Lakers Get Blasted by Thunder in Game 1

Somewhere in Oklahoma City, Derek Fisher is smiling.

In Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder,  the Lakers lost in humbling fashion to a team that's well-rested and very eager to exact revenge-- Fisher included.

Derek Fisher was sent packing to Houston during the trade deadline and was moved to OKC soon after. Fisher played quality minutes behind Russell Westbrook, who played almost flawlessly in the initial game. With the Lakers failing to stop the perimeter play of the Thunder, and their seemingly fatigued performance, the outcome was pretty much expected as early as the first half ended.

Can the Lakers even the series in Game 2?

I think so, but this has to do with more perfect execution on the defensive side, such as:

• Preventing Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook open looks 15 feet from the rim
• Disrupting the Thunder's offensive flow (forcing 4 turnovers won't cut it)
• Better face up defense without giving too many free throws (The Lakers gave up 24 free throw attempts)

I can make this list longer but the bottomline is defending better in Game 2.

Otherwise, Fisher may end up getting Championship Ring #6 ahead of former teammate Kobe Bryant.


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Chris Paul Shows What the Lakers are Missing

It was only a preseason game, but the atmosphere was that of a playoff game. And in the end, the Chris Paul-led Los Angeles Clippers convinced me that they are a legitimate playoff contender.

The Los Angeles Lakers? They need more time to figure things out.

Chris Paul showed little rust and seemed very comfortable with his new teammates. Contrast that to what happened to the Lakers, who were without a dependable point guard and looked lost in a lot of stretches in their first preseason game of the season.

Without Derek Fisher, the team relied on Steve Blake and rookie Darius Morris. By now, we know that Blake is still at best a serviceable backup and Morris is the second coming of Jordan Farmar.

In any case, if you're a betting person, I think you'll agree with me when I say that the Lakers chances to win the championship have dipped a little bit and the Clippers' chances to be in the playoffs just jumped a whole lot. Some sites for online betting (TopBet.com, etc.) have already tabbed the Clippers to get home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Talk about the difference Chris Paul makes.


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Fisher's Game-Winner: A Bad Omen for Road Trip?

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Derek Fisher is no stranger to clutch moments and with the way he masterfully sunk the Los Angeles Clippers with a high-arcing banker on the buzzer, it further established good reputation.


However, the Lakers aren't making a good reputation for themselves in the last couple of games, if you ask me. Yes, they were able to shake off that four-game losing streak and bounced back by stomping the mediocre Sacramento Kings, but the Lakers reverted to uninspiring (save for the buzzer beater) play against the Washington Wizards and Clippers.

Sounding a terrible sports cliche: Had the Lakers played better against the Clippers, then the buzzer beater wouldn't have been necessary.


Here's the problem I see: the Lakers are letting spitfire guards abuse them on the defensive end again. Against the Wizards, the Lakers allowed the backcourt combo or John Wall, Gilbert Arenas, and Nick Young a whopping 75 points. Eric Gordon of the Clippers nearly matched Kobe Bryant stat for stat in their game. Where's the backcourt
defense guys?



In the next six games, all on the road, the Lakers will be facing smallish Eastern Conference teams that rely on good guard play to win. Is the near loss a terrible omen for the Lakers in their Eastern Conference swing?




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Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2011 Season Preview

The 2010-2011 NBA season is here and I'm also out of my off-season blogging break! :)

The Los Angeles Lakers are fresh off their second championship but they're far from fresh with the slew of issues they are facing this season. Here are the key factors that I think will be facing the Lakers in this new season, with the theme "Don't underestimate..."

