Game 23: Lakers/Bucks
by Alex Boeder on Dec 16, 2009 7:28 AM CST
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Rookie Kobe.
Linkage
Silver Screen and Roll / Forum Blue and Gold / LA Times
Kobe. Bryant is playing through a broken finger, and needed intraveneous fluids both before and during his game against Utah on Saturday. In that game, a 102-94 loss that snapped Los Angeles' 11-game win streak, Bryant suffered through a 7-24 shooting night [pretty close to Brandon Roy's 8-24 night against Milwaukee. When Roy hit that shot to tie the game in regulation on Saturday, it reminded me of the type of shot that only Bryant makes with any consistency]. Of course, Kobe has done just fine while ailing against the Bucks in the past.
And he did just fine last night against the Bulls. Dropped 20 in the first quarter on the way to a season-high 42 point night in a 96-87 win in City of Wind.
Kobe is shooting more and more effectively from 10-15 feet (4.2 attempts/game, 50.0 %) than in the past, while toning down the 16-23 foot (5.8 attempts/game, 42.0 %) jumpers. Given that, it's not surprising that Kobe is shooting a career-high 48.1 % from the field.
Luc Mbah a Moute, step to it.
Center B's. Bogut has played two of his best games of the year in the last week or so, against Boston and Portland. Just killer performances.
Still.
Not a huge overall head-to-head difference between the two starting centers, but Andrew Bynum knocked him around a bit in the last matchup in Milwaukee (25 pts, 17 rebs, on 10-13 from the field) and Bogut will have a lot of additional defensive duties with Bryant and co. slashing to the hoop.
Since returning from injury, Bogut's averaged 2.3 blocks per game.
Late in the clock. An interesting stat split: the Lakers shoot 46.8 % late in the shot clock (21+) and allow opponents to shoot just 32.0 % in the same, late-clock timeframe. Pretty substantial.
The Bucks? Shooting 39.0 % and allowing 43.7 %. Pretty sub-standard.
These shots typically comprise only about 10-15 % of overall shots, but they can swing things. I'll keep an eye on, you do the same.
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Kobe's Scoring
Last night wasn’t Kobe’s first 40 point game of the season. The Black Mamba has dropped 40 four other times this season. Nov. 1 vs. Atlanta, Nov. 4 At Houston, Nov. 6 vs. Memphis, and Nov. 17 vs. Detroit. When Pau Gasol was out, Kobe kept them afloat with his new post moves and outside scoring touch. I’m a Bucks fan through and through, but Kobe is real fun to watch.
This should be a good test for our Young Buck. He needs to have a good, consistent game if we are going to have a chance. If he doesn’t play well, we might get crushed. Go Bucks!
Good call. Season-high, definitely not first 40-point night for Kobe. Fixed, thanks.
by Alex Boeder on Dec 16, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
The Lakers haven't done too well in the defensive rebounding department this year.
Dribble penetration has hurt LA, because it will force a big man to step out, leaving them vulnerable to tip-ins and putbacks. Rebounding has improved with Gasol back in the fold, mainly because having 2 7-footers has discouraged other teams from penetrating.
If Jennings is determined to attack, and the Bucks are determined to crash the boards, good things will happen. Even a missed floater would be as good as an assist, IMHO. Miami kind of eviscerated LA several games ago with the pick-and-roll, for example.
Both teams are very good when it comes to taking care of the ball and forcing turnovers, so performing well in those categories will be critical. Just one stretch of sloppy basketball and lazy defense might determine the flow and tempo of the game.
If the Bucks can jump on the Lakers at the outset, it’ll be difficult for LA to build enough momentum on the road to make a comeback. If the Lakers can keep it close from the get-go, they’re capable of pulling away with a 20-0 run, IMHO.
Hopefully we’ll have a close game and see what both teams are really made of.
"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."
Jennings
Having his usual “don’t be overly aggressive” first half. What are the odds he only takes another five shots in the second half? Between none and none I’d predict. Nice floater to end the half.
Where was Jennings in OT?
Given Jennings reputation as a clutch shooter, why did Skiles sit him for so long in OT
Robbed
40 some seconds to go, Bryant gets the Blocking call on Bogut.. GEEZ. What the heck are those ref’s looking at? Free throws: Do the Bucks practice those? Rough loss.
That was one of the worst calls I have ever seen
it was a travel AND a charge, and they called it a block on Bogut, and then Kobe comes back with the game winner. Like you said, they didn’t make their free throws. What a tough loss
Friends don't let friends be cub fans
by BIGPAMPERINO on Dec 16, 2009 10:01 PM CST up reply actions
I can't believe it either. Travel, he took four steps. >.<
Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge
by Bush League All Star on Dec 16, 2009 10:20 PM CST up reply actions
That was pretty awful
a perfect example of the treatment stars get by NBA officials.
Wasn’t there recently a scandal involving stuff like this? Hmm… ;-)
by dishingoutdimes on Dec 17, 2009 12:08 AM CST up reply actions
Starters
I know it was only one night, but you got to think about starting Redd. He looked like the old Redd. Delfino didn’t do S*** and Bell looked like a solid man off the bench. I don’t like Ridnour either.. I think he should become an afterthought in the Rotation.
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