The buzz in Staples was palpable, an energy that was undoubtedly anachronistic yet nonetheless readily appropriate for such a heavily anticipated preseason game. A Lakers/Clippers match-up in years past spurred onlookers to absolute boredom, the perfect representation of the NBA’s great divide in parity. But the Clippers in recent weeks have staked their claim to destiny, even if only nominally. The match-up between these two teams would set forth a rivalry that has not been seen in Los Angeles, and signals a changing of the times, whether for better or for worse.
The game started as expected, with the Lakers looking seemingly confused in terms of offense, but Kobe came out very aggressively and hit his first shot. The Lakers pushed their offense very quickly, so much so that it seemed rushed in comparison to the relative laxity of the triangle. Brown’s desire to set up quickly seems a message that the team took to heart. More often than not, one would see Bynum or Gasol out on the perimeter, probably not the result that coach Brown wanted.
The newbies played well, exhibiting flashes of potential despite their obvious nervousness. McRoberts threw down a huge dunk on a Kobe alley-oop, and rookie Darius Morris seemed very comfortable handling the ball, pulling off a few Kobe “I-can’t-believe-he-hit that” shots of his own.
But reserves are reserves for a reason. Kapono looked as lost as a second grader in an algebra class, and were it not for the hustle of his teammates he would have undoubtedly turned the ball over more than a handful of times. In fact, hustle seemed to help this bench unit more than anything, as they racked up a few extra possessions off of offensive rebounds. McRoberts passed very well, and was always very involved in the play. It was encouraging to see that Darius Morris was determined to make an impact, not fading under the bright lights in the arena. All in all, it was good to see the bench preserve the score, as opposed to relinquishing it.
On the boards, the Lakers looked extremely aggressive, crowding the paint and forcing the Clippers’ big men further and further out.
Their pick and roll defense looked atrocious, however.
Chris Paul had his way in the paint, and too often penetration led to open jumpers on the outside. The defense looked a little lost, and very much out of sync. It was too often that a big man would find himself guarding Chris Paul, and the mismatch was inevitably exploited.
Kobe continued to be aggressive for much of the game, even dangerously so, as he often dove recklessly into the trees. While it was encouraging to see his confidence, it’s also disconcerting to see the team superstar hit the deck, and hard. Free throws can’t help if you break your wrist to get them.
Next Page: Keys to the Game
Keys to the Game:
Post Play:
Hailed early as one of the main beneficiaries of the Chris Paul trade, DeAndre Jordan made a visible effort to prove that he is a game changer. Every Kobe drive was met by his outstretched arms, and Jordan was rewarded with four blocks for the game. He did an admirable job frustrating Bynum, and played with an intensity that undoubtedly intimidated the Lakers.
But while Jordan did play well, the Lakers’ new system didn’t make it any harder for him. Both Bynum and Gasol were found on the wings way too often, and while it may not be such a huge problem for Gasol (he had a three pointer in the game), Bynum’s gifts are not being utilized if he has to work his way into the post from the outside in. And when the bigs did get close to the rim it was so crowded that Jordan was having a field day stuffing Laker layups.
Chauncey Billups (and his army of three-point bombers):
After clamoring about wanting to play for a contender, it seems Chauncey has found an appropriate fit in the Clippers. Hitting shot after shot, Chauncey silently destroyed the Lakers from the perimeter, not forcing anything and always reading the defense perfectly. To further aggravate the issue, the rest of the Clippers fared well from deep as well.
If the Lakers were trying to get over the stinging loss to the Mavericks last post-season, then letting the Clippers shoot nearly 50 percent from three certainly isn’t the way to do it. As Sebastian Pruiti pointed out, Caron Butler is one of the best in the game at shooting contested three pointers. When they are not contested, it can only make life easier for Butler, Billups and friends.
Keys to the Future:
Find an Offensive Identity:
After observing this game, it became readily apparent that the departure of Phil Jackson’s triangle has undoubtedly left growing pains for this Lakers team to deal with. There was no flow, no chemistry, and no cohesiveness; which ultimately led to no points. Quite frankly, it was very ugly to watch. If Kobe and the twin towers can find room to operate in the post as opposed to the perimeter, the Lakers will have a much easier go of things, and will relieve some pressure off of their less capable guards.
Rotate or Die:
Unless I missed the memo, the Clippers are not typically a great three-point shooting team. In fact, last season they shot well under 34 percent. The Clippers don’t have a roster full of Ray Allen’s and Reggie Miller’s, and yet, they looked as if they found the cheat codes to NBA Jam, shooting a staggering 13 for 28 from deep. The problem is defensive rotations, a concept that seemed to have escaped the Lakers on this occasion. If the Lakers continue to rotate and contest as poorly as they did against the Clippers, Lakers’ fans are in for a long season. These things take time, but unfortunately this year, time is short.
Kobe Needs Help:
While the Lakers have the offensive weapons at hand, they are largely dependent on the ball-handling skills of a capable guard, and at the moment, the Lakers only have one. Morris shows flashes of capability, and Steve Blake appears to have found a much better fit than the triangle. But the dearth of capable ball-handlers is a serious issue if the talents of Kapono, McRoberts, and Murphy are to be utilized. The total turnover count (21 in all) is the most telling stat of all.