Archive for the 'Post-Game' Category

Lakers 100, Magic 75: Postgame 1

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on June 4, 2009
in Finals and Post-Game
. Closed

Kobe BryantIn a storied career highlighted by three NBA championships, an MVP award and a plethora of scoring titles, All-Star berths and All-NBA teams, Kobe Bryant had accomplished more than most athletes could dream of before Game 1 of the 2009 Finals tipped off Thursday at STAPLES Center.

But with a masterful performance emphasized by a stat sheet that read 40 points, eight assists and eight rebounds on the league’s highest platform, Bryant took another step up the ladder of the game’s all-time greats.

“Kobe’s energy in the game carried (the win),” said Phil Jackson, who said he wasn’t at all surprised with Bryant’s dominance. “He plays big in big games.”

“When he gets it going, he’s one of the best players of all time,” added Lamar Odom. “There isn’t anything that he can’t do. We understand how bad he wants to win this championship, and we all want it.”

The feat was all the more impressive after a sluggish first quarter netted just six points and two assists on 3-of-9 shooting, but he went on a 30-point, six-assist, five-rebound rampage in the second and third quarters to put L.A. up by 22 heading into the fourth quarter.

“I just want it so bad, that’s all,” said Bryant. “You just put everything you can into the game, and your emotions fly out of you.”

At the same time, Bryant was very careful to emphasize that L.A. “hadn’t won nothing yet,” his eyes firmly locked on Sunday’s Game 2.

But after one quarter that found the Magic up 24-22, it wasn’t even close. Orlando had gotten to the Finals in part by playing stingy defense that conceded 43.3 percent from the field (3rd in the NBA) in the regular season … Yet they had anything but an answer for L.A.’s combination of skill and length as the Lakers got almost whatever they wanted on offense, producing a mammoth 56-22 edge in points in the paint.

“There was nothing I liked (about the performance),” said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. “Clearly after the first quarter, we were totally dominated at both ends of the floor and on the boards.”

Offensively, Orlando struggled to get anything resembling the easy looks it got in the Eastern Conference Finals against the less-lengthy Cavaliers, turning in a 29.9 shooting percentage punctuated by a combined 5-of-27 (18.5 percent) from Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis.

“Defensively I thought they were great today,” lamented Van Gundy. “We’re going to have to find a way to get the ball inside more efficiently and play out of that more efficiently.

To Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol much of the defensive credit should go, as their collective job on Howard not only limited the big center to 12 points (only two from the field) but allowed the Lakers’ perimeter players to stay with Orlando’s three-point gunners, who were able to hit just 8-of-23 shots. L.A.’s two seven footers also received ample help from Lamar Odom, who contributed a 14-rebound, 11-point double-double off the bench.

“I feel a lot better,” said Odom, who’d been hobbled late in the Houston and early in the Denver series with a bruised back. “I’m a lot more active. You know I want it, I’m just pushing myself, and it’s never enough.”

Odom, Bynum and Gasol helped L.A. boast a 55-41 edge on the glass, pushed in part by Orlando’s poor shooting, which was key because Orlando turned the ball over just eight times. Yet for the Lakers, the 25-point margin really meant nothing, particularly as the losing team is often the one that has the benefit of making adjustments heading into Game 2.

“I think the best thing we can do is just forget about it,” said Kobe Bryant. “This is a resilient Orlando Magic team and this is nothing to them.”

“There are two days between games, so it’s a chance for (Orlando) to regroup,” concluded Jackson. “I told these guys it doesn’t matter whether we win by 60 or 6, it’s just one win, we have to go out and perform on Sunday.”

Until then, some numbers:

3
Three pointers hit by the Lakers in a 25-point win

4
Lakers players that had at least eight rebounds, led by 14 from Lamar Odom in 32 minutes. Pau Gasol (8), Kobe Bryant (8) and Andrew Bynum (9) filled out the boarding foursome.

5
Game 1’s in Finals history with larger scoring margins than Thursday’s 25-pointer, the biggest since Chicago’s 33-point victory over Portland in 1992 (courtesy of ESPN stats).

