LA-Denver game two: It’s a storm warning!
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Post Subject: LA-Denver game two: It’s a storm warning!
 Posted: May 02, 2012 - 12:55 AM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Before the second LA " Denver game, my cell phone sent me a storm warning: Thunder, lightning and heavy rain.
And boy was that right. The storm got so hard that I lost my hi-def picture a couple times and had to change to the analog feed to get the picture. But the storm passed and in the end, all was well.
But Pittsburgh Pennsylvania wasn’t the only city that had a storm. In LA, where storms are few and far between, another more ominous burst of nature was about to burst down on the Denver Nuggets.
Make no mistake, it was a....Please log in to view the entire post.
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A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
Last edited by SPQR on May 02, 2012 - 01:27 AM PST; edited 3 times in total
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lakeshowsd
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Post Subject: RE: LA-Denver game two: It�s a storm warning!
Posted: May 02, 2012 - 01:03 AM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Wow, I don't know how this guy manages to do it time and time again, but here we have yet another brilliant and highly imaginative post from Randy. Bravo, sir. Bravo. Thunder and Lightning indeed, and possibly the most potent mix of Thunder and Lightning since prime Shaq and young Kobe.
Big kudos to Jordan Hill for setting aside his legal troubles and showing true professionalism out there tonight, even through obvious discomfort with his back pain. He surprised the heck out of me yet again. The line you wrote about Hill beating the boards like his girlfriend trapped in a corner had me literally laughing out loud. Oh my, that was funny! |
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lakerdude
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Post Subject: RE: LA-Denver game two: It�s a storm warning!
Posted: May 02, 2012 - 01:05 AM PST
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| SPQR, a picture and everything. I always love your threads. A Laker fan at his greatest. The Nuggets are done. |
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KS_v2
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Post Subject: RE: LA-Denver game two: It�s a storm warning!
Posted: May 02, 2012 - 01:16 AM PST
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Splendid.
And I don't always use such over the top adjectives. |
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Tailspin
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Post Subject: RE: LA-Denver game two: It�s a storm warning!
Posted: May 02, 2012 - 02:43 AM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
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Once again an entertaining read SPQR.
And I agree the Nuggets will fight even harder in Denver but will succumb to the LA storm. |
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XiaoFeiDao
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Post Subject: RE: LA-Denver game two: It�¢ï¿½ï¿½s
Posted: May 02, 2012 - 02:54 AM PST
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Big-Time Laker Fan
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Great One! -- Another masterpiece from SPQR.
I am hoping more-more of your great posts in this play-off run, which would indicate Lakers doing well.  |
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Tailspin
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Post Subject: RE: LA-Denver game two: It���¢�¯�
Posted: May 02, 2012 - 03:09 AM PST
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It feels funny to say "LA storm" since our storms are so pathetic relatively.  |
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"Surely you can't be serious?"
"I am serious. And don't call me Shirley" -Airplane
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 03:35 AM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Tailspin wrote:
It feels funny to say "LA storm" since our storms are so pathetic relatively.
That's so funny! I know from growing up in the midwest and then living in LA for several years that the comparison is kind of pathetic. It becomes international news if/when LA gets an inch of rain! LOL. People who have been there all their lives don't even know what a storm is. But they get pissed off if you ever tell 'em that. Ha!
Enough of the sidetrack. Great post Randy!
So if Sessions becomes a late game threat like he was tonight, the Lakers are going to be a MUCH more difficult team to deal with. That was the biggest encouragement I took from the game. The guy got very aggressive after he got ticked off about the phantom foul call where he didn't even touch a Nugget (Corey Brewer?) on a breakaway dunk attempt.
Okay, that and Jordan Hill's continued beasting on rebounding and defending. A guy with that little playing time as a Laker is actually anchoring the team's defense when he's on the court. How bizarre is that? |
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LANDONTOP
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mhf94
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 12:28 PM PST
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| Great post once again. I just want to ask you something: are you still absolutely sure that the Lakers will get their butts kicked by OKC? |
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 03:43 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Steve,
Thanks so much for the very effusive praise. I am so glad you liked the post that much. Yeah, Drew and Kobe are certainly the most potent guard-center combo since.....Shaq and Kobe!! My, are not Lakers fans lucky!!
Jordan Hill has been an amazing addition. I considered that first round pick a waste for someone elses mistake. But if he keeps playing like this, Houston will wish they had him back and that first round pick will be a great investment.
