Lakers 85, Thunder 100: Undressed By The Best In The West

by DexterFishmore on Feb 23, 2012 10:27 PM PST in Game Recaps

Heading into this week's road back-to-back in Dallas and Oklahoma City, a split was pretty much the best-case scenario for the Lakers, and that's what came to pass. Their grueling win over the Mavericks last night, not to mention fatigue from having to play five games in seven days, left the Lakers in no shape to challenge seriously the top team in the Western Conference, who ran away from them in the second half for a 100 to 85 victory. After taking a four-point lead into the second quarter, the Lakers' offense flatlined and finished the night well below a point per possession. The more energetic Thunder rode a 33-point effort from Kevin Durant and supporting production from Russell Westbrook (19 points, six assists) and James Harden (16 points) past a Laker D that lacked the vivacity to keep up.

At no point in the game did the Lakers string together more than two or three quality offensive trips. Everything was labored and ugly. I don't recall more than a handful of easy looks the entire night. In the face of excellent defense from Harden and Daequan Cook, Kobe Bryant shot just 7 for 24. Andrew Bynum (5 for 15) struggled as badly against Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins and at the end of the first half committed one of the dumber plays you'll see this year in any sport. With 0.8 seconds left and the Thunder having just scored, Bynum lazily inbounded the ball almost directly to Durant, who flipped it into the hoop before the buzzer went off. It didn't lead to the final result or anything but was gratuitously stupid. Pau Gasol (22 points, nine boards, three assists) is the only Laker who wasn't crummy in this one.

The purple and gold now head into the All-Star break with a 20-14 record, tied with Houston for fifth in the West. The players need some rest, and management needs to work the phone lines to see whether roster slots four through 12 can't be improved. Thanks much for following along with the season's first half here at Silver Screen and Roll. Whatever follows the rest of the way I suspect will be rather interesting.

	Poss.	TO%	FTA/ FGA	FT%	3FGA/FGA	2PT%	3PT%	EFG	TS%	OReb Rate	DReb Rate	PPP
Lakers	91	13	0.29	91	0.18	41	29	41	48	21	84	0.93
OKC	91	12	0.32	84	0.32	56	28	51	57	16	79	1.10

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BETTER THAN GAME 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!ONE1111!!!!!!!

Kobe Bryant shot just 7 for 24

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. - Albert Einstein
Captain Obvious, er, MagicJohnson: Kobe, Bynum & Gasol all must step up big to beat the @Thunder.
Tweetness

by SoCalGal on Feb 23, 2012 10:32 PM PST reply actions

Woot!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!1111

AMMO carried the Lakers to back-2-back titles and we couldn't even get LEWIS MONROE for him...

by Q.Calloway25 on Feb 23, 2012 10:33 PM PST up reply actions

His problem was more that he didn't play more intelligently against him on offense.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 23, 2012 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

Wow.

The West has been so competitive for as long as I can remember. I think it was in 08 where the 1 seed was within like 3-5 games for like 10 teams

"I don't mind being the goat. I don't mind being the villain, hated. I've been that my whole career, so it's not like that's anything new. I don't mind people jumping on the bandwagon or jumping off. I just focus on playing the game." -Ron Artest

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Feb 23, 2012 10:36 PM PST reply actions

Btw

Since Kobe’s teammates nowadays are people he’s talked shit to in the past, does that mean we’re getting James Harden anytime soon? :D

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius

by Hdg23 on Feb 23, 2012 10:37 PM PST reply actions

Kobe: Grady! You so crazy! They should call you Crazy Grady!

"It seemed that Brandon's financial manager had speculated in some kind of futures and lost everything...Mary could not rid her mind of the word "speculate." It meant to guess, in terms of money to gamble. How could a man gamble a college?"

From the short story, In the Garden of North American Martyrs--Tobias Wolff

GET TO THE RIM HEAT (and SKY)! ATTACK THE PAINT!

by mjtig on Feb 23, 2012 10:40 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Probably in 5-8 years when he's slow and old

by nitotech on Feb 23, 2012 10:44 PM PST up reply actions

I wonder what highlights JD2K

is going to go with because I can’t remember any in this game for the Lakers. Maybe he’s going to put Thunder highlights.

by nitotech on Feb 23, 2012 10:45 PM PST reply actions

29% and swatted 6 times!

