note tonight…
- New York at New Jersey
- Denver at New Orleans/Oklahoma City
- Indiana at Miami on ESPN
- Lakers at Phoenix on ESPN
posted by D$ at 8:29 AM
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