Comments on: Lakers/Mavericks: Terry & Dirk Demolish Lakers’ Defense http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/ A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers). Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:51:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: P. Ami http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653259 P. Ami Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:50:26 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653259 I don't think of myself as a chicken little. I think I'm seeing the same as what David sees. As much as it hurts to say it, I enjoyed the loss to Boston more then I did the win in Memphis. I prefer to see the team work hard, play tough, execute on both sides of the court and let the results be what they will be (hopefully talent will win out at the end) then watch forced shots, a lack of flow, sporadic focus (missed ft's and dropped passes) and Kobe heroics. This season has been consistent in two things. The Lakers (Kobe really) make big games out of small ones with the game winners, and a lack of focus in statement games. In two games against Boston the Lakers brought it and went .500. Against the rest of the top teams (Denver, Dallas, Cleveland) bad focus led to donuts in the win column. I enjoyed the way the Lakers played with Kobe out better then with him in. It's a bloody paradox that with the hardest working player in, the team itself seems more satisfied and less respectful of the game and it's fans. I don't think it's a conscious thing, and I love our players. It's just a strange chemical makeup of the Lakers molecule. Now, if this gets fixed by the playoffs then great. I don’t think of myself as a chicken little. I think I’m seeing the same as what David sees. As much as it hurts to say it, I enjoyed the loss to Boston more then I did the win in Memphis. I prefer to see the team work hard, play tough, execute on both sides of the court and let the results be what they will be (hopefully talent will win out at the end) then watch forced shots, a lack of flow, sporadic focus (missed ft’s and dropped passes) and Kobe heroics.

This season has been consistent in two things. The Lakers (Kobe really) make big games out of small ones with the game winners, and a lack of focus in statement games. In two games against Boston the Lakers brought it and went .500. Against the rest of the top teams (Denver, Dallas, Cleveland) bad focus led to donuts in the win column. I enjoyed the way the Lakers played with Kobe out better then with him in.

It’s a bloody paradox that with the hardest working player in, the team itself seems more satisfied and less respectful of the game and it’s fans. I don’t think it’s a conscious thing, and I love our players. It’s just a strange chemical makeup of the Lakers molecule. Now, if this gets fixed by the playoffs then great.

]]> By: Jane http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653245 Jane Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:41:26 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653245 Mimsy, You are the (WO)MAN. Mimsy, You are the (WO)MAN.

]]> By: Mimsy http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653232 Mimsy Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:12:39 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653232 @Jane Well said. There's a reason I'm not as active here as I used to be. And just to be clear, it's not something that the the owner or moderators of the blog should be blamed for or for that matter be expected to fix. It's a natural consequence of the site getting much more attention and drawing a much larger crowd. Unfortunately, it means that we get more of the types of fans that I avoid like the plague in real life: The ones who have a 5 second attention span, have a panic attack over any little thing that goes wrong, and immediately become convinced the best coach and players in the NBA today are incompetent morons who don't care about winning a single game, if they don't see a blowout every night. The Chicken Littles who don't provide any of the intelligent and knowledgable analysis that first attracted me to this site. I'm here as much to learn about basketball as I am here to I know it's an inevitable change, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. :) @Jane
Well said. There’s a reason I’m not as active here as I used to be. And just to be clear, it’s not something that the the owner or moderators of the blog should be blamed for or for that matter be expected to fix. It’s a natural consequence of the site getting much more attention and drawing a much larger crowd.

Unfortunately, it means that we get more of the types of fans that I avoid like the plague in real life: The ones who have a 5 second attention span, have a panic attack over any little thing that goes wrong, and immediately become convinced the best coach and players in the NBA today are incompetent morons who don’t care about winning a single game, if they don’t see a blowout every night. The Chicken Littles who don’t provide any of the intelligent and knowledgable analysis that first attracted me to this site. I’m here as much to learn about basketball as I am here to

I know it’s an inevitable change, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. :)

]]> By: Phillip http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653219 Phillip Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:45:24 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653219 Hey guys, new post up. www.bit.ly/9uLJKF Hey guys, new post up. http://www.bit.ly/9uLJKF

]]> By: Will http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653218 Will Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:40:29 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653218 Realistically they were in the taking in to consideration: It was back to back, Kobe is still 80-85%, they shot awful from 3, yet they were basically 1 basket away from changing the major outcome of the game. If Kobe hits that 3 we have a tie game. Even if Gasol reels in that offensive board we're still looking at a different out come. If they game was that close in Dallas and the Mavs played well and Lakers played bad, I'll take LA in a seven game series every time. Realistically they were in the taking in to consideration: It was back to back, Kobe is still 80-85%, they shot awful from 3, yet they were basically 1 basket away from changing the major outcome of the game. If Kobe hits that 3 we have a tie game. Even if Gasol reels in that offensive board we’re still looking at a different out come. If they game was that close in Dallas and the Mavs played well and Lakers played bad, I’ll take LA in a seven game series every time.