• Don't underestimate Matt Barnes' short fuse - Is it me or Matt Barnes presents a bigger threat to derail the Lakers' chemistry this season compared to Ron Artest last year? Barnes is cut from the Rick Fox cloth of the 2000's but I think he could take the enforcer role a bit too far as the season wears on. I see him leading the league in technical fouls.
• Don't underestimate Kobe Bryant's knee rehab - One of the reasons most people think Kobe Bryant won't win this year's MVP plum is his bum right knee. We've seen how it can affect his play, especially in the moments he struggled against the Celtics in the 2010 Finals. I see him bouncing back, but don't hold your breath. I see him averaging 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal per game.
• Don't underestimate Steve Blake - New acquisition Steve Blake is the designated first point guard off the bench but I see him eating up a few starter moments from Derek Fisher in the games before the All-Star break. I think Phil Jackson will rest Fisher and keep him fresh for the late season and the deep playoff run.
• Don't underestimate the Western Conference - A lot of folks see the Lakers trampling over the Western Conference, but there are still some threats. Kevin Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder is the current up and coming team, while the Utah Jazz is a rejuvenated squad with Al Jefferson manning the middle and Deron Williams running the show. The dark horse is the aging San Antonio Spurs, who are banking on a healthier and more experienced team.
• Don't underestimate the heart of the champion - Las Vegas oddsmakers are tabbing the new look Miami Heat to win it all this season. With LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, this team is a virtual All-Star squad. This is the type of lineup you make up in NBA 2K11. But the Lakers have the rings and the resolve to get it done. Let's see if heart will trump pure talent.

On a final note, I do see the Lakers winning the Western Conference, with the following seedings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Utah Jazz
3. Dallas Mavericks
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. Denver Nuggets
7. Houston Rockets
8. Memphis Grizzlies

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Four Keys to a Lakers Win in Game 4

The Los Angeles Lakers are up 2-1 against the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals and at this point, nobody is sure how that lead will hold up after Game 4. Both teams have had their hot and cold moments, plus the officiating has been spotty.

If the Lakers are to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, here are four keys that I think are important factors to help them claim Game 4:

• Lamar Odom - Derek Fisher was big in Game 3, but it was the steady play of Lamar Odom that silently buoyed the team in key moments. Prior to that game, Odom was plagued by foul trouble and had limited minutes. If he can stay in the game, Odom will be able to crash the boards and
• Interior defense - Kevin Garnett scoring 25 in Game 3? That was unthinkable at the start of the series, but Pau Gasol struggled to limit Garnett offensively. Rajon Rondo also made a handful of slashes in the lane without much trouble. This puts the onus on the Lakers bigs to put up a tough "D" like the Game 2 loss.
• Bench play - With the exception of the third game, the Lakers bench play resulted in a negative +/- stat. Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, and Sasha Vujacic need to produce better whenever they are on the floor, especially with how the fouls are being called in the series. In the second game, Kobe Bryant was hampered with three fouls early and that meant extended minutes for the bench.
• Shot selection - Here's one trend you'll rarely see mentioned: The team that shot better from the field in the first three games won the game. This means that offensive execution and shot selection is vital in the series. Both the Lakers and the Celtics are capable of playing lockdown defense and each must solve the defensive problems presented by their opponent.

No one is sure what type of Game 4 will be, but the Lakers can win it if they will address the factors I've mentioned.


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Lakers Go 0-3 in East Road Trip

In the last three games, the Los Angeles Lakers looked more like poodles than dobermans in their Eastern road swing.

Here's a rundown of what transpired in games in Miami, Charlotte, and Orlando:

• 111-114 OT loss to the Miami Heat - Poor third quarter set-up a comeback in the fourth to force overtime. The Lakers put up a good fight but fade away late in OT, with Kobe Bryant committing a charge against Jermaine O'Neal.
• 83-98 loss against the Charlotte Bobcats - With the great Michael Jordan in attendance, the game showed additional proof that the Bobcats have the Lakers' number. The second of a back-to-back, the Lakers looked flat offensively. Starters Ron Artest and Derek Fisher combined for 5 points and 14% shooting.
• 94-96 loss to the Orlando Magic -The Lakers turned up the grittiness a couple of notches higher, but the Magic out-muscled the Lakers in a rematch of the 2009 NBA Finals. Similar to the Heat game, the Lakers made a run in the fourth quarter and had good breaks with Orlando missing free throws in the final minutes, but the team lost with Kobe failing to convert a jumper at the buzzer.

The three game losing streak is the Lakers' longest since the acquisition of Paul Gasol in 2008. Incidentally, Gasol played poorly against the Heat and Bobcats, but he came out of his stupor in the Magic game.

