Interesting L*kers Comment..

[ABM]

From: LakersBlog

"...Hats off to Portland's coaching staff. Rather than just scout the Lakers offense, they scouted the defense too and figured out a way to make the Lakers pay for their defensive strategy. It reminds me of earlier in the year when Sacramento attacked the middle of the floor and exposed a weakness of the strong side zone.

What it basically boiled down to was running the ballhandler off a pick to get the strong side D in scramble mode and then quickly reversing the ball to the weak side. The simplest example of this was early in the game when they kept getting reversing the ball to (Brandon) Roy wide open behind the arc. The weak side defender (Luke (Walton) in that case) always shaded over to the paint or got cut off by a pick trying to get out to the shooter. I bet there were at least 10 instances of this that led to wide open looks for Portland.

What was a shame was the Lakers players were looking to the coaches multiple times asking what they should do (since theoretically they were doing what they were supposed to). Seemed like they made an adjustment at half time but then Portland changed things up and tried to break the Lakers down off the dribble or running simple pick-n-roll - both of which were very effective..."

 

[Natebishop3]

Interesting. Props to Nate.

 

[illmatic99]

Interesting. Props to Nate.

Begrudgingly devilwink, I agree. Nate was excellent yesterday with the substitutions and game plan.

That said, the game was won by Roy. He went after Bryant a few times midway through the fourth and got in his head. Predictably, Bryant took this as a one-on-one challenge and forgot about his teammates. Then as Roy, backed off and fed his teammates to end the quarter, Kobe became KoMe and lost them the game.

Beautifully played.

Our guy is just smarter.

 

[Natebishop3]

Begrudgingly devilwink, I agree. Nate was excellent yesterday with the substitutions and game plan.

That said, the game was won by Roy. He went after Bryant a few times midway through the fourth and got in his head. Predictably, Bryant took this as a one-on-one challenge and forgot about his teammates. Then as Roy, backed off and fed his teammates to end the quarter, Kobe became KoMe and lost them the game.

Beautifully played.

Our guy is just smarter.

Roy seems like he's the only guy the officials will let play straight up D without making a call. All-Star on All-Star.

 

[alex42083]

I actually noticed that too watching the game. It was mostly happening when Sergio was in the game, and he had the pick and roll up top, and lobbed the ball weak side to Brandon who was open for a 3, or drove past Walton for the dunk in the second quarter I believe.
Walton then looked over to the bench wondering what the hell was he was supposed to be doing -- guard the roller who was Greg and leave Brandon wide open in the corner. Pick your poison.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I actually noticed that too watching the game. It was mostly happening when Sergio was in the game, and he had the pick and roll up top, and lobbed the ball weak side to Brandon who was open for a 3, or drove past Walton for the dunk in the second quarter I believe.
Walton then looked over to the bench wondering what the hell was he was supposed to be doing -- guard the roller who was Greg and leave Brandon wide open in the corner. Pick your poison.

Exactly what we've all wanted all along--a team that forces the opponent into situations where all available options are undesirable. They don't get to choose how to stop us, only how they want to be beaten.