What's wrong with the L.A. Lakers?
We seem to ask the question once or twice a month, when the two-time defensing NBA champs go off and get blown out at home by the Bucks, or drop a game to the Kings, or get embarrassed by the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics on national television. The answers rise to some level of public consciousness, the Lakers go on a winning binge and we repeat the drama in a few weeks. It's become a sport within the sport.
This time, the defense takes blame.
In particular, the Lakers' consistency on that end of the floor leaves something to be desired. Data shows that the Lakers are less consistent in each key defensive factor than they were a year ago. So not only has the team's great shot defense slid a bit, and its defensive rebounding fallen off the table. But increased volatility has increasingly put L.A. behind the eight ball against opponents good and bad alike.
The team's total defense -- ranked No. 4 in the NBA a year ago -- has fallen off this year, ranked No. 10 through 48 games. L.A.'s shot defense, No. 6 last season, has fallen slightly to No. 9. Its turnover creation (always mediocre) and reluctance to foul (always superlative) has maintained, but the team's defensive rebounding has been abominable. The Lakers ranked No. 9 last season, rebounding 74.4 percent of all opponent misses. This year, L.A. is No. 21, rebounding 72.6 percent of opportunities.
But beyond these season-level numbers, a look at the team's game-to-game performance tells a tale of an unfocused team that allows opponents to stay in games and pull out big leads simply because the Lakers aren't at their best every time out. The standard deviations on opponents' total offensive performance, shooting and offensive rebounding have all grown substantially this season, indicating that while the Lakers can crank the screws, they don't do so as consistently as last season.
No one Laker can be blamed for the rebounding slide -- the defensive rebounding percentages of both Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol have slid a bit, but the injury to Andrew Bynum hardly affected things because Odom and Gasol are superior defensive rebounders anyway. Ron Artest has fallen off a bit on the boards, but he was already irrelevant in that sector. (He was a fantastic rebounder for exactly one season as a King, a season in which Reggie Theus demanded his rebound to make up for having a frontcourt of Brad Miller and Mikki Moore. Artest has since given up that part of his game.)
There's a clear blame target for the Lakers' shot defense slide, though: the point guard position. That means Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, who have each seen opposing point guards shoot 51.4 percent (effective field goal percentage) against them. Last season, the Lakers allowed opposing PGs to shoot 48.5 percent. That's a massive regression, and in case you forgot, the West is chock full of incredible point guards.
Artest has taken much of the flak this season, but the team's defense against shooting guards and small forwards -- the positions Ron-Ron usually defends, along with Kobe -- has improved; the Lakers have also improved their center defense, even with Bynum missing much of the season's first half. In terms of opponent shooting, all signs point to Fisher and Blake not doing well enough to keep the Lakers great.
Is there any hope of L.A. tightening that up before a gauntlet that could include Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and/or Tony Parker in the playoffs, and Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose or Mario F'n Chalmers in the Finals? It looks particularly troubling this year.
Showing posts with label Lakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lakers. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Singer Monica Secretly Weds Lakers Guard Shannon Brown
LA Lakers Guard Shannon Brown has confirmed reports that he secretly married R&B singer Monica. The rumor mill had been swirling with reports that the lovebirds tied the knot, despite denials from both sides.
Brown, a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, casually owned up to the nuptials during a post-game interview. "It's true," he said. "I really don't know what else to say about it. It's true. That's my wife. I'm her husband. We gonna continue to make positive things happen."
The couple met last year when Brown appeared in the Grammy winner's video 'Love All Over Me.' After only a few months of dating, the two became engaged in October, which she announced via her Twitter page. "We realize people will have their opinions," she wrote after receiving some opposition to her decision. "That's the way of the world. But we know who we are & who's we are."
Monica was previously engaged to longtime boyfriend Rodney "Rocko" Hill, with whom she shares two sons, 3-year-old Romelo and 5-year-old Rodney Jr. Now that she's married to Brown, the Atlanta native can add stepmother to her resume, as Brown, also has a young son from a previous relationship.
Blending families is something that 30-year-old is used to, she previously said, "I think that it's good for people to see that you can have the things that you truly want, and I don't mean that in a material way. I mean with relationships," she said. "We're very much a blended family. I have a mother and a stepfather who I love very much. I'm still very close to my own father. I have a brother, I have two small sons. I still have my career, all these different things, and it speaks volumes to your everyday person."
