Upset Loss, Kobe Injury Apocalypse Narrowly Averted

by DexterFishmore on Dec 22, 2009 11:09 PM PST in Game Recaps Comment 32 comments

OK, the important stuff first: Kobe Bryant's left knee appears to be fine. In the middle of the third quarter tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he landed weirdly on it while scrapping for an offensive rebound. It looked like a slight hyperextension, he stayed on the ground grabbing the knee for a few moments, and he limped when he got up. He didn't miss any action, however, and after the game said it's not going to be a problem. Everyone unclench.

The Los Angeles Lakers needed every second he could give them tonight. The Thunder gave a vivacious effort on the road and nearly snagged the upset. In the second quarter they had a 12-point lead as they exploited a turnover-happy Laker offense and an enervated, possibly jetlagged, Laker D. Finally toward the end of the first half the Lakers started making some threes, and the usual third quarter surge put L.A. up by six.

OKC hung around to the very end behind strong nights from Kevin Durant and local kid Russell Westbrook, but the Lakers made 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to keep them at bay. A Westbrook trey that would've tied the game rimmed out with 0:02 on the clock, sending the Lakers to a 23-4 record. The final score was 111 to 108.

This wasn't a rousing display of force by any stretch. The Thunder aren't a good offensive team, and it took a lot of Laker defensive gaffes to keep them in the game. Were it not for Kobe's warrior-god awesomeness (40 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds) and a nice contributing effort from Derek Fisher (15 points and 4 assists), this one could easily have gone sour.

Let's chalk tonight up as a useful exercise in fine-tuning. The Lakers now have a home game under their belts after the road trip out East, so they should be more crisp against Cleveland. Onward we go into the hype.

	Poss.	TO%	FTA/ FGA	FT%	EFG%	TS%	Off Reb%	Def Reb%	PPP
OKC	99	14	0.26	83	48	53	30	70	1.09
L.A.	100	17	0.48	82	49	57	30	70	1.11

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Comments

can you say MISSED LAYUPS?

I must have counted 7 easy ones blown in the first half alone, and by everyone not named Kobe, not just the usual culprits (DFish in transition, Drew mis-timing).

by nilwnah on Dec 22, 2009 11:22 PM PST reply actions

Hey Dex

I think Kobe’s line was 40 points not 42.

Speaking of Kobe, glad to know his knee/leg is okay.

But I don’t think it’s really a good sign that Kobe’s scored six 40 point games already. I think it shows just how unsmooth (yes I made that word up) the offensive has been compared to last year. Last year, Kobe only scored 40 or more 8 times, regular season AND the playoffs combined!

I’m a little worried about the offense … especially going into the game against the Cavs.

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 Dec 22, 2009 11:23 PM PST reply actions

Yes, thank you. Fixed.

by DexterFishmore on Dec 22, 2009 11:24 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed ...

Why do you suppose the offense is looking worse this year? It was expected that the defense might fall off with Rambis gone.

I don’t think it’s the introduction of Artest, either. He looks like he’s helping to facilitate quite nicely. Perhaps the Gasol/Walton injuries?

by nilwnah on Dec 22, 2009 11:25 PM PST up reply actions

3 point shooting

Is probably our biggest problem.

And I think the spacing amongst the big men might be the issue, but then again, it could just be attributed to Pau and Drew acclimating to each other’s game and/or how pslakerfan said, the opposing teams’ defense has been focusing on converging on Pau and Drew since our 3 point shoot sucks. This causes problems scoring-wise and rebounding-wise, imo.

It’ll be interesting to see how the coaches and the players adjust to this as the year goes on.

I wanted to mention the offense because I’m not used to see our offense like this especially since Pau’s arrival, our offense has usually been a thing of beauty to watch. Of course Kobe’s game makes up for it :)

by PeanutButterSpread on Dec 23, 2009 1:14 AM PST up reply actions

Drew and 3's

No one’s shooting very well from 3 and Drew shot 3-9. Also I noticed the back up pg’s, particularly Farmar have been taking some questionable long range jumpers

