BUCKS -at- LAKERS - 1/10 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Fresh Meat... The Horsemen and their Death Riders have looked sluggish, fatigued and uninspired. Their health has left them vulnerable. Even though Little Larry O'Brien is safe and secure at the moment deep within the city, the city, itself, has grown more restless by the day. With the recent defeats have come shortages in food, water and the basics of survival. Such is the ebb and flow of the post-apocalyptic world of the Horsemen.

As you stroll the streets awaiting the next attack from desperate marauders, you are frozen in disbelief. A lone Buck walks down the middle of the crowded marketplace street. A hush rapidly settles on the crowd as the Buck slowly passes by. People seem stunned. A Buck in the middle of this starving urban environment? This can't end well.

No one is quite sure what to do at first. They follow it from a distance and keep it contained. Then, the Horsemen and their Death Riders finally arrive. The matter is settled with relative ease.

You are given a set of velvety antlers with a tag attached. DancingBarry. It's short and simple:

The Horsemen were here. They feasted on venison.

I will continue to track them.

The Bucks stumbled into L.A. at the wrong time. With the Lakers hungry for a win after two straight defeats and a bitter taste still in their mouths after Portland's game, a blowout was coming.

They accomplished the mission with some stifling opening quarter defense where they held the Bucks to just 8 points in the first quarter and 28 points for the half. Those are season lows for an L.A. opponent.

"We had one mind today to go out an execute defensively, and we were able to go out and do that," said Andrew Bynum, who had 17 points and a career-high 18 boards. Phil got after the team yesterday about their defensive intensity. Today, they responded.

With Pau out and Kobe struggling badly, the Laker offense sputtered at times. Phil revealed afterward that Kobe has changed up his finger protection three games ago, and that seems to have caused a lot of the issues. "It's noticeably different for him shooting," Phil said. It still didn't excuse some of Kobe's poor shot selection, which Phil also mentioned.

With Kobe faltering, several other Laker role players stepped up. Lamar continued to string together another good outing, pulling down 17 boards and dishing a team-high 9 assists. Shannon Brown led the team with 19 points and two plays of the game. Jordan Farmar also chipped in with 17, as well.

The 95-77 victory may satisfy them for the moment, but they will have play just as hungry out on the road in these next two games...and, hopefully, they can get some semblance of their one-two punch back.


Kobe -- -- Remember back when Kobe hurt his elbow against the Kings and came out in the fourth not shooting? That's how he should have played this one for stretches. This was a ridiculously bad game for Kobe. He kept missing and missing and taking more shots and missing. He even missed FTs (again the finger an obvious issue when even these don't go for him), but it didn't stop him from continuing to throw up tough shots. Phil said the coaches let him know he has to have better possessions out there. He was 2-19 at one point in the third quarter, continuing his bad streak of games lately. There was one offensive sequence in the half where Kobe took three shots, including a long jumper with his left. Phil said they laughed at that sequence at the half and Kobe responded with a "wry grin." That finger looks like it's been bandaged up a little more than before with some extra padding, but it doesn't have the support. He has more flexibility, but less strength, he said. Hopefully, he changes that around for a while until it's better (he did that in the third quarter). He's still drawing a crowd. If he's struggling with the finger, he needs to play decoy a little more to set up teammates -- drive, draw and dish more. He also needs to reduce the high difficulty chucks. It will be a tough road for the Lakers if they have Kobe severely limited and Pau not on the floor. Missing a healthy one-two punch, the team is going to have to get it done on D. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 4-21 shooting (0-3 from three, 4-6 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 28:30. He was a +14. The Action: He missed a three to beat the shotclock. He drew FTs on a lefty attempt in the post, he made both. He back-rimmed a runner. He got bumped badly with no call and missed a turnaround. He was 0-4 in the first quarter. He missed a baseline turnaround. His pass was picked off for a dunk the other way. He missed a pull-up from the elbow. He missed a turnaround. He spun and threw up a prayer on a reverse, not close. He called for the ball away Drew who was posting up and missed a long three (cut if you're shot isn't going down, Kobe). He swiped the ball from Bell, pushed it up and scored a layup, his first and only make of the half. Hard attempt on a long baseline turnaround and he missed. He missed three shots on the next offensive sequence, ugly (last one was a 19-footer with his left). He slipped at the three line and tried to throw it up at the buzzer, wasn't close. That last one made him 1-14 in the first half for 4 points. "Kobe can't go 1-14," Hamblen said at halftime. Second Half: He swished a turnaround from the low post. He missed a longer turnaround on the baseline next time down. He took a pumping wing jumper with a man on (Ron was standing wide open next to him). He kicked out to Fish for an open three next time down. He missed a runner in the lane. He was fouled on a leak out, he made one FT. He was fouled in transition on another outlet and push out, he made one FT. He missed a baseline pull-up jumper. He lost the dribble on a spin, got it back and banked a layup. Out of a timeout, he hit short turnaround in the lane. He swiped a pass on the other end. He picked up a fourth foul, then sat. He picked up his 10th tech from the bench (that was a waste). He had 8 points on 3-7 shooting in the third.