]]> By: T. Rogers http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653214 T. Rogers Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:27:27 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653214 I really want to avoid falling into the blame camps. And there are a few of them. Here's a sample: The "Kobe is hogging the ball too much why can't he be more like LeBron" camp. The "Bynum is shooting too much why can't he be more like a young Ben Wallace crossed with Moses Malone" camp. The "Fisher is the worst player in the history of the NBA why can't Brian Shaw suit up instead" camp. The "Sahsa is the only player worse than Fisher why can't he just come up missing" camp. And of course, how can we forget the "Phil Jackson is old and is no longer an effective coach, when is this guy going to retire" camp. Being serious now, the Lakers have some real issues. As Darius alluded to, with 58 games played this team still just seems off. They looked their best with Bynum and Bryant out. The offense was crisp. The defense was consistent and they got some quality W's and nearly took down a full strength (if they can be called that) Celtics team. Granted those five games were a small sample size. But Gasol and Odom look better without Kobe and Andrew on the floor. The other guys respond better to Pau and Lamar than they do to Kobe or Drew. And I am sure it is the unselfish nature of Pau and LO that makes playing with both of them on the floor at the same time a real treat. Is it me, or did the offense not look this bad in the first half of last season? This was before Drew went down. He and Pau have played well together before. Remember the beginning of last season saw Kobe with a very limited role for the first 20 games. Everything ran through Pau. Guys were moving (even Bynum) and the Lakers offense flowed like water. Maybe it does come back down to outside shooting. I’m just not so sure its that simple I really want to avoid falling into the blame camps. And there are a few of them. Here’s a sample:

The “Kobe is hogging the ball too much why can’t he be more like LeBron” camp.

The “Bynum is shooting too much why can’t he be more like a young Ben Wallace crossed with Moses Malone” camp.

The “Fisher is the worst player in the history of the NBA why can’t Brian Shaw suit up instead” camp.

The “Sahsa is the only player worse than Fisher why can’t he just come up missing” camp.

And of course, how can we forget the “Phil Jackson is old and is no longer an effective coach, when is this guy going to retire” camp.

Being serious now, the Lakers have some real issues. As Darius alluded to, with 58 games played this team still just seems off. They looked their best with Bynum and Bryant out. The offense was crisp. The defense was consistent and they got some quality W’s and nearly took down a full strength (if they can be called that) Celtics team.

Granted those five games were a small sample size. But Gasol and Odom look better without Kobe and Andrew on the floor. The other guys respond better to Pau and Lamar than they do to Kobe or Drew. And I am sure it is the unselfish nature of Pau and LO that makes playing with both of them on the floor at the same time a real treat.

Is it me, or did the offense not look this bad in the first half of last season? This was before Drew went down. He and Pau have played well together before. Remember the beginning of last season saw Kobe with a very limited role for the first 20 games. Everything ran through Pau. Guys were moving (even Bynum) and the Lakers offense flowed like water.

Maybe it does come back down to outside shooting. I’m just not so sure its that simple

]]> By: ken http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653213 ken Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:07:06 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653213 Sometimes I wonder does Phil actually ever talk to his players for his $12 million. How about "Fish stop shooting" Drew " You are allowed to pass" Drew "You are allowed to rebound" Drew " Move your feet on defense" Fish-Farmer "Anyone guarding Terry?" This is called coaching isen't it? I know its just one game and I figured they would lose but these are year long trends. If you take the top 3 teams from each league you find the Lakers playing .500 basketball aganist them. Maybe Phil is saving his coaching for the playoffs? Sometimes I wonder does Phil actually ever talk to his players for his $12 million.

How about “Fish stop shooting”
Drew ” You are allowed to pass”
Drew “You are allowed to rebound”
Drew ” Move your feet on defense”
Fish-Farmer “Anyone guarding Terry?”

