Blazers at Lakers Game Thread 3/20/11

That right there is why I wish Matthews had been in a bit more in the 4th. So maybe he doesn't even take any more jumpers -- if it had kept a little more spring in Roy's step for the last two minutes, it would have been worth it. Obviously it's just hypothetical armchair coaching at this point, I know...

 

Bottom line is, we played tough on the second night of a back to back. Save for a few mistakes at the end, all of which are correctable, could have won.

 

Agreed. It was one of the least dismaying losses to the Lakers in a long time... Not to say I didn't scream a couple of times, but yeah... I'm not crying now.

 

These games are such a dog fight, I love the intensity.

Trying to figure out if both teams were a little off or if that was just one intense defense game. I know the Blazers haven't face that kind of defense for a whle and I think the Blazers gave it right back to the Lakers.

But in the end, as posters calculate what went wrong with the Blazers and how Nate or Roy screwed this one up, I think really this game is more about the Lakers taking care of business at home down the stretch against a team facing a back to back game.

The Lakers locked down on defense and Fisher and Kobe took over leading to a game winning 4th quarter run.

What obviously sucks more than anything is Camby going down. Out at least a few games with team developing chemistry before the playoffs.

 

Yeah, I was a little worried about how nonchalant Kobe looked out there in the 3rd... I though, "fuck, he's going to flip the switch with 6 minutes to go, isn't he?"

 

Most teams (not all, but most) are only as good as their PG play. This worries me. I am not worried about Andre "getting old" but I am worried about him getting hurt. We really need him to play well almost every game. When he doesn't play well, the offense really struggles. The last few days have been tough on him. Hopefully he can rest up a little.

 

I don't say it with any joy but it's my opinion that Roy has to hit shots at a 60% rate to be a net contributor to the team; the offense comes to a stop when he in and he is mediocre on defense.

 

Batum 4-9 on treys. The rest of the team - 2-16.

I know, I know.

I don't know whether to point the finger at Nate or the players....but the team needs to stop depending so much on shots they can't consistently make.

 

Seriously. "I was thinking, "Hmm, is this one of Kobe's off nights?" and then I quickly realized that Kobe isn't the type to have an off night. I hate that guy.

 

Just landed........Tough loss....... quiet flight.

 

I think we rely too much on the 3-point shot. Last night we were throwing them up in the fourth quarter too often instead of taking the ball to the hole.

 

Most of the three pointers were taken in the rhythm of the offense. They were collapsing with double teams practically every time Aldridge touched the ball, leaving lots of really good looks.

Matthews looked TURRIBLE out there, so it took away our money outside shooter, which fucked up everything. Mills also fucking sucked, so there wasn't much there. Roy was having one of his regular (alas) off nights that seems to be the package deal of having no meniscus. That left Batum and Wallace as our only perimeter shooters. Some nights Wallace can hit that three, but last night wasn't one of those nights. He's the kind of guy who can fake being a three point shooter in low pressure situations, but if you put him in the Staples center against the Lakers it's another story. Batum went off, but it wasn't enough.

Matthews is such a quiet player--no flash, limited driving ability, hard-working defense--that it's easy to forget he's the team's second leading scorer. What he does well fits better with Aldridge than what anybody else on the team does. He consistently punishes teams from the three point line for doubling LA.

My hope is that Roy spends the summer launching threes. It's a relatively low-impact thing he can do with bad knees. Roy is such a prodigy--I just have to believe if he put in the work he could become one of the elite three point shooters in the league.

Nate is a walking cliche. But sometimes the cliche is true. Guys just gotta make their shots.

 

Good solid post. Agree all around.

 

Heard a stat that the Lakers scored 18pts in the paint to the Blazers' 0pts in the 4th Q. It's just what I heard and can't verify it. I'll just assume it's true and say damn.

Aldridge didn't do a great job of establishing himself inside last night. I get he was doubled but it seemed like he was consistently setting up 12-15ft outside. It was a b2b though so I'm not too upset about it. I get that he's tired.

 

That's GREAT news. Old Blazer teams would be satisfied with a close loss. It's nice to hear they're taking it personally and expecting better of themselves.

 

I'm surprised and impessed by this forum. When we lost the game, I shut off S2 because I couldn't take the freaking out and whining I knew was to come. Alas, there's nothing but level-headed posts. Tremendous.

As for the game, it was as tough of a loss as we've had all season. I have to think--given this is the second time we've given up a late game lead to them--that there's some serious doubt in our minds about beating them. I hope if we face them in the playoffs, we can slough it off.

 

I'm sure you meant the WCF.

 

Fingers crossed.

 

I recorded the game and haven't watched it yet (busy). Anyways, is the game worth watching - I mean I know they lose at the end...but is there enough good stuff for me to enjoy watching it?

 

Hell ya it is! It was a great game in spite of the outcome!