Dagger 3's Sink Nuggets in Game 4

The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from a terrible playoff loss to win Game 4 with the help from a couple of key three-pointers in the final minute.

Laker point guards Steve Blake and Ramon Sessions both hit dagger three's that eventually made the difference in the tightly contested Game 4. That game saw several lead changes throughout and neither team controlled till the final stretch.

Apart from the point guard duo, the Lakers also got quality minutes from power forward Jordan Hill, who got double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) off the bench.

The Lakers' bench picked up some its scoring after finishing 26 points for the game. This is a big improvement since the subs averaged 13 points in the previous three games.

Game 5 will swing back to Los Angeles where the Lakers will look to advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.


Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers 2012 NBA Playoffs First Round Preview

It's hard to believe that the 2012 NBA Playoffs is already next week. It's probably because of the compressed 66-game season and the Los Angeles Lakers have only had their first Metta World Peace incident just last week.

The Lakers are sitting comfortably at third place in the Western Conference, following the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. The team was able to finalize their seeding in their win against the Thunder last week (the infamouse World Peace elbow game).

The Lakers' first round opponent is still to be determined as the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks have yet to lock-up their respective playoff positions. So for this 2012 NBA Playoffs first round preview for the Lakers, I'll take a look at both potential opponents.

Denver Nuggets

The Lakers have a 3-1 advantage over the Nuggets in their regular season match-up and this is looks good for the Lakers on paper.

The Nuggets don't have the size to go up against the Lakers' frontline tandem of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, and it doesn't help that the Nugs sent Nene to the Washington Wizards last February for the less intimidating Javale McGee.

Nuggets forwards Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington will get minutes trying to stretch the floor (Harrington has averaged 20+ in the teams' last two meetings), and they may fare even better with World Peace suspended for six games in the playoffs.

But what the Lakers need to worry more about is the Nuggets backcourt. Ty Lawson and Andre Miller have run circles around the Lakers' point guards and this means Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake have to step up their games.

The Nuggets have the NBA's best-scoring offense and team assists per game, and this means that they play at a fast rate and share the ball. Personally, I these metrics will take a hit in the playoffs as I foresee the Lakers to tighten the screws on defense come playoff time.

Prediction: Lakers in 5

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have to demonstrate their championship mettle this season against the Lakers (the Mavs were swept by the Lakers in the regular season). This bodes very well for the the Lakers.

The players that killed the Lakers last season (J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler) have left the Mavericks and this will put a lot more weight on the shoulders of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry to lead the Mavs.

Unfortunately for the Mavs trio, it will be an uphill climb, which is more like scaling a high wall. The Lakers will use their size advantage to frustrate their optential opponents and clog the lanes to prevent the slashing to the hoop. The only chance the Mavs have is if their outside shooting floats in the 50% range.

I am not the only one who thinks the Dallas Mavericks will not repeat as NBA champs this season and I think the Lakers will avenge their defeat, should the two teams meet in the first round.

Prediction: Lakers in 6


Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

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.


Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

Dwight Howard to LA: Will It Work?

With the NBA rumor mill churning again, fans are speculating what deals their teams will make. As a Laker fan, I have my eye on the big free agent prize: Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

If the Los Angeles Lakers were to get Dwight Howard, it would be through a blockbuster trade simply because the team doesn't have salary cap space. (In case you've forgotten, the Lakers have a league-high $91 million payroll).

Which trades make sense?

First, I propose this trade:

• The Los Angeles Lakers get Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu
• The Orlando Magic get Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.

It makes sense for both teams because the Lakers get the prized center and give enough talent back to the Magic. What also makes it appealing is that the Magic are rid of Turkoglu's albatross of a contract (3 years left with around $11 million per year).

I also have this trade idea:

• The Los Angeles Lakers get Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Trevor Ariza
• The Orlando Magic get Andrew Bynum and Chris Paul
• The New Orleans Hornets get Pau Gasol, Jameer Nelson, and Steve Blake

This is obviously harder to pull off because the Lakers lose their backup point guard and give up their frontline in one fell swoop. However, this becomes more attractive for the Magic and Hornets because they get All-Stars in this trade.

So, what do you think of these trade ideas?

Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

Should the Lakers Make a Trade Now?

The situation: The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling against elite teams in the NBA. This season, they have a couple of 3-game losing streaks, and are getting beat by athletic teams. The team's defense is as inconsistent as Ron Artest's shooting.

Therefore, the Laker should make a deal.

Mitch Kupchak is open to it. Lakers legend Magic Johnson embraces the idea. But should they do it?

The way I see it, the Lakers are playing like the 2002-2003 team. This was the team that was coming off a three-peat and virtually sleepwalked though the regular season. The result? The team barely made 50 wins in the regular season and got their asses handed to them by eventual champion San Antonio Spurs. The 2010-2011 Lakers are demonstrating a similar pattern.

The Lakers did not make a trade during that awful season and logic tells us that if the Lakers are following a similar trajectory this season, then not making a trade will lead to a similar conclusion: a playoff exit.

Even if a deal is the solution to the team's ills, who is the one to go?

The most attractive assets right now are Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. But I don't think the Lakers front office would be willing to trade key parts to the Lakers' championship machine.

If a deal is to be made, it would be one involving Shannon Brown, Steve Blake, or Luke Walton. As far as market value is concerned, Shannon Brown is the highest among the three. It also helps that Shannon Brown has his contract expiring after this season.

If the Lakers were to make a trade before the deadline, I suggest going for an athletic wing defender who can cover guards and small forwards.


Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

L.A. Lakers First Quarter Report

After a quarter of the 2010-2011 season gone, how's the Los Angeles Lakers' chase for its historic three-peat?

