Cavs - Lake Show II

[Larvell Blanks]

I'm not sure if this was mentioned at all during the broadcast last night or not. I believe this was the first game of an 8 game road trip for the Lakers.

Amazing!

[CharacterIV]

Worried about Brother Redz' finger injury. It's his left hand, so hopefully nothing too serious...

Not sure if you're being facetious here, khetti, but you know Delonte is a southpaw, correct?

Edit: waitaminit, I think I misread that. You're saying "the injury is on his left hand, his shooting hand, so hopefully it is not serious." I read it as "it is on his left hand, his non-shooting hand, so it won't be that serious."

Interpretation fail. Continue about your business, everyone, nothing to see here.

[Shadow Scars]

I honestly would have bet my pay check that we were gonna lose last night. I'm glad our boys proved me wrong. What a game! LBJ did to that 4th quarter what Kobe does to hotel workers.. He raped it. Great show.

My favorite part was when they were talking about how awesome Boobie, AP, and Mo have been for 3 and The Frat commented that Z has the highest 3pt percentage on the team and right after that Z drained one! haha! Classic.

[e0y2e3]

I absolutely did not notice Kobe playing Delonte for a majority of the time.

I may be wrong, but I would think something like that would have stuck out.

Anyhow, Dwyers recap:

It's only just one of 82. Honest. That's what I have to keep telling myself.
That with Mo Williams(notes) out, Kobe Bryant(notes) hurting (and sitting), and the Cavs really gunning for a Thursday night win while Phil Jackson seemingly gunned for patience and the long haul, this game was an exercise in scouting fodder for us. Nothing more.
And I've gone back and forth on what to write about this game, straying from declarative statements to dismissive write-offs and no points in between. At this point, with deadline approaching, let me just tell you what I do know — I am so, so glad I have this one stuck on the Tivo.

The Cavs really wanted this, and while I'm not going to tell you that the Lakers did not, this was obviously something that was more important to Cleveland. Hurt by the way the Lakers dominated Cleveland last season, and the recent news that Mo Williams might be out until it's time to fill out our NCAA brackets, the Cavs needed a pick-me-up.

What they got was LeBron James(notes), dominating. Dominating as best he could — that shot selection (why so many threes?) and Ron Artest's(notes) upper body got in the way at times — but dominating nonetheless. And all the pretty, impressive shots from Kobe Bryant early faded as LeBron piled up the dishes, and the points.

It's a team game, but you can't help but follow the Kobe vs. LeBron thing, a battle that some think still rages. Kobe's been a small step behind LeBron for a few years now, he doesn't contribut as much overall, and what he does contribute comes at a far less efficient rate than James, but some still cling to the idea of Kobe as an equal measure due to the fact that Kobe ... well, he's Kobe. They never did really make sense as to why he's supposedly as good.
He wasn't as good on Thursday, shooting 4-15 in the second half, and 12-31 overall. That's 23-64 against the Cavaliers on the year, and while playing with four working fingers on his shooting hand hurts these things (to say nothing of his flu, and back spasms), LeBron's just better right now. And that's OK. You have the best team in the league to follow, Lakers nutters. And the best team doesn't always have to feature the best player.

Huge parts of that best team struggled. Pau Gasol(notes) looked good for stretches, you'd wonder why the Lakers didn't get him the ball more, but he missed nine of 14 shots and a pair of big free throws late. Andrew Bynum(notes) wasn't a factor, Ron Artest missed seven of 10 shots and six of eight three-pointers, and it was a wonder the Lakers were even in this game on the road against a team like the Cavs.
Some will be upset at the way Phil Jackson kept Bryant on the bench for so long in the fourth quarter, sitting him for seven minutes to start. It was odd, but the Lakers were only -1 overall in that stretch with Kobe on the pine. And the Lakers are planning on playing until mid-June. So, I'm cool with that.

You just have to give it to the Cavs. Actually, you don't have to, because they took it. James scored 37 on 25 shots, he missed a key free throw late (Anderson Varejao(notes) was fouled tracking down the offensive rebound) but dished nine assists, and his defense was solid.

The cold water? Williams is out for a spell, and Delonte West(notes) could be out for just as long with an injury to his shooting hand. Sorry for the downs, but this could be an in-season highlight before the Cavs stumble until the end of the regular season. Something to look back on fondly ("by January 22nd, the Cavs had just come off an in-season sweep of the Lakers, and were four games up in the East, but injuries ...") before the bad news hit.

For now, though? Much respect, for both teams. Kobe's going to have to back off a bit, and stop putting his teammates on blast. He has a top-heavy team, we know the bench is no help, but his helpers at the top need consistent looks in the post. Merely giving this guy credit for playing through the injuries? Those days have to end. Kobe has to play like someone playing through injuries. He's going to have to stop taking 25+ shots. On this team, he should never have to take that many.

