#44. LA Lakers @ Detroit Pistons. 4:30 tip, 5:30 tv delay

[semi-sentient]

Consistently shooting way above 45% would require being one of the best shooters in NBA history.

40-45% is reasonable, well over 45% is not IMO.

Sorry, that was actually a typo. I meant 40%, not 45%.

[LAL4Life]

My opinions on the game. Lamar had a horrible game so i agree with everyone on this point,but that's not a excuse to blowing this game. We still had plenty of opportunities.

1. Make your Free Throws. In close games on the road you have got to make your free throws. Turiaf played a great defensive game,but there is no excuse to not make both of his free throws. Honestly he should have finished the dunk and made the free throw and put us up by 4.

2. Coaching - Why is Lamar even in the game on a last 2nd shot in the 1st place? Why not have someone like Farmar or Fisher take the ball out of bounds. Now Kwame has 2 options,give it up to his right to Fisher or Farmar,or to his left to Kobe.

Even if Lamar is in the game,put him in rebounding position,not in shooting position. Phil is a 9 time champion,but he doesnt execute plays very well with 4 to 5 seconds left in games.

+1. 1st time I've agreed 100% with a B-Scott post.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Just saw the end of the game on kcal 9 on the delay. Odom left tayshaun completely open and if he was doubling Chauncey he didnt crowd him enough.

i cant stand to see lamar odom on the lakers anymore.

Agreed

[kno]

I blame Phil for that last play, not Lamar.

Phil didnt draw that play up.

I can guarantee that.

DO you really think Phil would be (Please Use More Appropriate Word) enough to have the last play consist of a Kwame catch and pass, and and Odom three (Down 1) with time left on the clock?

Phil might have some questionable tactics, but he will NOT go that far, especially in a one point game to start a 9-game road trip @ Detroit.

[B-Scott]

So Odom fails to box out, gives his man the open 3, and then proceeds to take the guarded 3 for the win (keep in mind youre only down one), even after youve only made ONE... again... ONE FG the whole game?

I blame Kobe for not telling Lamar to go to the post.

I dont mean to defend Lamar because he was horrible tonight,but on that rebound that was a push off on Prince. The pistons got away with that play and Turiaf's goaltending with over a minute left. That was a good block

Lamar still should have read the play better after that though. Why did he collapse on Billups who would have only gotten a 2 which wasnt a automatic because Turiaf would have contested the shot.

[-G-]

The fact that we can never seem to get the ball into Kobe at the end of games is a huge cause of concern.\

Lamar. *sigh* Guy just doesn't have it.

[EHL]

Lamar Odom loses another game for the Lakers. Clearly one of the worst players per dollar in the league, both statistically and in terms of impact.

[J Rob]

-= original quote snipped =-



Phil didnt draw that play up.

I can guarantee that.

DO you really think Phil would be (Please Use More Appropriate Word) enough to have the last play consist of a Kwame catch and pass, and and Odom three (Down 1) with time left on the clock?

Phil might have some questionable tactics, but he will NOT go that far, especially in a one point game to start a 9-game road trip @ Detroit.

Maybe so, but why even have the lineup in that he did then?

Why not have 4 options out there instead of 2?

Its not the first time he's called a last second play for Odom and its not the first time it has failed miserably.

[milesfides]

I think Phil is trying to build up experience in adversity, and considering Odom needs to step up and come through these situations, he's giving Odom and Kwame plenty of opportunities to become "players."

Unfortunately, Odom and Kwame keep failing.

I can understand why Phil is trying to give them a chances to do important things at important times.

I don't think Kobe can ALWAYS take the last shot. However, I do believe the ball should be in his hands so he can make a play. He is our best playmaker, and he'll either get a quality shot for himself or for his teammates. The last dish to Turiaf shows how well our offense works when Kobe is surrounded by capable players.

I think it's clear that Odom and Kwame aren't capable players right now. Maybe they could have beeen in different circumstances, but for the moment, their performances since Bynum went down has been nothing but catastrophic in terms of basketball ability and character.

But all is not lost. Guys like Turiaf, Farmar, and Sasha have been stepping up where our high-priced veterans have not.

