When watching the Los Angeles Lakers play the Golden State Warriors last night, I tried a different format than usual as far as my notes for last night’s game go. I normally focus a lot on numbers, specific plays, and try to be as detailed as possible. By doing it that way, I think I sometimes lose a little of the overall flavor and don’t enjoy the game as much because I’m so intent on writing everything down.
In that spirit, I thought last night’s game in Oakland against the Warriors was a good test for the Lakers and pretty exciting overall. We all know the Lakers are not one of the fastest teams in the league and Golden State definitely is, so it made for an interesting paradox in basketball style. Monta Ellis couldn’t be stopped, totaling 18 points before the half was over and 38 points overall. He drove in the lane, hit four monstrous threes and led his team to a near upset of the defending champs, as the Warriors were up by 14 during the game. 
Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, couldn’t get anything going in the first half, like most of the Lakers. At one point, he had more turnovers (five) than points (four). The Lakers weren’t playing defense and seemed content to trade baskets with the Warriors, a strategy that would not have been as horrible as it was if they had been making more shots. The purple and gold fought back though, with Ron hitting a tying three a few minutes before halftime.
Naturally, the Warriors went on a run and it was all for naught. Overall Artest played quite well, totaling 10 points and 7 assists, and hitting one of the most crucial shots of the game: a three pointer with 1:55 left to play in the game, on an assist from Kobe. I won’t lie, I was hesitant to see him shoot it… but in Ron’s defense, he’s been playing much better lately, a three from the corner is his shot, and I alternately expect him to make it and miss it every time he attempts one. I view both him and Derek Fisher as 50/50 with regard to my expectations for the shot falling. At the same time, they’ve both proven that they can and will make the shot when it really counts. I’d bet on either of them in crunch time of a close game.
Next: Dominance in the Paint
Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both had double doubles and Lamar came within one rebound of joining them. The Lakers absolutely dominated on the boards and in the paint, which usually means an easy victory. The main problem was the lack of defense for the first three quarters and all the outside shots the Warriors were hitting. They have a number of very capable shooters besides Ellis, including David Lee and Dorell Wright, who added 27 points, 7 
The only Warrior I was okay with producing anything was Steph Curry because he’s on my fantasy basketball team (along with Pau and LO!), but since injuring his ankle earlier in the season, he hasn’t been quite the same player. He definitely had a decent game last night though.
Back to Lamar: he was incredible down the stretch and hit 10 straight points during a key stretch of the fourth quarter, doing his part to help the Lakers erase the deficit. Most of that burden fell on the very familiar shoulders of Kobe Bryant. After scoring only 9 points in the first half, he scored 30 points in the second half and exploded for 17 points in the final 5:49 of the game! After assisting on Ron Artest’s three with under two minutes to play, he hit a backbreaking shot from downtown of his own and knew it. After the ball dropped through the bottom of the net, Kobe turned and raised both his hands in victory. It was a gorgeous shot and I threw my hands up too as it went in. Money almost every time….even if Kobe doesn’t always make it, I always expect him to. I never have any doubt that he can, and that he will.
Next: A Bit of Lakers History
He finished the night going an efficient 13 for 21 from the field, and made all 11 of his free throws. I will admit, the Lakers got many more calls than the Warriors did. Whether or not there is more to it, I can’t say, but I suppose one could chalk it up to savvy play and good defense on our end! 
I also had a couple random thoughts and anecdotes to add about the Warriors-Lakers connection. I had no idea that Vlad Radmanovic was on Golden State! I can’t say I was sorry to see him leave because he was pretty terrible, so it was amusing to see him on the other side of the court. And I absolutely couldn’t believe the monstrous dunk he threw down in the third quarter! He ran down the lane and slammed it home- I didn’t know he had it in him.
Lastly, our wonderfully clutch co-captain Derek Fisher played for the Golden State Warriors during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He escaped after the epic collapse that was the Lakers’ 2003-04 Finals campaign, but luckily came back to where he belongs in 2007 after a stint with the Utah Jazz as well. In any case, I went to a game at Staples Center with my dad in 2005 and saw the Lakers play the Warriors. It was very odd to see D Fish in an orange jersey, but wonderful to see him in LA all the same. I always enjoyed seeing him do well, even if it wasn’t always in purple and gold.
Ironically, I wasn’t that nervous during the game even when we were down. I think it is mainly due to the fact that the Warriors were playing well and the Lakers were tired and playing for the second day in a row, this time on the road. I don’t want to say that I expected less of them (I always expect them to play hard and win); I just wasn’t going to be as upset as usual if things didn’t go our way at the end. The Lakers came alive in the 4th, but the Warriors wouldn’t back down. It was a great battle to watch, definitely more entertaining than the other games between the two clubs this year.
It’s always good to get wins on the second night of a back-to-back, so I was very pleased even if the Lakers seemed a bit tired from their drubbing of Cleveland the night before. Los Angeles actually has the fewest back-to-backs on their schedule in the NBA- only 7 more for this season. January has been very kind to the Lakers as well: they have won six in a row and are 6-1 overall. It’s definitely a fantastic way to start off the New Year.