LAKERS -at- BUCKS - 3/7 - Thoughts and :-(( ratings

[DancingBarry]

Decimated... Pick a definition of "decimated": 1. To inflict great destruction or damage on. 2. To reduce markedly in amount... Either one will do.

This game was lost back against the Spurs when the league decided to make up new suspensions. Kobe flailed again on a blocked shot last night and was forced to sit out this one as predicted. Throw in Ronny Turiaf, who didn't suit up because of the back spasms, and you've got yourself pretty good unit...on the DNP list.

It was tough mulling over who should lead off this report. We'll go with the leading scorer for the Lakers.


Evans -- -- We had Cold Mo last night, so Hot Mo showed up and led the Lakers with 22 points on 9-16 shooting. Not that it mattered. He brought his usual energy and tonight he was getting some of those perimeter in midrange shots to fall. He missed his first jumper, usually not a good sign. He drained his next look, however, from three. So, there was hope. He cleaned up a Bynum miss with a putback layup. After Patterson overpowered him on one end, Mo scored over him on the other. He hit a baseline jumper with the shotclock low. He drew FTs off an interior feed from Kwame, he made both. He attacked from the corner and scooped in a layup. Nice read defensively, switching under the hoop and stealing the pass. He missed a wing jumper. He hit a baseline jumper from 10 feet away. He got blocked twice at the rim by Skinner. He sank an odd looking hook or layup, not sure which, with his left. He attacked off the dribble and scored an And-1, he made the FT. He threw down a reverse dunk in the last minute.

Bynum -- -- Bynum missed a few chippies and short jumpers in this one. Defensively, it seemed like he was a second late to all the penetration we were giving up. Hi energy was pretty average after playing 39 minutes the night before. He scored 7 points on 2-6 shooting, grabbed 6 boards and had 1 assist in 26:32 of clock. For the second game in a row, he didn't block a shot. He hit Cook for the open jumper on his first post touch. He faced up, spun and missed a good look at a short jumper. He missed another good look at a jumper on his next touch. He missed another short jumper that he should have just powered up and tried to dunk on. He took the high entry over the smaller man and scored a layup. He drew his third foul midway through the second quarter battling for an offensive board (cheap call) and had to sit. He posted up Bogut, spun as Bogut flopped and hit the short jumper at the front of the rim. He was fouled on a double team and made one FT. He was fouled under the hoop and hit a couple FTs.

Cook -- -- After a career high 49 minutes last night against the TWolves, Cook played a team-high 40:23 in this one. Phil had to go with a rare Bynum/Kwame lineup for a few minutes just to get Cook some rest. What a mess. Cook scored 20 points on 9-16 shooting, had 5 boards and 2 assists. He sank a wing jumper off the pick and pop. He hit a short jumper on his next attempt. He flashed to the FT line, took the Bynum feed and hit the open jumper on his third attempt, scoring the Lakers first 6 points. He missed a three. He didn't square up and missed a sideline jumper. He got his next jumper to fall after it bounced three times on the front rim. He missed a short jumper, then tipped it in from behind Patterson. He drained a jumper from the top of the key on our last possession of the half. He missed an easy one not finishing strong off the interior feed from Bynum. He hit a runner over Skinner. He attacked off the dribble, drew a foul and made both FTs. He faced up and drained a wing jumper.

Smush -- -- The Bucks have a couple of free agent guards that could potentially take Smush's job if the Lakers were to go after them. Both had their moments -- Mo Williams with 10 points, 13 assists and Charlie Bell with 20 points and 2 assists. None of our guards showed much game tonight. Smush scored 10 points on 2-7 shooting (6-8 from the line), 5 assists and 2 turnovers in 26 minutes. He hit a jumper from the top of the key. He missed a forced shot off the glass, then fouled in the backcourt. He picked up his second foul attacking off a curl and had to sit with a few minutes left in the first. Kwame found him cutting on the baseline and he drew FTs, making one. He tripped and Mo Williams stole the ball. Smush started to get chewed up by Mo, who began to kill us dribble penetration...without the use of screens some of the time. Smush attacked off the dribble, spun and drew FTs, he made both. He drew a perimeter foul and made one FT. He attacked and kicked to McKie for a jumper. He missed a three, followed it up, took the board and scored a layup.

Vujacic -- -- Ugly game at times from Sasha. Fans hoping to see No. 24 making their jaws drop with sensational plays instead got to see Sasha. If only he could have gotten hot and dropped 40 points and 7 or 8 assists on the Bucks. Sasha, instead, finished with 6 points on 2-7 shooting, 3 boards, 3 assists with 2 turnovers and 1 steal in 27 minutes. He started off with a horrible entry to Bynum that was easily picked off. He missed a wing three. Another horrible return pass to Bynum that clanked off the rim. He then dribbled a ball out of bounds after we came up with a steal. He sank a long three over the zone. Poor clock management bricking a three early in the final set at the end of the third quarter. He scored the Lakers first field goal about 6 minutes in the fourth when he was fouled on a wing jumper, he made the FT. Back to the bench he goes...although Phil sent him there already when he started Farmar in the second half and moved Smush to SG.

