PELICANS -at- LAKERS - 1-29-13 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:25 pm    Post subject: PELICANS -at- LAKERS - 1-29-13 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

Moving the Ball… The formula has been established. It starts with Kobe drawing the D, dishing to teammates and ends with W’s. The Lakers had 34 assists on 39 field goals in their 111-106 win over the visiting, uh, Pelicans.

With the defense scrambled, if Kobe can’t make an initial pass to a teammate for a score, the ball ends up in the hands of playmakers like Nash and Pau who will. The Kobe/Nash/Pau trio had 23 of those assists.

“It keeps the defense a couple passes behind,” Kobe said. “So you just see them late all the time because they don’t where to come from, what to do. So now they are always a step behind.”

The team now has a personality -- an identity -- that they can hang their hats on. Ball movement and defensive effort/accountability. With three straight wins, this identity will be put to the test on the road.

Phoenix, Minnesota, Detroit, Brooklyn, Boston, Charlotte and Miami. They have 7 straight road games.

The Lakers are 0-7 in their last 7 on the road. Time to end that.


Kobe -- -- Another near triple-double game and MVP like performance. So much of what the Lakers did just began with him: setting up Dwight for easy scores; drawing that initial double team and seeing the ball go to open shooters, or just getting those opportunistic breakaway points for others. Kobe was getting instant traps on his post ups early on. Late in the game when those doubles came on the wing, the Lakers were ready to expose it. “It’s just a matter of reading the defense and seeing what they are going to give us,” Kobe said. I’d be curious to know how many hockey assists he had in this game. A lot of those Laker scores come off the second or third pass after Kobe gives it up by drawing the defenders. “It’s been exciting to see him take on that role,” Nash said. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 5-12 shooting (0-4 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 8 boards (3 offensive), 11 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 34 minutes. He was a -5. The Action: He hit Dwight cutting for a score. He drew Nash’s man and hit him for a three. He curled into the lane off the baseline and lobbed to Dwight. He swished a step-back corner jumper on a kickout. He hit Dwight on the break for the dunk. He was doubled in the corner and turned it over. With 4 seconds left, he pushed out the rebound with speed, hesitated at the three line and attacked and just missed a runner at the first quarter buzzer. He had 2 points and 5 assists in the first quarter. He attacked and hit the runner. He hit Dwight on the rim run for FTs. He missed a wide open three (three the other way in transition). He missed a tough corner three with the shotclock low. He followed it up and tipped in a Metta miss. He scored 6 points on 3-6 shooting to go with 5 assists and 4 boards. Second Half: He kicked to Clark for the three. He curled into the lane and hit the turnaround straight away. He hit Dwight rolling for the dunk. He crashed the glass for the Metta airball and scored the putback layup. He hit Dwight rolling for the dunk. He attacked the paint and somehow missed a layup, wanted the foul (had to be one). He hit Meeks on the breakaway for a dunk. He went behind his back to Pau for the top-of-the-key jumper. He missed a pull-up three at the buzzer. Out of a timeout, he got held for FTs and made both. He missed a wing jumper on iso. He was fouled with 5 seconds left, he made both FTs.

Howard -- -- The Lakers were finding him early and often. When he can strike quick, teams are in trouble. He still doesn’t look quite himself. He couldn’t elevate to throw down a one-handed dunk over a man in the first half and he missed a two-handed jam in the second half. Still, he brought the energy today and teammates rewarded him. He was also very active defensively, where he started the game with a steal and kept that perimeter pressure on. He ended up with a combination of 9 steals and blocks. That’s some disruptive D. “When we’re set, it’s tough for teams to score,” he said. The Stats: He scored 24 points on 9-13 shooting (6-11 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 2 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 37 minutes. He was a -13. The Action: He stripped his man for a steal to start the game. On the other end, he popped out behind a pick, grabbed a pass and hit the short jumphook. He airballed a long jumphook next time down. He finished a lob over his head off the Kobe interior feed. He scored an And-1 layup off the pocket bounce pass from Nash, he missed the FT. He missed at the front of the rim trying to throwdown (still not quite himself yet). He fumbled away an interior feed from Clark. He picked his man, pushed out the dribble, gave it up and got it back for the dunk. He dunked off the interior feed from Pau (probably a 3-second violation). He had 10 points on 5-7 shooting, 3 steals and no boards in the first quarter. He posted up and was hacked for FTs, he made both. He deflected a pass out of bounds. He faced up, attacked and threw it in the backcourt (then tried to explain to Nash where he should have been...Nash had a smirk on his face). He cut off the screen-roll, took the touch pass from Pau and powered in the And-1, he made the FT. He rejected a shot out of the lane. Quick kickout to Nash for a three. Nice rim run and Kobe found him for FTs, he made both again. He had 17 points on 6-8 shooting (5-6 from the line) to go with 3 steals and 2 blocks. Second Half: He missed a point-blank two-handed thowdown, then got called for 3 seconds. He made sure of the finish on the next dunk when Kobe set him up. He grabbed the pocket bounce pass from Nash and made the And-1 layup, he missed the banked FT. Great feed next time down off the screen-roll to a cutting Clark for the slam. He was wrapped up on the post entry feed for FTs, he missed both. He was shoved on the post entry next time down for more FTs, he made one. He dunked off the screen-roll with Kobe. He couldn’t finish the lob. He swatted a shot, controlled it and outlet to Meeks for FTs.