This is called coaching isen’t it?

I know its just one game and I figured they would lose but these are year long trends. If you take the top 3 teams from each league you find the Lakers playing .500 basketball aganist them.

Maybe Phil is saving his coaching for the playoffs?

]]> By: Jane http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653212 Jane Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:03:50 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653212 I found and relished this site years ago because it brought me comfort and joy from knowledgeable basketball (and mostly Laker) fans. These days, not so much with the comfort & joy. Kobe's the hero, Kobe's the problem. Lamar is a beast, Lamar is a vanishing act. Fisher is a veteran who can be clutch, Fisher is a posion who can be the end of our dynasty. Farmar is improving, Farmar is a liability. I could go on and on. Ever heard the expression "being tossed about with every wind of doctrine?" (It comes from a Biblical scripture in Ephesians 4 that discusses unity, ironically) After every game, it's like we're talking about completely different teams and it's exhausting. This team is very talented and there are clearly other talented teams in the league as well. No one is going to lay down for the Lakers. Everyone is figuring out their issues and has a few months yet to do so. The expectations in Lakerland make no allowances for that, though. 90% of teams would kill for the Lakers' issues (and the results they have produced despite them). We'll see what happens in May/June. I found and relished this site years ago because it brought me comfort and joy from knowledgeable basketball (and mostly Laker) fans. These days, not so much with the comfort & joy. Kobe’s the hero, Kobe’s the problem. Lamar is a beast, Lamar is a vanishing act. Fisher is a veteran who can be clutch, Fisher is a posion who can be the end of our dynasty. Farmar is improving, Farmar is a liability. I could go on and on.

Ever heard the expression “being tossed about with every wind of doctrine?” (It comes from a Biblical scripture in Ephesians 4 that discusses unity, ironically) After every game, it’s like we’re talking about completely different teams and it’s exhausting. This team is very talented and there are clearly other talented teams in the league as well. No one is going to lay down for the Lakers. Everyone is figuring out their issues and has a few months yet to do so. The expectations in Lakerland make no allowances for that, though. 90% of teams would kill for the Lakers’ issues (and the results they have produced despite them). We’ll see what happens in May/June.

]]> By: Mimsy http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653210 Mimsy Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:34:59 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653210 Fisher taking 13 shots in the game isn't the problem. I'm more interested in why he did, and why that is higher than either Pau (9), Ron or Andrew (8 each), or Lamar (11). Our two big guys are supposed to be our second and third scoring options, but they get fewer touches than either Fisher (who we all agree shouldn't shoot as much as he does) and the first guy to come off the bench, Lamar Odom. I'm not saying that Lamar shouldn't get his shots, on the contrary when he attacks the paint he can be a force of nature and should definitely be allowed to shoot as much as he wants. But for a team supposed to run an equal opportunity offense that shares the ball and spreads the floor, the shooting opportunities and the number of shot attempts people get is far from equal. Fisher taking 13 shots in the game isn’t the problem. I’m more interested in why he did, and why that is higher than either Pau (9), Ron or Andrew (8 each), or Lamar (11). Our two big guys are supposed to be our second and third scoring options, but they get fewer touches than either Fisher (who we all agree shouldn’t shoot as much as he does) and the first guy to come off the bench, Lamar Odom. I’m not saying that Lamar shouldn’t get his shots, on the contrary when he attacks the paint he can be a force of nature and should definitely be allowed to shoot as much as he wants.

But for a team supposed to run an equal opportunity offense that shares the ball and spreads the floor, the shooting opportunities and the number of shot attempts people get is far from equal.

]]> By: Don http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/02/24/lakersmavericks-terry-dirk-demolish-lakers-defense/comment-page-1/#comment-653209 Don Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:09:54 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=2982#comment-653209 16 Mojo, an entry pass is not the same thing as a dish out pass out of dribble penetration. I'd like Kobe to set up his teammates more after drives rather than just simple entry passes. It makes the game easier because more than one person is playing. Kobe on isolations took the shot too many times rather than pass after creating something. 16 Mojo, an entry pass is not the same thing as a dish out pass out of dribble penetration. I’d like Kobe to set up his teammates more after drives rather than just simple entry passes. It makes the game easier because more than one person is playing. Kobe on isolations took the shot too many times rather than pass after creating something.

]]>