BOBCATS -at- LAKERS - 3/4 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Just Winning... And I don't mean in the Charlie Sheen "winning" sense. The foundation of the Laker winning of late has been built on rock solid D.

Last time the Lakers ran into this Bobcat team they got thumped by Gerald Wallace and Nazr Mohammed. Since then, both have been shipped off to other destinations.

With that, the Lakers controlled their bizarro nemesis from start to finish. They didn't run away with the game, but it never felt in doubt during the Lakers 92-84 victory.

Andrew Bynum dominated the paint on defense with 17 boards and 6 blocks. The Lakers had a season-high 12 blocked shots, 5 of which came from Bynum during the third quarter.

"He's doing a great job," Kobe said. "After the All Star break, he's doing a hell of a job for us defensively, rebounding the ball -- we couldn't ask him to do any more."

It was a physical game and the Lakers didn't come away without injuries. Ironman Derek Fisher sprained his elbow in a battle on the boards with Kwame and had his game cut short.

This was also supposed to be the return of Matt Barnes. During the pre-game warm-ups, however, he re-tweaked his injured knee.

"He just overstretched, maybe hyperextended," Phil speculated afterward.

Tough breaks with a tough stretch of games ahead.


Kobe -- -- Lately, he has opened games trying to punch opponents in the mouth. He's been aggressive, yet very cold, but they are taking that challenge that coaches said of getting after it from the start. "We won with our attitude because we were aggressive," Kobe said. "Even though we didn't shoot the ball particularly well, we were very aggressive and I think that set the tone on both ends of the floor. We were going to attack them. We weren't going to sit back passively defensively or offensively. We were going to go after them." Kobe never really got on track tonight, even though he was very aggressive. He worked the low post with more purpose from the start in this game. Unfortunately, we didn't mix in as many post touches to our bigs in the process and Kobe was shooting a poor percentage. The Lakers offense struggled to get on track. Thankfully, the team was playing D and seemed to welcome the grind-it-out, ugly, physical, Artest-like ball. "We got the job done, that's what's important," Phil said. He also added that if the team played this poorly offensively, they wouldn't win the next one. The Stats: He scored 27 points on 10-25 shooting (2-5 from three, 5-6 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 3 assists, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 31 minutes. He was a +14. The Action: He back-rimmed a short turnaround in the post. He missed a step-back wing jumper trying to beat the shotclock. He missed an easy jumphook in the low post. He sank a rise-up wing jumper. He scored a layup off the Blake steal. He missed a three long. He then missed a 22-footer, short, on the same possession when we got it back. He found Pau wide open for a dunk. He missed a layup on the step-through and wanted the foul. He attacked and kicked to Ron for the three. He was hit on the arm on a bank in the low post and missed. He scored a layup on some inside-out footwork to get around a man after he and Lamar caused a turnover with a sideline trap. He sank a turnaround off a head-and-shoulder fake with the shotclock low. Low post position and he hit the easy turnaround fade in the lane. He missed a short turnaround in the post. He was called for an offensive foul getting tangled up trying to get back in the post. He missed a short jumper, Drew got it back to him and Kobe earned FTs, he made both. Quick baseline spin and he scored a layup. He was blocked by Livingston in the post. He attacked, spun between a double and was tripped for FTs, he made both. He had 16 points on 6-17 shooting. Second Half: He missed an open elbow jumper. He lobbed to Drew for the throwdown. His bounce pass was swiped. He crossed over and airballed in the lane trying to beat the shotclock. He sank a wing three. He fumbled a pass away out of a timeout. He hit Drew on the screen-roll to the hoop for FTs. He missed a pull-up three. He spun on the dribble and powered up a bank in a crowd. He sank a sideline three on the next possession. Out of control on a drive and he earned FTs, he made one. He banked from the right block on a two-for-one possession. He had 11 points on 4-8 shooting in the third.

