LAKERS -at- ROCKETS - 11/14 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

AV · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 606

I only saw the last quarter of the game, but in that quarter the lake show was incredibly sloppy. I am sure Luke walton will have nightmares of Bonzi blowing by him again and again, and just a ton of completely stupid passes and fouls. Mihm not sure why he even went in there, playing very timid. Fortunately Kobe was able to make some clutch shots and really make quite a number of plays out of nothing. The last minute was just crap by the Lakers...I mean on one possession the Rocks had like 4 or 5 rebounds, fortunately they could't buy a three, and then fouling Yao and THEN still not getting the rebound! UGLY...but good points were Kobe keeping the team in it, was also nice to see Bynum hit some free throws late, I am sure those types of moments are going to pay dividends in the future

ribeye · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Nov 2001 Posts: 12639

Interesting stat. All the starters had a minus number in the +- category (more points were given up than scored while on the floor) and all reserves had positive numbers (except for Mihm with -2 in 2 minutes). Bynum had a +10!

Rick12322 · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 19164

Rick12322 · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 19164

maddprophet · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:07 am Post subject:

kwame's defense was great, he plays yao as good as anyone in the league.

whether it's poking the ball loose, showing and helping on screen rolls, or just bodying up yao and contesting the shot. he absolutely gives us something special on defense.

it's just such a shame his offense is so pathetic. can't catch, can't finish, (unless fed all alone at the rim), yet he can pass somewhat effectively. it's just such 2 polar opposites to his game. maddening at times.

but he's huge for us defensively. very few teams can play yao, duncan, shaq, ect... man to man w/out double teaming. it's why we can beat the spurs(eventhough we just loss) he alows us to play straight up, taking away a major part of these teams game plans against most teams. he's got value, it's just a double edge sword.
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Arizona · Star Player Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 3177 Location: PHX

Rick12322 · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 19164

Thanks DB. I like your summaries at the beginning of each player the best. In fact, if you're ever in a hurry, I wouldn't mind if you had to skip the play by play. (Just a heads up)

That said, Bynum is growing into the beast I thought he would and i couldn't be more thrilled! He's got the raw God given tools to have a strong post game, and we need to start working a little harder on developing it.

Farmar is a bigger surprise than I had expected.

Fisher's decision making is disappointing.

Our small forwards are our achilles heel. Our teams biggest weaknesses are against fast guards and strong SF's like Cory Magette, Ron Artest, Bonzi Wells to name a few. Bonzi went off in this game on sheer power alone. I knew we were in trouble when TMac went out of the game, as Bonzi's been waiting for an opportunity like this to go ballistic.

Bottom line, if we are going to the next level, we need a Ron Artest calibur player. That one piece could be the single biggest difference maker for this team.

AJLakerFan · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 4161

AJLakerFan · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 4161

hi_ma · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

I said in game thread that AB was player of game, I meant Farmar. Good things happened it seemed when he was rolling.

AB had the 2 biggest sequences of the game IMO
*2 late FTs
*Late rebound
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wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58349

RG73 · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Jul 2001 Posts: 11508

Cardom · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:27 am Post subject:

wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58349

RG - The reason they are so bad on the 3's, IMO is in large part to their defensive stategy being "pack the paint". You have to collapse and stop the layup drills, then basically pick your poison. Do you want the shooters taking 3's or do you want a layup line? Because you can't stop both UNLESS all your guards and perimeter players can man up.

Right now, we are losing games or being beaten defensively when the opposing team makes their shots. To tell you the truth, I much rather have a team beat us like that in a 7 game series than take high % shots. If you watch the Phx win, that is exactly how we won. We didn't allow them to make easy shots inside, we forced them to shoot. They shot themselves out of the game. It also goes back to why Kwame is important as he will not need a double or help on a elite post player.

Infact the reason the opposing team's FG% is that low (43's is a very good number) is just that. We are challenging everything inside (thanks in large part to Ronny, Kobe, Andrew) and collapsing as a team defensively such that teams are becoming more and more jumpshooting oriented.

The key is to find that PG who can actually somewhat stay infront of Parker + Paul etc. If we can get Fisher moved to the pine and start say Crittenton or Farmar by playoff time, I think with this same effort on defense, the Lakers stand a much better chance at doing something in the playoffs.

The root cause is still the same though - dribble penetration. However if we can not allow the opposing teams to do what Parker did to us .. IE dribble penetrate + kick out for 3's, then the Lakers are going to really start challenging teams. I can't say how important the play of Ronny, Kwame, Andrew and Kobe has been defensively. For a number of reasons. Kobe's help D has been superb and he's not allowed teams to make soft layups inside. Andrew has been a monster on the boards and Ronny does not take a single defensive play off. Kwame's post man defense allows the other Lakers to stay on their man no matter who they play. When Lamar gets back to 100%, I think our SF defense will be much better (just compare last night's T-Mac in the 1st half pre-injury to the one on opening night matched up with Luke). All in All, I see a good reason to be optimistic about the Lakers defense in comparison to last year.

Klone_dd · Star Player Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 7330

I'm giving LO a pass for the week. He's trying to take on the SF role when he's been playing the PF role before, plus trying to get into shape after surgery recovery. I cringe everytime he rises up for a 3.

Seems like Kobe loves being able to rise up over Yao and drain a midrange shot. Those consecutive shots in the 2nd broke this game, and LA limped to the finish.

Kwame gets some kudos for his post D. Farmar brought the energy. The Rockets lost the game at the line just like the Lakers lost the home opener.

LakerSanity · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

Rick12322 · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 19164

LakerSanity · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

LaMesaLakerLover · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 529

All_Star_Laker · Star Player Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2672 Location: NYC

I think the players need to start reading the scouting reports...

They don't sag off of Bonzi Wells as if he is going to drain jump shots over them but they do sag off of Peja as if he's going to drive and penetrate brokeback style (couldn't resist) ?

Not worried though...seems very correctable. I'd rather it be strategic mistakes than us implementing our strategy perfectly and realize we just suck.

Socks · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:12 am Post subject:

Thanks DB.

Farmar was up and down last night, but one series exemplifies why I love this kid.

I think it was the start of the 4th quarter and one of the rockets made a sloppy pass near the top of the key and a laker got a hand on it, deflecting it. It looked like the Rockets were going to pick it back up but Farmar dove to the ground, got an arm around it and shoveled it to Evans. Evans raced to the basket and tried to dunk it but hit front of rim. But Farmar had managed to get back up and trail him on the play, scooped up the ball and was fouled on his layup attempt. That's the kind of effort I love seeing and gets me excited about this kid. To get on the floor for the ball, then get up and trail the play - just a little thing, but it's what winners do.

Now if only he coulda made the free throws...

LaMesaLakerLover · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 529

dudebroman · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 302

I think fisher hit the timely shots that kept us from letting the game get away from us. And he didnt hurt us at all as far as I am concerned.

Tanlentueux · Star Player Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 7169

*Purple&Gold* · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject:

A win is a win, and we`ll take it! A split in Texas is acceptable at this point. I think allot was learned during the Spurs game, and unfortunately, sometimes its easier to learn the hard way.
For a brief moment, I thought we were to get our first look at our version of the "Twin Towers", when Jax sent Bynum in and Kwame was still on the court. Before we get any ideas of sending Kwame on his way, I sure would like to see what we could do with Bynum and Kwame on the court together, given enough minutes/chances to see if they can gel. Should it work, we could give teams fits down low. Both Kwame and Drew bring something different to the table. If they both played up to their potential...I might smile.