Postgame thoughts for the 1st preseason game
by C.A. Clark on Oct 7, 2009 11:37 PM PDT
62 comments
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors in resounding fashion, 118-101, in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the already one-sided final tally would indicate. Of course, a huge win in the preseason and season tickets for the Cavs will get you a ticket to the NBA Finals. So, like the end of a commercial for a product you shouldn't buy, here comes all of the obligatory qualifiers necessary for this type of performance. Just read it in a really quick and slightly high pitched voice to make it less boring.
This was a preseason game. Preseason games do not provide any real indicators about team or individual performances. Since the games don't count and the pressure isn't high, a strong performance is not at all an indication that a player is back, that a player will fit in well, or that a player is ridiculously athletic. Um, forget that last one.
With the legalese out of the way, here are my thoughts on the 1st preseason game.
How does Ron Artest fit into the triangle? Acutely. If tonight is any indication of how he intends to play basketball this season, the "Is Artest better or worse than Ariza for the Lakers?" argument can be permanently put to bed. For all the talk about this being a preseason game that doesn't mean anything, Artest's is the one performance that I think we can take real meaning from. For one, he was clearly making the effort to defer to teammates and play within the system. We can't know for sure that he will continue to do it all the time, but we do know he's capable of it. Second, and I could be wrong about this, but he seemed to be very comfortable with the triangle offense in general. I don't remember thinking that he wasn't in the right place or he wasn't making the right read. If anybody who is more of a triangle aficionado than I am wants to correct me on this, please feel free, but to these eyes, Artest was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing pretty much the whole night. His reward was a team leading 7 assists, team lead sharing 9 boards, 12 points on 7 shots, 50% from 3 pt range, and damn near a triple double in less than half a game.
It's clear to me, having watched just the one preseason game, that Artest brings two things to the table that Ariza simply didn't have in his bag. The first is rebounding. Artest is a big, big boy, and he used that bulk to really box out and get his fair share of boards tonight. The second is play-making ability on offense. In a way, this is something that a lot of Lakers fans are a little afraid of, as Artest's reputation for play-making is of the "dribble for 20 seconds and then take a bad shot" variety. But the simple fact remains. Ariza could make you pay if you left him alone. Artest can make you pay even if you don't leave him alone. The Warriors didn't leave him alone, and he consistently moved the ball to the next guy, including a couple of highlight quality dimes. (Update: Statistically, the rebounding thing doesn't seem to pan out, as Ariza has better rebound/min numbers than Artest. I'm still not backing off the statement, because I think Artest's bulk has to be an advantage there, but I wanted you to know that I know that I'm flying in the face of the evidence at hand, just a little bit)
Some lesser thoughts about other players.
-Andrew Bynum took home high scoring honors with 24 points, and he did it on 13 shots. He looked 100% comfortable, displaying none of the rust or tentativeness that plagued him in his return from either knee injury. He had typically soft hands, and showed some really good explosion on a couple plays, including an alley oop that was pretty thunderous. Like Artest's performance, we can actually take something out of this, because the capability for it to happen is just as important as the consistency of it happening regularly.
-Sasha Vujacic looked good in short PT. 3-4 shooting, 6 points in 7 minutes, and he looked in control the whole time. This one really doesn't mean anything though, he's got to show it when it counts.
-Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown both had good games. Same minutes, same points, same shooting line. Farmar had more assists, because that's what he does. Shannon had more highlights because that's what he does (OK, just the one, but oh what a one). I doubt that either one gained or lost ground in the proverbial battle tonight.
-AMMO, one shot in 8 minutes, 0 points, and pretty routinely beaten on defense. This doesn't mean much either, but if you can't show it when it doesn't count, it's hard to believe you can show it when it does.
-Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom all played pretty much exactly like they should and like we expect. Nothing else needs to be said about them.
-I love watching Stephen Curry shoot. I don't care if he will get abused by anybody and everybody in the league on defense. I don't care if 90% of the adult male population of the world could kick his ass. He has one of the sweetest shooting strokes I've ever seen. I'm rooting for him to be a star.
I think, in the end, the one thing we can all be sure of is that it is awesome to have the Lakers and basketball back in our lives.
[Update: Since my link to Shannon Brown's dunk above was a little to subtle, here it is again. And a hat tip to Lakers Blog for providing this hilarious interaction between the fans and Mikki Moore, the victim of Shannon Brown's highlight.
Fan: "You just got dunked on." Moore: "It happens."]
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Sweet.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
by Ben R on Oct 7, 2009 11:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Artest
At the beginning of the game, it looked like Artest would be content to just sit outside on offense, and park himself at the three point line. He never forced a three, and patiently passed it on, and it really did seem like he was making a point not to have sticky hands when he did get the ball. He would move it quickly after catching it. He really didn’t seem anxious about not scoring in the early going.
