Watch Highlights, Get Stats & Read Quotes over at the LAKERS GAMEDAY PAGE.
No Pau Gasol?
OK, it’s never good to miss one of the world’s best players, but L.A. had managed to go 4-1 without him heading into their sixth game of the season Friday night against Memphis.
No Andrew Bynum?
Less good, especially since Bynum was averaging 20.0 points and 10.6 rebounds in L.A.’s first five games, making him one of only three players in the league (Chris Bosh, Chris Kaman) on that pace.
But L.A. still had Kobe Bryant (he’s pretty good). Still had Lamar Odom … Ron Artest … Derek Fisher … Josh Powell and D.J. Mbenga. Etc.
In other words, no problem.
Bryant’s blood should have been checked for warmth after another 40-plus point effort, his third in six games this season after sinking 19-of-30 shots for 41. In the process, Bryant became the youngest player to 24,000 points and vaulted him past Allen Iverson for 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He was particularly effective from the low block, where the Finals MVP repeatedly caught entry passes and went to work on whomever Memphis sent at him. In fact, Bryant didn’t even attempt a single three-pointer, content to take what the Grizzlies were offering.
“What can I say,” wondered Phil Jackson. “This is a guy who sees a weakness in a team and exploits it. It was killer instinct.”
Meanwhile, Mbenga, L.A.’s third-string center who is best known around the team for being funny, owning a black belt, swatting shots and loving to pop jumpers in practice, showed a new element to the Lakers depth by grabbing nine rebounds* (a career high) and swatting two shots … in the first eight minutes. That helped the Lakers run out to a 17-10 lead, which they’d momentarily give up late in the second quarter before dominating the Grizzlies 38-24 in the third quarter to establish firm control of their fifth victory.
*Mbenga finished with a team-high 13 boards and four blocks.
“The way he started the game that strong gave us a dominant feel inside,” said Jackson. “So (Memphis) thought (they) could exploit it inside and it was the reverse.”
L.A. got a little (or a lot of) something from everyone who played, highlighted by another solid effort from Artest, who was very efficient offensively in going for 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting plus six boards and a team-high seven assists while providing his usual stanch defense. The Mbenga - Josh Powell combo combined to offer 18 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks, while Luke Walton was very effective in producing seven boards and seven assists in just 20 minutes.
Powell continued what’s been a very effective effort off the bench this season, drawing praise from his head coach.
“He has been our most reliable substitute this year off the bench,” said Jackson. “He is shooting the ball well and he is much more comfortable playing this offense, he knows the niches he can find and our players know how to use him well too.”
Should we mention again that L.A. was missing one of the league’s best players and a 20-10 center?
That, of course, doesn’t mean that every Laker won’t be more than happy if Gasol, Bynum or both are able to play on Sunday against New Orleans. We’ll have to wait until then to find out.
In the meantime, some numbers:
POSTGAME NUMBERS
24,000 Point total Kobe Bryant reached for his career in the second quarter, the youngest in NBA history to do so. He also passed Allen Iverson, who scored eight points for Memphis, for 16th on the NBA’s All-Time scoring chart.
99 Time Bryant has scored at least 40 points in his career after his third 40-plus point effort in six Lakers games.
35 Assists for the Lakers, compared to just 13 from the Grizzlies for a whopping 22-dime difference. Three Lakers had at least seven helpers: Luke Walton, Ron Artest and Derek Fisher.
14 Scoring margin in the third quarter in L.A.’s favor, spurred by 15 points from Bryant and 11 from Artest, plus five each from Josh Powell and Derek Fisher.
12 Lakers edge on the glass (49-37), which included an 18-13 advantage on the offensive boards. Mbenga led the way with five offensive boards and eight defensive.
Watch Highlights, Get Stats & Read Quotes over at the LAKERS GAMEDAY PAGE.
