Silver Screen and Roll - Weekend Los Angeles Lakers News: 11/16/12 - 11/18/12A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysishttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13178/silver-fave.jpg2012-11-18T11:44:24-08:00http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/rss/stream/34220452012-11-18T11:44:24-08:002012-11-18T11:44:24-08:00Rockets at Lakers Preview: The Beard vs. The Mamba
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Previewing the Houston Rockets - Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night game featuring James Harden and Jeremy Lin stepping into Staples Center to take on the Mike D'Antoni coached purple (white) and gold squad.</p> <p>Fresh off a win with the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a>, the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a> march onwards with a new general out on the battlefield with them. What has felt like a drama that has strung us all along for weeks comes to an end with Mike D'Antoni raising the Lakers' purple and gold banner up on the sidelines as they face the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a>. While the Lakers dominated headlines over the Summer, the Rockets made waves despite missing their number 1 target; <span>Dwight Howard</span>.</p>
<p>Adding <span>Jeremy Lin</span> and <span>Omer Asik</span> to their roster screamed Morey-ball. Playing the advanced statistics and adding players that should do well when asked to do the specific tasks they excel at is what the man who pores over the stats does. Then, Houston went ahead and shook the basketball world just before the season tipped off by acquiring The Bearded One aka Iron Beard aka MF BEARD aka <span>James Harden</span>. It sparked huge debates through the basketball world, but for all intents and purposes, the Houston Rockets were elated that they had finally landed the superstar they wanted with the pieces they had stockpiled over time. Whether the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> made the right move in sending the reigning Sixth Man of the Year off to Texas remains to be seen, but as Lakers fans, we know a thing or two about doing exactly that. These things take time to develop. Can they flip <span>Kevin Martin's</span> expiring contract for another piece, or is his talent going to be a great fit off the bench? Will their draft picks pan out to be talent that helps push the Thunder over the top in a top heavy league? Will the financial flexibility pay off over the next few years?</p>
<p>The questions rained down, but the one that mattered the most to Houston? <i>Is James Harden a #1 type of player?</i></p>
<p>To open the season Harden dropped 37 points and 12 dimes. How's that for a #1 scoring option?</p>
<p><i>Still, is he worth max money? That was against Detroit, after all, everybody!</i></p>
<p><b>45 points later</b> in the second game of the season, this much became clear: James Harden is one <b>hell</b> of a talent and the Rockets were clearly in the right to bring him on as their "superstar" of the future.</p>
<p>So, here we are, the Lakers getting ready to throw on the Sunday white jerseys to take on the James Harden led Rockets for a Sunday night slug fest. Asik is a great rebounder and defender who will have his work cut out for him as the Lakers bigs crash the offensive boards like <span>Eddy Curry</span> crashes pizza parties. Having two great pick and roll creators in Jeremy Lin and James Harden will test the Lakers defense, but with <span>Darius Morris</span> continuing to gain confidence and much needed experience, one can only hope we see the form in which he hounded <span>Tony Parker</span> and <span>Goran Dragic</span> (in the 4th quarter, at least).</p>
<p>James Harden has historically done a great job of defending <span>Kobe Bryant</span>, keeping his feet on the ground as Kobe pump fakes repeatedly hoping to get just one bite. Both shooting guards are tearing through the league, Kobe averaging 26.9 points per game and Harden netting 26.7 points per game. The two going blow for blow should make for a great basketball game to end a wild week for the Lakers.</p>
<p>So, grab your can of rally Pringles to cheer on the Los Angeles Lakers and let's hopefully end the week right. With a win that can bring the Lakers to a .500 record on the year.</p>
<p><i>- Drew</i></p>
<p><i>- Follow this author on Twitter </i><a href="https://twitter.com/BallReasons" target="_blank"><i>@BallReasons</i></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-tickets?pubid=1011035">Los Angeles Lakers Tickets</a></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/18/3662402/houston-rockets-at-los-angeles-lakers-previewDrew Garrison2012-11-18T10:42:42-08:002012-11-18T10:42:42-08:00Talking Trends: An Analytical View of the Lakers
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<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>With about 10% of the NBA Season out of the way, the Los Angeles Lakers will now begin their journey to find their identity with new head coach Mike D'Antoni beginning with Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets. Welcome to a new periodical column here at Silver Screen & Roll that will detail what the Lakers are doing using the charts, tables, and data from the many resources on the web available.</p> <p>Mike D'Antoni will be taking over the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> starting Sunday against the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>. Only nine games into the season, he has plenty of time to discover how to squeeze the most out of his new purple and gold clad team, and it should be an interesting journey to say the least. With the uptempo offense centered pick and roll usage the Lakers should look much more fluid, and according to D'Antoni should be dropping 110-115 points night in and night out. With the top end talent featured on the team it's hard to argue against that idea.</p>
<p>However, nine games into the season, trends have begun to establish themselves. Jordan Hill has been an outstanding offensive rebounder, <span>Kobe Bryant's</span> efficiency is a joy to watch (seriously, had to dry my eyes after typing that), and <span>Pau Gasol</span> has been rather inefficient as a floor spreader. Every Sunday we'll pull numbers, charts, and stats from the various resources on the internet to detail not just what the Lakers are doing, but the why and how as well. So, without further adieu, let's talk trends.</p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Kobe Bryant</b></u></p>
<p>It's been widely analyzed and discussed, but Kobe Bryant has been amazingly efficient to start the season. What it mainly stems from is his relentless attacking of the rim. Perhaps the German knee procedure took some time to settle in because this has been the season of Kobe driving past defenders for lay-ups. Granted, they aren't all "easy" by any means, but Kobe is showing fantastic body control even when taking contact in the paint. It's only a small sample size so far, and Kobe started last season hot from the field as well, but this is a trend that hopefully continues going forward. An efficient Kobe is a <strike>good</strike> great Kobe.</p>
<p><i><b>What to watch</b></i>: FGA, FG%, Cut (Synergy - offense), Transition (Synergy - offense), Spot up (Synergy - offense), Isolation (Synergy - offense), Shot chart</p>