I think he’s going to have his most scoring impact in the lineups without Kobe (and other starters), as he seemed to assert himself more when Mamba was not on the floor. This is a good thing. He seemed to know when to be aggressive, and when to defer. He’s going to be a nightmare for some of the opponent’s bench players.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Oct 8, 2009 12:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well I took a lot from tonights game, but more than anything I see a team that is extremely...............
flexible. It seems like we have an infinite number of effective lineups for every occasion. Awesome to watch. I have never seen a team look more in mid-season form during a pre-season game. Granted it was the Warriors, but usually it takes a team a few games to shake off the rust, avoid turnovers, move the ball fluidly, etc. I am excited.
Now if the fucking Angels can just beat the BoSox……….
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 12:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Shoot if the Angel's loose game one
we’re in for a short series, with the droided sox advancing.
by Jello Is Jiggling on Oct 8, 2009 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't you mean sawx
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WELL AS OF NOW...
It’s sux. Sorry, couldn’t resist. 5-0 Go Angels
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ShanWow made my day...
Watching him dunk on that long haired freak brings back memories of that time when he dunked on birdman…
good times…
by Mike1204 on Oct 8, 2009 1:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Great name
ShanWow!…. that’s awesome.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 6:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I liked "UPS" better as a nickname
But I think I can handle it if they cut it down to just WOW, as they seem to be doing at FB&G
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Oct 8, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
UPS
has a good ring to it.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just put the adreneline shot right in my heart...
Cause I am in the midst of a sports OD. I love this time of year! Nice to see Artest passing first and Shannon leaping over centers and Sasha hitting shots and Bynum moving fluidly. The only thing not accomplished that was on my wishlist was for Morrison to come out strokin’ while playing something close to resembling D.
I’ll take it though. The rest of the NBA can beat each other up for second place….
Wherever I go, that's where I am.
by noontide on Oct 8, 2009 1:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Preseason stats don't count
Of course Artest can pass now!
Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.
by Zaig on Oct 8, 2009 2:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
im sure hes gonna have his ups and downs
as long as he tries to stay in the triangle(which he really seems intent on doing) we can handle a few bad shots here and there.
i think the more people doubt him the more he wants to prove them wrong
by true_lakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Simple
Bynum/Gasol is too good of a combo. The NBA just has to hope that one of them get injured during the playoffs.
Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.
by Zaig on Oct 8, 2009 2:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
What happened to "my little pony"? I still see TMNT.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Season doesn't start for a few weeks
No reason to make signs for the preseason!
Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.
by Zaig on Oct 8, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is it just me
Or has bynum bulked up on muscle while losing some of the fat?
by Xychros on Oct 8, 2009 6:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He's bee mucular for a while.
He came into last season jacked.
by wondahbap on Oct 8, 2009 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
According to Celtic fans and the sports media
The Lakers had to worry if Artest was going to be a distraction and I know you can’t tell much from one pre-season game but did anyone notice that Sheed who tends to lead the league in T’s actually accomplished the rarity of getting a technical yesterday in a freakin pre-season game. Yeah! I’m worried about Artest..sure I am.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 6:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
To be fair
Kobe got a technical too, but he’s not considered to be a potential distraction.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Oct 8, 2009 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
he sure did but he defenitely is not a potential distraction.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate to say I told you so..
But just as I was hoping before and just as I called it I can bet the Tony Gaffney makes the team. He is a decent defender who is going to come off the bench. I know that when I created a Fan Post about him a lot of Laker fans didn’t think much of him but he did good yesterday
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 6:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
They were also saying he was going to de a Defender.
Nothing against him. I just don’t think he’ll earn minutes whether they keep him on the roster or not.
by wondahbap on Oct 8, 2009 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you are right
but out of the 4 that got envited he is the one that makes it. Just a felling I get.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sick!
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 8:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
is it too soon to say,
is it too soon to say, peace out Farmar! it was nice knowing you.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually think
Farmar had better production last night. he made some pretty spiffy passes. esp that one cross court to brown
by Nostance on Oct 8, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They say UPS could touch the top of the backboard......I always thought that is BS.
Now, I am not so sure.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
seriously....
it looked like he barley even tried to jump, i wouldnt be surprised if he could touch the top.
i say he tries out for the dunk contest
by true_lakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In his exit interview
he said that if he signed with the Lakers or any team that he would strongly consider it. He even recalled going up against Lebron in the high school dunk contest.
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i heard he got cheated out of that one
by true_lakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's what I heard to
"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Oct 8, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully the regular season goes that smooth.
