March 2nd: Another Poor Loss for Lakers.

 
This forum is locked: you cannot post, reply to, or edit topics.    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> Lakers In the News This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:36 am    Post subject: March 2nd: Another Poor Loss for Lakers.

Another Poor Loss for Lakers
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
March 2, 2006

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Lakers are running out of time, failing to pick up victories during the easy portion of whatever games are left, a string of ill-timed and inconceivable losses trailing longer and longer behind them.

Their latest gaffe came Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, owners of the worst record in the Western Conference but keepers of the Lakers for a second time this season in a 99-93 victory at the Rose Garden.

ADVERTISEMENT
There were grumblings afterward about bad spacing on key plays, about team chemistry issues, about lightly regarded Steve Blake's beating them again and again. Lamar Odom even reasoned that Kobe Bryant should shoot the ball 40 or 50 times a game because nobody else is doing his job.

It was the continuation of a team in undeniable decline, with losses to lowly Atlanta, Boston and Portland in the last two weeks and a treacherous schedule to come, with three games against San Antonio, two against Phoenix and one against Detroit over the final 24 of the regular season.

Bryant, bleary-eyed and raspy-voiced because of a sinus infection, had 35 points on 10-for-27 shooting. He could have tacked on 20 more shots without any objection from Odom.

"I don't blame him shooting the ball 40 or 50 times a night," Odom said. "If I had his talent, I'd do the same thing. We should be embarrassed. I am."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:37 am    Post subject:

Lakers done in a snap
Late turnover costly for Lakers in defeat
By Ross Siler, Staff Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - If Kobe Bryant wasn't feeling well before Wednesday's game, when he let out what might have been the world's longest yawn in the locker room, he had to be downright ill by the end of the night at the Rose Garden.

With Bryant suffering from a sinus infection, the Lakers were unable to pick each other up on offense and defense and gave away yet another game in a season full of them, falling 99-93 to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Coming off a 2-11 month, the Blazers snapped a six-game losing streak with Wednesday's victory, but the Lakers have become a broken record in that respect.

In the past month, the Lakers have been the team that Indiana (six games), Charlotte (13 games), Memphis (five games) and the Clippers (five games) all have beaten to end long losing streaks.

It was the latest example, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said afterward, of allowing teams to "make games out of things that should be ours."

The Lakers (29-29) fell back to .500 with the loss but still lead Sacramento and Utah by 1 games for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.

Bryant missed nine of 11 shots to start the game, spiking one would-be reverse dunk off the rim, but wound up having to carry the Lakers all the same.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:38 am    Post subject:

Spark lacking, Portland prevails
With Bryant ailing and missing early, no one else steps up and the Lakers fall back to .500.

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register

PORTLAND, ORE. – If Kobe can't do it, no one can!

In this first Lakers endeavor of Kobe Bryant with Phil Jackson but not Shaquille O'Neal, a sad twist on that old cheer has been the short summary of the season.

The same story played out in defeat again Wednesday night, when the Lakers lost, 99-93, to a Portland Trail Blazers team with by far the worst record in the Western Conference. The loss dropped the Lakers back to 29-29, and the feeling in the locker room afterward mimicked the level record:

Has anything really been accomplished?

"It's not coming together offensively or defensively - most importantly, defensively," Lakers guard Smush Parker said. "We're not playing as a team right now. I don't know how to change it."

The grief of the loss sounded even rougher through the hoarse voice of Bryant, who played through a sinus infection that he said left him "achy." Asked about the issue of teammates letting Bryant down, Lamar Odom said: "We put Kobe in a bind. He's got to get 35-40 points for us to win? We should be embarrassed. I know I am."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:40 am    Post subject:

Bad habits die hard

Trail Blazers 99, Lakers 93: Another embarrassing loss sets the Lakers back.

12:37 AM PST on Thursday, March 2, 2006

By BRODERICK TURNER / The Press-Enterprise

PORTLAND - It was another embarrassing, hard-to-explain loss for the Lakers.
AP photo
Kobe Bryant, recovering from an illness, scores 35 but misses 10 of his first 13 shots as the Lakers fall behind. He missed 17 of 27 overall.

Wednesday's 99-93 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers was just another reminder of what the Lakers aren't and don't know if they'll ever be -- a good team.

"We should be embarrassed," Lamar Odom said. "I know I am."

There were many bad moments for the Lakers, but the biggest was Smush Parker trying to drive and having the ball stolen by Darius Miles with LA trailing 96-93 in the final seconds.

Miles drove the length of the court for a dunk and a 98-93 lead with 10.6 seconds left.

The Lakers dropped to 29-29, the ninth time they have fallen to .500. They are just 1½ games ahead of Sacramento and Utah for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Coach Phil Jackson said the Lakers are going to have to face the consequences of losing to teams with bad records.

The losses against the bad teams are piling up with the big boys coming up. The Lakers still must face San Antonio three times, Phoenix twice, and Detroit -- all teams the Lakers have yet to defeat this season.

The Lakers are 4-10 in the second of back-to-back games and have another back-to-back set this weekend, when they play Golden State on Friday night and return home to play Detroit, the team with the best record in the NBA, Saturday.