14
Points scored off the bench by Mickael Pietrus, 11 of which were in the second half, to lead the Magic.

16
Straight series victories for L.A. when winning Game 1.

23
Minutes played by surprise-entry Jameer Nelson off the bench, in which he produced six points with four assists and two rebounds on 3-of-9 shooting. Nelson finished -19 on the game, while starting point guard Rafer Alston was just -6 despite struggling from the field (2-of-9).

32
Second half points for the Magic, compared to 47 for the Lakers.

34
Shots taken by Bryant, more than what he took in Games 5 and 6 combined against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. He seemed to figure out how Orlando was playing him after the first quarter, and took particular advantage of the pick and roll, which Stan Van Gundy lamented after the game. As for Kobe: “They were giving me a jumper,” he said.

46.1
Shooting percentage for an efficient Lakers attack, helped by the on-target Luke Walton (4-of-5, nine points) and Derek Fisher (4-of-6, nine points).

64
Rebounds that reserve forward Josh Powell would have finished with were he to play all 48 minutes, as he grabbed four in only three minutes of play.

Lakers 119, Nuggets 92: Postgame 6

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 29, 2009
in Post-Game
. Closed

Kobe BryantA 27-point victory over what had been the toughest and grittiest of opponents for five Western Conference Finals games was quite an emphatic way for L.A. to get back to the NBA Finals for the 30th time in franchise history.

Indeed, this one was never close.

The Lakers followed up a fantastic Game 5 fourth quarter by playing terrific basketball in all four Game 6 quarters despite a hostile Pepsi Center in Denver, executing with precision on offense and bringing constant energy on defense that left the Nuggets searching for answers.

“Tonight was a game where we played at the highest level, shooting the ball well from all spots on the floor,” said Phil Jackson. “I thought our collective energy was good. I thought our collective intelligence was good, and that seemed the most important thing at this time is being able to read the defenses, move the ball, get the ball in places where people can operate.”

With Kobe Bryant leading the way in focused assassin mode, the purple and gold were on from the jump, taking a five-point lead into the second quarter and using a 20-7 run to close the first half with a 13-point lead that they almost immediately pushed to 20 in the third quarter. Bryant was everywhere, orchestrating L.A.’s attack on both ends as if he knew what Denver was going to do.

“It was very controlled, excellent game from him,” Jackson said in summation.

“We just got a read for what they were doing,” added Bryant. “I think that was the key. We just got ‘em beat … It was the defense. And, like I said, we did a great job of reading that and finding the open man.”

The lead would swell to 29 points late in the fourth as L.A. assisted on 28 of its 43 field goals, led by 10 dimes from Bryant that underscored his 35-point performance on 12-of-20 shooting and 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

While Bryant was, well, Bryant, it was a complete team effort that produced L.A.’s finest all-around effort of the season, particularly in the given circumstances: five Lakers hit double figures; the bench scored 40 points; the Lakers turned the ball over just three times in the second half to build on the lead; L.A. shot 57.3 percent from the field, and made a perfect 24-of-24 free throws; and the team defense held Denver to 43.8 percent shooting.

Simply put, L.A. did whatever it wanted.

As it’s been all season, Pau Gasol was 1A to Bryant’s numero uno, the Spaniard going for 20 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in nearly 43 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting. Not far behind was Lamar Odom, who put up 20 points (14 in the second half) and eight boards, while Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton proved a very productive small forward duo, combining for 27 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

“Last two games, I mean, we really proved to ourselves and to everybody else that we can be an extremely high quality team, a team that deserves to be in the NBA Finals and is going for the NBA championship.,” said Gasol. “So that really, really felt good out there and we have to do more of that.”

With the victory, the Lakers earned themselves six full days to rest, with the Finals set to take place on Thursday, June 4, against the winner of the Orlando-Cleveland Eastern Conference Finals that’s currently led 3-2 by the homeward-bound Magic.

Stay tuned for extensive coverage of what was simply a fantastic Lakers’ performance that had the team just four wins away from its one and only goal.

Until then, some numbers:

0
Free throws missed by the Lakers on 24 attempts.

3
Second half turnovers for a Lakers’ team that had coughed the ball up 11 times in the first half, helping L.A. preserve the 13-point lead they’d built at the half.

5
Lakers in double-digit points in a game marked by terrific ball movement, including three players at the 20-point margin (Bryant, Gasol and Odom).