We need to start changing some roles (or players) on this team.

[dockingsched]

ronny turiaf is turning into quite the player. he's awesome. there are a lot of fearless players on this team.

[J Rob]

ronny turiaf is turning into quite the player. he's awesome. there are a lot of fearless players on this team.

Indeed.

That's why I have little reservations about trading Lamar for a smaller player...a la Marion, AK47, or Jefferson.

Turiaf should be our starting PF.

[ak777]

1. Make your Free Throws. In close games on the road you have got to make your free throws. Turiaf played a great defensive game,but there is no excuse to not make both of his free throws. Honestly he should have finished the dunk and made the free throw and put us up by 4.

2. Coaching - Why is Lamar even in the game on a last 2nd shot in the 1st place? Why not have someone like Farmar or Fisher take the ball out of bounds. Now Kwame has 2 options,give it up to his right to Fisher or Farmar,or to his left to Kobe.
.

Ahhhh....B_Scott....you wait for everybody to calm down and come and post here when everything is quiet

For God sake dont blame it on turiaf....he is a bench player and you pay him only 700k/year........

Your 2nd option who is earning 15million/year......has the open shot when the game is on the line and he decides to shoot and shoots a AIRBALL???

doesnt matter who the play was called for...when you have such a open look ....you are suppose to make it

[milesfides]

Turiaf should be our starting PF.

Where's my picture that I posted?!?!

[what would jack bauer do?]

-= original quote snipped =-



I dont mean to defend Lamar because he was horrible tonight,but on that rebound that was a push off on Prince. The pistons got away with that play and Turiaf's goaltending with over a minute left. That was a good block

Lamar still should have read the play better after that though. Why did he collapse on Billups who would have only gotten a 2 which wasnt a automatic because Turiaf would have contested the shot.

Great points, that Turiaf goaltend was bogus and we really should've been guarding for the 3pt shot. Even if there wasn't a push-off I don't think Odom could've gotten that rebound; it was hot off the iron like a lot of long distance shots are. We had a lot of chances to win this game, but it's good to see we have enough fight in our depleted roster to go against one of the premier teams in the east.

I expect a huge game from LO tomorrow, he's much better suited against the Raptors style of ball. He's got a huge defensive assignment in Bosh, so let's hope he bounces back strong.

[B-Scott]

Lamar is not close to Scotti Pippen's level,so im in no way comparing them as players. But when it came to clutch Pippen wasnt clutch either.

It seemed like with them, even when Pippen was playing well in situations like this Paxon, Kerr, Kukoc or MJ would get that big shot.

Even if Lamar had a great game,he should never take the last shot. Fisher is our Steve Kerr/Paxon type player and i just wish Phil had him take it out and get it back.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

ronny turiaf is turning into quite the player. he's awesome. there are a lot of fearless players on this team.

[Lakers05]

This mistake was not on the last play. The mistake was not putting Kobe on Chauncey. It was obvious what the Pistons were going to run. Even Vlad on Chauncey(then switch if they run P&R) would have worked better.

Also, to stay with that same lineup(which was for defense, supposedly anyway) on offense is idiotic. This loss is completely on Phil.

[zen_4_10]

ronny turiaf is turning into quite the player. he's awesome. there are a lot of fearless players on this team.

No arguments from me here.

That was tough but a helluva job to push back after an absolute joke of a first Q and a half. TO's and LO were a big drawback but were right where we wanted to be up until the end.

Ronny has always been the man. He needs to be starting.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Lamar is not close to Scotti Pippen's level,so im in no way comparing them as players. But when it came to clutch Pippen wasnt clutch either.

It seemed like with them, even when Pippen was playing well in situations like this Paxon, Kerr, Kukoc or MJ would get that big shot.

Even if Lamar had a great game,he should never take the last shot. Fisher is our Steve Kerr/Paxon type player and i just wish Phil had him take it out and get it back.

i Think Odom would be best in a 3rd role. Like if he was the 3rd option after 2 major players. How old is Odom?? Does he have any chance to get better??

[DEEP3CL]

Lamar is basketball illiterate plain and simple.