<p align="center"><u>Kobe Bryant - Basketball-Reference Per Game Stats</u></p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758651/kobebr.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Kobebr_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758651/kobebr_medium.JPG" height="37" width="526"></a> <br id="1353263626181"></p>
<p align="center"><u>Kobe Bryant - Synergy Offense Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758403/kobe_o_synergy.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Kobe_o_synergy_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758403/kobe_o_synergy_medium.JPG" height="204" width="526"></a></p>
<p align="center"><u>Kobe Bryant - Vorped Shot Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Kobe_chart_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758411/kobe_chart_medium.png" height="325" width="350"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b><span>Dwight Howard</span></b></u></p>
<p>Dwight Howard will potentially be the largest beneficiary in the hiring of Mike D'Antoni. As brought up time and time again Howard was the leagues best pick and roll finisher. It's difficult to judge how deadly the Nash-Howard two man game can become considering how limited their time together has been, but adding D'Antoni into the mix certainly increases their chance of finding the supreme success envisioned when they were brought together. Currently he has only seen the ball in an extremely limited quantinty, 3 total times, after rolling to the basket. This. Will. Change. Also of interest is if his straight post-up attempts decrease with a renewed focus on screening, then rolling, then screening, then rolling, then... you get it. His defensive numbers overall have been solid. While D'Antoni's defense may worry some, he's never had the weapons he has in Dwight Howard and <span>Metta World Peace</span>.</p>
<p><i><b>What to watch:</b></i> P&R roll man (Synergy - offense), Post up (Synergy - offense), Offensive rebounding (Synergy - offense), Overall (Synergy - defense)</p>
<p align="center"><u>Dwight Howard - Synergy Offense Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758419/dwight_howard_synergy_o.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Dwight_howard_synergy_o_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758419/dwight_howard_synergy_o_medium.JPG"></a></p>
<p align="center"><u>Dwight Howard - Synergy Defense Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Dwight_d_synergy_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758427/dwight_d_synergy_medium.JPG"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Pau Gasol</b></u></p>
<p>Pau Gasol has yet to play a game under his new head coach and already the trade stew is being stirred. Mike D'Antoni is a coach that wants to squeeze every drop of juice out of the offensive talent at his disposal and it's difficult to imagine the Lakers would be falling over themselves to trade away the skilled big man before, at the very least, D'Antoni had the opportunity to tinker with having Pau on the floor. In Friday night's win over the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> Pau got off to a red hot start that wasn't flashy by any means. He stood in that 15-20 foot range, let the ball come to him, and shot the ball without hesitation. Still, his percentages from mid-range have left much to be desired, and his defense has been problematic. Seeing what Mike D'Antoni does with Pau Gasol may be the most intriguing change coming for the Lakers, though it's also just as likely that his role remains similar to what it was last season, where he essentially stood around the elbow, facilitated, and was just a mid-range spacer. The difference, though, will be the schemes in which D'Antoni tries to make the shot as efficient as possible for Pau. A final note, take a look at Pau's defensive chart. His post defense is ranked #1 in the league, allowing just .54 points per possession. While he does take plenty of heat for being problematic on the defensive side of the ball, when he's focused solely on the post he remains an elite defender.</p>
<p><i><b>What to watch:</b></i> FG%, Shot chart, Spot up (Synergy - offense), Post up (Synergy - offense), Post up (Synergy - defense)</p>
<p align="center"><u>Pau Gasol - Synergy Offense Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pau_synergy_o_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758435/pau_synergy_o_medium.JPG"></p>
<p align="center"><u>Pau Gasol - Synergy Defense Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pau_d_synergy_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758443/pau_d_synergy_medium.JPG"></p>
<p align="center"><u>Pau Gasol - Vorped Shot Chart</u></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758451/pau_shot_chart.png" target="_blank"></a> <br id="1353260957640"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pau_shot_chart_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758451/pau_shot_chart_medium.png" height="356" width="383"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Metta World Peace</b></u></p>
<p>It's no secret that Metta World Peace will be a giant X factor for everything Mike D'Antoni can do to space the floor. MWP will need to bring his three point percentage up and over the 34% it's at currently to something closer to 38%. Can he? He's a career 34% shooter from deep but has accomplished that 38% or higher range twice in his time in the NBA. In fact through the season prior to the Lakers acquiring him he shot 39.9% in Houston.</p>
<p><i><b>What to watch:</b></i> 3P%, P&R ball handler (Synergy - defense)</p>
<p align="center"><u>Metta World Peace - Synergy Defense Chart<br></u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Mwp_synergy_d_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758507/MWP_synergy_d_medium.JPG"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b><span>Jodie Meeks</span></b></u></p>
<p align="left">The specific player that should definitely be excited about Mike D'Antoni becoming the head coach is Jodie Meeks. Under <span>Mike Brown</span>, Meeks hardly saw the floor in anything besides garbage time. The widely applauded off-season signing was supposed to be the backup shooting guard that could help spread the floor for <span>Steve Nash</span> and Dwight Howard. Currently, he's shooting a disgusting 23% from downtown on 10.4 minutes per game. His struggles can be linked to never getting an opportunity to get into the flow of the game under Brown, but with a new coach who will look to spread the floor, expect Meeks to see an increased role for the purple and gold.</p>
<p align="left"><i><b>What to watch</b></i>: 3P%, Shot chart</p>
<p align="center"><u>Jodie Meeks - Vorped Shot Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Meekssc1_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758539/meekssc1_medium.png" height="324" width="347"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Shot Clock Usage</b></u></p>
