tlongII
04-01-2010, 12:22 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Lakers-do-not-look-ready-for-playoffs
GAME TIME: Hawks 109, Lakers 92
Even before this pitiful performance in Atlanta, the Lakers felt they had nothing to prove and nowhere to move. They were still the reigning champs until somebody beat them, and with the end of the regular season in sight, there was no way they could catch the Cavs.
Still, while the hard-driving Hawks took full advantage of their visitor’s lethargic play, the Lakers were solely responsible for embarrassing themselves.
OFFENSE
Kobe looked for his shot from the get-go. On the three possessions when he faithfully executed the triangle, he wound up with open 15-footers — making two and missing one. Otherwise, he mostly planted himself in the low post and demanded the ball — or else he went through his razzle-dazzle dance-and-shoot repertoire whenever he caught the ball up-top or on a wing.
As a result, Kobe took more than twice as many shots as any of his teammates — 21 to Pau Gasol’s 10 — hoisted four of the ugliest bricks since cement was invented, was only 2-for-6 from the stripe, and passed only when he was unable to see the rim. On one third-quarter sequence, Gasol was so surprised when Kobe noticed that he was alone under the basket that he fumbled the incoming pass.
Gasol, meanwhile, was grumbling at several other teammates for not giving him the ball in the low post.
Lamar Odom jacked up a number of quickies and missed a bunch of layups, and was whistled for camping out in the paint.
Derek Fisher played like he was the only one who knew that he’d already retired. Ron Artest banged around and was actually the Lakers' most alert passer.
Off the bench, Jordan Farmar made numerous mistakes with the ball, but rescued his stat line by burying a bunch of too-late treys.
Shannon Brown dunked a breakaway and, given what else he contributed, should have continued fast breaking to the locker room.
All game long, the Lakers were careless, listless, and obviously upset with each other.
It was so bad that with less than five minutes remaining in the game Phil Jackson couldn’t bear to watch. As the Lakers wearily carried the ball into what is supposed to be the attack zone, Jackson was busily studying his fingernails, perhaps contemplating his next manicure.
For sure, the Hawks played some rousing defense — jamming the middle, and haunting the passing lanes — but the defending champs offered minimal resistance. Instead of forcing the issue by driving the ball into the lane, the Lakers were content to play on their heels and fire away from the perimeter.
Both Zaza Pachulia and Al Horford simply out-hustled and overpowered Gasol. And, in the fourth quarter, when Marvin Williams was tagged with a flagrant foul for headhunting Gasol and throwing him to the floor, the big center’s teammates retaliated by tossing up more long jumpers.
DEFENSE
The Lakers' nonchalant performance at this end of the game was even more disgraceful.
Kobe went into his hot-footed defensive mode whenever Joe Johnson commenced a one-on-one attack on the basket, but was then routinely left in the dust.
Atlanta registered a half-dozen uncontested dunks and layups because L.A.’s baseline rotations were non-existent.
The Lakers' bigs seldom bothered to box out.
The Hawks ran 44 isolation plays — producing 44 points and seven assists — but the Lakers never made any meaningful adjustments. No double teams. No ball-denials. No forcing to help spots. No nothing.
Cross-screens, weak-side screens, screen/rolls, screen/fades…the Hawks ran every one of these formations for considerable profit.
Here, too, the Lakers pointed fingers at each other trying to fix the blame on somebody else’s real or imagined mistakes.
Evidently, the Lakers are convinced that they’ll be able to resurrect their collective A-game once the playoffs commence. And perhaps they will. But what switch can they activate that can make this happen? What Zen koan or magic metaphor can PJ deliver to make his players see the light?
The Lakers' incredibly inept play these past few days demonstrates their laziness, selfishness, lack of discipline, the absence of faith in each other, and above all their overweening arrogance.
And as The Preacher saith, “Pride goeth before the fall.”
GAME TIME: Hawks 109, Lakers 92
Even before this pitiful performance in Atlanta, the Lakers felt they had nothing to prove and nowhere to move. They were still the reigning champs until somebody beat them, and with the end of the regular season in sight, there was no way they could catch the Cavs.
Still, while the hard-driving Hawks took full advantage of their visitor’s lethargic play, the Lakers were solely responsible for embarrassing themselves.
OFFENSE
Kobe looked for his shot from the get-go. On the three possessions when he faithfully executed the triangle, he wound up with open 15-footers — making two and missing one. Otherwise, he mostly planted himself in the low post and demanded the ball — or else he went through his razzle-dazzle dance-and-shoot repertoire whenever he caught the ball up-top or on a wing.
As a result, Kobe took more than twice as many shots as any of his teammates — 21 to Pau Gasol’s 10 — hoisted four of the ugliest bricks since cement was invented, was only 2-for-6 from the stripe, and passed only when he was unable to see the rim. On one third-quarter sequence, Gasol was so surprised when Kobe noticed that he was alone under the basket that he fumbled the incoming pass.
Gasol, meanwhile, was grumbling at several other teammates for not giving him the ball in the low post.
Lamar Odom jacked up a number of quickies and missed a bunch of layups, and was whistled for camping out in the paint.
Derek Fisher played like he was the only one who knew that he’d already retired. Ron Artest banged around and was actually the Lakers' most alert passer.
Off the bench, Jordan Farmar made numerous mistakes with the ball, but rescued his stat line by burying a bunch of too-late treys.
Shannon Brown dunked a breakaway and, given what else he contributed, should have continued fast breaking to the locker room.
All game long, the Lakers were careless, listless, and obviously upset with each other.
It was so bad that with less than five minutes remaining in the game Phil Jackson couldn’t bear to watch. As the Lakers wearily carried the ball into what is supposed to be the attack zone, Jackson was busily studying his fingernails, perhaps contemplating his next manicure.
For sure, the Hawks played some rousing defense — jamming the middle, and haunting the passing lanes — but the defending champs offered minimal resistance. Instead of forcing the issue by driving the ball into the lane, the Lakers were content to play on their heels and fire away from the perimeter.
Both Zaza Pachulia and Al Horford simply out-hustled and overpowered Gasol. And, in the fourth quarter, when Marvin Williams was tagged with a flagrant foul for headhunting Gasol and throwing him to the floor, the big center’s teammates retaliated by tossing up more long jumpers.
DEFENSE
The Lakers' nonchalant performance at this end of the game was even more disgraceful.
Kobe went into his hot-footed defensive mode whenever Joe Johnson commenced a one-on-one attack on the basket, but was then routinely left in the dust.
Atlanta registered a half-dozen uncontested dunks and layups because L.A.’s baseline rotations were non-existent.
The Lakers' bigs seldom bothered to box out.
The Hawks ran 44 isolation plays — producing 44 points and seven assists — but the Lakers never made any meaningful adjustments. No double teams. No ball-denials. No forcing to help spots. No nothing.
Cross-screens, weak-side screens, screen/rolls, screen/fades…the Hawks ran every one of these formations for considerable profit.
Here, too, the Lakers pointed fingers at each other trying to fix the blame on somebody else’s real or imagined mistakes.
Evidently, the Lakers are convinced that they’ll be able to resurrect their collective A-game once the playoffs commence. And perhaps they will. But what switch can they activate that can make this happen? What Zen koan or magic metaphor can PJ deliver to make his players see the light?
The Lakers' incredibly inept play these past few days demonstrates their laziness, selfishness, lack of discipline, the absence of faith in each other, and above all their overweening arrogance.
And as The Preacher saith, “Pride goeth before the fall.”