Nash -- -- He was a little more aggressive in the playmaking capacity today. Still, he let Kobe dictate most of the offense. “I think Nash is the perfect guy to play off him,” D’Antoni said of the role reversal. “It helps both of their games.” Teams are in trouble when Kobe scrambles the D and Nash gets the ball in his hands. Nash hit the big dagger three tonight on one of those situations. Kobe drew the D, pitched it to Clark who attacked and that left Nash wide open for the open three with a minute left. That is a superb look at that point of the game. Some great playmaking by Nash tonight, as well. The pocket passes to Dwight were a thing of beauty. Nash will make his return to Phoenix. He’s says he’s received a lot of support anytime he’s gone back to Phoenix. He said he doesn’t have any issues with his decision to play for the Lakers this season. “It doesn’t matter to me. I had an opportunity to be as close as possible to my kids. I would do it 10 times out of 10.” The Stats: He scored 12 points on 4-5 shooting (3-4 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 5 assists, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 35 minutes. He was a -7. The Action: He drained a corner three on a Kobe kickout. He missed an open wing three (And-1 layup the other way). He hit Dwight on a pocket pass (off a little flare out and then attack) for the And-1 in the lane. He swished an open three on a Dwight kickout. He drew FTs on a layup attempt, he made one. He had 7 points on 2-3 shooting and 2 assists. Second Half: He hit Dwight with the pocket pass in the middle of the lane for the And-1 layup. He had a great assist erased when Clark traveled on the break for the dunk. He attacked off the Kobe feed and hit Jamison for three. He drained an easy jumper off the high screen. He sank a wide open three off the Clark drive and kick.

Peace -- -- When he wasn’t clanking jumpers off the rim, he was missing the rim altogether. The Clark/Jamison combo outplayed him and his minutes were reduced as a result. (Metta was still all smiles from the bench seeing his guys have success in those final possessions while he watched.) Clark’s defensive versatility and perimeter shooting will allow that Metta bench time happen. Metta also needs to keep the ball moving offensively. It sticks too long in his hands and disrupts the flow (and of course, he’s been hoisting up a few more shots than anybody else lately). But the ball isn’t sticking in Clark’s hands and it makes for some better flow offensively. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-8 shooting (1-6 from three) to go with 4 boards, 1 assist and 1 foul in 23 minutes. He was a -3. The Action: He iso’d and wasn’t close on a jumper. He missed a wing three on a kickout. He ball stopped, the offense died and he missed a bad shot in the post. He drained the open corner three off a Pau kickout and swing passes from Kobe and Nash to find him. He missed a putback attempt. He had 3 points on 1-5 shooting. Second Half: He airballed a three on an off-the-mark kickout pass. He missed a corner three, dunk the other way. He airballed a wing three on a kickout, come on.