6
Minute mark of the second quarter when Denver would hold its last lead at 33-32; they’d cede the lead on a Lamar Odom baby hook in the lane and never get it back.

10
First quarter points from Trevor Ariza, including two three pointers from opposite wings as he took advantage of double teams on Bryant and Gasol to get L.A. off to a good offensive start.

16
Combined assists from Bryant (10) and Gasol (6), whom Denver double-teamed constantly to their detriment. Both seemed to make the ideal pass out of the trap throughout the game.

29
Bench points in the second half from the Lakers, thanks primarily to 14 from Lamar Odom and eight from Luke Walton. The bench finished with 40 points on the evening to counter 34 from the Nuggets.

60
L.A.’s shooting percentage in a terrific first half that produced a 13-point lead.

66
Second half points from the Lakers to 52 from the Nuggets, a 14-point difference that was one more than the 53-40 halftime margin.

Lakers 103, Nuggets 94: Postgame 5

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 27, 2009
in Post-Game
. Closed

57544224Denver asked the game’s best scorer to pass, and Kobe Bryant did just that.

Maneuvering around consistent double teams and traps that the Nuggets threw his way, Bryant played willing passer throughout an intensity-filled Western Conference Finals evening, leading L.A. from a seven-point deficit late in the third quarter to a nine-point victory.

“That’s what we really asked of him,” said Phil Jackson. “He had eight assists and could have had more if we hit some shots. He was creating offensive opportunities by drawing double teams and (it) worked.”

It was fitting that Bryant’s final assist went to Lamar Odom under the hoop to seal the game with 1:02 remaining: Odom, who had been battling an injured back since falling hard in the second round against Houston, was everywhere at both ends of the floor, spreading statistical love across the box score with 19 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and three assists.

“He’s been limited in activity, so playing the kind of minutes he did tonight he was exhausted but he gave us a really good effort at both ends of the court,” said Jackson. “He did some things that were important for us to win.”

Many of those things came during an all-important 21-3 run that began late in the third and ended halfway through the fourth as Odom and Pau Gasol (nine total blocks) protected L.A.’s rim while Bryant darted and dished. And if Odom was a spark, Shannon Brown was the match, as requested on the bench by Phil Jackson after Derek Fisher picked up his fourth foul.

Brown checked in with L.A. down seven, and moments later cut to the hoop for a layup from Bryant, which he followed with the game’s biggest momentum-changing play when he skied high into the air to hammer dunk on a charging Chris Andersen, who’d blocked four shots to that point. Brown then took his show to the other end, hounding Chauncey Billups as Denver turned the ball over twice, which led to a game-tying three from Odom. The Lakers flowed naturally from there, pushing their lead to 11 with 7:36 left in the fourth when Gasol sunk a hook shot in the lane.

Speaking of the Spaniard…

“He had a terrific game tonight,” said Jackson of his power forward that had 14 points, 10 boards and five blocks. “He was getting the ball out on double teams, rebounding and blocking shots, good game from him.”

While Gasol and Bryant led the starters, nearly each Laker that played contributed in some manner.

“I think this was one of the best games we’ve played this year as far as giving a team effort,” said Odom, who went on to name most of his teammates, citing individual contributions that included a solid all-around game from Trevor Ariza; 19 combined first half points from Fisher and Andrew Bynum; Brown’s six points, dunk and defensive energy; and four boards, two assists, a steal and a block from Luke Walton, and a buzzer-beating three from Sasha Vujacic to tie the game heading into the half.

As a team, the Lakers executed their offensive goal of getting the ball down low, scoring 54 points in the paint to just 36 from Denver, and thriving off some electric STAPLES energy to a 27-18 fourth quarter after the first three had ended in ties.

“This is playoff basketball and the energy that is created by the home crowd and the intensity of the game plays into it,” concluded Jackson. “This Lakers group is really connected, driven, and motivated to get where we were at last year to give ourselves a chance to win.”

Heading back to Colorado for Game 6, how will the Lakers give themselves that chance to close out the series in what’s sure to be a hostile environment?

“The intensity is going to be there, what we have to do is execute,” said Bryant. “Be cold blooded, go out there and execute.”

It would sure help the Lakers execute if Lamar Odom can bring what he delivered on Wednesday night … Because when he does, as Carmelo Anthony said after the game, it ain’t easy to beat L.A.