Kobe Bryant led LA with 35 points Wednesday despite being "achy" from an illness that seemed to sap his energy. He missed 17 of 27 shots.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:42 am    Post subject:

McKie's Absence Affects Rotation
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
March 2, 2006

PORTLAND, Ore. — Call it the Aaron McKie effect.

Through no real fault of his own, other than a severely strained quadriceps tendon, the 12th-year guard has missed 44 games and set off a chain reaction in his one season with the Lakers.

His absence since the first week of December has meant more minutes for Kobe Bryant, a weaker exterior defense and a less experienced backcourt, particularly in late-game situations.

It has also forced the Lakers to look for additional backcourt help even though the trade deadline passed last Thursday. The availability of veterans Penny Hardaway and Tony Delk was discussed internally (Delk since signed with Detroit), and the Phoenix Suns' waiving of Jim Jackson on Wednesday was noted by the organization. Former Clipper Rick Brunson is also available.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:43 am    Post subject:

Turiaf earning his stripes with team
By Ross Siler, Staff Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - For all the comparisons to Mark Madsen, with a little more rhythm, Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf has a different player in mind when it comes to his manic act on the bench.

"I think I'm like the Chad Johnson of basketball," Turiaf said.

While Johnson has made his end-zone celebrations a weekly event with the Cincinnati Bengals, Turiaf has provided the Lakers with an unmatched energy a month after he joined the team and completed his return from open heart surgery.

He is out of his seat and breaking into an Antoine Walker shake when one of his teammates throws down a dunk. He is turning his fingers into imaginary guns and pretending to fire them when a 3-pointer is good.

"Why not? I have energy," Turiaf said. "I'm not going to play a 48-minute game. So I've got to expend some energy and burn some calories."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who favors meditation and Zen to all-out exuberance, said he has no problem with Turiaf's style.

"There really is something nice about it as far as energizing this team," Jackson said. "This team has some deadbeats on it, anyway, and the coach is one of them. It's good to have some people out there that are enthusiastic about the game."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:45 am    Post subject:

Notebook: Turiaf the new Madsen?

12:34 AM PST on Thursday, March 2, 2006

Broderick Turner

PORTLAND - Ronny Turiaf had open-heart surgery on July 26, and it was expected to be a full year before he would be able to play basketball again.

But Turiaf has surpassed all those expectations and become a solid role player.

At 6-foot-10, the Lakers knew they had a banger in Turiaf, a player who goes all out.

But his teammates have found Turiaf a constant source of encouragement.

"I think with Ronny it's infectious to play with him," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Turiaf, who was selected in the second round (39th overall) in last June's draft.

"I think he inspires people because of his enthusiasm."

Turiaf also can play. He had 10 points Tuesday and has shown he can knock down the 15-foot jumper.

"He can score," Jackson said. "He has an adequate shot, and he's a guy that hustles himself into points."

Jackson hadn't expect to play Turiaf much. But Turiaf's play has gotten better as his conditioning has improved. So Jackson has increased Turiaf's role.

"He's worked hard at it," Jackson said. "The more he plays better, the more time he deserves. He'll continue to increase his time."

When Mark Madsen played for the Lakers, he was known for his enthusiasm and hard work. Many fans have compared to Turiaf to Madsen.

"He's a different player than Mark," Jackson said. "But he's got that kind of enthusiastic character about his game."

It's not uncommon to see Turiaf on the bench jumping around, yelling and dancing.

"There really is something nice about it as far as energizing this team," Jackson said. "This team has some deadbeats, anyway. The coach is one of them, so it's good to have some people out there that are enthusiastic about the game.

"Yet, there is a certain amount of energy that you release when you do things like that ... it's nice to save that for the game and not seep it out during the course of exuberance."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Phil
Retired


Joined: 03 Aug 2001
Posts: 10007

PostPosted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:50 am    Post subject:

For one night at least, Rip City redux
Thursday, March 02, 2006

S teve Blake lounged in the baseline seats before the game and contemplated his assignment: Stop Kobe Bryant.

That's like being asked to make Chris Rock shut up -- simply an uncommon and unlikely event. And what did Blake do wrong to draw this assignment?

It's not like that, said the Blazers point guard.

"That's an honor, really," he said of guarding the irrepressible Bryant. "The best way to stop him is not to let him get the ball."

That's a tall order in that Bryant's sweet spot for catching the ball is a few paces off the team bus. Despite Ruben Patterson's declarations, there is no such thing as a Kobe stopper -- at least not on this planet.

Blake's father, Richard, was in town for the game, visiting from Florida. His advice for his son?

"Play hard, play big," Richard Blake said, grinning.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Display posts from previous:   
This forum is locked: you cannot post, reply to, or edit topics.    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> Lakers In the News All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Jump to:  

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum






Graphics by uberzev
© 1995-2018 LakersGround.net. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Use.
LakersGround is an unofficial news source serving the fan community since 1995.
We are in no way associated with the Los Angeles Lakers or the National Basketball Association.


Powered by phpBB