Clark -- -- Wow. Wish we had him wrapped up under a cheap contract for a few years. He is coming into his own this season and giving the Lakers some of the same things Lamar used to: defensive mobility, rebounding, playmaking and perimeter shooting. He just looks so comfortable out there (which was not the case in his first three seasons). He stroked a couple of threes from the corners on his first two attempts to start the first half. Then hit another three for the Lakers first score in the second half. The three ball was dropping, but how about the poise in crunch time to score a layup off a Kobe feed, then on the next trip down, attack off the kickout, draw the D and kick to Nash for a wide open three? Nash has got to love that kind of look with just 1:21 left. Clark would miss a tough layup shortly later, but next time down he made a great swing pass to Jamison who turned it into a layup. “We’re moving the ball well,” Clark said. “We got great weapons on the team.” There aren’t plays run for him specifically. He just knows what to do: shoot the open jumper, mix in some attacks off the dribble and move the ball. Metta could take a lesson from him on that quick decision making. Meanwhile, when you’re not getting the ball... hustle, hustle, hustle. His numbers were ridiculous this game as a role player. The turnovers are a bit misleading (Dwight not handling a pass he should have, Clark getting a tough pass and stripped, for example), but he still had a couple sloppy moments (stepping on the sideline on a kickout). The Stats: He scored 20 points on 8-11 shooting (4-5 from three) to go with 12 boards, 4 assists, 6 turnovers and 2 fouls in 35 minutes. He was a -6. The Action: He swished a corner three on a Metta kickout. He drained a three from the other side on the Pau kickout. He attacked off the dribble from the three line, stretched out and finger rolled in the layup. He had 8 points on 3-4 shooting in the first quarter. He overpassed to Meeks who wasn’t aware of the shotclock, either, 24-second violation. He missed a wing three. He had 8 points and 6 boards at the half. Second Half: He swished a sideline three on the Kobe kickout to start the half. He dunked cutting off the Dwight/Nash screen-roll and taking the feed from Dwight. He cut off the Pau drive, attacked and hit the pull-up FT jumper. He was called for a travel on the breakaway dunk. Great job to get a missed Pau FT, but then he threw it in the backcourt. Nice effort to regain a possession on the offensive glass. He drained a wing three on the kickout from Blake in early offense. He was called for stepping on the sideline as he caught a pass. He forced his man into a brick on a drive. He grabbed a Kobe feed in the paint, somehow avoided a 3-second call and scored the layup. He attacked and kicked next time down to Nash for three, big pass, big make. He missed a tough-angle layup attempt, cutting off Kobe. Nice swing pass to Jamison in the corner, who then attacked for a layup.

Gasol -- -- Great job moving the ball, particularly off those two-man sequences where Dwight sets the screen for a guard and Pau is in the low post. We feed that post and Pau makes the quick pass to the cutter. When he’s in the high post, those are those high-low sequences we see off of the screen-roll action. It was surprising to see how few points Pau had in this game because his offensive impact was bigger. Like Nash right now, he is getting the ball in his hands when the D is scrambled. Playmakers are deadly then. That’s resulting in him able to pick apart the D for scores. “When we made the right play offensively, then more likely we’ll do the right thing defensively,” Pau said. Seems to be true. The bad freethrow shooting by Pau is continuing, seemed like he might have snapped out of it late in the game. He didn’t play in the fourth because D’Antoni was worried about the small ball. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 1-4 shooting (5-8 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 7 assists, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 21 minutes. He was a +21. The Action: He missed a lefty hook in the paint, got it back and hit Dwight for the dunk. He missed the 19-footer straight away. He found Clark open for the three. He hit Blake stepping out off a pick for a jumper. He was called for a push on an offensive board to erase a hoop. He no-looked a touch pass to a cutting Dwight for the And-1. He drew FTs on a quick lefty hook trying to beat the shotclock, he made one. He had 1 point on 0-2 shooting, but 6 assists to lead the team and was a +20. Second Half: He drew FTs on the offensive glass going after a missed Dwight FT, he then missed both, arrgh. His pass was picked off, but we got a rare transition stop. He drew FTs on the post feed from Kobe, he made both this time. He missed a falling jumphook. He sank a top-of-the-key jumper off the Kobe feed. He scooped up a loose ball and was fouled, he made both FTs.