The way I see it, the Lakers were failing on two key areas: offensive execution and the defense. The Lakers averaged 14 turnovers and only 15 assists in the losing streak. A team assist/turnover ratio of 1.07 is a good indicator that the team is not executing properly. (To illustrate, the pitiful New Jersey Nets have an average 1.22 assists/turnover ratio).

For defense, in the last three games, the Lakers got out-rebounded on the defensive end by their opponents by an average of 7 more  rebounds per game. Moreover, their opponents averaged 3 more blocks. Finally, the Lakers' allowed their opponent better offensive opportunities as their opponents always had a better shooting percentage than them. (In the three games, the Lakers opponents averaged 48% from the field versus the Lakers' 41%)

Clearly, the Lakers are not playing up to par. This doesn't bode well as we are in the final quarter of the season.



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Should Kobe Bryant Return Now?

Let's make this clear: As good as the Los Angeles Lakers have been in the last five games, Derek Fisher is no Kobe Bryant.

Down by a point with two ticks left, the Lakers had a chance to steal a game from the hated Boston Celtics, but the Lakers missed the clutch presence of Kobe Bryant. Derek Fisher took the last shot that had little because of the tight D the Celts had in place in the final seconds. That shot virtually had no chance of going in.

But let's try to look at the big picture: In the last five games without Kobe Bryant, the Lakers had been pretty OK. As expected, Pau Gasol has been the primary option for most part of that stretch, but we're also seeing Lamar Odom step up and be more aggressive.

But the bigger revelation has been Shannon Brown. He has almost doubled his scoring output (from 8 to 15 points in the last five games), rebounds, (2 to 4), and assists (1.5 to 3). His big game was the win over the Golden State Warriors where he exploded for a career-high 27 points and 10 boards. If you ask me, he seems determined to put the All-Star game brouhaha behind him.

So, should Kobe Bryant return? I say no. Give him time to rest and unleash him to hapless opponents in the Playoffs.


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The Lakers' Gift to the NBA: The Way to Beat Them

Prior to the Christmas game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers were pretty much the gold standard in the NBA. But after the Lakers lost, there was suddenly a collective warm, fuzzy feeling around the NBA-- there was hope for the teams and fans of the rest of the league.

The Lakers were transformed to a version of the team several years ago when Kobe Bryant contributed 50% of the team's offense and the rest of the team were just token players, like bungling henchmen to the cartoon villains. In the game, Kobe scored 35, but needed 32 shots. That 32 shots represented a third of the team's total attempts. Moreover, the rest of the starters (Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol) managed to produce 35 points together.

The Cavaliers reminded the league that this is how you beat the champs-- you make them a top-heavy, one man show and get tough with them on the defensive end. The Cavaliers sliced the uninspired Lakers defense en route to a 56% shooting bonanza. The Lakers? They had trouble putting the ball through the hoop, no thanks to pesky, long-armed defense from the Cavs.

If you ask me, the defeat created the same effect last year when the Lakers defeated the then defending champions Boston Celtics--  it showed that the Lakers can be stomped and crushed mercilessly. If you're players and fans of the contenders for the championship the year (Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets , Dallas Mavericks) you have your holiday gift wrapped in the Lakers' collective hides.


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So Much for 82-0

So much for going 82-0.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks at home, 94-80, no thanks to a stagnant third quarter and a weak performance from the starters.

In the last game against the Clippers, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum combined for 59 points. But in the Mavs game, the duo came up with only 34. This slip-off in the offense also affected the rest of the starters (Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, and Derek Fisher) shot 8 for 26 (30%). Artest was the worst offender as he only made one field goal for the game. If you're a starter for any team, that totally unacceptable.

Apart from the offensive failures, the Lakers' defense was bad. The team committed 29 fouls and did not protect the perimeter and low blocks effectively, as evidenced by the paltry blocks and steals of the team. The only saving grace was this beauty of  a putback from Shannon Brown:



Perhaps the Lakers were still high from their ring ceremonies that a better opponent than the Clippers brought them back to earth? The Lakers should definitely step-up against the rising Atlanta Hawks in the next game.