“They’re special,” he said. “Lamar, when he’s out there, he’s a mismatch, especially at the four. In that second unit, way he played tonight, hit the glass, pounded inside. When he plays like that, they’re a tough team. So we gotta look forward to that for Friday.

Until then, some numbers:

1
More rebound for Denver than the Lakers (43-42), who’d prefer to win that battle, but would take it after losing it by 18 in Game 4.

3
Three pointers hit by the Lakers on 16 attempts, only 18.8 percent. L.A. was very good from everywhere else, however, hitting 56.7 percent from two.

4
Fastbreak points for the Nuggets, as the Lakers’ focus on sprinting back in transition paid off.

9
Combined blocks from Pau Gasol (5) and Lamar Odom (4)

13
Field goal attempts from Kobe Bryant, his fewest in the series, towards 22 points, including 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

18
Lamar Odom’s +/- total, by far the highest in the game, meaning the Lakers outscored Denver by 18 points when he was on the floor. No. 2 was Shannon Brown with +13, while Denver’s Chris Andersen was a game-worst -17.

31
Points from Carmelo Anthony to lead the Nuggets, 12 of which came from the free throw line. No other Nugget had more than 12 points (Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups).

54
Points in the paint for the Lakers, to just 36 from Denver as L.A. dominated the lane.

Lakers 101, Nuggets 120: Postgame 4

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 25, 2009
in Post-Game
. Closed

Pau and KobeL.A. knew the recipe for success heading into Game 4 in Denver: try to sustain the home team’s inevitable early energy, stay close on the scoreboard and out-execute the Nuggets in the fourth to try and steal a second-straight road win.

Yet what the Lakers had no answer for, even if assistant coach Frank Hamblen warned of it before the game, was a terrific bench effort from Denver, who got 42 points from its pine to overwhelm the Lakers and even the series at two heading back to Los Angeles.

Without question, it’s a tough task to take two consecutive home games from a good playoff team, particularly when fatigue was thought to be an issue for the purple and gold heading into the contest. That Denver had to work its collective behind off against a tired purple and gold squad in staving off a 3-1 series deficit was well-defined by its 58-40 edge on the glass, including 20 offensive rebounds that produced 23 second-chance points.

Throughout the game, the Nuggets sustained their effort to open up leads only to see the Lakers hang a few buckets at the other end to stay in the game. The Lakers trailed by three after one and seven after two, but ultimately, the visitors couldn’t keep up, and the Nuggets were able to protect an 11-point lead they’d built into the fourth.

Before the game, George Karl had this to say about L.A.’s legs and his bench: “Fatigue is a part of a playoff series if it goes for a long time … I hope that does become a factor, because I think right now our bench has a little more confidence.”

That certainly proved true, particularly from Chris Andersen - who grabbed 14 boards and blocked two shots in 24 minutes - and J.R. Smith, who put in 24 points with four assists. The Lakers, on the other hand, got little from their bench, relying instead on Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol to carry the day on some tired All-Star legs. Though both were terrific - Bryant scored 34 points with seven boards and five assists while Gasol put up 21 points, 10 boards, four assists and three blocks - their lack of support ultimately doomed the Lakers.

Still, there was no panic in the postgame locker room, as the Lakers knew Denver had to completely empty its tank on Monday before taking a flight to L.A. for Wednesday’s Game 5 at STAPLES Center. There, the Lakers feel like they’ll be the team with the extra skip in their step.

Until then, some numbers:

1
Missed shot in seven attempts for Andrew Bynum, for whom Denver didn’t have an answer in the paint. Bynum scored 14 points, grabbed five boards and blocked a shot, though he did get caught behind the play a few times en route to five personal fouls.

3
Fourth quarter technicals called on the Nuggets (J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin drew one each). Also the number of days it rained in Denver during L.A.’s stay.

6
Turnovers for the Nuggets, which helped keep the Lakers to just five fastbreak points.

18
Denver’s advantage in the paint, from where it outscored the Lakers 52-34.

20
Offensive boards from the Nuggets, to just nine from the Lakers. This stat as much as any showed Denver’s energy level.

