Ball or Nuthin' » Lakers

Spelling Ability is Optional for NBA Tweets

T Lamont — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:37:47 +0000

Congratulations to UCLA alum Matt Barnes on his new decision to join the medical field!

Here’s the celebratory message that he left on Twitter via his Blackberry:

“Its official I AM A LOS ANGLES LAKER. I wanna thank u for all ur patients and understanding. This is a dream come true!!! Good lookn Kobe”

This is a great model for all athletes, letting them know that they can use their athletic gifts as a tool for – what? He’s not a doctor…and he’s joining the Lakers…to play basketball?…but he said “patients”…

Oh, he meant “patience”…OK, now I got it.

I guess Twitter should integrate a spelling and grammar check, along with a questionnaire prior to typing a message that will enable readers to understand what it is that the person is really trying to communicate.

Or, I guess I could just learn to have more patients with tweets from athletes.

Los Angeles Lakers Battle Back to Win 2010 NBA Title

T Lamont — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:26:32 +0000

Oh, how things have changed for the Lakers.

On a night filled with shooting struggles, all Kobe Bryant could do was watch.

Ron Artest and Pau Gasol unquestionably scored the biggest baskets of their careers, contributing to the Lakers’ 83-79 win over the Boston Celtics to claim their second consecutive and 16th overall NBA title.

Gasol (19 points, 18 rebounds) converted a double-pump turnaround that gave the Los Angeles Lakers a six-point lead with 90 seconds remaining in regulation.

After a Boston score, Bryant was double-teamed immediately and gave the ball up to Artest on the wing. With a defender in his face, Artest (20 points, 5 steals) let a triple fly that hit nothing but the bottom of the net – upping the Laker lead to six points.

After a barrage of three-point field goals, L.A. was clinging to a 81-79 advantage. Another Laker not wearing #24 – Sasha Vujacic - buried two clutch free throws to put the game on ice, and give the game its final tally.

From the start of the game, Boston dictated that Game 7 of the Finals would be won playing their style of basketball. And it was evident that the referees were going to let the players determine the game’s outcome. In the early going, there was lots of pushing, shoving, bumping and grinding. The Celtics played great team defense – effectively stifling the home team in the first quarter. The Celtics ended the first with all of the momentum in their favor, and led 23-14.

The second quarter saw the Lakers dwindle down that nine-point advantage, with a big unexpected surge from forward Ron Artest. Artest scored 11 points in the period, keeping L.A. afloat. Also, the Lakers were mauling the Celtics on the offensive glass. Los Angeles was shooting terribly (in part to some tough Boston defense), but staying close by getting second – and third – and even fourth opportunities on the offensive end. But the game’s flow still benefited Boston, who were getting contributions from various players. The Lakers had effectively chipped into the visitors’ lead, and the team went into intermission with Boston leading 40-34.

Ron Artest saved the Lakers with his offense and defense tonight.

Los Angeles and Boston engaged in a back-and-forth exchange in the third period. At one juncture, the Celtics had extended to a 13-point lead. But Artest continued to make an impact for L.A. (offensively and defensively), coming to the aid of a struggling Kobe Bryant – who finished with 23 points on 6-24 from the field. Inch by inch, the Lakers were beginning to make things interesting, pulling closer and closer to the Celtics – ultimately ending the quarter trailing by only four points.

During the first half of the fourth quarter, the Lakers rode their momentum to transform the contest into a nail-biting affair. Their run was highlighted by two big plays – a Derek Fisher 3-pointer with 6:12 remaining to tie the game at 64, and moments later, a Kobe Bryant pull-up jumper to give the Lakers a four-point cushion, 68-64.

Then it was time for Bryant’s teammates – Gasol, Artest and Vujacic – to take center stage on the biggest night of the season. Although Bryant was clearly the best player in the series (and he won the NBA Finals MVP), Game 7 clearly demonstrated the value associated with team play. When Kobe’s cast played well, the Lakers won. When they didn’t, they lost no matter what Kobe did.

In the end, the Los Angeles Lakers stood tall as a team – and that made all of the difference.

Smothering Defense Leads L.A. Over Boston

T Lamont — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:03:49 +0000

In Game 6, the Lakers didn’t even come close to breaking a sweat.

Los Angeles trounced the Boston Celtics, 89-67, to set up an epic Game 7 battle at the Staples Center on Thursday night.

Let’s take a look at why the Lakers won tonight, using T Lamont’s “Lakers Survival Guide” as a reference.

1. Put Bryant in a Bottle - The home team desperately needed to get some of Kobe’s teammates involved early and often, and they were able to do that in grand fashion. While the Boston bench has been applauded for its game-changing effect, it was L.A.’s reserve unit that pumped up the the atmosphere in Staples tonight. Eight points and ten boards for Lamar Odom. Eight points (including two three’s) for Sasha Vujacic. Four more points for Jordan Farmar. Four big points from Shannon Brown on two breathtaking, highlight-reel dunks.

