NUGGETS -at- LAKERS - 5/21 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Home Court Advantage Gone... In the final minute of the first game against the Nuggets, the Lakers took a key possession winning a jumpball. They would have that opportunity again in this game. They had the possession in their hands, but it quickly slipped from their fingers.

Nevermind Ariza getting bumped with no call and losing the ball. Nevermind the clear violation by J.R. Smith running across the circle before the ball was tipped. The Lakers should have never been in this situation.

There would be no late-game heroics for the Lakers in another down-to-the-wire contest against the Nuggets. This time the Lakers fell 106-103. The Nuggets came to L.A. and got what they wanted, the split and home court advantage. These two games have been reduced to up-for-grab contests in the final minute. That's exactly what the Nuggets wanted. Now, it's up to the Lakers to return the favor.

"They play with a different level on their home court. We're going to have to be prepared for that," Phil said.

Everything that frustrates Laker fans about this team was on display tonight. They gave up a sizeable, 14-point first half lead with soft play to finish the half. Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic built brick houses together. Andrew Bynum played like a zombie on the defensive end, getting benched and losing trust from Phil...and never returning. Phil rested Kobe long in the first half, then went to a lineup early in the fourth that had just one impact player on the floor.

You can get away with some these mistakes during the regular season, but during the Western Conference Finals you have to maintain your focus and effort. You have to play your best players. The Lakers will have to bring it in Denver.

"We're not the best road team in the NBA for no reason," Kobe said.


Kobe -- -- Kobe was destroying the Nuggets early. His defenders had 6 fouls in the first quarter. Down the stretch, the Nuggets again put Carmelo Anthony on Kobe, taking away the post up. He drained a couple of huge threes over him, but wasn't able to get into the lane. He wasn't able to get the ball in some sequences, giving it up to others and this led to some poor execution down the stretch. Out of one timeout with 2 minutes left, he didn't even get the ball. Instead, Fisher had to hoist up a three to beat the shotclock. That's not playing to your strengths. Kobe also played just 39 minutes in this game. He got 4 fouls early in the fourth, but it didn't affect Phil's decision to play him according to Phil. He took Kobe out in that early fourth quarter to give Kobe a "mental break." What? How about the 7 minutes on the pine in the second quarter? Did we not rest him enough then? Poor management of Kobe's minutes by Phil. After getting him the early rest, he should have ran Kobe with Pau to start the fourth and keep two impact players on the floor. Defensively, there's a play Kobe would love to have those two points back. He turned his back to Billups on the inbounds (wasn't even squaring up to defend the lane...I can hear Stu now). Billups bounced the ball off Kobe's back, stepped inbounds, grabbed it and scored a layup. The Stats: He scored 32 points on 10-20 shooting (2-4 from three, 10-10 from the line) tog with 5 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 39 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He sank a turnaround jumper from the wing with the shtoclock low. He picked up two fouls on Jones posting him up on one offensive set. He missed a pull-up three in transition. He pushed out the break and picked up Jones's fourth foul in the first quarter with an And-1 layup, he made the FT. He missed a layup in transition, but Pau cleaned it up easily. He made a tech FT. He posted up Smith and drew FTs, he made both. He attacked with speed in the offensive zone and banked eaisly. He missed a point-blank layup over Smith in the post. He scored a layup off an offensive board. He picked up FTs on a pull-up jumper over Smith (his second foul of the first), he made both. He sank a baseline turnaround. He posted up Carter, easy layup at the front of the rim. Early offense attack and he drew FTs, he made both. He missed a rushed baseline jumper after catching a tough pass. He missed a wing jumper. He turned his back to Billups on the inbounds, Billups threw it off him, grabbed it and scored a layup. He had 18 points on 5-10 shooting in just 15 minutes. Second Half: He attacked, missed a layup, got it back and hit the turnaround in the lane. He airballed a heave at three trying to beat the shotclock (great between-the-legs pass attempt by Pau for the Lakers to even get that shot off). Excellent 60-foot feed to Ariza over defenders for the And-1. Quick first step on the baseline past Andersen to jam. He drew FTs fighting for position against Melo, he made both. He missed a long wing pull-up jumper. He charged on a pass off, looked like the defender might have still been moving. He didn't match up quickly on Billups after a deadball and it led to FTs. Phil subbed him out after this early in the fourth. He missed a turnaround over Melo (needs to go around him). He drained a three on the next possession down by 7 (Melo tapping him on the head before the shot, Kobe should where purple face paint for all the times he gets hit in the head). He got hit on a spin, lost the ball with no call and then missed a turnaround. He faced up and drained a wing three to tie it with 2 minutes left. He tied the game up with 45 seconds left on a pull up from the wing while working off the high screen (this is how they need to attack Melo's D, on the move). His lost a dribble trying to split a double with 20 seconds left, Pau went to the floor to get a jumpball with 18 seconds left.