Shaquille O'Neal: "Tell him Shaq doesn’t respond to juvenile delinquents without a college degree. Tell him to get his degree, and we can talk. In the meantime, he should call me Dr. Shaq because I’m working on my PhD." (Referring to 17-year-old rookie Andrew Bynum, who compared himself to Shaq…except that he can make free throws.)
(courtesy of www.shaqquotes.com)

by KobeisGod on Dec 23, 2009 11:47 AM PST up reply actions

Sure Kobe is scoring more this season

but you have to remember we were without Pau for a good amount of games. Also the offense is just getting used to having Ron Ron on the floor and it looks like Drew is still trying to adjust his game so he can play alongside Pau. Since we have a bunch of stuff going on with the offense Kobe has been needed a lot more this season so far. I think as the season goes on Kobe will score less as the offense will get better.

by pedro_oliveira on Dec 22, 2009 11:28 PM PST up reply actions

ditto

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

by pslakerfan on Dec 22, 2009 11:29 PM PST up reply actions

thats what im hoping for

We can struggle all year, but as long as we keep winning the whole way i can’t really complain.

" I'm a human, not a sandwich"

by true_lakerfan on Dec 23, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions

I am actually not concerned about Kobe's scoring at all for two reasons....

1) It has been efficient. High scoring efficient Kobe means wins every time. High scoring inefficient Kobe is another story.
2) I think opposing teams are really concentrating on taking away our inside game. There seem to be a lot of bodies converging on Pau and Bynum whenever they get the ball inside. This opens up the three point game of course, but we haven’t been making them. That of course leaves Kobe and his mid-range awesomeness.

I think if teams start to key on him again or if our threes start dropping teams will change that strategy and we will get back to Pau and Bynum more. The truth is that tonight we needed it badly because Bynum couldn’t hit water if he fell off a boat.

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

by pslakerfan on Dec 22, 2009 11:28 PM PST up reply actions

Second point is on the money

Pau and Bynum would be getting a lot more opportunities if teams had to respect our outside shooting. Bynum especially has been hurt by this, as he thrives in facing single (and even double) coverage as he has so many moves deep in the post. Pau can still help with his passing and rebounding, but Bynum is especially disadvantaged.

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 Dec 23, 2009 12:14 AM PST up reply actions

Agreed

Especially since last year the team didn’t really look great offensively until January-ish … so I’m not panicking, but I just noticed how helter-kelter the offensive has been looking lately.

Part of that is the 3 point shooting … and the other part, I feel like we’re not seeing as much beautiful passing between the Laker big men like we might have with Pau/LO combo versus the Pau/Drew combo.

Our offense just feels off. But I’m sure the team will right itself as the season goes on, we’re just super duper lucky that Kobe’s on the team :)

by PeanutButterSpread on Dec 23, 2009 1:07 AM PST up reply actions

LO/Pau v Bynum/Pau

Agreed – the team is still adjusting. Pau and LO played amazingly well together last year, and they’re not getting as much time on the floor. It changes the spacing, the timing, and obviously the passing.

Over time, though, the wings (this includes Kobe) need to hit on 3s a little more reliably, to force defenses to respect them. Kobe obviously can get his other ways, but other guys can’t.

by mr. shrimp on Dec 23, 2009 8:40 AM PST up reply actions

Really though, does it worry you that much?

the simple fact is this:

Kobe can and WILL score 40 when this team needs him to.

As a few people have stated already (pslakerfan, Ben R): the league is trying to take away LA’s inside game. Can you blame them? The Lakers have the best PF/C offensive combo in the league. No one even comes close. Sure Kevin Garnett can shoot jumpers all day and Dwight Howard can rebound / catch lobs like no one’s business, but the Bynum / Gasol duo is literally unstoppable short of double and triple teaming. As we approach the halfway mark in the season, more and more teams are beginning to understand this.

Here’s the beauty of it all: when teams opt to take away our inside game, they then have to deal with that which is arguably the second greatest perimeter threat in the history of the NBA. It is THE definition of pick your poison. Yes. Kobe Bean Bryant is still around and will still punish teams on a nightly basis for leaving him single coverage. Sure a Kobe 20 ft. fallaway might not be directly as efficient as a Pau Gasol 5 ft. baby hook, but the distinguishing feature here is that the former is ALWAYS there when you need it.

In short, don’t worry about Kobe’s big numbers. The Laker offense is there and always will be there. The key remains on the defensive end of the court.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Dec 23, 2009 4:11 AM PST up reply actions

Who else is going to step up

It’s usually the same players (starters) that do all the work on the offensive end. What about the bench? If there is anything that at this point in the season that holds the Lakers back is their lack of offensive-back up-firepower. Shasha has been replace by Shannon but he has a long way to go.

