The Lakers can win games in a variety of ways. This team can outscore an opponent or out-grind them. They can kill teams inside or snipe from the perimeter. They have stars in Kobe and Gasol that, when playing at peak performance, can control a game and they also have a more than capable bench that can make the difference between defeat and victory. And today, against the Raptors, it was the bench that stepped up and carried the game home as the Lakers won their 5th straight road game and 6th in 7 tries defeating the Raps 120-110 to close a very successful road trip.
The game started with the Lakers looking energetic on offense, but not bringing the needed intensity on defense to slow down a depleted but energetic Raptors team. Toronto poured in 34 first quarter points by making 15 of their 25 shots to the tune of an offensive efficiency of 136. Seemingly every shot the Raptors took in the opening minutes was a good one and that fueled their confidence to the point that even when the Lakers defense did pick up, it didn’t really matter as the shots still fell. There was no better example of this than made 20 footers from Amir Johnson spurred on by his easy interior makes earlier in the frame (culminating in a 6-6 period for Amir).
And a lot of the Raptors early offensive success was fueled not only by the Lakers suspect defense but also their questionable decision making on offense. The Lakers had 6 first quarter turnovers and those miscues only allowed the pace of the game to shift more into the up and down affair that the Raptors wanted to play. This is a style of play the Lakers can have success with too – something their 28 first quarter points show – but overall, this style favored Toronto as the scoreboard would prove after the first 12 minutes.
But in the 2nd quarter, the game would start to stabilize as Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum started to make an impact on the game. Walton’s presence shifted the focus from an all open court, all the time style to one that was more balanced with half court action. Luke (and Blake) really calmed the team down by looking to initiate the offense when pushing the ball didn’t lead to easy baskets immediately. And once the Lakers got the game into the half court, they were able to get the ball inside, dominate the backboards, and turn the game in their favor. This is where Andrew Bynum’s presence also started to make an impact. Bynum – who played his best game since returning by pouring in 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds – proved too big for the shorthanded Raps to handle as he gobbled up offensive rebounds and earned trips to the foul line (sinking 8 of 10 for the game) after establishing good position in the paint and receiving the ball in positions to do damage. This change in the tempo allowed the Lakers to limit the Raps to only 15 2nd quarter points and ultimately enabled the road team to take a healthy 8 point lead into the half with statistical advantages in every category that implied a blowout was coming in the 2nd half.
However, that blowout wouldn’t come easy as the Lakers repeated the same mistakes in the 3rd quarter that they did in the 1st. Sloppy play and suspect defense allowed the Raps to climb back into the game. Carried by DeMar DeRozan’s 19 point outburst, the Raptors kept the game within striking distance and had the momentum going into the final period after Luke Walton’s long inbound turned into a buzzer beating half court shot by Leandro Barbosa at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Again, though, the Lakers bench was up to the challenge and would put their stamp on the game. Walton and Bynum brought back their 2nd quarter tricks, but this time they were joined by Blake, Barnes, and Brown. The killer B’s played nearly the entire final frame and hit long jumpers, grabbed key rebounds, and played impressive defense to keep the Raptors at bay. All three provided quality execution rather than any real highlight moments and with every possession found ways to put further the distance between the two teams. By the time the starters reentered the game, the outcome was secure and the Lakers only needed to run out the clock by matching baskets with the home team. A task that they accomplished with relative ease.
So the Lakers return home winning 6 of their 7 games on this road trip (including the Staples Center match up with the Clips). They’re now an impressive 11-5 on the road (any team that can win 2 of every 3 road games is elite) and they’ve only yet to start to put it together. I hate to sound like a broken record but as this team finds its stride it’s only going get better. Really, with Bynum’s return and continued solid play from the bench I’m not sure if this team has even scratched the surface of what it can be down the line. Which, in a way is a good thing as we all know that peaking now means much less than getting it done in May and June.
chownoir says
Any further reports on Bynum’s knee? AP report mentions he tweaked it and it’s sore but no swelling. Still with Bynum you never know. The cameras caught him wincing and flexing it after the play. He seemed to be moving okay though after that. Hopefully a couple of days off and no negative effects.
sT says
The Killer B’s include Bynum now, correct? So maybe Phil needs to slow down his integration back into the starting lineup, just to be sure he is there in June at 100%. The Lakers are on a very good roll of wins, lets hope we finish out the month this way, that includes a Christmas day win of course.
“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” – Okakura Kakuzo
james says
how come Sharapova turns up for a game in Jersey but never came for a Lakers game?