Bynum -- -- Drew was very active tonight and ended up with a career-high 18 boards. Maybe it was the coaching staff getting on him. Maybe it was the Bosh trade rumors. Maybe it was facing Andrew Bogut who went in the draft before him. Maybe it was just Drew getting more comfortable without Pau there. Whatever it was, bottle that, Drew, and repeat. He dominated Bogut, holding him to just 3 points on 1-5 shooting. Defensively, he had a nose for the ball. He was grabbing boards and challenging shots. This double-double wasn't just because Pau was gone (that's a huge factor), but Drew was playing with more energy. He was running the floor well and even finishing breaks. Offensively, he got a wide range of scores: lob dunks, jumpers, hustle on the offensive glass, fastbreak scores. Well done. The Stats: He scored 17 points on (7-14 shooting) to go with 18 boards (3 offensive), 3 blocks, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 33:27. He was a +31. The Action: He back-rimmed a layup. He got it back and traveled. He rattled in a face-up elbow jumper. He hit a wing jumper next time down. He spun in the post after no one cut off him and he missed a short turnaround wanting the foul. He went up high for an offensive board, took a dribble and pounded it down. He cleaned up a miss by Ammo. Nice challenge on a shot on one end, he then ran the floor and hammered down a lob from Lamar at high speed. Another good challenge and he then tapped out the board to ignite the break. Bynum filled the lane on the break, took the pass and drew FTs, he made both. He had 12 points on 5-8 shooting, 6 boards and 2 blocks in the first quarter. He missed a long turnaround (get better position, Drew). He got chopped from behind after scoring a layup off the high entry pass, he made both. Sloppy bounce pass to Kobe, turnover. He had 15 points on 6-10 shooting and 11 boards. Second Half: He missed 15-footer. LO got it back then lobbed to him for the slam. He got bumped across the lane with no call. He rejected Bogut's jumphook out of bounds (it looked like Phil actually got off his seat for that one). He missed a jab-step jumper from the elbow.

Artest -- -- Phil switched up his subbing pattern tonight. Perhaps, he is getting ready for Luke's return. He sat Artest midway through the first and third quarters for Morrison. This resulted in very limited action in the second half when the Lakers pulled away for the blowout. Not much action for Ron, but he managed to help get two fouls on the first offensive sequence to help get the Bucks in the penalty early in that quarter. Defensively, the Lakers looked better as a team. It's been a while when we've seen those rotations where opponents have to go through layers of defenders, but that's what was happening to night. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting, grabbed 4 boards, had 1 steal and 1 foul in 19:26. He was a -2. The Action: He drew two fouls on the Bucks on the first offensive set. He curled weak to strong, took the pass and scored a layup. He missed a two-footer in the post, then went over the back. He had 2 points on 1-2 shooting. Second Half: Nothing to report.

Lamar -- -- The Lakers got 35 boards between their starting PF/C spots. Lamar's rebound-to-outlet passing tonight was superb. That ignited several breakaways. In addition to hitting the boards from the start, he also got into the post to help collapse the D and get the ball moving early on. He faded from that a little (and didn't get the ball when he did get back down there). When the Lakers were struggling offensively, they needed to go back to that and exploit it more. Some excellent court vision with his bigman tonight. Bynum on LO: "He's always looking to throw that lob in when I'm getting high side," Bynum said. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 1-4 shooting (1-1 from three, 2-4 from the line) to go with 17 boards (3 offensive), 9 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 35 minutes. He was a +29. The Action: He drew FTs on a corner entry pass (didn't look like a foul), he made one. He lobbed to Drew for the slam in transition. He attacked with speed in transition and drew FTs, he made one. He had 8 boards in the first quarter. He fouled Warrick on a jumpshot. He didn't get a rebound or a point in the second quarter. Second Half: He grabbed a Bynum miss, pulled it out and lobbed to a spinning Drew for the dunk. He was stripped. He pulled down a board and hit Kobe with a long outlet for FTs. He grabbed a board and hit Kobe again for FTs in transition. He missed a short one in the paint. He missed a layup cutting off DFish's drive. With the shotclock low, he swished a long wing three. He hit Shannon with a long outlet for the And-1 dunk. Nice challenge on Jennings to force a miss.

