Silver Screen and Roll - Game Stream: Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Lakers 11/27/12A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysishttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/13178/silver-fave.jpg2012-11-27T19:15:04-08:00http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/rss/stream/34642552012-11-27T19:15:04-08:002012-11-27T19:15:04-08:00Lakers Vs Pacers
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<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>Kobe's under the weather, needs tea and chicken soup.</p> <p>By the time you read this the news may be obsolete one way or another, but this afternoon we learned that <span>Kobe Bryant</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/MedinaLakersNBA/status/273499618552197120">is suffering flu-like symptoms</a> and might sit out tonight's game. Steves Nash and Blake remain out with their respective injuries.</p>
<p>Tonight's opponent, the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a>, are among the more disappointing teams in the NBA this season. After taking the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> to six games in the conference semifinals last year, they're off to a 6-8 start against what might be the easiest schedule in the league. Their defense has been good (2nd in efficiency), their offense a disaster (28th). <span>Danny Granger</span> is out with a sore left knee and in his absence they've been relying heavily on <span>Paul George</span>, <span>David West</span>, <span>George Hill</span> and <span>Roy Hibbert</span>. Only West and Hill are holding up their end of the bargain. This is the start of a four-game road trip for the Pacers.</p>
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/11/27/3699058/lakers-pacers-game-threadDexterFishmore2012-11-27T15:19:59-08:002012-11-27T15:19:59-08:00Game Preview: Pacers at Lakers
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<figcaption>Jeff Gross</figcaption>
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<p>The Indiana Pacers come into town to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in Staples Center. The Pacers boast one of the best defenses, but one of the worst offenses, and a maxed out Roy Hibbert who has been under-performing. Big men under-performing? We may know a thing or two about that.</p> <p><u><b>Casting Call</b></u></p>
<p><b><u><i><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> </i></u></b><u><i>(7-7, 100.7. ppg, 96.6 ppg allowed)</i></u></p>
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<li> <span>Dwight Howard</span> (18 ppg, 58.8% fg, 2.1 apg, 10.6 rpg)</li>
<li>Pau Gasol (13.4 ppg, 43.4% fg, 3.4 apg, 9.1 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>Metta World Peace</span> (14 ppg, 43.6% fg, 2 apg, 5.1 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>Kobe Bryant</span> (26.9 ppg, 51% fg, 5.1 apg, 5.0 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>Darius Morris</span> (6.8 ppg, 41.7% fg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 rpg)</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><i><u><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a></b> (6-8, 91.2 ppg, 92.2 ppg allowed)</u></i></p>
<ul>
<li> <span>Roy Hibbert</span> (9.6 ppg, 37.9% fg, 1.5 apg, 8.7 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>David West</span> (16.6 ppg, 45.7% fg, 2.1 apg, 8 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>Paul George</span> (15.2 ppg, 41.1% fg, 3.1 apg, 6.6 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>Lance Stephenson</span> (7.9 ppg, 50.6% fg, 2.8 apg, 2.9 rpg)</li>
<li> <span>George Hill</span> (13.4 ppg, 39% fg, 5.3 apg, 4.1 rpg)</li>
</ul>
<p><u><b>Showtime</b></u></p>
<p>7:30 pm PST</p>
<p><u><b>Plot</b></u></p>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers return to action against the Indiana Pacers, starting off a week with only three games after having to play four games in five nights last week (three of which were on the road). After a much needed two days off the Lakers should have plenty of energy, and plenty of momentum, after a blowout win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a>.</p>
<p>The Pacers have gotten off to a rocky start with a 6-8 record and <span>Danny Granger</span> being out for three months with knee issues hasn't helped their cause. They have had an incredibly hard time finding their offense, averaging just 91.2 points per game. That point total ranks them 29<sup>th</sup> out of 30 in the NBA in points per game, and the 41.3% field goal percentage is 28<sup>th</sup> in the league. Going over their starters, they have two players shooting under 40%. On the flip side, the Lakers have two players over 50% shooting, and the remainder of the starters are all over 40%. Rebounds will be flying off the rim for the Lakers, however, the Pacers rank 3<sup>rd</sup> in the league in total offensive rebounds, and 2<sup>nd</sup> overall in rebounding. For a front court, and team, that has routinely shown a lack of hustle on the boards (<span>Jordan Hill</span>, you can cover your ears on this one), they'll undoubtedly have to use their size and out work Indiana.</p>