Steve, glad you got a laugh from that girlfriend remark. I always believe you have to find humor and laugh at almost any situation and well, Im not going to cry about the Hill thing. Its out of our hands and I just hope real justice is served. Probably wan't the most politcally correct humor in the world, but I just couldn't stop myself, lol.
Lakerdude, KS V2, Tailspin, Dan, Xiao, mhf94:
I want to thank each of you for taking the time to read the post and for giving me such nice feedback. As always, I appreciate it and thanks so very much! You are all most kind.
Tailspin,
Yes, Denver will not go down easy. They will try like hell to push the ball and get that offense working at home. I will be very satisfied if we can take one over there. But no matter what happens in Colorado, they will not win four of five against this team. The series is over. Just a question of when.
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I just want to ask you something: are you still absolutely sure that the Lakers will get their butts kicked by OKC?
Mhf94,
Interesting question. Let me give a long answer.
First off, I never said we would get our "butts kicked" by OK. That implies a humilation, like last years Dallas sweep. I don't think any team with a Andrew Bynum playing at this level and a mega star like Kobe Bryant, along with a great Pau Gasol, surrounded by other really good players like Sessions, Blake, Metta, Ebanks, Barnes, Mcbob, Hill and Goudelock.....er....wait, strike Goudelock, or should I say, let Brown strike him, will get butts kicked by any team.
I did say a few weeks ago that OK had our number. I haven't changed my opinion on that. Remember we are playing Denver right now. A team we controlled in the regular season, just as OK controlled us. Remember, the only time we beat OK was at home and we had to struggle to an 18 point comeback to turn the trick. Not exactly confidence inspiring. This playoff series is no surprise. Denver is just one of the fill teams put in the playoffs to lose to better ones. They don't have the guns.
OK does. So do the Spurs and Heat. Those teams are much different than Denver.
So while we look good against the Nuggets, lets wait till face a real championship contender before we start getting intoxicated on a title chance.
Not only is OK a much better team than Denver, but we will not have home court. Nor against the Spurs, nor the Heat. Which means a poor road team will have to win three series on the road to take the whole thing. Not so good when you think about that.
I also asked a week ago: Can a team without an idenity win the title? My answer was no. Look at our team. As stars we have Kobe, Drew and Pau. What team has such star power and such mismatches? Nobody. Not Oklahamo, not Miami, not SA, not Chicago with Rose.
On paper, this team should be a beast, the favorite to win the title. But they are not. They sucked on the road, they didn't come close to the best record in basketball, they lost games to teams they shouldn't have and were battered by SA and Ok. That in itself tells you something is wrong.
Why? Well, I think it is because they don't have an identity. They have nothing they do really well to fall back on when things get hard.
Now as I said, they have this one series, Denver, to somehow, quickly, develope something they couldn't do all year. Will they? I don't know. I think we will get that answer when we play OK.
One last thing, the addition of Hill has changed this team. He is like Lamar, not in passing or scoring but in size and rebounding. He also has a youthful energy and drive that perhaps Lamar no longer does. He has made a huge difference to this team. He brings a joy to rebounding and toughness and hustle. And that is a no small thing to get from such a big body. He may be an X factor we didn't have all year that may change the equation. We shall see.
The next series will tell all in my view. If we indeed find an identity at the this last moment, find a smart way, a way we can rely on, and turn the tables on OK, then I think we can beat anyone. |
_________________
A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 07:45 PM PST
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Laker GM
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| Wow. That was great. Excellent post. |
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Black Mamba ready to STRIKE...
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MAMBA WILL RISE AGAIN> coming soon
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 09:57 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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KB24*BM,
Hey, thanks so much for the really nice words. I am glad you read it and glad you enjoyed it!
And I am sure we both enjoyed that game! It was great watching our two great players dismantle a Denver team that played like their life depended on a win. And it did. That combo of Kobe and Drew is brutal when they do it together and do it smart and do it with determination.
There is something awesome about watching unstoppable players just tear an opponent down. |
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A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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PurpleKnight
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 10:18 PM PST
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Randy, I know that gemfow said that we shouldn't help you get your head any bigger than it already is. But.........DAMN!!!
This was awesome brutha! Kobe & Bynum are the best 1-2 punch since Shaq & Kobe.
You must have been in honors English classes during your school years. Because that sure was a great short story you wrote there.