If you ask me, it's not looking good.

A quarter into the season, the Lakers showed that its dream season will not go without the bumps and kinks.Yes, they are one of the top teams in the NBA in terms of offense, but over-all, their play is far from championship caliber.

But let's look at the bright spots first:

• The Killer B's - The Lakers have found a good consistent bench rotation in the Killer B's (Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Shannon Brown). Brown has been the offensive sparkplug off the bench, thanks to his much improved outside shooting. Barnes and Blake have done what is expected of them-- play good defense, make outside shots, and don't do too many mistakes. This group makes people forget about the Bench Mob of the past.
• Kobe's Minutes - Did you know that Kobe Bryant is playing five minutes less this season per game compared to the previous season? As of now, Kobe is playing 33.4 minutes per game, his lowest since the 1997-1998 season. Coach Phil Jackson knows that at age 32, Kobe Bryant needs close monitoring of minutes played. And it seems to have worked in the past: 32 is the age when Michael Jordan's minutes of the Chicago Bulls were reduced by Jackson.
• Lamar Odom - His tour of duty for the USA team at the World Championships may have improved Odom's offensive efficiency. Odom's scoring average is up by 50 percent and he is shooting less three balls for the season. Odom has emerged as a reliable third option for the Lakers for sure.
• Pau Gasol -  Not to take away anything from Kobe Bryant, but Pau Gasol has been the Lakers' MVP so far. In the absence of Andrew Bynum, Gasol has held the fort in the paint for the Lake Show, upping his rebounds and blocks numbers. There was a stretch at the start of the season where Gasol was a constant 20-10-5 threat. It's surprise that the Lakers went on an eight-game winning streak then.

Now for the bad:

• Big Man Woes - Outside of Gasol and Odom, the Lakers are thin in the middle. Andrew Bynum is still out, with Theo Ratliff joining him in sick bay. Derrick Caracter has been doing his best Ronny Turiaf impersonation as an undersized big, with no results.
• Team Defense - No doubt that the Lakers can out-shoot their opponents, but the team has shown little interest in the defensive end on a regular basis. The team did a pretty decent job in the first couple of weeks into the season, but struggled as of late.
• The Four Game Losing Streak- A first since the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, the Lakers went from a unstoppable juggernaut to middle-of-the-pack contender during this swing. Yes, there were pretty bad breaks, but the team lost games it should have dominated over weaker opponents.
• Ron Artest - Can someone look for Artest's shrink? Ron-Ron has been an offensive disaster this season, with his shooting taking a huge dip. 36 percent shooting from the field and seven points for a starter are unacceptable numbers.
• Weak Schedule - Interesting thing about the Lakers's past 24 games: You will not find the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics, and the Miami Heat. If you ask me, the 17-7 record is a little inflated.

It's still early and the Lakers have shown they are capable of making a complete 180 when it matters. What I don't want to see is this becoming a trend going to the All-Star break.



Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

The Killer B's

Phil Jackson collectively called Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Shannon Brown as the "The Renegades" of the Los Angeles Lakers because of their gritty play off the bench.


But one nickname that has caught the Lakers faithful's fancy is "Killer B's." (Get it? Barnes, Blake, and Brown, all starting with B).


In the last three games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, and the Chicago Bulls, the Killer B's averaged almost 36 points per game and a handful of them were made in the clutch. The trio can be considered as the Lakers' out as they have made a total of 23 three point baskets in the same period.

Most notable of the three is Shannon Brown, who has been huge in the game against the Bulls. He scored 18 point in the first half, just enough to keep the pressure off starters Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. It's also no coincidence that the Lakers have been winning in the games that the bench played very well.

The nickname "Killer B's" is great because of the dagger three's the trio have been making, as well as the same gritty play. I hope the nickname sticks.


Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers Look Good in Stomping Grizzlies

There were a lot of positives in the Los Angeles Lakers' dominating 124-105 win against the Memphis Grizzlies.

• First is another strong game from Pau Gasol. The reigning NBA Western Conference Player of the Week continued his string of 20-10-5, with 21 points, 13 boards, and 5 dimes. This performance came against his brother Marc in a tough battle in the paint.
• The next good point is Lamar Odom's all-around game. Although he missed another double-double, Odom was solid with 17 points, 8 rebounds, as well as 6 assists. For the game, Odom led the Lakers in minutes played.
• Speaking of minutes, Kobe Bryant was well-rested, needing only 25 minutes.Kobe was monster in the first half, scoring more than 20 points. If the game was a close game, we would have seen Kobe scoring at least 40 for the first time this season.
• And finally, the bench play was great. The 3-B's (Matt Barnes, Shannon Brown, and Steve Blake) combined for 39 points, and 5-8 from the three-point line. Also worth noting is that Barnes led the game in rebounds with 14.

Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

Steve Blake Shows His Mettle in Season Opener

As I've predicted in my last post, Steve Blake proved to be a vital cog for the Los Angeles Lakers in their season opener against the Houston Rockets.

While the stat line of 10 points, 3 assists and a steal won't wow anyone, Blake played quality minutes off the bench and made key plays. He also made three out of four three balls, with the last one delivering the win. Moreover, Blake had a +13 plus/minus stat, the highest of any Laker for the game.

To me, this is the type of shooting that works well in the Triangle Offense and the kind of spark off the bench that will make people forget about the Lakers former bench mob, particularly Jordan Farmar.

I'm sure Blake will have his share of struggles in the 82-game season, but the opener gives the Lakers faithful reason to be more optimistic.


Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers

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

Technorati: Los Angeles Lakers