#66. LA Lakers @ Houston Rockets. 12:30. ABC.

[dunleavyjr]

i really am starting to question phil and his methods, even when we are winning...

in the third quarter we outscored them 22-12...mbenga played all but one minute of the third...

in the fourth, he didnt see the light of day, while does phil tend to go away of from things that work all the time? it is increasingly frustrating to see this sort of decisions when almost every game weve lost, are and were winable, why does our coaching staff always seem to go away from the hot hand or the hot role player...

Adelman changed the strategy by going small. Rockets had 4 3point shooters on the floor. I think Phil just wanted to matchup with Rockets speed.

[O.C Brandon]

Why do we attempt to run pick the pick and roll with Mbenga? Kobe was looking for him like he was Gasol or something.

some of things he does leave you stunned.

he used to look for kwame like he was bynum too.

[milesfides]

kobe ran the pick n roll with the big man, dj, because thats the only way that the paint won't get clogged up. running with lamar and anyone else not playing center leaves the lane crowded. its the same thing that phoenix struggled with when running pick n roll with amare while shaq and his man were in the paint. dj got some pretty good looks out of it, just gotta hope they go down more often than not. they weren't any worse than some of kobe's desperation shots.

Now that's the truth. It's the right basketball play. The Rockets were playing soft on Mbenga. It's like the deal with Kwame Brown - you still have to pass it to him when defenses leave him. And Mbenga is much more competent than Kwame Brown in the post. And he was 1-4 from the field, Mbenga didn't exactly shoot us out of the game.

Credit the Rockets' defense and Alston's career shooting night.

We actually played fairly decent defense in the paint, contesting shots around the basket. Against most teams on most nights, our defense would have won this game.

Tonight, Alston was just on fire, enough to be the difference in the game.

[milesfides]

Also, we couldn't find a working offense against the Rockets. In the first quarter interview, Phil said the Lakers would try to run more of a high post offense rather than the triangle. I didn't see much of either.

I thought Turiaf was great out there. On both ends of the floor. Odom was too, when he had the mismatch.

Just couldn't put it together in a consistent way, and on a night when Kobe had to battle Battier on offense and guard T-Mac on defense, for 48 minutes, tonight wasn't the night for Kobe's heroics. The mind was willing, but the body was weak.

Missed like 3-4 drives to the basket in the fourth. His legs were gone.

[canoner]

Good game. Rockets supporting cast outplayed Lakers supporting cast, that is the difference. Kobe did score more than Tmac, but took twice many shots as well and make 1/3 of assists. Neither one of them two played well. Tmac played two full games (48 min) on Wed. and Fri. and was obviously fatigued today. Kobe shouldn't have played almost 48 minutes either because Lakers have big games coming up. When Gasol and Bynum get back, Lakers will be tough to beat.

[dockingsched]

Now that's the truth. It's the right basketball play.

yeah, the fans complaining about kobe's shot selection are the same fans that are complaining that he passed it to dj. its a lose-lose situation for kobe. when ronny was in the game the pick n roll was very effective. unfortunately, ronny got into foul trouble and the only other option was dj. guess the foul trouble and the absence of bynum/gasol/mihm are kobe's fault too.

one option could have been to go small and play lamar at center and run the pick n roll with the 3 other guys spacing out but i know i wasn't the only one that saw luis scola and company dominate the paint when luke played pf.

[DEEP3CL]

-= original quote snipped =-



Deep3CL, if you do not like what posters have to say here is a crazy idea. You can ignore them?? Nice concept huh?

If my "opinion" bothers you so much then do not respond to them. There is a reason why this is a internet basketball forum. You must be delusional if you are comparing an opinion on an internet forum to "real life basketball." Whoever said I was on your team?? This is an Internet Forum not real life basketball. Get that straight. I am sure there is a Lakers Love Fest Forum board somewhere online, so if you cannot stand any realistic negative views of this team, feel free to join a love fest Laker forum where 24/7 of the time people will only say positive things.

For the record, it looks like my previous comment about how we will lose and how Kobe will shoot poorly was correct. Next time at least wait until after you are right to judge someone.

