Silver Screen and Roll - Lakers vs. Mavs: 10/30/2012A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysishttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13178/silver-fave.jpg2012-10-31T09:49:15-07:00http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/rss/stream/33437932012-10-31T09:49:15-07:002012-10-31T09:49:15-07:00What the Lakers really need is a Princeton defense
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>The Lakers didn't appear strong on either side of the court in their first game, but the Princeton offense was not the main problem on opening night.</p> <p>In the wake of the poor performance the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> and their collection of superstars put together on opening night, much of the attention has turned to coach <span>Mike Brown's</span> off-season decision to instill the Princeton offense. It's easy to understand why; in the second half of last night's contest, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> pulled away, the Lakers offense looked discombobulated and out of sorts. Their final tally of 1.02 points per possession is woeful. And compounding matters is the fact that the Lakers have a seemingly sure fire and ready-made offense waiting in the wings in a <span>Steve Nash</span> led pick and roll.</p>
<p>I get it. Hell, I believe it to a certain extent. I do think it is strange to sign one of the game's great point guards amd then throw him into an offense that marginalizes his talents. I do think it's stupid to have (possibly) the best PNR point guard and (undoubtedly) the best PNR big man and not let that be the focus of the offense. I understand and at least partially agree with this criticism. There's just one issue ... the offense wasn't the problem last night.</p>
<p>Let's go back to that 1.02 PPP number. It's pretty bad, well below league average as compared to the last few seasons. But a big part of that number was one of the worst displays of free throw shooting you will ever see. The Lakers shot 38.7% from the stripe and left 19 points on the board in an eight point loss. Move that number to just 60%, and the Lakers lose by one. With <span>Dwight Howard</span> in tow, free throw shooting is never going to be a Laker strength, but even at his worst, he is usually good for 50% from the line, and his teams have never shot less than 60% combined. The free throw performance was a straight up outlier, and without it, the Laker offense looked decent,</p>
<p>Actually, in the first half, it looked better than decent. At the end of the first half, the Lakers were shooting 55% from the floor. They had 16 assists on 24 baskets. The aforementioned free throws and too many turnovers kept the overall performance muted, but we finally got a glimpse of why the offense might be a good idea. Even after a poor offensive showing in the second half, the Laker tallies of nearly 50% shooting and 24 assists would be enough to make my heart swoon if they keep up over the full season. And ironically, as pointed out by Darius from Forum Blue and Gold, much of the Lakers' struggles came when they went away from the Princeton offense to chase the game.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1663277/Capture.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Capture_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1663277/Capture_medium.JPG"></a></p>
<p>None of this is to say the Princeton offense is a good idea. But to focus on the offense on a night in which the offense showed promise while the Lakers gave up 1.11 PPP to a Mavericks team without <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> is missing the point. The defense was poor last night, and the main culprit, to these eyes at least, was a step-slow Dwight Howard. He was beaten to a surprising number of offensive rebounds, and while he wasn't the only guy slow to rotations, he was hardly the eraser that we've come to expect.</p>
<p>Everything that has been said throughout the preseason about the Lakers defense basically amounts to this: The Lakers are going to be a suspect defensive unit, but Dwight Howard is so good that he can make them solid defensively single handed. What that means is that the Lakers are relying on Dwight Howard to be spectacular defensively. Last night, he was not spectacular. This isn't his fault; the man is recovering from a serious injury and needs some time to shake the cob webs out of his game. In time, I have little doubt that Dwight will continue to be the DPOY presence that he has been throughout his career. But until he gets there, the Lakers defense is going to be a problem, and the Lakers offense is going to need to score a lot of points.</p>
<p>I have no idea whether the Princeton offense is the way to do that. I only know that using last night's game as an excuse to bash the Princeton offense just doesn't jive with the action that took place on the court.</p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/31/3581138/counterpoint-defense-main-problem-for-the-lakersC.A. Clark2012-10-31T08:21:03-07:002012-10-31T08:21:03-07:00Video Highlights: Lakers vs. Mavericks