What about the Boston bench you might ask? It didn’t score its first points until about nine minutes were left in regulation.

L.A. also got a couple of good performances from its starters not wearing #24 (Bryant finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a little over three quarters of action). Pau Gasol was near triple-double status with a line of 17-13-9 (and 3 swats). Ron Artest had eight first quarter points and finished with 15.

2. Dictate the Tempo- The Lakers ran at every opportunity that was presented to them. By pushing the ball, it helped them improve upon their miserable Game 5 shooting (39% on Sunday). Los Angeles also extended its defensive pressure to force the Celtics to pick up their pace. In doing so, the Lakers were able to tip many passes and generally disrupt the Celtic offense. L.A.’s defensive effort was exemplary, holding the visiting team to 67 points on 34% field goal shooting. The 67 points represents the second lowest team total in NBA Finals history.

3. Take Away Pierce’s Mid-Range Game - L.A. took away just about all of Paul Pierce’s game. Pierce went 6-14 for 13 points. He had zero free throw attempts. Pierce never found a rhythm, and neither did the Celtics.

4. Start “The Goods”- Jackson still gave the starting nod to Artest at the small forward spot, and Ron-Ron played a great game. Lamar played 28 productive minutes for Los Angeles. With Andrew Bynum’s exit from the contest, Odom naturally played more of his minutes alongside Gasol in the frontcourt and his boardwork reflected that. But with his finesse game, Odom can play big in the paint, and he even contributed two rejections on the night.

Artest and Odom provided Bryant with the support that he needed to give the Lakers a Game 6 win.

Despite the lopsided outcome of Game 6, a tough, physical Game 7 will be played in two nights. And even though the game is going to be held on the floor of the stadium with some of the most boisterous fans in the NBA, I’d have to say that Game 7 is a complete wash.

Two big obstacles stand in each team’s path. And when I say big, I mean Andrew Bynum and Kendrick Perkins. Both bigs left the game with injuries, and the Finals’ participants will hold their collective breaths to see if their team can come into the classic showdown with their full roster in tact.

On one hand, you have the Lakers – who always play like world champions on their home court. On the other hand, the Celtics have demonstrated that they can play with more focus on the road than at home.

So, both teams will be in comfortable situations.

One thing is for certain: Whichever team comes out of Game 7 victoriously will have earned it.

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Lakers’ Survival Guide: Game 6 – Keys To Victory

T Lamont — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:08:44 +0000

Who really thought that we’d be trying to figure out who the Lakers could survive in Game 6?

Boston’s defense and complete team contributions have the Lakers’ backs up against the wall tonight.

After an awe-inspiring effort from Kobe Bryant left the Lakers short of winning on Sunday night, what does L.A. have to do tonight to force a Game 7?

1. Put Bryant in a Bottle- Most importantly, Phil Jackson has to control his superstar. The 2008-2009 NBA MVP will need to get lots of support from his teammates. And to do so, Bryant will have to take a step back and curtail his instincts to take over the game. Let’s face it – the other Lakers are nowhere near as talented as Bryant (not many are), and they cannot be expected to convert field goals without being in the flow of the game. Bryant exploits needs to be harnessed when all other options have been exhausted. So, Jackson needs to put the genie in the bottle and save his wishes until the game’s most critical moments.

2. Dictate the Tempo- Now that the Lakers are returning home, they should have an easier tim dictating the tempo of the game. L.A.’s Game 5 total of 86 points was the lowest in their 2010 playoff run. After their rough and tumble opening round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers found their rhythm and averaged 109 and 113 points per game in their following two series. They may not be able to duplicate that level of offensive success against the Celtics, but they desperately need to speed up the pace of the game to give them a legitimate shot at triple figures.

Kobe Bryant desperately needs to get his teammates involved.

3. Take Away Pierce’s Mid-Range Game- 2008 NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce woke up in Game 5. Pierce was an efficient assassin, shooting close to 60% (12-21, 27 points) and committing zero turnovers. Pierce feasted at his favorite spot on the floor. The Truth loves to handle the rock somewhere around the free throw / top of the key area. When playing there, he likes to comfortably execute his series of backdown dribbles followed by a spin in accordance with any contact made with the player defending him. Los Angeles has to keep him out of his comfort zone. Also, they need to turn Pierce into a passer. Pierce is not a bad passer, but if you’re the Lakers you want to do this because there’s only one knockdown shooter on Boston (Ray Allen). So, any resulting shot from any other Celtic would have a high probability of being a brick.