Gasol -- -- Pau was battling out there. He had some sloppy sequences and turnovers, but he was fighting. He worked on the glass and cleaned up mistakes by others. He had a few nice post sequences, particularly against Andersen. He just needs more help out there imposing our size advantage on the Nuggets. He had a very efficient 17 points. The Lakers won the points in the paint battle 52-38. They won the fastbreak 10-5. But the team lost the offensive glass 14-13. Pau needs more help down there. Nuggets are getting no inside game, but they are still playing big at times. Everyone needs to board. A few more one-and-out sequences and the Lakers take this game. The Stats: He scored 17 points on 5-8 shooting (7-10 from the line) to go with 17 boards (5 offensive), 3 assists, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers and 4 fouls in 44 minutes. He was a -4. The Action: He was called for three seconds away from the ball when Bynum was posting up. He was the last man back in transition D when the Nuggets got several misses before putting it in. He cleaned up a Fisher drive with the putback. He blocked Melo's three on a closeout on one end, then scored a putback on the other. He attacked off the dribble and missed a layup, but LO cleaned it up easily. He was stripped, then fouled a Nugget. He lost Andersen with a baseline spin and dunk. He kept an offensive board alive to Kobe for a layup. He missed a turnaround over Martin. He had 6 points on 3-5 shooting and 9 boards. Second Half: He threw a kickout away. He spun on Anderson for another layup. He crashed the glass on a Fisher drive and drew FTs, he made both. He dunked off the drive and high feed from Luke. He fumbled away an offensive board bringing it down instead of trying to finish up high. He attacked Andersen to start the fourth and drew FTs, he made one. He fumbled a post-up away. He drew FTs getting tied up in the post, he made both. He attacked and Nene tried to draw a charge, but Bavetta didn't bite calling the block instead, Pau missed both with under 5 minutes left. He was fouled with 8 seconds left, he made the first (screaming at it to fall in), then swished the second. He tried to hold ground on Nene on that screen for Fish, but Nene shoved him aside and challenged DFish well.

Bynum -- -- Not rebounding, not imposing himself defensively. Very slow-footed out of the gates in the second half. Drew got benched by Phil after a few minutes of that half and never returned. Should he have been benched? Not the whole half. Should he have had someone in his face, getting on him for the lack of defensive intensity? You bet. He let his team down, gave Phil an excuse to shelve him and the Lakers paid the price. Just 2 rebounds for Drew. You have to impose your size on both ends, Bynum. Both ends. We lost our size advantage because of this. Rewind the game tape of the first few minutes of the second half and look at your effort. That won't get it done at all. You gave Phil an excuse to bench you and he ran with it. Don't give him an excuse. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 4-8 shooting, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 foul in 14 minutes. He was a +6. The Action: He dunked off the Ariza drive and dish. He took a pass over the fronting defender and drew FTs at the rim by the help defender, he made one. He stole a ball on one end, then missed a turnaround jumper short. He missed a drive to his left. He scored a layup off the interior feed from Luke. He swiped a loose ball, but was tied up on the drive. He was left alone under the hoop and threw down an And-1 dunk on Nene, he missed the FT. He missed a turnaround 10-footer. He had 9 points on 4-8 shooting (1-3 from the line) and just 2 boards. Second Half: Very slow-footed on several defensive stands. Phil benched him after a few minutes.