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>Highlights of the bludgeoning the Los Angeles Lakers took at the hands of rookie Jae Crowder and the Dallas Mavericks. </p> <p>It's alllll over for the Lakers. The season opener, that is. A frustrating game is behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> now, which is where it needs to stay with the second game of their back to back on the agenda against a Portland Trailblazers team that is absolutely going to be ready to run the Lakers out of the gym. It wasn't all bad last night, though, and here are the highlights to remind you that there may still be enough time in an 82 game season for the Lakers to find a way to make this work.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QCdK4iP66Xc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Highlight of the night for me was that beautiful <span>Pau Gasol</span> to <span>Dwight Howard</span> drop off for the flush. Just gorgeous. To note, in the first half the Lakers offense was moving off ball with a purpose. Specifically, both <span>Kobe Bryant</span> and <span>Antawn Jamison</span> were moving through the key repeatedly to get to the rim on cutters. This is a welcome development, and a sign that the Princeton is indeed working, even if it's to a lesser extent than we'd like. It's going to take time for a system like the Princeton to be fully implemented and understood, and the balance that they will need to find is going to take even longer to find, but there is hope to be had. 81 more to go, ladies and gentlemen!</p>
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<p><i>(That Jae Crowder kid can shoot, eh?)</i></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/31/3580768/video-highlights-los-angeles-lakers-vs-dallas-mavericks-10-30-12Drew Garrison2012-10-31T07:02:18-07:002012-10-31T07:02:18-07:00A Princeton Review
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>After assembling a superteam this off-season, the Lakers' offense flopped in their season opener, ultimately leading to their demise against the Mavericks, 99-91. </p> <p>In the program's 111 year history, Princeton University has produced a grand total of nine NBA players. Just one of those players (Bill Bradley) wound up making it into the basketball Hall-of-Fame. Just about the only reason the Princeton Tigers' basketball program has any national recognition is because of the offensive system that <span>Pete Carril</span> established at the school during his 30 year tenure there, appropriately titled the "Princeton Offense."</p>
<p>The system was built around one principle: Player movement. Carril had his teams constantly working off the ball in order to get open looks, with the backdoor cut being the staple result of the action. The Princeton offense doubled as a defensive strategy, as Carill's patient offenses controlled the clock and presented their opposition with few opportunities to get easy baskets.</p>
<p>Essentially, the Princeton offense was a ball control system that Carill developed in order for his less athletic and less skilled squads to compete against the better teams in the country. This was not an offensive scheme designed for players that would latter go onto to play in the NBA. This was an offensive scheme designed for players that would latter go on to be CEOs and lawyers.</p>
<p>In the 40 years since Carill's system became famous, only one NBA coach has successfully implemented in into the pros: <span>Rick Adelman</span> with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Sacramento Kings</a> during the late 90's and early 2000's. That was a team full of lights out shooters, athletic cutters and a very skilled big man to run everything through. Even still, the Kings weren't able to overcome another popular basketball system, the Triangle.</p>
<p>So you may be asking yourself (especially after last night): Why in the world would the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> adopt a system that is designed to slow the game down and to extract every bit of value out of players who can't create for themselves? This was certainly a concern of mine and watching last night's disaster of a game unfold only confirmed the issues that a ball control offenses presents to a team that was constructed to run.</p>
<p>It is very true that the Lakers have personnel that would benefit from the Princeton, mainly <span>Pau Gasol</span>, and that is why Gasol had a very good game last night, scoring 23 points while grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out six assists. Not coincidentally, Chris Webber's season averages while acting as the focal point of the Princeton in Sacramento hovered around 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Running the Princeton with Pau would be all well and fine if he was the best player on this team or if he was working with the bench unit, but the simple fact is that running Princeton sets with the starters on the floor neutralizes all of the advantages that <span>Dwight Howard</span>, <span>Steve Nash</span> and even <span>Kobe Bryant</span> bring to the table.</p>
