December 5, 2007
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Brad Turner's Lakers blog has moved. Check it out at http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/nba/lakers/
Posted by Robert Kirkemo at 11:44 PM
Ariza comes through
The Lakers were in trouble because so many of their players were getting into foul trouble and because two players were back home in Los Angeles nursing injuries.
It meant that Lakers coach Phil Jackson had to turn to Trevor Ariza, and he came up big.
Ariza had just three points, but he played 12 important minutes.
When Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom all picked up four fouls in the third quarter and were forced to the bench, Ariza was needed.
Ariza played five minutes in the third quarter and 6:46 in the fourth.
Ariza even was assigned to defend Allen Iverson in the fourth.
Ariza did a good job, using his 6-8 frame and athleticism to keep Iverson in front of him. Ariza was part of the reason why Iverson had just two points in the fourth after burning the Lakers for 49 in the first three quarters.
The Lakers acquired Ariza for his defense and he showed that he can play good defense when needed.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:21 PM
Lakers share the wealth
When the Lakers share the basketball, they are a much more successful team.
In fact, they were 9-0 when they posted most assists than their opponent before Wednesday night's game.
Make that 10-0.
The Lakers had 28 assists against the Denver Nuggets, who had 21.
Ten of the Lakers had at least one assist.
Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher both had five assists. Lamar Odom had four assists.
The Lakers are a better team when they are all willing to pass the basketball to the open man.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:15 PM
Bryant injured shoulder, but still plays
The Lakers had a scary moment late in the first quarter when Kobe Bryant went down clutching his left shoulder.
Bryant was trying to beat the clock before the first quarter ended. He pushed the ball up court, but tripped over the foot of Eduardo Najera and went down hard on his left shoulder. Bryant stayed on the court for a long while before Lakers trainer Gary Vitti came out on the court to assist him with 2.5 seconds left in the first.
Vitti took Bryant to the locker room for treatment. Bryant returned and was diagnosed with a left shoulder contusion.
Bryant entered the game with 6:45 left in the second quarter. Bryant was already playing with the flu.
But he has suffered worse injuries and played through those.
Bryant wasn't going to let the shoulder injury keep him out.
Posted by Brad Turner at 7:19 PM
December 4, 2007
Walton starts
Maybe it was because of all the injuries.
Maybe it was because one of the Lakers' starters was sick.
Whatever the case, Lakers coach Phil Jackson started Luke Walton at small forward in place of Vladimir Radmanovic, who came in off the bench.
Walton responded with 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting. He played 23 minutes.
Part of the reason was because Lakers center Andrew Bynum wasn't available because of the stomach flu.
Center Kwame Brown was back in LA recovering from a left ankle and knee sprain and third-string center Ronny Turiaf also was in LA recovering from a concussion.
The Lakers were down to 10 players and it meant Radmanovic was the second-string center behind Chris Mihm Tuesday night.
Radmanovic played 25 minutes and had nine points.
Posted by Brad Turner at 8:47 PM
Ariza has good night
It has been a little over two weeks since the Lakers acquired Trevor Ariza from the Orlando Magic and it has taken him some time to fit in.
Ariza had a good showing against Minnesota.
Ariza scored 15 points, a season-high, and he had four assists, also a season-high. He had four steals, which tied his career high.
He didn't miss any of his five shots and he grabbed five rebounds.
``I'm learning more of the offensive schemes and the stuff that we're doing out there,'' Ariza said. ``I'm not 100-percent comfortable, but I'm getting more comfortable.''
Posted by Brad Turner at 8:40 PM
December 2, 2007
Lakers cry about free throws
You always hate to hear coaches complain about the free-throw shooting disparity.
But Lakers coach Phil Jackson did bring it up Sunday night after the Lakers lost to the Orlando Magic at Staples Center.
The Lakers shot just 10 free throws, making nine.
The Orlando Magic was 18-for-21 from the free-throw line.
Even Kobe Bryant, known for getting a lot of calls in his favor and for going to the free-throw line often in games, was just 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
``There's always a curiosity when you're on your home court and you shoot 10 foul shots in a ballgame,'' Jackson said. ``You wonder how does it go like this. I had a lot of guys that were complaining. I wanted to get them out of that and try and play through that.''
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:28 PM
Odom has good game
There was a Lamar Odom sighting Sunday night.
Odom's game showed up after missing in action the last two games.
Odom had a double-double with 19 points on 8-for-17 shooting, and 17 rebounds against the Orlando Magic.
In the two games before that, Odom had a total of 19 points and was 8-for-21 from the field. Against the Utah Jazz Friday night, he took just five shots.
