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 Problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Problems. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Injury Problems Send Graeme Swann Home
Graeme Swann has been forced out of the one-day series against Australia by injury as England's casualty list continues to grow. He picked up a knee problem during the first Twenty20 and has now suffered a back strain and will be returning to the UK to recover for next month's World Cup.
Swann played the second T20 and first one-day international in Melbourne but has missed the last two matches. It had been hoped he would be able to take part towards the end of the series, but a back spasm a couple of days ago added to his problems, leaving England another key bowler short as they aim to bounce back from 3-0 down.
"It's frustrating to return home from the tour early but the priority for me now is the World Cup and getting my body right so that I am able to play an important role for England throughout the tournament," Swann said. "I will be following the rest of the series and hope to see England put in some positive performances over the next fortnight. I've had the time of my life over here and bringing back the Ashes is something that will always stay with me."
Andy Flower, the England team director, said Swann would be taking the earliest flight home. "He's unfortunately got a strain in his lower back and that allied with his knee problem means it's best for him to go home and get ready for the World Cup now," Flower said.
It leaves England with Michael Yardy and James Tredwell to fill the spin roles for the remainder of the series but neither offer the attacking option of Swann and his absence has been felt during the middle overs.
"It's a big blow, he's an important part of our side," Flower said. "He's a world-class performer and full of confidence after the Ashes. But these things happen, we are coming towards the end of a long, hard tour and certainly the physical challenges are starting to take their toll."
Swann is the second player to fly home from the one-day series after Tim Bresnan picked up a calf strain in Hobart. England have not been able to field their first-choice attack at any stage in the limited-overs games due to Stuart Broad's absence and James Anderson being rested. Anderson, though, is available for the Adelaide match on Wednesday and will provide valuable experience as England aim to stay in the series.
Flower, meanwhile, has looked upon the loss of his main bowlers as a valuable chance to give experience to some younger and less experienced one-day players. One of the topics Flower has often mentioned is the need to have more than just a first eleven that is good enough because of the demanding international schedules.
"One of the areas I've been really happy with on this tour is the fact that some of our fringe players have come in and done very well," he said. "People like Bresnan in the Tests who did superbly, Tremlett the same. These guys stepped into the breach and I think we've seen Shahzad grow in the first three limited-overs games.
"I think they are great opportunities for some of our fringe players now. With the schedules we are given we are going to need a squad in which we can certainly rotate fast bowlers, because they are the ones at greatest risk of injury."
England's major issue has been a lack of consistency from the batsmen although Kevin Pietersen is fit again which will provide some extra power to the middle order. His replacement in Sydney, Paul Collingwood, continued to struggle with 1 and Flower admitted he was concerned but hinted at retaining him.
"Yes, of course we are. And he is," Flower said. "But we need him to be in form for the World Cup and again there's a good opportunity tomorrow for him to get that form."
Swann played the second T20 and first one-day international in Melbourne but has missed the last two matches. It had been hoped he would be able to take part towards the end of the series, but a back spasm a couple of days ago added to his problems, leaving England another key bowler short as they aim to bounce back from 3-0 down.
"It's frustrating to return home from the tour early but the priority for me now is the World Cup and getting my body right so that I am able to play an important role for England throughout the tournament," Swann said. "I will be following the rest of the series and hope to see England put in some positive performances over the next fortnight. I've had the time of my life over here and bringing back the Ashes is something that will always stay with me."
Andy Flower, the England team director, said Swann would be taking the earliest flight home. "He's unfortunately got a strain in his lower back and that allied with his knee problem means it's best for him to go home and get ready for the World Cup now," Flower said.
It leaves England with Michael Yardy and James Tredwell to fill the spin roles for the remainder of the series but neither offer the attacking option of Swann and his absence has been felt during the middle overs.
"It's a big blow, he's an important part of our side," Flower said. "He's a world-class performer and full of confidence after the Ashes. But these things happen, we are coming towards the end of a long, hard tour and certainly the physical challenges are starting to take their toll."