<p>Last night, it didn't matter which Steve was running point for the Lakers, because you couldn't tell the difference based on the way they played. And that is an absolute travesty when one of your point guards is Steve Nash and the other is Steve Blake. Nash was so ridiculously underutilized last night that it makes calling the Princeton offense into question after just one game totally defensible. Just seven points and four assists for Nash in 34 minutes, with this cast, is simply unacceptable, and it was an embarrassing way for him to start his Laker career.</p>
<p>Most of the time he was on the floor, Nash would bring the ball up the floor, perhaps run and quick pick-and-slip with Dwight, and then pass it off to a teammate before heading off to a corner and standing still until Gasol made a play. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> knew what they were up against and <span>Rick Carlisle</span> came into this game with a brilliant gameplan. If the Lakers were going to take the ball out of Nash's hands, then they weren't going to let him get it back. Dallas stuck to Nash all night long, preventing him from getting open spot-up looks, and forced the Lakers to live and die with Pau, and when he started to miss some shots in the second half, Dallas began to pull away.</p>
<p>Nash thrives with the ball in his hands and with a quick tempo. Everyone knows this. And yet, there the Lakers were, taking the ball out of his hands and playing at an 89 possession pace that would have ranked dead last in the league last season.</p>
<p>And when you slow things down for a center like Howard, you are diminishing the impact he can have on the game. With Andrew Bynum, slowing the game down makes sense because he's a player with a deliberate post game. Dwight? He moves quickly on all of his post-ups and any plodding offense will prevent him from rim running and getting into semi-transition pick-and-rolls that make him such a deadly player stop. When you slow the game down and rely solely on Gasol getting the ball into Howard, you run the risk of a team getting to Howard in time and hacking him, and hack him the Mavericks did last night.</p>
<p>Howard had 19 points and 10 boards, but it was an extremely uninspiring performance. Howard was sent to the line 14 times last night and he converted on only three of his attempts (in case you don't have a calculator handy, that is 21%). Howard also had three turnovers and ended up fouling out of the game in the fourth quarter. Howard may still be battling his way into shape, but he could have been more impactful last night against an undermanned Mavericks team if the Lakers had forced <span>Eddy Curry</span>, <span>Elton Brand</span> and the like to actually chase him down the floor. Instead, Los Angeles gave them a chance to get set defensively and Dallas responded by forcing the Lakers to make free throws. And they didn't: The Lakers shot the worst free throw percentage in NBA history for a team that had at least 30 attempts, due almost entirely to Howard and <span>Jordan Hill</span>, who went 1-for-6.</p>
<p>There were times when the Princeton stuff looked great, specifically when <span>Antawn Jamison</span> was at a forward spot and cutting to the rim, and <span>Jodie Meeks</span> didn't look half bad with his understanding of floor spacing and positioning. But it is abundantly clear that, even after one game, the Princeton is not the optimal system for the Lakers' starting line-up to operate under. Can you use bits and pieces of it from time to time with the starters? Sure. Can you use it full-time when Pau is in the game with the bench mob? Absolutely. But under no circumstances should a team with Steve Nash as it's point guard not be running a pick-and-roll heavy attack that keeps the ball in his hands until an optimal shot is available.</p>
<p>The Princeton did produce some easy looks for Kobe Bryant, which led the best shooting night he's had in a loss since 1996, but it didn't seem like the looks he got wouldn't be produced in a traditional pick-and-roll offense so long as he made it a point to cut to the basket area. Bryant made 11 of his 14 field goal attempts, good for a 22-point outing, but he also didn't rack up any assists and didn't seem to handle the ball in a scoring position outside of the 14 times he shot the ball. I liked what I saw from Kobe in terms of the kind of looks he got but he's also an underrated playmaker and should have more touches than he got last night, if only to make sure the defense is always thinking about him.</p>
