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Game Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers take the court at Staples Center again, this time against the Atlanta Hawks.  Two nights ago, the Lakers had what will hopefully end up being one of their worst performances of the year, looking generally unmotivated as they were destroyed by the Mavericks. 94-80.  Ironically, it's the Lakers offense that has looked absolutely terrible through 2 games this year. 

On a side note, sorry for the short preview, but my immune system is currently performing about as well as the Bench Mob.  Here's a quick look at the teams coming in.

Atlanta Hawks (2-0, tied 1st Southeast Division, 113.1 OR, 101.8 DR, 97.3 pace)

The Hawks have had a successful start to their season, winning both of their first two games by double digits.  One of those victories came against a quality team in the Washington Wizards (the same Wizards who beat Dallas before the Mavericks demolished us.)  They've done it with an impressive team display.  No player is averaging more than 35 minutes a game, and they have 5 players averaging double figures, including Mo Evans off the bench.  They've played defense well for years, but with the addition of Jamal Crawford this season, they are hoping to rise up and compete with the East's big 3.  Who knows if they'll make it, but it's not a team to be taken lightly.

Los Angeles Lakers (1-1, 2nd Pacific Division, 94.8 OR, 98.5 DR, 94.4 pace)

If you just glanced over the numbers I put in the header for the teams, please take a second look.  Notice that OR?  Stands for Offensive Rating, it is the number of points the Lakers score per 100 possessions.  Last year, over the course of the season, the Lakers had an OR of 112.8, good for 3rd in the league.  They currently sit at 29th in the league.  The only team worse?  The Charlotte Bobcats, who the Celtics hung a 59 on last week.  Yes, friends, it is the Lakers offense that has betrayed them at the beginning of this season.  It's ironic, because most people would deem the Lakers start this season as lazy, or complacent, myself included.  But the place where that laziness has shown itself is not on defense, where it normally would.  The Lakers have played (statistically at least) decent, of not good, defense.  But their offense is killing them.  The lack of Pau Gasol is bad, but an offensive performance that poor is just inexcusable.

Some matchup analysis, after the jump.

Star-divide

The Matchups

The Hawks starting lineup is Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams.  It's a lineup that is a bit undersized, but incredibly athletic.  Horford is an absolute beast on the boards, and it will be important for Bynum to do the fundamentals and box out his man, instead of focusing too much on collecting the boards himself.  The Hawks on offense are almost entirely pick and roll, using Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby to handle the ball.  Since the Lakers have difficulty with the pick and roll, this is exactly the type of matchup the Lakers struggle with.  Off the bench, the Hawks employ Jamal Crawford, Evans, Joe Smith, Zaza Pachulia, and Josh Teague.  Other than Crawford, no super big threats there, although it is interesting to see that the Hawks have more size on their bench than they do in the starting lineup.

For the Lakers, Gasol is missing yet another game, so it will be up to the players on the court to simply get better at their offensive execution and performance.  The starting lineup will be Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol and Bynum.  With the way the bench has been performing, it is imperative that the starters play well.  The Hawks play strong defense, counting on Josh Smith to protect the rim with a bunch of high flying dunks, and their length on the perimeter gives teams fits.  Off the bench for LA will be ... you tell me.  PJ's rotations have been interesting to say the least.  There have been a couple times that Vujacic has been the first guard off the bench, but he gets taken out because Farmar and Brown come in to play together.  Despite the fact that I recommended this possibility, I haven't liked how it has played out so far.

I won't lie to you and say there's a lot riding on this game.  It's still far too early to label any game a must win.  But a win tonight shows that the Lakers are the same team they were last year, capable of a real stinker every now and then, but rising to the occasion right after the fact.  Another loss, and another lazy performance, and there will be genuine concern that this team doesn't have what it takes to be the Defending Champion.

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Another preview without Gasol

I will miss tonights thread conversation due to havings to flip between the Yankees game and Lakers game but Lakers should be ready to win tonight and Bynum should have a great game inside.

There are basic Fundamentals that are needed to move forward in this game. Always keep your guard up at all times to avoid being caught in a trap. Overcome the fouls that will be commited against you REBOUND AND PRESS ON. ADJUST to the LimeLight: ALL-STAR PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. Know what your role is and play your position. Find a game plan and execute it. REMEMBER YOU ONLY GET OUT OF THE GAME WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.

by BrittneyM on Nov 1, 2009 12:25 PM PST reply actions  

Tonight I want to see...