And Phil Jackson is thinking long-term, which is fantastic. As someone who hated it in winter and ... well, there was no "spring" in the regular season in Chicago; but as someone who couldn't stand the tinkering as a Bulls fan, every year you saw it pay off in the playoffs. Nobody likes to be patient, but everyone likes a winner. And the Lakers are still the class of this league.

The Cavs? They wanted it, and they took it, and it was great to watch. Here's hoping they can circle the wagons with a guard or two on the bench.

[Larvell Blanks]

I absolutely did not notice Kobe playing Delonte for a majority of the time.

I may be wrong, but I would think something like that would have stuck out.

I had to look twice at the screen when I first saw it too. It seemed everytime West crossed center court, Mamba was right there on his hip. Looks like Phil was trying to get his best defender to disrupt the offensive flow.

Windy backs it up..
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/01/la_lakers_at_cleveland_cavalie.html

* Kobe Bryant has played smothering defense on Cavs guard Delonte West and has taken him out of the game. Lakers coach Phil Jackson hinted this morning that they were going to adjust their defense for this game. I suspect, but don't know, that the Lakers would've had Bryant guard Mo Williams if he played.

[e0y2e3]

I absolutely did not notice Kobe playing Delonte for a majority of the time.

I may be wrong, but I would think something like that would have stuck out.

I had to look twice at the screen when I first saw it too. It seemed everytime West crossed center court, Mamba was right there on his hip. Looks like Phil was trying to get his best defender to disrupt the offensive flow.

Windy backs it up..
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/01/la_lakers_at_cleveland_cavalie.html

* Kobe Bryant has played smothering defense on Cavs guard Delonte West and has taken him out of the game. Lakers coach Phil Jackson hinted this morning that they were going to adjust their defense for this game. I suspect, but don't know, that the Lakers would've had Bryant guard Mo Williams if he played.

Word.

Bald dudes from a distance can be confusing. One of the few problems w/ watching on only a 32 inch TV.

[Triple-S]

Rome was pimping Hickson a half hours a go.

I'm still not sold on him yet. Yeah he had 14 board and 11 points, but I still think he's a long way off from being a good NBA player. Still very raw. Him missing on dunks quite often is an example of that, That's not to say I havn't liked what I've seen from his thus far.

[Larvell Blanks]

How about Brown resisting the urge to throw out the Twin Tower defense last night? You know it was killing him seeing it worked so well in LA.

At least this puts some questions in the Lakers as they were beat twice by the Cavs with 2 different defensive looks.

I do like what he did against Bean by playing him man on man in the first half and most of the 3rd. Then in the 4th doubling him with a big man and forcing Bryant to take bad shots. At that point Bryant had lost all faith in his teammates.

[Larvell Blanks]

Rome was pimping Hickson a half hours a go.

I'm still not sold on him yet. Yeah he had 14 board and 11 points, but I still think he's a long way off from being a good NBA player. Still very raw. Him missing on dunks quite often is an example of that, That's not to say I havn't liked what I've seen from his thus far.

I still think that JJ plays way too fast to the game going on around him. He looked good last night and had alot of energy. His biggest issue is that he still gets lost at times on defense, then tries to make up for it w/ athleticism and picks up unnecessary fouls. He also needs to start taking that 12-15 jumper teams give him. They just collapse off of him when he wanders out of the lane.

[e0y2e3]

Rome was pimping Hickson a half hours a go.

I'm still not sold on him yet. Yeah he had 14 board and 11 points, but I still think he's a long way off from being a good NBA player. Still very raw. Him missing on dunks quite often is an example of that, That's not to say I havn't liked what I've seen from his thus far.

I still think that JJ plays way too fast to the game going on around him. He looked good last night and had alot of energy. His biggest issue is that he still gets lost at times on defense, then tries to make up for it w/ athleticism and picks up unnecessary fouls. He also needs to start taking that 12-15 jumper teams give him. They just collapse off of him when he wanders out of the lane.

JJ can jump and is quick.

He does nothing else well.

[diminishingskills]

He also needs to start makingthat 12-15 jumper teams give him.

Fixed.

Agree with your post otherwise. I am still officially a J.J. Skeptic, but he had a good game last night.

[papacass]

I'm not sure if this was mentioned at all during the broadcast last night or not. I believe this was the first game of an 8 game road trip for the Lakers.

Amazing!

The annual Grammy trip for both the Lakers and Clippers. For the next two weeks, the Staples Center will be commandeered by the folks who put on the Grammy Awards. Unlike the Cavs and other East teams, who can take their Western trips in two chunks, the L.A. varsity and JV need to take their Eastern trips in one fell swoop.

Both the Lakers and Clippers plow right into the teeth of the East the next two weeks. Lake Show is in Boston in a few nights. Clips have to play the Cavs, Celtics and Hawks on their trip. Clips come to town on Jan. 31, a week from Sunday.

