It was good to get a win last night after losing five in a row, but wow…. it was like pulling teeth. The Lakers continued their end of the season MO, sleepwalking through most of the game against the Spurs’ bench no less. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli were not playing which should have made the game easier.
We forget though that the Lakers respond to situations different than other teams would. Instead of taking advantage and crushing the Spurs full-force, they let their foot off the gas pedal and played with a lackadaisical
Almost all of the announcers said the same thing last night, the same thing that I’m sure most of Lakers Nation has been thinking (or at least hoping): they are a bored veteran team waiting for the playoffs to begin. They have a good sense of who they are as a team and what they need to do to get that edge back. If the Lakers win tonight, they will have tied last season’s win total, so it’s not like they’re completely floundering.
To be fair, the starters played well. Pau finished with a double double (17-17), Derek Fisher was driving in the paint instead of hanging around the three point line, and Ron was hustling like usual. Kobe had 27 points and turned on the Mamba mode at the end of the game, which was great to see- he hit a huge three and pumped his fist with under 3 minutes to go in the game.
He struggled in foul trouble for a majority of the game and picked up his 15th technical as well after being flagged for an offensive foul (his 4th of the game with the 3rd quarter only half finished). I have never seen Kobe so angry…. He walked over to the bench and punched the chair and threw his towel down, just snarling and cussing and generally looking livid.
Next: A Fallen Giant
Of course every fan’s worst fear had to come true last night with the Lakers so close to the regular season finish line. Andrew Bynum hyper-extended his knee in the second quarter. I almost lost it…. Seeing him sit on the ground with a morose expression on his face broke my heart. I honestly felt like crying.
In addition, the Lakers know how to play without Andrew, although it will force Lamar, Pau and the bench to really step up. We won a championship last year with Bynum on one leg, so as long as he’s able to come back, I think it will be alright.
Next: Candy Man to the Rescue
Lamar Odom has been one of the most consistent and most improved Lakers all year, but he was especially incredible last night in the second half. He really rose to the occasion after Bynum’s injury and led the charge when the Lakers were struggling. LO went 8 of 11 from the field and got 21 of his 23 points after halftime.
It was the way he was scoring that impressed me as well; he was being aggressive, driving to the hoop and on the baseline and in the paint. He shot jumpers, collected offensive boards and played like a leader. If he doesn’t win the Sixth Man of the Year award, it will be a travesty.
Odom was also very candid in his post-game interview with Cheryl Miller. She asked him “Why do you guys think you can just flip a switch?” Lamar answered with a small smile, “Overconfidence… cockiness.” It’s good to know that at least one of them admits to it. Swagger is important and essential to a winning team, but it isn’t much of a leap to the negative aspects of such a character trait.
It’s been a struggle as of late, but for once the Lakers closed out a close game. It shouldn’t have been close to begin with, but I’ll take the W all the same. Too much energy was expended, especially considered how depleted our bench is: no Blake, or Barnes, or Bynum. Only one Killer Bee in Shannon Brown left to do any damage for now.
Tonight is a big night: if they can win in Sacramento (for perhaps the last time), they will clinch the 2 seed. The regular season has come to a close, and I am a little devastated by it…. but the fun and excitement-and stress- is just beginning!