BOBCATS -at- LAKERS - 10/17 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Defend Your Home... After miles of darkness, you finally see the city, its lights shimmering like electric wealth. It's a gluttonous contrast to the rest of the voltage-challenged wasteland you've been through. You're given a key, some papers and told to stay in the shadows.

Piled high between the buildings are overturned cars, concrete, trash and debris, all topped with barbed wire creating a makeshift perimeter defense. It hits you then -- they are, indeed, coming for Little Larry -- and this city is hell bent on keeping him.

Near a gap, you see signs of life and civilization at last. The entrance is flanked by law enforcement, who simply wave you through. Street merchants are anxiously closing up shop. They seemed to be hawking canned food, drinks and all manner of survival gear.

Your papers direct you to a high rise, top floor, and the key opens a penthouse door. From here you can see the entire city -- all sides. Someone is looking out for you. While taking in the view, you spot an envelope with your name taped to the glass. You open it up to find a map of the city and the handwritten title, "Defend Your Home." There's also something from DancingBarry:

The Horsemen were here. They were short-handed but made up for missing talent with more effort. It was ugly, but they'll take the results. This is their home. This is where they will defend Little Larry at all costs.

I will continue to track them.

It wasn't Ariza in the playoffs stealing an inbounds pass, but Jordan Farmar did the preseason version of that with 10 seconds left and up by 2 points. He jumped the passing lane and then dove for the loose ball before it went out of bounds. He promptly iced the game 91-87 with two freethrows. It's all about the D.

If you want to retain the Larry O'Brien trophy, you've got to bring it every night on the defensive end. The Lakers held the Bobcats to 37.5 percent shooting with some good rotations and a spirited defensive effort. Despite 19 second-half turnovers, they still managed to pull off the win.

With Pau, Lamar and Luke still sidelined, Phil went to Ron Artest at the power forward to start the game and brought in Shannon Brown at the shooting guard. While Ron is versatile, it is easier to move him there with Gerald Wallace as the opposite PF. The result of missing so much fire power left what looked like extended garbage time throughout the night.

The bench got long minutes -- good minutes for them as they had to produce if the Lakers were going to hold on to the W. Josh Powell had 15 points and 8 boards and Farmar and Sasha Vujacic each had 11 points off the bench. It wasn't a pretty win, but defensive effort allows you to win ugly.


Kobe -- -- Kobe was looking for teammates all night, including hooking up with Bynum for a couple of dunks. He dropped 7 dimes with just one turnover. In regular minutes, this would have been a double-digit assist game for him. Shooting wise, he continued to miss some of those good looks he typically knocks down. Defensively, he was slow to rotate or recover on D early on, but later in the game he was applying more pressure on the perimeter. He and Ron are going to cause a lot of chaos for opponents this season. Having a couple seven-footers behind them will help erase mistakes. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 3-11 shooting (1-3 from three, 6-7 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 27 minutes. The Action: He lobbed to Bynum for a dunk. He sank a corner three. He missed an elbow turnaround jumper. He missed a early offense three. He attacked to his right and banked a short pull-up jumper. He dropped an airball out of bounds. He got tapped on a FT turnaround. He drew FTs, made one. He bricked a 9-foot jumphook with his left. He attacked from the wing and whipped a pass to Gaffney under the hoop for a layup. He got smacked under the hoop for FTs, he made both. He pressured Bell on the sideline and knocked the ball off him (Bell then picked up a tech, which Kobe made). He hit bynum on the screen-roll for a layup. He posted up Bell and missed a good look at the turnaround. Second Half: He lost the ball on the sideline, but got it back with a reach on the other end. He drew FTs and made both. He attacked baseline, missed, got it back and hit Bynum for a dunk while Kobe fell away. He missed a pull-up 20-footer in early offense. He missed a good look at a sideline three.