Brown, a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, casually owned up to the nuptials during a post-game interview. "It's true," he said. "I really don't know what else to say about it. It's true. That's my wife. I'm her husband. We gonna continue to make positive things happen."
The couple met last year when Brown appeared in the Grammy winner's video 'Love All Over Me.' After only a few months of dating, the two became engaged in October, which she announced via her Twitter page. "We realize people will have their opinions," she wrote after receiving some opposition to her decision. "That's the way of the world. But we know who we are & who's we are."
Monica was previously engaged to longtime boyfriend Rodney "Rocko" Hill, with whom she shares two sons, 3-year-old Romelo and 5-year-old Rodney Jr. Now that she's married to Brown, the Atlanta native can add stepmother to her resume, as Brown, also has a young son from a previous relationship.
Blending families is something that 30-year-old is used to, she previously said, "I think that it's good for people to see that you can have the things that you truly want, and I don't mean that in a material way. I mean with relationships," she said. "We're very much a blended family. I have a mother and a stepfather who I love very much. I'm still very close to my own father. I have a brother, I have two small sons. I still have my career, all these different things, and it speaks volumes to your everyday person."
Monday, January 17, 2011
Pau, Kobe Each Net 21, Lakers Drop Thunder
Pau Gasol scored 21 points, Kobe Bryant had 21 and also missed three last-minute free throws, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-94 Monday night for their eighth win in nine games.
Lamar Odom had 16 points and Derek Fisher scored a season-high 15 for the Lakers in the clubs' first meeting since the Los Angeles sent home the eighth-seeded Thunder from the first round of last season's playoffs in a highly competitive six-game series.
Russell Westbrook had 32 points and 12 assists, and he led a late run aided by those three straight misses by Bryant. But Westbrook missed two free throws of his own with 21.4 seconds left before airballing a 3-point attempt.
NBA scoring-leader Kevin Durant had 24 points on 8-of-24 shooting for the Thunder, whose four-game winning streak ended. The Thunder were undone by 2-for-22 shooting from the 3-point line, including a 1-for-8 effort by Durant, who missed 14 of his last 18 shots overall.
One day after the Lakers wilted in the fourth quarter of a streak-snapping loss to the Clippers, Los Angeles hit more big shots down the stretch than Oklahoma City, which had won 13 of 18 and had the previous three days off.
Although Oklahoma City's outstanding season makes another first-round playoff series highly unlikely, the teams easily could meet for bigger stakes. They have the makings of a lively rivalry, with Bryant and Durant trading artistic baskets while the Lakers' half-court offense clashes intriguingly with the Thunder's up-tempo attack.
Los Angeles scored 14 straight points in the third quarter and took a 76-61 lead by grinding the game into a half-court contest, but the Thunder rediscovered their transition game and made a 14-2 rally late in the period to pull within 81-75 heading to the fourth.
Gasol scored back-to-back baskets to put the Lakers up 98-88 with 3:47 to play.
The Lakers are near the close of a brutal stretch with 15 games in 25 days, but the week only gets tougher with visits to Dallas on Wednesday and Denver on Friday before their first consecutive days off since immediately after Christmas.
Durant came out firing against the Lakers, scoring 14 of the Thunder's 28 points in the first quarter. Los Angeles stayed in it early with low-post baskets from Bynum and Gasol, who combined for 14 first-quarter points.
Westbrook had 18 points in the first half, but the Lakers led 58-55 with four scorers in double figures.
Notes
Before the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson confirmed Ron Artest's technical foul and ejection from Sunday's loss to the Clippers have been rescinded by the NBA. Artest won't be fined $4,000. Artest didn't appear to do anything wrong in the late-game scuffle featuring Odom, Baron Davis and Blake Griffin, whose technical and ejection also were rescinded, according to the Clippers. ... The clubs meet two more times this season. ... Fans near courtside included Denzel Washington, Glenn Frey and director Peter Berg.
Lamar Odom had 16 points and Derek Fisher scored a season-high 15 for the Lakers in the clubs' first meeting since the Los Angeles sent home the eighth-seeded Thunder from the first round of last season's playoffs in a highly competitive six-game series.
Russell Westbrook had 32 points and 12 assists, and he led a late run aided by those three straight misses by Bryant. But Westbrook missed two free throws of his own with 21.4 seconds left before airballing a 3-point attempt.