Jamison -- -- He got to close the game after some good second-unit minutes (although he probably shouldn't have...that was a long stint for him). Late in the game, we had Jamison and Clark on the weakside of the offense. The defenders would cheat and rotate off of them to stop Kobe. That put the ball in their hands to come through, and they did in the final minutes. “He makes the game so much easier,” Jamison said of Kobe. Jamison struggle a bit with his perimeter shot during the middle stretch of that fourth quarter. I thought he was getting a little tired and that hurt on both ends. He didn’t settle for a jumper on that last make with 15 seconds left when he attacked from the corner around a big for a layup. Got to love that kind of a shot in the final minute instead of long challenged jumpers. Nice seeing some chemistry out there with him on the floor. The Stats: He scored 16 points on 6-14 shooting (1-5 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 7 boards and no fouls in 24 minutes. He was a +10. The Action: He missed a baseline jumper on the kickout. He posted up and overpowered a smaller man for the layup. He missed an open wing three. He hit a leaner on the nice bounce pass from Blake. He choked a layup off a no-looker from Pau. He missed a quick-fire corner jumper. Nice challenge on his man to force a miss. Second Half: He drained the wing three off the Nash kickout. Poor three attempt on a catch and shoot (needs to square up better). He missed a three from the wing. Great angle on the slip screen and Blake found him for the layup. He attacked, curling from the elbow on the catch and he drew FTs, he made both. Nice hustle after a loose ball on a missed Meeks three and he drew FTs, he made one. Speedy attack from the three line down the middle of the lane and he scored a layup at full speed. He missed an open corner three. He missed an open jumper on a kickout. He took the quick swing pass from Clark, attacked past Lopez and scored the layup with 15 seconds left.

Blake -- -- Our second unit just got better. Blake came in as the backup PG with 2 minutes left in the first quarter, his first time in a game since the abdominal strain and surgery. The Lakers had much better energy on the floor with him than Duhon. He’s more aggressive as a playmaker, which helps keep the offense from stagnating. D’Antoni was looking forward to having Blake on his team and seemed to use him well to trigger a number of plays. “Our second group played really well tonight and that’s something to take forward,” D’Antoni said. The second unit throttled New Orleans today. Blake didn’t try to do too much, but was productive. “Just kind of play basketball and make reads,” he said of the offense. “As a point guard that’s what you’ve been doing your whole life so I think it should come pretty fast.” Looked like he and Jamison had a little chemistry going on out there. Keep and eye on that. I sure wish he could learn Nash’s midrange game so he could hit some step-backs or runners in the paint, just to remain a threat when he gets into the painted area. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 2 boards, 4 assists, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 13 minutes. He was a +12. The Action: Nice feed to Jamison in transition for a leaning bank. He set a pick, popped out off that and hit the 17-footer. He missed a wing three with the shotclock low. Second Half: He attacked weak to strong and hit Meeks who was freed up in the corner off a Jamison screen for a three. He attacked and swung it back out to Clark for three. He hit Jamison slipping a screen for a layup. Bad pass hitting a defender in the ass trying to thread a needle, he then got drilled trying to take the charge in transition.

Meeks -- -- Loved the energy tonight. Look at those bench +/- to see how well that translated on the court. They had New Orleans on their heels. They outscored the opposing bench 38-32. Meeks was hitting a few threes and getting out in transition to manufacture some points. We were able to keep Kobe’s minutes to 34 tonight as a result of our second unit play. Keep that up. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 4-10 shooting (3-8 from three, 2-4 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 2 steals and no fouls in 17 minutes. He was a +16. The Action: He drained a wing three on the kickout. He sank a sideline three in early offense. He missed a three in early offense. He attacked in transition, no touch around the rim, miss. Second Half: He missed a sideline three. He deflected a pass, saved it back to Kobe, filled the lane and dunked. He sank a corner three set up off a Jamison backscreen to start the fourth. He missed a three from the top of the arc against a shotclock. He pushed out the break and drew FTs on a rim rush, he made both. He missed a transition three. He took an outlet and drew contact for FTs, he missed both, grrrr. He missed a wing three in transition.