Bynum -- -- The Lakers continued to establish their bigman from the start of the game and Bynum continues to respond. This time he had to go up against more size in Nazr. The confidence his teammates have in him seems to be pretty strong right now. They're lobbing to him for easy dunks, but they are also letting him go to work with his back to the basket. Last season, those types of possessions were often purposely ignored for long stretches. Defensively, Bynum had a little more presence in this game. He had a couple of very good challenges on guards trying to drive past him from the perimeter. He mentioned working on this, but his mobility does seem to be a step quicker than last season even when he was healthy. Playing across Artest at PF was a new challenge that both need to get a little more time at. Gerald Wallace ran into Bynum again in the third quarter and hit the floor, no injury this time, but I'm sure he's wary of seeing the 7-footer in his path. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 6-8 shooting (3-6 from the line) to go with 5 boards (all defensive), 1 block, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 26 minutes. He was a +5. The Action: He dunked in early offense, trailing the action until Kobe lobbed. He didn't draw rim on a three-foot jumphook that went about five. He worked the left block and hit an 8-foot jumphook. He drew FTs on a baseline turnaround after a head-and-shoulder fake (very nice), he missed both (not nice). He sank an elbow jumper. He got hit on a jumphook with no call and missed. Good challenge in the post to force an airball from his man. He scored a layup on the screen-roll with Kobe (looked very quick on that). He sealed his man, took the high entry and drew FTs, he made both. Good defensive mobility recovering on Felton and swatting him at the rim. He led the Lakers with 10 points on 4-6 shooting. Second Half: He muscled his way to his left and banked over Felton. Nasty finish with a dunk in traffic off the Artest feed from the post. Good job beating everyone down court to draw FTs. He dunked off the pass from Kobe at the front of the rim.

Artest -- -- Prior to the game, Phil said this about Ron on the defensive end: "You just like to have a guy that says the buck stops here defensively. We can go out and sick him on somebody if somebody is getting to be a real pain in the butt and offensively is going off on us...that kind of personality that just takes pleasure in punishing defense is really a value to a team." With the intensity of Kobe and Ron on this end of the floor, you wonder if that will rub off on the team. Phil said that these guys have been the hardest working team he's has had -- very high praise. If so, that effort will pay off on the defensive end, which is all about hard work. The versatility of Artest was on display as he started at PF for the Lakers. Having Wallace as the opposing PF helps, as mentioned. Ron's foul trouble in this game wasn't a result of the position change as it was of just some sloppy play. Offensively, the 0-5 from the line is what sticks out. Just one of those games. He hits those and you have 10 points in 18 minutes. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-5 shooting to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 3 turnovers and 6 fouls in 18 minutes. The Action: He missed a wide open three from the top of the arc. He picked up two early fouls (neither having to do with being at the PF spot). He got Felton to throw a breakaway pass away when he couldn't create past Ron. He posted up, tried to go up and under, took contact and hit the falling back And-1 jumper, he missed the FT. Back at the line and he missed both. Right back there on another foul and he missed both again...5 straight missed FTs (teammates ribbed him on those). Bad reach on the perimeter to pick up his third foul (he's great at reaching, but with two fouls already he didn't need to risk that). Second Half: He and Kobe trapped a Bobcat on the baseline and forced a turnover. He swished a three on a Kobe kickout (going to his left). He posted up, drew a double and fed Bynum for the dunk. He was rejected on a reverse. He missed a three. He picked up his fifth foul in the third trying to set a pick. He traveled trying to create at the top of the key. He was called for an offensive foul while trying to set up in the post against Vlad and that was it for him.

Fisher -- -- Not a lot to write about in this game, but the fact that a speedy Felton didn't do any damage is a good sign. The two-man D was a steady team effort. Fisher was often funneling his man into the help and rotating well when he had to. I mentioned Kobe and Artest setting the tone in practice, but DFish also leads by example in that regard, too. So when Phil praises this team as his hardest working, Fish also gets credit there, too. He's a pro and a competitor. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-4 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 24 minutes. The Action: He missed a chuck at a layup trying to draw a foul. He drew a clear-out foul on Felton on the perimeter. Back in, he missed an early offense wing jumper. He gave up FTs fouling on the offensive boards. Nice high entry to Drew for FTs. He was called for a weak foul blocking Bell on a jumper after a great series of defensive rotations. Second Half: He charged over Bell trying to attack in transition. He swished a wing jumper in transition. He overthrew a lob to Drew. He missed a step-back 18-footer trying to create with the clock low. He was fouled away from the ball for FTs, he made both.