Ariza -- -- Midway through the third quarter, Trevor had a huge throwdown that seemed to put the buzz back in Staples. He hit the floor hard on another attack seconds later getting yanked down by Kenyon Martin. He landed on his hip and even though he played through it, he was grimacing in pain while on the bench later in the fourth. Scrappy game from Trevor despite Melo scoring 34 points. The Lakers wasted his efficient offensive production. Defensively, he needs to make sure he doesn't give any space to Melo. Our defensive schemes are designed for Melo to attack off the dribble into traps. If he shoots a jumper over you, you aren't using your help D. On the defensive glass, Trevor has a load. He's just got to keep battling and keep Melo from good position. Trevor had a team-leading -10. His +/- suffered from two key stints. That opening fourth quarter with the bad lineup, and when the Lakers went soft to close the half. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 6-7 shooting (6-8 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 2 assists, 4 steals, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 33 minutes. The Action: He attacked off the three line and bounced it to Bynum for the throwdown. He was stripped in the paint. He drained a wing three when his man sagged off him and Kobe found him. Horrible angle pass trying to hit Bynum on a post entry across court, ball went out of bounds. He attacked off the three line, sliced under the hoop and flipped in an And-1 lefty layup high off the glass, he made the FT. He stripped Melo on our zone trap. He dunked right after re-entering the game. Second Half: He was fouled on the break to start the half, he made one. He swisehd a baseline three on a kickout. Poor close on Melo on the other end for an easy jumper. He attacked with the shotclock low and couldn't get a shot off. He attacked off the three line, rose up and posterized (crowd buzzing). He tried to do it again next time down and was close-lined on the arm by Martin and landed hard on his hip, he made both FTs. He scored an And-1 layup on the leak out when Kobe spotted him, he made the FT. He swiped a pass, but unfortunately gave it to Fisher on the break. Back in, he stripped Melo from behind and drew FTs on the break, he made one with 3:42 left, down by 1. He missed a floater on drive. He stole the ball in the paint with a minute left. He gathered a jumpball but was knocked down and threw it away with no call and 14 seconds left (J.R. Smith ran right through the lane before the play and there was no violation call, either).

Fisher -- -- Phil defended Fisher's attacking the paint as Derek trying to draw a foul on Nene and get him sent to the bench. (Nice question by emplay.) This was late in the third when Fish started to go to the rim and missed a series of layups. Phil sat him for Brown, but it was in his usual rotations, not a benching. That was another of those rally-killing stretches. Combine that with the 1-9 overall shooting. Ouch. Defensively, the Lakers are holding the line with Fish in there, but we have a lot of cross-matches on the floor with Kobe floating to different defenders. His offense, however, just killed them tonight. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-9 shooting (1-5 from three) to go with 1 board, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers and 5 fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +2. The Action: He missed a three with the shotclock low after he stalled the offense. He attacked and missed a layup, but Pau cleaned it up with ease. He hit Kobe on the break for the And-1 layup. Nice look, spotting Bynum alone under the hoop from midcourt and he hit him for the And-1. Second Half: He fought for a defensive board, pushed it out and hit a pull-up three. He missed a three next time down. He bricked a layup on the break. He was swatted on another drive, led to a three the other way. Another drive, another brick, thankfully Pau got to this one. He threw a pass away trying to rush it to Pau on a ball reverse. He missed a long three with the shotclock low out of a timeout. He took a pass in the corner and airballed a three at the buzzer trying to heave it over Nene, tough shot.

