Game 39 | Cavaliers @ Lakers Jan. 19th, 10:30PM (ET)

[gijimbo]

The worst part about Kobe is that attitude of run around and be physical with people, is somehow considered "killer-instinct"... He tries to just push people around, and somehow people see that as his "winning attitude" coming out... Lebron has the killer-instinct as well, he just doesn't show it in the same way Kobe does...

 

[Coyote]

As I sober up, let me clarify: considering the fact that we were undermanned and short, literally, I didn't like the way Mo or Lebron approached the game. Offensively I thought we settled for what the Lakers gave us.

Defensively, though, is where I don't think we could've done much else differently with the guys we were missing. And we did get in Kobe's grill - he made his usual number of circus shots. But Vujabitch being wide open...ugh.

 

[flamez]

Numbers from the game:
Kobe outplayed James tonight despite a dislocated finger and in part because LBJ couldn't figure out how to get effective teammates involved. Bryant 12 assists, Lebron 4.

Our guys DIDNT knock down shots, that's why Lebron had only 4 assists. Sasha Vujacic, Radmonovic, Fisher, and even Ariza knocked down shots when we doubled kobe.

WHen they doubled and TRIPLED Lebron our shooters, Mo, Sasha, and wally missed. Boobie was 2 of 4 from 3 point land and I thought he got hit on ALL his 3 point attempts but did not get the call.

You pointed it out, we were 8 of 23 from beyond the arc. We had no inside presence so basically we were a jumpshooting team.

Kobe was just as bad as Lebron on the offensive end of the floor. He was able to do more because his teammates picked up the slack. Gasol was FREAKIN 11 of 13 from the field. Bynum abused Wright and AV on the post and just shot over them.

Mo played bad also, the guy just settled for contested jumpshots when he should've attacked their defense.

 

[wuck]

I didn't catch why Ben Wallace didn't play more. He looked energetic and effective on defense at the beginning of the game yet logged less than 20 minutes. Is he still down with the flu? Did the commentators say anything? What the heck is Lorenzen doing in there?

To be honest, I don't know why the Cavs put AV on Bynum so often and Ben on Gasol. Seems like the matchups should be the other way around.

 

[Damien O'Connel]

Ugly game. Not gonna panic yet but we are massively exposed without Z/Delonte.

thankfully, the rest of the teams on this road trip don't have bigs that can expose us and by the time we get home, we should have Z back. Think about how much of a relief it will be. I want to hybernate until the 27th.

 

[gijimbo]

How is Wally terrible? He actually had a decent game shooting wise and then they just ignored him. He missed one easy shot but did well on some other ones. I don't understand why we do that. He created some shots he shouldn't have normally made. I think it was stupid that he didn't get more.

Basketball isn't only about shooting.. there's a thing called defense also.. and i dk if you noticed it, but he's very slow laterally... What was his stat line, i thought he was 1/3 maybe 1/4 from 3 though? not exactly a spectacular night shooting for him though..

 

[Chris]

thankfully, the rest of the teams on this road trip don't have bigs that can expose us and by the time we get home, we should have Z back. Think about how much of a relief it will be. I want to hybernate until the 27th.

Wait, we know when Z is back?

 

[breanna]

Ah i'm over the loss already.Bring on Portland!

 

[gijimbo]

It's harder to avoid calling those when the guy you're jumping over is 4-6 inches shorter...

I'm not saying there weren't fouls, but the Lakers stayed physical when they saw the refs were avoiding their whistles.

Yeah I see what you're saying.. you sort of have to credit the Lakers for that.. it still hurts when watching it.. I mean, Varejao isn't that much shorter then Gasol or Bynum, but Ben gives up quite a bit of height..

 

[Damien O'Connel]

Wait, we know when Z is back?

Roughly. He is cleared to practice and should be back wiithin the next 10 days. Max said he could be playing against the Kings on the 27th.

 

[flamez]

I didn't catch why Ben Wallace didn't play more. He looked energetic and effective on defense at the beginning of the game yet logged less than 20 minutes. Is he still down with the flu? Did the commentators say anything? What the heck is Lorenzen doing in there?

To be honest, I don't know why the Cavs put AV on Bynum so often and Ben on Gasol. Seems like the matchups should be the other way around.

I thought Ben looked worn out from the start. He gave Gasol open jumpshots from the free throw area which he can knock down and he DID.

Wright on Bynum was a horrible move and bynum took advantage. AV wasn't strong enough against bynum. If were to put Ben on Bynum he would just shoot over him.

I thought Ben on Gasol would be good, since Gasol disappears when someone plays him physical.

If you watched the Orlando and Lakers game the other night, Lewis just fronted Gasol and got plenty of steals. He never let Gasol get comfortable on the post. IF lewis can do that Ben is more than capable of doing the same but for some reason Ben was giving him space.

Right now I think we desperately need another big and player out on the wing.

Camby would be good for defensive purposes. I love for camby to guard Gasol or Bynum and play alongside Z.

 

[Mr2400]

You base your opinion on one game? How about last year in the 4th... Kobe 1/7 with LeBron guarding him, 4 points. LeBron had 14.

Also realize that the Lakers have been committing two players to guard LeBron, Kobe has been doubled maybe twice.

and you're basing that same opinion on one game?

But no, i'm not saying this game is the only way you can tell. Kobe dislocated his finger and still came out and played strong, probably had a better overall game than lebron did. Kobe's ability to consistently shoot the ball makes him a better 4th quarter player. That is the only reason i see him as better than lebron. people know that lebron is going to drive it or shoot an off balance shot from the outside late in the game. they play for the drive, and he puts pressure on the refs to give him foul calls. a lot of refs are reluctant to do so late in the game, because they don't want to alter the course of the game on an iffy call.

LeBron also turned it over twice to trevor ariza.

Kobe has been trapped a lot more than twice. they may be single covering him most of the time, but when they trap he's finding open guys easily (12 assists).

I hope LeBron realizes that he has work to do. He can start by jumping straight up and down when he shoots a jumper, instead of flailing his legs everywhere and jumping in different directions hoping to hit shots that are simply too tough.

 

[kookoo]

Ah i'm over the loss already.Bring on Portland!

Don't mean to sound sexist or anything but are you a guy or a girl?
I just want to know because girls don't come here very often. In fact, the last one I recall was only here because of wally. That WallysWorld was sexy. Jk, it was Wally3 or something.

 

[breanna]

Don't mean to sound sexist or anything but are you a guy or a girl?
I just want to know because girls don't come here very often. In fact, the last one I recall was only here because of wally. That WallysWorld was sexy. Jk, it was Wally3 or something.

I'm a girl.

 

[Da_James_Gang]

Truthfully, usually i am pissed after a loss but i am already over this one. I think at full health or really just with Z back we would have won this game. Size was obviously a huge factor in this game as i knew it would be. This is why we gotta add another solid big with size just for insurance purposes. If the Cavs aren't already, i think we should really give Brad Miller a serious look. He is not a great defender but just his height can make it a little more difficult for other bigs to get easy looks like Bynum/Gasol were getting over AV/Ben. And his shooting/rebounding would help. If we could just add a solid big like a Miller i think we might be set going into the playoffs.