Brown -- -- Shannon got the start as the SG while Kobe slid over to SF. There were a couple sequences tonight of very poor post entry work. The first that stuck out was not getting the ball into Ron when he had his man sealed and room to go to work. The team will get better at that over time (can't wait until their timing clicks). The second was a horrible pass to Bynum that went out of bounds. Shannon led the team with 4 turnovers. That sloppy play could be a result of new lineups, but it was also just poor execution. Shooting-wise, he was stone cold. He couldn't hit the mid-range and he's not getting the step-into-the-shot looks beyond the arc that he needs. As a result, nothing looks comfortable and he's struggling right now. These screwy lineups aren't helping, for sure. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 0-6 shooting (0-3 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers and 2 fouls in 27 minutes. The Action: He barely hit the rim on a wing jumper to start the game. He front-rimmed a three, but got it back. He crossed over his man and drew FTs on the perimeter, he made one. He missed a step-back jumper trying to create on iso. He drew FTs trying to go up for a lob, he made both. Second Half: Horrible post entry to Bynum, went right out of bounds. He lost a defender with an up fake, moved in closer and missed the 18-footer. He was tripped and lost the ball out of bounds with no call. He worked off the dribble and missed a wing three attempt.

Vujacic -- -- Strong game from Sasha, leading the team, in fact, with a +8. The Machine's stroke is looking smooth. He was draining threes like freethrows and playing some feisty D, even in the paint when getting caught on mismatches. On the perimeter, he funneled his man to the help, showed active hands, good rotations and was talking out there. He led the team with 3 steals, and he and Farmar led the Laker backcourt tonight while Kobe slid to the SF. That's some quality ball from your role players. The Stats: He scored 11 points on 4-6 shooting (3-4 from three) to go with 2 boards, 3 steals, 1 turnover and 4 fouls. The Action: He missed a wide open three. He got it back and sank the corner three a few seconds later. Nice drive and dish to set up Mbenga, but DJ choked the layup. He sank a baseline jumper off the inbounds pass. Good post D on the other end to get his man to cough it up. He harrassed his man on the perimeter, then drew an offensive foul on him at midcourt. Second Half: Overly aggressive on a trap, giving up FTs. He drained a wing three off a quick swing pass from Powell. He jumped in front of Wallace in the post to knock an entry pass away. He was blocked trying to throw a layup in at the end of the quarter. He swished a pull-up three creating with the shotclock low. Horrible pass off the dribble, right out of bounds with no pressure on. He deflected a pass and Jordan turned it into two points the other way.

Farmar -- -- He gets the play of the game with the steal at midcourt ala Ariza. That was just superb effort to cap off a strong game. Farmar was forced to be aggressive tonight. He was in some lineups that struggled to create for themselves and didn't want to. He kept the engine running and helped floor general the team to a win. Some good D early going over the top of screens and recovering when help slowed down the penetration, but he was also active on the glass. With the Lakers missing their size that kind of help from your guards makes an impact. The Stats: He scored 11 points on 3-8 shooting (1-3 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 23 minutes. He was a +5. The Action: He missed a wing three. He attacked and missed trying to flip a layup in. He took a pass under the hoop and served it up to Mbenga to finish the play. He passed up an open jumper, moved in closer, spun and banked. Nice defensive rebound tip to help his bigs secure a board. He drew FTs on a drive through traffic to his right, he made both. Second Half: He swished a wing three in early offense (should have held it for the last shot, good thing he made that). His layup was goaltended on the bust out. He got caught in the air looking to pass and missed a flip in attempt in the middle of the lane. Nice two-man sequence with Powell, feeding him off the screen for the And-1. He missed a sideline three. He attacked right, stepped back and missed a baseline jumper. He threw a pass out of bounds expecting Kelati to come faster to the ball. Sensational job jumping the passing lane with 10 seconds left, then tracking it down with a dive before the ball went out of bounds. He was instantly fouled and made both FTs to ice the game. Well done.

