Loss to Bobcats Reveals a Few Warts

Although the Lakers are off to a good start, their loss to the Bobcats the other night has shown that they do have a few things to get corrected before the calendar turns towards the playoffs.  Among them include the imbalanced scoring that was detailed in our previous post, but also the fact that a few role players need to step up their games.

In particular, the LA Times wrote a feature that singled out Kwame Brown, who struggled during overtime of the game in Charlotte.  Others were subtely called out, including PG Smush Parker, but it appears that Coach Phil Jackson is playing one of his legendary mind games with Brown in this piece.

Regardless, the Lakers will be there in the end, and Lakers tickets are still more than worth the effort to obtain.  However, the dynamic and chemistry on the team is also always worth fans’ attention.

Permalink - Posted in General on December 30, 2006 - Post a comment

Loss to Bobcats Illustrates Odom’s Value

Although Kobe Bryant put on one of his patented big-time shows in the Lakers’ loss to Charlotte last night, but it wasn’t enough as the Lakers fell to the Bobcats in triple overtime.  Bryant had 58 points on 22-45 shooting, and it was the 14th time that Bryant has surpassed 50 in his career.

However, the statistic that jumps out at anyone looking at the box score is that no one else on the Lakers scored more than 14 points.  Bryant had to literally carry the Lakers, and once he fouled out, Los Angeles was finished.  The problem is that Lamar Odom is out until mid-February with an injury, and in his absence there really is no second offensive option.  These Lakers without Odom are like the Lakers that took the floor immediately after they traded Shaquille O’Neal, and it looks like they could struggle until Odom returns.

The good news for fans is that they’ll get to see the most talented player in the world push for his offense, and Bryant is always exciting.  Get your Lakers tickets at StubHub.com for a close look at just how good Bryant is.

Permalink - Posted in General on December 30, 2006 - Post a comment