31
Three-pointers attempted by the Lakers, who converted on nine (29 percent).

42
Bench points for the Nuggets, compared to 22 for L.A.

49
Free throws taken by the Nuggets, including 31 in the second half. L.A. attempted 35 from the charity stripe.

547
Times Denver’s Detroit-style PA announcer annoyed the band of Lakers fans who made the trip from Los Angeles. Swiping the “Chauncey Buh Buh Buh Billups” line from the Pistons probably wasn’t a California favorite.

Lakers 103, Nuggets 97: Postgame 3

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 23, 2009
in Post-Game
. Closed

Kobe About 5,280 feet above sea level on Saturday night in Denver, yet another Kobe Bryant performance for the ages culminated in a come-from-behind win that reclaimed home court advantage for the Lakers in what’s turning out to be quite the Western Conference Finals.

Bryant matched his brilliant effort in L.A.’s 105-103 Game 1 victory when he put up 40 points, four assists and six boards with 41 points, five assists, six boards and two steals in Colorado. His 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining and L.A. down two over J.R. Smith was by far the biggest shot of the series, and preceded five of his six final quarter free throws that clinched the game.

What was different is that Bryant had a whole lot of second half help from Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza. Gasol nailed back-to-back turnaround jumpers over the outstretched hands of Nene and grabbed four fourth quarter rebounds en route to 20 and 11 for the game, while Ariza not only made two three-pointers and the game-clinching steal (eerily similar to his steal that clinched Game 1), but he helped hold Carmelo Anthony to only seven points after the first quarter, and no field goals in the second half. The steal of the inbound pass again came with Lamar Odom flailing his long limbs at Kenyon Martin this time and Ariza stepping in front of Anthony.

“The effort tonight by Kobe and Trevor and Gasol chipped in with solid basketball game,” said Phil Jackson. “We had a little momentum there down the stretch and outscored them in the fourth quarter.”

That they did, by 14 points actually (32-18), to salvage the game and with it, ensure they’d be at worst dead even heading back to Los Angeles after Monday’s Game 4.

“We worked really hard,” said a winded Pau Gasol, who played nearly 43 minutes while Bryant went for 41. “I’m really proud of our guys. They really competed. That was the big difference the way we finished off the game.”

Bryant’s 5-of-6 free throws came as Denver missed three different attempts at 3-pointers while trailing by at least four in the final minute, though it was an 11-2 run to start the quarter - keyed by Odom, Gasol and Ariza - that set L.A. on its way.

Andrew Bynum chipped in seven points, four boards and three blocks in 20 minutes that allowed Gasol to save a bit of his legs in the first half, while Lamar Odom scored eight points with seven rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench. Anthony finished with 21 points, 14 of which came in the first quarter, to lead Denver, while Chris Andersen added 15 points - 13 in the first half - off the bench.

The Lakers will attempt to regenerate some energy on Sunday, and take the Denver floor once again looking to win for the eighth straight time in a postseason road game against the Nuggets.

If Game 4’s anything like the first three, make sure you’re watching.

Until then, some numbers:

3
Second half points for Carmelo Anthony, all on free throws, as he went 0-for-4 from the field.

5
Field goals made by the Nuggets in the fourth quarter on 22 attempts (22.7 percent). Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith combined to go just 3-for-11, while Anthony was 0-for-2.

7
Straight road playoff wins for the Lakers in Denver.

14
Free throws missed by the Lakers. All seven players who attempted a free throw missed at least once for the Lakers, though the team made 11-of-14 in the fourth quarter.

15
Free throws made by Kobe Bryant in 17 attempts, who took - and gave - all kinds of contact throughout the game.

26
Second half points for Bryant en route to his 41.

39.3
Shooting percentage for the game by the Nuggets.

60
Field goal percentage by the Lakers in the fourth quarter on 9-of-15 shots, highlighted by two threes from Trevor Ariza and the big dagger from Bryant.

Lakers 103, Nuggets 106: Postgame 2

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 21, 2009
in Post-Game
. Closed

Melo - BillupsWhat were the chances of another up-and-down, cut-throat, skill-infested Western shootout between the Lakers and Nuggets after a Game 1 slugfest?

Decent, but not likely, right?

Wrong.

The only thing that was different from Tuesday to Thursday’s outstanding battles was the execution down the stretch and the result, which this time went to Denver.