Powell -- -- An unsung hero in this game, but Powell put in some heavy lifting in relief of Pau and LO. He helped lead the team in scoring with 15 points on an extremely efficient 5 shots. He put in some of his better effort on the glass than we have seen in some time. He led the Lakers in that department, too. That there is what will get him minutes. For good measure, he was also third on the team in assists. Couldn't have asked for a better, more well-rounded game from him. We'll need to see that effort again tomorrow if we want another W with this depleted lineup. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 4-5 shooting (7-9 from the line) to go with 8 boards (4 offensive), 4 assists, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 23 minutes. The Action: He sank a 20-footer on a catch-and-shoot. He missed a 17-footer. He couldn't secure a defensive board that he had with both hands. He was hit on a short baseline jumper with 1.4 left in the quarter, he made one FT. He posted up and hit a baseline jump hook. He swished a turnaround over Radmanovic in the paint on the next trip down. Second Half: Sloppy pass off the dribble drive and we turned it over (he should never be playmaking off the dribble if he can help it). He was called for a tech trying to box out his man too aggressively apparently. He drew FTs working the offensive glass and made both. He was fouled from behind by Vlad on a jumper, he made both FTs. He scored an And-1 reverse when Farmar set him up off the screen-roll. Some good hustle on the boards late in the game. With 10 seconds left, up by 1 point he was purposely fouled, he clanked the first, then drilled the second FT.

Morrison -- -- He tallied a variety of stats in this game, nothing of impact, but good to see slightly more in activity department. We may have a faint pulse. With Luke out, Ron sliding up to PF, Ammo needs to step up and show signs of life. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-4 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 21 minutes. The Action: He popped out to the wing and missed the jumper. He tried to attack off the three line and traveled. Second Half: He missed a sideline jumper. He gave up FTs with a perimeter foul with 2.7 seconds left. He swished a baseline jumper when Farmar found him open. He clanked a wide open sideline three. Over-the-back foul on the offensive end and we were quickly out of fouls in the fourth. He got beat on a baseline handoff that we run continually in practice. He sank a couple FTs.

Mbenga -- -- The best part of his game tonight was his anchoring. He had some nice challenges and a rejection. Generally, some very good effort and he avoided getting into foul trouble. In fact, one of his fouls should have gone the other way as it looked like a clear out. He really struggled when Phil had him inbounding passes against full-court pressure. This put him in position to have to make open-court decisions, even push the ball up the court on the dribble once. None of that you want to see and it resulted in some of the Lakers turnovers. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-7 shooting to go with 3 boards (2 offensive), 1 block, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 19:31. The Action: He missed a baseline jumper. He biffed an easy reverse layup. He swished an elbow jumper. Nice challenge on help at the front rim to get a stop. He scored a layup when Farmar gave him a feed at the rim. Second Half: With Mbenga taking the ball out of bounds against full-court pressure, the Lakers had several turnovers from the backcourt. He missed a 9-footer from the left side. He missed a baseline 16-footer. He saved a sure dunk by Graham with a denial at the front of the rim. He picked up a foul on another block attempt (should have been a clear-out foul instead). He missed a long wing jumper.

Gaffney -- -- Probably his best game of the preseason. Just some good hustle and effort that resulted in something. In the other games, he's shown the effort but had a lot less to show for it. Some nice work on the boards in his limited time. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-4 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards (1 offensive) in 10:32 of action. The Action: He couldn't grab a brick that went off his head and out of bounds. Kobe found him under the hoop for a layup. Nice, high defensive board. Second Half: Great job tracking down an offensive board in traffic, then he turned and attacked to put it in off the glass with his left. Excellent aggression on the offensive glass again and he was pulled down by Vlad for FTs, he made both. He missed a jumphook. He missed an elbow jumper.

Kelati -- -- He came in very late and looked like he wasn't ready for it. He had a couple turnovers and a miss in the closing minutes. Some sloppy play and one of those games where you think about how players cut themselves. The Stats: He didn't score on 0-1 shooting to go with 2 turnovers in 2:46. He was a -4. The Action: Did not play in the first half. Second Half: Horrible pass at midcourt, Vlad stole it and dunked. He and Farmar miscued on the perimeter and Farmar threw it out of bounds. He bricked a wing jumper when he pulled the ball out instead of attacking. He fumbled a pass between his legs out of bounds.

