Appetite for Destruction: Lakers Demolish Jazz

by DexterFishmore on Dec 9, 2009 11:07 PM PST in Game Recaps Comment 25 comments

I'm feeling a bit dazed at the moment, as I'm sure are the Utah Jazz. That fourth quarter was a lot to take in. In a matter of minutes, a tightly contested game that looked like it would go down to the wire turned into a brutal street crime. The Los Angeles Lakers, cranking up their defense like we've never seen, strangled the Jazz into submission, stole their wallets and ice, and then kept kicking their lifeless bodies just for fun. Utah managed only six points in the fourth. Seis.

Someone should probably get them to a hospital.

The masterpiece that was the fourth quarter redeemed what had been an uninspired effort to that point. In the first half, the Lakers looked annoyed that someone was asking them to defend the Utah offense, which ran with its usual Swiss-engineered precision. Open looks were abundant for Jazz shooters, who hit four of their first eight three-point attempts. Shannon Brown (failing to follow cutters) and Andrew Bynum (failing to rebound) were the chief offenders, but nobody in Lakerdom distinguished himself.

In the third, Utah finally started missing threes - they would end up honking their last nine attempts from distance - and the Lakers exploited the chance to claw back into the lead. Kobe Bryant had 13 in the third, which ended with a Jordan Farmar money ball. Jordan had another in a string of quality efforts. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds and a net plus-minus of +17.

And then the fourth quarter started, and there was BLOOD EVERYWHERE. Voracious and predatory was the Laker defense. For the quarter the Jazz turned the ball over eight times in 24 possessions and shot 2 for 18. It was, let's just say it, the best 12 minutes of Laker D any of us have seen. Like, ever. The final score was 101 to 77.

Here, for your amusement, is how the teams fared in points per possession by quarter.

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Game
Utah	1.14	1.27	0.83	0.25	0.86
Los Angeles	1.14	1.04	1.09	1.17	1.11

The Lakers are now 17-3 and have won 10 straight. They're undefeated since the return of Pau Gasol. Here are the game stats, followed by a tasty dunk by Shannon. I believe it will meet with your satisfaction.

	Poss.	TO%	FTA/ FGA	FT%	EFG%	TS%	Off Reb%	Def Reb%	PPP
Utah	90	19	0.22	79	36	41	33	75	0.86
L.A.	91	10	0.40	77	49	55	25	67	1.11

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just got back from the game

it was feeling like a loss throughout the first half. The Lakers had that “too many home games” complacency feeling that was all too familiar from the last couple years. Then came the third when not only did the crowd come alive finally, but so did the team and they showed they weren’t going down without a fight. I think this was a game that last year’s Laker team lost in that third quarter. This team on the other hand, dug deeper into the proverbial cookie jar until they finally got their hands on something.

I was puzzled by Sasha’s insertion and I believe on his first defensive sequence he allowed a layup. He must of heard me chew into him from the third floor because after that he played some pretty stellar defense, contributing to the Laker’s beehive behavior WITHOUT FOULING. His 3 pointer was also a huge and timely bucket.

Ron Artest can’t finish at the rim like Ariza can, but he does so so so so so many little things everywhere on the court and is just as big of a knockdown shooter if not a bigger one. Ron really helped us stay in the game with his defense and rebound work.

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

by Justin N. on Dec 9, 2009 11:16 PM PST reply actions

And Ariza doesn't have a post game like Artest

I think that they both brought good things but Artest is perfect also because the triangle depends so much on the post and he is so good down there. He kept taking brewer to school and he is much shorter than he is. He also passes better than Ariza from the post. In threes it still remains to be seen Artest hit big shots in the playoffs but so far he seems just as good if not better at three point shooting.

Either way, what a great defensive win. On top of that there was a Shannon B. dunk which is what I always look for.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 9, 2009 11:20 PM PST up reply actions

Ron Artest can’t finish at the rim like Ariza can

I saw Ron get his own rebound and finish in the post 3 times, good enough finish for me

by Julio Nievas on Dec 9, 2009 11:18 PM PST reply actions

that is another thing Ariza has impressed me with

He has a good ability to get rebounding position on both ends of the court. He just seems too strong underneath the basket. As a Laker fan I have always wanted the Lakers to have a tough player like Artest. I love Ariza and still do, but I love the Lakers more and Artest makes this particular group of Lakers better.