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Top 10 Best Lakers of the Last Decade

I've followed Ball Don't Lie's series on the Top 10 players in the different positions in the NBA of the last decade and I was inspired to come up with my own list of the Top 10 Best Lakers of the Last Decade:

#1: Kobe Bryant - I guess there will be few arguments for this selection. Kobe was part of all the Lakers' 4 championships in the first decade of the 2000's and has won individual accolades as well. He scored 81 points in a game once and held the scoring title for a couple of years. His best season? Personally, I think it was the 2008-2009, when he led the Lakers to the championship.

#2: Shaquille O'Neal - The Big Aristotle was a monster even before the decade started but he won his lone MVP award as a Laker in 2000. He butted heads with almost everyone in the Lakers organization, but maintained his clown-like demeanor in public. But I still think Shaq's reached his peak wearing purple and gold, winning all the Finals MVP's in the Lakers' Dynasty run early in the decade.

#3: Derek Fisher - Derek Fisher's stats won't wow anyone, but he was the Lakers' locker room leader and silent #3 option in the Dynasty years.  Fish also provided some of the most clutch performances in the last decade. Who can forget the ".04" shot he made against the San Antonio Spurs in 2004 and the clutch three's he made against the Orlando Magic last year?

#4: Pau Gasol - Pau Gasol's career Laker is still young but he has been a great #2 option for the last couple of years. After getting slammed by the critics for his weak performance against the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, Gasol toughened up and stood his ground against the towering Dwight Howard. Gasol's skill in the post and basketball IQ also supports his case as #4 in this list.

#5: Lamar Odom - Lamar Odom has made fans crazy with his inconsistency-- in one moment he's a versatile forward who can score, rebound, and facilitate the Triangle Offense with ease, in another, he's a lackadaisical player who disappears in the game. Whatever mode he's in, Odom is good for the top half of this list by his talent and solid numbers. Remember, he was one of the players who was traded for Shaquille O'Neal.

#6: Robert Horry - Like our #3 guy, "Big Shot Rob" gets in because of his intangibles. He lost a great deal of athleticism when the decade set it, so he relied on his wile and shooting to earn his place in the roster. Sacramento Kings fans will never forgive Horry for draining the 3 that sealed the Kings' fate in 2002.

#7: Andrew Bynum - Shaq's replacement? Hardly. But Andrew Bynum is still brimming with potential, despite his early injuries. He has shown flashes of becoming a dominant big man, but he's still enamored with scoring in the low blocks instead of patrolling the middle and letting the offense come to him. Thanks to his mentor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bynum is slowly getting more polished by the day as he is just about to turn 22.

#8: Rick Fox - Rick Fox may be plying his trade in Hollywood right now, but his role during his Lakers days was the team's resident enforcer. His best statline of the decade was during the 2000-2001where he averaged 9.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, but his tough play and defense were things that never showed in the scoreboard.

#9: Luke Walton - "Luuuuuuke" chants will always be a fan favorite but fans seems to have forgotten Walton was a solid #3 option when the Lakers' starting lineup consisted of Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, Smush Parker, and Walton. If you ask me, if Luke Walton played in a different system, his lack of athleticism would make him an NBDL candidate. But thanks to his crafty passing and mastery of the Triangle, Walton's career is still going strong.

#10: Caron Butler - Butler only wore the Lakers jersey for only one season but he came up with above average stats that season (15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals). The only problem then was that the Lakers missed the playoffs and the Bryant-Butler combo was deemed a failure. Butler was shipped to Washington for Kwame Brown, who was in turn, traded to Memphis for Pau Gasol.

So that's my list, the Top 10 Best Lakers of the Last Decade. Did I miss anyone? Feel free to chime in.


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Lakers Clutch in OT Game 4 Win

What a game!

If you're a Los Angeles Lakers fan, you would've had two cardiac arrests by the time the final buzzer sounded. Add Game Four of the 2009 NBA Finals to the library of clutch Lakers playoff performances.

