JAZZ -at- LAKERS - 11/30 - Thoughts and :-)) ratings

DERF18 · Rookie Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 12

Lakers are rollin'!

- Sean - · Star Player Joined: 23 Apr 2002 Posts: 7339 Location: L.A.

What a performance by Kobe..

In the first half, I thought he did a great job of mainly going to work in that Michael Jordan area of the floor. Good looks in that range are money for him. When he's off, it's usually because he's taking bad shots...because when he gets good looks under the arc, he makes converting them look easy.

Establishing his rhythm in the 1st half from midrange (plus the throwdown on AK) was the base for the masterpiece he'd finish in the 3rd. Although w/ Bryant, he can get hot so fast...many times developing a rhythm isn't necessary...he just turns otherworldly in absence of warning.

In the 3rd... to echo Steve Kerr, he showed how much better he was than the rest of the players on the floor. Those guys are professionals on well coached winning basketball teams...and Kobe made them look like a bunch of stiffs. I'm not just talking about the Jazz players either. Though his teammates had on similar jerseys, they looked as out of place on that court w/ Kobe Bryant as the Utah defense.

We can say what we want about him at times, but his "A" game is second to none.

magic_bryant · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 18179

Spirit · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:53 am Post subject:

[/quote]

Pretty much. When he's rolling, there isn't a player that can touch him..in history. I fully believe that Kobe Bryant, when on the top of his game, is better than every single player that has ever touched a basketball.[/quote]

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Yep. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Kobe is the greatest streak shooter I have ever seen. And nobody is even close.

karlmalonefan · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

Great job, DB! What a game! That was fun to watch!

That is the kobe I love to see: undercontrol, not forcing anything, in rhythm, remembering he has teammates out there...and the rest of the team, staying aggressive when Kobe went ballistic was great to see. The only downer for the night was the poor play of our centers...hopefully it's just a phase and they'll get right back on track...I think Kwame had a bit of the jitters and was trying too hard. I'm still glad they started him, though. He needs to get over those jitters sooner or later so he can get back to the Kwame he was last season...

Great job, boys! I love my Lakers!!! They are so fun to watch!

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Freakout · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:11 am Post subject:

Turiaf needs more minutes. I have been harping over this the past few games but tonight he showed you yet again why he should be on the floor. His energy in the second was the turning point. The thing is Turiaf isn't your typical energy player. The guy has actual skills. Hopefully Phil will realize this.

Plus we complain about the zone......well Ronny and Cook has more experience playing against it than Bynum and Kwame.

Kobe was amazing, Lamar seemed determined to control the boards tonight, but Ronny and Evans were our most important guys after the two leaders.

Radmanovic please get hand surgery.

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53790

now that turiaf is healthy again....RETURN OF THE PREDATOR!!!

he aint just a dancer anymore guys. having this guy back and nasty is GREAT for us.
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wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58336

I think it's safe to say for now the Lakers are a top 5 offensive team in the NBA.

5th in points
5th in assists
5th in FG%

Their point per shot number is very impressive. I think it's #1 in the league.

Very impressive offensively - despite a number of games where they haven't executed well on O.

magic_bryant · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 18179

TooCool · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:58 am Post subject:

Great post DB. It was a pretty darn good win last night.
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LakersMD · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 8014

I thought the key to the game (aside from Kobe's performance) was getting Memo Okur into foul trouble. Without his ability to stretch the defense and open up the lane for all those back/cross picks, the Jazz offense really bogged down.

The Jazz put up 27 points in the 1st quarter, and then only 14 in the 2nd.

Omar Little · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:43 pm Post subject:

Random thoughts from the game:

The injury to Kobe may be a huge blessing. getting the other guys going was great, and it also re-inforced the role of the offense and facilitating for Kobe. But the Detroit and Milwaukee losses proved that the starting point is #24. it was really nice to see Kobe breaking the zone, having a monster night, and still getting the other guys 80 points. Assuming a less hot shooting hand, they still score well over a hundred. Hopefully signs of things to come.

