LAKERS -at- WARRIORS - 12/14 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

LakerSanity · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:25 am Post subject:

Phil's loss, plain and simple. We were up 102-96 with 3:27 left to go. Which means we were outscored 12-6 in the last 3:27. For us to lose this game, everything basically had to go wrong.

Turn over the ball. Check.
Miss shots. Check.
Give up 3pters. Check.
Give up Offensive Rebounds.Check.

Give all the credit in the world to Baron Davis for making the clutch 3s our guy Kobe Bryant was supposed to make, but still. I expected this loss to be honest, but I hate losing a good that it turns out we should have won (regardless of my expectations entering the game).

My basic thoughts are the Luke needs to look himself in the mirror. He's been terrible. Kobe needs to get healthy and then look himself in the mirror again and think about his decision making and his defensive intensity. LO needs to look himself in the mirror and think about his decision making, and how much he avoids the post. I most concerned about Kobe... his energy level, lateral quickness, and lift have all decreased from a month ago, then add the groin problem to that. Not good stuff.
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KingKobe20 · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:57 am Post subject:

Straight up I really hate any city who Chants Beat LA!!!!!!!!!!!
They are truly our mortal enemies for life

I mean yes you hate the Lakers. Yes you say Kobe sucks . Fine. But when you say Beat L.A it kinda gets more personal than basketball. You all know it is animosity to the city of Los Angeles. Southern California if you must say.

We have it all good weather good women, good everything. I don't now it just gets really enoying and that chant is too popular outside of So Cal.

I really wish that Beat L.A chant would be illegal

Cardom · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:38 am Post subject:

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

jmnluvr · Star Player Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 1649

The lack of Ariza was really disappointing, especially considering how effective he was against them just a week ago.

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

DB - It's amazing how you recap these games so thoroughly and then you get the analysis right on top of it.

I don't often get on Phil but I agree he gets the thumbs down for the last three minutes or so. Kobe should have been yanked earlier. He couldn't run. He was a defensive liability. Besides, let's hope that by keeping him in didn't aggravate the injury. I kept yelling, "Bring in Ariza", but by the time he did, it was too late.

Baron wanted this game and almost willed their victory. He was pretty darn Kobe-like during the stretch.

Mr. EiGhTy-OnE · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:05 am Post subject:

FREE TREVOR ARIZA
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prisma8slg · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:51 am Post subject:

thanks DB. that was the most painful loss this season.

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Dr. Laker · Franchise Player Joined: 12 Apr 2002 Posts: 17109

BigE32 · Star Player Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 8518

Thanks, DB. Disappointing loss, to put it nicely. These are the games you look back on at the end of the season, and wish you had. It could mean the difference b/w having home court advantage in the playoffs or even being in the playoffs. We were in control of the game, and the wheels came off. I liked the idea of doing an offensive/defensive substitution with Ariza and Kobe at the end. Very poor job of coaching by PJ down the stretch. He finally calls a timeout with 16 seconds left and we're down 4. His substitution patterns in crunch time of games need to be questioned, IMO. I'm still upset that we lost this game. I hope Kobe's ok, but it didnt' look good when he attempted that awkward movement against Stephen Jackson. We can't afford to keep blowing games late when we have the lead. I know we're young, but we do have some veterans who've been in these situations before. Hopefully, we can regroup and beat the Clippers before we head out on the road.

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

Thanks DB. This was a very disappointing and frustrating loss. What was Phil thinking!? I get it, Luke stinks in practice so he's ready to start. I don't think he'll ever be ready to start against teams like GSW because he simply isn't athletic enough.

In the closing minute(s)Kobe, missed a wide open Bynum under the basket, opting rather to chuck up another contested brick! This must have been Kobe's worst game ever, he's obviously got some other health problems? The way he was playing we shouldn't have even brought him back in the game at all. Sasha would have done better.

Phil Jackson playing Luke and Radman way too many minutes over Trevor Ariza is inexcusable! Not only is his defense suspect, but V. Rad cannot, I repeat, CANNOT handle the kind of defensive pressure a Matt Barnes brings to the game, especially in a game when the refs have decided to swallow their whistles! How many times have we seen this? V.Rad turning the ball over repeatedly when faced with that kind of pressure?

