OT: NBA Basketball
Is everyone pumped as I am about the possibilities of a Memphis vs Atlanta finals? lol
how can you defend 3’s of that number?
Not give up, would be one way. Watch Derek Fisher guarding Terry last night. He made nine threes because the perimeter defenders, including Kobe, didn’t even try to stop them. Which, more than likely, is why Odom and Bynum and Gasol were so frustrated. They either had to watch another uncontested three be hoisted up or watch second string point guard come off the bench and blow by everyone into the lane without really any effort at all for 22.
I’d say those cheap shots were more a message to other Lakers players than to the Mavs (which is also probably why the Mavs did absolutely nothing when it happened).
“how can you defend 3’s of that number? you can’t. you also can’t defend a 7 footer who can shoot off-balance one-footed fall away jumpers.”
The way you do it is to stay in front of the man you’re guarding and stay tight enough that you can deny easy kick out passes and directly contest shots. The Mavericks certainly deserve credit for making shots, but what happens is that the Lakers perimeter defenders are not quick enough to stop the Mavs’ dribble penetration if they play them tight, so they have to a of few steps off them on the perimeter. This opens up room for both kicking the ball out to shooters and for the shooters to get off shots cleanly.
^Yeah, the issue is were the Mavs getting clean looks. Now, if they weren’t—if the Lakers were contesting those shots, then you can wonder how you’re going to stop that.
@Matt
I hear what you’re saying about MJ scoring in line with the opposing team’s superstar, but it seems like the Lakers had a lot bigger problems than Kobe’s scoring.
Yeah, the issue is were the Mavs getting clean looks.
All series they got clean looks because there was no perimeter defense. Okay, the Lakers have always had trouble with fast guards (we even saw that last series), but is the 38 year old Jason Kidd, and the 33 year old Jason Terry really the model of speedy guards the Lakers have had trouble guarding in the past few years?
No. Really, there was just no one that gave a shit enough to guard anyone for most of those games.
I hear what you’re saying about MJ scoring in line with the opposing team’s superstar, but it seems like the Lakers had a lot bigger problems than Kobe’s scoring.
Yeah, his leadership, his defense, his total lack of ability to drive into the post, his inability to involve his other teammates… They definitely had a lot of problems.
I don’t get it… They win two straight championships and Kobe is a god, comparable, if not even better than the greatest players that have ever played the game. But they get swept and embarrassed by a team that probably shouldn’t have even won the series and suddenly everyone apologizes for Kobe?
No. If they win by him, they lose by him. And, just for the record, when the offense is run through Kobe Bryant the Lakers lose. That is something you can’t say about any other great shooter throughout history. So, how can Kobe be a great shooter with a 45% career FG%, and a propensity to lose games when it’s placed on his shoulders?
“I hear what you’re saying about MJ scoring in line with the opposing team’s superstar, but it seems like the Lakers had a lot bigger problems than Kobe’s scoring.”
Definitely, and next season is going to be a reflection of that. I just think Kobe played down to the level of his team in the playoffs this season, and what I want from a superstar player is at least to go down swinging.
@Matt
I just think Kobe played down to the level of his team in the playoffs this season,…
Not sure what you mean by that. Do you mean, he played like good player, not a great one? If so, to be fair, the ankle injury could have really contributed to that.
Btw, I forgot to comment about your remark about Odom being a tweener. He’s a tweener, but in a good way. When he really puts his mind to it, he’s really tough to guard. Also, you mentioned the Laker’s poor bench play. The poor bench play is one of those details that makes me think that Kobe had a negative effect on team chemistry. One of Phil Jackson’s strengths as a coach was that he could get his bench to perform really well. I think this was true all throughout his coaching career, except the post-Shaq Lakers (at least that’s my impression).
The other thing about Jackson’s teams was that they executed well on both ends of the court, especially the offensive end. People talk about how Jackson had great talent, but those Bulls’ teams weren’t the most talented team—not more than the Celtics or Lakers in the 80s, anyway. But those teams were really good because they could execute. Same with the Shaq-Kobe Lakers. Ever since Kobe became “the man,” I don’t the execution was so great—even in the recent championships.
I was listening to Jerry West talking to Dan Patrick. I didn’t get to see any of the Mavs-Lakers games, but West comments didn’t sound very good. He mentioned that the Mavs had wide open shots, that the Laker’s looked dispirited and that there was finger-pointing going on. To me, this does not speak well of Kobe, and the coaches, to a lesser extent. A great team can lose, but great teams don’t behave like this; and when they do, you’ve gotta look at the superstars and the coaches.
@Wu
See above regarding making excuses for Kobe.
Yeah, if Kobe’s hurt, he’s hurt. At the same time, part of my definition of greatest is durability.
Yeah, don’t get me wrong, I like Odom as a change-up off the bench, I just meant that I don’t want to have to rely on him as a full-time 3 or 4, because he’s going to be a defensive liability at least some of the time either way.
While we’re assigning blame for the Lakers’ situation, Mitch Kupchak too.
@Matt
Well, Kobe is plenty durable—at least over his career. If a plyer is hurt for a series, I’m not holding that against that player.
Re: Odom
I don’t know if his defense is the problem so much as his killer instinct. The guy could be more of force (and is when he wants to). He sort of reminds me of Derrick McKey (sp?). They both had a world of talent, could play multiple positions, but, both, also didn’t have the drive at times. (Odom seems to be more aggressive, though.)
I don’t know if I’d blame Kupchak, too much. Did he have opportunities to get other players? They had enough talent, imo; they just needed to play hard and play together.
“They had enough talent, imo; they just needed to play hard and play together.”
