Well I'm sure when news got out that The Big Fundamentals would be sidelined the Lakers let out a sigh of relief. I know I did. The Spurs could still pose a challenge having arguably the best coach in the league, one of the best point guards in the league, and the number one bench warmer ( Kenny Smith voice) GINOOOOOBBLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!! So this could still be an uphill battle. One way you can hurt the Spurs is to keep Tony P out of the paint. He can hit that pull up jumper if he has too but that's not where he is most deadly. He can beat you off the dribble like the best of them.
The Lakers look like they have left their Golden State woes behind them in the first quarter. The Spaniard put the Lakers on the board with a 3 from the top of the key. Steve Nash started tonite ( DNPCD on Wed) and looked like he hadn't missed a step. He was slashing, dishing, cutting, and shooting, but his shot just wasn't falling. Our other veteran leader however was on fire. Pau had fluidity in his jumper and he was feeling it. I would've liked him to go to the post more but who am I? The thing that stood out the most was our defense. The Lakers defensive rotations look great. Although Tony P had the majority of the points, we had the other Spurs pretty much contained. The Lakers led by 7 to end the first. Aside from Pau we werent shooting very well, but had the lead because of our defensive efforts.
Dantoni sends some subs in and The X Factor ( artist formally known as Xavier Henry) pics up two quick fouls. Nevertheless the Lakers get hot while the defense remains steady. We start he quarter off with an 8-0 run. But that would soon change. At the 8:32 mark of the quart X drives to the basket and upon falling bangs his head on the knee of Wesly Johnson. He lays on the floor for a few seconds only to get up and leave a pool of blood. As MVP Gary Vitti runs on the court X is having trouble steadying himself, obviously woozy from the blow. They immediately get him a towel but to no avail. No mater what they try to do the blood wont stop. Towel after towel gets thrown to the side while workers work feverishly to clean the floor. Gary is trying to stop the flow mainly because if he cant shoot free throws he cant return to the game. So McGuyver Vitti get some black gauze and wraps it around his head like the mummy so he can see long enough to step to the line. Looking like Queen James he knocks down both free throws with he swag of a hurt Kobe Bryant and runs to the locker room for treatment.
http://youtu.be/SWBnk0R5rXM
With the Lakers looking on as their budding star is being attended too the energy seeps out of the building. The Spurs gain confidence and the Lakers have no air left in their lungs. The lead is cut to 4 with 5:14 left in the half bringing them to a whooping 58% shooting! Kawai Leonard is near a double double, Tony Parker is explosive as usual, and Tiago Splinter is heating up as well. They end the half on a 23-9 run and are down by only one.On a good note the Lakers are 9-10 from the line where they have struggled in the last two games. Pau leads the Lakers with 11 points and 7 rebounds.We are still shooting better ( 42%) than the Spurs ( 36%), but they are out rebounding us by 8...where is Jordan Hill???. The Lakers as a team have only 4 turnovers and 5 blocks. Kurt Rambis is definitely earning his paycheck.
As usual the 3rd quarter starts slow and both teams are trading baskets, but neither can get a good rhythm going.The Spurs go up by 3 as TP gets his 20th point with 3:57 to go in the quarter. Not sure why the Lakers keep jacking up shots but they've put up 20 3 point shots so far! Take the ball inside fellas!. Where is Jordan Hill ( did I say that already?) Dantoni then brings the Bench Mob back in...without JHill (*face palm*)...But the defense is tightening up and Meeks hits a lay up off of the fast break and puts us within 2. The energy looks like its coming back.The guys on Laker Tv must have been in my head because after the quarter, sideline reporter Mike Trudell asked coach about Jordan Hill being MIA.. According to Trudel, the coaching staff is still trying to work out the rotations. They wana get a feel of how to play him, Pau, and the Caveman together. Having many options is a good problem to have though. We have players that are pretty versatile so its just finding the right formula.
The 4th and final quarter gets underway and..wait..is it true? Could it be...(*wipes eyes*)...Folks we have a Jordan Hill sighting!!
Sure as my blood is purple and gold Jordan Hill gets an assist to Wesly Johnson for a 3. Going back the other way he fouls Diaw hard sending him to the line. This guy brings INSTANT energy! Hes everywhere. This ignites the team and everyone seems to have a little pep in their step. Wesly Johnson ( who had the block of the game by the way) is heating up offensively as he shoots a 3 to bring the Lakers within 3, bringing his total to 12. The Lakers pull within 1 with 7:15 to go. The Spurs have no answer for Jordan Hill. Since hes been in he already has 4 points, 2 assists, and 2 boards.They have to foul him to avoid put-back layups.Just like that the score is tied with 3:27 to go. Wesly Johnson's ties up Leonard with 2:18 on the clock but Spurs control the jump ball and TP hits a jumper. The lakers bring it back down and the Spaniard takes it to the rack to draw the foul. In drew Pau ( make one miss one) Gasol fashion he hits one of two. As the Spurs bring it back down TP find Boris Diaw at he top of the key and he drains a 3...and that pretty much sums it up.
We are down by 4 with 1:25 left and Tiago Splitter although well defended makes a layup. Down by 6 Meeks takes it to the hole to bring us within 4 with 20 secs left. Do we go for the 3 or do we drive to the hole to get the bucket and the foul. Nights like this the presence of the Mamba is greatly missed. We all know who would get he ball and how it would go in. But, with him watching on the sidelines we had to make other arrangements. Although I don't trust our outside shooters enough to win the game, I know Pop is too smart of a coach to have his guys foul someone goin to the rack, so it looks like we will try for the 3. The ball is inbounded to Meeks who does some dribbling, some looking, some passing, some knitting, some crossword puzzles, and whatever the heck else he wanted to do...but pullin up for a 3 wasn't one of them. Instead, he gets the ball stolen and the Spurs make a lay up on the other in. Stick a for in us because were done.
This win wasn't really a bad one for me. The spurs are a great veteran team with the best coach in basketball and they have a knack for winning down the stretch. Pau ends with 20/19/2, and the Lakers as a team had 20 2nd chance points to the Spurs 8. But it wasn't enough. Ginobli has 20 points
and the Frenchman TP ends with 24 shooting 67% from the feild!!! Containing him is way easier said then done.
During the post game Dantoni admitted he is still working on rotations. He may look to putting the caveman back in with he first unit, but him and Pau play together as good as him and Hill. But its a marathon. We have 79 more games to go and we will come up with a winning formula." My boy John Ireland asked Farmer what he felt led to the loss. " The 2nd unit needs to come in with more energy, and Ill take on that responsibility of making sure we are ready."
This was a winnable game for us. That phrase was repeated throughout the night. But it just seemed when X went down the team went down as well. When asked how he felt, he said " I have a massive headache, but that no excuse as to why I didn't play well." My kind of guy.
I think we have yet to see what this team can do. They have tons of potential. They just have to learn how to play together, trust each other, and weather the storm when they get behind in the ball game. But, with the help of our veteran leaders, the 3 time defensive coach Kurt Rambis, the hunger of these young guys, and the Staples Center sized chip on Kobe's shoulder when he comes back......this is literally only the beginning. Fasten your seat belts cuz its gonna be a bumpy ride.
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