Gasol -- -- Is there even a discussion anymore about whether Gasol and Bynum can coexist? This used to be an argument prior to this season. The two haven't been able to stay on the floor together a whole lot since Pau arrived here making that chemistry tough to come by. Last season, they showed the ability to put up big numbers together before Drew went down. Tonight, they combined for 29 points, 27 boards and 8 blocks. Pau's perimeter game has improved as a weapon, allowing him to pull his man out of the lane more and helping space the floor in general. We could have worked Drew in the post more, but Kobe seemed to fill that role tonight. Neither Pau nor Drew were particularly aggressive about going after it in the post. He closed the game with the bench while Drew rested and Kobe iced the knees. The D took a hit, but the Lakers maintained control all quarter. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 8-14 shooting (4-4 from the line) to go with 10 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 4 fouls in 39 minutes. He was a +7. The Action: He swished a turnaround from 12 feet out for the Lakers first score. He missed a wide open Kobe under the hoop, then bricked a face-up jumper. He scored a layup on the break off the Bynum swat. He hit Kobe on the break for a layup. He was left alone under the hoop in early offense and Kobe found him for a dunk. He drained a 17-footer. He pushed up the break and no-looked to Shannon for the dunk. He missed a fading turnaround from the post. He was fouled on the drive and dish from Luke, he made both FTs. He had 10 points on 4-6 shooting. Second Half: He missed a long baseline jumper. He was fouled under the hoop with a second left on the shotclock, he made both. He was left wide open behind a Bynum screen and swished the baseline jumper. He sank a face-up wing jumper. He thought he was fouled on a short jumper that he missed. He scored easily off the Luke interior feed. He missed a runner out of a timeout. He worked the post for a lefty jumphook with the shotclock about to expire. Flat-footed defensively and he let a man score a layup right next to him.

Bynum -- -- Drew was in beast mode on D. He had 13 boards in the first half and was dominating the paint, challenging everything in the area. Of course, he didn't get the ball offensively unless he grabbed a Laker miss. He didn't seem to really want to get after it in the post, unlike last time when these two teams met. Regardless, there were stretches where this team was on his shoulders as he anchored the D. In the third quarter, he had 5 rejections. That was as dominating a stretch defensively as you'll see. He was erasing mistakes and lax effort by others and did it without drawing fouls. Sensational defense. Love it. "Just anchoring the defense," Bynum said. "That's my biggest job on the team right now." He didn't play in the fourth or he would have easily had the double-double and 20 boards. "I'm impressed," Phil said of Bynum's game. Phil wisely conserved Drew's legs. It seems like he'll have a great game like this, then follow that up with a much less active game because of the knees. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 3-4 shooting (3-4 from the line) to go wtih 17 boards (5 offensive), 1 steal, 6 blocks, 1 turnover and no fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +13. The Action: Nice help on the perimeter to force a turnover on the two-man D. He swatted Kwame's drive to ignite a break. He cleaned up Artest's dribble penetration with an easy putback. He was stripped on a screen-roll. He hit the floor for a loose ball. He slammed back in a Kobe miss. His offensive board led to Kobe FTs. He had 4 points on just 2-3 shooting (both makes on putbacks) and 13 boards. Second Half: He blocked a fade in the paint. He threw down a lob from Kobe on the other end, spinning backdoor. Another denial on a guard penetration to get a stop. He was hacked on an interior feed from Pau to draw FTs on the next possession, he made both. He pulled down an Artest brick and it led to a Kobe three. Another great challenge, but no one helped on Kwame. He forced a guard into an airball on a challenge on the perimeter. He drew FTs on the screen-roll pass from Kobe, he made one. He rejected guard penetration, timing the drive and swatting it perfectly off the glass. He threw an outlet away at the end of the third. He had 5 points, 4 boards and 5 blocks in the third.