Kwame -- -- Not lost in the mess was an improved game in the post from Kwame. He was back to knocking guys around and rattling in layups. He scored 13 points on 5-8 shooting (3-5 from the line), had 6 boards, 2 assists with 4 turnovers and all 3 of the team's blocked shots. Post scoring and blocked shots, very nice. Hopefully, he's starting to get a little more comfortable out there. He still is not playing above the rim yet offensively. Nice swat of Mo William's penetration early on. He dropstepped and missed an easy layup. He shed his man who was fronting and scored a layup. He missed a jumphook at the front of the rim. He set up Mo for FTs with an interior feed. He sealed and scored an And-1 at the front of the rim, he missed the FT. He backed down the defender and hit a jumphook. He drew a foul missing an And-1 layup, he made both FTs. He found Smush cutting for FTs. He overpowered his man, went up and under and scored off the glass. Good first half, scoring 10 points on 4-7 shooting and chipping in with 2 blocks. He slapped at an offensive board and tipped it in. He was fouled in transition and made one FT.

Shammond -- -- Shammond set new Laker career highs, with 8 points and 6 boards (not counting his 28-point career high against the Lakers 7 years ago). Unfortunately, he also had a Laker career high of 4 turnovers. He still played some steady minutes, but we could have used a true point tonight playmaking for others without Kobe, Luke or LO in there. On one of his rare playmakes, he attacked and set up Bynum with a nice pass, but Drew couldn't finish. He sank a wing three on his first attempt. He dribbled into Kwame in transition and lost the ball. Nice post entry over the D to Bynum for a score. He drained a three off a kickout from Kwame in the post. He was fouled and made both FTs.

McKie -- -- Quiet minutes from McKie. He scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting and had 2 assists in 20 minutes. He had to match up with Patterson for some stints and seemed to hold his own. Nice transition D to knock the ball off the Bucks at the end of the first quarter. He slapped a ball loose on the defensive end, then charged on the other end. He sank an open baseline jumper on a drive and kick from Smush.

Farmar -- -- He got the start in the second half in place of Sasha. Phil sat him halfway through the third and brought him back when the game was all but over. He scored 2 points on 1-4 shooting and had 1 assist in 12 minutes.He missed a couple of threes. He scored a layup with his left on the last possession.

Phil -- -- Phil went to a Bynum/Kwame lineup to start the second quarter. A bit choppy. Essentially it looked like a double low post Tri, with some reluctance to leave the post by either of the bigmen. Defensively, it could have worked decently if we had some players in front of them that could defend... The Bucks shot 58 percent in the first half to the Lakers 50 percent. The Bucks led the turnover category 11-9... He benched Sasha to start the second half, moving Smush to SG and bringing in Farmar at PG... The offense stalled in the third quarter (17 points) and the defense got picked apart. Ballgame... The fourth quarter was all garbage time. We didn't get our first field goal until about 6 minutes in to the fourth... The Lakers shot 47 percent to the Bucks 59.5 percent. Ouch... Redd had just 10 points, but Bell, Villanueva and Bogut were all over 20. Villanueva was swishing everything he took, finishing 10-12 and 6-8 from three... Can't fault Phil much in this one. We've lost all flexibility defensively and all of our dynamic offensive players...

[NestT]

I am a founding member here of the Kwame Krewe here at lg.net.

But I would readily admit that Kwame's game is based on size and athleticism not on skill.

He has a gimpy ankle and is more or less hoping around on one leg,having lost much of his explosiveness.

Going up against decent bigs in Skinner and Bogut he got 13 & 6 with 3 blocks and two assist.

NOT BAD.
_________________
Let the PAB hold out 2 years and walk without his Bird rights if he chooses.

OJ Mayo
Derrick Rose
Nicolas Batum
Michael Beasley
Chase Budinger
Darrell Arthur

[Mation]

Thanks DB,

[A Mad Chinaman]

DB - it must have been PAINFUL to breakdown this game.

Ouch Meter
** Smush is a second tier guard who is not a PG or SG while consistently getting beat

** Sasha missed an excellent opportunity to show the type of player he was in Europe, but didn't tonight

** Cook, in his best opportunity to showcase his abilities, didn't show the necessary fire - though he filled up the stat sheet

** Farmar - still learning on the job

** Bynum - still learning and growing up while show a glimpse of a bright future

** Starting lineup of Sasha, Smush, Cook, Bynum and Evans - OMG?!?!?!?!

DB - will the Lakers be able to stay above .500 w/o LO and Luke?

[dot3]

[KOBEhastheMAGIC]

As expected? I hope Stu Jackson gets beatwn with a baseball bat!

[jmark]

Almost unwatchable last night. Not even a good NBDL team.....
_________________
"I appreciate all those who have supported me. Thank you for believing in me. My family and I are going to need your support and prayers now more than ever." Kobe

[prisma8slg]

thanks DB.
_________________
"I define success by championships, by winning..." Kobe Bryant

"I've seen it all. Sasha dunked on somebody," Kobe Bryant said. "I'm ready to retire now."

[20,000]

Holy crap, someone actually watched this game? I boycotted this game and didn't think anyone else would bother.

Unless a miracle occurs and this team somehow makes it to the WCF this year, and no less, this thing may have to be torn up and everyone but Kobe and Bynum will be expendable. What good is depth when the depth we have is no good?
_________________
Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying...'I will try again tomorrow.'

[The_Coach]

[Klone_dd]

I boycotted watching the game. Stu Jackson felt that was an unnatural act and, as punishment, made me watch it anyway.

[ProjectAB]

It seems like Bynum has forgotten what he learned from Chandler. He's standing still again. He needs to rewatch his tapes, and recognize that you have to apply that for every game, and not just for a couple of games or so.

[DancingBarry]

[DancingBarry]

[DancingBarry]

[DancingBarry]

[DancingBarry]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[dot3]

[DancingBarry]

[A Mad Chinaman]