<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY ? It was just a little more than a week ago when Sasha Vujacic had a sad, puppy-dog look on his face and said, "Three-pointers, they used to be my biggest weapon." Vujacic, the Lakers' first-round draft pick last season, has punched his way out of a deep shooting slump since then, rising up to swish the go-ahead overtime three-pointer in the Lakers' 105-101 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. With Kobe Bryant (30 points) having fouled out after a remarkably hot-and-cold final stretch that did see him force overtime with two free throws with four-tenths of a second left in regulation, Vujacic came free when Utah double-teamed Lamar Odom. Vujacic nailed the shot with 20.1 seconds left to give the Lakers a 103-101 lead. The Lakers' defense held thereafter. It helped that Laron Profit, who sat for more than two hours without playing but was thrust into the game when Bryant fouled out in overtime, made two free throws for cushion. Vujacic was coming off a career-high 10-point game in San Antonio on Tuesday night and wound up with 11 after hitting the monster shot Thursday. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, hoping to improve his whole team's shooting, ended practice Wednesday with shooting games in threesomes - and he sent Vujacic into a threesome with Bryant and Odom. It turned out to be perfect company. Vujacic's big finish followed Smush Parker's fast start. Parker tied his career high with 21 points but short-armed a three-pointer on the possession before Vujacic made his shot. Vujacic had twisted his left ankle one minute into the second quarter, yelped in pain for everyone to hear, but stayed in the game - and stayed productive. On the next play, Vujacic turned to the page of Vlade Divac's book that Vujacic has started using more often - flopping backward when opposing guards push off slightly for space on inbound plays. Vujacic got the foul call against Utah's Milt Palacio, enthusiastically slapped hands with Luke Walton, then swished a three-pointer upon getting the ball. When Vujacic, whom Jackson considers probably his best shooter in practice, hit another one a few minutes later for a 38-27 Lakers lead, Bryant cheered behind Vujacic and gave him a fist pump. The Lakers led, 73-59, with 1:54 left in the third quarter, but fell apart late then looked to Bryant to save them. He wasn't at his best late, just as he wasn't in San Antonio. Bryant missed the second of two foul shots with 35.5 seconds left in regulation, leaving the Lakers' lead at 90-89. At the other end, Utah rookie point guard Deron Williams got free on the pick-and-roll he ran on Parker all night long and fed Matt Harpring, who was fouled at the rim by Odom. Harpring's two free throws with 23.8 seconds left gave the Jazz the lead, 91-90. It was 92-90 when the Delta Center public-address announcer howled in celebration: "That is it!" The noise in the arena was such that referee Ron Olesiak's whistle with four-tenths of a second left, calling a foul on Utah's Devin Brown for coming across Bryant's right wrist on the 23-foot missed jumper, wasn't heard. Bryant sank two free throws to forge the tie, making Utah coach Jerry Sloan pay the price for not assigning defensive ace Andrei Kirilenko to Bryant on that play.</div> Source
Get the kids more game time, sit down Kobe and build up some bench strength and depth. This season is a bust, at best one and done. We need at least two free agents to compete next year. So lets find out who can play and see what the rest of the guys can do.
Were less than a quarter of the way into the season and your calling it a bust? I admit it isn't pretty and it's getting tiring watching Kobe ruin his FG% but seasons aren't defined by 15 games.
Good game by Sasha tonight, I think he's our top 3 pt. shooter and his defense has improved a lot from last year, I think that's why Phil's playing him often now, turning him into our own 'Kerr'
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brok3n:</div><div class="quote_post">Good game by Sasha tonight, I think he's our top 3 pt. shooter and his defense has improved a lot from last year, I think that's why Phil's playing him often now, turning him into our own 'Kerr' </div> You think so? that would be great. But why does everyone assume Phil is going to turn this player into "Pippen" this one onto "Jordan" this one to "Kerr" is this the only formula?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The_Exile:</div><div class="quote_post">You think so? that would be great. But why does everyone assume Phil is going to turn this player into "Pippen" this one onto "Jordan" this one to "Kerr" is this the only formula?</div> Well that formula once produced 72 wins. But nobody on this team could play Rodman. I mean I wish the team would turn out like that. Kobe shooting 51% and being in the top 3 in the league with steals. Along side Odom but with a twist. Plays good on tv because Pip seemed to always play bad in his prime on Tv except for that 40 point game that was on tv and I didn't really watch it haha. And Vujacic shooting over 50% for threes. That would be so nice to have. And not get all fustrated watching them play every game.
Kobe could easily average above 50% shooting if he shot 0-15 footers instead of 18-30 ft shots. Lamar could average 20 10 and 5 every night if he looked to score more. Vujacic could hit 35%-30% if Bynum, Mihm, and Kwame could combine for 30 and 20 a night. *Realistically- this team is in need of a couple trades before they are any good
Look what a little PT from a great coach can do for a young player. Just wondering, shapecity, have you changed your opinion of Sasha? Or do you still think he's trash?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting batman9970:</div><div class="quote_post">Look what a little PT from a great coach can do for a young player. Just wondering, shapecity, have you changed your opinion of Sasha? Or do you still think he's trash?</div> I don't want to jinx him so I'll continue to call him trash.
