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Laker Intervention Star Player
Joined: 21 Jan 2013 Posts: 2201
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:25 am Post subject: LAKERS VS. ROCKETS - KEYS TO THE GAME |
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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' ) |
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PICKnPOP Star Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2014 Posts: 5356
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:36 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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ReaListik Star Player
Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Posts: 6542
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 10:51 am Post subject: |
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Don't suck. That's the key. _________________ "We are the goodest." - Shaq ESPN interview |
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LakersMDGurl Franchise Player
Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 18015
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:00 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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Who Takes The Blame Starting Rotation
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 733
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Rebounds |
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ringfinger Retired Number
Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:04 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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MambaBamba Sixth Man
Joined: 27 Oct 2014 Posts: 45
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:09 am Post subject: |
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Lakers interior defence is the key. If the Lakers bigs get into foul trouble then it will be very difficult to win. |
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brunel Starting Rotation
Joined: 16 Oct 2014 Posts: 518
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:22 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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44TheLogo Star Player
Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 6364
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:24 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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lemondrop Sixth Man
Joined: 19 Jul 2014 Posts: 38 Location: 808
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:41 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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yinoma2001 Retired Number
Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:46 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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Vin Star Player
Joined: 03 Jan 2013 Posts: 6005 Location: France
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:47 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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Vancouver Fan Franchise Player
Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 17740
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:53 am Post subject: |
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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 |
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yinoma2001 Retired Number
Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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Lakersprime Starting Rotation
Joined: 15 Aug 2014 Posts: 322
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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1. Make Howard foul trouble early.
2. Force Harden to play iso-ball. |
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Lakers 4 eva Star Player
Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 3820 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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angrypuppy Retired Number
Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 32730
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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Score more points. |
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pio2u Retired Number
Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 54520
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Offensively Lin & Kobe must stay on the attack; defensively protect the rim, rebound and guard the perimeter. |
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ghostowl Sixth Man
Joined: 16 Oct 2013 Posts: 70
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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we're going to get out-rebounded...
laker backcourt > rocket backcourt
rocket frontcourt > laker frontcourt |
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hollandog Sixth Man
Joined: 11 Jul 2014 Posts: 27
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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rebound is the key |
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thegreatest Star Player
Joined: 02 Sep 2002 Posts: 9911
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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Who Takes The Blame wrote: | Rebounds |
_________________ "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."
- Michael Jordan |
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Golden_Emperor_24K Star Player
Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 3480
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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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 |
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Lakers 4 eva Star Player
Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 3820 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Kobe won't be guarding Harden. That will be Wesley's job. At this point, Kobe and Harden defensively is a wash. |
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Hard_Butter Franchise Player
Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 12223 Location: The Two One Three
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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DShotMaker1824 Star Player
Joined: 16 Feb 2012 Posts: 8767
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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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..."
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