<p>Los Angeles' offense was so putrid last night that it overshadowed how poorly the Lakers played defensively. So, not only did <span>Mike Brown</span> find a way to mute some of the greatest offensive talents in basketball, his team also failed to execute in the phase of the game that he hangs his hat on. On top of that, the Lakers came out of the gates flat and it seemed to me like they didn't take the Mavs seriously with Dirk out, and not having your players ready to play falls on the coach (though in the pros, a large amount of blame goes to the players, too). Comparing the jobs that Brown and Carlisle did last night is like comparing apples and oranges. Carlisle's team was ready to play and had an effective gameplan that his team executed to a tee. Brown's team had no spark, a flawed plan of attack and their execution faltered in the second half when the Mavericks started to establish their lead.</p>
<p>Dallas made a lot of crazy shots (how about those <span>Vince Carter</span> pull-ups) but the Lakers' pick-and-roll coverage against <span>Darren Collison</span>, <span>O.J. Mayo</span> and <span>Rodrigue Beaubois</span> was laughable last night, and those guys spearheaded a Dallas attack that worked for open looks and got wide open mid-range pull-up after wide open mid-range pull-up after coming off of screens. Dwight's performance in this area will improve dramatically as he gets into better shape, but the poor play of the secondary defenders on those plays is concerning. Collison's speed also exposed Nash's defense, which we all expected to be a problem, and he showed that Howard won't be able to clean up all of those mistakes because almost all point guards nowadays are capable of pulling up for a jumper in place of challenging Dwight at the rim.</p>
<p>It's important to keep telling yourself that it was just one game, and it doesn't hurt that the Lakers have a chance to redeem themselves against the Blazers tonight. But still, what we witnessed last night was very concerning. Nash has placed some of the blame for the offensive struggles on himself, pointing out that he wasn't very assertive in pick-and-roll situations because he was too concerned about getting into LA's Princeton stuff. With time, I'm certain that his comfortability running the team will improve, but if another team comes at the Lakers with a gameplan as detailed and smart as the one the Mavericks had, then these are the kind of struggles that they are going to have.</p>
<p>And with a roster like this, that's not OK.</p>
<p>The Lakers get back at it tonight. Let's hope they have a better feel for things against a young Blazers squad.</p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/31/3579858/a-princeton-reviewMark Travis2012-10-30T22:35:01-07:002012-10-30T22:35:01-07:00Lakers final score: Mavs trounce Lakers, 99-91
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>The Los Angeles Lakers struggled in all facets of the game on opening night, losing big to a Dallas Mavericks team missing some key components.</p> <p>In an inauspicious start for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> superteam, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> beat the Lakers all over the court en route to an easy victory by the final score of 99-91. It was a tale of two halves for the Lakers. In the first half, they shot 55% from the field and assisted on 16 of their 24 baskets, but still trailed by two due to missed free throws, turnovers, and poor defensive rebounding. The second half was more of the bad, without any of the good. The offense broke down while the defense stayed poor, and Dallas pulled away in the 3rd quarter and never looked back. The Lakers piled on some garbage time points, including a <span>Pau Gasol</span> three at the buzzer, but this game was not in any way close.</p>
<p>Ironically, the worst part of the preseason looked to be the best part of the Lakers game early on. Running almost exclusively Princeton sets, the Lakers' first half offensive execution was strong. The assists came from all over the board, with every starter except Kobe getting into the act. But the defensive rotations looked as neglected as one might expect from a team counting on big defensive contributions from a guy they haven't played very much with. And it has to be said; defensively, <span>Dwight Howard</span> was very much off his game.</p>
<p>A step slow the whole night, Howard struggled to provide the kind of defensive cover the Lakers will require to be anywhere near above average on that end of the floor. He was stuck on 6 rebounds towards the end of the fourth quarter until a late game flurry of offensive rebounds brought his total to ten. And his free throw shooting was the kind of liability that really hurts a team's chances of having an efficient offense, just 3-14 on the night. And he wasn't the worst performing newcomer of the evening. <span>Steve Nash</span> had a night to forget, hitting just 3-9 shots and 4 assists, he looked out of sorts in every possible way.</p>
<p>But much of the blame for the Lakers' lackluster performance will surely be aimed at head coach <span>Mike Brown</span>. I'm not sure who's angrier at Mike Brown right now, Lakers fans who want the team to do well, or non-Lakers fans who just want to see Steve Nash and Dwight Howard be the best pick and roll combo the world has ever seen. Either way, there was plenty of ammunition for both sides of the line to begin discussing how long things can carry on like tonight. But this is just the first game of a long season, one in which it was always a given that the Lakers would need some time to figure things out. And credit to Dallas, they played a hell of a game.</p>