Swann is the second player to fly home from the one-day series after Tim Bresnan picked up a calf strain in Hobart. England have not been able to field their first-choice attack at any stage in the limited-overs games due to Stuart Broad's absence and James Anderson being rested. Anderson, though, is available for the Adelaide match on Wednesday and will provide valuable experience as England aim to stay in the series.
Flower, meanwhile, has looked upon the loss of his main bowlers as a valuable chance to give experience to some younger and less experienced one-day players. One of the topics Flower has often mentioned is the need to have more than just a first eleven that is good enough because of the demanding international schedules.
"One of the areas I've been really happy with on this tour is the fact that some of our fringe players have come in and done very well," he said. "People like Bresnan in the Tests who did superbly, Tremlett the same. These guys stepped into the breach and I think we've seen Shahzad grow in the first three limited-overs games.
"I think they are great opportunities for some of our fringe players now. With the schedules we are given we are going to need a squad in which we can certainly rotate fast bowlers, because they are the ones at greatest risk of injury."
England's major issue has been a lack of consistency from the batsmen although Kevin Pietersen is fit again which will provide some extra power to the middle order. His replacement in Sydney, Paul Collingwood, continued to struggle with 1 and Flower admitted he was concerned but hinted at retaining him.
"Yes, of course we are. And he is," Flower said. "But we need him to be in form for the World Cup and again there's a good opportunity tomorrow for him to get that form."
Monday, January 17, 2011
Canada World Cup Plans Hit by Visa Problems for Four Flayers
Canada's preparation for the World Cup has been hampered by a delay in Indian visas for four key players in their squad.
Batsman Rizwan Cheema, allrounder Umar Bhatti, paceman Khurram Chohan and back-up keeper Hamza Tariq - all Pakistan-born - were all ruled out of Canada's recent pre-tournament warm-up in India and Ranjit Saini, the Cricket Canada president, told Pakistan's Daily Mail the problems have damaged the team.
"[We have been] waiting to have visas processed for several months now," he said. "Canada took a pre-World Cup preparatory visit to India in November and the visas were applied for before that.
"We couldn't take these players to India and as a result our training plans have suffered. [It's] a source of distraction and is hurting team morale in general. We are making efforts but so far there is no outcome. They are the star players of our team, Rizwan Cheema was in the IPL auction."
Saini confirmed that Canada will take a full-strength to Bangladesh in February for the official World Cup warm-up matches and the opening ceremony before proceeding to Colombo for their opening fixture, against Sri Lanka. The team is currently competing in the Caribbean T20, where they won a stirring encounter with England domestic Twenty20 Champions Hampshire.
They have just two days from returning from that tournament before they head off to Dubai to prepare for the World Cup and Saini is hoping the visas can be sorted by then.
"The problem is that if this is not resolved in next week or so, the team will be on the move and players can't come back to Canada for visa processing. The short window of opportunity is now causing the issue to become a major problem."
Batsman Rizwan Cheema, allrounder Umar Bhatti, paceman Khurram Chohan and back-up keeper Hamza Tariq - all Pakistan-born - were all ruled out of Canada's recent pre-tournament warm-up in India and Ranjit Saini, the Cricket Canada president, told Pakistan's Daily Mail the problems have damaged the team.
"[We have been] waiting to have visas processed for several months now," he said. "Canada took a pre-World Cup preparatory visit to India in November and the visas were applied for before that.
"We couldn't take these players to India and as a result our training plans have suffered. [It's] a source of distraction and is hurting team morale in general. We are making efforts but so far there is no outcome. They are the star players of our team, Rizwan Cheema was in the IPL auction."
Saini confirmed that Canada will take a full-strength to Bangladesh in February for the official World Cup warm-up matches and the opening ceremony before proceeding to Colombo for their opening fixture, against Sri Lanka. The team is currently competing in the Caribbean T20, where they won a stirring encounter with England domestic Twenty20 Champions Hampshire.
They have just two days from returning from that tournament before they head off to Dubai to prepare for the World Cup and Saini is hoping the visas can be sorted by then.
"The problem is that if this is not resolved in next week or so, the team will be on the move and players can't come back to Canada for visa processing. The short window of opportunity is now causing the issue to become a major problem."
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