“Not quite the same game but almost,” said Phil Jackson. “Different ending.”

Indeed.

The crunch time plays went to Denver, the biggest of which was a Trevor Ariza turnover after a jump ball, a play with plenty of intrigue in itself. After Kenyon Martin hit a baseline leaner with 29.6 seconds left to put his team up two, countering Kobe Bryant’s second-straight jumper, Nene tied up Pau Gasol at the top of the key. On the jump, J.R. Smith appeared to illegally enter the play, but Trevor Ariza gained temporary control only to fumble it away while trying to avoid a traveling call. There was contact on the play from Carmelo Anthony, whom Phil Jackson thought got away with a push, but no whistle could be heard.

Regardless of what really happened, the Nuggets gained control, and Billups ended up at the free throw line for the 15th and 16th time. He missed the first, however, allowing the Lakers a final 3-point attempt that would have tied the game … But it fell short as Nene got a touch on the ball out of the corner, and Denver - who had proven itself to be a very, very good team - earned an away split to capture home court advantage from the Lakers just as Houston had in Round 2.

Sure, execution down the stretch was what won the game, but you have to go back to the second quarter to get the whole story, to see how the tempo changed. L.A. had completely dominated the paint to build a 14-point lead with 7:18 to go in the half, getting easy layups and dunks for Andrew Bynum in particular, before Denver’s bench rolled off a big 12-0 run keyed by two Linas Kleiza threes to close the half down just one.

“I thought it invigorated them, got them going,” said Jackson. “It gave them some confidence in what they wanted to run, and defensively I thought they were better too.”

Then in the third quarter, Bynum - who was a team-high +7 in 18:27 - played just under five minutes and didn’t appear in the fourth, forcing Pau Gasol to play the entire second half as the Spaniard tired noticeably. That seemed to sway L.A.’s control of the paint, and with it, their control of the game. Indeed, the Lakers outscored Denver 36-18 in the paint during the first half with Bynum patrolling the lane, but ceded a 20-16 advantage in the second, with two Anthony offensive boards looming large.

“Their presence of scoring paint points is as good as anyone in the league,” said George Karl. “They do it with post ups in size and rebounding.”

Just not in the second half, when they needed two extremely tough pull-up threes from Bryant to stay in the battle after falling down by seven early in the fourth.

In a game that saw a total of 56 whistles blown, Billups made 13-of-16 free throws en route to 27 points, while Anthony scored 34 points on 12-of-29 shooting. Bryant ended up with 32 points on 10-of-20 shooting, while Trevor Ariza put in 20 points on 6-of-7 and was a big factor in a 7-0 third quarter run that re-claimed the lead momentarily for L.A.

A tough loss, no question, but there was no panic in the Lakers’ locker room. After all, L.A. had the league’s best road record in the regular season (29-12), including wins in Cleveland, Boston, San Antonio and … yes … Denver.

“We’re not the best road team in the NBA for no reason,” said Bryant, who led his team to road victories in Round 1 over Utah and Round 2 over Houston.

Just 48 hours and they’ll have their chance for redemption in what’s shaping up to be quite a Western Conference Finals.

Until then, some numbers:
Continue reading ‘Lakers 103, Nuggets 106: Postgame 2′

Kobe Bryant Postgame Quotes

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 20, 2009
in Kobe Bryant and Post-Game
. Closed

Kobe - MeloWhat a spectacular game Kobe Bryant played on Tuesday night at STAPLES, literally dragging his teammates across the finish line of a nail-biter that L.A. pulled out 105-103 despite trailing for most of the game.

Bryant scored 18 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, set up the biggest shot of the game - a go-ahead three by Derek Fisher with 2:30 to play - with one of his four dimes, grabbed six rebounds including the game-clincher off a missed free throw and played outstanding defense on Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony. He also made 12-of-13 free throws, including 9-of-9 in the fourth, and hit 2-of-3 three pointers.

After the game, Bryant offered some reflection, talked about his teammates, vowed not to get another technical foul, addressed Jerry West’s comments regarding him and LeBron James and more.

Here’s a full transcript of Bryant’s comments from the postgame podium:

Q. Can you talk about your scoring performance tonight, where did you get the energy level coming off of a seven game series with Houston to find that energy to overtake the Nuggets in the end?
BRYANT: Just had to gut it out. It was a tough game. We were down virtually the whole game. So I just had to dig deep a little bit, see if we can’t pull it out.

