As we enter this crucial stretch where we play three games in four days back east one thing is crystal clear. Anything less than a maximum effort by the entire team will not get the job done. While it?s true we have some injuries, at this point of the season all teams are banged up and tired to some degree. We must once again have a stronger will to win than our opponents. New Jersey has a potentially potent transition attack with three of the best open court players in the NBA (Kidd, Carter, Jefferson). The Nets aren?t running as much of the Princeton offense as they used to. Their center, Nenad Krstic, is developing into a tough match up in the low post. One of the unique aspects of this Nets team is that in addition to getting low post production from the center position they can and will post all of their small players. This forces the defense to use some unusual defensive rotations. The Nets will also use some unconventional small lineups that test the defense. Jason Kidd Kidd is still a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor. His ability to push the ball in transition is still the first aspect of the Nets that we will have to deal with. Keeping our turnovers down and making sure we are taking good shots with proper floor balance will help slow him/them down. One of the ways that New Jersey creates some effective offense in the half court is a simple play called ?1 Down?. In this play Jason Kidd will just dribble up the side of the floor and back his man down into a low post position. From this area he will try to bait the defense into an early double team then pick them apart by hitting the open man. Vince Carter Carter is one of the most explosive players in the league. He is a prolific scorer who can hit from three, drive aggressively and post up. They will run cross screens to post him up. They will also run a variety of middle pick and rolls to help him create some space to operate from the top. One of the keys to playing Carter is to be physical with him. Usually when Carter has a big scoring night it begins with him getting hot from 3 point range. We must not give him open looks. Richard Jefferson It would be tough to find someone in the league who fills the lane on the fast break better than Richard Jefferson. He is able to create a lot of offense for the Nets in transition. One of the ways they will get him involved in the half court is a play called ?Rub 3?. In this play Jefferson starts on the right side of the floor along the baseline. The 4 or 5 is on the right block and 1 brings the ball up the left side. The other two players are lifted on the right side. Jefferson rub cuts off the big into the left block. After the post feed usually the 1 will cut through the lane as the rest of the players space around the perimeter. Prediction: Hoping LO continues his <font color=""DarkGreen"">strong</font> play, I'll take my Lakers <font color=""Red"">97-86</font>
All Kobe needs to do to intimidate Vince is give him one hard foul early in the game and send him a message. Then VC will settle for jumpshots the rest of the game. Ask Raptors fans, it actually works most of the time.
From what I have seen, making Vince shooting jump shots is not a good thing. The dude can shoot, and has range...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">From what I have seen, making Vince shooting jump shots is not a good thing. The dude can shoot, and has range...</div> Would you rather have him forcing shots from the perimeter or using his athletic ability to drive and finish inside? I think the answer is pretty clear.
The Lakers should win this game, they usually play well against the Nets, and I think the team is finally playing with some desperation. The key is going to be the Lakers transition defense tonight. They cannot allow the Nets trio to get fastbreak opportunities leading to easy baskets. The Lakers need to take high percentage in the key to avoid long misses from the perimeter, which lead to long rebounds and Jason Kidd fast breaks. I'd like to see Bynum get some minutes tonight, the Nets don't really have anyone to match up with him and he will be fired up playing in his home town.
Lakers leading by 5 at the half. Kobe hit two big three pointers to end the half. He's doing a nice job of initiating the offense, and Lamar is playing another solid game.
lakers better win this to stay in the playoffs since our schedule gets harder. we need to give the ball to kobe and most importantly, kobe must SCORE!
Man Kobe is struggling again with is shots. 8-22 and 7 turnovers. The Lakers are lucky to be in this game with 21 turnovers.
