The Batman
12-08-2010, 09:47 AM
1. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and Lamar Odom have different takes on his late-game shot in the Lakers' 115-108 victory Tuesday over the Washington Wizards. With the Lakers holding a four-point lead with 21 seconds remaining and 16 seconds left on the shot clock, most teams would wait for the shot clock to dwindle down and then look for a quality shot to ice the victory. Not Odom, whose missed corner three-pointer resulted in Washington guard John Wall grabbing a defensive rebound and the Wizards calling a timeout with 20 seconds remaining.
Once the Lakers huddled on the sideline, Jackson chastised Odom for the miscue.
"I asked him what he was thinking and he said I got selfish," Jackson said. "He did. It was a selfish move and it could've cost us the game."
Interestingly, Odom shared a much different version moments later in the locker room, suggesting it would've been the right strategy only had the shot gone in the basket.
I might hold it out, but it's two possessions. I can afford to take a shot like that," Odom said. "If I make it, we go up by three more. It was a two possesion game. Even if I miss and they come down and score, they have to foul. You win some, you lose some. I guess I lost that one.
In reality, the Lakers are fortunate Wall missed a long-distance three-pointer and that the Wizards called timeout to begin with, considering they flourished with the open floor. Considering how inconsistent the defense played, Odom's shot simply was not a sound strategy
As soon as Jackson entered the locker room, he offered a succinct analysis that didn't exactly prove to be a ringing endorsement. "You really sucked the joy out of winning that one." When Lakers guard Shannon Brown analyzed the game, he couldn't fully accept the victory because of all the aforementioned lapses. "I have mixed emotions. I'm happy for a win, but we definitely didn't do the things we should do to close the game out." And when Gasol was asked whether the Lakers have gotten better in the past month, he didn't provide a definitive answer, but his criteria clearly shows the Lakers have regressed.
"As long as we continue to win and don't have losing streaks like we had a little bit ago [with four consecutive losses], I would say we're on right track," Gasol said. "If we lose games we're not supposed to and not play the way we're supposed to with the guys we have on our team, I would say we're not a better team."
That doesn't mean Bynum needs to rush it. But many of their problems will be solved whenever he does come back, which Jackson somewhat suggested could come Dec. 14 at Washington.
"Maybe," he said. "Hopefully."
That would be welcome news for Gasol, who managed 42 minutes after resting his strained left hamstring for three days and catching up on all the fatigue that previously drained him. There's no question Bynum's return will entail a transition process with his conditioning, timing and chemistry with Gasol. But it will allow Gasol to return to his natural position and not make nights like a forgetful game against the Wizards a huge withdrawal from his energy stored for the long haul. "I hope not," when asked if his heavy playing time will have long-term implications. "Hopefully I'll stay fresh and I'll be able to keep myself out of injuries and get to the end fresh enough to give my best."
Once the Lakers huddled on the sideline, Jackson chastised Odom for the miscue.
"I asked him what he was thinking and he said I got selfish," Jackson said. "He did. It was a selfish move and it could've cost us the game."
Interestingly, Odom shared a much different version moments later in the locker room, suggesting it would've been the right strategy only had the shot gone in the basket.
I might hold it out, but it's two possessions. I can afford to take a shot like that," Odom said. "If I make it, we go up by three more. It was a two possesion game. Even if I miss and they come down and score, they have to foul. You win some, you lose some. I guess I lost that one.
In reality, the Lakers are fortunate Wall missed a long-distance three-pointer and that the Wizards called timeout to begin with, considering they flourished with the open floor. Considering how inconsistent the defense played, Odom's shot simply was not a sound strategy
As soon as Jackson entered the locker room, he offered a succinct analysis that didn't exactly prove to be a ringing endorsement. "You really sucked the joy out of winning that one." When Lakers guard Shannon Brown analyzed the game, he couldn't fully accept the victory because of all the aforementioned lapses. "I have mixed emotions. I'm happy for a win, but we definitely didn't do the things we should do to close the game out." And when Gasol was asked whether the Lakers have gotten better in the past month, he didn't provide a definitive answer, but his criteria clearly shows the Lakers have regressed.
"As long as we continue to win and don't have losing streaks like we had a little bit ago [with four consecutive losses], I would say we're on right track," Gasol said. "If we lose games we're not supposed to and not play the way we're supposed to with the guys we have on our team, I would say we're not a better team."
That doesn't mean Bynum needs to rush it. But many of their problems will be solved whenever he does come back, which Jackson somewhat suggested could come Dec. 14 at Washington.
"Maybe," he said. "Hopefully."
That would be welcome news for Gasol, who managed 42 minutes after resting his strained left hamstring for three days and catching up on all the fatigue that previously drained him. There's no question Bynum's return will entail a transition process with his conditioning, timing and chemistry with Gasol. But it will allow Gasol to return to his natural position and not make nights like a forgetful game against the Wizards a huge withdrawal from his energy stored for the long haul. "I hope not," when asked if his heavy playing time will have long-term implications. "Hopefully I'll stay fresh and I'll be able to keep myself out of injuries and get to the end fresh enough to give my best."