If Kobe plays vs. t he Clippers and looks like he did last night we need to give him the hook and fast, we'll just have to find a way to survive without him. Could be a great opportunity for Javaris.

Heir · Starting Rotation Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 540

http://www.clublakers.com/heirz-corner-lakers-blow-it-in-oakland-2065.html
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golakersgo121 · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:

20,000 · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:03 am Post subject:

Ugh, so much wrong here. One loss, big deal, we will move past it.

But the Lakers always jump out to big leads only to lose them. That is a sign of a poorly-disciplined team. Build the leads, but hold on to them!

And it disappointed me that the Lakers went away from what helped them beat the Warriors less than a week ago. Bynum. Go inside! How many times did I see Bynum post up but the PGs refused to go to him? On several occasions I saw Bynum post up but Fisher looked at him, then decided to go around the perimeter.

And yes, Kobe had a bad shooting night, but this team SHOULD be able to overcome a bad shooting night from him.

FREE THROWS FREE THROWS FREE THROWS! In a span of a minute, Ronny missed 3 of 4 free throws. Pathetic! Then Fisher came up, and they threw a stat on the screen how he was 3rd in the league in FT percentage. What happens? He missed the front end of the FT. Kobe had some misses. Need to get make those, fellas.

The Lakers tried playing too much like the Warriors, and that's how the Warriors like it. Long shots leading to long rebounds leading to quick transition shots for the Warriors. And that is how the Warriors won this game.

That last three by Baron was just sick. But with 5 fouls on him, why didn't the Lakers go at him trying to get him to foul out?

Finally, as long as he is a Lakers, I will continue supporting Odom, but I think he has worn out his welcome here. That under a minute possession was just pathetic. What's more, whenever he had the ball I just anticipated him walking with the ball or turning it over somehow.

At this point, Odom is expected to be the #2 guy on the team, but he does not play like it. If he left the team, I don't feel it will be a big loss. The other guys have a role on the team and they play like it. Odom has no role anymore. If we traded him, what we get back will more than adequately replace what he can do. At this point, we want him for rebounding and some scoring. If we got a big back for Odom, I think we will do pretty well. Give us 10 points and 10 rebounds, what Odom does, but without the bonehead moves.

I honestly don't think this team will have any drop off if Odom is gone.
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Rick12322 · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 19164

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47594

Phil's Luke Walton fixation has become extremely annoying to this observer when there are athletic defenders available on the bench.

Also, Kobe needs to not try and play hero if he is hurt. Just tell the coach what is really going on and sit if you can't or won't guard anyone.

The Warriors crowd was a factor, but the Lakers absolutely gave the game away. Only bright side is Andrew Bynum is showing signs of being ready to dominate the league....3rd in dunks right now in the NBA despite Phil's pet projects like Mihm and Kwame stealing some of his minutes.
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LakerFan1972 · Star Player Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 3257

Texas_Pete · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:07 am Post subject:

Thanks as always DB.

I always hate when we lose, but I feel "ok" with this one. It was the second night of a back-to-back, we're a young team, and frankly 106 pts should be enough to win. Once we are healthy we will be fine but we must bring it defensively.

The Warriors got away with murder - even moreso than the Spurs game. In the end we were right there. A rebound here (please block out bigs!) or a loose ball there and we would have had that game. Would have been nice if PJ would have put Ariza on Davis the way he did on AI. Hey Phil, is that not why you traded for Ariza?

jeremysnowIII · Sixth Man Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 91

Hiya Dancingbarry!

My dad FINALLY has FINALLY given me permission to join Lakersground!

Except, I can only post once a wekk. So this is my only post for this week.

I can't wait for your next report!!!! I aboslutely luv your column!

snow3

Alpha · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

^welcome JS3!

glad to see you here... please send our very best to your Dad!

I truly miss him.

Alph/Dave

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53855

One of the reasons I was less than thrilled with the phil extension is because he refuses to play to the teams strengths. 10 shots for a red hot bynum. 23 for an ice cold Kobe.
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Mr. EiGhTy-OnE · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject:

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53855

DancingBarry · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject:

DancingBarry · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: