Los Angeles Lakers Basketball From The Web
Kobe Bryant hit a 17-foot fallaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to snap their three-game losing streak with a 109-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
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In the midst of recent struggles by the Los Angeles Lakers, a new trend has emerged which blames all of the ailments of the team on its superstar Kobe Bryant, with some even going as far to say the Lakers are a better team without Bryant.
This is not an original idea because Kobe is used to assuming blame for the Lakers, win or lose, but this new theory has gained momentum because of opinions voiced by Bryant's teammates, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.
Gasol said it was his opinion that much of the Lakers' issues could be solved if more of an effort was made to work the basketball into the post, which on the surface sounds like a good decision.
Any offense operates more efficiently when it begins with an entry pass to the post, because either you get an easy look close to the basket, or the defense collapses which allows uncontested shots from the perimeter.
However the irony in Gasol's statement stood out because he has just as much to do with an efficient Laker offense as Bryant, and is an equal conspirator in this latest version of Laker-Gate.
I'm not sure if what Gasol said was a thinly-veiled shot directed towards Bryant and his reluctance to pass the ball in certain situations, but if it was Gasol shouldn't throws rocks from the confines of a glass house.
Gasol is a wonderfully talented seven footer with multiple skills, and is one of the more valued members of the Laker roster. Laker fans do have their issues with Gasol and most of them concern his play in the post.
Gasol has the ability to shoot with either hand, and his athleticism and lateral movement allows him to easily establish position in the paint, however the way he finishes at the rim has made him an object of disdain for many of the Laker faithful.
For all of Gasol's talent, he has a serious problem attacking the rim with authority on offense, and on defense there is a league-wide perception that Gasol is susceptible to a physical style of play.
He is not nearly bad as some would have you think, although there is truth in the above statement, but Laker fans have learned to accept Gasol's weaknesses because of his overall impact on the team.
So has Bryant, because he understands the importance of a talented seven footer from his days with Shaquille O'Neal, and even though he has a tendency to scold Gasol when he makes a mistake, he is the first to congratulate him when he makes a big play.
During the period Bryant was absent from the Laker lineup due to injury, Gasol performed like the superstar his skills suggest, and some of that was due to the watchful eye of Bryant being concealed.
Gasol was able to play without worrying about Bryant, and the same confidence which coursed through his veins also flowed through the rest of the team, as the Lakers looked like a tight cohesive unit.
Not only did they win games but they won them in impressive fashion, dominating opponents by double-digit margins, and playing with rhythm and cohesiveness.
It was during this time the whispers started about the Lakers playing better without the help of Bryant, and they became a full blown roar when his return ran parallel to the Lakers' recent slippage.
Regardless of this Gasol can be forgiven even if he indirectly accused Bryant because he is a leader of the team, and has earned the right to speak his mind without fear of reprisal.
Even though Gasol has drove fans crazy with his soft tendencies there is no question he makes the Lakers a better team, and his presence was a big reason Los Angeles appeared in two consecutive NBA Finals and won one championship.
Additionally, this type of response from Gasol is better than the nonchalant shoulder shrugs he shows on the court, because it demonstrates he cares, and is fully vested in the Lakers' quest for a repeat.
So I can accept Gasol's displeasure, but one would be hard-pressed to convince me to feel the same about Bynum in light of his own ambiguous comments regarding the team.
After a loss to the Miami Heat, Bynum told reporters that members of the Lakers were upset with each other about individual performances, and I can only hope Bynum was the target of most of the anger.
Bynum, like Gasol, is a wonderfully talented seven footer, but unlike Gasol he has never been able to find a consistent groove in his game, and has a tendency to play much smaller than his size.
In that game against the Heat, Bynum was constantly pushed around, out-muscled, and out-positioned in a game which he should have dominated due to the height disparity.
His poor efforts have called into question the Lakers' decision to extend Bynum's contract, and although he has the potential to be a great player, his indifference has led some to believe he may have to realize that potential elsewhere.
Something lost in this absurd discussion about Bryant's value to the Lakers, and a nugget which seemed to slip the minds of Gasol and Bynum as well, is the jewelry on their fingers.