Lamar -- -- Lamar did an excellent job on the offensive glass. It wouldn't surprise me if Phil once again changed up the starting lineup and put Lamar back. He's quick with the hook with Bynum and he was getting the kinds of boards that Drew should have been working for. The Lakers are getting limited offense from Lamar. We have yet to see him in the post or how the Nuggets would react to that. We have yet to see him try to work off the dribble and create with some space on iso. If he can collapse the D, his passing can open things up. Defensively, should LO be on Melo? I don't think the Lakers can afford to do that in the first half because of foul issues. In the second half, you could get some minutes that way, but LO will still have to play our defensive schemes, which would mean crowding Melo on the perimeter and relying on help D. You'd also have to do this with our big lineup, with LO at the SF spot...something we have yet to see. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 4-9 shooting (0-1 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 9 boards (5 offensive), 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 5 fouls in 30 minutes. He had a +/- of 0. The Action: He threw down a missed drive by Pau. Poor help D getting caught in no-man's land and giving up a dunk to Kenyon. He missed a 17-footer. He missed a reverse, got it back and hit the jumphook. He dunked off the two-man game with Farmar. He missed a three badly. He choked a point-blank layup. He sank an open wing jumper. He had 8 points on 4-8 shooting. Second Half: He got tapped on a long corner jumper. He swatted Melo's drive, but fouled him on the second attempt. He drew FTs on the offensive glass, he made both. He swiped a pass on the other end in our weakside zone, excellent anticipation.

Luke -- -- Mixed game from Luke. He'd make some great plays, then make some great mistakes. Such is Luke. He did a good job drawing defenders and hitting our bigmen. Seems like we aren't getting that enough from others. When things go well for the Lakers, they get into the paint and make that extra pass. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-3 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 2 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 18 minutes. He was a +2. The Action: He missed an open corner three. Excellent D staying on his man when Lamar took a cutter and Luke picked off the kickout pass. He was giving up offensive boards to Kleiza and a couple threes while helping on others. Nice interior feed to Bynum for a layup. He threw a behind-the-back pass away. Second Half: He attacked down the lane and threw a high entry to Pau for the dunk. He posted up, spun and scored a layup. He threw a pass away, Pau wasn't set up yet, and it went right over him. He got hit on a leaner with no call trying to beat the shotclock, he hit rim and we got it back. He gave up FTs away from the ball to Melo.

Brown -- -- You've got to keep playing him instead of Sasha. We're just getting no production from Sasha and are wasting minutes. Shannon seems to find a way to get points...but more importantly, he's still knocking down the three ball. Can't say the same for Sasha. Defensively, Shannon has his hands full against Billups. Billups does seem to get more aggressive as soon as Shannon gets in the game. The Lakers have to be on top of their two-man game to hold the line. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-8 shooting (1-1 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist and 2 fouls in 16 minutes. He was a -3. The Action: He sank a floater on a dive down the lane. He scored a layup off the sweet no-looker from Farmar. Second Half: He missed a drive down the lane, got it back and missed again under the hoop. He airballed a jumper at the end of the third. He sank a big corner three with 7:40 left. He missed a floater in early offense but kept it alive to Lamar for FTs. He attacked down the lane, hung and drew FTs, just missing an And-1, he finally missed a FT on his first attempt, made the second one.

Vujacic -- -- "He looked like he was looking for his own shots rather than moving the ball and doing the right thing," Phil said. He's spot on. Phil had enough and didn't play him in the second half. He should go a step further and bench him for Brown to start the next one. We're getting nothing from Sasha, why keep going to him? Horrible minutes. If you look at how not to build on a lead, Sasha's bricking from the perimeter is one of the keys. You can't step on a team's neck when you are chucking and bricking from the perimeter. The Lakers had an opportunity to stretch their lead but Sasha limited their run. Denver thanks him. The Stats: He was 0-4 (0-1 from three) to go with 1 board and 1 foul. He was a +3. The Action: He wasn't close on a three in transition, too long. Bogus foul when he swatted Billups on a jumper. He got tapped on a wing jumper at the first quarter buzzer. Bad force of a wing three and he was blocked. He bricked a wing pull-up jumper on the next possession. He was 0-4 in the half. Second Half: He did not play.