The Lakers need Odom to be productive for them to be successful.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:24 PM
November 30, 2007
Lakers get beat down inside
The Jazz attacked the Lakers' interior defense at will, doing whatever it wanted.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum and forwards Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf had no clue on how to stop the Jazz. The Lakers had six blocked shots, Bynum and Turiaf two each. But that didn't help the Lakers or slow down the Jazz.
The Jazz scored 70 points in the paint. They seemed to have a layup line going to the basket.
``I think the big guys just got tired, lazy, shell shocked,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``They just didn't know where they were coming from. A credit to their big guys because they were active.''
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:13 PM
Vujacic loves to shoot
Lakers coach Phil Jackson was asked about Sasha Vujacic and how his fourth-year guard had a career night Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center.
Jackson offered up that Vujacic will ``shoot and ask questions later'' when it comes to his game.
Vujacic scored a career-high 22 points against the Nuggets.
He was 6-for-14 from the field.
Jackson felt it was necessary to take a shot at Vujacic.
``Sasha is the leading scorer in practice often,'' Jackson joked. ``We kind of kid him about being an 11 o'clock player, not an 8 o'clock player. But we're happy for him because we know that he has the ability to score and he loves to score, probably a little bit too much.''
Posted by Brad Turner at 7:45 PM
November 29, 2007
Walton probably should start
Maybe it's time to put Luke Walton back in the starting lineup.
Clearly, he feels better as a starter. Clearly, he produces more as a starter.
Walton started the second half against the Denver Nuggets because Vladimir Radmanovic shot the ball so poorly again.
Walton had 10 of his season-high 14 points in the second half, while he was a starter.
He was 4-for-6 from the field in the second half, 2-for-2 from three-point range.
So Lakers coach Phil Jackson was asked if it might be better to start Walton again.
``Don't try to give me suggestions like that,'' Jackson joked. ``They don't work with me. You're trying to say something that I should possibly do. I may start Luke, who knows? I get Devine inspiration and I'll wait for that to make my choices.''
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:19 PM
Radmanovic can't shoot straight
These are not the best of times for Vladimir Radmanovic.
He can't make a shot, and that's why the Lakers signed him, because he was known as a player who could make long-range jumpers.
But when he started the game 0-for-3 in the first half, that made Radmanovic 1-for-16 in his last 2 1/2 games.
``I looked at him as he came off the floor and he said, `I'm not trying to miss. I'm not trying to miss,''' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, recalling the moment, laughing. ``But, I thought he was trying to hard to make it and then he started to aim. Shooters have to shoot the ball.''
Radmanovic did go 3-for-4 in the fourth quarter and scored six points.
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:11 PM
Jackson agrees to 2-year extension
Lakers coach Phil Jackson has agreed to terms of a two-year contract extension worth about $24 million, putting him under contract through the 2009-10 season.
A person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Lakers hadn't made an announcement, confirmed the agreement.
-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted by jason winston at 3:33 PM
November 27, 2007
Mihm still looking for game
Chris Mihm got the minutes Tuesday night because Andrew Bynum was in foul trouble. But offensively, Mihm still struggled during 22 minutes of action.
Mihm missed 8 of 10 shots. He finished with six points and 10 rebounds.
It's clear that Mihm still hasn't come all the way back from the two surgeries he had on his right ankle last year.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said it's going to take time for Mihm to find his groove again.
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:31 PM
Radmanovic not getting it done
Vladimir Radmanovic has been very bad in his last two games, both of them starts.
He had more fouls (4) than points (2) and more fouls than rebounds (2) Tuesday night against Seattle.
He was 1-for-3 from the field. That makes Radmanovic 1-for-13 in his last two games.
That's not quite what the Lakers have been looking for out of Radmanovic.
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:27 PM
McCoy called up by Nuggets
After playing in his second game with the Lakers' D-League team Tuesday night, Jelani McCoy was called up to the NBA by the Denver Nuggets.
McCoy, a 6-10 forward/center, was in the Nuggets' training camp in October before he was waived. The Nuggets have been looking for a big man.
The Nuggets play the Lakers Thursday night at Staples Center.
McCoy had previously played with five NBA teams from 1998-2005.
McCoy, who went to UCLA, had six points and 10 rebounds for the D-Fenders against the Idaho Stampede Tuesday night. McCoy was 3-for-3 from the field.
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:21 PM
November 25, 2007
Lakers turn ball over
The Lakers just keep turning the ball over.
They had 18 more turnovers Sunday night.
Lamar Odom had four turnovers and Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton both had three each.
The Lakers entered the game averaging 16.5 turnovers per game. That ranks them 21st out of 30 teams in the NBA.
They keep saying they must take better care of the basketball. But it has yet to happen.
