Comments on: Fast Break Thoughts http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/ A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers). Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:22:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kurt http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546057 Kurt Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:16:03 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546057 new Kings preview up new Kings preview up

]]> By: Mando http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546053 Mando Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:09:43 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546053 Hey, is there a link to the interview you are talking about where Odomater is high as a kite? i would really enjoy seeing that. thanks! manfo Hey, is there a link to the interview you are talking about where Odomater is high as a kite? i would really enjoy seeing that.

thanks!
manfo

]]> By: Kurt http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546050 Kurt Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:00:01 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546050 Bill Bridges, I just watched the second half and after the fourth quarter I'm not that sold on the Suns (every time I watch them they don't seem to be that impressive, but I have not seen that much). But I agree, sometimes you forget what a force a motivated Shaq can be (although we can do better defensively I think than the hustling but undersized Bass). Bill Bridges, I just watched the second half and after the fourth quarter I’m not that sold on the Suns (every time I watch them they don’t seem to be that impressive, but I have not seen that much). But I agree, sometimes you forget what a force a motivated Shaq can be (although we can do better defensively I think than the hustling but undersized Bass).

]]> By: Bill Bridges http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546039 Bill Bridges Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:36:37 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546039 I actually didn't think the Laker's perimeter D was that bad against the Mavs. They did a good job preventing dribble penetration (unlike against the Cats or Grizs). Also the Mavs had very few wide-open shots. The Mavs were red hot in the 1st half. The big problem was the Lakers inability to prevent offensive rebounds. This is where Gasol's ankle seem to affect him the most. He was pushed around even more than usual. This combined with Odom having to defend Dirk on the perimeter meant that the few shots the Mavs missed were being rebounded by them. In the second half, the Mavs missed more shots and Lamar was superhuman, guarding Dirk on the perimeter and still getting back to grab the defensive rebounds. Watching the Suns/Mavs game a few observations. 1. You gotta be impressed by Shaq. I really think he is better now than he was when the Heat won the title. 2. The Mav's defensive rotation against the PNR is even worse than ours. They lose in the 1st round. No hope. 3. At home the Sun's bench of Barbosa, Diaw, and Giricek is very good. 4. Its just wrong, plain wrong to be playing Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit" as the segway music into a ABC commercial (as wrong as playing Emigrant by Led Zeppelin). I actually didn’t think the Laker’s perimeter D was that bad against the Mavs. They did a good job preventing dribble penetration (unlike against the Cats or Grizs). Also the Mavs had very few wide-open shots. The Mavs were red hot in the 1st half. The big problem was the Lakers inability to prevent offensive rebounds. This is where Gasol’s ankle seem to affect him the most. He was pushed around even more than usual. This combined with Odom having to defend Dirk on the perimeter meant that the few shots the Mavs missed were being rebounded by them.

In the second half, the Mavs missed more shots and Lamar was superhuman, guarding Dirk on the perimeter and still getting back to grab the defensive rebounds.

Watching the Suns/Mavs game a few observations.

1. You gotta be impressed by Shaq. I really think he is better now than he was when the Heat won the title.
2. The Mav’s defensive rotation against the PNR is even worse than ours. They lose in the 1st round. No hope.
3. At home the Sun’s bench of Barbosa, Diaw, and Giricek is very good.
4. Its just wrong, plain wrong to be playing Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” as the segway music into a ABC commercial (as wrong as playing Emigrant by Led Zeppelin).

]]> By: j. d. hastings http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546021 j. d. hastings Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:45:41 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546021 Tonight's game is an absolute trap game. Sacto still has a great home record, has won 4 in a row, and 5 of 6, including wins against Denver and Houston. We had better not come out lacksadaisical like we have the last... SEVEN games. Tonight’s game is an absolute trap game. Sacto still has a great home record, has won 4 in a row, and 5 of 6, including wins against Denver and Houston. We had better not come out lacksadaisical like we have the last… SEVEN games.

