WARRIORS -at- LAKERS - 10/31 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Purple and Gold Nightmare... The only scarier on the floor than the Warrior's poor play without Steph Curry was their bright orange shoes. The Lakers dominated them, toyed with them, then dominated them some more on way to a 107-83 victory on Halloween.

The Warriors are caught in a recurring purple and gold nightmare. No matter how much size they try to acquire, it's never enough against the Lakers.

The Gasol/Odom combo simply destroyed the Warriors interior. The two combined for 42 points, 26 boards and 8 assists. Their opposition didn't fare so well. An All Star last year, David Lee didn't score and had just 3 rebounds to go with 5 turnovers. Andris Biedrins scored 6 points.

Lamar had the Warriors on their heels with an explosive first quarter that included 11 points, 7 boards and 4 assists. That pushed the Lakers to a 34-14 opening quarter. Lamar is playing some of the best ball we've seen from him in October.

"I'm just being persistent," Odom said, "following up, getting rebounds and trying to make plays, especially when I get an offensive rebound."

And this is the guy that will be going to the bench when Bynum returns. There will be some long nights for Laker opponents this year.


Kobe -- -- He iced down and watched the fourth quarter from the bench. "That means we're taking care of business," Kobe said afterward. This is one of those many games where stat guys will point to the Lakers win-loss record when Kobe takes a low number of attempts (ignoring the possibility that Kobe was sitting because of a blowout). Kobe shot at his usual clip and even forced a few he shouldn't have. Another deceptive stat is Kobe's 2-assist line. He was setting up Pau right and left and it often led to FTs instead of a straight hoop. The Lakers shot 17 more FTs in this game. Defensively, Kobe didn't match up with Ellis. Phil continues to hand off the speedy SG assignment to Artest until Kobe gets his knee healthy. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 8-16 shooting (1-4 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 2 assists, 4 turnovers and 1 foul in 27 minutes. He was a +21. The Action: He sank a 19-footer straight away off the Lamar screen. He missed a pull-up three in transition. Horrible ball-watch and he got back-doored badly (must have been 15 feet from his man). His pass was picked off for a layup the other way. He missed a long fallaway from the wing. He overpowered Ellis on the block for a layup. He missed a baseline jumper off the spin. He blew past Ellis, was smacked on the hand as he reversed (lucky he didn't get a tech with the new rule reacting to that one). He cut of a screen and swished a hanging baseline jumper. He tipped in a Pau miss in traffic. He missed a three out of a timeout. He was stripepd in the post and wanted the call. He was hit on the post entry pass and made both FTs. He popped out behind the screen and sank the wing jumper. He found Pau under the hoop for a layup. He drew the D on the post up and fed Pau again, this time for FTs. He attacked the paint, drew the D and no-looked to Pau for more FTs next trip down. He forced up a pumping fallaway and airballed. He had 14 points on 6-11 shooting. Second Half: Bad lob pass to Lamar, had him open. He missed a short jumper in the lane. He backdoored his man, Pau found him in the middle of the lane and Kobe scored the layup. The screen-roll busted, so Kobe backed it out, lined it up and sank a three straight away. He missed a long wing jumper with the clock low. He was held on the perimeter for FTs, he made one. He switched hands in mid flight but his layup rolled off the rim.

