Well as the game gets underway both teams seem rusty but exited. This is to be expected after a long break. We will see many teams making lots of turnovers and rushing shots trying to get in the swing of things. One of the newest additions to the Bulls Rip Hamilton picked up 2 quick fouls with 9:08 to go in the first. Pau came out on fire. He missed a few threes, but he was very active on defense and on the large. The Lakers looked very well on defense and they rotated well which is the main thing Mike Brown stresses in is practices. Joachim Noah also picked up his 2nd foul in the 1st quarter. He was more aggressive than usual. By the end of the 1st quarter we were down by 3. Pau lead the Lakers with 8, Kobe had 6, and D Rose had 0. Turnovers hurt the Lakers though, they had 6 to start the 2nd.
The 2nd quarter started pretty much the same with DRose finding his first points with 6:56 to goin the 2nd. He went on from there to go 4-4 with 10points. The Lakers had the lead for most of the quarter, but the Bulls score 9 out of their last 11 to close the half. We went to the locker room down by 6 shooting 53%. The Bulls shot 59% and we 5-8 from beyond the arc.
The Lakers came out with lots of energy to start the 3rd. The "white boy connection"was in full effect with the newly acquired McRoberts ( affectionately known as McBob)and Steve Blake connecting for a monster dunk that got the crowd going! Then with a dime from Kobe to Ebanks the Lakers took the lead for the first time since the 1st quarter taking the score to 65-63.
Let's fast forward to the fourth. The snazzy new point guard Goudlock comes out the huddle with a nice 3 off the dribble. Then next play Steve Blake hit 2 three pointers at the buzzer making us remember why we brought him here in the first place. Troy Murphy was a great contributer with lots of offensive boards and put backs. The Lakers had the largest lead of the game 10 points with 4:50 to go in the fourth. Then Blake hit another 3 to push the lead to 85-77. Of course true to form the Bulls went on a run. Then also true to form Pau missed 2free throws and so did McBob. We would've sealed the game with those. Then the unthinkable happened. Deng dribbled the ball at the top of the key and Blatantly Traveled. But, Bernie Adams did one of his famous no calls and Deng passed it to the MVP who sent a floater thru the lane to give the Bulls a 1 point lead with 20.4 secs to go.
The last play was of course designed for the best man in the floor. The ball was inbounded to Kobe, he takes a few dribbles to the elbow, pulls up for the jumper and was triple teamed and blocked. We loose by one. Kobe didn't blame anyone or anything. With no argument he just headed to the lockeroom while the Bulls celebrated on the Staples Center floor like they had won a playoff game.
D Rose ended with 22 and Kobe ended with 28
After the game Mike Brown said its just one game. He said they made a few mistakes that can be corrected. They will watch the tape and come back out ready to play. All in all I like what I saw from the Lakers. I can see the evidence of Mike Browns defensive practices. Their rotations were very good and they had many of stops. I think when we get a nice gel going and get used to playing with each other they will be just fine. Of course I would like a trade like everyone else in Lakertown, but I think if Bynum and his glass knees can hold up, Pau can have a breakout year, and Kobe continues to be Kobe, we have a great future! Click the link below to see full highlights!
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