The game started with the Magic dominating both ends of the court-- Dwight Howard was feasting on weak inside play from the Lakers bigs, and the Magic was executing the offense crisply. The Lakers didn't do themselves a favor by getting into foul trouble early on and scoring a paltry total of 14 points in the second quarter.

But things started to look up after the halftime break.

Trevor Ariza, known more for his defensive lock-down skills, exploded for 13 points in the third quarter and scored 9 straight in a 2-minute stretch that sliced the Orlando lead to one point. The tide turned like an upheaval for the Lakers as they outscored the Magic 30-14 in the third and came into the fourth quarter leading by a slim margin.

The fourth quarter was like a boxing match between two heavy weights slugging it out-- I was waiting for that big uppercut that will put the other one away. It looked like the Magic was able to deliver the killer blows with a three-ball and a short from Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic were up by 5 with a minute and a half left and the Lakers looked like their 2-1 lead would be evened after the game.

But fate, like the Los Angeles Lakers, had a different idea: Kobe Bryant passed to Pau Gasol a minute later to cut the lead to three points. The Magic had a chance to seal the door shut when their superstar Dwight Howard was fouled had two free throws. On both occasions, he missed. (I can feel the collective memories of the Orlando Magic fans hark back 14 years ago when Nick Anderson missed four free throws that could have won them the game. Howard's misses are truly made of those heartbreaking things.)

The Lakers inbounded and Kobe passed to Trevor Ariza, who then shuttled the ball to Derek Fisher. Fisher took a couple of dribbles and shot over the outstretched arm of Jameer Nelson. Swish. Game tied. Heart attack-inducing Moment #1.

The Magic's inexperience showed when instead of drawing a foul (the Lakers were in the penalty), an ill-advised jump shot was taken in the final four seconds of the game. The game went into overtime and it seems the momentum has shifted again to the Lakers' side.

A quick three by the Magic's Rashard Lewis kicked the extra period off, but that would be the the teams only field goal in overtime. Kobe Bryant kept it close with two jumpers, and a Dwight Howard free throw tied the game with a minute left. Thirty seconds would be the time when both teams would remain to be tied as Derek Fisher hit a huge three-pointer at the top of the arc. The Magic fans went silent. Heart attack-inducing Moment #2.

Gasol would hit two slam dunks and a free throw to set the final score but the game practically ended with that Fisher 3.

The Lakers are now one win away from the NBA championship.


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Team Play Lifts Lakers in Game Five

With the 103-94 win over the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers reminded us that they can play five-on-five basketball.

In the previous four games, it was the Kobe Bryant Show instead of the Lake Show-- Bryant dominated the offense and the results have been two close wins and a blow-out loss in Game Four. But for the pivotal fifth game, Kobe became the decoy at offense and his team mates responded early on.

In the first quarter, Trevor Ariza, Andrew Bynum, and Derek Fisher made most of the Lakers' baskets. In the second, it was the inside attack of Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum that kept the Lakers afloat. During that time, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were facilitating the offense, but Denver kept close. The scores after the first and second quarters were all tied.

After the halftime break, the Nuggets were the first ones to show signs of distancing themselves from the opponent: the led by seven points by the middle of the third. But that was the time the Lakers started a run that the Nuggets wouldn't recover from. Starting with Pau Gasol's dunk, the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 23-5 until the 7:52 mark in the fourth. The 7-point deficit became an 11-point lead thanks to that run. Reserve Shannon Brown made six baskets in that stretch, including a dunk over Chris "Birdman" Andersen and an improbable fade-away jumper as the shot clock expired.

Many experts will point to that run as a turning point for the game. The Lakers played great team defense and executed the offense sharply (the Lakers only made two turnovers and had eight assists in that 11 minute stretch). The Nuggets were able to cut it to four with three minutes left, but two consecutive three-point plays sealed the Nuggets' fate.

The Lakers pounded the ball inside, played excellent team offense, and held the Nuggets down when it mattered. Let's see if they can sustain the effort in Game Six and earn a ticket to the 2009 NBA Finals.


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Kobe Leads Lakers Rally to Take Game 3

What a game!

The Western Conference Finals match-up between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets have been producing exciting games and Game Three was no exception: down by eight points entering the fourth quarter, the Lakers mounted a rally and, like Game Two, it came down the last 30 seconds.

