Pts in the Paint

Philostrator · Starting Rotation Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 171

Look at the Pts in the Paint of the lakers and compare it.
@NOK Lakers 18 Hornets 50

@Dallas Lakers 24 Mavericks 46

This explains why they have been inconsistent,
they don't get to the paint and increase their shooting percentage,
instead they just settle for taking long and bad shots.
Brian Cook of course is okay with that, but the rest of the team
should take it near the basket.

4OnTheFloor · Star Player Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 1148

Not to mention can't stop the other team from getting in the paint.

KobeButler · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 10179

no mihm = no shot blocker.

Kwame and Cook cant block squat.
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Pain is temporary, at the end of pain is success...

Philostrator · Starting Rotation Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 171

4OnTheFloor · Star Player Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 1148

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53837

does anyone have the stats of pts in the paint for phoenix?? they have a very small lineup and don't seem to get owned in the paint as much as we do.
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Surfitall · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

What would be interesting to me would be to see a breakdown of shots attempted, not just made, per quarter.

Philostrator · Starting Rotation Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 171

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53837

Shapecity · Starting Rotation Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 527

I took your post and ran with it ...

Looking at their current losing streak and previous win streak, the Lakers have some alarming discrepancies in two categories. The Lakers are really struggling at points in the paint and fast break points.

Losing streak average PIP allowed - 41.3
Winning streak average PIP allowed - 46.0

Losing streak average PIP scored - 33.3
Winning streak average PIP scored - 41.3

Losing streak average FBP allowed - 11.2
Winning streak average FBP allowed - 8.7

Losing streak average FBP scored - 7.5
Winning streak average FBP scored - 14.0

**CURRENT LOSING STREAK**

Points in the Paint

Lakers (24) v. Mavs (46) ==> Loss
Lakers (18 ) v. Hornets (50) ==> Loss
Lakers (36) v. Bobcats (34) ==> Loss
Lakers (32) v. Pacers (38 ) ==> Loss
Lakers (54) v. Knicks (40) ==> Win
Lakers (36) v. Pistons (40) ==> Loss

Fast Break Points

Lakers (11) v. Mavs (9) ==> Loss
Lakers (10) v. Hornets (16) ==> Loss
Lakers (4) v. Bobcats (23) ==> Loss
Lakers (6) v. Pacers (9) ==> Loss
Lakers (6) v. Knicks (4) ==> Win
Lakers (8 ) v. Pistons (6) ==> Loss

**PREVIOUS WIN STREAK**

Points in the Paint

Lakers (38 ) v. 76ers (50) ==> Win
Lakers (28 ) v. Clippers (48 ) ==> Win
Lakers (40) v. Pacers (38 ) ==> Win
Lakers (54) v. Blazers (46) ==> Loss
Lakers (38 ) v. Cavs (50) ==> Win
Lakers (50) v. Warriors (44) ==> Win

Fast Break Points

Lakers (17) v. 76ers (8 ) ==> Win
Lakers (6) v. Clippers (8 ) ==> Win
Lakers (5) v. Pacers (11) ==> Win
Lakers (18 ) v. Blazers (1) ==> Loss
Lakers (17) v. Cavs (6) ==> Win
Lakers (21) v. Warriors (18 ) ==> Win

Conclusion:

Based off these two samples, we can draw some conclusions about the Lakers.

1) The interior defense is allowing far too, many points in the paint. However, the Lakers have shown they can win despite giving up over 40+ PIP.

2) The key to the Laker success comes from fast break points. There is a huge differential from the losing and winning streaks based of FBP.

The constant appears to be a lousy interior defense by the Lakers. No surprise really, but defensively it doesn't seem to impact the win/loss column. What really impacts the win/loss colum is the FBP scored by the Lakers. FBP are usually attributed to guard play.

This leads me to believe it's actually the inconsistency of the guard play, which is hurting the Lakers this season, and not the frontline. The frontline is consistently lousy on interior defense, but the fluctuation in guard play is the difference between a Laker win or a Laker loss.

Another conclusion you could draw, have the Lakers been overachieving the entire time?

Looking more specifically at guard play you can see how much the Lakers count on Smush Parker to win games. The key stats are Points/Assists/Steals/TOs

**Losing Streak**

v. Mavs (3PTs / 3ASTs / 2STLs / 0TOs) ==> Loss
v. Hornets (5PTs / 6ASTs / 1STL / 1TO) ==> Loss
v. Bobcats (19PTs / 2ASTs / 3STLs / 8TOs) ==> Loss
v. Pacers (6PTs / 1ASTs / 0STLs / 3TOs) ==> Loss
v. Knicks (15PTs / 5ASTs / 1STL / 1TO) ==> Win
v. Pistons (9PTs / 1ASTs / 2STL / 1TO) ==> Loss

**Winning Streak**

v. 76ers (24PTs / 3ASTs / 3STLs / 2TOs) ==> Win
v. Clippers ( PTs / 3ASTs / 1STL / 0TO) ==> Win
v. Pacers (6PTs / 1AST / 0STL / 1TO) ==> Win
v. Blazers (12PTs / 4ASTs / 1STL / 2TOs) ==> Loss
v. Cavs (12PTs / 1AST / 2STLs / 0TO) ==> Win
v. Warriors (24PTs / 6ASTs / 3STLs / 4TOs) ==> Win

Smush Parker's three best games were played when he scored 15+ points. The conclusion we can draw from this, is Smush Parker's defensive production is a direct result of his offensive production. When the shots are falling for Smush or he's getting involved more, his defense picks up tremendously.

When PJax was coaching the Chicago Bulls in the Jordan era. He used to have Jordan get the 3-Headed monster involved early on, so they would play better on defense. For the Bulls team, the big men were the key.

For this Laker team, the big men are not the key. Their poor player doesn't make a difference in the win/loss column. The person making the difference is Smush Parker.

The Lakers should make the adjustment of getting Smush Parker more involved in the offense early on. Kobe Bryant has to decoy and find Smush open for layups or wide open jumpers.

One variation of the Triangle which would be very successful is flashing Smush down the lane catching the bounce pass from Mihm or Odom in the post. Right now this play is run mainly with Kobe, but the Lakers might want to put Smush in the attacker role to get the games started so he concentrates more on defense.

thumpinghead · Star Player Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 5657

Philostrator · Starting Rotation Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 171

I do agree that Smush Parker is the key to success of the Lakers.
But that goes for all teams as well, Point Guard has always been an important aspect of a team.
Look at Billups, Nash or Tony Parker they have been the key to their teams.
The problem with Smush is he's young, I do believe he can become a good point guard,
but right now he's not making good plays for his team.
When I saw him doing a fastbreak he doesn't make a good decision on making a pass for the possible easy 2 points.
He still has a lot to learn. So yea If Smush can have a consistent game, the team execution will flow pretty good.

KobeButler · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 10179

Sage_10 · Star Player Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 6668

That's insane. But equally as bad is the first quarter production of the Lakers in each of the last 5 games. I think it was mentioned on the AM570 show earlier today.

Socks · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject:

Don't forget the other side of this stat. We don't score easy buckets in the paint. With Mihm out we don't have anyone post players that can score consistently, which of course means that our perimeter players don't have spacing and constantly have a hand in their face on jump shots. It's a vicious cycle

Sage_10 · Star Player Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 6668

Tony Montana · Star Player Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 2962

When I saw the thread title, my first thought was "what points in the paint?"