Q. Any frustration again with a bit of a slow start at the start of this game for you as far as team just not getting out the start that I know you’re looking for?
BRYANT: You know, it’s a part of basketball. I mean, it’s just part of the game. Some games you’ll get out to a quick start, some games not. I think the thing we did better in this game is that we didn’t allow them to go on a huge run and put us in too big of a deficit. We kept it at seven, kept it at eight and nine. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Playoff basketball you see that happening all the time. I think that’s where we’ve improved from the last series. Houston, we virtually capitulated in the first quarter. That didn’t happen tonight.

Kobe BryantQ. Can you tell us how your finger is, what happened. And, additionally, toughness, it seemed like the Nuggets were kind of out toughing you early and the team kind of responded and obviously pulled out the victory. Can you talk about how physical the game was?
BRYANT: The finger is the same. It’s the same one I did against Cleveland. Tried to go without tape tonight. Just got caught with the ball, popped it out, popped it right back in place. Went to the bench, taped it up, good to go. In terms of physicality of the game. It’s playoff basketball. Guys bump a little bit. I felt like the first half their frontcourt really dominated us. During the second half I felt we did a much better job.

Q. You guarded Chauncey in the beginning and J.R. in the middle and Carmelo at the end. Were you asking for those and had you just basically made the decision that this might be a night that you were going to have to pull everybody kind of through this one?
BRYANT: Yeah, I mean, once I sensed we didn’t have the energy, I had to take it upon myself to try to lead by example. And there are certain parts in a game where Chauncey’s he’s in attack mode. And I know when those are and I try to guard him, try to do the best job I can on him. The same thing with J.R., Melo got hot and Trevor was in foul trouble and I had to go down there and wrestle with a bear. It’s just part of my responsibilities to this team.

Q. Kobe, talk capitulation, when you’re down 13 was there an air of desperation at all, or the team feeding off the Game 7 furry understood what it was to come back and keep rallying?
BRYANT: A little bit of desperation. You have to have that. It’s a sense of urgency it’s not sit back and relax, let the game come to us. Now is the time, the moment, what we’ve been waiting for all year. And, yeah, so it was a little bit of desperation.

Q. Are you concerned with your five technicals now in the playoffs?
BRYANT: I won’t get another one.

Q. You don’t have to be any more careful?
BRYANT: I won’t get another one.
Continue reading ‘Kobe Bryant Postgame Quotes’

Lakers 105, Nuggets 103: Postgame 1

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 19, 2009
in Post-Game
. Closed

57488633Kanye West’s “Amazing” theme that’s featured on the NBA’s playoff preview commercials applied directly and with purpose on a crazy Tuesday evening in L.A.

Surely if the Lakers come-from-behind, down-the-stretch win over an impressive Denver Nuggets team serves as a harbinger, we’re in for quite a Western Conference Finals. Down 94-89 with 5:13 on the clock, the West’s best slugged it out in Old Western fashion, the big plays deserving a blow-by-blow breakdown:

4:17 Trevor Ariza nails a three after making 1-of-7 shots to that point - Denver 94, L.A. 92.
2:30 Pau Gasol, struggling defensively all game, swats Nene to set up a Derek Fisher three at the other end - L.A. 97, Denver 96.
2:07 Gasol draws a charge on Anthony.
1:38 Chauncey Billups drains a three after Gasol misses both free throws - Denver 99, L.A. 97.
1:14 Gasol draws a defensive foul and makes both free throws - L.A. 99, Denver 99.
0:57.3 Lamar Odom, after tying up Chris Andersen, wins the jump ball.
0:30.5 Kobe Bryant, who stuck a jumper with 3:12 left, attacked the paint, drew a foul and hit both - L.A. 101, Denver 99.
0:29.1 Ariza jumped the lofted Anthony Carter inbounds pass (Odom all over him) and eventually earned two free throws for Bryant with 10.0 remaining - L.A. 103, Denver 99.
0:06.1 Billups drops another silly triple - L.A. 103, Denver 102.
0:05.8 Bryant hits two more from the stripe, and the Lakers wrap up J.R. Smith instead of allowing a potential game-tying three.
0:03.2 Smith makes one, intentionally misses the second, and Bryant skies for the game-clinching rebound.