Joe says
Darius, you said 10-5 on the road, but the Lakers are actually 11-5. 🙂
Taylor says
I would call this game “controlled” with a few lapses. The Raps tried to get back in it, but it always seemed that we only needed to find one bucket or get a couple key stops to kill their drive. Exactly as predicted, we took them soft knowing they were only suiting up 9 guys. I liked the bench play, and every game Big Drew plays gets him a little more in sync. The one play where he missed a right hook, followed it, and put it back in looked like he felt a little pain coming back up the floor, but that seems to be expected. I’m hoping his minutes are up in the 20’s for the next few outings.
Still, coming off the road trip with a 6 up and 1 down record is something each of us would have signed off on, and impressively running off five in a row to head back home is great as well. Halfway to my double-digit call, and it will be quite impressive with the five roadies and upcoming wins over the Bucks, Heat, and Spurs (in SA). I believe that if we get to that mark, all of the talking heads will come back to earth for us. Silly Mark Stein and his recent hate on the champs.
Also, I didn’t look up the stats, but I am sure that over 50-60% of Drew’s points since coming back have come from the stripe. He’s been missing shots (as expected this early), but getting to the line a lot.
Hale says
The score’s off by ten each.
25% in and I don’t recall a season where I’ve seen so many defenders leave the ball. Seems like every time I see a clip, someone’s running away from the shooter.
Darius Soriano says
#1. No other updates on Bynum at this point. I’ll keep and eye out for any reports, though.
#4 and #6. Thanks for the second (and third) set of eyes. Those corrections have been made.
JeremyLA24 says
I too think we should take it slow in putting Bynum back as a starter. It really does show that he has matured when he’s scoring 16 off the bench when he’s filling spot minutes for pau and LO. He also hasn’t shown frustration when guards deny him an entry pass when he calls for it while initiating half court offense. I no longer feel like Bynum is too imature to handle being a bench playery. Don’t get me wrong though; if Andrew shows that he deserves to start next to Pau than I am whole heartedly for him starting. Although, right now I think that LO is leagues ahead of Andrew in efficiency on this team.
3 James: She probably showed up in Jersey cuz she knew she’d actually get to watch him play on that squad. (funny but true)
shannonlover12 says
Shannon Brown – 14pts + hussle and killer defense
= “Killer” Entertainment!! GO SHANNON!!
exhelodrvr says
With Blake and Barnes (and now Walton, at least recently) coming off the bench and playing well, within the system, instead of Farmar, Powell, and Mbenga, there is less need for Odom to be on the bench. That gives PJ the option of playing his best 4/5 pairing together, because he doesn’t have to worry about the bench falling apart. Since Gasol’s arrival, that best pair is Gasol/Odom. And Odom plays better as a starter. I think they should keep Bynum coming off the bench.
Craig W. says
Andrew has such an impact against the best centers in the league – we haven’t played any yet – that Phil has to start him as the season gets tougher. Pau gets pushed around by the Dwights and Shaqs and that is when we will really need Andrew. Besides, Pau will wear down and we need him in the playoffs.
I do like it that Andrew can come off the bench against Miami, though. However, I suspect he will need to play more minutes against Lebron and Dwayne’s driving.
Phillip Barnett says
Morning Links are up:
http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/12/20/around-the-world-wide-web-lakersraptors-reactions/
Chearn says
I actually read the articles from the most recent and now this one, so I replicated what has been posted here. Thus, I echo the sentiment about Bynum being a Killer King ‘B’. In addition, Lamar is playing like a starter and should not be demoted, until or unless Bynum makes a leap in efficient, consistent play.
This affords Phil another option in the fourth quarter; one which could be adjusted according to the tempo or team in the waning minutes: Pau and Lamar or Pau and Andrew. Either combination would be formidable.
Also, I worried how Shannon would handle adversity, i.e., what would he do once he had a slump in shooting. I am no longer worried, as it seems as though his confidence is unshakable. One note though, he is not making passes as effectively as he was at the beginning of the season. Here’s to hoping he gets back to passing the ball for assists. If Shannon can somehow get that aspect of his game back, he’ll remain on the floor even when his shot is not falling.
Let’s beat the Heat on Christmas Day!
Christie Wall says
I actually read the articles from the most recent and now this one, so I replicated what has been posted here. Thus, I echo the sentiment about Bynum being a Killer King ‘B’. In addition, Lamar is playing like a starter and should not be demoted, until or unless Bynum makes a leap in efficient, consistent play. This affords Phil another option in the fourth quarter; one which could be adjusted according to the tempo or team in the waning minutes: Pau and Lamar or Pau and Andrew. Either combination would be formidable. Also, I worried how Shannon would handle adversity, i.e., what would he do once he had a slump in shooting. I am no longer worried, as it seems as though his confidence is unshakable. One note though, he is not making passes as effectively as he was at the beginning of the season. Here’s to hoping he gets back to passing the ball for assists. If Shannon can somehow get that aspect of his game back, he’ll remain on the floor even when his shot is not falling. Let’s beat the Heat on Christmas Day!