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Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers look to bounce back into form after a disappointing home loss Sunday night against the Grizzlies. In a much talked about move Sunday night, Mike Brown benched Kobe during a crucial part of the fourth quarter and after the game, Kobe played off the decision by Brown with the veteran savvy and poise one would expect after 16 years in the League. All the while, the true cuprit of this Lakers slump, being the defense.
Yesterday, Actuarially Sound's piece highlighted this fact for us. Quite simply:
Defensively, they weren't good by any stretch. They kept Dallas and Portland to under 49%, but both shot better than the Lakers allow on average. They were especially awful against Houston and Memphis who each shot over 54%. The Lakers' two wins and two losses this week can be directly tied to their defense and whether or not they forced the opposition to miss.
If the Lakers can correct the defensive issues that emerged this week and get back to a top 10 defense, they will be in great shape, especially if the offense continues to be near league-leading with Sessions. It looks like Sessions is the cherry that completes the sundae; now we can not drop it on the floor quite as often? Maybe then we can enjoy the taste of it.
Tonight, the Lakers face a gutted Warriors team, who are in full tank mode. No seriously, they are. As for the Lakers, they have to exert some type of energy and effort tonight as talent, clearly, cannot win games.
Must-win?
↓ Much more after the jump ↓
Lakers News
- Laker Girls Blog: Lindsay | Lakers.com
- Jim Buss: Live Chat Transcript | Lakers.com
- Guarding the Point Guard | Lakers Blog
- Talking With: Joey Buss, Los Angeles Defenders President/CEO | ESPN LA
- Kobe Bryant has no plans to lose his cool | ESPN LA
- It's not easy to write, but Kobe did the right thing after benching | LA Times
- Lakers' defense has taken a backseat | LA Times
- Lakers’ 102-96 loss to Memphis was grisly | OC Register
- Bryant shows class, leadership long after benching | OC Register
- Tuesday preview: vs. Warriors (20-27) | OC Register
- Lakers-Warriors Preview
- Kobe Bryant just dropped $329,000 on a new Ferrari
NBA.com
- Granger scores 25 as Pacers beat Heat 105-90
- Lawson leads Nuggets over Bulls 108-91
- Knicks' Stoudemire out indefinitely with back injury
- Knicks shake off injury bug to beat Bucks 89-80
- Pierce scores 36 as Celtics beat Bobcats 102-95
- Duke's Rivers enters NBA draft early, hires agent
- Nets G Farmar sidelined with groin injury again
ESPN
- Danny Granger nets 25 as Pacers hand Heat 2nd straight double-digit loss
- Amare Stoudemire of New York Knicks out 'indefinitely' due to bulging disk
- Dallas Mavericks' Lamar Odom calls fans' boos 'confusing' and 'hurtful'
Yahoo! Sports
ProBasketball Talk
- Hamilton close to returning for Bulls; Rose not so much
- It’s not pretty, but Knicks solidify playoff standing with win
- Duke makes official what we all knew: Austin Rivers going pro
- Knicks’ Stoudemire out indefinitely with bulging disc in back
- Bogut says you’re "uneducated" if you think he’s injury prone
- NBA Power Rankings: Thunder move up to second spot
- Charles Barkley says Kentucky could beat Toronto, Charlotte
Dime Mag / SLAM Online
- Stock Rising: Landry Fields | Dime Magazine
- The Miami Heat Are Releasing Their Own Watch | Dime Magazine
- Nate McMillan Takes Out A Full-Page Ad To Thank Portland | Dime Magazine
- The 25 Best Basketball Commercials Of All Time | Dime Magazine
- Maryland Lands Sam Cassell Jr. | SLAM Online
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Wrote a Children’s Book | SLAM Online
- Amar’e Stoudemire Out Indefinitely With Bulging Disk | SLAM Online
- LeBron James Overruled Team Security for the Benefit of Military Personnel | SLAM Online
Blogs and Other Links
- Kobe Bryant Dishes Out $329,000 on a New Ferrari 458 Italia | Lakers Nation
- Jeanie Buss Unsure if Phil Jackson Will Return to Coaching | Lakers Nation
- Pau Gasol Partners with Global Health Care Company Grifols | Lakers Nation
- Kobe Bryant & Ramon Sessions-Twenty Four/Seven | Lakers Nation
- Kobe Bryant Frustrated After Being Benched vs. Grizzlies | Lakers Nation
- The Thunder’s Perfect Play | NBA Playbook
- Lakers Still A Top Heavy Team | Forum Blue & Gold
- Report Card: The Heat is most definitely not on right now | Eye On Basketball
- MRI reveals bulging disk for Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire, out indefinitely | Eye On Basketball
- Kyle Lowry could miss the rest of the season | Eye On Basketball
- Essay: Mad Men and the NBA, A Study in Character Significance | Shaky Ankles
The Basketball Jones
- Ep. 786: Very Bad (and Good) Things
- Kevin Garnett and Ryan Hollins are totally BFFs
- Video: Scott Brooks has mad handles
- Tristan Thompson didn’t know enough about Marcin Gortat
- Rivalry alert: Earl Watson will fight DeMarcus Cousins for Devin Harris
- Nate McMillan thanks Portland fans with full-page newspaper ad
Multimedia