"Michael Jordan once said the quality Bryant possessed that reminded him most of himself was the desire to distance himself from contemporaries."

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 22, 2009 11:54 PM PST reply actions

Agree

It’s not just the miss 3 point shots, the second group seems to settle more on long range shots instead of attacking. Shannon and Farmar are more effective when attacking the basket instead of just dribble then shoot then miss. Hope they change their game, plus Lamar has to stop thinking pass first then shoot later. When KB is not on the floor Odom should take the lead on the offense, his one talented dude.

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be
Kobe Bryant" Kobe Bryant quote

by Raindropz24 on Dec 23, 2009 2:47 AM PST up reply actions

kobe=MVP,the truth.

now comes the homer,troll,Kobe lover bombardment from Laker fans!

by meeer1171 on Dec 23, 2009 12:21 AM PST reply actions

this is just ridiculous now..how a team ever faced this string of bad luck

in terms of injures?

In the postgame locker room, Roy could not lift his left arm over his shoulder after dinging it in the fourth quarter. After missing a layup, he got tangled with a Dallas player while wrestling for the ball and “tweaked” it. Roy said he was told it was “loose,” and he was in noticeable pain down the stretch and after the game, but said he would try to play versus the Spurs.

He planned to take some anti-inflammatory medication to help his shoulder in the short-term and expects to undergo a magnetic resonance imagining when the team returns to Portland on Thursday.

“It hurts,” he said, “But we have to wait and see. I’ll know more in the morning.”

"Michael Jordan once said the quality Bryant possessed that reminded him most of himself was the desire to distance himself from contemporaries."

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 23, 2009 6:56 AM PST reply actions

I am utterly speechless. Just. Wow.

by E-ROC on Dec 23, 2009 7:20 AM PST up reply actions

that means one year they will have lots of luck and won't have injuries

and with the players they have, when they’re healthy, they can be approaching championship-good

by RudeMood19 on Dec 23, 2009 8:14 AM PST up reply actions

it evens up

by RudeMood19 on Dec 23, 2009 8:14 AM PST up reply actions

wow

"Just by the aura of D.J. Mbenga being there, the shot missed."

by shaqfor3 on Dec 23, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions

Good game by the Lakers. First game back after a long road trip can be tough, and

last night’s game was tough. Plus, you have to give the Thunder some credit. They are maturing pretty quickly as a ballclub.

by E-ROC on Dec 23, 2009 7:22 AM PST reply actions

About the only good thing about that scary moment when Kobe was on the ground writhing and clutching his knee

Is that now we have a direct comparison between how Paul Pierce handled that situation in the 2008 Finals and how Kobe handled it last night.

Now, it is completely understandable to me how Pierce handled it, and I don’t believe he was “faking” the injury. I really don’t. The man thought he had suffered a major injury, the doctors told him not to put any weight on it. I understand.

BUT

If anyone back then implied that Kobe would have handled it no differently, and would have also been taken out in a wheelchair, I submit: you were wrong about that. Now that doesn’t make Kobe any better, or manlier, or any superlative, BUT you were wrong about that. That is all.

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gils_Keloids on Dec 23, 2009 8:13 AM PST reply actions

I HIGHLY doubt it was a legitimate injury. It’s one of the more ridiculous dramatic events I’ve seen in a sporting event ever.

by RudeMood19 on Dec 23, 2009 8:15 AM PST up reply actions

Knee injuries are scary

And painful. I can’t speak for another man or woman about how that feels.

All I know is that Staples Center was deathly quiet when Kobe went down.

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gils_Keloids on Dec 23, 2009 8:19 AM PST up reply actions

I mean that I can't speak for someone else about what they feel

And how much pain it is for them personally

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gils_Keloids on Dec 23, 2009 8:26 AM PST up reply actions

I know I was

freaked out myself. Even the commentator mentioned how it seemed that everyone took a collective breath.

"Michael Jordan once said the quality Bryant possessed that reminded him most of himself was the desire to distance himself from contemporaries."

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 23, 2009 8:37 AM PST up reply actions

i know i was there and almost cried...

it was a really scary moment, crazy how quiet the place got. But he handled it like i expected him to. When he shot the free throws i knew it was gonna be ok, and yes i was finally able to unclench.

" I'm a human, not a sandwich"

by true_lakerfan on Dec 23, 2009 1:05 PM PST up reply actions