D’Antoni -- -- Lakers getting scored on with ease in transition to start the game. They trailed 16-12 midway through the quarter... They trailed 19-18 when Jamison came in for Howard and Clark came in for Metta... Blake for Nash with 2 minutes left down 1 still... Lakers led 25-24 after the first quarter... He started a Pau, Jamison, Clark, Meeks, Blake unit. Good energy on this unit... They extended to an 11-point lead in just a couple of minutes... He sat Jamison for Metta and Blake for Nash with 7:48 left up 8. The offense went dry for several minutes... He sat Clark for Pau and Meeks for Kobe down 7. They extended to a 13-point lead when the timeout came with 3 minutes left... The Lakers led 54-42 at the half. They shot 50% (20-40, 7-16 3PT, 7-10 FT) and had 17 assists. New Orleans shot 35% (16-46, 6-11 3PT, 4-4 FT)... Lakers scoring, but not getting any stops at all. Easy score after easy score for New Orleans... A timeout came midway through the quarter, the Lakers up 9. He sat Metta for Pau out of that... He then brought back in Metta for Clark with 5:40 left up just 7... Laker defense getting no stops at all. He sat Metta and Dwight for Meeks and Jamison with 4 minutes left up just 4... Good close to the quarter, finally getting some one-and-out stops... The Lakers led 83-73 heading into the fourth... He started a Dwight, Clark, Jamison, Meeks, Blake unit... This unit extended the lead and were dominating. They forced a timeout midway through the quarter up by 18... Up 14 with 5 minutes left, D’Antoni brought back in Kobe and Nash for Meeks and Blake... The lead was cut to 4 just 2 minutes later. D’Antoni’s rotations mixed a couple of chilled guards with some tired bigs. He called a timeout... The lead was cut to just 1 before a couple of scores to extend it back to 6 with over a minute to go... Close call there. I guess he was trying to buy his guards some extra rest with the back-to-back, but they struggled through that transition when the sub was made... “It was classic we got it won, let me turn the game off and we couldn’t turn it back on,” D’Antoni said... The Lakers are out on the road with the Grammy trip. D’Antoni said he thinks they should be able to win every game if they play the right way...


Last edited by DancingBarry on Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
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mhan00
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:28 pm    Post subject:

Gotta give Mike D'Antoni props for generating controversy even after a win. At least we won.
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InstinctualGenius
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:33 pm    Post subject:

If pau plays aggressive tomorrow we know why.
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thurloly
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:37 pm    Post subject:

I love Clark...dude is a nice addition.

Blake is back...and now I appreciate him more..."grass is always greener on the other side" vision messes me up....Duhon is not as good as Blake.

Nice recap, DB.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:09 am    Post subject:

My biggest problem with Dan Tanna tonight, we're up 18 midway thru the fourth quarter get some DEFENDERS in the game, we have enough points.

Great job as always DB
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:11 am    Post subject:

Great review. I thought the game turned in favor of the Lakers the moment Blake entered the game with ultra energy and attacks. I hope he keeps the bagel games locked away.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:37 am    Post subject:

Good win.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:54 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB! Great recap!

FINALLY a Laker win I didn't miss!

Transition D is still a problem but the ball movement was fantastic. Great adjustment to become more of a half-court offense; when you get Kobe initiating and players like Nash and Gasol moving the ball the way they did tonight - wow the clinic is in session!! Contagious too - Dwight and Clark had some excellent passing tonight as well.

Here's hoping the Lakers can somehow take at least 5 of these road games.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:46 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:18 am    Post subject:

DB, a great read

Do you have more info on Kobe's assessment on why the PELICANS eliminated most of.the 18.point.lead -.something about the Lakers' struggle in adjusting to the opposition's body/ball movement
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:20 am    Post subject:

Earl and Meeks had the best energy/effect on the team, both guys knew when to finish, that Meeks dunk was CRAZY, he has mad hops, was most impressed with Earl.

20 and 12 for a player that's been rotting on the ORL bench...impressive to say the least
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:58 am    Post subject:

3rd which is good, but MDA needs to still fight through his bias of not playing traditional big men, it's pretty inexcusable to bench the player with the highest plus minus for the entire 4th….MDA needs to understand in particular when we have a lead a slow deliberate O, which creates high percentage shots will also prevent teams from breaking on us and allow our half court D to set up, which as D 12 noted is very tough on teams
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:46 am    Post subject:

What is the likely chance we can resign/sign a new contract with him? I

I hope the Lakers are not going to let him goes over some money issue.

And thanks DB.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:01 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB.

That was a strange game, with the defense alternating between decent to bad with a few substitutions. The scary part was when the team lapsed into D'Antoni ball and contented themselves with exchanging transition baskets, which is a game plan destined for failure. In addition Vasquez was getting into the paint at ease, and Gordon had too many good looks at the basket. Spotty transition defense (aided by TOs and way too many 3s) made the plodding Pelicans (25th in the league in scoring) look like an offensive juggernaut.

I'd like to see a little more shooting from Nash, though what he gives you in his present role doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. He's such an efficient shooter that if he's left open he'll make you pay. He simply opens up the floor. They just couldn't hide him on defense last night, and the refs were showing him no love on a couple of calls that easily could have gone the Lakers way.

On a positive note, where did they dig up that Steve Blake guy? And Earl Clark?? You expect quality out of Kobe, but those two really made an impact.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:19 am    Post subject:

Finally, a more balanced 9-man rotation:

C - D12 - still not our best post player, but our best rebounder and shotblocker.