I love the 3 bigs we have. What versatility. on defense we have a guy who can body up on most bigs (Kwame), a guy who can use his length to challenge the Yaos of the world (Bynum), and a guy in Turiaf who's not as long as Bynum, as big as Kwame, but he's a better natural help defender/shotblocker than Kwame, quicker and more agile than Bynum, and matches up real well on those smaller Tweener guys like Boozer, who can take Kwame and Bynum away from the post and drive on them. And they're all real young and improving. Throw in LO, who aside from being an ofensive load for the opposition, is also contributing underrated D and the ever-present boards.

Funny how committing to getting boards completely changes how you look against a team like Utah. This is a hustle and positioning thing, and those are the type of consistant focus issues young teams have.

Is it just me or is this team really just some experience and maturity away from being a MONSTER?

When Kobe is aggressive immediately upon receipt of the ball, he can get any shot he wants at will.

I really liked the fact that even though he had a subpar game, especially offensively, Kwame was out there in the third quarter deflecting passes and such. The kid is learning to hustle.

I feel real comfortable with the ball in Farmar's hands. the whole team seems to flow better when he's out there. Between he and Luke, I don't cringe every time Kobe sits down anymore. They are able to get guys shots in the offense.

Speaking of Farmar, aren't his tri cuts beautiful? He delivers a pass and cuts with purpose (and usually good reads).

Brian Shaw looks like he sometimes wants to, and could, get in the game.

No Cook. Not that I don't like some of the things he does, but it's nice that the team is doing well enough that Phil can't justify putting him in.

Radmanovic needs to have the surgery. Considering how well the 4's are playing, and Luke's amazing shooting and better defense, coupled with better intangibles, Rad biggest contribution would be to have that deady shot ready by late season/playoffs. I like his hustle, and the fact that he plays better defense and passes better than expected. But teams are now starting to lay off him a bit knowing he doesn't want to launch. A shooter (which is still his defining skill) must have confidence, and he doesn't have it. LO can play some three with RT getting more 4 minutes, so I think sooner rather than later on the surgery.

Against players of similar size, Evans has a very nice post game.

I didn't notice Smush a lot this game, and that was a good thing. I usually notice his boneheaded plays. He's like a referee in that when he's doing his job right, he's mostly invisible.

There's no way no how in a world with any justice that Lindsey Lohan is wasting great seats at a memorable Kobe performance.
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magic_bryant · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 18179

Alpha · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:03 pm Post subject:

thanks db!

missed the darn game again as i got home late... was it on fsw?

i looked this morning for the replay but it wasn't scheduled either

Omar Little · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject:

magic_bryant · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 18179

Omar Little · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject:

dontmindme · Sixth Man Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 25

this number probably got lost behind 52, but kobe's only had 5 TOs the last 5 games. i know some TOs somehow didn't get attributed to him though it probalby should have, but still....that's pretty damn good for someone who handles the ball as much as kobe does

Omar Little · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:46 pm Post subject:

DancingBarry · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

DancingBarry

DancingBarry · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject:

targetman · Star Player Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 5503

At the end of the first half, Kobe put in one a ferocious dunk and made his killer face after it. That was the last play as they went into the locker room. Remember DFish's half court heave at the buzzer in the last game? There was some discussion of how it fired up the Jazz in that game and gave them momentum going into the third quarter.

When Kobe made that dunk I thought to myself that he was very aware of the effect of Fisher's play on his team and Kobe wanted to do the same for the lakers going into the locker room. He is a student of the game.
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LakersSpirit · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject:

This last game gave us a peek, at what this team is capable of... I saw the type of team that I had envisioned, for brief moments.

Farmar seemed to take time, to get warmed up. Jordan looked a little cold, at first, but he finally got it going. I still think Farmar is our future, at point guard. Farmar's ballhandling, and facilitating, can really set the tone, and penetrate the zone.

It looked like Kobe decided to let Farmar set the rhythm, and Kobe attacked. It seems like we can put different combinations on the floor. Each combination of players gives the opponent a different look, which is effective, depending on the matchups.

I still like it when Farmar and Sasha work together; they seem to have the same rhythm. Smush can be effective too, but we should continue to give everyone enough minutes. We should find a way to use Mo Evans better. We have to continue to use all our weapons, at the right time.
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A Mad Chinaman · Star Player Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 6142