Farmar -- -- Finding minutes. Again, this is the issue for Farmar in this series. He got minutes to start the fourth defensively against Smith. One of the rare times we might see him on the floor with Billups out there, but good to see Phil trying to get some minutes in a little more creatively. Some nice passing and effective moments on the floor for Farmar despite only playing 5 minutes. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-1 shooting, had 1 board, 3 assists and 1 foul in 5 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: He set up Lamar for a dunk off the bounce pass. He whipped a no-look feed under the hoop to Brown for the layup, sweet pass, great read. He took the post handoff from Luke and scored a layup. Second Half: He forced Smith into a challenged jumper.


Phil -- -- Phil gave away his size advantage in this game. The Lakers looked to feed Bynum early in this game. They were getting into their offensive sets too slowly, however, which caused some weak offensive sequences... The Lakers led 23-16 with 3 minutes left in the quarter, despite having 5 turnovers. Phil brought in Luke and Sasha for Ariza and Fisher. Should have brought in Brown instead of Sasha... The Lakers led 31-23 after the first quarter... Phl started a Pau, Lamar, Luke, Sasha, Brown lineup... He benched Sasha for Farmar (Sasha continuing to brick and take bad shots, too)... The Lakers extended to a 41-27 lead with Farmar setting the table for a couple easy ones... Long, long rest for Kobe. Too long, perhaps. He finally brought him back in after 7 minutes... The Nuggets went on a 12-0 run in the final couple minutes of the half when the Lakers got lazy on both ends. Complete collapse, losing all their lead... The Lakers led 55-54 at the half. The Nuggets had an 8-6 advantage on the offensive glass. The Lakers shot 49 percent, the Nuggets shot 42 percent... Phil told the team they let the air out of the building with their poor close of the half... Phil subbed out Bynum after 5 minutes because he was sleep walking on D. No hustle, no bounce in his step... Fisher missed a series of layups late in the third. Thankfully, it came at our rotations and Phil sat him for Brown... The Lakers had pushed out to another lead in the third only to be reeled back in again. They led 81-80 going into the fourth... Phil said they have to pack it in and keep Billups out of the lane... Phil started Farmar in the fourth and he covered Smith... Phil quickly sat Kobe and went with a Pau, Luke, Ariza, Brown, Farmar lineup. What is this? Only one impact player on the floor. The Nuggets pulled out to a 5-point lead... "I thought he needed a little mental break," Phil said of resting Kobe at that juncture despite the rest he got earlier... He then went with Pau, Lamar, Luke, Kobe and Brown... Out of a timeout with 2 minutes to go, the Lakers offense stalled and Fisher chucked and missed a long three. Horrible execution, trailing by two. You have to get something better than that... Down 3 with 4.3 seconds left, Phil called a timeout. Fish got the ball in the corner but had to shoot over Nene and came up short at the buzzer. Phil said he throught the Nuggets would foul Kobe and make him shoot two freethrows, like we did to them in the last one... The Lakers got out-rebounded 14-13 on the offensive glass. That cost them on several key defensive stands...

Game Flow -- LINK -- Look at the lineup Phil had in early in the fourth. The only impact player the Lakers had on the floor was Pau. That's a critical mistake. The Nuggets had a key 11-2 run. He then brought back in his impact players and the Lakers went on a 9-0 run. You can't have just one of your four impact players on the flour at any time in a close game.

[HisAirness24]

Thanks. Disappointing loss, could have had it, but I think we're OK.
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John 14:6 - "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

[AJLakerFan]

first

second!

[Vishnu]

3rd

[LakersFan_73]

Soooooooooooooooooooo disappointing.

[City_Dawg]

Thanks DB
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*sighs*

!...

[Sister Golden Hair]

Phil's coaching tonite is worthy of getting fired. I mean it. It was inexcusable, vindictive, and lazy. Going with guys he "knows" but aren't producing over guys who have proved that they can get it done (like Shannon). Fisher and Sasha -- if I were coaching, they would only get garbage minutes. And I think if Bynum is underperforming, sub him out, talk sense into him, and put him back on the floor. But sitting him out almost a whole half? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Real mature, intelligent teaching there, Phillip.