First of all Minhee I was responding to a post by O.C. Brandon that was followed by dcash. So out of both of them you come and attack me first ! I didn't even quote your post, the convo was between me and O.C. but you attack me !

Secondly I wasn't comparing "internet basketball forum" to reality. The analogy I was making was to the thought process of not thinking you can win.

I not a rah rah type guy my self, I'm one of the first to criticize the Lakers if they're not playing well and I'll praise them if they are. But having played ball on a competitive level I always took the floor thinking I could win and any ball player will tell you that.

But it's all good you can flame up on me if that floats your boat, but if it was the other way around one of these mods would be on my back. That how it is with me.

[b shaw20]

The bottom line is that without an "inside game" we will continue to look mediocre at best. Outside of Kobe, we do not have guys that can create their own shots. We tend to settle for the first open outside jumper we get.
Basketball is a game that is beautiful to watch when a team is playing with "flow". You work it inside, make the defense collapse and kick out to shooters for shots in rhythm.

exhibit A: how many times did we see him settle for bad jumpshots with Shane in his grill? I understand that they clogged up the middle and it was hard to attack the rim, but more often than not we will lose if kobe is that much inefficient.

exhibit B: how many times have we seen fish jet get the ball early in the shot clock, take a side step dribble and shoot, only to brick it? He's effective when he gets wide open looks and should stop pretending he can get his own shot.

exhibit C: luke.. Puuulease. back to the basket, rotating wildy while looking at his feet, only to barely brush the rim? I want to throw up just thinking about his "go to" moves. Make a "set shot big man!"


exhibit D: Farmar - I am a big supporter of his, but he is clearly in a funk now. He's not working as hard on the defensive end, causing havok, getting steals, etc and he too is settling for the first look that comes to him. I love his confidence, but you have to know when you are not "on".

exhibit E: Sasha - is he in double digit assists for the year yet? enough said.

I thought the N.O. game was a winnable game even w/o Bynum but we were not able to get stops. Then today, on national t.v I thought for sure we'd find a way to bounce back but laid an egg on D vs freakin Reefer? So much for Puke Walton wanting them to have the steak so we could break it...... stick that in your a** Puke!

My main concern is that we have to find a wat to stay atop the top 4 seeds in the west. If not, it will be a very difficult road to the finals.

If we hold on to even the 4th spot, get healthy and find a groove (win streak) to close out the season we will have legit shot at playing for the WCF. In the end, I like our chances against anyone if we get healthy and get our "mojo" back.

Hurry back Pao!

[MAMBAEMD]

Easy, boys and girls.
We'll be alright in a a couple of weeks. I still think we'll win the Pacific division and be at least a 3rd seed in the West. Right now injuries are devouring us.
We'll be healthy come playoff time and make a heck of a run.
Don't be discouraged by this slump.
These boys are for real.
They'll bounce back.

[DEEP3CL]

^ Damn bshaw20 that was the best damn post that a new guy like you wrote. Everything was right on point. Just to follow up on your point about Sasha that 2 on 1 break with Kobe he should have gave it up to the guy he knows will finish, we didn't get a damn thing out of that steal he made nothing no foul and no points.

[milesfides]

The Lakers outscored Houston 48-32 in the paint. The inside game was fine, but the 30 points and 8 threes from Alston wasn't.

That was the one factor that tipped the scales of an otherwise fairly even defensive and ugly game.

Both teams played good interior defense, the problem was that Houston also played solid perimeter defense, while the Lakers couldn't stop Alston. Or, Fisher and Farmar couldn't stop Alston (over the screen guys, over the screen).

Kobe actually started the game very aggressive and efficient, scoring 9 points in the first quarter. That efficiency eroded over the course of the game, presumably because Battier was hounding him on every possession on offense and Kobe was shutting T-Mac down on defense. As the game progressed, Kobe's shots fell short and he couldn't convert on layups that he'd normally dunk with authority. He was gassed, he didn't get any rest either.

Kobe's problem is that he tried to go into takeover mode and his body failed him. He's got to do a better job of recognizing when it's time for him to rest or to take plays off. He can't try to shoulder everything, it'll actually backfire on him and on the team.