Last nights game is the perfect game. We win in a blowout and everyone had a good game. It was good to see Sasha and Farmar have good games. It was really nice to see Drew be so dominant. Ron Artest fit in nicely. Shannon had the highlight of the year in the first preseason game.
Can’t wait to go to tomorrow’s game.
Lamar = Laker for Life...Go Pads...Go Bolts
by mrbarneydangles on Oct 8, 2009 8:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
that's right, I forgot you had tickets....
enjoy the game. I’m sending other tickets today.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
Look forward to getting the tickets. Never been to the Forum before, so should be fun tomorrow night.
Lamar = Laker for Life...Go Pads...Go Bolts
by mrbarneydangles on Oct 8, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
wassup, Chuck.
We’re going, we’re going. Definitely. Nice to see you where you been?
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Oct 8, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trevor Ariza
Rockets played against the Celtics and Trey Riza was 1-11 from the field. I want to see him do well because I know the rockets won’t be a threat. I know that one pre season game is not a good way to judge how a team will do, nor a single player, but I hope he doesn’t have bad shooting nights like that again.
by pharoah on Oct 8, 2009 10:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I want Trevor to do well too. On another note, the refs really were bad. Our guys tripped Stephen Curry twice and I think both times they called a walk. While it went our way, which I always enjoy, my preference is that the right calls are called.
by bmid2ton on Oct 8, 2009 11:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Those missed calls mean we got a good set of replacement refs
Check out Ball Don’t Lie or True Hoop, in other places the refs have been an unmitigated disaster.
by C.A. Clark on Oct 8, 2009 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i thought our refs were pretty bad...
…really hoping the NBA makes a deal come real games.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
by Justin N. on Oct 8, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
People complain about the refs regardless.
Tenured, new, veteran or replacement. So what is the real difference? They’ll learn on the fly. It’s not like they are new to basketball.
We get complaining in the Playoffs about the best of the best refs. The NBA knows this. Go read a Celtics site. How much more complaining can come?
by wondahbap on Oct 8, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
consider the preseason as training for both teams and refs :P
the NBA needs to start training some younger refs anyway
by Nostance on Oct 8, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Enjoyed watching the game. Most everyone looked good but I am reminding myself:
-Warriors have zero defense and almost as much post presence. And even then Turiaf was in street clothes – not that he can check Bynum or Gasol.
-Monte Ellis got hurt early.
-We play the Warriors again, a euro team and Sacramento so no real challenges very soon. That’s OK, it’ll give Ron more time to learn the system.
-I almost added Charlotte to the item above but maybe we can beat them in preseason.
-We play Denver the last two preseason games so we will find out more then.
All that said, I liked what I saw and I am just making sure I don’t think of it as more meaningful than it was.
We now return to another Lakers dynasty - already in progress. October 2009
by olf on Oct 8, 2009 11:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
1st Preseason Game
Hello Fam,
It’s been a while. Here’s what I have noticed.
Poor Luke during practice, gotta deal with Ron-ron.
Shannon Brown delivered.
Those rims were mighty soft, lot’s of bounce on those shots.
When Kobe and Gasol have the ball, I feel comfortable. The next person I feel comfortable with the ball is Shannon Brown. (Luke and Lamar too)
Mickael Gelabale reminds me of a Silkier Renaldo Balkman.
The most athletic line up I saw was: Brown, Bryant, Artest, Odom, Bynum
Pau Gasol is a “G.”
Kobe had a couple of Good Fella type passes.
I hope Morrison/Vujacic can be the snipers that we need.
Outro.
by Charles Y on Oct 8, 2009 11:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
One more thing
The lob pass from Artest to Bynum reminded me of the corner lobs from Fisher/Shaw/Fox to O’neal. I have a strange feeling Shaw and Bynum have been working on that…
by Charles Y on Oct 8, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good Fella Pass
Ronald. Sorry man. I was using blog-isms from a previous Laker blog where a lot of former alumni have now moved on to here. The Movie Good Fellas. Kobe was De Niro with the rock. I’m from planet esoteric.
by Charles Y on Oct 8, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts on the game
Being a Seattleite I wasn’t able to watch the game live. But from this higlight clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfVuzhqkwt8 here are the things I liked.
Passing: Especially to Bynum. Everyone was hooking him up and he did a good job finishing. Get his confidence going early. If this guy plays up to his potential the Lakers could challenge the Bulls 72 game record.
Offensive Rebounding: A lot of good tips and grabs. Of course it’s the Warriors v Lakers and we all know the size difference that matchup entails.
Team Defense: Saw a lot of steals that turned into buckets.
by Ronald A on Oct 8, 2009 3:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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