Gasol -- -- The Lakers interior was simply too long and too skilled for the Warriors. They dominated the glass and played head and shoulders above their competition. Pau showed the complete game -- post ups, jumpshots, running the floor and making the right pass. Phil tried to emphasize the importance to his team of taking advantage of the Lakers inside game and getting the ball into the paint. It didn't seem to matter whether the bigs got the ball or not. If they didn't, they were tenacious on the offensive glass when their teammates misfired. The game was over early. Pau just needed to be on the floor to seize the win. The Stats: He scored 26 points on 10-19 shooting (6-9 from the line) to go with 12 boards (5 offensive), 4 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 35 minutes. He was a +33. The Action: He sank an elbow jumper trailing the break. He lost his footing in the post and was blocked. He missed an old-school hook from the left block. He missed the lefty hook, he got it back in the post and scored easily off the glass on the next one. He missed a short jumper in the lane. He missed a jumphook. After Barnes took a long outlet, he hit a trailing Pau for the dunk. Pau threw down a lob dunk from DFish on the next break. He swished a short wing jumper on the next set. He went to the floor on Lee lowering his shoulder and drew a charge. He grabbed a loose ball and took contact as he flipped it in, he missed the FT. He threw an interior pass away for a breakaway dunk. He was hit in the face with no call as he scored a layup off the Kobe pass. He was hammered on a feed from Kobe, he made one FT. Kobe set him up again on a drive and dish, Pau made just one FT again. He had 16 points and 5 boards in the half. Second Half: He missed a short putback, but tapped it back in on the follow. He hit a cutting Kobe for a layup. He tried to spin baseline, was cut off, went the other way and flipped in an And-1 jumphook over his head, he made the FT. He missed a pull-up jumper straight away. Kobe hit him on the interior with a feed again for more FTs, he made both finally. He found Barnes on back-to-back plays for a layup and dunk. He spun to lose Gadzuric and then he reversed in an And-1, he made the FT.

Lamar -- -- He picked up his third straight double-double this season. He did it in the first half (practically the first quarter). He is just balling right now. He's toying with opponents on the glass. Tipping the ball above them, around them and into the hoop. He's yanking down boards with one hand in traffic. Odomination. He buried a couple of threes. The team once again gave him the ball at the end of a quarter for Lamar. Phil spreads the floor and Lamar simply pulls up and knocks down the three on those plays. The Stats: He scored 16 points on 6-9 shooting (2-2 from three, 2-4 from the line) to go with 14 boards (6 offensive), 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a +24. The Action: Easy jumphook in the post to start the game. He drained a wing three in early offense when his man sagged completely off him. He missed a follow jam. Nice effort to tip a board several times before finally recovering it (it led to a Fish jumper). He tipped in a missed drive. He was fouled trying to tip in a Pau miss, he made one FT. He rattled in a pull-up three at the end of the quarter. He had 11 points, 7 boards and 4 assists in the first quarter. He slapped the ball from Lee and dunked on the bust out. He finished the half with 13 points and 10 boards. Second Half: He drew FTs on the offensive glass, he made one. He hit a floater, getting into the paint against the zone.

Artest -- -- With the Laker crowd doing the wave during garbage time, Ron got carried away in the moment and joined in. "I didn't mean to do the wave on the Warriors like that. That seems wrong," he said. Ron was given the task of trying to slow Ellis down for Kobe. Phil would throw a variety of defenders on Monta and he would finish the night with 20 points on 20 shots. Not an ideal match up for Ron, but he managed to work with it. Offensively, Ron seemed to be off balance most of the night on his shot. The result was mostly rim and little else. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-11 shooting (0-4 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 foul in 29 minutes. He was a +27. The Action: He stripped Ellis. He missed a 15-footer. He missed a sideline three. He missed a pull-up three in transition (poor idea). Second Half: He missed a wing three in transition. He missed in the post a few seconds later. Back in the post on the next possession and he earned FTs for his first points, he made both. He saved a break by deflecting a pass off Williams. Crazy fading, long wing jumper over the zone with 10 on the shotclock, he missed it. He missed a shotput layup on a drive. He scored a layup when Blake spotted him on the break. He missed an off-balance FT jumper. He jumped the passing lane, swiped the ball and scored the layup with his left. He missed a three.

Fisher -- -- He connected on all but one of his attempts tonight, his jumper looking as reliable as ever. Despite the poor shooting first game, DFish has made 10-22 shots in his three games. He's averaging 25.7 minutes per game. That's about 90 seconds less per game than last season. Phil might want to chip away on that just a bit more. It seemed like the Warriors didn't attack him probably as much as they should have. Without Curry on the floor tonight, their PG play suffered, of course. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 5-6 shooting (1-1 from three, 3-3 from the line) to go with 1 board, 3 assists, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 25 minutes. He was a +18. The Action: He attacked off the three line, ball faking to freeze a defender and score a layup. He missed a long wing jumper in early offense. He curled off the Lamar screen and hit a pull-up, And-1 jumper from the FT line, he made the FT. He up-faked, attacked and was hit on the jumper in the lane, he made both FTs. He swished a 17-footer on a kickout. He lobbed to Pau for a dunk. He swished a 17-footer off the split play. Second Half: His post entry pass was picked off for a layup on the break. He swished a corner three over the zone.