<p>The only real bright side of the night was the efficient play of Kobe Bryant. Scoring 22 points on 11-14 shooting, Kobe did most of his work off the ball and was everything Lakers fans could want him to be when sharing the court with so many other stars. That he performed so well when we weren't sure if he would even play is a good sign that the Mamba is ready to fill the role the team needs him to fill.</p>
<p>The most obvious takeaway from tonight's performance is that Dwight Howard is going to need some time just getting his complete game back, and the Lakers may not look like a particularly inspired team until he does.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Poss.</span></b></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">TO%</span></b></p>
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<p> </p>
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<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">89</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">12</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">0.21</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">78</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">0.18</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">50</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">33</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">50</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">53</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">24</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">65</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.11</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 36.9pt; border: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="49">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lakers</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">89</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">13</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">0.40</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">39</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">0.17</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">55</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">23</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">51</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">50</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">35</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">76</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 33.0pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" width="44">
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.02</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/30/3579694/lakers-final-score-mavs-trounce-lakers-99-91C.A. Clark2012-10-30T19:15:04-07:002012-10-30T19:15:04-07:00Opening Night: Lakers Vs Mavs
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/m2NUmaCg6CwgTjBAIXgNu6GuGGA=/0x1074:2779x2927/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2345795/154541856.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Activate launch.</p> <p>We're back! Enough with the offseason moves and practice reports and such. It's time for some uncut, pharmaceutical-grade basketball. <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a>, <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> and a Silver Screen and Roll game thread... what else do you need for a sexy and exciting Thursday night?</p>
<p>The Lakers are hefty <a href="http://www.covers.com/odds/basketball/nba-spreads.aspx">8 1/2-point favorites</a> over the Mavs this evening. That might have a little to do with <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> not participating in the action. He's recuperating from surgery on his right knee. <span>Kobe Bryant</span> will go, however, as will <span>Dwight Howard</span>. Under these circumstances, it would quite behoove the Lakers to win so everyone can calm down about what happened in the preseason.</p>
<p>Please keep in mind our rules about game threads: keep everything game-related, don't repeat the same point a dozen times and obey your mods. No GIFs or pics until the game's over. Thanks for helping to keep everything moving and under control.</p>
<p>It's gonna be a fun season, and it all starts tonight. Let 'er rip!</p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/30/3578380/lakers-mavericks-open-threadDexterFishmore2012-10-30T15:59:30-07:002012-10-30T15:59:30-07:00A fresh start against an old foe