The Lakers had five turnovers in the fourth quarter, and that's the wrong time to not handle the basketball right.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:47 PM
Ariza getting defensive work out
The Lakers talked about what a really good defensive player Trevor Ariza is.
He was acquired last Tuesday from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans.
Ariza was inactive for the first game in Milwaukee, but suited up against Boston in his second. He didn't play.
But Ariza appeared in his first game as a Laker Sunday night.
Ariza came in the game midway through the fourth quarter and his assignment was to defend Vince Carter.
Carter looked over Ariza and then knocked down a 19-foot jumper over him.
Carter got Ariza on the wing and rattled in a 22-foot jumper over the 6-8 Ariza. It was the second straight shot Carter scored over Ariza. About two minutes later, Ariza was pulled for the game.
Ariza, who attended UCLA and Westchester High School, wasn't quite up to the task.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:38 PM
Bryant's shot is off
In his most recent games, Kobe Bryant's shot has been off, way off.
That trend didn't stop Sunday night against the New Jersey Nets.
Bryant was 7-for-21 from the field.
In his last six games, he is 43-for-110 from the field. He is shooting just 39 percent from the field during that span.
But Bryant did get heated up in the fourth quarter. He was 4-for-5 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range.
He actually made his first four shots in the fourth before he missed his fifth late in the game.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:32 PM
November 24, 2007
Lakers need to improve defense
It was a disturbing trend that Derek Fisher wants the Lakers to put an end to.
In both road losses, the Lakers allowed over 100 points, 107 to Boston and 110 to Milwaukee.
The Lakers are giving up 100.8 points per game, the 10th most in the NBA.
They do have moments when their defense has looked good. But they also have moments when their defense lets them down.
That won't get it.
``The number that we have to start focusing on is our field-goal percentage defense,'' Fisher said. ``There's a lot of talk about it and our lack of execution on offense and different things like that. But, teams are shooting high 40s, 50 percent on us every night. It's hard to win like that, especially on the road.''
Posted by Brad Turner at 5:12 PM
November 23, 2007
Bryant gets booed
Last season when the Lakers played the Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden, the fans chanted ``M.V.P...M.V.P.'' whenever Kobe Bryant had the ball.
This year, it was a different story when the Lakers played at Boston.
The fans booed Bryant this time around. They booed him when he dribbled the basketball. They booed him when he shot the basketball. They booed him when he passed the basketball.
``They read in the paper about all the chants and all that stuff,'' Bryant said. ``You knew that wasn't going down again.''
This time, the Celtics fans cheered Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, their new Boston heroes.
Posted by Brad Turner at 7:41 PM
Bryant goes all out
The Lakers were down big in the fourth quarter, down by 15 points, but Kobe Bryant was still playing hard.
He was all over the court playing defense, going from one Celtics player to another. When the Celtics were called for a 24-second violation, Bryant walked over to Jordan Farmar and slapped hands with him. Bryant hadn't given up on the game, even though the Lakers trailed, 94-79, with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter.
It seemed obvious that Bryant was sending a message to his teammates.
As the leader of the team, he wasn't giving up and neither were they. He wasn't going to let them.
Posted by Brad Turner at 6:36 PM
November 21, 2007
Bryant, Redd go at each other
It is becoming a nice little matchup, the duel between Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd.
Bryant had 27 points on 7-for-18 shooting. Redd had 26 points on 8-for-18 shooting.
But Redd had eight rebounds and seven assists. Bryant had just three rebounds and four assists.
Still, both defended the other, which made for a more interesting game.
Posted by Brad Turner at 9:56 PM
Lakers resereves stand for basket
The Laker reserves have this routine in which they stand up until one of their teammates makes a basket. The Lakers kept missing shot after shot to start the game, sometimes getting fouled while missing a shot.
It got to a point in which the crowd that couldn't see the game and they yelled at the Lakers bench: ``Hey, Lakers sit down. We can't see.''
It was a funny and amusing moment. The Lakers still stood, though, ignoring them.
Two minutes, 28 seconds into the game, Vladimir Radmanovic dunked for the Lakers first basket of the game.
The Lakers reserves finally were able to sit down, and they looked happy to take their seats.
``Yeah,'' Luke Walton yelled, laughing as he sat down.
Posted by Brad Turner at 6:18 PM
November 20, 2007
Mihm making strides
For Lakers center Chris Mihm, it has been a long road back, and he still has a ways to go.
But when he scored nine points on 4-for-7 shooting, it was a step in the right direction for Mihm.
He played 19 minutes Tuesday night against the Pacers. He grabbed four rebounds, handed out three assists and blocked one shot.
Mihm even threw down a lob dunk, causing his teammates to jump off the bench.
