I can’t remember a team (in any sport) that could solve its “problem” without really doing anything in the off-season. The Lakers had a Bynum sized hole in the middle during the Playoffs, and now with Andrew back in the lineup, all of a sudden we’re number one in every preseason magazine. A year ago, the same mag had the Lakers missing the playoffs. Dare I say, the quickest turnaround in a year? In any sport?
I underestimated my level of excitement about the 63rd year of the National Basketball Association. But when I went for the sports section in the Times this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see Bynum’s big mug starring back at me. It’s basketball season… I love October!
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Why does TNT show the final 10 seconds of seven point games while the second game of the double header has started?!?!?!
8:00 1st 11-4 Lakers
It’s Bynum, Gasol, VladRad, Fisher, and Kobe. Roy misses a jumper hard off the iron, and Fisher runs the floor for an easy layup. That’s going to be the story of the year for the Lakers. What kind of team is this? Running or half court? Honestly, they’re both with different lineups, but how is Phil Jackson going to rotate? Some P.J. rotations have been curious… Greg Oden hasn’t touched the ball a lot tonight. But when he has, he’s looked rushed. He looks like Bynum did two years ago.
6:00 1st
Lamar Odom makes his first appearance of the year, coming off the bench for only the 14th time in his career. I smell sixth man of the year, if he buys in. Well, not if he buys in, but more if P. Jackson can keep L.O. interested… Fisher hustling, Bynum looking for the dunk, Kobe getting lay-ups; all that means the Lakers look good. That, and the Blazers have 3 FG… 17-6 L.A. (L.O. just put a nice chest pass into the bench…)
2:00 1st
Portland goes to a zone, and Trevor Ariza comes off the bench, dunks on Przybilla and hits a 3 from the wing. What did I say about sixth man? 22-12 L.A.
End 1st 24-14 Lakers
Nine points for Gasol in the quarter. He will, no doubt, benefit most from Bynum’s return.
10:06 2nd
The second unit of L.O., Vujacic, Farmar and Ariza with Gasol is our running team. P.J. sends them in, in respnse to the smaller, quicker Blazer lineup… L.O. gets it to Jordan who gets it to Pau on a break to cap another 6-0 run… 30-14 Lakers
6:00 2nd
Travis Outlaw hits back-to-back buckets. Please tell me I’m not the only one who laughs when I think about a guy with the last name Outlaw playing for the TrailBlazers… Ariza answers with another three from the corner, and Kobe grabs his third assist… 38-24 L.A.
4:56 2nd
Oden makes his first fluid move in the post, and promply bricks his free throws. He’s gonna fit right in… Kobe hits his first jumper of the game… 40-24 Lakers
3:00 2nd
The only thing better than watching a Laker unit play energetic, active defense is watching Kobe decide he needs to take the game over for a few minutes… and then he just does… 49-27 Lakers
HALFTIME 49-34 Lakers
The Blazers go on a 7-0 run with a big 3 from Blake… The Laker offense looks great, but I’m more impressed with the defensive effort. No stupid fouls, no lay ups, and a couple steals. It’s really not the x’s and o’s (even though I do like the zone they went to when Roy had the ball) it’s more the effort. Kobe is crashing the boards (8 rebounds, 5 assists) Pau has a game high 15 points, and Ariza is a nice surprise off the bench (8 minutes, 8 points)… These NBA LIVE commercials are like five minutes long!
9:00 3rd
Outlaw is hot, err, is creating and shooting well… Is it just me, or do the rims sound weird?… Kobe answers a hard foul with a three-pointer, then a nifty drive and reverse lay up…Oden is still in the locker room… 54-41 Lakers
6:39 3rd 57-41 Lakers
Kobe has taken over, and is taking it to the tin! He is the most talented basketball player in the world…
3:00 3rd 63-46 Lakers
Kobe and VladRad bury 3’s… That’s a 19-5 run for the Purple & Gold since that hard foul by Przybilla on Kobe… L.O. is mic-ed up, and it sounds like he’s fine with coming off the bench.
End 3rd 72-53 L.A.
This year, those gold uniforms will have big targets on the back, and the Lakers will see everyone’s best effort. Yet, I have a feeling this isn’t the Blazer best (32% FG)
9:37 4th 78-57 Lakers
Farmar gets his fifth assist, and Bynum gets his first dunk of the year… I really like this second unit and their Showtime style… Great block by Ariza!
5:09 4th
This second unit doesn’t play well with a huge lead. They aren’t out there to slow the game down… It’s getting a little sloppy, or, a little Eastern Conference-y… 85-69
3:32 4th
KOBE bang outs!!! Keep in mind he made his first jump shot (fourth shot of the night) with 4:56 left in the 2nd quarter (23 points, 11 reb, 5 ast)… 89-72
FINAL: Lakers 96, Blazers 76
Is that Chris Mihm with jumper and a shot block?!? Alright! I’ll take it. Ariza was a surprise. Gasol looked comfortable. And Kobe was Kobe. Couldn’t have asked for a better premier for this version of the defending West champs. But, are we really that good?