MVP season it is.

For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
lebron should just lock himself away and not talk for the rest of forever-LA32

by 99bc99 on Feb 23, 2012 10:51 PM PST reply actions

Well this sucks

Goudelock is not in the Rookie Ladder Top 10 anymore

Proud to be a brony.

by yoshifan on Feb 23, 2012 10:53 PM PST reply actions

By far the greatest tragedy of the evening.

by LAMojo on Feb 23, 2012 10:58 PM PST up reply actions

He's been hot since the Clippers game

but he went cold during the post-road trip games.

Proud to be a brony.

by yoshifan on Feb 23, 2012 11:01 PM PST up reply actions

His shot selection has been shaky, which sucks because I've really liked his controlled aggression otherwise.

by Aethereal on Feb 23, 2012 11:09 PM PST up reply actions

shot selection looked good to me mostly…just didn’t hit ’em

"rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength"...Eric Hoffer

by BaldBilly on Feb 24, 2012 8:00 AM PST up reply actions

I didn't really expect them to win this

In some sort of way, the Dallas win was satisfaction enough… This was just gravy if we had won…

Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.
People think I'm crazy. It's true.

by Paul Udani on Feb 23, 2012 10:59 PM PST reply actions

I agree, but it would have been nice to see more fight tonight.

by SoCalGal on Feb 23, 2012 11:00 PM PST up reply actions

With 5 seconds remaining in the 1st half...

the boys were content to know they can play with these young athletic freaks(Kobe’s words), they decided to start enjoying the wknd earlier.

by 4ever Lakers on Feb 24, 2012 3:05 PM PST up reply actions

Mm-hmm

Playing four games in five nights in a row can really take the energy out of a team.

Proud to be a brony.

by yoshifan on Feb 23, 2012 11:01 PM PST up reply actions

Counln't agree more.

by BoneCruncher24 on Feb 23, 2012 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

Pretty much. I hoped they would win (as always), but eh. Lakers are old.

I still had to turn off the television during the third because I would’ve chucked it off my balcony, but I’m feeling much better now. :)

by l3oh on Feb 23, 2012 11:08 PM PST up reply actions

LOL

by BoneCruncher24 on Feb 23, 2012 11:21 PM PST up reply actions

This season really stinks;

probably the worst I’ve watched Kobe that I can seriously remember. 2005 and back are a bit before my time, and games like this(and last night) are surreal.

by Aethereal on Feb 23, 2012 11:02 PM PST reply actions

are you serious?

2005 and back are a bit before my time,

Were you born in 2004? lol

THE BANDWAGON: Championship? lol you’ve gotta b kidding. - Emmceee /we aren't winning anything this year man - BlueXfalcon / We arent winning anything this year - Lakergirl / we aren’t winning anything this yurrrrr - Tkuang /I expect them to make it past the first round, but I will be very happy if they make it past the second.- Gil M. / We aren’t gonna win anything this year, dude - Aethereal / don't think we will win anything this year. Seriously-CLDPC / I’m not expecting something big from this Lakers team this season - Yoshifan

by Jelly Bean on Feb 23, 2012 11:11 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

LMAO

by Fin Fan Forever on Feb 23, 2012 11:20 PM PST up reply actions

LOL, no, I'm 20,

so 2005 has me at 13~. Not exactly a paragon of basketball knowledge(Not that I am now, but whatever)

by Aethereal on Feb 23, 2012 11:30 PM PST up reply actions

be nice Jelly.. wink, wink..

don’t worry Aethereal. The fact you chose to participate in here shows you got taste & smarts.
Actually, I do think Kobe is playing better than last year. If he picks up even more a facilitator role in the 2nd half, as the team becomes more proficient in MB’s system. We will be that much more dangerous.

by 4ever Lakers on Feb 24, 2012 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

The result wasnt surprising

Our flaws were made painfully clear and now its just a matter of Making a deal or 2 happen. We do that and we’re in good shape. If we dnt? Kenny, Charles and Shaq will b posting gone Fishing pics after an early exit this year