Blake -- -- Quiet night from Blake. The second unit was handed a Ratliff/Ebanks bigman combo in the first half. Not exactly the inside game to keep things flowing. As a result, they struggled in their first stint. Later, Phil would go to a Pau/Artest combo and the team cruised. While Fish was on target, Blake couldn't connect. He still moved the ball well and played strong D. Phil went to a Shannon/Sasha backcourt combo in garbage time. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 0-3 shooting (0-2 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 2 assists, 3 turnovers and no fouls in 16 minutes. He was a +7. The Action: Excellent challenge on a pull-up jumper, right on top of his man. He missed a long pull-up wing jumper. He got tapped on a wing three. He was stripped in transition. Second Half: He attacked with speed (went too early at the close of the quarter, but drew FTs on the drive, he made both). He hit Ron on the break for a layup. He lost the dribble off his foot while getting ready to fire a pass. He missed a wing three on a kickout.

Barnes -- -- Even though the first unit was dominating, Ron struggled offensively. Barnes wasn't lighting it up, either. But what he does bring that Artest isn't good at is cutting off ball. On nights like that for Ron, Phil might steal some more time for Matt. Barnes reads the action well and gets himself into open spaces around the hoop. There's a lot of that with the Pau/Lamar combo vs. when we go Pau/Bynum. So, even if he isn't hitting his shot, he's still able to be effective and keep the defense honest. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 3-8 shooting (1-3 from three) to go with 6 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 23 minutes. He was a +8. The Action: He was blocked on a runner. He was rejected out of bounds by the help D on a drive. He missed a wing three. He no-looked to trailing Pau for the dunk. Next defensive stand, he stole a pass and it led to a Pau dunk. Second Half: He missed a wing jumper, after attacking off the three line. He was called for a foul on what looked like a good strip, he held his reaction on this one. He battled for an offensive board, pulled it out and then Pau found him a second later for a dunk. Pau found him again cutting weakside for a layup on the next possession. He stripped the ball off his man to save a hoop. He tried to measure a corner three left wide open and couldn't knock it down. Nice challenge on Bell's drive, he then drew a foul getting hit from behind on the loose ball. He sank a wing three off the jumpball tap from Sasha.

Brown -- -- Not a strong game from Shannon with the second unit stumbling out of the gates. In the past, he's been able to really thrive off the attention others get. When the D would collapse, he'd get set up for jumpers. This season, he's starting to create a little more within the system. Tonight, however, that meant he was the only triangle-experienced player on the floor in that first stint for the bench. That makes it very difficult for him to improve on his game within the system. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-6 shooting (0-1 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 22 minutes. He was a +5. The Action: He gave up a dunk to Ellis on his first defensive stand. He attacked the paint and missed the drive, but Lamar tipped it in. He missed a wing three. He charged off the pinch post attack (easy call). He swished a long sideline jumper. Second Half: He took the outlet, went behind his back on the dribble and swished the short fade in the lane. He missed a wing jumper. He drew a clear-path foul busting out between a couple defenders, he made one FT. He was stripped on the break. He missed a wing three.

Ratliff -- -- Phil changed up his rotations slightly again. He put Ratliff and Ebanks on the floor without any of the Laker impact players in the mix. No post player, no impact ballers to run with them, the second unit floundered. That was more of a garbage time lineup than we've seen early in the game. In the second half, Phil opted for Caracter at the C. The post game returned, the offense moved better. The Stats: He didn't score on 0-1 shooting to go with 2 boards, 2 steals and 1 foul in 6 minutes. He was a -8. The Action: He got tapped on a jumphook. Second Half: He did not play in the half.

Vujacic -- -- The odd man out early this season, Sasha got his first minutes late in the second quarter. He came in for Artest who was covering Ellis. Sasha defended him well in the two preseason games, so it seemed likely he would see some time in this one. Later, Sasha would get some garbage time run. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-3 shooting (1-2 from three) to go with 1 board, 1 assist and 1 foul in 8 minutes. He was a -2. The Action: He took the foul to give. Second Half: Poor triangle execution as he led his man right into Caracter from behind as the post entry came and DC was easily stripped. He pulled down an offensive board, pulled it out and missed the baseline jumper. He missed a three straight away. He sank a wing three when Barnes hit him off the pinch post.

