LAKERS VS. ROCKETS - KEYS TO THE GAME
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> LA Lakers Lounge Reply to topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Laker Intervention
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 21 Jan 2013
Posts: 2201

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:25 am    Post subject: LAKERS VS. ROCKETS - KEYS TO THE GAME

First game of the season. At Staples, we will get a glimpse of our new coach, new culture, and new roster competing in their first regular season against the Houston Rockets.

Can never put too much stock into the first game, so regardless of results it is wise to not judge a team by one game, but that being said with a competitive start to our schedule it is important to try to get as many wins as possible against the stacked Western Conference.

Although we're not at full strength, a team's culture should be indicative from it's weakest player. Hopefully tonight we can achieve a few of these things:

1) Points in the Paint
We are told that we are a smash mouth team that's gritty on both ends. We're going old school and the 3-point line won't be a focus. Assuming the Rockets will take more 3's and potentially make more - we have to win points in the paint.

Our 4 main bigs have to stay aggressive. Get Dwight in FOUL TROUBLE. Box out and create 2nd chance opportunities. Have to win points in the paint. I look forward to seeing Lin run pick n roll to assist in this focus, and Kobe making the right reads when players are open.

2) Play Defense Without Fouling (Unless it's Dwight)
The Rockets will get to the line. I'm looking for quick rotations, closing out properly on their 3 point shooting, and to be able to guard Harden without fouling. We can't let the FT disparity dictate the outcome of the game. Lin will have his challenge tonight.

3) No Kobe Watching/Kobe Letting Game Come to Him
Our guards have to be aggressive. Make Harden work on defense, which he is not too great at. In fact, he's quite bad at it. Best way to defend a high volume shooter is to make him work hard on the other end. (I really want to see Price and Beverley go at it too).

Move without the ball. The Rockets have a tendency to watch the ball a lot on defense. Last year they were easy to beat off the ball.

Kobe has to let the game come to him. No forcing shots on double teams. I think he has to be a facilitator in the first quarter if the defense collapses on him. I'd also like to see him get to the paint more and when defense collapses, hit open man. I hope he completely blocks the 'Kobe's first game against Dwight since departure' narrative out of his head and doesn't try to prove anything by 'trying' to take over. Just play the game right. Force Dwight to play out of his element in Staples.

4) Win the Turnover Battle
Last year the Houston Rockets were 2nd in the league with most turnovers. (Yes we have Lin now who helped contribute to that) but the Rockets still have many players who can be careless with the ball.

Unforced turnovers, especially at home can be the difference in the game. Don't give a high powered offense extra possessions. Lin, Kobe, Johnson have to be careful with the ball.

Well, here goes our first game! Go Lakers! Peace.

PS. What are your keys to the game? (Please don't snobbishly say 'win' )
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
PICKnPOP
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 14 Jul 2014
Posts: 5356

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:36 am    Post subject:

Great post. I think that if we can execute these points that you have made we have a chance to be close at the end of the game. If it's close at the end of the fourth we have the advantage for 3 reasons:

1) kobe
2) lin
3) howard


Everyone knows that kobe is clutch, but lin has shown in his short career thatnhes pretty clutch also. Hack-a-coward should be in full effect in case of a close game.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
ReaListik
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 08 Jun 2008
Posts: 6542

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:51 am    Post subject:

Don't suck. That's the key.
_________________
"We are the goodest." - Shaq ESPN interview
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
LakersMDGurl
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 18015

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:00 am    Post subject:

Lin has to take care of that Ball,and Johnson too!!!! Kobe needs to NOT make those fancy passes, you aint no PG lol. The Rox without Pax will be interesting to watch. I really wanna see what they can do. Ariza, gives them an upgrade on D though, don't sleep on the fact that they have two defensive players in their starting line up.
_________________
New Beginings
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger Reply with quote
Who Takes The Blame
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 05 Dec 2012
Posts: 733

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:00 am    Post subject:

Rebounds
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
ringfinger
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 08 Oct 2013
Posts: 29418

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:04 am    Post subject:

Let Harden go off. Limit Howard's production. If Howard dominates us inside, we are toast.