[Larvell Blanks]

I'm not sure if this was mentioned at all during the broadcast last night or not. I believe this was the first game of an 8 game road trip for the Lakers.

Amazing!

The annual Grammy trip for both the Lakers and Clippers. For the next two weeks, the Staples Center will be commandeered by the folks who put on the Grammy Awards. Unlike the Cavs and other East teams, who can take their Western trips in two chunks, the L.A. varsity and JV need to take their Eastern trips in one fell swoop.

Both the Lakers and Clippers plow right into the teeth of the East the next two weeks. Lake Show is in Boston in a few nights. Clips have to play the Cavs, Celtics and Hawks on their trip. Clips come to town on Jan. 31, a week from Sunday.

I know, I was just playing the smartass role.
Believe me, every chance Marv and the gang had to mention it, they did. Like it's the first year the Grammy's have been held there.

[aoxo1]

Shoals once again puts it better and more cleverly than anyone else:
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/01/22/what ... vs-lebron/

When we compare them, difference is assumed, right down to the tone of their game. It's not a question of who creates more efficiently (Bron), or which guy has more saboteur's tricks up his sleeve (Kobe), but which vision of sports you prefer. The evasive, strictly-business, contract killer ethos of Bryant, the one that makes you feel like basketball is all about cultivated terror, or LeBron's wide-open celebration of making plays, putting away games because it feels good, and knowing that a demi-god could walk among us and want nothing more than to go back to his locker room and burst out laughing.

[Hi Oktane]

Kobe is a lot more hurt than he's letting on...

If he were, trust, we'd ALL know about it.

[e0y2e3]

He can a shooter that is struggling w/ his shot that is toting around a broken index finger on his shooting hand, a dinged up pinky, a bad back and just got over the flu be MORE hurt?

You want him in a freaking walking boot?

[Hi Oktane]

He can a shooter that is struggling w/ his shot that is toting around a broken index finger on his shooting hand, a dinged up pinky, a bad back and just got over the flu be MORE hurt?

You want him in a freaking walking boot?

Not saying he's not hurt or that he's not a warrior; he is, and having some sort of malady (real, or imagined, or real but imagined to be realer)seems important to Mambo #8. He thrives on playing hurt.

My point was more that if he so much as stubbed his toe, the Cheryl's-brothers-of-the-world would inundate us with praise of him "rising above" his injury or use it as convenient excuse for any struggles. (Same vein as Kobes slipping on the floor in lieu of buckling as a result of 'brons xover.)

Where I stand? He's hurt. He's awesome. He's a prick. I don't like him.

[aoxo1]

He can a shooter that is struggling w/ his shot that is toting around a broken index finger on his shooting hand, a dinged up pinky, a bad back and just got over the flu be MORE hurt?

You want him in a freaking walking boot?

Not saying he's not hurt or that he's not a warrior; he is, and having some sort of malady (real, or imagined, or real but imagined to be realer)seems important to Mambo #8. He thrives on playing hurt.

My point was more that if he so much as stubbed his toe, the Cheryl's-brothers-of-the-world would inundate us with praise of him "rising above" his injury or use it as convenient excuse for any struggles. (Same vein as Kobes slipping on the floor in lieu of buckling as a result of 'brons xover.)

Where I stand? He's hurt. He's awesome. He's a prick. I don't like him.

The more I watched Kobe the past few years the more I have moved on the spectrum from hate to love. Not there yet, but it's coming.

[rebelwithoutaclue]

He can a shooter that is struggling w/ his shot that is toting around a broken index finger on his shooting hand, a dinged up pinky, a bad back and just got over the flu be MORE hurt?

You want him in a freaking walking boot?

Not saying he's not hurt or that he's not a warrior; he is, and having some sort of malady (real, or imagined, or real but imagined to be realer)seems important to Mambo #8. He thrives on playing hurt.

My point was more that if he so much as stubbed his toe, the Cheryl's-brothers-of-the-world would inundate us with praise of him "rising above" his injury or use it as convenient excuse for any struggles. (Same vein as Kobes slipping on the floor in lieu of buckling as a result of 'brons xover.)

Where I stand? He's hurt. He's awesome. He's a prick. I don't like him.

The more I watched Kobe the past few years the more I have moved on the spectrum from hate to love. Not there yet, but it's coming.

It's a similar arc to Jordan, for me at least. The hatred at first (for Jordan, destroying Cleveland, for Kobe, just being an entitled douche) that leads to overall respect for their game over time.

[Hi Oktane]

The more I watched Kobe the past few years the more I have moved on the spectrum from hate to love. Not there yet, but it's coming.

Don't get me wrong ao, I appreciate and am awed by his game. Amazing. (What we see of) his personality, otoh, is just too off-putting to "love".

Edited to add: In fairness, if he were to be traded to CLE tomorrow, I'd be in line behind Cass to buy his jersey.