BLAZERS -at- LAKERS - 3/20 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Just Make the Damn Shot... Sometimes that's all a game comes down to. Forget the everything else. Just get the job done.

When Kobe was asked to take us through a tough baseline fade he swished over Brandon Roy with 32 seconds left, he said, "Just make the damn shot."

"Ditto," DFish said of his pull-up jumper with 10 seconds left.

The Lakers veteran backcourt delivered a series of clutch makes with 2 minutes left to drive a 14-3 rally and 84-80 victory over the Trailblazers.

"Once again, we have control of this game and we don't execute down the stretch," fumed Blazer coach Nate McMillan. Like the previous game against the Blazers, the Lakers owned the last few minutes of ball.

"I told the team we probably saved a game we could easily have lost," Phil said. "That was a fortunate win for us."

The Lakers held the Blazers to 32 points in the second half. They survived the first of two games without Andrew Bynum, who was sidelined by the league for his flagrant foul in the last game. Mitch Kupchak thought the suspension was excessive. The league said they were considering three games. Regardless, the Lakers have to push through it.

The Lakers faced a lot of zone in this game and struggled with it. You can bet they will see more of it against the Suns Tuesday.


Kobe -- -- He was screaming fire after his two huge baskets in the final 2 minutes. You don't want to make him angry. He just cranks it up to another level anytime his buttons are pushed. After a turnover in crunch time and another officiating sequence that he felt went against him, Kobe had smoke coming from his ears. "I thought it just brought his energy up and we needed to have that happen to him," Phil said. Kobe immediately pushed out a rebound and hit a tough one-hander in transition on the next possession. He would then swish a beauty, baseline fade with Roy all over him in the final minute -- another must-have basket. After willing in both of those difficult baskets, he was fired up. Thank the refs for getting Kobe to go from Bruce Banner to the Hulk. Kobe was lucky not to pick up a tech tonight with as animated as he was on some of the reffing. The Stats: He scored 22 points on 9-20 shooting (2-7 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 33 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He sank a face-up elbow jumper. He missed a pull-up three in early offense. Bad pass out of a double and it was picked off. He sank a pull-up 16-footer in transition. He swished a wing catch-and-shoot three behind a screen. He missed a face-up baseline jumper. He attacked and kicked to Lamar for a jumper. He swished a wing three, popping out for the catch and shoot. He missed an open three on the next possession. Bad job not getting squared up on a forced corner three when he had time to set up, he bricked as a result. He had 10 points on 4-8 shooting (2-5 from three). Second Half: He gave up a straight line to Miller for FTs to start the half. He missed a wing step-back jumper. He attacked and missed the short one in the paint. He attacked and was hit with no call, lucky not to get a tech. Difficult pumping baseline jumper and he missed. Quick first step baseline and he was fouled as he went to throw down, he made both FTs (his first FTs of the game with 5 minutes left in the quarter). Horrible shot out of a timeout on his first possession of the fourth, didn't hit rim on a chuck from about 35 feet. He swished a fade cutting weak to strong in order to get the ball in a good spot. He missed another three out of a timeout over the zone. He attacked to his right, sliced under the hoop and banked the tough reverse with his left before hitting the floor. He faked the three and jump passed to Pau for the layup. He missed a pull-up in transition. He knocked a ball from Miller and scored a dunk on the break to tie it up with 2:20 left. He lost the handle on a drive and had the ball stolen, he wanted the foul. Pissed off, he grabbed the long rebound on the next stop, stepped on the gas with a Blazer in front of him and willed in the twisting one-hander on the break. He iso'd on Roy, attacked right, hung and swished the tough baseline jumper with Roy all over him (Kobe was screaming and high fiving on the way down court).

