SIXERS -at- Lakers - 12/31 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

QUICK VERSION:

Kobe -- -- Jodie Meeks and Evan Turner, meet Kobe Bryant. He had some quality looks in the midrange early and late when the Lakers needed scores on his way to a 30+ game -- his first since his previous hand injury. He got the rim for a couple of throwdowns, including a facial on Nocioni. One of my favorite sequences of the game came when Kobe reeled himself in. He had one of those multi-pumpfakes that he too often forces up for a jumper and a miss. Instead of doing that, he kicked out to Fisher, who didn't take the three, but attacked as his man flew by and then he hit Pau for the And-1 layup. That's what you want to see from your vet guards. Defensively, Kobe had 3-4 plays where he let his man beat him by taking poor angles or didn't challenge. The Sixers haven't been good for Kobe's hands. Kobe sprained a finger on his other hand (just what his handles don't need).

Pau -- -- He was aggressive and working the size advantage when he got the ball. He scored a flurry of shots in one sequence. I most liked his range early in the game when Drew was out on the floor. He sank a couple of long ones. That's the versatility that makes him so valuable. He can spread the floor with Drew and can work the post with LO. Defensively, Pau had the key stop of the game, rejecting a layup that would have tied things up.

Bynum -- -- When the Lakers would force a miss, Bynum often made sure it was a one-and-out possession. Unfortunately, the D didn't do a great job of forcing those misses. Drew was head and shoulders above everyone else on the glass. He also showed that interior presence to challenge some shots and a erase a couple mistakes. He hung back on the screen-roll defense which made things a little tough for guys like Blake. Phil opted to close with the more mobile Pau after the Sixers took advantage of that a couple times.

Artest -- -- His shot looked pretty smooth. He was able to square up on some and knock them down. Defensively, he had to go up against Holiday, which made for some penetration. Not an easy assignment for him at all. It helped reduce the work for Kobe. Ron still had 3-4 instances where the D got collapsed, however, because of the match up.

Fisher -- -- He shot blanks all night. The only Laker not able to score a field goal in the game. He had a couple nice feeds, but we didn't see that same level of playmaking as in the last one.

Lamar -- -- The Lakers won the rebounding advantage by 10. Lamar and Pau did a good job on the offensive glass. LO was in the for a couple of tip ins. He had a few hoops at close range, turnarounds in the paint or drive past his man to the right. Defensively, he had a few moments of flat-footed work that allowed the D to collapse or give up a key tip in. All those little nickel and dime buckets nearly cost them.

Blake -- -- I had a couple Farmar flashbacks in this game. Blake has rarely given up straight-line penetration without the use of any screens like Farmar would do at least once a game. Tonight, he had a couple moments like that. He made a better effort later, but his man was on fire. So even though he got good challenges in, we still got burned. Offensively, he sank a three and hit a jumper off the pinch post. He also through up a long airball late in the game.

Barnes -- -- Not a great game from Barnes. Defensively, he allowed his man to get past him without the use of screens on occasion. He had a costly foul at the end of the third on the offensive glass with a second left, giving up points for stupidity. He did a good job on the glass and didn't get credit for a key redirect of an offensive board late in the game.

Brown -- -- A quiet game from Shannon. Like others mentioned, he also got broken down on D without the use of screens. He got into a couple of precarious situations off the dribble and needs to be a little more aware of the spacing on some of the Tri sequences. The Lakers had no counter-punch on the break in this game, losing that battle 18-3. We're due for some Shannon Brown throwdowns.

Phil -- -- He dodged giving up a double digit lead in the fourth quarter. Defensively, the team was scrambling all night. The screen roll would initiate a lot of that, and that's to be expected with our defensive schemes. What was a bigger problems was the straight-up man D by several of his players. They seemed like the were relying or hoping for help D more than trying to do a better job of getting that initial stop. That's a lazy attitude to take and typical of when you get a lead and think you're in control. They also got burned in transition by just not getting set up in time... Fun watching Drew in the starting lineup on both ends. As mentioned, Pau's versatility made that transition look pretty smooth...
Happy New Year everybody!

Be safe out there.

[chilake24]

happy new year, DB. wish you and your family the best

[magic_bryant]

Bynum- ...