]]> By: Renato Afonso http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546020 Renato Afonso Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:43:55 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546020 Oh, congrats on the daughter... Four women at home, you should be an even more interesting read in a few months ;) Oh, congrats on the daughter… Four women at home, you should be an even more interesting read in a few months ;)

]]> By: LaFleur http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546015 LaFleur Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:21:52 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546015 Kurt, You have it all wrong. The third daughter is a charm. This is great news. Kurt,

You have it all wrong. The third daughter is a charm. This is great news.

]]> By: Renato Afonso http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-546007 Renato Afonso Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:47:07 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-546007 Kurt, While our defense is atrocious, our offense is flowing well... An while we cannot win the title without playing defense in the playoffs, the fact that our offense is flowing will improve one thing... energy during the 4th quarter. We're making the other teams work hard on defense and run from side to side, which is leading them to score less in the 4th quarter. Maybe we can have those defenseive spurts when the game is on the line... Again, we can beat anyone out West except for ths Spurs... it will depend on luck... Kurt,

While our defense is atrocious, our offense is flowing well… An while we cannot win the title without playing defense in the playoffs, the fact that our offense is flowing will improve one thing… energy during the 4th quarter.

We’re making the other teams work hard on defense and run from side to side, which is leading them to score less in the 4th quarter. Maybe we can have those defenseive spurts when the game is on the line…

Again, we can beat anyone out West except for ths Spurs… it will depend on luck…

]]> By: Gils_Keloids http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-545993 Gils_Keloids Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:10:40 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-545993 I'm watching New Orleans play Golden State right now, and Chris Paul already has a triple-double. This is impressive. But what I'm noticing is that Paul DOESN'T DRAW A DOUBLE TEAM. Can you imagine if Kobe were single-covered for a whole game? It's not right to compare statistics between the two, as Kobe is in a whole different class when it comes to defenses geared to stop him from producing. I’m watching New Orleans play Golden State right now, and Chris Paul already has a triple-double. This is impressive. But what I’m noticing is that Paul DOESN’T DRAW A DOUBLE TEAM. Can you imagine if Kobe were single-covered for a whole game? It’s not right to compare statistics between the two, as Kobe is in a whole different class when it comes to defenses geared to stop him from producing.

]]> By: Craig W http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/comment-page-1/#comment-545949 Craig W Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:38:57 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/05/fast-break-thoughts-30/#comment-545949 chris h, I don't think the refs 'favor' certain players, they just call things in a particular way. Lamar was frequently charging (my opinion), I think because he prematurely makes up his mind what he is going to do and then just 'puts his head down and does it'. This is the standard problem with players being called for charging - it is why Fish is successful with this defense. Usually the game moves slower as players become more experienced. I don't think this is the case with Lamar. I don't know why, but he doesn't seem to think '2 moves ahead' while playing. He is a tactical player, not a strategic one. This is one reason he should not handle the ball at the end of games, but be the receiver and finisher only. Yes, he can pass, but he doesn't think about who he is passing to or what type of crowd he is passing into. The Dallas play where he jumped up into the air under the basket, then tried to find someone to pass to is a perfect example of this mentality. Yes, he had a great game against Dallas, but he also had his share of 'brain farts' during the 4th qtr. This in addition to his habit of making 1 of 2 freethrows most of the time. chris h,
I don’t think the refs ‘favor’ certain players, they just call things in a particular way. Lamar was frequently charging (my opinion), I think because he prematurely makes up his mind what he is going to do and then just ‘puts his head down and does it’. This is the standard problem with players being called for charging – it is why Fish is successful with this defense. Usually the game moves slower as players become more experienced. I don’t think this is the case with Lamar. I don’t know why, but he doesn’t seem to think ‘2 moves ahead’ while playing. He is a tactical player, not a strategic one. This is one reason he should not handle the ball at the end of games, but be the receiver and finisher only. Yes, he can pass, but he doesn’t think about who he is passing to or what type of crowd he is passing into. The Dallas play where he jumped up into the air under the basket, then tried to find someone to pass to is a perfect example of this mentality.

Yes, he had a great game against Dallas, but he also had his share of ‘brain farts’ during the 4th qtr. This in addition to his habit of making 1 of 2 freethrows most of the time.

]]>