This part makes me jealous:
“And here is where my original intent for this post diverged. Peja’s weakness in the post is pretty obvious. Why isn’t he always put into that situation? The answer: against good teams, he is. Watch any disciplined offense – Detroit, San Antonio, Dallas – and you will see them running screens to get their man on Peja in the post.

But its times like that where the Hornets show the effect of their coaching. Almost every time Peja gets posted, the double comes. It’s nearly automatic. As a result, the ball kicks out and the defensive rotations start, players scrambling to their new man without even looking at each other. There is no hesitation, no worry that their man will be left uncovered, they just move to their new assignment and the defense continues. Even if there is a breakdown, the next play, they do it again. They trust each other, and they trust the system.

That trust is why the Hornets have a top defense despite all five of their starting players having defensive weaknesses that can be exploited. Paul and Peja can be posted. Chandler doesn’t like to leave the paint or leave his feet to block shots. Morris can be beaten by fleet-footed guards. West will leave the jumper open and can be slow to contest it. These weaknesses, however, instead of being points of contention, are simply recognized by the coaching staff and compensated for. If a player needs help in the post – it will arrive. If someone is lost on a screen, the big steps out to slow them down.”

As for the Washington game, it was a much needed win. The Lakers were exposed once again by their inability to defend athletic players. Why they signed a defensive specialist to dodge splinters on the bench is the real mystery.

Putting Sasha in at the end of OT was a no brainer. If he was in there at the end of regulation there might not have been an OT.

This does nothing obviously to bolster our perimeter defense. Not sure what to do about that besides coach Kobe and Farmar to be a little more patient and not take as many gambles on steals.

I don’t mean that in the wrong way but he MIGHT opt out to give himself security over the last 6 years of his career. At age 30, isn’t he better off signing a 6-yr deal worth 150? With emphasis on the next 4 years so that Lamar’s re-up can be facilitated.