TLN’s Game Report: Lakers vs. Mavericks
The Lakers raised another banner, got their rings in a star studded ring ceremony as Lakers legends honored the reigning Champions. The team officially put the 2008-2009 season behind them, then it was just like that Jay Z track “On To The Next One” and began their title defense by dispatching the Clippers.
Pau Gasol sat out with a hamstring injury that will keep him out of tonight’s contest as well. Ron Artest fit in well in his Lakers debut as expected. Kobe led the Lakers with a game high 33 points. Andrew Bynum celebrated his 22nd birthday with a 26 point 13 rebound effort putting aside any doubts about his health.
Despite Bynum’s game and a few nice Kobe Bryant reverse lay ups there wasn’t a lot for the sold out crowd to cheer about as the Clippers kept the game close.
The Lakers bench contributed a full nine points collectively and remains a concern.
The Lakers defense has to improve and get back to a Championship level; it’s early in the season and it’s just not there yet.
Los Angeles faces the Dallas Mavericks tonight, a team that is coming off of a terrible loss at home to the Wizards. The team is still led by Jason Kidd, who is a year older and a step slower but still effective. Dirk Nowitzki was provided front court help with the additions of Shawn Marion & Drew Gooden.
The above mentioned additions will really help Nowitzki by defending and crashing the boards. Whenever he is asked to rebound he appears to wear down.
Last year’s solid five–man nucleus of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki and Brandon Bass is no longer intact for various reasons. The Mavericks can’t match the versatility of the Lakers roster even with the absence of Pau Gasol and their ability to cause match up problems.
Dallas needs someone to take the pressure off of Nowitzki. The Mavericks need Jason Terry’s points off of the bench to be effective. He didn’t give them much in the first game nor did the new additions.
One would think that this game has the makings of a shootout. However the Lakers will start their offense from the inside out by getting the ball to Andrew Bynum early and often and allowing him to go to work.
You should also see Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest and Lamar Odom spend some time in the post as well. The Lakers have to shoot better and their bench has to step up and contribute. Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Shannon Brown have to knock down open shots and the second unit has to come in and change the pace of the game.
Defensively the Lakers have to control the tempo of the game and play at their pace, own the boards, stop the dribble penetration, limit Dallas to one shot per possession and challenge every shot. I want to see the Lakers play defense without fouling and make it a point to rotate out to three point shooters.
Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Television -
- Los Angeles: ESPN & FSW (Joel Myers & Stu Lantz)
- Dallas: ESPN & TXA 21 (Mark Followill & Brad Davis)
Radio -
- Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
- Dallas: ESPN 103.3 KTXA FWB 980 (Bob Ortegal & Chuck Cooperstein)
Injuries -
Lakers:
- Pau Gasol (Hamstring)
Mavericks:
- SF Josh Howard (Ankle)
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19 Comments
Come on Lakers kick some ass.
would you take a bullet for Kobe?? LOL
For my daughter/family and friends-no doubt. For Kobe-maybe? For you- hell no. I’d let you handle your own beef.
Like I said it’s Kobe all day.
Laker Nation 8 days 8 nights.
LMFAO!
Lets get another Win LAkers!!!
512 TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR TONIGHTS GAME GO TO LAKERS.COM AND CLICK ON THE TICKETEXCHANGE BUTTON OR GO TO TEAMEXCHANGE.TICKETMASTER.COM AND CLICK ON LOS ANGELES LAKERS LINK!!!
Great….another night to watch Mbenga jack up jump shots! Woohoo!
In all seriousness, I am excited with how Bynum is playing and Artest is fitting into the triangle.
Thought it was funny how Kobe mentioned in the post game Tuesday that Artest will get used to being so wide open. Great stuff!
1-2-3 Ring!!
To you two bitches. Wifelovesshortdog and dabitch need to stay off my balls. You bitches got on my head so take the nut bitch. Bad boys-shit man shut the fuck up. both of you are straight prepys trying to be cool with your gadgets. Fucken lames. Fuck off and fuck you. Oh yeah lol
Keep my name out your sorry mouth too. Pussys.
rofl
HEY DABOSS 1848 I HEAR YOU ARE A LITTLE BITCH.YOU ABITCH YOUR NO LAKER FAN YOUR A FAKE FAN.THATS RIGHT BITCH YOUR A SORRY ASS FAKER FAN.
LMAO……so I’m going to comment on Laker related stuff for the whole season and you’re gonna continue to think that I’m talking crap on you…or how did you put it “stay on your balls”? Ok….you’re right….I’m the lame one.
He called me and boss prepys? LMAO
That shit about the pipe-bitch I’ll lay my pipe on your wife-bitch. Thats where it started-fagget. Or you forgot-how conveinient. Fuck dabitch too for talking about Short dog on his blackberry-bitches.
Get the fuck off my balls.
Lakers 82-0
Kobe the Lliving Legend
pure unadulterated comedy . . . lol
HEY WIFELOVESLUKE WHAT KIND OF FUCK UP NAME IS THAT.YOU FOOLS LIKE YOURSELF AND DABOSS1848 HAVE NO FAITH IN THE LAKERS AND YOU CALL YOURSELFS LAKERFANS I GIVE SHORTDOG ALL THE CREDIT BECAUSE THE LAKERS PLAY EVRY GAME TO WIN AND IF THEY COULD GO 82-0 DAMM FUCK YEA.LAKERS 1 THATS RIGHT BITCHES AND LAY OFF SHORTDOGS NUTS HE IS JUST A BIG TIME 1 KICK ASS LAKER FAN.
perhaps it should be LAP DOG?
hey to that fool desecrator93 what kind of stupid guestion was that about taking a bullet for kobe.You must a sorry ass fucken clipper fan or something else but anyways lay off short dogs nuts bitch hes a real laker fan so fuck you and your stupid comments about taking one for kobe grow up bitch.
hey daboss the bitch you are the lap lame ass puta .so go fuck yourself.
lol