Kobe Bryant played the role of Captain Clutch for the Lakers, scoring 41 points in the game and eight points in the final minute, but it was the Trevor Ariza's steal on the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony with 36 seconds left that turned the tide completely in the Lakers' favor. (In Game One, Ariza stole an inbound pass late in the game to seal the Lakers' win.) Prior to Ariza's key play, Kobe hit a dagger three-ball to have the Lakers up by one point.

The Nuggets seemed to be poised for a big run of their own after Chauncey Billups hit a four-point play with four minutes to go, but Pau Gasol successfully made a couple of post-up baskets to counter. Nuggets guard J.R. Smith hit a jumper over Derek Fisher and that set-up Kobe's clutch three-pointer over Smith.

Apart from the late-game key plays, the Lakers played adequate defense on the Nuggets on the final quarter. The Nuggets scored 79 points after three quarters, but were held to only 18 in the fourth, and they did not score on a basket until Kenyon Martin's dunk with six minutes to go. Good thing the Lakers kept their composure, as they survived brutally bad production from started Andrew Bynum and Fisher. (Both of them combined for 4-for-12 shooting and 3-for-8 FT shooting.)

The Los Angeles Lakers have home-court advantage again, thanks to Kobe Bryant's clutch performance.


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Kobe Clutch in Game 1 Win over Nuggets

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers looked wobbly at the start, but finished strong to draw first blood against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, 105-103.

Kobe finished with 40 points, and hit 6 free throws in the final moments of the game to lift the Lakers in what looks to be a quality series between two West powerhouses. Kobe got help from Derek Fisher (13 points, 6 assists, and a couple of key treys) and Pau Gasol (13 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks) to counter Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony's offensive tear. Anthony led the Nuggets with 39 points on a torrid 70% shooting clip.

The game was a match between rhythm and rest as the Lakers just finished their grueling 7-game series against the Rockets a couple days ago and the Nuggets had played their previous game almost a week ago. The Nuggets looked sharp in the opening quarter, shooting with great accuracy and even built a 13-point lead. The Lakers countered with a strong second quarter via contributions from their bench. (For the game, the Lakers bench outscored the Nuggets' reserves 27-16).

After the halftime break, it became more of a see-saw battle as neither team could get total control of the game. The Nuggets were able to build a shaky 7-point lead in the fourth, but the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 23-14 the rest of the way, with Kobe Bryant firing 15 points.

Like I've said in my series preview, the Nuggets' inability to control Kobe Bryant cost them the game-- the combo of Dahntay Jones, Anthony Carter and J.R. Smith was completely ineffective against Kobe defensively.

The Lakers have taken Game One. Let's see if they will get three more wins against a tough opponent.


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How the Lakers Took Game 3

The Los Angeles Lakers were without their starting point guard, on the road and were getting hammered in what has become a very physical series.

So how on earth did they win Game Three of the Western Conference Semi-finals against the Houston Rockets?

I could point to three factors that led to their 108-94 win:

• Defense, finally - The Lakers, not really known to be a highly defensive team, played spirited defense with consistency in the game and it showed in the stats: The Lakers had a total of eleven steals against the Rockets' two, and nine blocks (with a couple coming from Kobe Bryant rejecting Yao Ming's two shots). I think the game was won in the third quarter when the Lakers held the Rockets to 14 points.
• Hot 3-point shooting - In my opinion, the Lakers are one of the most dangerous teams once their long-range bombs are finding the bottom of the net. Poor 3-point shooting hurt the Lakers in Game 1, but thanks to a 55% shooting clip from beyond the arc in Game Three, the Lakers pressured the Rockets into playing a more offensive-oriented game. Ironically, the Lakers were without Derek Fisher, one of their 3-point specialists.
• The Killer Instinct surfacing? - Kobe set the tone early on first quarter, where he finished with 11 points and making five out of his six shots in the quarter. His tenacity and will to win seemed to be infectious to his team mates, as the killed instinct that most people did not find in the Lakers suddenly surfacing with every hard-fought game. The ultimate dagger came at the end of the third quarter when Kobe made a 30-foot three point shot with two Rockets draped all over him. The Houston crowd was silenced by that shot.