<p>Seven seconds or less? Not quite. Mike D'Antoni dispelled the "SSOL" mantra and replaced it with his philosophy that he wants one highly efficient shot per possession "24 seconds or less". Still, he acknowledged he expects to pick up the pace a bit from the ever-clunky Princeton with the notion that the team with the superior offense should strive to tack on as many possessions as possible. Surprisingly, 39% of the Lakers shots have come within 1-10 seconds of the shot clock ticking. Still, the needle should tick a bit closer to 50% over time as a philosophy focused around pushing the ball should at least net a 11% swing.</p>
<p align="center"><u>82games.com - Shot Clock Usage Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Shot_clock_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758515/shot_clock_medium.JPG"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Offensive Rebounding</b></u></p>
<p>A critical piece in the success the Lakers have found lies in their ability to crash the offensive glass. As Ben mentioned in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/17/3659122/beast-or-burden-week-end-at-bernies">Saturday's Beast or Burden</a>, <span>Jordan Hill's</span> rebounding percentage is staggering at 24.2%. As as a team they rank 2<sup>nd</sup> in the league by the percentages, pulling in 35.6% of available misses on the offensive end. It's unlikely Hill can maintain that 24%, however, as a unit that has three bigs who are great rebounders (Howard, Gasol, Hill), there's no reason they shouldn't be able to stay in the upper echelon's of the league in this statistic.</p>
<p align="center"><u>Basketball-Reference.com - Player Advanced Stat Charts</u></p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758523/oreb.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Oreb_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758523/oreb_medium.JPG"></a> <br id="1353262997612"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Team Shot Mapping</b></u></p>
<p align="left">Finally, an overall look at where the Lakers are finding their offense wraps this up with a pretty little bow. It's blatantly obvious that the Lakers are currently focused on pounding the ball into the paint. Which, thus far, has been super effective unlike Metapod's harden.</p>
<p align="center"><u>Los Angeles Lakers - Vorped Shot Chart</u></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Lakers_shot_chart_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758603/lakers_shot_chart_medium.png" height="322" width="345"></p>
<p align="center"><u><b>Bonus: <span>Josh Smith</span> Shot Chart</b></u></p>
<p align="left">Of course, no season is complete with trying to find a way to trade Pau Gasol. The latest? A throwback Josh Smith clamoring. This trade makes almost no sense for the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a>, and perhaps even less sense for the Los Angeles Lakers. Sure, he's athletic, can get to the rim, can move on defense, and will possibly play split-screen Call of Duty with Dwight Howard, but floor spacer he is NOT. I'm just going to leave this here.</p>
<p align="center"><u>Josh Smith - Vorped Shot Chart</u></p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758611/jsmithsc.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Jsmithsc_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1758611/jsmithsc_medium.png" height="315" width="337"></a> <br id="1353262962313"></p>
<p align="left">With the Mike D'Antoni era for the Los Angeles Lakers taking off tonight, everything may change for the Lakers. We'll be here at Silver Screen & Roll tracking the data and letting the numbers speak for themselves every Sunday, so be sure to check in with what we dig up and what the latest developing trend is.</p>
<p align="left">- <i>Drew</i></p>
<p align="left"><i>- Follow this author on Twitter <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BallReasons">@BallReasons</a></i></p>
<p align="left">- Statistical data taken from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.82games.com/">82games.com</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.basketball-reference.com">Basketball-Rerence.com</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mysynergysports.com/">MySynergySports.com</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://vorped.com/bball/">Vorped.com</a></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/18/3662088/talking-trends-an-analytical-view-of-the-los-angeles-lakersDrew Garrison2012-11-17T15:42:56-08:002012-11-17T15:42:56-08:00Beast or Burden: Week(end) at Bernie's
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>In the final game of Bernie Bickerstaff's brief stint as a Lakers coach, the Lakers defeated the Suns and started to display the first signs of Mike D'Antoni's influence.</p> <p>It would have been a fitting debut for Mike D'Antoni to go up against the team with which he had experienced his greatest success and to do it with <span>Steve Nash</span> by his side, but alas, it was not in the cards. In his place, <span>Bernie Bickerstaff</span> presided over a fairly straightforward win for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>, but you could have erred in assuming that D'Antoni was on the sidelines nevertheless. The Lakers pushed the pace on offense, ran an awful lot of pick-and-roll, and the ball moved fluidly to the open man off penetration or via simple passing on the perimeter. As D'Antoni stated in his press conference, one of the basic principles of his offense is that you search for the best shot on the floor -- the ball finding "energy" so to speak -- and while this appears to be a simple concept, it bespeaks his preference for a rhythm offense in which the flow on the floor creates opportunities instead of predetermined playcalling in the <span>Mike Brown</span> mold.</p>
<p>Last night, the Lakers followed this philosophy to great success, helped by a lot of players doing the simple act of hitting their shots. Surprise, surprise: put players in a system in which they feel no pressure to execute plays, are going through the motions of the offense naturally and shots find their way into the net. With the talent on the roster, you want a framework under which the sheer talent on the roster can express itself, and you can see as a result why it is unsurprising that so many players express a preference for playing under D'Antoni. A slow grind-it-out strategy of controlled possessions is for a different roster and perhaps even a different era, let alone for this team. If we can take any positive from D'Antoni's hiring, it is that the team finally seems to be finding an identity to settle on, and that in and of itself is worth the tedium and drama of the Lakers' coaching change.</p>
<p><b>Beast</b></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b><span>Jordan Hill</span> </b>-- Okay, at this point, it is less a discussion of whether Hill is the Lakers' best bench player, but whether he is the Lakers' third best player period. His offensive rebounding numbers are just absurd: an otherworldly 24.2 ORB% leads the league by a vast margin -- number two is <span>Kenneth Faried</span> with a 20.8 ORB%. To put that into perspective, if he kept that up over the course of the season, it would be the best mark in league history. Better than Dennis Rodman, Moses Malone, or any other rebounding demon you care to mention. Obviously, there is almost no way he can keep this up -- furiously knocks on wood -- but it is extremely impressive nonetheless. And Hill is no slouch elsewhere on the court, hitting shots in the post and from midrange, the latter item of which should prove especially valuable in D'Antoni's offense. On defense, he is shaping up to be a great pick-and-roll and help defender, with a spectacular block on <span>Marcin Gortat</span> as he rolled to the rim for a two handed dunk. His lone weakness on that end is in straight-up post defense against bigger centers, as he is still a bit of a tweener in the frontcourt, but you wouldn't be remiss in calling him the Lakers' most impressive player last night as he keyed a Laker run at the start of the fourth quarter. Bravo, sir. Bravo.</span></li>