"Thunder & Lightning"!!! "Lightning & Thunder"!!! ...........LOVE IT!!! |
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"Heroes come & go....But Legends are forever"!!! -Kobe Bryant
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 10:22 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Purple,
Thanks my friend for the nice words. Always appreciated. And thanks for reading my post as you usually do. That too is appreciated. Don't worry Purple, Gem was too late. My head can't get any bigger, lol.
Anyway, just skated by in English. Those classes bored the living predicate out of me. Just have a very vivid imagination.
Thunder and Lightning could end up just the perfect description of Kobe and Drew. Fits them perfectly. And yes, that could have been Shaq and Kobes nickname. But the Lakers announcers were not on the ball, lol.
And yes Purple, you are right. Kobe and Drew is the best, most talented guard-center combo since.....well Kobe and Shaq!!
Us lucky Laker fans!
Screw Zippy Griffin. |
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A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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14ALL41
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 10:33 PM PST
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Creative piece of writing, but Bynum and Bryant have yet to find synchronicity; they both do well on their own, but they don't really have the symbiotic relationship that they could/should.
Also, I hate to be a naysayer, but there was a storm warning in Game 2, but it was a warning to the Lakers. The Nuggets stormed back when down big in the 3rd quarter; they are an explosive team. The Lakers need to be aware of the danger. It is tempting to run with the wind, but if we get drawn into that cyclone we may not be around to see the Thunder. The Lakers need to remember that they're not in Kansas---er, Callifornia---now. |
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Where.LA.Happens
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Posted: May 02, 2012 - 10:37 PM PST
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That's an unique talent you have there SPQR.
I've read threads here very long, even longer before I've had my account. And you do it time and time again.
I love the creativity and thought that you put into your posts. It makes me feel like I'm reading a book, with all these images going through my head.
Now enough of that, and back on topic :p
Its a very interesting duo we have here with Kobe and Bynum. If they play well together, that's the key to our championship.
But it makes me nervous. I don't want another Kobe & Shaq splitting again. But that's too far ahead to think about. Its playoffs baby! |
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Posted: May 03, 2012 - 02:30 AM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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14all14,
Thank you for the nice words. I am very appreciative that you read and enjoyed the post.
You made some interesting remarks about the team and Kobe and Drew.
Quote:
but Bynum and Bryant have yet to find synchronicity; they both do well on their own, but they don't really have the symbiotic relationship that they could/should.
Also, I hate to be a naysayer, but there was a storm warning in Game 2, but it was a warning to the Lakers. The Nuggets stormed back when down big in the 3rd quarter; they are an explosive team. The Lakers need to be aware of the danger. It is tempting to run with the wind, but if we get drawn into that cyclone we may not be around to see the Thunder. The Lakers need to remember that they're not in Kansas---er, Callifornia---now.
I agree with you about a total lack of synergy between Kobe and Drew. Sometimes they have it, like the other night. And that example was what spurred me to write that post. It was a night of thunder and lightning as the Nuggets could attest. It would be nice to see that kind of synergy between them, and really the whole team more often. But so far, its been an up and down thing. And yes, too often each excels on their own, not together. And that is one of reasons why this team has not reached its potential. Because in my view, on paper, it is the most talented team in the league.
I also understand your concern about game two. But sometimes we overlook that the other team is playing hard too. Denver knew they HAD to win that game and they tried body and soul to do it. I do expect things to get even tougher over there. I expect us to lose at least one of those games and to be honest, it would not shock me if we lost both. But that being said, I am totally confident we will win this series. We dominated them in regular season. We have just won two str8 more against them. The bottom line is we are too big, too talented for a team that just doesn't have the horses to run with us. I mean our third best player, Pau, would be the best player on their team. That pretty much tells the story for them in my view.
Where.LA.Happens,
Thank you very much for those very strong and kind words. I really appreciate that you read my posts as you do, taking your time to do so is always a great gift to any writer. And I am also glad you get enjoyment from them. Thank you so much on both counts.
Quote:
Its a very interesting duo we have here with Kobe and Bynum. If they play well together, that's the key to our championship.
But it makes me nervous. I don't want another Kobe & Shaq splitting again. But that's too far ahead to think about. Its playoffs baby!
You also made some telling remarks that caught my attention. I agree that Kobe and Drew have to play together, and play smart ball for us to have a chance. No hero ball allowed. Were not good enough to survive that. The whole team has to play smart. And play defense. If we do all those things, we may establish a strong, smart identity that may enable us to navigate a very hard road, on the road, in the next three series, if we go that far.
