First things first, the latest Carnival of the NBA (now #20) is up over at Attack of the Supersonics (the blog with the best logo out there). This carnival is very well written, with lots of good links to click on as well.
As for FB&G, we’re going to look mostly at the offense today, even though the defense has been the bigger problem the last couple of games (we’ll get to that tomorrow, promise). But that’s not all — keep reading and I’ll throw in some other stuff, at no additional cost. The perfect holiday stocking stuffer.
• For the last two games, the rest of the Lakers — they guys other than Kobe and Lamar — have stepped up and made shots. Because of that Kobe has just started to adjust his game and needs to do more.
I have argued that Kobe was shooting so much because the rest of the team could not be trusted. Look at the eight games from Nov. 14 (Memphis) to the Utah game last Monday — Kobe took 36.7% of the Lakers shots and shot 41.3% (eFG%), throw in Lamar Odom and you get 48.5% the team’s shots and the pair shooting 42.2%. The rest of the team after those two fared no better, shooting an even 42%. What was Kobe’s motivation to pass, the offense was just as good in his hands?
That changed dramatically in the last two games — outside of Kobe and Lamar the rest of the Lakers are shooting 60.2%. Through that Kobe has shot just 40.2% (the Bobcats were very quick with the double teams). add Lamar and it’s just 40.5%.
Together, Kobe and Lamar still took 44% of the Lakers shots in the last two games. They have to recognize when other players are hot and take advantage of that. They did to a degree last game, but Kobe still put up 30 shots and could have given it up quicker, particularly out of the doubles off the high pick and roll (the Bobcats went to trap Kobe with both players off the pick).
• Some other notes from shot charting the last few games:
Lamar Odom needs to drive to the hole — when he pulls up short and shoots in the paint his shooting percentage plummets to the low 20s, but when he goes for the layup/dunk he scores or is fouled on almost every attempt.
Kobe’s midrange game still has not been what it was the first couple of weeks; he is shooting in the mid-30s percent wise. He takes nearly 50% of his midrange shots from the right of the key, but a vast majority of his threes from the left side. Not sure if that’s a personal preference or offensive design.
Smush is shooting the three ball well, and can penetrate to the basket, but his midrange game is still very weak.
Luke Walton, on the other hand, has clearly worked on his midrange and is shooting just over 50% — and he hits about 75% from straight on, above the free throw line.
Mihm doesn’t go to the midrange game much, but what he does isn’t bad (just under 50%).
• I’m curious what people think of the new broadcast team for the Lakers, so I put a poll up at the right. Let me know what the rest of you think.
• We’ll be wondering about all this stuff later, so let me tell you now: Larry Croon’s great NBA Salary cap FAQ is now updated to include the new collective bargaining agreement.
• If you’re a college football fan, you should be reading Every Day Should Be Saturday. Great site, very clever writing. My most recent favorite — 52 Reasons ESPN/ABC/Disney Sucks (this goes beyond just basketball, but they didn’t even have to mention NBA Shootaround to get to 52, that could have been another 10 right there).
• If you have Sirius Satellite Radio, check out the new Phil Jackson show that starts Jan. 9. I’m not kidding. I’m curious to check it out, but not enough to fork over the cash for the system, especially since everyone will just assume I’m doing it to get Howard Stern.
chris henderson says
I said the same thing recently on your site…
Lamar needs to go to the hole, with AUTHORITY! I don’t know why he tries these little fingerrolls, or tear drop shots, which roll out or get blocked, when he has the ability to SLAM DUNK it from the free throw line and closer. when he does this, first, it won’t be blocked, or roll out, second, it fires up the team and the crowd, and we can use any momentum help we can get.
remember Pippen was also great at taking in to the hole in a dramatic fashion.
also, agree Mihm should try more mid range jumpers, he can’t be worse than also trying those little finger rolls, (which have the same result as LO when he tries it) Mihm should also be looking to slam it when he gets the rebound down low, I mean, I’ve seen him do it and he has the power, so why do these guys try to finese it in when they can be LIKE SHAQ, and be a force underneath???
Kurt says
Chris, Great minds….
john says
yeah, lamar going to the hole usually produces a good result, even if he misses. it’s too bad phil keeps saying he doesn’t really think he should be a more offensive threat than he is now.
do you like joel myers? you didn’t say. he’s alright. i wanted them to keep paul sunderland. it’s about the same quality, although now that you mention it i keep thinking of instances where joel has irked me.
paul was a nice guy. doing a fine job. they thought enough of him to hire him full time after chick died; why the change of heart? it’s like he was being blamed for the the team’s losing season too..
stern rules! get him to broadcast laker games instead.