<p>One player to single out for the Pacers' offensive struggles though? How about max-money big man Roy Hibbert, who has had a woeful start to his season. 9.6 points per game on 37.9% shooting is abysmal for a big man, and going up against the tandem of Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard isn't going to make life any easier on Hibbert. However, Hibbert's defensive rating at 96 points per 100 possession (Dwight Howard sits at 98) through the season is very good and a key in the Pacers holding opponents to the lowest percentage in the league at 40.8%. Also, Hibbert's work on the offensive glass is what helps keep a struggling offense in games, with 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. With Danny Granger missing an extended period of time, the Pacers have had to look to their franchise centerpiece to produce wins for them, and while his offense hasn't been efficient, he's doing all the other "big man things", like leading the league in blocks per game at 3.1, to contribute. There's the good, and the bad, with Hibbert.</p>
<p>The Lakers, though, should be rolling against a team that will give them plenty of transition opportunities (thus, a high amount of possessions which Mike D'Antoni loves) off of missed shots. Perhaps more valuable to the Lakers than having a chance to put points on the board each trip down the court is to continue to establish chemistry and understanding as to how they will score as a unit. With <span>Antawn Jamison</span> coming to life off of the bench finally, look for him to help alleviate Pau Gasol who has knee tendinitis in both knees (though, with a few days off prior, and a few days off ahead, Pau's knees will get plenty of rest). Mike D'Antoni hasn't been afraid to ride Jamison at both the 3 and 4 slot, partner that with the production he's been putting up (hello, 19 points and 15 rebounds against the Mavs) and there's no reason not to shovel minutes his way like Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal advertisements being to all of our e-mail inboxes over the last week or so.</p>
<p>Another player to keep an eye on is Metta World Peace who has been shooting 48.7% (19-39) from deep over the last six games, and was 5-7 from long range and a key in wearing down the Mavericks early in Saturday night's game. Don't look now, but quietly MWP has pushed his points per game higher than <span>Pau Gasol's</span> (14 ppg to Pau's 13.4 ppg), and is shooting just a notch higher by the percentages. MWP is in the top 10 three point field goals made (34) in the league, but he's also in the top five in attemps (87). It's not just the outside shooting from MWP, though; he has been taking his defender off the dribble for easy looks around the rim, which can become a regularity while teams attaching their best perimeter defender to Kobe Bryan't hip.</p>
<p>As far as Kobe Bryant goes, his table setting to start the game against Dallas ensured his teammates all ate well. However, reports indicate he is a game-time decision tonight, having his annual "flu-like symptoms" tag. If the Lakers do have to play without Bryant, however, the Lakers offense may hit a severe hitch as <span>Steve Nash</span> is still out "indefinitely", and <span>Steve Blake</span> continues to miss time. Without a perimeter facilitator, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Lakers funnel the ball down-low to Dwight Howard in the post to force early doubles and create open looks for the sudden emergence of the team's three point shooting proficiency. Of course, this can all mean very little, as Kobe Bryant will play through nearly anything. What's a silly little flu to the Black Mamba?</p>
<p>This is one of those games that the Lakers <i>should </i>win. The good teams win the games they are <i>supposed</i> to, and while the Pacers defense may be one of the better in the league, the sheer amount of possessions the Lakers will get through picking up defensive boards against one of the worst shooting teams in the league will give them more than enough bullets in the chamber to push their record above .500 once again. Expect many, many field goal attempts tonight from the purple and gold. With a win like they had against the Mavericks it's important to ride the momentum they built and even if Kobe Bryant were to miss playing the Lakers should still have enough in the tank for a victory tonight. On the birthday of the late, great, Chick Hearn one can only hope the Lakers give him the go ahead for a "This game's in the refrigerator, the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jell-O's jigglin'," call from up top.</p>
<p><u><b>On This Soundtrack<br></b></u></p>
<p><i>Metallica - Shoot Me Again</i></p>
<p>I won't go away<br> Right here I'll stay<br><br> Stand silent in flames<br> Stand tall 'till it fades<br><br> Shoot me again<br> I ain't dead yet<br><br> Shoot me again<br><br> All these shots I take<br> I spit back at you<br> All the [redacted] you fake<br> Comes back to haunt you<br><br> All the shots<br><br> All the shots I take<br> What difference did I make?<br> All the shots I take<br> I spit back at you<br><br> I won't go away, with a bullet in my back<br> Right here I'll stay, with a bullet in my back<br><br> Shoot me take a shot<br><br> I'll stand on my own, with a bullet in my back<br> I'm stranded and sold, with a bullet in my back<br><br> I bite my tongue<br> Trying not to shoot back<br> No compromise<br> My heart won't pump the other way<br><br> Wake the sleeping giant<br> Wake the beast<br> Wake the sleeping dog<br> No, Let him sleep</p>
<p><i>- Drew</i></p>
<p><i>- Follow this author on Twitter <b><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BallReasons">@BallReasons</a></b></i></p>
<p><i>- </i><a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/"><i>I</i></a><i><a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/">ndy Cornrows</a> has the Indiana Pacers perspective waiting for you to dive into, so give 'em a look.</i></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/2012/11/27/3699372/game-preview-indiana-pacers-at-los-angeles-lakers-11-27-12Drew Garrison