The Kobe-Drew tandem, and possibility of Shaq like trouble exists. Its sad to say it, but its a legit concern now and down the line. When you have two terrific players, both of whom are aggressive and can score and want to lead the team, it can either end up good or a nightmare, as we saw before with Kobe and Shaq.
Im hoping for a good ending. A bad turn of events will just be a total nightmare. Its the last thing any of us want to see, including Im sure, the front office. Because it will just rip this team up for years. |
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A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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lakerdude
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Posted: May 03, 2012 - 03:48 AM PST
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XiaoFeiDao wrote:
Great One! -- Another masterpiece from SPQR.
I am hoping more-more of your great posts in this play-off run, which would indicate Lakers doing well.
I agree with you. SPQR know's what's up. |
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mhf94
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Posted: May 03, 2012 - 10:01 AM PST
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Thanks for the long answer SPQR. I said "butts kicked" just as an expression. I know you actually hadn't said it though. But I really just wanted to know your opinion, and compare to what it was, when you made that post "And know we know" or something like that. And I think it has changed, right? At that time, you were ABSOLUTELY sure we wouldn't be able to get through OKC. I even got a little pissed that you never even accepted the fact that there was a slim chance, no matter how slim it was, that we could beat them. You had absolutely zero hope for this team.
Right now, I think you've come to see that there is a chance we can beat OKC. It won't be easy, or very likely, but it can happen. That's all I wanted to hear from you.
Let me just ask this other question. When you say the Lakers don't have an identity as a team and the Thunder, for example, do, what do you mean by that? Because, to me, this team has a clear identity. Not a good outside shooting team. A good defensive team. Great rebounding team. Basically our identity is, a team that relies heavily on its bigs and has the best wing scorer in the league. We may not be a great 3 point shooting team, but we can be and are a low post team because we (now) have other guys that other teams have to respect- Kobe, obviously, Pau is a good mid range shooter, Metta is knocking down his shots, Sessions can shoot well enough and can penetrate. So, while we aren't a great outside team, like the Spurs, we have a low post identity because the other guys on the perimeter can also knock down their shots.
I know why you don't think we have an identity, but do you feel the Heat and OKC have an identity? I ask this because, for the reasons you're saying we don't have an identity, I think neither OKC or Miami have an identity. |
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Posted: May 03, 2012 - 04:27 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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mhf94,
The Lakers had a horrible time with the OK matchup. I would take OK if we play them. I do think there is chance we can beat them. I mean any team with Drew, Kobe, Pau, Sessons, Metta, Ebanks, Hill, Blake, Barnes..etc has a chance. Thats some talent there.
But the funny thing is that on paper, I think we have the best team in hoops. Especially since we got rid of Derek for Hill and added Sessions.
But we never came close to our potential. Not in performance or record nor on the road.
What I mean by the Lakers not having an identity is that there is nothing they have made their own to fall back on when things get hard. They are not expert at anything. They are not a great defensive team. Not a great running team. Not a great shooting team. Not a great passing team. Not even as good a low post team as they should be. I have said for the last couple years they are a half a**ed low post team. And they are. There are several reasons for it. Kobe, perimiter player, takes more shots per average than any other players. We also don't get the ball inside in a quick, timely fashion. The whole team I mean. Too much dribbling and holding the ball outside. Also, we don't have enough dead eye perimiter shooters to take advantage of the open shots they get because of Drew and Pau. So while we have the monster talent inside to be a true low post team, with that very strong indentity, we are not. We don't exploit it as well as we should.
Now when you look at say Miami or San Antonio. Both have very strong defensive indentities. They live defense. Actually holding teams to below 90 points a game. The only two teams to turn that trick. Its in their blood, their muscle memory. Its something they can call on when things get rough. Also, San Antonio has a second idenity: they are a GREAT ball movement team. Two strong identities with one team. Makes them even tougher.
As for Oklahoma? Well Mhf, I only watched them in their games against us. So I won't claim to know their identity. I do know their speed and quickness plays hell with us and they seem to run our misses down our throats when we play them. They also seem to defend us very well. our interior game and Kobe. They have been a bad matchup for us all year and will have home court when we play. Not the optimum recipe for a Lakers series win.