Artest -- -- "He's got a strained left Artest, I mean left hamstring," Stu said of Captain Jack sitting late in the third with an "injury." That was probably an accurate description. Once again, Ron hounded an opponent into a poor game. Jackson scored 8 points on 3-10 shooting with 4 turnovers. He was a frustrated -18. When Artest can take out the opponent's leading scorer and Drew is controlling the rest of the floor, teams won't beat the Lakers. The Stats: He scored 11 points on 3-10 shooting (1-3 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 foul in 27 minutes. He was a +14. The Action: He missed an open wing three. He overpowered his man off the pinch-post drive, missed the layup, but scored the easy follow. He scooped up the loose ball on some great two-man D with Drew and took it the distance for the layup. He hit Pau on the break for a layup. He drained a wing three on a Kobe kickout. Nice drive to draw the D, he airballed the layup in traffic, but Drew gladly cleaned it up. He missed a three badly. He had 7 points on 3-7 shooting. Second Half: He stripped SJax and drew FTs rumbling on the breakaway to the other end, he made both. He bricked a turnaround from the elbow. SJax stepped on the line for a turnover and then also rushed a shot with Ron all over him. He drew FTs on Jackson on the baseline, he made both. He forced an early offense jumper with no one else down court and missed. He looked hacked in the paint with no call.

Fisher -- -- With 476 straight games played, DFish's streak is on the line. He had his arm yanked backward by Kwame (who received boo's from Staples) while the two went for a rebound. Fish screamed as it happened and went to the floor. It didn't look good. Unfortunately for Fish and the Lakers it was also his shooting arm. The Lakers ironman won't be sidelined easily. "I think he'll be ready. He's strong as an ox," Phil said. Let's hope. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-6 shooting (0-2 from three) to go with 2 boards, 2 assists and 3 fouls in 18 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He fell asleep in transition and gave up a layup. He picked up 2 fouls after 4 minutes and had to sit. He missed a baseline jumepr with the shotclock low. He drained a long toe-on-the-three-line jumper out of a timeout. He missed an open sideline three. Second Half: He missed a long wing jumper. He missed a sideline three.

Lamar -- -- He's been doing a great job of stepping in for charges lately. Something in this team seemed to click in regards to drawing charges, Lamar in particular. He drew two more tonight. If you've got Bynum stepping up with the fly swatting and shot challenging, while Lamar is now erasing drives with the charges, that's a beautiful trend. It elevates the team's game. Lamar struggled a bit with his shot, but still delivered the double-double off the bench and helped the Lakers keep Kobe and Bynum on the bench in the fourth. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-12 shooting (1-4 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 11 boards (3 offensive), 4 assists, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a -4. The Action: Not close on a wide open three that he didn't want to shoot. Next possession, he probed to his right, stretched out with his left and scored the layup. He and Kobe trapped on the sideline to force a Bobcat turnover. He attacked and missed a layup off two long strides. He was blocked on a jumphook. He slammed back in a missed Blake layup. Nice challenge on SJax on the break to force a miss. Second Half: He missed a jumper. He missed another pull-up jumper short. He sank a step-back baseline jumper. He attacked strong to his left, took contact and banked in the And-1, he made the FT. He drew a charge under the hoop. He missed a wing three. He stepped in to erase another drive with a charge, well done. He drained a wing three to shut the door on the Cats. He missed a wing three with 24 seconds left.

Blake -- -- He was misfiring from three, but at least he was shooting, I suppose. Odd game from Blake. He'd make a mistake or miscue on one end and seem to either get the ball back or make up for it a play later on the other end. While he shot poorly, he had 2 steals and 1 block defensively. Not sure if it was quite Even Steven out there, but it seemed like it at times. He got some extra run in this game when Fisher picked up foul trouble early on, then got injured later. It seems doubtful that Fish will let his ironman streak get broken, but Blake may need to get ready for some extended PT. Maybe that shake up will help him. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-7 shooting (1-6 from three) to go with 1 board, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 31 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He stripped Kobe's man to ignite a breakaway score. He missed a three trailing the break. He got it back on the other end drawing an offensive foul on a Bobcat. He missed a layup he should have had easily (Lamar slammed it back in). He missed a forced jumper, probably his first forced jumper in a couple months. Second Half: He swiped a pass in the backcourt. His flat corner three, rattled out. Horrible sequence: bad pass off the dribble on the perimeter, he then watched Shannon block a shot without getting back, when he did see that, he then hurried back to give up the And-1 foul. He drained a wing three shortly later for some redemption. He missed a wing three, got it back and missed again. He stood in and drew a charge a few seconds later to get the ball back.