Mihm missed all of last season recovering from two right ankle surgeries. He has struggled to get his game back in order so far this season.
But Mihm felt better about his effort. He'll get more playing time now that Kwame Brown is out with a sprained left knee.
Mihm hopes that helps to get his game back in order.
The Lakers also will need Mihm to be effective, either as a starer or a reserve.
Posted by Brad Turner at 7:19 PM
Jackson yells at team to rebound
For those who think Lakers coach Phil Jackson never gets out of his seat, they should have seen him early in the second quarter.
His team had just given up another offensive rebound when Jackson had seen enough.
Jackson leaped out of his seat and called a time out with 10:31 left in the second quarter. Jackson lit into his team, swearing at them.
He got into the face of his players.
``Get a ... rebound,'' Jackson yelled at his team. ``What the ... are we doing?''
Posted by Brad Turner at 5:01 PM
Lakers make trade
The Lakers traded Brian Cook and Maurice Evans to the Orlando Magic for forward Trevor Ariza.
The Lakers announced the trade Tuesday right before they played the Indiana Pacers.
Cook is in the first year of a three-year contract that pays him $10.5 million, $3.5 million per season.
Ariza is a former UCLA product who wasn't getting much playing time in Orlando and had requested a trade.
Ariza is an athletic small forward.
Posted by Brad Turner at 2:33 PM
November 18, 2007
Lakers pick up defensive pressure
The Lakers are getting the hang of this defense thing.
In five of their six wins, the Lakers have held their opponent under 100 points.
The Lakers held the Chicago Bulls to 78 points, a season-low for their opponents.
It's not just Kobe Bryant playing stellar defense.
It's also Kwame Brown in the post. It's Jordan Farmar off the bench, pressing, pressuring guards.
It's Luke Walton being in the right place for traps on defense.
It's Vladimir Radmanovic double teaming at the right time.
It has been a total team effort.
Posted by Brad Turner at 10:22 PM
Brown suffers injury
Lakers starting center Kwame Brown suffered a moderate sprained left ankle and left knee early in the first quarter Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls.
Brown was injured after Kobe Bryant ran into Ben Wallace, and was called for charging with 8:28 left in the first quarter. Wallace fell backwards into Brown, who tumbled down to the floor, clutching his knee.
Brown was tended to by Lakers trainer Gary Vitti before he was helped into the locker room by teammates Chris Mihm and Vladimir Radmanovic.
Brown did not return.
Posted by Brad Turner at 7:49 PM
November 16, 2007
Lakers bench comes to rescue
Jordan Farmar has named the Lakers reserves the "Bench Mob.'' Friday night, that group was one of the main reasons why the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers bench had 40 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals.
Farmar led the group with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Andrew Bynum had 12 points, seven rebounds and one blocked shot.
Vladimir Radmanovic had 11 points, Maurice Evans five points and three assists and Luke Walton had three steals and two assists.
Posted by Brad Turner at 11:49 PM
Odom goes right for basket
The joke is that Lamar Odom, a left-hander, never uses his right hand, no matter what.
Well, late in the fourth quarter, Odom grabbed a rebound, dribbled the length of the court and made a right-handed layup that gave the Lakers an 88-81 lead.
Odom ran down court with a smile on his face.
While Tayshaun Prince shot two free throws, Odom looked over at the media and waved his right hand, indicating that he had used it in a game, just like he promised.
Posted by Brad Turner at 9:54 PM
November 15, 2007
Jackson takes shot at Sasha
Right before Lakers coach Phil Jackson met with the media after practice Thursday, he looked onto the practice court to watch Sasha Vujacic and former Laker and current Fox Sports Net NBA analyst Norm Nixon get involved in a shooting drill.
"I want to see if he's giving my guy pointers,'' Jackson said.
Jackson smiled, his mind now running.
"Well, maybe Sasha can use them,'' Jackson said, laughing.
Posted by Brad Turner at 5:50 PM
Bryant trade rumors start anew
Will Kobe Bryant trade rumors ever stop?
I doubt it.
At least not as long as he is in a Lakers uniform.
The latest from a Detroit radio station said the Lakers and Pistons had worked out a trade in which Bryant would have gone to Detroit and LA would have gotten Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Amir Johnson and a No. 1 draft pick. But the report said Bryant vetoed the deal, ending it all together.
Right?
Don't ever forget that Bryant had a list of teams he wanted to go to and Detroit wasn't on that list.
And don't forget that Bryant is the only player in the NBA with a no-trade clause.
The rumors will persists until Bryant is either traded or until the Feb. 21 trading deadline passes.
And when it does pass, and if Bryant still is with the Lakers, the rumors will start anew during the offseason.
Posted by Brad Turner at 5:37 PM