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vTkjJdzGob2C1zqlFRDYpm0JpUI=/0x40:518x385/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2345133/20120221_mje_se2_056.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The NBA season kicks off tonight with the Los Angeles Lakers debuting their star studded coterie against the team that made them see the need to upgrade in the first place.</p> <p>Tonight, an NBA season that is poised to bring untold levels of excitement and intrigue to the Los Angeles area finally begins. After what seems like an eternity in the few short months that have passed since Mitch Kupchak's ninja attack on the NBA, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> will finally get to debut an All-Star starting lineup that has us giddy with delight. Tonight begins a new era of Lakers basketball.</p>
<p>Of course, it wasn't that long ago that the Lakers were in the midst of the previous era of Lakers basketball. And it is no small irony that the team responsible for that era's untimely demise is the team that will be standing opposite the Lakers around the center circle tonight. Nor is the irony small that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> are no closer to resembling the team that swept the two-time defending champion Lakers away like a bit of dust on sidewalk than the Lakers are. Both teams have gone through a complete identity overhaul, keeping only the main superstar and one supporting player while overhauling just about everything else.</p>
<p>But Dallas was not nearly as lucky as the Lakers have been. Los Angeles restructured by choice, and they did so without ever risking not being a competitive squad. Meanwhile, Dallas sacrificed everything (i.e. a chance to defend their championship with the players that got them there) for the opportunity to take part in this season's free agent sweepstakes. When Dwight Howard made his rather stunning about face and agreed to the option year on his contract, it put Dallas in a tight spot. When <span>Deron Williams</span> decided that New Jersey should be his permanent home, it put Dallas in a dark place. Now, with Howard in Los Angeles and (presumptively) not looking for a new home anymore, Dallas has been forced to punt and hope the plan has better luck next off-season, without much hope of success.</p>
<p>That said, Dallas has done an admirable job of making a decent roster out of pieces and parts collected from across the league. They probably won't be anywhere near the top half of the Western Conference playoff draw, but considering that the entire team is pretty much an afterthought when compared to the goal of acquiring a top tier star via free agency, the Mavericks are one hell of a competitive afterthought. <span>Elton Brand</span> and <span>Chris Kaman</span>, along with <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span>, combine to form a trio of big men who all have their merits, though only the (real) German is the kind of player that strikes fear in your heart. The back court is an intriguing pair of guys who seem like they have a lot more to give the NBA than they've previously given. <span>Darren Collison</span> did such an excellent job in place of an injured <span>Chris Paul</span> that some downgraded their assessment of Paul's quality as a result, but after CP3 came back and Collision was subsequently shipped to Indiana, he hasn't come close to capitalizing on his early strong showing. And <span>O.J. Mayo</span> has always been a guy from whom more was expected. If Collison and Mayo pan out, and if Brand and Kaman provide decent production at a cut rate, the Mavs will be a competitive outfit, and that is impressive because remaining competitive seems to be low on the team's list of priorities at the moment.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Dallas, they won't much resemble that team tonight. Dirk Nowitzki is set to miss the first few weeks of the season after having surgery, and Chris Kaman is also doubtful for tonight's contest as well. Who does that leave jumping center for the Mavs tonight? <span>Eddy Curry</span> ... against Dwight Howard. Good luck with that, 'Baby Shaq'.</p>
<p>So, let the fun begin. Let the questions begin turning into answers. Tonight we find out just how beholden the Lakers are to an offense that hasn't been very successful so far in the preseason. Tonight, we start finding out how much liability can be erased by <span>Dwight Howard's</span> defensive assets (Hey, Accounting humor!). Tonight, we get our first glimpse at real rotations that will surely involve portions of the Lakers All-Star cast at all times.</p>
<p>Tonight begins a new era of Lakers basketball, one that is guaranteed to be short-lived. It's an important distinction to make, because it means there is no time to waste. What better way to start it than by exorcising the demons of the era that came before.</p>
<p><i>Tickets to tonight's game provided by our ticketing partner, TiqIQ: </i><br><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/SilverScreenandRoll/NBA/Los-Angeles-Lakers-Tickets" target="_blank">http://www.tiqiq.com/<wbr></wbr>SilverScreenandRoll/NBA/Los-<wbr></wbr>Angeles-Lakers-Tickets</a></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/30/3577462/los-angeles-lakers-dallas-mavs-game-preview-NBA-opening-nightC.A. Clark