Lakers need to identify that 3rd scorer early as it'll likely be the Lin/Bryant show tonight.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
MambaBamba
Sixth Man
Sixth Man


Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Posts: 45

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:09 am    Post subject:

Lakers interior defence is the key. If the Lakers bigs get into foul trouble then it will be very difficult to win.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
brunel
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 16 Oct 2014
Posts: 518

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:22 am    Post subject:

I'd really like to see us go at the Houston defense physically early. If Lin and Kobe can get Beverley or Dwight into foul trouble, and they have to go to the bench early, we have an advantage. That bench is horrible.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
44TheLogo
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 21 Feb 2009
Posts: 6364

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:24 am    Post subject:

1. limit turnovers (turnover ratio of 13 or less)
2. contest 3 point shooters (hold rockets to <35% 3pt shooting)
3. win points in the paint
4. bench


Last edited by 44TheLogo on Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:44 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
lemondrop
Sixth Man
Sixth Man


Joined: 19 Jul 2014
Posts: 38
Location: 808

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:41 am    Post subject:

brunel wrote:
I'd really like to see us go at the Houston defense physically early. If Lin and Kobe can get Beverley or Dwight into foul trouble, and they have to go to the bench early, we have an advantage. That bench is horrible.


Totally agree with this -- their bench does have shooters but their shooters also don't defend well.

Whoever has Bev -- needs to be aggressive and get him into foul trouble early. He's the energy guy --- got to take the wind out of their sail.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
yinoma2001
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 119487

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:46 am    Post subject:

FYI, last year when we beat them, we went 16-35 at the 3 point line. (45%). IMO that was the reason we beat them, just spread them all over the floor.

Without shooting 3s against them, I think we'll have a harder time beating them with mostly 2s (although Portland had a primarily mid-range game against them in the playoffs).
_________________
From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Vin
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 03 Jan 2013
Posts: 6005
Location: France

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:47 am    Post subject:

I hope we come out quick and agressive from the start. I feel that if we start this game well, we'll be in it all the way.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Vancouver Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Posts: 17740

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:53 am    Post subject:

Defense and rebounds. Win those 2 categories and we'll be right there.

Attack the paint. Attempt to get Dwight in foul trouble.
_________________
Music is my medicine
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
yinoma2001
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 119487

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:01 pm    Post subject:

This game will put to test Byron's "shoot less 3s" strategy.

Rox will shot a bunch of them and we won't. Last year we shot 35 when we beat them by 1. Change half of the 16 3s into long 2s and we're talking about losing by 7-8 points last year.
_________________
From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Lakersprime
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 15 Aug 2014
Posts: 322

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:03 pm    Post subject:

1. Make Howard foul trouble early.

2. Force Harden to play iso-ball.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Lakers 4 eva
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 12 Jan 2008
Posts: 3820
Location: Anaheim, CA

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:25 pm    Post subject:

ringfinger wrote:
Let Harden go off. Limit Howard's production. If Howard dominates us inside, we are toast.

Lakers need to identify that 3rd scorer early as it'll likely be the Lin/Bryant show tonight.


Let Harden go off but limit the fouls on him. If he guards Kobe, Harden's offense will suffer but then again, that will probably be Trevor's job.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
angrypuppy
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 32730

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:26 pm    Post subject:

Score more points.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
pio2u
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 26 Dec 2012
Posts: 54520

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:36 pm    Post subject:

Offensively Lin & Kobe must stay on the attack; defensively protect the rim, rebound and guard the perimeter.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
ghostowl
Sixth Man
Sixth Man


Joined: 16 Oct 2013
Posts: 70

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:50 pm    Post subject:

we're going to get out-rebounded...

laker backcourt > rocket backcourt
rocket frontcourt > laker frontcourt
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
hollandog
Sixth Man
Sixth Man


Joined: 11 Jul 2014
Posts: 27

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:00 pm    Post subject:

rebound is the key
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
thegreatest
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 02 Sep 2002
Posts: 9911

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:07 pm    Post subject:

Who Takes The Blame wrote:
Rebounds

_________________
"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."
- Michael Jordan
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Golden_Emperor_24K
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 23 Nov 2008
Posts: 3480

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:35 pm    Post subject:

hope lin don't have any jitters playing against his former team. and kobe change up his game a bit and lock down james harden
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Lakers 4 eva
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 12 Jan 2008
Posts: 3820
Location: Anaheim, CA

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:51 pm    Post subject:

Kobe won't be guarding Harden. That will be Wesley's job. At this point, Kobe and Harden defensively is a wash.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Hard_Butter
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Posts: 12223
Location: The Two One Three

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:53 pm    Post subject:

Lakers 4 eva wrote:
Kobe won't be guarding Harden. That will be Wesley's job. At this point, Kobe and Harden defensively is a wash.


As bad as Kobe can be defensively, Harden's much worse.
_________________
The butter's hard and the eggs are chillin' in the dark.

Kiss my Converse.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
DShotMaker1824
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 16 Feb 2012
Posts: 8767

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:16 pm    Post subject:

My Keys are in the Game Thread OP, and these are very similar to mine.
The real key should be "WIN".
_________________

"Through the legs to the left, through the legs to the right, we don't run them Laker plays, we just Kobe fadeaway..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> LA Lakers Lounge All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2
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