Phil -- -- Phil started a Bynum, Artest, Kobe, Brown, Fisher lineup. Interesting choice of Brown instead of Sasha. Unfortunately, Shannon didn't seize the moment... They played some foul-prone defense throughout the quarter, but never let the Bobcats get into any flow. The Lakers were 2-6 from the line in the first quarter, and they trailed 21-18... Phil started the second quarter with a Mbenga, Powell, Morrison, Sasha, Farmar lineup... They tied up the score 24-24 when Mbenga and Powell got the offense run through them to start the quarter and responded... They held the Bobcats to 18 points, themselves, in that quarter... At the half, there was a preview of an upcoming Fox Sports Lakers Insider interview with the Laker brass. Phil said he was adamant about the Lakers getting LO back. In response to Ariza's claims, Mitch said his first call was to Ariza at 12:01 and was on the phone 45 minutes before getting a chance to talk to LO. "It became clear quickly that we could not get a deal done," Mitch said... The Lakers had just 2 turnovers in the first half and led 46-39. They were 12-22 from the line, however... Lakers started the third on a 12-0 run... Their 19-point lead was chisled down to 10 as that unit's energy seemed to fall off... The Lakers closed the third with Mbenga, Powell, Morrison, Sasha and Farmar. The depth sitting in street clothes... The Lakers led 70-61 heading into the fourth despite 10 turnovers in the third... They had 9 turnovers in the fourth quarter. That's 19 second-half turnovers, yet they still won...

[Ray_Gonzoles]

As always, thanks for the recaps DB!
Gaffney seems to be doing everything to force the Lakers to sign him, either to the team or the D League.
Even tho it seemed it was garbage time for most of the game, Farmar and Sasha are showing they want the
Guard position. Not too many stupid mistakes by either of them tonight.
_________________
"Just show up ready to work, ready to play, Have your big boy pants on, leave your diaper at home." Kobe Bryant
Anything less than a championship is a failure. Period.

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB!

[Mation]

Thanks DB! It'll be great to see Ron match up defensively against Melo on Thursday.

[revgen]

What you saw from Shannon tonight is why he is not a future starter for this team. Nothing against him, he's valuable and does a lot of good things for us, much of which Farmar cannot bring, but he's better suited for either playing alongside Farmar or coming off the bench.
_________________
I Recommend VLC Player: http://www.videolan.org/

[Texas_Pete]

Thanks DB! A few random thoughts...

Artest
Should we be worried about Artest and his foul trouble? I didn't see the game, but for him to foul out without guarding a Melo, PP, or LBJ gives me pause. Admittedly I didn't see the game, but it does worry me

Bynum
I'm liking that the guys are looking for him and he is delivering. He needed to get his confidence back and it looks like he is on his way.

Sasha
The machine returneth or too early to tell?

Powell
Hope he continues to do things will help him earn some more minutes. Pau sure can use a break this year and be rested for the playoffs.

Defense
We held that team to 38% shooting. Size matters? Boris Diaw didn't go off - neither did Felton. Me likey.

Go Lakers

[AllorNothing]

Just sign Gaffney please. He will be that underdog/benchwarmer we can cheer for when he gets 2 minutes in a blowout.

[AceFresh]

DB managed to watch the Angels game (sorry btw Angels fans)
and then do recap for the game.



AMAZING!

[Andre2K]

I've said this time and time again, Farmar is our BEST point guard, good game from Jordy can't wait till he starts at pg. Brown is pretty much useless when he is not dunking and hitting 3s, dude can't create a shot for himself... exciting to watch but not the answer at the 1 spot. Fish? well, I just wish he would stop taking those quick shots and pass a lil more. I hope Gaffney makes the team!
_________________
My Dream Starting 5 next Season

Pg Lonzo
Sg Kawhi
Sf Ingram
Pf Lebron
C Dedmon

Bench: Caruso, Hart, Bullock, Kuzma, McGee etc

[Laker7]

At the start of the second quarter, when Phil started Mbenga, Powell, Morrison, Sasha, and Farmar, I took a big gulp. I thought for sure the Bobcats were going to take off but that unit (especially DJ) did a nice job of holding their own.

Powell was the unsung hero of the game. Extremely efficient and did not play to his strengths. Hit a couple of mid to long range jumpers instead of shots from the block.
_________________
Darvin Ham is an idiot!

[DancingBarry]

[Tanlentueux]

[Vishnu]

machine

[AceFresh]

[DancingBarry]

^ Ditto. Although tonight...probably not so much.