But...as you say, and I agree, we have a chance. This Lakers team is very talented. More so than I think many, including I, thought earlier in the year. But the nagging question remains, on a team with that kind of talent, why didn't they form an indentity and why did they so badly underachieve all year? And what will it mean, against teams with home court, who do have strong identities? |
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A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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ralppcobarde
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Posted: May 04, 2012 - 05:22 AM PST
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Great post again SPQR,
The lack of identity of this team is because we have a new coach , new players , new system and our rotations haven't been consistent all year long. When you compare this team to the other elites like San antonio and OKC they have been together for a while now so obviously they have been on the same page for a long time. While our team haven't been together in a year yet, our core players are only Kobe,Pau,Bynum and MWP. the talent is there but they need time to gel , to play together and figure out their each own tendencies . we have made all adjustments this season and yet we are still here 3rd seed and still playing for a championship . lack of practice time and lockout really hurt us,so all year long we haven't really found our groove we haven't been on a long winning streak that we are used to do in a long time. IMO our big 3 carried us this season imagine we have more time to gel and practice we are more much better team than we do supposed now.
It's really hard to find an identity, remember in 08 the lakers really don't have an identity because Bynum is injured and Pau gasol was acquired in early February, yet our only identity on that time is a two man game with Pau and Kobe and let the others do their thing. eventually we got beaten by the defensive minded identity of the Celtics. the Celtics have been together on all year long and have more time to jell and get on the same page. Claiming an identity needs time. But who knows, maybe the lakers are peaking at the right time and have found their identity just now. Kobe is back on scoring on 30 plus points and Bynum is much improve and Pau is more comfortable with his role. all have been playing well, i will take my chances with that.
Well as your post about storm warning yes , i hope this warning will really become a storm to prove that we still have it and show that we are capable of winning a championship. I've read that Bynum is becoming a new alpha dog for the lakers . that's good to hear for me, we have now the two most competitive players on the same team. Bynum and Kobe will become much more better as the postseason goes on. |
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Posted: May 04, 2012 - 04:01 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Ralppcobarde,
Thank you...again...for the nice words you always seem to give my posts.
Quote:
The lack of identity of this team is because we have a new coach , new players , new system and our rotations haven't been consistent all year long. When you compare this team to the other elites like San antonio and OKC they have been together for a while now so obviously they have been on the same page for a long time. While our team haven't been together in a year yet, our core players are only Kobe,Pau,Bynum and MWP. the talent is there but they need time to gel , to play together and figure out their each own tendencies . we have made all adjustments this season and yet we are still here 3rd seed and still playing for a championship . lack of practice time and lockout really hurt us,so all year long we haven't really found our groove we haven't been on a long winning streak that we are used to do in a long time. IMO our big 3 carried us this season imagine we have more time to gel and practice we are more much better team than we do supposed now.
I put a lot of stock in what you say. I do believe much of our lack of identity is what you say: A new coach, some new players, a new system, all of whom were inhibited by the shortened season.
The funny thing is, since the trade for Hill and the addition and subtraction of Sessions and Derek, I think we may in fact be the most talented team in ball. And no team has the matchup problems that we present with Kobe, Drew and Pau. This really is a potent team when you start to break it down and see the headaches they can cause others. I felt for a long time Derek was our chief impediment to being an elite team. With Sessions, that obstacle is gone and Hill has been just an amazing bonus off the bench. What he adds is a totally new, powerful piece to our chess set.
We have this Denver series to really try to perfect a method of doing things. Denver is nice proving ground for us. The Thunder will be graduate classes in how well we do now. If we don't learn some lessons here, fast, the Thunder will give us a failing grade. They are not Denver. That series will answer our questions.
It will also be interesting to see how we, a bad road team, does in our away games with Denver. Will they show an improvment, a constancy they lacked on the road all year? They will need to show it. Not to finish off Denver, but for the teams we will face starting the next series. |
_________________
A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
Last edited by SPQR on May 04, 2012 - 08:38 PM PST; edited 1 time in total
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ralppcobarde
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Posted: May 04, 2012 - 07:09 PM PST
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Laker GM
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I know Hill will be a big addition for us than Beasley IMO, because our advantage is our size and Hill has the things that Gasol and Bynum couldn't do consistently he hustles , rebounds, defend the pick and roll and he has faster foot speed. While Gasol and Bynum can do what the things that Hill unable to do. which is to score a lot of points. those 3 are a big complement with each other, they are covering each others mistakes as well. i just hope Mcroberts was inserted in the rotation also, i really think he can help and add another to our size advantage. As for Sessions , he change the whole dynamic of this team he and Gasol are the balance scale of this team.those two are putting great balance on Kobe and Bynum's firepower .