See me on Twitter follow me @ EddieCheeze, Catch me on FB friend me Eddie Cheeze, See my group on youtube listen to us Hood Platinum, want me ta kill a track email me Cheeze2k11@gmail.com....Im errwhere

by EmmCeee on Feb 23, 2012 11:08 PM PST via Android app reply actions

that shit always burns when they do that.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 23, 2012 11:12 PM PST up reply actions

I always thought it was funny until last year...

go figure lol

by EmmCeee on Feb 24, 2012 1:17 AM PST via Android app up reply actions

lol

by Jelly Bean on Feb 24, 2012 12:53 PM PST up reply actions

I hear you.

by 4ever Lakers on Feb 24, 2012 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

This team is just not that fun to watch.

If Beas and Sessions can be had for first rounders, that’s a no brainer. Big upgrades. Can’t compete with the elite until roster is tweaked.

by lwood24 on Feb 23, 2012 11:26 PM PST up reply actions

Wishing On A Star

We’re in serious trouble now guys. If the playoffs started today, we’d end up playing against the Mavericks in a 7 game series beginning on the road. Btw, what’s wrong with Kobe? He’s in terrible groove right now. I hope something positive happens with this team by March 15th.

by 707214Lakerfan4ever on Feb 24, 2012 3:32 AM PST reply actions

what's wrong with Kobe???

Vanessa!!!
ever since she showed up in the Hawks’ game, black mamba seemed to have the teeth pulled.

by 4ever Lakers on Feb 24, 2012 3:17 PM PST up reply actions

Time to prepare for a monster win streak with killer defensive a la Last year's post-ASG run

"If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. You know what I mean? Fuck it." -- Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant

by jXn on Feb 24, 2012 4:00 AM PST reply actions

as long as it doesn't end up repeating last year's ENDING.

Lakers and Patriots forever.

by D.S.T. on Feb 24, 2012 7:00 AM PST up reply actions

starting to worry about kobe

it seems like his bad games are more than his good games…

hoping for all good kobe games in the next half…

The Bernel Zone

"I’ve always been comfortable as a kid growing up to think that when my career is over, I want them to think of me as an overachiever despite the talent that I have. To think of me as a person that’s overachieved, that would mean a lot to me. That means I put a lot of work in and squeezed every ounce of juice out of this orange that I could. Hopefully, they perceive me as person who did whatever he had to do to win above all else. Above anything. Above stats. If they say that about me I’ll be happy." - KOBE BRYANT

by bernel on Feb 24, 2012 6:38 AM PST reply actions

wtf

by LAMojo on Feb 24, 2012 6:41 AM PST up reply actions

james harden to kobe

kobe i am begging you get me on the lakers roster please..! lol

by Vui on Feb 24, 2012 6:58 AM PST reply actions

The Thunder probably won the loose ball battle.

Playing 4 games in 5 nights sucks as well. As I’ve said before, 10 day contracts never hurt anybody. The Lakers should try that out to see if they can find a player who can dribble penetrate off the bench.

by E-ROC on Feb 24, 2012 7:36 AM PST reply actions

Yep we need to get at least 1 athletic gaurd

To help kobe. 4 games in 5 nights may be hard and there may be @ least 1 day in between games in the playoff but the playoffs are a very long grinding road

by Ballinsohard on Feb 24, 2012 8:03 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Unless blake goes thru some type of tranformation

I see blake as a 2nd string pg. i guess I was blinded by faith in the purple and gold.Even he played worst than fisher last night.

by Ballinsohard on Feb 24, 2012 8:05 AM PST via mobile reply actions

I see the league just ruled brendan haywood foul a flagrant

That was so obviouse I cant believe they didnt get that at the time it happened

by Ballinsohard on Feb 24, 2012 8:10 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Schedule Loss.

No biggy.

by AndyChrono on Feb 24, 2012 9:04 AM PST reply actions

Harden gets in Kobe's face, and only MWP steps in...: (

Jim,
there starting to Punk us now.
Are you going bring in another inforcer?
If not,
it will only get worse.
Teams aren’t afraid anymore, and some players are “pushing the envelope” with Kobe.
Jim, whatcha gonna do about it? Once they eject MWP, then what?
Who defends Kobe?

by look closer on Feb 24, 2012 11:33 AM PST reply actions