Gasol -- -- With Bynum out, Pau had to try to control the interior and the boards. The Lakers suffered during the 3 minutes when Pau wasn't on the floor in the first half, so Phil left him in there all second half. The Blazers went into a zone which helped erase our low-post touches as they struggled to organize the offense. Defensively, the team struggled a bit with him anchoring. The Blazers also liked to work iso with Aldridge on him. LaMarcus was able to bump Pau or lose him with step backs to get a little space. The D tightened up in crunch time as seems to always be the case with Pau. Hopefully, the Lakers can get some better production behind Pau in the next game and he won't have go big minutes. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 6-15 shooting (2-3 from line) to go with 13 boards (5 offensive), 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 45 minutes. He was a +8. The Action: He missed a floater, got it back and scored the And-1 putback, he missed the FT. He missed an awkward baseline bank attempt. He dunked when left alone under the rim in transition and Ron found him. He got tapped on a putback. He missed a jumphook in the middle of the lane. He swatted Matthews' drive. He was hit by Aldridge on a reverse in the paint (Aldridge's second foul of the first), Pau made both FTs. He slammed in transition off the sweet bounce pass from Lamar. He fumbled away a Kobe pass (then was knocked to the floor with no call). He had 8 points on 3-7 shooting and 9 boards. Second Half: He missed a face-up sideline jumper. He missed a short putback in the paint. He cleaned up a Kobe drive and miss. He got lost on D and gave up a layup on the other end. He took an elbow to the chin, hit the ground and was angry about the no call. He dropped a Kobe drive and dish (Kobe was not pleased). No challenge on Aldridge's jumper. He missed a 12-footer. He dunked after a challenge and a leak out that had him ahead of the pack. He missed a 15-footer against the zone. He wanted a foul on the lefty jumphook miss. No challenge on a step-back by Aldridge. He scored a layup off the jump pass from Kobe.

Lamar -- -- When the Lakers began to turn things around in the fourth quarter, it came about because they were getting to the rim. Lamar had a couple of those key scores in the paint. Lamar also had a couple of sweet passes in this game. On one, he threaded the needle to Pau on the break with a bounce pass for a dunk. He also had some very quick outlets that led to counterstrikes. Lamar led the team with a +10. The team struggled a bit when Phil went to the smaller LO/DC unit in the first half. They couldn't control the boards. Phil said he was on Lamar a little bit for one-handing rebounds instead of securing them with both hands. The Stats: He scored 16 points on 8-11 shooting to go with 11 boards (3 offensive), 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 42 minutes. He was a +10. The Action: Poor post entry, picked off on the first play. He attacked off a kickout and fed Ron for a layup. He was called for a push off on the offensive glass. He grabbed a Fish miss and put it back in all in one motion in transition. He attacked, took contact and scored a layup with no call. He scored a layup off the lob pass from Blake. He swished an open baseline jumper off the Kobe kickout. He ripped a rebound away from Miller, pushed it up and threaded a sweet bounce pass to Pau for a dunk. He choked a layup off a loose ball. He had 8 points on 4-5 shooting. Second Half: He missed a wing jumper. He was fronted in the post, took the pass and slammed. He grabbed a board and outlet to Pau for the dunk. He scored a layup cutting through the zone (took contact with no call, too). He hit Shannon on an outlet for an And-1. His interior feed was swiped for a layup the other way. He left Fernandez open for a three, poor communication on D. He missed an elbow jumper. He up-faked, attacked and scored a layup. He cut to the post, took a pass and hit the jumphook on the next trip down.

Artest -- -- Can't believe the refs didn't go with the double tech on him and Wallace in the final minute. Artest was fouled by Wallace, who then instigated some pushing and knocking away of arms between the two. That's almost always a double tech, especially with the game in balance. The tech against Ron, however, cut the lead to 3 and a Kobe make extended it to 5 (point spread in the game was 6, so if you took Portland you were quite pleased with that call...just saying). But you could probably chalk up that T to Ron's rep. Defensively, Ron started on Matthews and kept him to 0-4 shooting. Batum's points came on a cross-match against DFish. Ron ran some backup PF tonight with the Pau sliding over to the C spot. With Wallace running at PF that's an easier move for Phil to make than DC or Smith. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 4-9 shooting (0-3 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 36 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He spotted Pau free under the hoop for a dunk. He attacked, kicked to LO, then scored a layup when Lamar set him up off the drive and dish. Quick attack, he then bumped off Wallace and powered in a layup. He forced Matthews into a brick. He was called for an arm lock on an offensive board and had to sit after 8 minutes with his second foul. He was hit on a layup with no call and it forced him to come up short. He drew a double and hit a cutting Barnes for a layup. He scored a layup off the handoff from Pau. He missed a three. He attacked down the lane, into a crowd and was swatted. Second Half: He pushed out the break and drew FTs taking contact, he made both. He attacked into a crowd and threw it away. He bricked a sideline three. He scored a layup against the zone off the dribble. He missed a wing three. He was called for a tech with 44 seconds left (should have been a double tech with Wallace instigating after a foul). He gave up a three, not crowding Batum off the three line.