Caracter -- -- He came in with 10 seconds left in the third for Pau, and then later closed the game at the C spot. These are the kinds of minutes that are vital to his growth. He can get in there and bang against NBA ballers and get a feel for the speed and strength out there. He held his own and provided the offense with a post game. The offense flowed better for the second unit. The clock is ticking with Bynum and Luke's return. Getting any floor time the rookies can right now is one of the silver linings with the two injuries we have. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-2 shooting to go with 3 boards, 1 block and 2 fouls in 7 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He scored a layup on a step-through move in the paint. He stripped a man under the hoop on help D. He fumbled away a missed FT rebound. He flashed weak to strong, got his man in the air and hit the 12-footer. He was called for a charge, bumping his man to the floor on a pivot.

Ebanks -- -- Devin got his first NBA minutes tonight. Phil tried to sneak him some minutes on the floor with the small PF units. While he didn't get his first NBA hoop yet, he managed his first points by hitting all four FTs he got. He missed some jumpers, but attacked aggressively to get those FTs. Now that he's got his these minutes out of the way, hopefully he can find the comfort zone he played with in the preseason. It sounds like Luke may be back soon, so Phil will have some decisions to make with one of the rooks. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 0-4 shooting (4-4 from the line) to go with 1 board, 1 steal, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 12 minutes. He was a -12. The Action: He missed a baseline jumper on a kickout. Second Half: He missed a wing 15-footer. He attacked with aggression and was hammered, he made both FTs. He fumbled a pass out of bounds. He airballed a 16-footer. He took contact on the break and drew FTs, he made both. He missed a runner.

Phil -- -- He put Artest on Ellis to start the game... The Lakers pulled out to a 11-2 lead to start the game... Up 21-12, Phil brought in Blake and Brown for Fish and Artest... Barnes came in for Kobe a minute later, up 14... Phil then brought in Ratliff for Pau with 37 seconds left... The Lakers led 34-14 after the first. They had 8 offensive boards... To start the second, Phil went with Ratliff, Barnes, Ebanks, Brown and Blake. They were out-scored 11-0 in 4 minutes. The bench had helped extend the lead until Phil went to this lineup... The Lakers scored just 2 points midway through the second quarter, leading 36-27. Very perimeter oriented lineup with no Pau, Lamar, Artest or Kobe to provide a post presence... At that timeout, Phil brought back everyone but Lamar, leaving Barnes out there... Pau restored order with multiple scores after that rotation... Phil sat Artest for Sasha (to match up with Ellis with a minute left)... The Lakers led 56-38 at the half. The starters dominated. Phil somewhat set the bench up for failure and let them try to work their way out of it... Sluggish third quarter by the starters. The Lead was down to 14 when the Laker rotations started with 3 minutes left... The Lakers led 81-64 heading into the fourth... Phil started a Pau, Artest, Barnes, Brown, Blake lineup... The Lakers went on a 12-0 run early in the quarter with this unit to bury the Warriors for good... Up 25, Phil then went with the Caracter, Ebanks, Barnes, Sasha, Brown unit... The Lakers shot 44 percent (39-88). The Warriors shot 41 percent (36-88). The Lakers made 23-30 FTs, the Warriors just 6-13...

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB!!

First.....

[Mel Rose]

Good to see a blowout... Thanks, DB.
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Insert something smart here.

[circlefong]

Thanks DB

[lounger]

Thanks DB! 24 point win.... can't have enough of that.

[isph]

Thanks DB!
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Regardless of what happens, I'm proud to be a Lakers fan...

[OregonLakerGuy]

Well done as usual. Thanks DB

[Texas_Pete]

Thanks DB. My only gripe with LO right now is that he should come into every season in this type of physical condition. When Drew returns he can ease his way back into the line up - especially with the way Pau and LO are playing. Pau is giving us 25/11 every night. Wow. I feel sorry for every frontline in the league. Well, not really.