Both players wear the label of NBA champions and they can both credit Bryant for that, because if not for his dominant attitude, they may have never been able to push themselves to the necessary heights.
Gasol is passive by nature, and Bynum is young so Kobe's constant scolding, his endless glares, and his encouragement helped elevate Gasol's game and Bynum's, especially in the 2009 playoffs.
All of that is relevant but there is another element that Bryant brings to the team, and without him this element ensures the Lakers are no more than a second round casualty in the postseason.
This element was on display Tuesday evening as Bryant ended the game against the Toronto Raptors with a short jumper from the corner 1.9 seconds on the clock, the sixth time this season Bryant has closed out a contest in similar fashion.
He is the only player on the roster with the gumption to take those shots, and the only one with the confidence and self-assurance to live with the consequences, good or bad.
Only Derek Fisher, O'Neal, and Tim Duncan can actively boast of winning as many championships as Bryant, and every Laker save Fisher can credit Bryant as the main factor for winning their first.
Gasol and Bynum have the privilege of voicing their opinions, especially for the benefit of defending their NBA championship, but it would serve them well to remember how they won the championship in the first place.
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Lately, the Lakers have not been playing that well. We all know this. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 games and, against a middling team from the East, needed a game winning jumpshot from Kobe to avoid a four game losing streak. Typically, I don’t blame individual players for poor play or losses and I won’t do so now. Basketball is a team game where all players and coaches contribute to what happens on the court. However, when the team is playing poorly and losing games there are two points of view – the macro and micro. We’ve focussed a lot (and will continue to do so in the future) on a lot of macro issues – the team’s performance on offense is the most recent example. However, the individual performances of the players make up the team dynamic, so it’s also appropriate to discuss what is going on with the guys that make up the team.
I say all this because Ron Artest is struggling right now. His offensive game is off and it’s affecting his status as a viable player on that side of the ball. In recent games, Ron did have a solid FG% against both Indy and Miami shooting 9-17 in those games and totalling 21 points. But when you dig a bit deeper in those games and look at the total 5 game stretch in the first part of March, there is a bigger problem – his overall shooting and, more specifically, his three point shooting has been well below his season standard. This month, Ron has shot 4-18 (22%) from three point range. And when you look at his total field goal shooting numbers from just the last three games he’s 4-24 (17%). Granted this is an extremely small sample size and any statistician would tell you that these numbers should and will normalize soon. But, it is worrisome.
We should note, though, that there are some reasons behind this. First, Ron does have a hurt left thumb that is heavily wrapped during each game. You may question how much a left thumb injury should affect Ron’s shooting, but Ron is a player that loves to finish in the lane with his left hand and his jumpshot is also one with a lot of guide hand influence (to my eyes). Plus, anyone that’s played basketball with a hurt hand (whether it’s their strong hand or not) understands that your ball handling is compromised and that reduces your comfort level on offense overall. I mean, you lose the ball more when dribbling, you don’t get a good grip on the ball when elevating to shoot your shot from the perimeter or in the paint, and it all conspires to make you less confident when on offense (Kobe’s struggles on offense are another example of everything just stated about dealing with a hand injury – save the confidence part).
And to me, this is the biggest key – confidence and comfort level on offense. When the Lakers first acquired Artest, I was a person that questioned if he would fit in. I wondered if “ball stopper” Ron would surface and if he’d buy in to the offensive principles. I’m happy to say that I was completely wrong about that as Ron has proven more than accepting of his role and position within the team structure. But, with his recent shooting woes, what I am seeing is indecisiveness. Ron looks unsure as to whether he should shoot or pass. He’s second guessing himself in instances where he should show no hesitation. A percect example occured in the Orlando game where Ron received a pass in the corner and was pretty much wide open for a three. His feet were set and any confident player would have just fired away (not to go off tangent here, but any of our guards would have surely shot in that instance). But instead, Ron brought the ball up in a shooting motion and stopped, then ball faked and allowed the defender to recover. Then, with the defender now close enough to contest the shot, Ron took a side dribble and shot the ball – almost as if he knew that he was open and that he should shoot. It was in that moment (removing the shooting numbers for a second) that I really thought something was not quite right with Ron’s offensive game.