PF - Clark - Swiss-Army knife 4, giving us hustle and slashing, at a minimum.

SF - MWP - still not our best outside shooter, but giving us some versatility on O and consistent effort on D

SG - Kobe - going back to triangle-days initiator.

PG - Nash - aka a $9M Fish, with better shooting %s.

6th - Pau - in the overpriced bench/ Odom role.

7th - Blake - a steady backup PG again.

8th - Meeks - a quick-footed D and 3 player.

9th - Jamison - a general garbage and gunner scorer off-the-bench.

I'd still much rather see us starting Pau at the offensive 5 and have D12 essentially play the starting 4 -- he has no post moves while recovering from injury so just acknowledge Pau as the 5 already -- and bringing Clark and Meeks together off the bench for a speed-fleet 2nd unit, but as long as we win and our defense keeps improving, I can live with it.

Let's go 6-1/ 7-0 on Grammy trip!

MIM
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:20 am    Post subject:

[double post]

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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:01 am    Post subject:

We need Clark's energy to start games, so we don't dig ourselves a too big of a hole early! Pau has been solid off the bench. He is playing better as a 6th man to be honest. He probably should've gotten more mins last night but I understand why D'Antoni would leave Jamison in, he was having a good game, don't want to mess with his morale.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:54 am    Post subject:

BigBoi wrote:
We need Clark's energy to start games, so we don't dig ourselves a too big of a hole early! Pau has been solid off the bench. He is playing better as a 6th man to be honest. He probably should've gotten more mins last night but I understand why D'Antoni would leave Jamison in, he was having a good game, don't want to mess with his morale.



Agree, not to mention it was the first of a back to back... gotta think he'll give Pau more burn tonight. Wish we could have let Kobe and Nash rest the remainder of the game however...

Crazy to see all starters with a negative +/- and all the bench guys with a +
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RCS926
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:43 am    Post subject:

MIMLaker wrote:
Finally, a more balanced 9-man rotation:

C - D12 - still not our best post player, but our best rebounder and shotblocker.

PF - Clark - Swiss-Army knife 4, giving us hustle and slashing, at a minimum.

SF - MWP - still not our best outside shooter, but giving us some versatility on O and consistent effort on D

SG - Kobe - going back to triangle-days initiator.

PG - Nash - aka a $9M Fish, with better shooting %s.

6th - Pau - in the overpriced bench/ Odom role.

7th - Blake - a steady backup PG again.

8th - Meeks - a quick-footed D and 3 player.

9th - Jamison - a general garbage and gunner scorer off-the-bench.

I'd still much rather see us starting Pau at the offensive 5 and have D12 essentially play the starting 4 -- he has no post moves while recovering from injury so just acknowledge Pau as the 5 already -- and bringing Clark and Meeks together off the bench for a speed-fleet 2nd unit, but as long as we win and our defense keeps improving, I can live with it.

Let's go 6-1/ 7-0 on Grammy trip!

MIM


I like everything you said except the part about Nash being a better shooting Fisher. Even as a secondary playmaker, Nash's great court vision gives the Lakers a dimension that Fish never provided. Nash is dangerous as a spot-up shooter, but he's even more dangerous as a playmaker because teams will inevitably try to run him off the 3. When that happens, Nash has the D right where he wants them and can make plays for himself or others.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:22 am    Post subject:

MIMLaker wrote:
Finally, a more balanced 9-man rotation:

C - D12 - still not our best post player, but our best rebounder and shotblocker.

PF - Clark - Swiss-Army knife 4, giving us hustle and slashing, at a minimum.

SF - MWP - still not our best outside shooter, but giving us some versatility on O and consistent effort on D

SG - Kobe - going back to triangle-days initiator.

PG - Nash - aka a $9M Fish, with better shooting %s.

6th - Pau - in the overpriced bench/ Odom role.

7th - Blake - a steady backup PG again.

8th - Meeks - a quick-footed D and 3 player.

9th - Jamison - a general garbage and gunner scorer off-the-bench.

I'd still much rather see us starting Pau at the offensive 5 and have D12 essentially play the starting 4 -- he has no post moves while recovering from injury so just acknowledge Pau as the 5 already -- and bringing Clark and Meeks together off the bench for a speed-fleet 2nd unit, but as long as we win and our defense keeps improving, I can live with it.