We need to be able to spell Kobe sometimes on defense, we need to provide him with more help on offense, and the coaching staff needs to do a better job of putting together a working offense, and getting players to adjust defensively.

[magic1fan]

The Lakers outscored Houston 48-32 in the paint. The inside game was fine, but the 30 points and 8 threes from Alston wasn't.

That was the one factor that tipped the scales of an otherwise fairly even defensive and ugly game.

Both teams played good interior defense, the problem was that Houston also played solid perimeter defense, while the Lakers couldn't stop Alston. Or, Fisher and Farmar couldn't stop Alston (over the screen guys, over the screen).

Kobe actually started the game very aggressive and efficient, scoring 9 points in the first quarter. That efficiency eroded over the course of the game, presumably because Battier was hounding him on every possession on offense and Kobe was shutting T-Mac down on defense. As the game progressed, Kobe's shots fell short and he couldn't convert on layups that he'd normally dunk with authority. He was gassed, he didn't get any rest either.

Kobe's problem is that he tried to go into takeover mode and his body failed him. He's got to do a better job of recognizing when it's time for him to rest or to take plays off. He can't try to shoulder everything, it'll actually backfire on him and on the team.

We need to be able to spell Kobe sometimes on defense, we need to provide him with more help on offense, and the coaching staff needs to do a better job of putting together a working offense, and getting players to adjust defensively.

nice post.

[kobeaki]

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We didn't win the 3rd because of Mbenga, we won the 3rd because we were playing good defense, especially for the first 9 minutes of the quarter.

right,exactly....with a big body presence on the floor, which helped the d, is that so far fetched...

even if you disregard that example, how about phils questionable rotation?

[dockingsched]

what questionable rotation? do the lakers even have enough players healthy to make a questionable rotation possible?

[FukaX]

I dont know how many pg had big games over lakers this season.

anybody knows any website that indicates our worst defensive position?

[Sofa King]

I dont know how many pg had big games over lakers this season.

anybody knows any website that indicates our worst defensive position?

Whatever our position is, we still losing. Sucks huh.

[dockingsched]

http://www.82games.com/0708/0708LAL5.HTM

edit: looks like they've been calling vlad the starting pf and lamar the starting sf.

interesting to note that the only position being held to below average production is sg, which is no surprise with kobe's defense.

looking at boston they hold 3 positions way below average, one at average, and one slightly above.

[B-Scott]

So who's right. Odom or Phil Jackson

Quote:
Odom wanted more shots in the post
The Lakers forward says the team didn't recognize what was working in loss to Rockets. Jackson said if he wants the ball more, he needs to ask for it.
By Mike Bresnahan
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

9:40 PM PDT, March 16, 2008

HOUSTON -- Ready or not, Lamar Odom is the Lakers' No. 2 option again.

He had been coasting along quietly, putting up substantial numbers as the third option behind Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, with the prospect of being No. 4 once Andrew Bynum returned from injury.

Then came another twist of fate after another injury, and Odom was pushed back up to secondary importance.

He had 17 points and 11 rebounds in the Lakers' 104-92 loss Sunday to Houston, and seemed to lament the fact that he wasn't found more often in the post.

"Guys have got to recognize as a team what's working," he said. "Tonight, we didn't do that. Other teams notice. It just takes recognition as a team, from all the guys, to what's working and what's not."

Coach Phil Jackson suggested that Odom act more forcefully if he wants the ball more often.

"He's kind of a non-presence out there with a great deal of stats and does a terrific job on the boards," Jackson said. "But he's not the guy that goes out there and asserts himself in the offense and there are times when it's opportunistic. He just takes advantage of the things that come his way."

[crazyeights]

Maybe Odom will finally assert himself?

I think his confidence is definitely up from earlier in the year.

Really Odom's the only way we have a chance to pick up a game or two in the next few games...but that's assuming he plays out of his mind and maybe score over 20 points....That's a Lamar we haven't seen since last years playoffs.

[B-Scott]

He would have had over 20 points in the Rockets game if

Well it depends on who you believe. Phil or Odom

Was it his teammates fault for not recognizing what was working or was it Lamar's fault for not being more aggessive.

Its kinda hard to be aggressive when the teammates are not recognizing whats working.