winning on a road is a big key and it will be a nice momentum builder for us . let's see how it pans out later.Cheers! |
_________________
"Bad artists copy. Good artists steal". - Pablo Picasso
Last edited by ralppcobarde on May 04, 2012 - 09:39 PM PST; edited 1 time in total
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BaadMaster
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Posted: May 04, 2012 - 07:49 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Great post, SPQR...but you should have held it onne day and posted it AFTER we win Game 3. Becuase, if we don't, this could all be an illusion. THIS IS THE GAME. If we win, we are seriouys contenders. If we don't, we are just another "home-court-advantage" team.
As myMom says, "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched." I am holding my breath. Gametime less than two hours away! |
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Posted: May 04, 2012 - 09:37 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Baad,
Thank you very much for the nice words. And for taking the time to read the post. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Baad,
I would say this about Denver and the road. I will be glad if we take one of them. You know Karl and Denver will fight like hell not to be embarrassed. Now, if we take both, well, that is a really good sign, right? Especially from a team that stunk on the road.
If we can't take even one game in Denver, lol, well, that pretty much tells us whats going happen when the competition gets harder and we no longer possess home court.
Its just about game time now, Baad, lets see if this team is going to really jump forward tonight and take this road game.
Ralppcobarde,
Right now, based on what I have seen from Hill, what this guy is doing, his size, I would take him over Beasley for all the reasons you enumerated.
I was not a huge Beasley enthusiast. But you give me a huge guy, who wants to defend and rebound, night after night, and I become very enthusiastic. |
_________________
A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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BaadMaster
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 03:08 AM PST
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I guess we are one road loss away from being what I call a "home-court-advantage" team. I liked the way we fought back -- but we lost at the end when we could have won.
The next game, as I see it, is the whole season. If we lose, yet still beat Denver as we should via HCA, then we will lose to the Thunder and their HCA. If we win Sunday, we still are in the running for the title.
That is how I see it. |
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Axle
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 11:32 AM PST
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As always SPQR you are really a great writer. Your imagination is spectacular. And yes I have to agree that Andrew and Kobe show was nice. It is too bad that on game three Nuggets coaches decided to throw bigger defenders against Bynum and completely neutralized him on offense. He looked like superman with kryptonite sprayed all over his big body. He was rolling on the floor more then I like to see a big man like Andrew doing.
As it turned out kobe was also getting doubled every time, so it was a very good move by the Nuggets coaching staff to double the only two that are the greatest thread to the Nuggets.
Now lets see how M Brown will counter this defense. I still say that more contrebution by Barnes and Blake is necessary to break up the grip hold on Bynum and Kobe. |
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 01:34 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Quote:
I guess we are one road loss away from being what I call a "home-court-advantage" team. I liked the way we fought back -- but we lost at the end when we could have won.
The next game, as I see it, is the whole season. If we lose, yet still beat Denver as we should via HCA, then we will lose to the Thunder and their HCA. If we win Sunday, we still are in the running for the title.
That is how I see it.
Baad,
It is always tough to take when you lose to a less talented team. We really didn't play much D and we played dumb offense again, as we do so often. Not smart ball. Anyway, also have to give Denver creds too. Sometimes we forget the other team has something to say about it.
I figured we would lose one up there. But this team better also win one up there. If we can't win a game in Denver, we can just mail it in against the Thunder, who are much better than Denver and have home court. This next game in Denver is big. Not for us winning the series, because I think we will no matter how we do up there, but as a road indicator for any chance to beat OK, SA and Miami all of whom will have home court and all of whom are so much more accomplished than the Nuggets.
Axle,
Thank you so much for the kind words. You are always leave such nice remarks on my posts. I am glad you liked it and thanks for taking the time to read it.
I won't go deeply into that game. I will say from my point of view that even if Denver throws bigs and double teams at Drew, the ball should still go into him more than it did in that first half. Not saying he should try shoot through that, that would be silly, but the Lakers need to use the double team against teams, not be scared of it. A double team will break a defense down if you use it against them and play smart. To see bigs ready to double Drew is no reason to not let them commit to that defense, then attack from there. That depends on going to Drew, luring the double, then Drew passing back out and other events taking place quickly from there. Something we didn't even launch in the first half last night.