Fisher -- -- DFish came up big with a steal and finger roll layup on the break (yeah...wow) with 2 minutes left and then the huge jumper with 10 seconds left to give the Lakers the 4-point lead. Got to love seeing the vet class of '96 showing their Just Make the Damn Shot game to close out the Blazers. Defensively, Phil cross-matched DFish onto Batum so Kobe could cover Miller. Batum had 19 points on 8-10 shooting and Miller had 4 points on 2-8 shooting. That didn't quite work out as hoped...but Kobe did keep Miller to 7 points on 3-14 shooting. They did a much better job with Batum in the second half. Of course, he could have just been tired. The Stats: The Action: He missed a sideline three. He went between his legs to avoid a reach, attacked down the middle of the lane and scored a layup. He rumbled his way down the middle of the court and drew FTs in the paint, he made both. He missed a pull-up jumper in transition. He was called for a charge. Second Half: He jumped the passing lane, swiped the ball, pushed it out and finger rolled in a layup with 2 minutes left. He ran down the clock, attacked the open space, pulled up and swished the clutch elbow jumper with 10 seconds left to lead by 4.

Blake -- -- Like I mentioned in the last one, you hope Blake doesn't follow the 9-point game with an 0-1 with no points. Well, he went 0-2 with no Points. He was ineffective against the zone. When he's moving the ball side to side that's not helping. He needs to make the zone pay with his shot or get penetration into the gaps. A ball fake and attack would go a long way in those situations to make him more effective. His play of the game was probably a nice lob to Lamar in the first half off the two-man sequence. More of that, please. The Stats: He didn't score on 0-2 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 board, 4 assists, 1 turnover and no fouls in 18 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: He was hit on a jumper at the end of the quarter with no call (Phil hopped out of his seat fast to gripe at that one). He forced Fernandez into a brick. Sweet lob to Lamar off the two-man sequence. Second Half: He airballed a long three trying to beat the shotclock.

Barnes -- -- The Lakers were playing some comatose ball. Throw in no Bynum, a perimeter-oriented Kobe early on, and the zone -- all of that seemed muddy up the game. "They were beating us to the punch the entire night," Barnes said, "and I had a talk with the bench and I knew that we had to bring that energy." Sure enough, Barnes led by example, sparking the second unit and the crowd. Then he made one of the shots of the game, banking in a halfcourt running heave as the third quarter buzzer went off. "It was just a lucky shot," he said. Lucky, sure...but the Lakers needed it. The Killer B's helped hold the line in their second stint. Barnes caused a number of Blazer turnovers and they sparked a Laker offense that had just 8 points in the first 8 minutes of the third. They stayed even with the Blazers early in the fourth and the starters came in and closed. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 2-6 shooting (1-3 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 17 minutes. He was a -2. The Action: Not close on a runner or pass down the lane. He was held on an attack off the three line, he made both FTs. He missed an open corner three. He missed a jumphook off an offensive board. He jumped the passing lane to swipe the ball and quickly outlet to Shannon for a dunk. He scored a layup when Ron drew a double team and Barnes cut. Second Half: He stripped Batum to ignite a break. He missed a sideline three over the zone. He banked in a halfcourt heave at the third-quarter buzzer (Lakers needed that). He was called for an offensive foul off ball under the hoop. He knocked the ball loose on a double team.

Brown -- -- The runway was cleared for Shannon on a couple of plays tonight. He had one soaring breakaway dunk. The other, however, was an excellent example of working out of the offense. You often see the Lakers handoff the pinch post at the elbows/high post areas. When they fake that handoff and attack from there, however, it's one of those spots in the offense where they can find penetration. Shannon did just that and it led to a throwdown. He's not the savviest of triangle ballers, but the more he has success on those types of sequences, the more you hope. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 3-8 shooting (0-2 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 1 board, 2 steals and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: He swiped the ball, pushed it out and wanted the foul on a missed layup. He faked the handoff, attacked down the middle of the lane with his left, elevated and threw down with his right. He bricked a wing three with the shotclock low. He soared for a slam getting out on the break off the Barnes steal. He missed a three over the zone. Second Half: He missed a chuck from the wing. He scored an And-1 teardrop on the break after taking contact, he made the FT. He missed a layup on the break.

Smith -- -- He came in for the final minute of the first half in place of Lamar to save a foul. He ended up getting blocked from behind on a layup by Andre Miller. It would be nice if Phil could get some more opportunity to run our third stringers. There will be moments in the playoffs he has to go to them for a stretch. The Stats: He didn't score on 0-1 shooting in 1 minute. He was a -3. The Action: He was blocked by Miller on a layup. Second Half: He did not play in the second half.