I also think that Ron’s got some weary legs. With the injuries to Sasha (and especially) Luke, Artest has logged long minutes on many nights and spent those minutes defending the other team’s best offensive wing. Some may say that this is his specialty, and I would agree with that. But only to a point. Because when looking at how he’s been used recently, I question the wisdom of throwing Ron out there to play 45 minutes against Dwyane Wade or 38 minutes on Vince Carter when those players are guys that play Kobe’s position and guys that #24 would typically mark. Even though Ron did well in both of those matchups, I think he could have spent more of those minutes on Barnes or Richardson. I mean, even last year Ron split time with Battier on the league’s toughest wing scorers and surely didn’t log as many minutes chasing around the best of the best on the perimiter for almost every minute he was on the court. So, while I understand wanting to take advantage of Ron’s defensive mindset while also giving Kobe a breather on D, I do think that Ron needs a bit of a rest at times too and should not be using up all of his energy on defense – and especially not against players that do have quickness advantages over him like some shooting guards will.
Again, I’m not trying to disparage Artest. I think his defense has been a key component in our high defensive ranking this season. His intensity and determination on that side of the ball have truly been invaluable. And in a year where most of our shooters are performing below (and some well below) their career averages in three point accuracy, Ron’s ability to hit 38-40% from downtown has been crucial to the (some would say limited) success on offense that we have experienced this season. And when you combine that with his ability to make plays for others, I don’t think anyone can question his value to this team. But, that’s why his recent funk is concerning. Ron may be the 4th option and all his offensive numbers may be down this season, but he’s an integral part of our schemes and team structure. So, here’s hoping that Ron’s struggles end soon. Because right now, in a time that our offense could use a bit of a pick me up, an effective Artest would really help.
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The euphoria from Kobe Bryant's latest game-winning shot didn't last much longer than it took for the celebratory streamers to fall from the Staples Center roof onto the Toronto Raptors' heads. Despite their 47-18 record and their perch atop the Western Conference standings, Bryant and his teammates say the Los Angeles Lakers are in their worst funk of the season.
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Following the Lakers practice after their 3 game round trip, which coincided with the team's first 3 game losing streak since February 2008, Phil, Kobe, Fish and Ron all spoke to the media.
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First of all, I want to preface this article by saying I am not a Los Angeles Laker fan. My basketball allegiance is to the boys in green, the Boston Celtics. Therefore this opinion article is purely subjective and tinged with a bit of green.
At some point in time a superstar truly embraces teaching his teammates and allows them to flourish. The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves struggling to bring Kobe Bryant back to the collective flow. Bryant was out at least five games and during that time the Lakers found their groove. The ball movement was crisp and everybody felt like they contributed.
Fast forward to the last three road games and Bryant has tried to find his rhythm by forcing shots. We all agree that Bryant's competitive intensity is at a narcissistic level. He believes and rightfully so that he can make and take any shot to win games.
He may not admit it, but it probably irked him that the team was that successful without him. This is a man who played through two broken fingers and was hell bent on playing through his ankle woes.
Bryant found life after Shaq was not easy; he did have an NBA record 80-point game but his Lakers were continuously beaten in the early playoff rounds. General Mitch Kupchak then took the necessary steps to give him the help he needed. All of this help resulted in the 2009 NBA Championship.
This year they wanted to get downright defensive and added Ron Artest a man known for his defensive skills. They have a young experienced championship core; something Boston and Cleveland cannot boast.
So what is the issue? The young Lakers defer too much, Ron-Ron has lost some of his bite and seems somewhat subdued.
Bryant's personality is so dominant it leaves the rest of the team unwilling to step up when the pressure is on.
Bryant has stated that he had a talk with his boys, but somehow the talk has left them even more withdrawn.
The one player to speak up who I have newfound respect for is Pau Gasol. I still find his play soft, but the Spaniard sees the injustice and imbalance that Kobe's offensive forays has caused.
Phil Jackson historically has let his team figure things out, but sometimes it is necessary for a coach to wield a bigger stick and to speak more loudly.
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