[markjay]

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

[magic_bryant]

Bynum must start for the toughness factor come playoff time. LA needs that early punch in the mouth that only Bynum can deliver. Teams respect his size in the middle and begin jumpahooting early, putting LA into a nice groove early on D.

But make no mistake, LO is straight balling, which begs the quation, how long til he decides he's done enough and eases his foot off the gas? Unfortunate, too, because when he's rolling, he's a wonderful complement to Pau and Kobe on both O and D.
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Stephon Marbury on Kobe: "He's the only person on 'dis earth that can do 'dat. He guards people, like shuts 'em down. Then, to do 'dat on 'da offensive end. It's like 'Damn, I can't score on him AND he about to bust my ass."

[Bynum4MVP]

[prisma8slg]

Thanks DB!

Odom is in great shape. Playing this summer definitely kept him sharp
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"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."

[RVCdesigns]

Thanks Db, Pau is having an MVP season.

[Addicus]

[All Net]

great as always.

[Klone_dd]

We all knew LO had the skills, but I really think ring #2 and the USA summer has developed more of a killer instinct in him. Especially against small ball teams like GS and Phx. With him playing at such a high level this early, I hope Phil is considering keeping him in the starting lineup when Bynum returns.

When the game became a blow out in the 1st Q, I started flipping channels between the game and AMC's "The Walking Dead." Really no difference between the zombies and GS, except for the fluorescent orange shoes.

[ssiknick833]

Thanks DB.
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[heatseeker08]

[Kareem's Court]

[ClutchShot]

Good to see pau take more shots than kobe

[Sister Golden Hair]

Well, I'm not gonna criticize this team right now. They are in cruise control, and are good enough to be in cruise control save for an ocassional statemnt game throughout the RS. If they stay healthy, this team will be a terror in the post-season.

Blake has already shown why many of us thought he would be an ideal FA pick-up. The dud simply knows how to play basketball, and keeps his ego in check. I've always liked him, and frankly was puzzled that Mitch never went after him when the opportunity presented itself earlier.

barnes is another guy I really like and I can't understand why ghe's so undervalued throughgout the league. Barnes can D up, he can shoot the rock from the arc, and he does some of what Ariza used to do: cut and dive off the ball for easy looks. He's also a decent passer. Now, when Artest needs a break, you put barnes out on the floor and the energy level does not decrease. That's a huge luxury in games where a 7-8 point spurt by the opposition can mean the difference.

Theo is an old pro. I just want him to stay healthy. He still has his timing intact on his swats. Although I loved Congo Cash, the refs gave him no love, which was a pity because I still think Mbenga can play and was sad to see him go.

As for LO: Now many people realize what a lot of his critics -- and I include myself among them for much of his laker tenure -- have been saying about LO's skills as a baller. When the guy is in shape and focused, he's a top 10 player in the world. Period. he can do it all.

Playing for the US this summer had the welcome side benefit of keeping LO in the gym, working on his game, and now we see the difference. His body just looks livelier than it has in recent years. Although he has tended to ratchet up his play in the play-offs, there were the all-too-familiar ocassional stinkers which had many scratching their heads.

But THIS is the LO that I've always felt should be out there night in, and night out -- a dominant player.

Once Bynu comes back, the less wear and tear on both him and LO will be key for the stretch run and into the play-offs.

I love all the attention that the teams in the east are getting because the lakers ARE being overlooked. But watching them some nights -- it's like watching the varsity play against a pick-up group of skins. It's not that they make it look easy, it's just that as a team they are extremely well constructed, and have more versatility 1 through 12 than any other team.

Man, are they fun to watch. The ball zips around. Guys are making their reads. The ball finds the hole.

They will undoubtedly have their dog days, but hopefully the infusion of the new bench guys, plus Shannon's upgraded game, will be enoug to overcome the ocassional lethargy.

I get a very good vibe from this group.

SGH

[dcarter4kobe]

How did Artest do on Ellis?
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"He's a Zen master, so he can speak to you, and he doesn't need a microphone; you can hear him in your head, 'Ron, don't shoot, don't shoot.' Whatever, pow, three. I love the Zen, though."

[Omar Little]

[babyskyhook]