Dean Oliver’s seminal basketball statistics book, Basketball On Paper, breaks down the game into the “Four Factors†for winning games — shooting efficiency, getting to the free throw line, offensive rebounding and turnovers. You can win games by doing those things so well on offense you’re opponent can’t match it (what Golden State tries to […]
Archives for December 2007
Game Preview & Chat: The Chicago Bulls
Records: Lakers 14-9; Bulls 8-13 Offensive ratings: Lakers 111.3 (6th); Bulls 99.7 (28th) Defensive ratings: Lakers 106.0 (11th); Bulls 105.0 (8th) Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum Bulls: Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Joe Smith, Ben Wallace Lakers Notes: Swamped at work so we’re going to […]
And One For The Road
That was a great confidence-boosting, comfortable win for a team heading off on a four-game road trip. To be sure, the Clippers played poor defense on the perimeter (Kobe in the first and Sasha in the fourth got Clips to bite on fakes and that made their shots easier, the Clips rotations and coverage at […]
Game Preview & Chat: The Los Angeles Clippers
Records: Lakers 13-9; Clippers 9-13 Offensive ratings: Lakers 110.8 (8th); Clippers 101.1 (28th) Defensive ratings: Lakers 106.2 (13th); Clippers 104.9 (9th) Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Derek Fisher, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum Clippers: Brevin Knight, Cuttino Mobley, Corey Maggette, Tim Thomas, Chris “what hair?†Kaman. Lakers Notes:Kobe Bryant is a game-time decision […]
Game Preview & Chat: The Golden State Warriors
Records: Lakers 13-8; Warriors 12-10 Offensive ratings: Lakers 111.2 (7th); Warriors 111.2 (7th) Defensive ratings: Lakers 106.1 (12th); Warriors 109.3 (20th) Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum Warriors: Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, Matt Barnes, Al Harrington, Andris Biedrins Lakers Notes: No Tony Parker, no Tim Duncan and […]
Game Preview & Chat: The San Antonio Spurs
Records: Lakers 12-8; Spurs 17-4 Offensive ratings: Lakers 111.2 (8th); Spurs 114.4 (3rd) Defensive ratings: Lakers 106.1 (12th); Spurs 104.9 (10th) Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Vladamir Radmanovic, Andrew Bynum Spurs: Tony Parker, Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Matt Bonner, Francisco Elson Lakers Notes: First game of a back-to-back against teams […]
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer = The Lakers
It’s a holiday tradition at my house (long before I had kids, which says a lot about me, sadly) — sitting down and watching the 1964 classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. What’s not to love about a quirky cast of characters teaching a lesson about acceptance? Well, I suppose the lesson of incessant marketing […]
One on One with the Legends
Indulge me on an off day (for Kurt and the boys), so I can burden you with a little City of Los Angeles history. It’s for a good cause, and it does involve the Forum Blue and Gold. Los Angeles mayor James R. Toberman holds the distinction of switching on the city’s first electric streetlights. […]
Winning is Golden
On the night the Warriors focused on not letting Kobe beat them — and it worked because while he had 28 points he was 9 of 23 shooting — the other Lakers stepped up. Outside of Kobe the Lakers as a team shot 60.4% (eFG%). That was the case during the key run in the […]
Game Preview & Chat: The Golden State Warriors
Records: Lakers 11-8; Warriors 11-8 Offensive ratings: Lakers 110.8 (9); Warriors 111.8 (7th) Defensive ratings: Lakers 105.8 (11th); Warriors 109.3 (21s)t Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: (Lakers.com predicts Walton starts, I think he sits out tonight, so here’s a guess)Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Ronny Turiaf, Chris Mihm Warriors: Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, […]