Brown -- -- Poor first stint defensively, gambling and losing on a couple plays and giving up a putback dunk by ball watching on another. That kind of sucked the life out of a dominating start for the Lakers. Offensively, he couldn't hit from three, but did manage a few points at the rim. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-8 shooting (0-4 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover and no fouls in 21 minutes. He was a -8. The Action: He gambled and lost on a steal attempt, Bobcat score. He ball-watched and his man threw down a putback jam. He hit rim on a one-handed chuck from three at the buzzer. He missed a wing three. He missed a three next time down on a kickout. He threw down when Pau no-looked a pass to him on the break. He couldn't handle a pass on the break next time down and lost it out of bounds. Another gamble in the post and he came up empty to give up another score. Second Half: He drew FTs taking a contact on the break, he made both. Nice cross-over, but he couldn't finish at the rim. He attacked into a crowd, somehow came out the other side and scored a layup. He missed a three on the break. He scored off the backdoor wing lob play.

Walton -- -- Most Laker fans were expecting Barnes to make an appearance, but Luke was the first in. That made you look over the bench and notice that Barnes wasn't suited up after warming up. With Ebanks down with the stress fracture and Barnes in limbo, Luke will continue to fill in. And so it goes. The Stats: He didn't score on 0-3 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 2 boards, 2 assists and 1 foul in 17 minutes. He was a -4. The Action: Great Tri footwork on a drive from the elbow to draw the D and set up Pau for FTs. Second Half: He missed a wing jumper. He hit Shannon off the wing lob play. He missed a sideline three. Next possession, he bricked from the baseline in early offense.

Phil -- -- He sat Fish after 4 minutes with two fouls... Four minutes later, he sat Pau for Lamar... The Lakers forced a timeout after pushing out to the 21-12 lead... The Lakers led 29-19 after the first (some poor D by Shannon or it would have been a bigger lead)... Phil started a Pau, Lamar, Luke, Brown, Blake unit... They led by 10 when Kobe sat Lamar, Shannon and Blake for Bynum, Kobe and Fisher... Neither team could put the ball in the hoop on a 16-16 quarter. A lot of Kobe in the post, but little Bynum or Pau... The Lakers led 45-35 at the half. The Lakers shot 39 percent (19-49, 1-11 from three, 6-6 from the line). They had 9 offensive boards. The Bobcats shot 34 percent (16-47, 0-5 from three, 3-3 from the line)... They extended to a 17-point lead, Drew locking down on D... Too many lax possession or defensive stands by anyone not named Bynum and the lead was trimmed down. Bynum held the line with 5 blocks... The Lakers led 69-57 heading into the fourth... Phil started a Pau, Lamar, Luke, Brown, Blake unit again. This unit looked ripe to give up a lead with their D, but held the line... Phil let this lineup run longer than normal, trying to see if they would finish out the game. They kept it together... As mentioned, no Barnes because of the pre-game injury. "It would have been a good opportunity for him to figure in," Phil said of that fourth quarter... Stat-wise, not a lot of differences in this game except from a couple of areas. One of the key stats: The Lakers scored 10 more points from the line...

[Bonzoid]

I think this is great it will give Blake a time to blend with the guys and
other injuries just will screw up the scouting of other teams

[dcarter4kobe]

First
_________________
"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."

[Paillard]

Not First.

DB, thanks as always for the most insightful game summaries in the business.

[Bonzoid]

[Texas_Pete]

Thanks DB. Bring on the Spurs!

[lounger]

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

I think Blake will snap out of his shooting streak and the Laker offense will come back around come April, May and June.

Fantastic game from Drew - wow.


AND THANKS AGAIN DB!!!

[Vicky T]

thanks
_________________
Macho Men:
http://tinyurl.com/2ajhhov

[ElginBaylor]

DB in with the Vonnegutian "and so it goes"
_________________
Not a legend

[Arbitrary]

Thanks DB!

[limchrc]

thanks

[RVCdesigns]

Great win, thanks DB. Bynum on a mean streak at the moment!

[babyskyhook]