Fisher -- -- An effective game from DFish. The Bucks guards got nothing all game. Much different tone than the previous game where the guards got whatever they wanted. Fish was able to get to the line, which helped the shooting problems in the first half. The Stats: He scored 11 points on 2-6 shooting (1-2 from three, 6-6 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and 4 fouls in 26 minutes. He was a +25. The Action: He drew FTs on a leaner, he made both. He missed a 19-footer next time down. He stripped Bogut in the lane. He missed a three. He attacked off the three line, ball-faked and drew FTs, he made both. He got tapped on a wing jumper with the shotclock low. He attacked full court and got a layup to go. He filled the lane on the break and drew FTs, he made both. He had 8 points. Second Half: He swished an open three on the Kobe kickout. He airballed a runner.

Brown -- -- Two of the loudest roars from Staples came off Shannon's plays tonight. The first was a halfcourt buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter. "It felt good," he said after it left his hands. The second was on the defensive end -- a great double rejection of both Bucks guards off the glass a few seconds apart. That was impressive. Shannon ended up being the Lakers game-high scorer (the 19 points was 1 point below his career high). You aren't going to see that often. He had some pretty solid D and good challenges most of the night. The Stats: He scored 19 points on 8-12 shooting (2-3 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 24:28. He was a -2. The Action: He missed a 20-footer off a screen. He swished a jumper in transition. He missed a pull-up 10-footer. Nice defensive sequence on Jennings forcing him into a challenged chuck. On the other end, he swished a 20-footer. Second Half: He missed a corner three. He missed a wing jumper. He swished a wing pull-up 16-footer in transition. He swished a running jumper from halfcourt at the third-quarter buzzer. He took an outlet from LO and threw down the And-1 dunk, he made the FT. He sank a wing three on a Farmar kickout. He rejected Ridnour's layup attempt in transition and when Jennings tried to drive a couple seconds later, he rejected that one off the glass, too. He got a step-back jumper to bounce in. He swished a pull-up jumper standing on the wing three line with the shotclock low.

Farmar -- -- His freethrow shooting has looked a lot better lately and he made all 6 attempts from the line tonight. He's made his last 14 attempts from the line. "I'm feeling good. I don't think it's an issue anymore," Farmar said afterward. He and Jennings got into it late in the game and Farmar took it to him. After the Bucks called a timeout when Farmar hit a couple shots, Jordan yelled a few words back to that side of the court. After getting the 24 against Dallas, he's been relatively quiet until this game. Which comes first? The blowout and big numbers for the bench? Or big numbers from the bench and the blowout? Tonight, it certainly seemed like the bench helped create the blowout in the second half. The Stats: He scored 17 points on 5-8 shooting (1-3 from three, 6-6 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a -7. The Action: He missed an early offense three (probably thinking two-for-one, but the clock wasn't in our favor). He hit Powell for the midrange off the two-man game. He drew FTs attacking with some speed, he made both. He faded to the corner when Artest expected him to make a cut down the lane, turnover on the bounce pass. Second Half: He sank a pull-up wing jumper off the screen. He scored an And-1 layup off the high pinch post with Lamar, he made the FT. He hit Shannon for the three. He blew past Jennings and no-looked over his shoulder to Powell for FTs. He threw a pass away. He attacked in transition, changed directions and scored an And-1 layup, he made the FT. He drew FTs next time down and made both (soft touch on both). He and Jennings started jawing at each other and that pissed off Farmar. He buried a pull-up, hanging wing jumper next time down. Then helped steal a pass from Jennings on the other end when they double teamed, then he buried a corner three. Jennings then sat. He missed a baseline jumper, then a three. Weak post entry pass and it was stolen.

Vujacic -- -- He came in for Kobe to run at SF at one point. Those minutes may dry up soon as Luke appears to be nearing his return. With Shannon playing well at the SG/PG, Sasha's minutes may be hard to come by soon. The Stats: He didn't shoot, had 1 board, 1 assist, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 11 minutes. He was a -4. The Action: Nothing to report. Second Half: He threw a pass away off the two-man game.

Powell -- -- Powell led the team with a -10. Some of that is due to not having LO or Bynum out there as he played both PF and C. However, he also didn't put together very good minutes. He was chucking a little too quickly instead of working through the offense. He was getting frustrated with the whistles going against him on one end and going silent on the other. He seemed to keep his mouth zipped, however. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-7 shooting (0-1 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 17:39. The Action: He swished a midrange jumper. He missed an 18-footer trailing the offense. Second Half: He clanked a pull-up jumper. He missed a short jumper and wanted the foul. He missed a wide open wing three. He drew FTs on the no-looker from Farmar, he made both. He missed a quick chuck from 16 feet out. He was called for a charge trying to attack off the dribble. He hit Mbenga cutting for a layup. An injured wheel that had him limping for a possession still didn't stop him from jacking up a miss from the perimeter.