Game Four is still in Houston, and if the Lakers do win that one, we will see the playoff series end in Los Angeles in Game Five.

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Derek Fisher Suspended for Game 3

The Los Angeles Lakers' playoff journey took another bump on the way to Houston.

Derek Fisher was suspended for Game 3, thanks to this play:


With Fish out, this makes Shannon Brown the likely starter to defend Aaron Brooks. Jordan Farmar can also be plugged in. But either way, the Lakers lose Fisher's streak shooting for one game.


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Lakers Strike Back; Even Series

The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back and prevailed over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their Western Conference Semi-finals match-up, 111-98.

Kobe Bryant shook off his poor shooting in Game 1 and scored 40 points on 60% shooting. Pau Gasol had another double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds, along with 4 blocks. Both Bryant and Gasol combined for more than half the team's point total.

Undoubtedly, the Lakers played a much better game over-all in Game 2: they shot much better as a team, executed the offense with improved discipline (resulting in more assists), and was more careful with the ball. Moreover, the team played better defense. They held the Rockets to a lower shooting percentage and controlled the paint better (and limiting Yao Ming's effectiveness). The only thing for concern in my opinion is the lackluster production from the Lakers bench.

It's important to note that the Lakers looked more aggressive on both ends of the court. From what I observed, they did not back down from the physical play (from Derek Fisher's roughhousing to Kobe Bryant's standing up to Ron Artest). The Rockets, on the hand, did hung tough with the huge second quarter surge, but came up short in the second half.

I had little doubt that the Lakers would win Game 2, but with the series now shifting to Houston, the Lakers now find themselves going on the road without a 2-0 cushion for the first time this playoffs.


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Lakers Survive Clippers Scare

Geez, the Los Angeles Lakers must be bored this time of the season.

The Lakers were up by 19 early in the fourth quarter, but they became listless the rest of the way. This let the Los Angeles Clippers go on a 18-0 burst to cut the lead to one point a couple of minutes left in the game. Thanks to free throws by Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant and a clutch layup by Pau Gasol in the final minute, the Lakers escaped with a 88-85 victory.

The game was supposed to be bench practice for the Lakers as the reserves got extended playing time in the first half. Heck, even DJ Mbenga took a 3-ball attempt! But the Clippers, led by Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, and Fred Jones made a game out of the match and breathed down the Lakers necks. It went down to the last possession and, in true Clippers fashion, Davis clanged an ill-advised off-balance 3 at the buzzer.


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Pau Gasol Lifts Lakers Over Nets

Pau Gasol's 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists boosted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-95 road win over the New Jersey Nets.

I  think the Lakers would have lost the game if had Gasol not stepped up-- Kobe Bryant had an off-shooting night once again with a 26% shooting clip. Heck, Kobe was outscored by by Derek Fisher for the game.

The Lakers seem to be building a reputation for letting opponents close in on them after building a very big lead. The Lakers led by 22 at some point, then let the Nets catch up and trim the lead to two points in the second half.  But thanks to Gasol, the Lakers never gave up the lead.

On a side note, the Lakers are still trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA's best record.


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Lakers Win, But Kobe's Shooting Woes Continue

The Los Angeles Lakers won their opening game of a seven-game road trip, but there seems to be more warning signs rather than points of encouragement.

Yeah, the Lakers did beat the Chicago Bulls 117-109, but the Lakers had to climb out of a double-digit halftime deficit and Kobe Bryant continued his mini-shooting slump-- Kobe shot 10 for 25 in the field for the game. In the last five games, Kobe has shot 41%, well below his season average of 47%. Prior to the last five games, Kobe had averaged close to 48% of hitting his shots.

This could be symptomatic of fatigue for Kobe as the increased dependence on him since Andrew Bynum went down last January 31 could be taking its toll.

Is time to shelve Kobe for the rest of the regular season? The Lakers have a very comfortable lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference crown, and it may be high time for Phil Jackson to give Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Derek Fisher some rest before the playoffs.


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