Caracter -- -- The Lamar/DC lineup got worked on the boards in the first half. That helped erase part of a 9-point Laker lead. Very reminicent of the Josh Powell minutes where the Lakers would struggle badly in controlling the boards. Some of it was DC's fault. Some of it was the team not understanding that they need to rebound as a team when they don't have one of Drew or Pau in there. The Stats: He didn't score or shoot and had 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 3 minutes. He was a -4. The Action: He gave up an offensive board to Camby. He was called for a charge, attacking off a bounce pass. Second Half: He did not play in the second half.

Phil -- -- With no Bynum, Phil slid Lamar back into the PF spot. Defensively, Phil had Fisher on Batum, Kobe on Miller and Artest on Matthews. DFish got torched still... He sat Ron for Barnes when Ron picked up his second foul with 4 minutes left in the first... They led 21-14 when Phil went to Blake for Fisher and Brown for Kobe... Phil was irked about a no call on Blake's jumper and got on the refs... The Lakers led 27-20 after the first quarter... Phil started a Caracter, Lamar, Barnes, Brown, Blake unit... They gave up 3 offensive boards in the first 3 minutes and the Blazers chipped away at the 9-point lead... Phil sat Caracter for Pau and Lamar for Artest with 8:33 left up by 3... Phil called a timeout tied up 35-35 with 6 minutes left. The 9-point lead erased easily without the bigman depth provided by Bynum. Phil went back to his starters... He sat Lamar with 39 seconds left for Smith... A 10-0 run for the Blazers at the end of the quarter... The Lakers were outscored 28-17 in the second quarter... The Lakers trailed 48-44 at the half. The Lakers shot 45 percent (18-40, 2-10 from three, 6-7 from the line). The Blazers shot 43 percent (20-46, 3-11 from three, 5-8 from the line). The Blazers had a 10-6 advantage on the offensive glass and a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points. Batum had 19 points on 8-10 shooting... The coaches wanted everyone to help out on the glass... Fish sat after 2 minutes with 4 fouls and Phil went with Brown on Batum instead... They fell back by 9 with a 5-0 start for the Blazers... The Laker offense continued to sputter... Down 52-61, Phil sat Kobe and Artest to go with the Killer B's with Pau and Lamar... The Killer B's started to spark the offense to life. A Matt Barnes buzzer beater from halfcourt helped, too... The Lakers trailed 66-62 heading into the fourth... Phil started Pau, Artest and the Killer B's... Still down by 4 after 3 minutes and a timeout, Phil then brought in Kobe for Barnes and Lamar for Shannon (ending up with the starters with Blake for Fisher). No Barnes who was providing spark. Kobe missed a brick heave from 30+ feet out of that timeout... With over 6 minutes left down by 6, Phil sat Blake for Fisher, and Kobe missed another 3 out of a timeout... They cut the lead to 2 on three straight shots in the paint. Much better... They tied it up with 2:20 left on a steal and dunk by Kobe... Kobe and Fish down the stretch with a series of clutch makes... The Lakers closed the game with a 14-3 run... The Lakers shot 3-17 from three. "When your three point shooting was as poor as ours was it makes for a long night," Phil said... The Lakers won the points in the paint 54-36 and the break 19-6...

[lounger]

Thanks DB!

[OregonLakerGuy]

Thanks again DB

[Arbitrary]

Thanks DB!

[Arbitrary]

"Just make the damn shot."

http://i.imgur.com/HZJ0K.gif

[DancingBarry]

Someone should tell Charlie Sheen this is what tiger blood and winning looks like when combined.

[Arbitrary]

[babyskyhook]

Thanks DB- on point as always.

[BLP711]

Thanks DB!!

[John O]

[Tanlentueux]

[prisma8slg]

thanks DB. love the hulk references for kobe.
_________________
"I define success by championships, by winning..." Kobe Bryant

"I've seen it all. Sasha dunked on somebody," Kobe Bryant said. "I'm ready to retire now."

[ChefLinda]

[Rick12322]

[Bynum4MVP]

[limchrc]

thanks

[RVCdesigns]

Thanks DB

[Klone_dd]

Fish = 2 layups in last 2 games = 2 Lakers wins. Just sayin'.

[HoumanMD]

Don't have enough posts to start a new topic, but it is def worth mentioning something about kobe's quote of just make the damn shot. Was this a jab at the refs

Last week after kobe got mauled, the ref turned to him and said, just make the shot, when kobe complained about a lack of call.

He obviously hasn't been getting calls, esp in this game. Hopefully this jab at the refs won't get him fined.

[DancingBarry]

[superboy]

[TooMuchMajicBuss]