4. Start “The Goods”- Productive bench play is a big part of what makes the Celtics successful, but it is not critical. The Lakers simply need to get some production from someone other than #24. I think Lamar Odom – who plays remarkably better at home – could turn the tables in Los Angeles’ favor. Word has it that Odom has come down with the flu. But with Ron Artest proving that he is not capable of slowing down Pierce, starting “The Goods” could work out for the better for L.A. At 6’10″, Odom has the length (and quickness) to make things difficult for Pierce on the offensive end. But Odom is a much more versatile offensive threat of his own. His handle is magnificent for a player just a hair shorter than seven foot. He’s creative with the ball, crashes the boards well and has an above-average basketball IQ that often places him in the right place at the right time. Giving him the starting role should allow him to establish a rhythm that might make a big difference if the game hangs in the balance in the final quarter. And he’ll just have to worry about that flu later.

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Celtics’ Team Play Beats Lakers in Game 5

T Lamont — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:29:38 +0000

In the pivotal Game 5 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics gave us a little math lesson.

Four is greater than one.

Many would argue that Rondo has become the most valuable Boston Celtic on the current team.

Celtics’ Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen combined to outplay Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant as Boston defeated the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, 92-86, giving them a 3-2 series lead.

Boston got out to a good start shooting the ball from the field. In a closely contested first half, the Celtics outshot the Lakers 66% to 33% from the floor. Paul Pierce was magnificent, shooting 7-10 and putting up 19 in the opening 24 minutes. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett were also effective contributors. With such a notable discrepancy, what kept Los Angeles in the game?

In a word – turnovers. The home team committed 11 first half miscues, and L.A. converted them into 11 points on the offensive end. The Lakers also attacked the offensive glass, with Pau Gasol securing some valuable second chances for the purple and gold.

Kobe Bryant (38 points) put on a miraculous show in the third quarter. Three-pointers. Fade-aways. One-handed alley oops. He threw everything but the kitchen sink. And it went in. After struggling early in the game, Bryant scored 19 points in the period (the first nineteen of the period for L.A.) and accounted for 23 consecutive points for his team at one time in the quarter. But for all of his effort, the end result was that the Celtics increased their lead to eight points at the end of the third.

Everyone got into the act for Boston. Pierce (27 points in Game 5) remained killer from mid-range. Garnett (18 points, 10 rebounds) made a couple of forceful baskets. Allen hit a couple of field goals, too. While Los Angeles was once again riding the talents of Bryant, the Celtics were getting ball movement and involvement from virtually all of their key players.

In the final period, the Lakers opened by going to Gasol (someone other than Bryant). They were able to get the deficit to six points, but it wouldn’t stay there for long. Behind more team play on both ends of the court, the Celtics were able to push their advantage back out to double figures. Undeterred, Los Angeles continued to fight back.

Key play down the stretch: Down by five with 46 seconds to go, veteran guard Derek Fisher won a jump ball against Garnett. The ball was tapped up to Ron Artest on a breakaway – and he was fouled by Pierce. Artest badly missed both free throws and Boston secured the rebound. The Celtics called for a timeout in the backcourt. On the ensuing inbound, Garnett tossed a jump ball to Pierce – who caught it, turned and whipped it to a cutting Rondo (18 points, 8 assists) for a layup with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.

Although Los Angeles is more well-rounded and a much tougher team than they were two years ago, this series is beginning to take the flavor of the 2008 Finals. The Celtics are getting a more greater level of team inclusion than the Lakers – several Boston players were taking turns making plays tonight. Los Angeles desperately needs to orchestrate a way to get all of their important contributors into a rhythm. Bryant can get his anytime. Gasol, Odom, and Artest cannot.

Now that the Lakers are trailing in the series, will Bryant allow someone else to shoot the basketball?

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was mic’ed and commented to his team that:

“This (the Boston Celtics) is a team that knows how to lose games in the fourth quarter. They led the league this year in games lost in the fourth quarter.”

But Jackson needs to know how to coach his team to win this type of tough contest. Against a defense like Boston’s, you cannot rely on one player to win. Ask Dwayne Wade. Ask LeBron James. Ask Dwight Howard. They are all league icons who have stepped up and taken a seat in this year’s postseason. If Jackson doesn’t tighten the reigns on Bryant early in the game and get others involved, L.A. could see their hopes of back-to-back championships diminish on Tuesday at the Staples Center.

Garnett played with fire again tonight. Pierce played like the unheralded leader that he is.

But can enough be said about Rondo?

Comparatively speaking, he can’t shoot – anything beyond the free throw line is a challenge. But has there been a player as good as he has been with such a well-documented handicap. One could argue that Shaquille O’Neal would fit that bill, but he’s well over seven foot (in height and width) – so he’s just too hard to stop from a physical standpoint. Everyone knows Rondo’s weakness, however, in each game he overcomes it in a bigger and better way.

In 2008, Kobe was outplayed by three Celtics. Bryant worked hard, and is perhaps a better player than he was two years ago.

But unfortunately in 2010, Jackson is counting on him to outplay four Celtics.

Tonight, he couldn’t do it.