3-4 after the loss tonight

[Zhengi]

Just cause I'm going to be busy this evening :)

Lakers need some serious help with the boards and defense. Not enough guys going after boards and this hurt our team too much cause of the 2nd chance opportunities that were capitalized and slowed down our momentum. It seemed like every time the Lakers made a basket, the Magic had an answer on the other end.

Furthermore, our bench is in serious trouble. Usually, when a team builds a 16 point lead, the bench is supposed to come in and hold onto the lead. Instead, they didn't get the job done and actually gave the Magic the momentum necessary to win the game.

All in all, poor performance on defense and lack of contribution from the bench. Congrats to the Magic. They deserved this win.

You guys have a good evening :)

[zer0]

i wonder when kobe will share the ball better. it's one thing to just pass the ball, but it's another to pass it in the right situation, in the most effective condition. he should stop forcing the issue whether it be passing when the passing lane is not available or when his teamates are not in good position or it be shooting the ball over defenders with sufficient time on the clock.

when worthy said that the lakers were playing great basketball for the first qtr, and then collapsed the following qtr, he attributed this problem to lack of ball movement. he said. "they stopped sharing the ball." i noticed this too. i'm not just blaming this sudden change on bryant. it's everyone's fault. but as a leader, he should lead by example. everything starts and ends with him. every time he is on the court his presence will always affect his team's performance. whether his effect on the team is good or bad is another issue all together. anyway, in addition to this problem, worthy said the lakers stopped defending as a result. when the ball is moved more, bryant's teamates will feel more appreciated and involved, therefore, making them feel more important to the team. if the offense is stagnant, those who don't get to touch the ball will not get motivated to work on both ends of the floor. :(

i liked how magic played save francis' me-first plays. :) they have what, like 3-4 guys with at least 20 points. very balanced. it's good to have diversity in the offense beause it is more unpredictable, and because of this, it is more difficult to read, therefore, more difficult to defend. it's good when everyone tuoches the ball in a possession especially when defense has already been established. the more passes are made, the more the players get confused, the more the defense lags. of course, in a fast break situation, you don't need everyone getting touches. :)

anyone saw the heat spurs game? spurs have their main man in duncan, which makes it understandable that he is the first option in the offense. however, even in the case of the spurs, their offense is diverse. everyone moves. they cut. they slash, set effective screens, they roll, help each other, bail each other... they don't just stand and watch. defense is also by committee. as a result, they look better on offense, calmer on defense.

anyway, bottom line is, if kobe wants to lead, he should change his game plan. play wiser basketball. especially on the offensive end. more ball movement. and of course, he should be less predictable. whenever he touches the ball his body language is just way too obvious. i could call whether he wants to shoot the ball or not. he has this body language that is just dead give away. his gestures are a quick study. :p


i still think the lakers can come out of this roadtrip with 2-2.
GO LAKERS! :)

[LALion]

When will kobe learn to share the ball? I've been wonderingthat for several years. Even when he does share it, at crunch time he think he's the only player capable of shooting

[zer0]

he knows how to share the ball. he just doesn't like it.

[STLCARDSFAN1]

lol the lakers are looking pretty bad without my guy shaq. now kobe puts up 41 points a game becuase he no longer passes.

[Sportsmensa]

i wonder when kobe will share the ball better. it's one thing to just pass the ball, but it's another to pass it in the right situation, in the most effective condition. he should stop forcing the issue whether it be passing when the passing lane is not available or when his teamates are not in good position or it be shooting the ball over defenders with sufficient time on the clock.