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 9, 2009 11:22 PM PST up reply actions

So...

You’re talking about Artest, right?

by Julio Nievas on Dec 9, 2009 11:23 PM PST up reply actions

yes...

too tired now..lol

"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 9, 2009 11:38 PM PST up reply actions

Ron is definitely a better rebound

but not as good of a finisher :)

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

by Justin N. on Dec 9, 2009 11:23 PM PST up reply actions

I know this has probably been posted earlier, but it's worth another mention

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4729043

by Julio Nievas on Dec 9, 2009 11:20 PM PST reply actions

Actually I haven't seen that yet this year.

I remember we were 2nd behind the Knicks last year though. I guess what “they” say is correct. It’s all about location, location, location, cause if it was about winning the Knicks wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of this list.

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 9, 2009 11:26 PM PST up reply actions

How the hell are the Dodgers worth more than the Lakers?

by Julio Nievas on Dec 9, 2009 11:28 PM PST up reply actions

To the people who thinks Jerry Buss doesn't hire the best people for this business

Teams’ average operating income was $7.8 million, with the Lakers at the top with $51.1

by Julio Nievas on Dec 9, 2009 11:30 PM PST up reply actions

For a minute there, I thought we were playing the Seattle SuperSonics

The green and yellow unis just don’t work for the UTAH Jazz imo.
I get the green and yellow is probably a throwback to the New Orleans Jazz unis, but it’s almost like the Sonics have been resurrected!

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 9, 2009 11:33 PM PST reply actions

+1

by altree on Dec 10, 2009 12:03 AM PST up reply actions

That's what they get

For wearing Celtic green into our building.

by atung on Dec 9, 2009 11:39 PM PST reply actions

I guess the question "What's the lowest PPP you've ever seen" has been answered

Now and forever … .25. Just …. wow.

by C.A. Clark on Dec 10, 2009 12:09 AM PST reply actions

1999 Clippers in the second quarter say hello

by Julio Nievas on Dec 10, 2009 12:21 AM PST up reply actions

LO would like to say "bye" because he was "never" there

by PeanutButterSpread on Dec 10, 2009 12:43 AM PST up reply actions

Awesome name:)

by Julio Nievas on Dec 10, 2009 12:48 AM PST up reply actions

Typical Lakers fan

crediting the Lakers for good D in the 4th rather than realizing that the Jazz just sucked it up. Quit patting yourselves on the back already – its not like every shot was blocked in the 4th.

by MelMan2002 on Dec 10, 2009 4:55 AM PST reply actions

LOL at this bitter troll

by wavenstein on Dec 10, 2009 6:01 AM PST up reply actions

reaction to typical lakers fan....

Is it patting ourselves on the back when the Lakers force two shot clock violations, out rebound, deny penetration and execute offense well? Cuz if that’s patting ourselves on the back, then ok, we’re patting ourselves on the back.

Lakers are ranked first in opponents FG percentage. Is that a coincidence, or is it good defense just like in the fourth quarter of yesterday’s game? It’s not like the Jazz are the New Jersey Nets. They’re a damn good team in the western conference and had won 8 of their last 9 games going into last night. So if we’re patting ourselves on the back too much, forgive us.

Well let me welcome everybody to the wild wild west. A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness.

by pharoah on Dec 10, 2009 6:28 AM PST up reply actions

No need to block every shot

See, when you shoot the ball after the shot clock expires (like the Jazz did three times) or turn the ball over (like the Jazz did 8 times), both elements controlled in part by great defense, getting your shot blocked is irrelevant because it either didn’t count, or you don’t have the ball to shoot anymore.

But you’re right, I guess we should stop patting ourselves on the back for being the defending champion too. Clearly all those other teams just sucked it up in the playoffs …

by C.A. Clark on Dec 10, 2009 7:02 AM PST up reply actions

Your coach doesn't agree with you.

“Utah coach Jerry Sloan on the Lakers’ defensive play in the fourth: “They came out and just destroyed us. We were hanging in the ballgame, but that just shows you what a great team they have — the ability to get up and make us turn the ball over as much as we did. I believe that was time times in the fourth quarter.”

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 10, 2009 8:55 AM PST up reply actions