1. The Lakers dominate the paint (seriously).
2. Artest score 15+ points and have a solid game.
3. The Lakers stay with Bynum throughout the game. Too often do they forget about him on the offensive end through the 2nd half.
4. Bynum play defense.

by djejrejk on Nov 1, 2009 1:09 PM PST reply actions  

on Pau

Pau is a consistent and highly efficient scorer but his real value is as a playmaker. He essentially functions as a point guard from the high post. This may explain (in part) why the Lakers offense looks so rough.

by djejrejk on Nov 1, 2009 5:20 PM PST up reply actions  

Ariza scored 33 yesterday

It’s starting to look more and more like Houston got the better of that exchange.

by keefer on Nov 1, 2009 1:50 PM PST reply actions  

at the moment

yeah seems like it.. but anyways we got artest not for offense but for defense.. we can check that when we play against denver, cavs, celtics.. artest VS top contenders and players of teams we will be playing against.. but our lakers needs still needs to play well so far though..

by wyl@work on Nov 1, 2009 1:58 PM PST reply actions  

Unfortunatly...

I do think the Lakers need Artest for offense.

Too often last year, even with Pau, Drew, LO, and Kobe playing, we’d be getting no offensive production … that’s where TA stepped in and completely provided the offensive spark we needed when players sagged off him (cough Hedo) to help guard the others. TA made them pay for that.

Ron needs to make the other teams pay. He’s an offensive threat AND a defensive threat. He’s got to fill TA’s role AND go beyond TA’s role because he’s (as much as it pains me to say) supposedly that much better than TA on paper.

Especially right now with Pau out, Ron has to be the third or fourth option on offense – Kobe, Drew, and LO have to produce offensively as well because lord konws our bench is still as meh as last year’s latter half of the season.

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Nov 1, 2009 3:50 PM PST up reply actions  

yea

but he doesn’t need to be a primary offensive threat. i love trevor to death, but just because trevor scored 33 doesn’t mean ron was the worst deal (i’m pretty sure ron has gone for 33s in houston, too). actually, going to houston might have been better for trevor’s career since he gets to be a primary players (instead of 5th banana). though, i would still miss him x_x

but hopefully, artest’s shooting will pickup (actually, the whole team for that matter).

by Nostance on Nov 1, 2009 4:01 PM PST up reply actions  

Nothing against Ron

But I miss TA to bits.

You’re very right about Ron though. He doesn’t need to be a primary offensive threat, but my point is that, he still HAS to be an offensive threat lol

Last night though, was just one of those games where the entire team shot poorly and was out of sync. Doesn’t happen a lot but it did happen last year. It’s to be expected.

Personally, I think the 72 win record goal is obnoxious. First of all, it’s way too lofty. I don’t care how good a team it is, keep your head out of the clouds and in the game! I do think all this talk of 72 wins has distracted the team … it was better when they were concentrating on avenging their redemptive championship path than this 72 win goal.

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Nov 1, 2009 4:07 PM PST up reply actions  

Can you guys refrain from:

Posting pictures of Ron. I can’t stand his haircut, and his play thus far hasnt done very much to make me wanna overlook it….

definately miss TA

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Nov 1, 2009 4:13 PM PST reply actions  

lol

Just focus on the #24 side of the pic.

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Nov 1, 2009 4:25 PM PST up reply actions  

speaking of which

the extension deadline is over.
any news of kobe & his contract?

by Nostance on Nov 1, 2009 5:07 PM PST up reply actions  

noop

all mum on that front.

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Nov 1, 2009 5:42 PM PST up reply actions  

I heard on AM710 that the deadline was extended until Monday this year since the 31st fell on a Saturday. I doubt anything would happen with Kobe. They were discussing the possibility of the Celts extending Rondo.

by lazNirv on Nov 1, 2009 6:05 PM PST up reply actions  

On Ariza vs Artest

You have to take the teams in context. Artest scored thirty easy last year because he was the fist option just like Ariza is now. Artest is the second or third option on the Lakers so I doubt that he’s going to get to 30 or even 20 on a regular basis, we don’t need him to. So just because Ariza scores 30 and Artest scores 15 doesn’t mean the Lakers are worse off with Artest.

Lamar = Laker for Life...Go Pads...Go Bolts

by mrbarneydangles on Nov 1, 2009 4:54 PM PST reply actions  

In 82 games played last year, Artest scored 30 points only once.

by DexterFishmore on Nov 1, 2009 5:05 PM PST up reply actions  

almost game time

let us see how will they respond to the last games beating.. maybe aretst will try to score 30 as he might have been pissed off with all these ariza vs artest comparison.. lol.. does artest read our thoughts in here?.. i bet he does.. lol..

by wyl@work on Nov 1, 2009 5:23 PM PST reply actions  

nah

artest isn’t kobe. kobe gets revenge by putting up 40. artest will respond by going out and shut down joe johnson or josh smith instead (at least i hope, so).

by Nostance on Nov 1, 2009 5:48 PM PST up reply actions  

Wow, nice call

Kobe 41 pts……,Artest shuts down Joe Johnson.

Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."

by pslakerfan on Nov 2, 2009 10:04 PM PST up reply actions  

ratchett and (c)link

I hope someone posts a link so i can watch it!

" Defense wins games! "

by Captain $hugg on Nov 1, 2009 5:59 PM PST reply actions  

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