And for the life of me, refusing to call TOs to stem a run by Denver. To my memory, this team has almost NEVER "figured" it out on their own. How many damn leads get blowns before PJ finally realizes that he's not coaching a team full of HOF'rs?

Like I said, a perfgormance worthy of a firing. And it isn't the first one this post-season. Everyone loses their fastball -- that goes for coaches, too. But if I were Buss I'd take a serious look at firing PJ for yet another reason: his style of coaching is turning a team with incredible physical advantages into a plodding unit that now specializes in an arththritic, constipated style of play, where every damn game comes down to a last shot.

There is no earthly reason for that save PJ's thinking he's smarter than everyone else. I only hope that Tex can get on the phone and read this jerk the riot act. Maybe that will change things.

But I doubt it.

If I were Kobe, I would take matters into my own hands, and start demanding PUBLICLY that PJ clean up his act. maybe public humiliation is something his Royal Smugness will respond to.

SGH

[Dr. Laker]

[AJLakerFan]

[PopcornMachine]

[DancingBarry]

[Vishnu]

DB, do you think that Sasha will still have his normal spot in the rotation on Saturday?

Fisher too, but I think I know the answer to that...

[AJLakerFan]

[chilake24]

fisher a +2?

this +/- really is a joke.

[Sister Golden Hair]

[Vishnu]

I know, I figured though that when Sasha didn't play in the 2nd half that it might be permanent. He really doesn't have it right now.

[DancingBarry]

[DancingBarry]

[Vishnu]

Thanks for the replies

[IPK]

Even after a tough loss, DB is always there like a Hallmark greeting card!
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Our tribute to Phil, the man behind LG

[ReaListik]

I came on to this board tonight and laughed pretty hard because for one I couldn't even connect to this site because it was so jammed up with traffic that it took 10 minutes to finally connect.

This game was not as gloom and doom as people on this site have made it out to be. There were many factors to us losing but late in the 4th to me it came down to Pau and Ariza missing the 3 freethrows total, the Carmelo shove on Ariza that was a no call and caused him to lose the ball, and the no call on the jump ball violation. I think that if those free throws were made, the foul was called and the violation was called as well that creates a golden opportunity to pull out a W. Hell, even without the free throws being made, had the refs actually called the foul and violation then anything can happen.

I will say though that Kobe defined clutch with his baskets in the closing seconds..damn that was awesome to watch even with the loss.

We absolutely need to win one in Denver, or this series gets ugly fast.
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"We are the goodest." - Shaq ESPN interview

[Nnamdi21]

isnt this on par with blowing the lead last year in the finals? celtics were down 24 and won denver was down 14 and built a 7 pt lead at one point in the 4th. 21 pt turnaround. yup they havent learned.

[8750]

thanks, DB
this game showed once more that we have a mentally slow, rigid, lazy, conservative coach...
once again, he didn't recognize -do you remember posey?- that in the second quarter, when we were winning easily, denver played with a pf able to shot from three point... as always, we let the threepont shooters wide open and so denver came back in the game..
i think that pau and bynum together are not a great solution, they are too static... but it's unbelievable that our coach never plays a high-low situation... that would be definitely the best solution for our big men...
fisher is unwatchable, not only for his pathetic layups and very poor defense, but especially for he can't pass... but our coach...

[AJLakerFan]

DB, I have to disagree with you on your assessment of Drew in the 3rd quarter. I rewatched that 3rd quarter and the only thing that he did wrong on D was overran Nene when he tried to rotate back to that side when he shaded to the point guard. The play before that Billups drove, Drew was there but Billups used an up and under move in the air to score the bucket. On offense they were working the ball to Pau more to begin but he was being active. The only play that he was really late was the play that Nene scored on. I have to say that it was a BS benching.

[chilake24]