Where the hell is the "Bull-in-a-China-Shop" emoticon. We soooo need one.
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Stephon Marbury on Kobe: "He's the only person on 'dis earth that can do 'dat. He guards people, like shuts 'em down. Then, to do 'dat on 'da offensive end. It's like 'Damn, I can't score on him AND he about to bust my ass."

[DancingBarry]

[thurloly]

Kobe: beasting

Gasol: beasting

Bynum: beasting

Odom: beasting

Artest: can make some offense.

Win

[magic_bryant]

[heatseeker08]

Great O but mediocre D in 2nd Half.
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Ron Artest: "SAY QUEENSBRIDGE"

[Texas_Pete]

Big Drew protecting the paint. We need more of this.

[Vicky T]

*something about Death, Famine, Pestilence, and the other guy*
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Macho Men:
http://tinyurl.com/2ajhhov

[BenO]

[IPK]

6ers Get Severed... "What makes Death so deadly is his knack to pound the hardwood until an outcome is decided."

Oh great, another midnight text from Barry. You reach for your California gold prescription and your grape swisher sweet. Another long night at the office. Pestilence....


Sorry. That's all I've got.
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Our tribute to Phil, the man behind LG

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

In spite of the heckling from the townspeople he was protecting, the biggest Horseman stood tall throughout the battle, and steadfastly denied the intruders their goal. Once again all four Horsemen banded together to orchestrate the battle as they had in the days of old. It was a welcome sight, and in the end, Death once again claimed the intruders. As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, there was silence. No clashing of weapons. No shouting, no mayhem. No anger and fear and shouts of 'lazy' and 'injury prone' from the the midst of the onlooking crowd. Only a brief moment of silent respect.

[Jporkel]

Much harder game than it needed to be because the starters, once again, elected to ignore the serious size mis-match the Lakers front court presented for the 76'ers and the second unit wasn't much better.

Philly went with a Brand (6' 10", 254 - 40 minutes), Young (6' 8", 220 - 27 minutes), Spencer Hawes (7' 1", 245 - 22 minutes) and Tony Battie (6' 11'', 240 - 8 minutes) front court. Against that front court, Pau got 12 shots, including several put backs, and 2 FTs, Bynum got 6 shots, including several put backs, and 2 FTs, and Lamar got 13 shots and 3 FTs. The perimeter players recognized that Lamar was on the floor and regularly passed him the ball; sensed that Pau was on the floor, and let him touch the ball from time to time; and apparently suspected that Bynum was a Philly player and seemed to do their best to keep the ball away from him, particularly in scoring position. Meanwhile the guards took 43 shots, including Kobe's 24. That's just stupid basketball.

Kobe was effective when he drove and dished or drove and shot from the top of the key and closer, less so when he shot longer jumpers.

The last 1:36 was Kobe turnover (Fisher blocking foul), Kobe made J, Kobe missed J, Kobe freethrows. So the "closers" didn't exactly cover themselves with glory, with two empty trips down the court in the last 1:36 and against a veteran team this is a loss.

The help defense with the first unit appeared not to be as good as with the second unit, particularly Blake and Barnes as compared to Fish and Artest. Someone needs to sit Shannon down and tell him to drive to the G** d*** hoop.

The Lakers gave up 37 points to the Philly PG's. Maybe the plan was to tire them out so they'd miss the last shot.

All in all, not a particularly good or smart game, and not anything the team can build on against stiffer competition; but, I guess, a win's a win.
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Just-Ming stalking victim.

[Lowest Merion]

The Lakers won. DB got too smashed on Four Loko to do a write up. The end.

Edit: This was originally DIY, then DB posted his recap at 2:30.

[GoldenThroat]

[davidse]

[thurloly]

[IPK]

[Mel Rose]

[IPK]

^no better chance to learn than from the best, right?
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Our tribute to Phil, the man behind LG

[DancingBarry]

Posted a 20-minute version above after watching the game today.

[IPK]

[IPK]

What's the point of chasing rings if Kobe isn't going to have any fingers when it's all said and done?
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Our tribute to Phil, the man behind LG

[GoldenThroat]

[DancingBarry]