Let's go 6-1/ 7-0 on Grammy trip!

MIM


I see Darius Morris as our tyronn lue, rarely getting minutes but used in certain match ups. So he's not strictly part of the rotation, but is still 10th man in certain games.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:23 am    Post subject:

We need to carry this momentum one game at a time. Do not get complacent with these 3 wins, keep that underdog mentality and stay hungry
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:50 am    Post subject:

RCS926 wrote:
MIMLaker wrote:
Finally, a more balanced 9-man rotation:

C - D12 - still not our best post player, but our best rebounder and shotblocker.

PF - Clark - Swiss-Army knife 4, giving us hustle and slashing, at a minimum.

SF - MWP - still not our best outside shooter, but giving us some versatility on O and consistent effort on D

SG - Kobe - going back to triangle-days initiator.

PG - Nash - aka a $9M Fish, with better shooting %s.

6th - Pau - in the overpriced bench/ Odom role.

7th - Blake - a steady backup PG again.

8th - Meeks - a quick-footed D and 3 player.

9th - Jamison - a general garbage and gunner scorer off-the-bench.

I'd still much rather see us starting Pau at the offensive 5 and have D12 essentially play the starting 4 -- he has no post moves while recovering from injury so just acknowledge Pau as the 5 already -- and bringing Clark and Meeks together off the bench for a speed-fleet 2nd unit, but as long as we win and our defense keeps improving, I can live with it.

Let's go 6-1/ 7-0 on Grammy trip!

MIM


I like everything you said except the part about Nash being a better shooting Fisher. Even as a secondary playmaker, Nash's great court vision gives the Lakers a dimension that Fish never provided. Nash is dangerous as a spot-up shooter, but he's even more dangerous as a playmaker because teams will inevitably try to run him off the 3. When that happens, Nash has the D right where he wants them and can make plays for himself or others.


Youre completely right about Nashs playmaking setting him apart from Fish. Also, Nash is able to get in the lane and finish/make plays which Fish was very poor at!
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:03 am    Post subject:

MIMLaker wrote:
Finally, a more balanced 9-man rotation:

C - D12 - still not our best post player, but our best rebounder and shotblocker.

PF - Clark - Swiss-Army knife 4, giving us hustle and slashing, at a minimum.

SF - MWP - still not our best outside shooter, but giving us some versatility on O and consistent effort on D

SG - Kobe - going back to triangle-days initiator.

PG - Nash - aka a $9M Fish, with better shooting %s.

6th - Pau - in the overpriced bench/ Odom role.

7th - Blake - a steady backup PG again.

8th - Meeks - a quick-footed D and 3 player.

9th - Jamison - a general garbage and gunner scorer off-the-bench.

I'd still much rather see us starting Pau at the offensive 5 and have D12 essentially play the starting 4 -- he has no post moves while recovering from injury so just acknowledge Pau as the 5 already -- and bringing Clark and Meeks together off the bench for a speed-fleet 2nd unit, but as long as we win and our defense keeps improving, I can live with it.

Let's go 6-1/ 7-0 on Grammy trip!

MIM


I don't agree with Pau starting. However, I am relieved just like you that we ran a nine man rotation tonight instead of 6-8 that we usually see. MDA usually sticks with the same players and ends up burning their legs. I can't say I enjoyed his coaching tonight, but I did like that he gave more players more opportunities.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:28 pm    Post subject:

Quote:
[3rd quarter] He sat Metta and Dwight for Meeks and Jamison with 4 minutes left up just 4...


Highly underrated coaching move. Dwight and Metta were bogging the offense down and the Pelicans were making a charge. Fantastic adjustment that frankly outlines the difference between D'Antoni and Brown.

Metta (forcing shots; ball stopping) and Dwight (turnovers; free throws) can really kill offensive flow. They also play good defense but if the wheels are falling off offensively you have to make a substitution.

One other point on D'Antoni's 'post ups are inefficient' mantra. You could make a case that is true in Dwight's case. Since Howard can't facilitate from down there, just dumping it in isn't a good play. If you offer that to Pau then Dwight is going to get jealous. D'Antoni is managing that by bringing Pau off the bench and getting him in the post while Dwight is out. When Dwight checks in Pau is going high post and looking for Dwight. When Dwight is with the starters Kobe is facilitating from the post and Dwight is jiving with Kobe as #1 option there. It's a big part of what has started to improve.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:39 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
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