when worthy said that the lakers were playing great basketball for the first qtr, and then collapsed the following qtr, he attributed this problem to lack of ball movement. he said. "they stopped sharing the ball." i noticed this too. i'm not just blaming this sudden change on bryant. it's everyone's fault. but as a leader, he should lead by example. everything starts and ends with him. every time he is on the court his presence will always affect his team's performance. whether his effect on the team is good or bad is another issue all together. anyway, in addition to this problem, worthy said the lakers stopped defending as a result. when the ball is moved more, bryant's teamates will feel more appreciated and involved, therefore, making them feel more important to the team. if the offense is stagnant, those who don't get to touch the ball will not get motivated to work on both ends of the floor. :(

i liked how magic played save francis' me-first plays. :) they have what, like 3-4 guys with at least 20 points. very balanced. it's good to have diversity in the offense beause it is more unpredictable, and because of this, it is more difficult to read, therefore, more difficult to defend. it's good when everyone tuoches the ball in a possession especially when defense has already been established. the more passes are made, the more the players get confused, the more the defense lags. of course, in a fast break situation, you don't need everyone getting touches. :)

anyone saw the heat spurs game? spurs have their main man in duncan, which makes it understandable that he is the first option in the offense. however, even in the case of the spurs, their offense is diverse. everyone moves. they cut. they slash, set effective screens, they roll, help each other, bail each other... they don't just stand and watch. defense is also by committee. as a result, they look better on offense, calmer on defense.

anyway, bottom line is, if kobe wants to lead, he should change his game plan. play wiser basketball. especially on the offensive end. more ball movement. and of course, he should be less predictable. whenever he touches the ball his body language is just way too obvious. i could call whether he wants to shoot the ball or not. he has this body language that is just dead give away. his gestures are a quick study. :p


i still think the lakers can come out of this roadtrip with 2-2.
GO LAKERS! :)
Lakers didn't lose due to lack of ball movement. Yes they were at there best when the ball was swinging from side to side but its not the reason we lost.

We've got no depth in the middle right now due to injuries. When we get in foul trouble the middle opens right up for penetration which leads to high percentage shots. Hopefully that will be remedied along with the rebounding situation when our players return.

The other reason you touch on and thats our second unit has no goto guy or even guys outthere that have that"Give me the rock" mentality. Rush was supposed to be that guy but he's looked completely lost outthere couple that with Cook having a shooting slump the past 2 or 3 games and it makes for hard times.


Regarding Kobe not passing.....He's moving the ball well and some of you are not taking into consideration that Rudy T is running plays directly for him to get shots because he is our ONLY true goto guy at the moment. If we'd played better D last night nand won nobody would have mentioned a thing about Kobe and his passing. The Lakers didn't lose because of it so there's no need to bring it up.

Go Lakes!!

SM

[zer0]

Lakers didn't lose due to lack of ball movement. Yes they were at there best when the ball was swinging from side to side but its not the reason we lost.

I said Lakers lost the lead due to lack of ball movement, which is why I pointed out what Worthy had said during the halftime. Then because the team started to play stagnant offense, the defense soon followed. It's like a domino effect or something.

Regarding Kobe not passing.....He's moving the ball well and some of you are not taking into consideration that Rudy T is running plays directly for him to get shots because he is our ONLY true goto guy at the moment. If we'd played better D last night nand won nobody would have mentioned a thing about Kobe and his passing. The Lakers didn't lose because of it so there's no need to bring it up.


I didn't say Kobe was not passing the rock. I said he should pass it more effectively. You're right though, no one will be talking about Kobe and his passing if the Lakers had won last night, but that's because if we win, that means many things that the team did and many things that the team did not do, really did not matter or bother the team's performance that much to have cost us the game. Naturally, when you lose, you try to think about the things that contributed to the loss. The sudden change in offense contributed to that lost because it was the one that opened up things for magic, and consequently, lakers had a mental lapse in the defensive end as well.

Things to consider:
1. rebounds (offensive & defensive)
2. defense (individual & team)
3. diversified offense
Go Lakes!!
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LALion]

Don't get too impatient, people. Most of these guys have never played together before, and it takes some time to get used to each others' strengths and weaknesses. It's gonna take more than a season for these guys to mature as a unit. Don't expect too much this season.