I think he focused too much on locking up interior players—Gasol, Odom, Bynum (and also has Theo Ratlif and Joe Smith taking up roster spots as insurance policies)—instead of getting more athletic on the perimeter. He also signed Ron Artest to a ridiculous five-year. $33 million deal in 2009, so they’re going to be stuck with that contract at a time when they would be better off with some of than money to offer to free agents.He signed Luke Walton to a 6-year, $30 million contract in 2007. Same there.
OK, you can blame Kupchak for the way his decisions may hurt (or cause problems) for the future, but I’m not sure we can get on him for the current year.
Gotta be able to see the future if you’re a GM.
No argument here.
The Walton deal is horrible. I’m not so upset at the Artest deal. But of course everything looks sour after getting sweeped. We just need one athlete to run around out there on the perimeter with Kobe. Then I think we’re fine, depending on if we get good coaching.
I really think the Laker’s coaching gig is going to be tough—not because of the lack of talent—but more with keeping maintaining team cohesion and morale.
I just got to see the hit by Bynum. That was messed up, man. I know in the 80s hard fouls occurred, but I don’t recall anything like that…then again, the Pistons. There was also that takedown against Rambis. This hit just seemed really, really blatant, though.
" I know in the 80s hard fouls occurred, but I don’t recall anything like that…then again, the Pistons."
Yeah, to me the thing that really distinguishes that one from some of the others is that lack of any attempt to conceal it whatsoever. The Daly-era Pistons took shots like that all the time, they were just skilled at hiding that kind of stuff within the normal motions of playing the game (1991 playoffs, Isiah Thomas goes up for a layup and raises a knee up into the defender’s (John Paxon’s?) stomach for example).
“I’m not so upset at the Artest deal.”I wouldn’t be unhappy with his performance as much as I would be with the way the deal is going to limit the team’s ability to reshape itself.
@Matt
I agree with your point about hiding hard fouls within the context of the game. (We could also mention Riley’s Knicks.) but I don’t think the Isiah example is a good one—or at least I don’t care for it. Man, I would use a similar move—not intentionally to knee the defender—but to ward them off with. If you jump off the “wrong” foot when shooting a lay-up you can use the other knee to shield yourself from the defender. (I don’t think this ever hurt the defender, though.) I did have a friend who shot a runner and he would use his leg to almost kick the defender. (It was more subtle than it sounds.) In any event, I think of Mahorn or Laimbeer, although they weren’t always subtle, but, hey, in the context of the game. That’s the other thing: the game was not very close, so it was more of a cheap shot, imo. I gotta believe the other Maverick players didn’t really see how severe and cheap the shot was; otherwise, I can’t understand the restraint they exercised. (It didn’t seem like many players on ther court rushed over to Bynum.)
I used to sport a shirt like this in 6th grade.
“If you jump off the “wrong” foot when shooting a lay-up you can use the other knee to shield yourself from the defender. (I don’t think this ever hurt the defender, though.) I did have a friend who shot a runner and he would use his leg to almost kick the defender. (It was more subtle than it sounds.)”
Exactly—you can poke a knee into somebody’s stomach and make it completely incidental.
Here’s the foul I was looking for earlier—this is the closest thing I remember seeing to the Bynum foul:
I dont’ think I ever poked my knee in anyone’s stomach while doing the move, though.
Btw, Sheed should have gotten injected—and more.
So, the Celtics are eliminated now as well.
The Bulls have a chance to finish off the Hawks tonight. Rose is great, and they seem to have had the Heat’s number during the regular season, but I think they may still a legitimate starting shooting guard away from really contending for a championship.
seem to have had the Heat’s number during the regular season
Not the same Heat as in regular season.
Yup. Zero chance they sweep the Heat in the post-season. The smart money would be on a Mavericks-Heat finals at this point, I guess (?)
dats da buzz in Beantown.
Live now, I’m not happy if the Bulls advance to face the Heat. :(
Well, looks like the Bulls are back after all these years. I’m pulling for OKC and Miami. When all is said and done, Miami should hoist the trophy. LeBron finally gets to enter the ranks of legendary players. And it is proved yet again that you need at least two stars to win a championship.
Well, remember, the Bulls swept the then-defending-champion Heat out of the first round of the playoffs just a few years ago. The Heat would seem to be the best team at this point, but it’s not a foregone conclusion for them against either the Bulls or the Mavericks/Grizz/OKC.
The Heat aren’t the best team remaining. They will have trouble eliminating the Bulls.
OKC is advancing and will face a tough series against Dallas.
Dallas is the deepest team, by a decent margin, and are executing solid 4-quarter defense. That’s something the other three team’s cannot cite. Because of that, OKC’s only chance at victory is using their youth and speed against a much older team. Dallas evolved into a Championship team after Game 4 of their first series.
BTW, Carlisle is operating on all cylinders currently. Best coaching occurring in the Playoffs, with Thibodeau close behind.
The Heat only looked impressive because of Boston’s pitiful outing. I have no idea what the heck happened to them. And Chicago possesses a knack for accomplishing what they need to, though it might not be the prettiest. Be interesting to see if Boozer finally arrives.
Dallas out of the West, East is a toss up.
Be fun to see a rematch of the 2006 finals with C.Butler returning to the mix (fingers crossed). Either way, with Dallas in the finals, I expect it to be a nice finish to a thus good postseason.
Brian Padian
how can you defend 3’s of that number? you can’t. you also can’t defend a 7 footer who can shoot off-balance one-footed fall away jumpers. or at least the trailblazers couldn’t. and the lakers apparently couldn’t either.