From Kevin Ding, OC Register: The Lakers might still owe LeBron James a little something, but they delivered historic payback against James’ old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Tuesday night. The Lakers won, 112-57, victorious by at least 50 points for only the third time in franchise history and shattering a Lakers record for fewest points allowed. The former low was 66 points by the Charlotte Hornets in 2002 — a season in which the Lakers won their third consecutive NBA championship, as they are seeking now. Cleveland’s 57 points were the fewest by any team in the NBA in the past three seasons.
From Mark Medina, LA Times: Reaching out his hand, Lakers forward Lamar Odom politely grabbed from a reporter a box score of the team’s 112-57 victory Tuesday over the Cleveland Cavaliers and scanned the sheet. His eyes darted up and down the page, poring over numbers that revealed the Lakers’ (28-11) complete dominance over the Cavaliers (8-30) in what marked their fifth consecutive victory. It showed L.A. setting a franchise record for points allowed to an opponent since limiting Charlotte to 66 on March 12, 2002 and established the team’s third-largest margin of victory behind a 56-point win over Detroit on Nov. 12, 1966 and a 63-point victory over Golden State on March 19, 1972.
From Brian Kamenetzky, Land O’ Lakers: Not since the lake burned (or Earnest Byner fumbled, or LeBron decided to dabble in television programming, or other things I’m probably forgetting) has Cleveland been eviscerated like they were Tuesday night. The Lakers set a post-shot clock record for fewest points allowed, notching the third-most lopsided victory in team history, beating the Cavs (or dudes in Cavs jerseys, at least) 112-57. To put this in perspective, we’re talking about over 4,930 games, and only twice have the Lakers won by a bigger margin, the record being a 162-99 win over Golden State in March of 1972. It was, plain and simple, a beat down of fairly epic proportions, fueled by a defense holding the Cavs to 30 percent shooting (29.9 to be exact).
From Brian Kamenetzky, Land O’ Lakers: The Cavs don’t have good players. Those good players, even by their standards, still missed a lot of looks, but I don’t care what’s happening, holding a team to 57 points and 29.9 shooting has to mean they’re doing something right. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the defense: only seven offensive rebounds allowed in the first half (off 28 misses), despite a huge lead (when players frequently lose focus) against a Cavs team that’s actually pretty good on the offensive boards. Nor did the Lakers turn the ball over — only six in the first half, and 12 overall (five coming in the fourth, when the game was, to say the least, decided). If they didn’t do Cleveland’s work for them, it seemed nearly impossible for the Cavs to score enough to keep up. The Lakers didn’t, and the Cavs- and this could be considered more than a mild understatement- didn’t.
From Dexter Fishmore, Silver Screen and Roll: There’s nothing left of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Once there was a basketball team, but now there’s just a garnet and gold smear across Figueroa Street, where tonight the Lakers ran them over, backed up, ran them over again and then shoveled up their remains to use as fertilizer. History will record that the Lake Show defeated the Cavs this evening by the blood-curdling score of 112 to 57, which is the sort of result we’re accustomed to seeing only in women’s college hoops or in Olympic group play circa 1992, but numbers can’t adequately describe the humiliation administered by the champs in this one. This was the basketball equivalent of snuff porn, and I frankly feel a bit dirty for having watched it.
From Anna Gonda, The Lakers Nation: When Lebron James left for South Beach, he not only took his talents from the Cavaliers, he also robbed them blind of their spirit and pride. It’s incredible to think that just a season ago, this Cleveland team held the best record in the NBA and tonight, they could barely put the ball in the hoop to save their dignity. 12,13,16,16 – These were Cleveland’s point totals for each quarter. After the first 12 minutes, the Lakers led by 15 points. After one half, they led by 32. After the third, the lead had ballooned to 51 points. And by the final buzzer, it was a 55 point win for the home team. It had gotten so unbelievably ugly for the visiting team that the crowd at Staples Center began to cheer when the Cavs got their 29th point.
MannyP says
Wow. What a beating. I really have nothing else to say. I’m still in awe.
DirtySanchez says
Nothing to take from this beatdown of a far inferior opponent. I want to see the same effort and focus come next week when the likes of OKC, Dallas, Den., and Utah are on the chopping block. If heads are rolling then, I will be sastisfied. I get no satisfaction in LA smashing a team by 50, when it still just counts as 1 W. Looking a the box score Caracter, Ebanks, and J. Smith should have gotten more than 6 minutes a piece in a blow out of this magnitude. Happy for the team with its all around game, but lets save some for later when the other team might hit back.
Craig W. says
What is really sad is that I have already heard “talking heads” making their stupid comments about how this proves how bad the teammates around Lebron were last year. I won’t even try to refute that mind numbing lack of even the minimal level of analysis of the facts.
Mimsy says
@Craig W.
Proof yet again that far too many “analysts” are more interested in making sure the data fits their idea of reality, than in actually finding out what is happening…
3ThreeIII says
Last night’s game illustrates, quite clearly, the vast difference between the top .001% of all basketball players, and the top .002% – .003% of all basketball players.
Make no mistake, even the worst player on that Cavalier team last night would be one the best players you had ever seen if you played against them in a pick up game or rec center league somewhere.
And the Lakers made them look horrible…
It is really, really nice to be a Lakers fan.
(And, that Kobe behind-the-back-with-spin bounce pass to a cutting Odom was amazing. It was like a magic trick. Unreal.)
flye says
@5 – As someone who once played in a pickup game many years ago where Jud Buechler just destroyed some pretty good talent, I have to agree.
Lakers better have the same fire tonight, because the Warriors have some good mid-range and 3-point shooters on that team–including our man VladRad, who’s playing right decently as of late.
exhelodrvr says
2) They maintained their focus – that is notable, bucause that hasn’t been the case much this season.
Tra says
@ #2 DirtySanchez
Excellent analysis. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Darius Soriano says
The game preview is up.
http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2011/01/12/preview-and-chat-the-golden-state-warriors-6/
Darius Soriano says
#2 & #9. I think it’s a bit much to say “nothing” can be taken from this game. I mean, statements like that imply that the Lakers deserve no credit for turning in a historical performance. I don’t care if the opposition is bad. When you hold an NBA team to 29% shooting and 57 points, you did several things right. No one is trying to hand the Lakers the championship because of this win, but to act like it doesn’t matter is nearly as rash as those that would make such claims because of the win.
tsuwm says
>I get no satisfaction in LA smashing a team by 50
>nearly as rash as those that would make such claims because of the win
somewhere in here there should be a message to Hollinger, in regard to his ranking algorithm (up three(3) rating points on the basis of that game?!)
Sedale says
That photo really does show a look of defeat on that Cavs player. It’s almost a hard photo to look at because I feel so bad.