Yesterday was such a nice day outside. Clear skies, light breeze. Children playing, the scent of barbecue in the air. Yes its Spring again. The corners crowded with vendors selling Laker shirts and incense. All was well in L.A.....outside. Inside the Staples Center was another story. Though the often criticized Staple Center fans were loud and awake wearing yellow shirts given to them at the door, we all should have seen this coming. 17-1 seems like years ago. The Lakers lost five in a row and struggled to win their last two. If there is a switch the Lakers haven't found it yet. To add matters worse we have a Sunday 12:30 game. The Lakers are 0-4 in those situations. The Lakers were beaten by the Hornets 100-109. Make that now 0-5. .Phil Jackson was aware of this so he called the Lakers to meet up 90 minutes early. Lamar Odum and Ron Artest slipped in a few minutes late, but all were there except Pau, who arrived 25 minutes later. That was a shock because I watched the game and didn't think Pau showed up at all.Perfect time for him to be the White Swan. He ended with eight points, six rebounds, ZERO offensive boards, and a cut under his eye. He played 38 minutes.When asked what the problem was, he stated he wasn't getting the ball enough. He said he wasn't able to get a good rhythm. He also stated its up to him to get some energy out there and become aggressive. In a game when Bynum wasn't as effective as usual because of foul trouble ( 13 points in 25 minutes), Pau was sorely missed. His passiveness left us without a front line, and it was exploited. The paint may as well have been 7-11 because it would've been open all night. The undersized Hornets topped us in that area too getting 52 points around the rim. We only got 34.Chris Paul was running circles around our guys with dribble penetration and high screen and rolls. He made it look too easy. This is the Chris Paul that we all love to hate. He had a giddy 33 points and 14 assists. Most would blame Derrick Fisher for not being able to keep up, but he hasn't done that bad against Paul in the regular season. But, if you think that's the case then where is the help defense when he comes off those screens? CP3 continued to pull our big guys out on the perimeter then going around them, or dishing the rock to a big down low for an easy lay up or monster jam. Pau Gasol actually played him one on one for a few possessions. He used Pau like one of the props in the NBA All Star Weekend " Skills Challenge" blowing right past him. The Hornets as a whole shot 51% from the field! CP3 wouldn't have been so bad if his supporting cast wasn't on fire as well. We often hear of players that could give the Lakers problems: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, LeBrick James, but never have Jarett Jack, Willie Green, Carl Landry, or Marco Belleni in those sentences. But they put on a show. If that is not enough some guy named Aron Grey who averages 3 points off the bench scored 11 points until he had a hard foul at the end of the game.But the Hornets were focused and fired up. They walked into the Staples Center with their backs against the wall, knowing the feeling of the underdog. Many people already having their brooms out. Hornets coach Monte Williams in his first play off appearance said he told his guys all week to be aggressive and to fight. Fight they did. Whenever the Lakers would cut down the lead, the Hornets stayed poised and in control. At times it seemed like they had the basket ball in a brief case filled with explosives. They only had 3 turnovers the whole game tying the NBA record. They looked more like champs than the Lakers. Pau wasn't the only Laker to struggle. Our bench was outscored 39-21. Steve Blake was out, Matt Barnes suited up but was ineffective still having problems with the knee, or maybe its because he hadn't played in almost a week. Our bench has been suspect in these last few games anyway, so that was no surprise. But, the bench leader Lamar Odum was supposed to provide some sort of spark. He only provided 10 points and one rebound in 33 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He will surely be the death of me. ONE?????? Don't think those 10 points are impressive, six of them were scored when the game was already out of reach. He then had the nerve to say this was a good thing for the Lakers. He said maybe that would ignite us. Well something sure needs too. They should be embarrassed, all but Ron Artest and of course Kobe Bryant. If I would've told you coming into this game that Ron Artest would be the leading rebounder you would've laughed. Ron Ron pulled down 11 boards trying to make up for our defensive presence around the rim. Kobe Bryant finished with a hard 34 points and a bruised neck while falling into a chair ending the 3rd quarter. The same quarter that Ron Artest hit a buzzer beater to bring us to within one. He and Kobe combined for 16 in the 4th but it wasn't enough. The Hornets scored 10 unasnswed points to put the game out of reach. After the game PauPJax said the team went away from the inside/ out offense, but when the bigs don't fight to get position what else do you do? Take matters in your own hands. That is what Kobe did, and he kept us in the game. But this time it was too late.
So,the Lakers loose Game one on their home court which they haven't done in years. But, I'm not worried. The Hornets aren't better than we are in skill, but they just played harder. They were more focused. It reminded me when the Lakers were on the way to the championship Phil's first year. We went 16-1 in the post season only to come out flat and loose against Allen Iversons Sixers. We of course went on to win the next 4 games and the title. I for see the same thing happening now. I predicted Lakers in 5, I just didn't think they would loose the first one! But hey, we all know the Lakers. The Jeckle and Hyde of the NBA. This is Hollywood folks!!! The more drama the better!! Game 2 Wed at 7:30
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