It dawned on me that I put up information about other team’s offenses and defenses in previews, but I haven’t done that for the Lakers. So:
Record: 32-30 (27-35 Pythagorean), 8th seed in the West
Record last 10 games: 6-4
Offensive Rating: 109.3 (9th in the NBA)
Defensive Rating: 107.2 (17th in the NBA)
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About last night….. that game reminded me why I don’t really like Byron Scott as a game coach. Speedy Claxton on Kobe in the fourth quarter? With slow doubles coming? If there is one rule in playing the Lakers, it’s make Kobe give up the ball in the fourth quarter and force someone else beat you — he’s still going to get his points but do everything within your power to slow him. Unless you’re the Hornets, apparently.
Not that Odom couldn’t have beaten them if Kobe had been forced to pass. Missed a few easy ones (he was 6 of 14 from the floor) but he was a beast on the boards and had a good game.
While we’re throwing out praise, Luke Walton has now played several of his better games in a row. When the Lakers took charge in the fourth quarter last night the lineup was the starters save for Walton taking Cooks place. Cook’s defense was killing the Lakers last night.
Commenter Kwame a. mentioned it before the game was played, and the Lakers listened — good job using Kobe and Odom in the post to take advantage of mismatches.
Kobe and Mihm were tied for the team high with +7s last night. Smush and Walton were +6.
I love, by the way, the Byron Scott got booed in the introductions by the Hornets fans (he has suggested the team stay in Oklahoma City).
John R says
Speaking of coaching, how much of the 3rd quarter woes can be ascribed to PJ? It seems at times that other teams are making postive adjustments coming out of halftime and he isnt matching until late in the 4th if at all. Or is this effort too?
kwame a. says
i really liked what pj did during the hornets game. a couple times in the first half, and for the last couple minutes in the fourth quarter, the lakers went 3-2 zone, with odom up top. i would love to see the lakers run this, similar to what minnesota does with kg. this will help cut down on penetration, as well as mix up our defenses, keeping the oppossing teams offense off balance. great job by pj, who aside from d’antoni and aj, is the coach of the year
Kurt says
I had a note about that zone D as well, I generally like switching Ds up late (going over a pick if you’ve gone under it all game, for example) and thought that was a good choice. I’m with you about Lamar out top, but Mihm needs to be huge on the boards then because Odom is away from the basket. We gave up one or two easy offensive putbacks in the zone,
JONESONTHENBA says
Only problem with the zone is that it leaves the Lakers vulnerable to giving up offensive boards. But against an undersized team like the Hornets, it worked.
John R says
Wait. You are going to credit PJ with deciding to use the zone on the Hornets? He lifted that directly from the Clips. I mean, he gets credit for copying the right move, but that’s about it.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=260301012
NBA record 16 points in the second half. A 25-0 run over 12+ minutes and ending the game on a 40-8 run. The Lakers never held them to less than 24 in a quarter last night.
It will be interesting to see if he tries it again against the Spurs. You can boggle a rookie PG’s mind by switching defenses, but the Spurs know what to do.
Kurt says
John R., there is nothing new under the sun in the NBA, everyone steals from everyone if they find something that works. I’m fairly sure Dunleavy didn’t invent the zone defense. The point was that this can be an effective change of pace defense for the Lakers beyond the Hornets.
Change of paces are partuclarly needed against good teams like the Spurs, who have seen it all and adjust pretty quickly.
Gatinho says
Warning: Irony Ahead!
From NBA.com:
“Ironically, the previous record for lowest-scoring half in the shot-clock era (since 1954) was set by the Clippers vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on December 14, 1999.”
Who was coaching that team?
john says
yeah, byron does seem kinda like a coachin’ ‘tard.
notreallyimportant says
I realise this is totally random, but does anyone know where I can find players statistical averages by quarter?