Anyway, as you say, lets see how Brown and team counteract. Hopefully better than last night, because Denver will stay with what works, until we show them it won't work. |
_________________
A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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BaadMaster
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 02:28 PM PST
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One little problem: with Drew double teamed, let us assume he kicks it out to an open shooter. That shooter has to make the shot. The aim of the game never varies: put the ball into the basket. Duh. When Barnes and Blake were bricking those open threes, I knew we would lose. That is classic basketball -- until the brick.
Not developing Goudelock wil come to bite us in the butt when we play the better three point shooting teams like OKC.
Remember, if Vlade Divacs slapped that ball to Matt Barnes instead of Robert Horry, there would be no "Horry Dance." Just a playoff series loss. |
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 03:15 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
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Quote:
One little problem: with Drew double teamed, let us assume he kicks it out to an open shooter. That shooter has to make the shot. The aim of the game never varies: put the ball into the basket. Duh. When Barnes and Blake were bricking those open threes, I knew we would lose. That is classic basketball -- until the brick.
Not developing Goudelock wil come to bite us in the butt when we play the better three point shooting teams like OKC.
Remember, if Vlade Divacs slapped that ball to Matt Barnes instead of Robert Horry, there would be no "Horry Dance." Just a playoff series loss.
Baad,
Yep, I think your are right on with all you said. The other thing is that after the pass out, and double moves, nobody cuts to the hoop either. We have two great low post players yet are both too stupid a team to take true advantage and too short of the shooting talent we need.
Anyway, they are gonna double Drew. They have to, or they lose. The fact is, Drew is the prime indicator of this team now. How he goes, so goes the Lakers. And it has become obvious that other teams now make stopping Drew their top priority, because they know if he has a monster game, its lights out. This is an interesting development that has occured in the second half of this year. How other teams first order of business now is to stop Drew, first and foremost, over any other Laker.
And as much as your shooters stink, Baad, we have to pass to Drew. There is no other way because he will get doubled. The offense must start with him (and Pau). And if our guys can't hit those shots, then we are done for in the playoffs eventually. There will be no way for us to get around that deficiency and win a title. And if we lose this year because our outside shooters can't hit those open shots, then we will think of Goudelock, right? And we will think of Brown. And also the front office will need to think about how to get some shooters here next year to go along with Goudelock.
But before anything else, this team needs to start the attack correctly. That means going into Drew and Pau, welcoming the double teams to help break down the D. That first half last night was joke. The Lakers either were scared of the double, or they just decided to not throw the ball in, well, because so often, we are a damn dumb team, lol. |
_________________
A dead guy made me screw up the Lakers. Don't blame me!!! - Mitch Kupchak- February 27th, 2013
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BaadMaster
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 03:21 PM PST
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| Other than Kobe, there is no other player on this team that can stick five 3's in a row other than Goudelock. Why Brown did not give him ANY time, even in blowouts (either way) is beyond me. Anyone here have a logical explanation? |
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Axle
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Posted: May 05, 2012 - 03:24 PM PST
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BaadMaster is correct. Bynum though has to improve his kicking out to the open shooter, and at the same time the guards and the small forward have to move around right away to give Bynum an easy pass, BUT! who ever gets the ball they can not be wasting precious minutes passing the ball to somebody else because once the clock has gone down to mili seconds who ever has the ball is going to force the shot, making it a low percentage shot. Kobe can still very effective, but Karl has chose to double Kobe and Drew and let the others beat you. Blake , Barnes and Sessions have to be ready and capable of making shots. Ebanks has actually been better then some of those others.
But even though I really like Bynum, there is one thing I just don't like and that is that he is not a consistent player. It is feast or famine with him, and I don't care if he even doesn't make a shot as long as he is trying hard on defense and just plain giving it 100%. Defense is what wins games, and young Andrew has to realize that. He is still very young and should be able to play hard through the whole game. Lake dude tries to bring Kobe into the picture also if Drew had a terrible night, and that is not right because if the Mamba just has some decent help he will assist you, but you got to make the shot or else he does not get credit for passing it to them.
Kobe is up in age and when he see's the team down by twenty plus points, he knows that the defense is not there in the first half. Rebounds by our bigs were not there with the exception of Hill. He done OK. |
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