<li> <b style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Kobe Bryant</span> </b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">-- This was the first game this year in which Kobe's efficiency slipped, as he finally needed volume to put up his points. To his credit, this was partly since he clunked a number of wide open jumpers he has been making in previous games, and he did not stop doing his usual thing: attacking the rim, scoring off the pick-and-roll, and helping to direct the offense on the floor. Best of all was his six assists against only one turnover, a more than welcome change given the Lakers' point guard situation and the role he will be asked to play as an occasional pick-and-roll operator in D'Antoni's offense. One wishes he could play a little less, however, given how well the next guy on the list played last night.</span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b><span>Jodie Meeks</span> </b>-- Meeks had his best game in a Lakers' uniform and still didn't crack ten minutes played, unfortunate not only for the amount of time Kobe had to spend on the floor, but the fact that Meeks was a genuine difference maker on the court. He finally got into a good rhythm -- and for shooters, rhythm means everything; again, there is a reason a lot of players look a lot better under the auspices of D'Antoni's system -- and limited his dribbling to getting a pick, taking a dribble or two, and going up immediately for a shot. He also has been the <i>only </i>player on the floor to realize that after Howard sets a pick, it might be a good idea to hit the league's best roll man with a pass as he goes to the rim. In short, Meeks did nothing outside of his expected role, but he did it all well and that's what the Lakers need off the bench.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b><span>Metta World Peace</span> </b>-- On that subject of shooters finding a rhythm, how about MWP? He is going to be left open all day behind the arc and he reciprocated with five threes, all in the corner with his feet set off penetration or a post kick out. His only other two makes were two surprisingly component drives to the rim from the wing, admittedly against a truly terrible defender in Michael Beasley. We thought that MWP would adapt well to the Princeton offense given he was one of the few players on the roster who had experience in such a system -- twice under <span>Rick Adelman</span> in Sacramento and Houston -- but one can see how an offense that gets the ball to MWP in rhythm for catch-and-shoot opportunities also fits his style of play well; moreover, the more he is limited to those shots, the better for the offense all-around.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b><span>Pau Gasol</span> </b>-- Pau finally got over the hump on his midrange jumpers, hitting five in a row to start the game off penetration or the pick-and-roll before Phoenix finally took the shot away. Unsurprisingly, that is going to be a big part of his game just as it was last year since Pau is the only big on the roster aside from Hill who can be part of the pick-and-pop and act as a release valve for spacing purposes. And even though we keep on saying that Pau needs to get in the post more, he could buttress that argument by performing better there as well. All those fadeaways can be safely replaced by his repertoire of hook shots or if he doesn't have position, a pass out and subsequent re-post. Defensively, Pau is still struggling against the pick-and-roll at either frontcourt spot, his deficiency appearing especially glaring given how adept Howard and Hill are against it. This noted, he still makes a lot of positive plays at that end and is hardly a liability, but D'Antoni could be well served by figuring out a way to compensate for Pau's limitations in this regard.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b><span>Darius Morris</span> </b>-- Although his defense wasn't up to par for a good portion of the night, Morris appeared much more comfortable on offense, notching six dimes off penetration, including a sick, no-look pass to Hill for a dunk. Morris' visible improvement across these few games has been arguably the best unintended side effect of the Nash injury, as he gets at least another week in the rotation until Nash returns. His athleticism and size for the position offer interesting potential and by all accounts, he is capitalizing on it. Even last year, during which Morris looked every bit a nineteen year old rookie, his defense was decent and he never really got the reps he needed to develop. Well, he is doing so now and given that we all expect Nash to seamlessly integrate into the offense when he returns, the current state of affairs could reap some fruit in the long-term.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Honorable mention goes to <span>Dwight Howard</span>, who put up a very decent line of 18 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, and some solid overall defense, but he still hasn't looked like the spectacular Dwight we are expecting. Naturally, his physical state is to blame, but he could stand to fix his painfully apparent turnover problem. He brings the ball low every single time in the post and opposing players are swiping at it time and time again with success. Of course, it doesn't help that no one on the team besides the aforementioned Meeks has been able to find him for easy dunks on the roll or on cuts, something that should change when Nash gets back, but he has to fix this issue either way.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><b>Burden</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b>Defense </b>-- On a night in which the Lakers put up a 56 TS%, it is hard to blame anyone on the offense other than <span>Darius Johnson-Odom</span> and Morris trying to score before time expired. No bueno, youngsters. Even <span>Antawn Jamison</span> and <span>Chris Duhon</span>, both of whom have not been performing well to say the least, were inoffensive at the very least while on the court. But the defense for most of the night was lax, not bothering to rotate to shooters or trap the only person capable of running the Phoenix offense in <span>Goran Dragic</span> aggressively off the pick-and-roll. Laker turnovers frequently ended up as Phoenix scores and in general, the Lakers' transition defense was fairly miserable. The Lakers tightened the screws in the fourth as the bench unit led by Hill and Dwight, without a doubt the Lakers' best defensive frontcourt, led a big run, but beforehand, the kind of defensive effort we saw against the likes of San Antonio was nowhere to be found. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>Follow this author on Twitter <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#%21/brosales12">@brosales12</a></i><i>.</i>