Mbenga -- -- Phil opted to go with a small lineup in the first half when Bynum sat. I would have rather seen DJ out there, but perhaps that foul-prone last game got him a few less minutes tonight. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-1 shooting to go with 2 boards and 1 block in 5:20. He was a -8. The Action: Did not play. Second Half: He scored a layup off two long strides when Powell found him cutting. He attacked off the fly by and drew FTs, he made one. He couldn't secure a defensive board off a missed FT, he swatted the putback attempt.

Morrison -- -- He came in for Artest after just 6 minutes in both halves. Being able to run with the starters got him a +24 in the game. He did a good job when he was out there. Some good challenges defensively and he was always hustling. He never really got challenged from the SF spot. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-5 shooting (1-1 from three) to go with 2 boards and 1 block in 17 minutes. The Action: He missed a one-hander on the baseline. Second Half: He seemed surprised to be open and missed a fading wing jumper. With the shotclock low, he drained a long three from the wing. He attacked from the high pinch post and hit a runner in the lane. He missed a wide open wing jumper. He blocked a man from behind to save a layup.

Phil -- -- Phil seemed to be a little more animated before the game. He's not going to lose three in a row if he can help it... The Lakers picked up three fouls on the Bucks on the first defensive stand. The Lakers were in the bonus after 2 minutes... Artest sat midway in the quarter for Ammo... The Lakers were playing with energy on both ends and led 20-4. Bucks were 2-17... Artest returned for Amo and Farmar with Fish... The Lakers led 24-8 after the first. The Bucks made 4-21 shots... Phil started a Powell, Lamar, Artest, Brown, Farmar lineup. LO had to sit for Kobe after getting a foul. Very small lineup... The Bucks cut it to 28-20... The Lakers were up by 7 when Phil brought in LO and Bynum for Artest and Powell... Phil brought in Sasha for Kobe... Phil was running a Bynum, Lamar, Sasha, Brown, Fisher lineup... The Lakers lost the second quarter 20-15. Kobe was horrible... The Lakers led 39-28 at the half. The Bucks shot just 12-42, 28.6 percent. The Lakers came close to that with 12-39 shooting 30.8 percent. The Lakers had a 17-2 advantage from the line... Hamblen said they played great defense and simply missed shots. He mentioned Kobe's poor game... Phil again subbed out Artest for Ammo midway through the quarter... Kobe picked up his fourth foul and sat with 4 minutes left in the third... The Lakers started to gain some separation... Both Shannon and Farmar sparked the Laker bench... The Bucks shot 34 percent for the game. The Lakers shot 40 percent. Freethrows evened up in the second half. The Bucks still shot just 13 for the game... Not a lot of steals for the Lakers, just good challenges and rotations. The Bucks had just 10 turnovers...

[AJLakerFan]

First!!! Great writeup as usual DB.

[Vishnu]

man, my internet is slow. i would have had this one

[jsi106]

kobe is shooting with ariza FG%

[LakerSanity]

[LakerLanny]

How the hell do Sasha and Powell manage to come up with negative plus/minus in a game the Lakers were ahead by 25 in?

Those two have been brutal. Literally every single play Powell makes is a bad one and Vujacic could not outplay half the guys at the local rec center.
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Love, Laker Lanny

[gk3465]

Shutting down his man while getting a double-double by halftime, I think we can FINALLY say that Bynum is back to his old self. But here's where he has to be careful. Every time he's gotten to this point, you know what happens.

Just take it easy and don't try too hard to please the doubters Andrew. Don't fight Odom for the rebounds. All we need is for you to reach your peak physical condition by the postseason, and we'll roll through everyone.

[DancingBarry]

[gk3465]

Also, Bynum is averaging 19, 12 and 2 without Pau, that's pretty amazing how his line can change so much, depending on another player.

[City_Dawg]

Thanks DB
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*sighs*

!...

[LakerSanity]

[DancingBarry]

[LakerLanny]

Problem with Bynum is he disappears when Pau does play.

They simply aren't an effective combination together, the team is clearly better with LO in the game with Pau and Bynum out.

That said, AB is a darn nice insurance policy to have over the course of a long NBA season when Pau and/or LO get dinged up with injuries. But the AB, Pau lineup isn't fluid and even worse is soft defensively.
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Love, Laker Lanny

[hellolaw5]

[AJLakerFan]

[waterman40]

[quote="LakerSanity"]

[Ray_Gonzoles]

Thanks DB!

Nice comback game after 2 L's.

Great showing by the bench in this game - need more of that as the season progresses.

Now on to Texas.
_________________
"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.

[Texas_Pete]

Thanks DB. I hadn't seen Drew sky for rebounds like that in a looong time. Good to see. Funny what a little motivation will do for a player. If only he played with that kind of effort against the Cavs...

[JUST-MING]

[Keyser Soze]

[lounger]

[limchrc]

Thanks, nice win.

[prisma8slg]

thanks db

[wolfpaclaker]

[LarryCoon]