Thunder @ Lakers

ivey · Nov 23, 2009

Although we won, and I'm extremely pleased about the whole team, officiating just pisses the hell out of me. No whistles for Kobe nor Gasol on numerous occasions. At first I thought it's just the laker fans who think the refs are crap but I've watched many games this season and the lakers really are getting hacked. Maybe otherwise they would make a 35point lead and ppl would shut their TVs.

But yeah, this team is sick. They didn't shoot well beyond the arc, but they got QUALITY shots, which I value and many points in the paint also. Drew is a monster

Shapecity · Nov 23, 2009

ivey said: ↑

Although we won, and I'm extremely pleased about the whole team, officiating just pisses the hell out of me. No whistles for Kobe nor Gasol on numerous occasions. At first I thought it's just the laker fans who think the refs are crap but I've watched many games this season and the lakers really are getting hacked. Maybe otherwise they would make a 35point lead and ppl would shut their TVs.

But yeah, this team is sick. They didn't shoot well beyond the arc, but they got QUALITY shots, which I value and many points in the paint also. Drew is a monster
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I agree Kobe isn't getting a lot of love from the officials this year despite being in the post and very aggressive on offense. Still he's averaging 8.1 FTAs per game which is higher than last year.

I thought Artest's defense on Durant last night was exceptional. Durant started off 0-7 and only scored two 3 pointers when Artest went to the bench in the 1st half.

Lakers were firing on all cylinders last night.

Flow · Nov 23, 2009

After watching a game like that, how can you not love this team? We got everything: the MVP, young double-double machine, another all-star caliber 7-footer, one of the best defensive guys in the league, Shannon the high light reel, the best coach and a great versatile player like LO coming OFF the bench. Ridiculous team.

Send Shannon to the dunk contest pls.

huevonkiller · Nov 23, 2009

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910LAL.HTM

Very cool.

Shapecity · Nov 23, 2009

Since apparently mini-concerts are now part of Lakers' games, what with Will.i.am grabbing a silver microphone and performing "I Gotta Feeling" during a fourth-quarter timeout Sunday night, next time they should bring out the Wu-Tang Clan for a rendition of "Can It Be All So Simple."

Shouldn't there be a longer adjustment period when it comes to bringing a starter back with an eighth of the season already gone? Shouldn't Andrew Bynum get thrown out of whack now that he no longer has the paint all to himself? Can anyone get within 10 points of the Lakers again now that Pau Gasol has returned from his hamstring injury and the Lakers have their starting lineup intact?

Their 101-85 victory over Oklahoma City made it seem like there's nothing to it.

"It's easy," Kobe Bryant said. "Because they're both good passers and have good touch outside. It's pretty seamless. We just plug 'em in and off we go."

Phil Jackson thought it would be enough of a challenge that he changed up the schedule and held practice the day after Gasol first played against the Bulls Thursday. Except Bynum missed both that and Saturday's practice with a "jammed" right ankle.

On top of that, Bynum was injured when the Lakers first traded for Gasol in 2008, and he played only 50 games last year. He should still be in the adjustment stage. How's this for an adjustment: 25 points on 9-for-11 shooting (along with nine rebounds and two blocked shots)? And this is basically big man training camp for Bynum.

"It's a good learning experience for me because we're able to go out there, we're able to play together on the offensive side of the ball," Bynum said. "On defense, we're both pretty long, we're both pretty athletic, we're able to change a lot of shots."

The Lakers took control of the game from the outset, with a 24-10 first-quarter advantage in points in the paint, a category they won 60-44 on the night.

"They protect the rim, they protect the paint, they make you play to the weakside, and it's tough to get over there," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

Offense was supposed to be the bigger adjustment, but Bynum has already figured out what works.

"[Gasol] can just stand at the free-throw line," Bynum said, "and they can pass me the ball in the post, and his guy can't drop off of him, because I can throw the ball out to him and it's an easy jump shot. If they don't double, then I'm able to take my time and do what I do with the ball."

An effective Bynum is what can make the Lakers better than last season, even if the Ron Artest-Trevor Ariza swap is a wash. The Lakers won with Bynum as a non-factor in the playoffs last season. Now he's averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds and shooting 59 percent. So if Gasol's numbers aren't special, as they were on a 15-point, 7-rebound Sunday (oh, with six assists), the Lakers can still win easily.

"As the season goes on, both of us are going to do better together," Bynum said. "The numbers will go down a little bit. But I think we'll be a stronger team, because everybody will be scoring. We'll be able to get more assists, a lot less double teaming."

Sunday's game in which the Thunder shot 37 percent, with double-digit missed shots from Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, was a laugher. Most of the entertainment came from Bryant's circus shots, such as an over-the-backboard jumper and a lefty bank at the first-quarter buzzer, Shannon Brown dunks and the mini-concert.

Will.i.am and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, along with Alex Rodriguez, took courtside seats after partaking in the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre across the street from Staples Center. Celebs at a Laker game? Nothing new. Until Will.i.am. started singing as the group's hit song played over the loudspeakers. Then they all gathered for a picture with B. Real of Cypress Hill.

As Bynum said, perhaps unintentionally quoting the song, "It was a good night tonight."

From the looks of things, one of many to come.
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Source: ESPN

Shapecity · Nov 23, 2009

Bynum & Gasol are clicking that's bad news for the rest of the league.

Mamba · Nov 23, 2009

Shapecity said: ↑

Bynum & Gasol are clicking that's bad news for the rest of the league.
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Yes sir!

huevonkiller · Nov 23, 2009

http://lakersmedia.com/Flash/thunder-at-lakers-1122-sd-highlights.html

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