</div>
</div>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/17/3659122/beast-or-burden-week-end-at-berniesBen Rosales2012-11-17T09:12:08-08:002012-11-17T09:12:08-08:00Lakers win final game before D'Antoni takes over
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q83UsSUMjeWlV_cH8Swb-NWcdjU=/1331x709:3879x2408/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3433363/155949599.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Lakers won what is most likely the final game under interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff. With the D'Antoni era ready to begin, hat tip goes out to Bickerstaff for releasing the shackles placed on the team and letting them play glorified pick-up basketball on the way to a successful 3-1 record.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> defeated the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> on Friday night in what is hopefully the final game of the <span>Bernie Bickerstaff</span> era. Bickerstaff wasn't asked to do much with this team. The Lakers have an abundance of talent. They just needed the right environment in which to put the talent on display. Bickerstaff removed the offensive shackles placed on the team and just let the guys do what they've done their whole lives, play ball. The Lakers rewarded him with a 3-1 record, the only loss coming in the final possessions against a great <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> team. Bernie can now make the illustrious claim that he has the highest winning percentage for any coach in Lakers history, 75%.</p>
<p>Last night's game will quickly fade from our memories as just another contest in a long 82-game regular season grind. It wasn't against a memorable opponent. It wasn't with the newly-signed Mike D'Antoni at the helm. It didn't feature the deadly Nash-Howard pick and roll that we have been waiting anxiously for. This was about as close to a meaningless game as one will find. However, when one digs a little deeper, the Lakers gave a glimpse of what this team can become. This Lakers team is a juggernaut just waiting to hit its stride.</p>
<p>The Lakers offense last night scored 114 points in 95 possessions for an offensive rating of roughly 120. Make no mistake, this Suns team is not good defensively. In fact, they are downright awful as they are ranked dead last in defensive rating, giving up 110 points per 100 possessions. But even by the Suns' depressing standard, the Lakers were excellent. When looking at the box score, the thing that stands out to me is that the Lakers ought to be able have this kind of offense on a nearly nightly basis.</p>
<p><span>Pau Gasol</span> finally showed the type of mid-range game that has been non-existent all season. The big Spaniard has consistently shot around 45% on mid and long range two point attempts during his career in LA. Prior to last night, he was only 20 of 72 (28%) on the season. He hadn't been able to convert the wide open shots at the top of the key consistently. His shooting slump came to an abrupt end when during a three-minute stretch in the first quarter Gasol torched the Suns as they sagged off of him to help on Howard. The play-by-play looks like this:</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;">
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>7:43 - Pau Gasol makes 22-foot jumper (<span>Kobe Bryant</span> assists)</li>
<li>6:39 - Pau Gasol makes 21-foot jumper (Kobe Bryant assists)</li>
<li>5:56 - Pau Gasol makes 19-foot jumper (Kobe Bryant assists)</li>
<li>5:09 - Pau Gasol makes 18-foot jumper (Metta World Peace assists)</li>
<li>4:33 - Pau Gasol makes 21-foot jumper (<span>Darius Morris</span> assists)</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>The Suns, to their credit, changed up their defense in light of this. They began to keep Gasol's defender higher up in the key to stay with Pau rather than providing help on Howard. They instead chose to bring the help defense from the weak-side by having <span>Metta World Peace's</span> defender sag down near the key to attempt to strip Howard of the ball. The Lakers countered by kicking the ball to Metta World Peace who launched 10 three's on the night. Normally the idea of Metta firing that many shots is cringe inducing, but these were the wide open variety and he proceeded to hit half of them on his way to a 22-point night.</p>
<p>This is what has to make Lakers fans giddy. When this team is fully healthy, the Lakers will be able to run a pick and roll at the top of the key with Nash and Howard. Pairing the best pick and roll point guard and big man will be unstoppable without the defense rotating to help. But who will they rotate off of? Certainly they won't leave a rejuvenated and more efficient Kobe Bryant for a wide open jump shot. Teams have been choosing to sag off of Gasol from the top and World Peace from the corner. Tonight both players got the same type of shots they have gotten all season long, but tonight they made the wide open shots. The result was a season high 114 points on the scoreboard.</p>
<p>The other thing that is becoming evident is that the Lakers are incredibly fortunate to have acquired Jordan Hill for essentially nothing. The unquestioned best player on the bench is providing the Lakers with something they severely lacked last year, a solid three-man rotation on the front line. <span>Jordan Hill's</span> play so far this season can't be understated. He is currently the league leader in offensive rebound rate and it isn't close. The star power of his teammates that draws the opponents attention, combined with his constant effort and nose for the ball allows him to pull down nearly one out of four Lakers misses to give the offense another chance. It is the primary reason his PER is over 20. He has shown an ability to hit a mid-range jump shot along with a few small hook shots near the basket. Last night he had another highly efficient game as he scored 10 points on 50% shooting with 5 rebounds (4 offensive), 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and no turnovers. Well done, sir. Well done.</p>
<p>The final take-away from last night's game is turnovers. After all the talk about the Lakers' issues with turnovers, we can finally say something positive in this regard. The Lakers finished with only 11 turnovers, a season low. Sure Howard had his issues (4 turnovers again), but the rest of the team played within themselves and did not commit turnovers trying to do more than they are capable of. The Lakers can live with Howard's turnovers, which have always plagued the big man, so long as the rest of the team takes care of the ball. They did tonight and the offense put up a season high in points.</p>
<p>Defensively, the Lakers regressed tonight, but it didn't matter when the offense is virtually scoring at will. The good news is that when the Lakers focused on defending in the fourth quarter, they suffocated the Suns. Phoenix scored only 18 points in the fourth quarter after tallying 84 through three quarters. With two minutes to play in the third, the game was all knotted up at 84. Over the next twelve minutes the Lakers outscored the Suns 32 to 17 to put the game away. The Lakers will need to find that 4th quarter type of defense more often to beat the elite teams, but tonight it was enough to get the win.</p>