NBA scoring-leader Kevin Durant had 24 points on 8-of-24 shooting for the Thunder, whose four-game winning streak ended. The Thunder were undone by 2-for-22 shooting from the 3-point line, including a 1-for-8 effort by Durant, who missed 14 of his last 18 shots overall.
One day after the Lakers wilted in the fourth quarter of a streak-snapping loss to the Clippers, Los Angeles hit more big shots down the stretch than Oklahoma City, which had won 13 of 18 and had the previous three days off.
Although Oklahoma City's outstanding season makes another first-round playoff series highly unlikely, the teams easily could meet for bigger stakes. They have the makings of a lively rivalry, with Bryant and Durant trading artistic baskets while the Lakers' half-court offense clashes intriguingly with the Thunder's up-tempo attack.
Los Angeles scored 14 straight points in the third quarter and took a 76-61 lead by grinding the game into a half-court contest, but the Thunder rediscovered their transition game and made a 14-2 rally late in the period to pull within 81-75 heading to the fourth.
Gasol scored back-to-back baskets to put the Lakers up 98-88 with 3:47 to play.
The Lakers are near the close of a brutal stretch with 15 games in 25 days, but the week only gets tougher with visits to Dallas on Wednesday and Denver on Friday before their first consecutive days off since immediately after Christmas.
Durant came out firing against the Lakers, scoring 14 of the Thunder's 28 points in the first quarter. Los Angeles stayed in it early with low-post baskets from Bynum and Gasol, who combined for 14 first-quarter points.
Westbrook had 18 points in the first half, but the Lakers led 58-55 with four scorers in double figures.
Notes
Before the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson confirmed Ron Artest's technical foul and ejection from Sunday's loss to the Clippers have been rescinded by the NBA. Artest won't be fined $4,000. Artest didn't appear to do anything wrong in the late-game scuffle featuring Odom, Baron Davis and Blake Griffin, whose technical and ejection also were rescinded, according to the Clippers. ... The clubs meet two more times this season. ... Fans near courtside included Denzel Washington, Glenn Frey and director Peter Berg.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Lindsay Lohan Cheers on the Lakers
A newly blond Lindsay Lohan sat courtside with a friend as the Los Angeles Lakers took on the New York Knicks Sunday night, according to RadarOnline.
Lohan, who recently completed a rehab program, sported lighter locks in the Staples Center and looked relaxed while enjoying the game with friend and jeweler Pascal Mouawad.
Mouawad recently gave the actress a necklace that is reportedly worth $25,000 and features a 10-carat diamond. The sparkler, from the jeweler's Masterpiece collection, apparently resembles the famous "Heart of the Ocean" necklace from 'Titanic.'
The two enjoyed the game, and Lohan introduced her pal to director Spike Lee, who was also in attendance.
Lohan's night on the town comes after weeks of ups and downs regarding her rehab stay and possible probation violations. The actress could face further legal ramifications after a reported altercation with a former staff member at the Betty Ford Center, where she completed her rehab.
But for now, Lohan seems to be focusing on her future and moving on from her troubled past.
She recently moved into a Venice Beach house next to friend Samantha Ronson and is enjoying driving a new Range Rover, worth a reported $135,000, which she borrowed from a Beverly Hills garage, according to the Daily Mail.
Lohan, who recently completed a rehab program, sported lighter locks in the Staples Center and looked relaxed while enjoying the game with friend and jeweler Pascal Mouawad.
Mouawad recently gave the actress a necklace that is reportedly worth $25,000 and features a 10-carat diamond. The sparkler, from the jeweler's Masterpiece collection, apparently resembles the famous "Heart of the Ocean" necklace from 'Titanic.'
The two enjoyed the game, and Lohan introduced her pal to director Spike Lee, who was also in attendance.
Lohan's night on the town comes after weeks of ups and downs regarding her rehab stay and possible probation violations. The actress could face further legal ramifications after a reported altercation with a former staff member at the Betty Ford Center, where she completed her rehab.
But for now, Lohan seems to be focusing on her future and moving on from her troubled past.
She recently moved into a Venice Beach house next to friend Samantha Ronson and is enjoying driving a new Range Rover, worth a reported $135,000, which she borrowed from a Beverly Hills garage, according to the Daily Mail.
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