Red 5 says
ibid on lamar– somehow he gets
“Wile E. Coyote Disease” when it comes
to scoring or being otherwise aggressive on offense,
and he seems to hesitate just that split second
before proceeding, by which time the open shot
becomes a little less open.
Per the broadcast team
( I was just thinking about this
myself the last couple of games )
I liked Sundy as well, but if we can’t have him back,
put Spiro on TV with Stu and let Joel and Mychal reunite
and entertain themselves.
Spiro is pretty good for a newcomer to the Laker group
and stays on point.
Joel has a habit of vamping on the officiating
( not without reason – what was the point of the refs
work action a few years back? )
or griping when the Lakers are behind
even if its only by four points.
I’m sure he feels he’s acting in charater,
but I think Chick’s regaled ability to critique
the home squad grew out of coming up with the team
since it arrived in LA, not just for the sake
of not sounding like a “homer,” which was the complaint some fans on another board had
with Sunderland, whose enthusiasm I enjoyed.
– 5 –
Ben says
I actually liked the Joel/Mychal team. They seemed to have a good chemistry. But I had no problem with Paul either.
But what is up with Stu always wanting to contradict everything the play-by-play guy says? He doesn’t do it quite as much with Joel but with Paul he was really irritatingly predicatable. I thought that’s one of the reason that team didn’t work. They didn’t have chemistry because Stu always seemed to be condescending. And it wasn’t like Paul made idiotic points. It seemed like all those years with Chick, Stu was kinda afraid to correct Chick, even when Chick was obviously wrong, but now he’s having a field day.
Gatinho says
I may have posted this quote before. It is Tex talking about Kobe and MJ in the triangle.The article was written for SI.com before Phil took over the Lakers in 1999.Frustrating to think that it still rings true, but encouraging in knowing that MJ struggled with this concept and that Tex “understands” why Kobe will always struggle with this offense:
The player who may have the most trouble adjusting to the triangle is Kobe Bryant. Although he possesses all the tools to flourish in this offense — quickness, good shooting range, ball-handling skills — he might have to battle the urge to catch and shoot rather than continue the flow of the triangle by making the extra pass. According to Winter, Jordan struggled with that urge right up until the end of his career. “When you take a player with the skills that Jordan or Kobe has, he wants to score every time he touches the ball,” Winter says. “That’s understandable. But in this offense, you can’t make spectators out of your teammates.”
I like Joel and think he has more knowledge than Sundy who was a volleybal player not a basketball player. But Stu has grown stale lately. “Bigs don’t like to bend down for that bounce pass.”
Kurt says
Let’s give Sunderland his due there: He won a gold medal with the USA volleyball team in 1984.
john says
yeah, i’m more tired of stu than anybody. captain second guesser. if the play was a success he’ll gush about it. if it’s a miss then the very same play was terrible.
P Henry says
How many times do we need to be told the air is thinner away from the basket?
chris henderson says
ahhh the good ol’ days when we turned off the TV sound, (Tommy Heinson trying to not sound too partial in the mid 80’s Lakes vs Celts, remember?) the tiny little AM radio, on top of the TV, sounding all fuzzy while Chick did his uncomparable commentary….those were the days.
these guys don’t bother me too much, since nothing will ever compare to our glory days of Chick. but one thing I always seem to notice is Joel when he says, “quarter”…I think we all say it like “corter” and this guy says “quart-er”..haha, next game, you’ll notice too.
I don’t know if we’ll ever see the GLORIOUS combo of the Magic lead 80’s Lakers, being called by Goldenthroat, Chicky-baby…I hope so, but this NBA is different, no Magic vs Larry showdowns, too many individuals these days.
Gatinho says
Sundy will be the first to tell you he rode the coattails of one Karch Kiraly to win that medal. Another annoying announcer was also on that team, Chris Marlowe.
Favorite Heinsohn quote: “Byron Scott is a great guard, but he’s no Danny Ainge.”
1981, Watching a little black and white TV in my room when I was 11, sitting two inches away so I could still hear Chick because it was “past my bedtime”.
Nucleus says
I can not stand the voice of Joel Meyers. I’m trying to watch a Lakers game on tv and I find I just can’t sit through the entire game with Joel Meyer’s voice. Can anyone relate? The Lakers need to get rid of him next season.