<p>The Lakers now move on to the next game, and the next coach. Thanks again should go out to Bernie Bickerstaff. You did a great job at getting out of the way and letting the guys play.</p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/17/3657758/lakers-finish-birkerstaff-era-with-another-winActuarially Sound2012-11-17T08:01:52-08:002012-11-17T08:01:52-08:00The Credits: "Sky High" - Lakers Links
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fttweIyQ8yumA_ZexH67TPLuRHA=/0x1061:2816x2938/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3416823/156543103.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevork Djansezian</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gets his long-overdue statue at Staples Center in an emotional ceremony attended by his former teammates and other NBA greats.</p> <p><b>L.A. Times</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-suns-live-updates-20121116,0,4855435.story" target="_blank">Lakers top Suns, 114-102</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-fyi-20121117,0,4899191.story" target="_blank">Lakers honor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with long-awaited statue</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-mike-dantoni-20121116,0,2166083.story" target="_blank">Mike D'Antoni has a goal for Lakers: a championship</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-kareem-abdul-jabbars-statue-0121116,0,4259859.story?track=rss" target="_blank">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's statue is an overdue honor</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-video-watch-kobe-show-off-his-handles-20121116,0,1619626.story?track=rss" target="_blank">Watch Kobe Bryant practice his handles [Video]</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-mike-dantoni-bench-confident-20121116,0,304410.story?track=rss" target="_blank">D'Antoni says he's confident in Lakers bench</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>ESPN/ESPNLA</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8638006/new-los-angeles-lakers-coach-mike-dantoni-already-players-respect" target="_blank">New Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni already has his players' respect - ESPNLA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/page/5-on-5-121115/nba-breaking-biggest-questions-surround-los-angeles-lakers-new-regime" target="_blank">NBA -- Breaking down the biggest questions surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers' new regime - ESPNLA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-121116-18/weekend-dime-mike-dantoni-los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank">Weekend Dime -- Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni get a second chance - ESPN</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8640943/kareem-abdul-jabbar-signature-skyhook-honored-los-angeles-lakers-statue" target="_blank">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, signature skyhook honored by Los Angeles Lakers with statue - ESPNLA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/34412/rapid-reaction-lakers-114-suns-102" target="_blank">Rapid Reaction: Lakers 114, Suns 102 - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/34410/what-should-kobes-statue-look-like" target="_blank">What should Kobe's statue look like? - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/34411/gentry-no-doubt-new-offense-will-work-for-lakers" target="_blank">Gentry: 'No doubt' new offense will work for Lakers - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8638979/new-orleans-hornets-reward-gm-dell-demps-multiyear-deal" target="_blank">New Orleans Hornets reward GM Dell Demps with multiyear deal - ESPN</a></li>
<li><a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8640395/houston-rockets-royce-white-ready-walk-away-nba" target="_blank">Houston Rockets' Royce White ready to walk away from NBA - ESPN</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>SI.com</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2012/11/16/32664/#recap" target="_blank">Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers - Recap</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/11/16/kareem-abdul-jabbar-skyhook-statue.ap/index.html?sct=nba_t2_a10" target="_blank">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook captured in bronze</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/lee_jenkins/11/15/lakers-mike-dantoni-first-practice/index.html?sct=nba_wr_a1" target="_blank">D'Antoni has high expectations as 2012 season reboots for Lakers - Lee Jenkins</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nba.si.com/2012/11/16/lakers-mike-dantoni-kobe-bryant-dwight-howard-pau-gasol-steve-nash/" target="_blank">D’Antoni’s sky-high scoring goal for Lakers will be tough to achieve | The Point Forward</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nba.si.com/2012/11/16/nba-bench-lakers-cavaliers-blazers-pacers/" target="_blank">Lakers among teams with worst benches in NBA | The Point Forward</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/ian_thomsen/11/15/jrue-holiday-philadelphia-76ers-andrew-bynum/index.html?sct=nba_wr_a3" target="_blank">Philadelphia 76ers' Jrue Holiday proves to be work in progress - Ian Thomsen</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nba.si.com/2012/11/11/three-pointers-grizzlies-rout-heat-thanks-to-unexpected-ellington-barrage/?sct=nba_wr_a2" target="_blank">Three-Pointers: Grizzlies rout Heat thanks to unexpected Ellington barrage | The Point Forward</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2012/11/16/32566/#recap" target="_blank">Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2012/11/16/31934/#recap" target="_blank">New York Knicks vs. Memphis Grizzlies</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>/NBA.com</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/jabbar_index" target="_blank">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Landing | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/16/kareem-abdul-jabbar-statue.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts" target="_blank">Abdul-Jabbar Lakers statue unveiled | NBA.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nba.com/2012/news/11/16/andrew-bynum-knee-injury.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts" target="_blank">Sixers' Bynum said he had setback with recovery | NBA.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://blog.lakers.com/lakers/2012/11/16/lakers-114-suns-102-1116-running-diary/" target="_blank">Lakers 114, Suns 102: 11/16 Running Diary " Lakers Blog</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Orange County Register</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/sports/lakers-378058-antoni-game.html" target="_blank">Lakers getting up to speed in 114-102 win over Suns</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/sports/antoni-377928-coach-johnson.html" target="_blank">D'Antoni says he will reach out to a 'mourning' Magic</a></li>
