We'll see if the Lakers take them lightly if they start playing Golden State's game by running up and down the floor and jacking up 3s with no purpose instead of utilizing their size advantage. If they work the post game more, the Lakers should win.
I still don't get why any team would take another team lightly . If there that bad then finish them off early and use the reserves. Less time for starters .
I split the season tix with another family, so I see half the games. Fortunately that included the Boston game.
Sweet game to take in. What was your take on Boston? They looked drained to me and not able to stay with the Warriors intensity in that fourth.
It was interesting to see them on tv and then live the next day. What a great two days to be a Laker fan.
1. Boston is a rhythm team and they can be taken out of it by small things. An overplay, a deflection, a bad call, a starter in foul trouble, it's not a smooth running train, they need the assumptions to go their way or they break down into solo play and can get too mechanical.
2. Team Lightswitch isn't limited to the Lakers. They assumed they would just roll past GS when they needed to. But back end of a back-to-back they didn't have their legs in the 4th. Hit cruise control and they could never snap out of it, when they had to hit the switch their legs didn't respond.
3. Without Perkins the other backup bigs are limited defensively and on the glass. Davis has size but no defensive range, can shoot right over him and beat him to angles for shots and boards. Powe is far more active on offense than defense (O feeds his D engine), overrelies on short rebounds by camping out.
4. Posey is missed on both ends not just D. Their bench is erratic.
5. The D schemes concede pullups and midrange, they assume it's 3s or drives and anything inbetween Pierce can handle or Garnett can close out. Tough to do but occupy KG and pick Pierce and midrange/pullups are there for the taking.
When Boston is on it's point to point offense with penetration, smart ball movement, smart reads, very high skill. But since they haven't faced much adversity this year, they've grown too accustomed to having things roll their way and just assume that in crunch time their execution on both ends will carry them. Usually it does, like the last Atlanta game, but sometimes they can get shaken and lose the team play that got them to this point.
I think an overlooked factor in the Warrior game was Allen fouling out. He hits the shots that Eddie House rushed and clanked.
They definitely need to make some moves to address the bench holes. Too much of a drop off from the starters and the backup bigs are too limited. Bottom line: get them off the script and they're vulnerable.
^and their legendary physicality is overrated. Against the Lakers they did a lot of flopping and whining. It was a physical game, yes, but Bynum, Gasol and Lamar were up to the challenge physically, and Ariza is very effective and scrappy at the 3. Plus, Kobe on Rondo allows him to help our 4 defend KG or at least sag in the lane (or at the FT line) to deny dribble penetration- and he is a great designated doubler.. And I know KG talks big, but just look at him - he aint that tough...
Against the Warriors, they simply got beat down the stretch while giving up (or running out of gas - you choose). They lost their confidence and their toughness and GS got in their heads - especially Ray Ray. It was hillarious.
The Celtics are playing their best basketball. The Lakers aren't. And they have a lot of room to grow - individually with Bynum, Famrar, Ariza, Sasha - but also collectively. They are nowhere near their potential, with a lot of evidence to predict that they will get there. Can't wait. The Lakers are the better team.
Thanks, Sky. These last two games sure looked like the Celtics missed both Posey and Brown. Tony Allen isn't near the individual and team defender as Posey (not to mention the shooter). Powe and Big Baby aren't as steady and tough in the middle as PJ Brown.
Now's a chance to see if the Lakers truly have changed.
The Warriors are a young team that can shoot 3's and penetrate, similar to the Kings. Let's see if the Lakers can clamp down on this team with a lot of confidence after beating the Celtics. _________________ Double rings > Double rainbow
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 5648 Location: Costa Mesa
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject:
this team only gets up for big games. i don't think it will be any different tonight. _________________ KobeDunk wrote:
I say 50/50 chance somehting happens....
Drzucchini wrote:
Either something happens or something doesn't? Damn. Bold claim.
I think the Lakers want to POUND the Warriors into the ground for the sole reasons that the Celtics could NOT. This will be the primary motivation for tonite's game.
Win and keep them under 100 points and I'll be happy.
Keep them under 90 points and I would say they are starting to figure things out defensively.
what?????
anytime Lakers allowing someone to score more than 80 points is terrible defense _________________ “A story about Kobe is the first time they went to be fitted for their USA uniforms and Kobe starts crying. The equipment person asks him what happened and Kobe was like, man, you don’t understand, I’ve dreamed of playing for my country."
Win and keep them under 100 points and I'll be happy.
Keep them under 90 points and I would say they are starting to figure things out defensively.
what?????
anytime Lakers allowing someone to score more than 80 points is terrible defense
I hope that's a joke.
I rarely joke about Lakers _________________ “A story about Kobe is the first time they went to be fitted for their USA uniforms and Kobe starts crying. The equipment person asks him what happened and Kobe was like, man, you don’t understand, I’ve dreamed of playing for my country."
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Feed the chiseled beast! 