<li><a href="http://lakers.ocregister.com/2012/11/15/is-mike-dantoni-right-choice-for-lakers-video/74734/" target="_blank">Is Mike D’Antoni right choice for Lakers? (video) - Lakers blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/sports/directv-377924-twc-sportsnet.html" target="_blank">DirecTV customers finally get their Lakers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/sports/lakers-378056-center-abdul.html" target="_blank">Unveiling his statue a 'humbling experience' for Abdul-Jabbar</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Yahoo! Sports</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tempo-lakers-race-114-102-060301767--nba.html" target="_blank">Up-tempo Lakers race to 114-102 win over Phoenix</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kareem-abdul-jabbars-skyhook-captured-021900426--nba.html" target="_blank">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook captured in bronze</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/grizzlies-hand-knicks-first-loss-053129442--nba.html" target="_blank">Grizzlies hand Knicks first loss, 105-95</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--royce-white-s-battle-with-rockets-over-aniexty-disorder-could-cost-him-nba-career-16011709.html" target="_blank">Royce White's battle with Rockets over anxiety disorder could cost him NBA career</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--dwyane-wade-slowed-by-injuries-15501709.html" target="_blank">Dwyane Wade slowed by injuries</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--once-the-nba-s-baddest-bad-boy--rasheed-wallace-is-back-and-calmer-than-ever.html" target="_blank">Once the NBA's baddest bad boy, Rasheed Wallace is back and calmer than ever</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>ProBasketballTalk</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/16/kareem-abdul-jabbar-immortalized-with-statue-outside-of-staples-center/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar immortalized with statue outside of Staples Center</a></li>
<li><a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/17/steve-nash-to-miss-at-least-another-week-with-injury/" target="_blank">Steve Nash to miss at least another week with injury</a></li>
<li><a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/16/dantoni-expected-to-make-lakers-debut-on-sunday/" target="_blank">D’Antoni expected to make Lakers debut on Sunday</a></li>
<li><a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/16/kevin-martin-receives-warning-for-flopping-video/" target="_blank">Kevin Martin receives warning for flopping (VIDEO)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/16/timberwolves-say-brandon-roys-injury-issues-this-season-were-to-be-expected/" target="_blank">Timberwolves say Brandon Roy’s injury issues this season were to be expected</a></li>
<li><a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/16/thunder-likely-to-tweak-durants-substitution-pattern/" target="_blank">Thunder likely to tweak Durant’s substitution pattern</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Lakers Nation</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/a-regression-to-the-mean-kobe-bryant-steps-up-the-efficiency/2012/11/16/" target="_blank">A Regression to the Mean: Kobe Bryant Steps Up the Efficiency</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/a-basketball-legacy-cemented-kareem-abdul-jabbar-gets-his-due/2012/11/16/" target="_blank">A Basketball Legacy Cemented: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Gets His Due</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/forward-lamar-odom-says-clippers-lakers-cant-be-compared/2012/11/16/" target="_blank">Forward Lamar Odom Says Clippers, Lakers Can't Be Compared</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-photographer-bernstein-reflects-on-kareem-abdul-jabbar/2012/11/16/" target="_blank">Lakers Photographer Bernstein Reflects on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Other Blogs and Links</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.foxsportswest.com/11/16/12/Roots-run-deep-between-Kobe-DAntoni/landing_lakers.html?blockID=821341&feedID=3687" target="_blank">Roots run deep between Kobe, D'Antoni</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_22015017/lakers-notebook-dwight-howard-appreciative-advice-from-kareem" target="_blank">Lakers Notebook: Dwight Howard appreciative of advice from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - SGVTribune.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sgvtribune.com/lakers/ci_22016047/jill-painter-abdul-jabbars-statue-finally-stands-tall" target="_blank">JILL PAINTER: Abdul-Jabbar's statue finally stands tall outside Staples Center - SGVTribune.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/fiba-announces-world-cup-plans-adjusts-international-schedule-231433320--nba.html" target="_blank">FIBA announces World Cup plans, adjusts international schedule | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.foxsportswest.com/11/15/12/Kobe-Jim-Buss-has-been-phenomenal/landing_lakers.html?blockID=820919&feedID=3657" target="_blank">Kobe: Jim Buss has been 'phenomenal'</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/rodney-stuckey-wouldn-t-mind-coming-off-bench-235523320--nba.html" target="_blank">Rodney Stuckey wouldn’t mind coming off the bench, but his coach disagrees | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/21026389/video-latest-lakers-drama-with-phil-jackson-and-mike-dantoni-gets-taiwanese-animation-version" target="_blank">Video: Latest Lakers drama with D'Antoni and Phil gets Taiwanese animation version - CBSSports.com</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/17/3657328/the-credits-sky-high-lakers-linksSoCalGal2012-11-17T07:48:40-08:002012-11-17T07:48:40-08:00Video: Highlights - Lakers vs. Suns
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vvfyGZO-7tTcE-7sdMC9kkGPYio=/880x933:2548x2045/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3429545/20121116_jel_am8_361.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Highlights of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns game. Worth the price of admission for the Darius Morris pass.</p> <p>Hey, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> won another game. The drama was high with <span>Steve Nash</span> and Mike D'Antoni taking on their former team... wait, that wasn't this time around? Oh, OK. Check the highlights below. That pass from <span>Darius Morris</span> around the 1:20 mark is worth noting, because, damn that was pretty.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bPucMSGie0s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/17/3658026/video-highlights-lakers-vs-suns-11-16-12Drew Garrison2012-11-16T22:44:52-08:002012-11-16T22:44:52-08:00Final Score: Lakers outgun Suns, 114-102
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZoN7Pr43KDWzBcWy8dTBngwhw4w=/990x1225:2380x2152/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3415769/156546625.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevork Djansezian</figcaption>
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<p>The Los Angeles scored over 110 points, and gave up over 100 points, both great indicators of Mike D'Antoni being on the sidelines coaching. Wait, Bernie Bickerstaff coached this game? Well I'll be...</p> <p>The final game of the <span>Bernie Bickerstaff</span> era came to an end with a win over the Phoenix Suns. It was a game without much of showing defensively from either team, but as it goes, the Los Angeles Lakers simply had more firepower. Pau Gasol set the tempo draining wide open jumpers in the first quarter showing the qualities he can bring to the floor when his future coach Mike D'Antoni takes the reigns going forward. The Suns went blow for blow with the Lakers through the first three quarters but once the final quarter rolled around there wasn't enough left in the tank to finish the game, finally conceding victory. Lakers over Suns, 114-102. No tacos tonight.</p>
<p>On a night that began with the unveiling of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's statue in front of Staples Center the Lakers seemed to carry the energy to begin the game. Specifically, as mentioned, Pau Gasol looked assertive with his mid-range game to open up the contest. Just a day removed from Mike D'Antoni proclaiming he expects to put 110-115 points on the board on a nightly basis the Lakers did just that. Coincidentally, they also gave up 102 points in the process and looked atrocious defensively yet again. The valiant defensive effort they put up against the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a> Wednesday night seems like a distant memory when looking at the way they played tonight. It was enough for a regular season win against a Phoenix Suns team few have any expectations for, but against the elite teams? No way, no how.</p>
<p>An under analyzed issue over the beginning of his time in Los Angeles is Dwight Howard turning the ball over. Howard is currently turning the ball over a career high 3.6 times per game, adding four more to his tally on the season. For a team that has issues with transition defense and turnovers this is a trend that needs to change immediately. Dwight worked in 18 points and 12 rebounds, along with 4 blocked shots, but his play continues to be far from consistent. It's worth applauding his effort on being back with the team as fast as he was, but it's painfully clear he is still far from being all the Dwight Howard he can be. How long until those feathery layups become shattering dunks? Or, even more importantly, when will all of those bobbled rebounds that turn into offensive rebounds for the opponent come to an end?</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant scored a game high 31 points while also adding 6 assists to his stat sheet. It took 24 shots to get there, but his efficiency remains a story to watch. Again he worked his way to the rim and used his body to find angles to finish his layup. Meanwhile, his starting back-court mate Darius Morris continues to show improvements. With each game Morris becomes more comfortable playing the game of basketball, tonight also putting 6 assists on the board. His athleticism is apparent, but his play making ability and court vision continues to be a mystery. At times he looks like a point guard that can contribute once he gains more experience. At other times it's hard to watch him play the game of basketball as he looks rushed and uncomfortable. His defensive effort will need to be consistent in order to find his way into the backup point guard minutes, as his play against Goran Dragic (22 points on 9-17 shooting, 7 assists) ranged from <i>"this is horrible"</i> to <i>"wow look there's the Darius who worked his tail off against <span>Tony Parker</span>"</i>.</p>
<p>However, the surprise of the night, and nod of the night, goes to Metta World Peace. His ability to stretch the floor is going to be put to the test with Mike D'Antoni's offense, but tonight is a night where you can nod and see it working. 5-10 from deep? Are you kidding me? The ball is going to find him open a plethora amount of times under D'Antoni's philosophies and it's going to be his job to shoot those open shots without hesitation or reluctance. A night like tonight can go a long way in building confidence. 22 points, 3 steals, 3 assists, and 6 boards from an incredibly active Metta World Peace.</p>
<p>This wasn't a pretty game to watch. Both teams hit peaks and valleys offensively. Runs were had, as were sighs. However, much like the "<span>Mike Brown</span>" days of this season, the system and ideology was there in it's infancy. Specifically, to start the game the Lakers relied heavily on ball movement created off of varying pick and rolls. Sunday night's game against the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a> will challenge the shaky defense as both James Harden and Jeremy Lin utilize the pick and roll to their advantage. It wasn't a statement win, or specifically meaningful victory, but the Lakers won a game they were supposed to win. Like good teams do. Full recap in the morning, then back at it Sunday.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 11.16.2012 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> </span></td>
<td>30</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>18</td>
<td class="highlight">102</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> </span></td>
<td>35</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>22</td>
<td class="highlight">114</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p>What are the Phoenix Suns fans saying about the Lakers? Check <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Bright Side of the Sun</a> as they discuss losing to the team that now touts both their prior star point guard and head coach.</p>
<p>Want to read more about Mike D'Antoni? <a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/16/3655660/a-look-at-new-los-angeles-lakers-coach-mike-dantoni-from-around-the" target="_blank">Head over here</a> where we compiled a few prime cuts from around the web discussing D'Antoni and what it means for the Los Angeles Lakers.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-tickets?pubid=1011035">Los Angeles Lakers Tickets</a></p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/16/3657186/los-angeles-lakers-outgun-phoenix-suns-final-score-114-102Drew Garrison2012-11-16T21:26:06-08:002012-11-16T21:26:06-08:00Nash to miss another week
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Yu0rVtosyn8at3GFoURbqIvY420=/0x212:2449x1845/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3413181/155038319.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>Based on an evaluation completed today by team physician Stephen Lombardo, the Lakers have decided to hold out Steve Nash for another week.</p> <p>We'll have to wait at least another week to see Steve Nash running Mike D'Antoni's offense again. Lakers reporter Mike Trudell <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/269669471898177537">just reported</a> that Nash will miss at least another week because the non-displaced fracture in his leg hasn't healed enough.</p>
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<p>Injury update: <span class="twitter-atreply pretty-link">Steve Nash</span> was examined by Dr. Lombardo tonight, and will be out at least 1 more week (5 games including tomorrow)</p>
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<p>The anticipation is killing me, but I want Steve to be 110% healed by the time he gets back on the floor. Trudell says that he will be re-evaluated again next week to check the progress of his recovery.</p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/16/3657050/nash-to-miss-another-weekMark Travis