Lakers win.

In real time, each play was gut-wrenching and time stopping, with a sold out STAPLES Center crowd living with each positive play (Ariza steals the ball!!!) and dying with every counter (Chauncey … No!!!). That L.A. had a chance to make big plays down the stretch in the first place was a testament to Kobe Bryant, who scored 18 fourth quarter points and took turns guarding whichever Nugget was the hottest between Billups and Anthony in a fantastic performance.

“Once I sensed we didn’t have the energy, I had to take it upon myself to try and lead by example,” he said of his 40-point, 4-assist, 6-rebound, ball-hawking effort. “Just had to gut it out … We were down virtually the whole game, I had to dig deep a little bit to see if we couldn’t pull it out.”

Carmelo Anthony, who was himself spectacular with 39 points on 14-of-20 shooting, needed few words to describe his Olympic teammate and close friend.

“He’s tough,” said ‘Melo, shaking his head. “Everyone knows what Kobe can do … He’s a great player.”

57488682“It’s crazy that you start to get used to it,” added Lamar Odom, who pitched in seven points, eight boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks. “You get used to greatness. (Bryant) was amazing. He wanted the ball … And he was able to make plays over and over again … That’s why he’s the best.”

Bryant’s effort was particularly captivating as earlier that day, Lakers legend Jerry West said LeBron James had surpassed Bryant as the game’s best player, comments to which Bryant responded after the game when asked: “(Being the best player is) not my goal …My mission is to win a championship, and the debate of who is the best player, that’s not something that I concern myself with.”

Well, he was certainly the best player on this night, and he needed to be after the Nuggets raced out of the gates like Rachel Alexandra, opening a 13-point first quarter lead that L.A.’s bench managed to completely erase by halftime. But in the third quarter, with Andrew Bynum in foul trouble, Nene and Co. bullied Pau Gasol in the paint to reclaim a lead that was at most seven points early in the fourth.

But then, with Bryant all over Anthony, it was three players who’d struggled for much of the game - Gasol, Fisher and Ariza - who stepped up to the moment, and the Lakers stole a victory.

“We kind of won that game just on energy and gutting it out, finding a way to get some stops at the end and make some plays at the other … some big ones,” said Phil Jackson. “I think they outplayed us and we won the game.”

Denver coach George Karl, dejected yet proud of his team, was gracious in defeat.

“They’re a great team,” he said after looking down for a full 20 seconds. “They’re great at the end of games. They have the best closer in sports, and we didn’t do enough to win the game.”

They were both right: Denver may have deserved to win (12 missed free throws didn’t help), but L.A. was great when it mattered most.

Either way, both coaches seemed to agree that their teams were in for quite a series that continues in L.A. on Thursday.

Until then, some numbers:
Continue reading ‘Lakers 105, Nuggets 103: Postgame 1′

Lakers 89, Rockets 70: Postgame

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 17, 2009
in Post-Game
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LakersWhy did the Lakers ultimately lose last season’s NBA title to the Boston Celtics?

Defense.

Similarly, why did the heavily favored Lakers find themselves in a winner-take-all Game 7 against a gritty Houston Rockets squad?

Defense.

And why did the Lakers easily and methodically ground those Rockets for good on Sunday at STAPLES Center?

Defense … Swarming defense.

While the Lakers played individually and collectively well at the most important end of the floor, one player can be easily singled out for his impact. It’s a player who also happened to be absent in last season’s playoffs, most notably in the Finals: Andrew Bynum.

Nothing made that more clear than the extended roar Bynum heard from his home crowd when checking out of the game with 1:58 left in the third quarter, the win all but secured with his team up 67-48 thanks in no small part to the young center’s personal clogging of the lane. He finished with six boards, two blocks, and a steal, not to mention 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes.

“It’s big,” said Kobe Bryant, who needed to score just 14 points alongside his seven boards, five assists, three steals and two blocks. “From a defensive standpoint, (Bynum’s) extremely critical.”

Deserving just as much credit for putting on his hard hat and going to work is Pau Gasol, who was omnipresent in proving the fact that the Lakers are nearly unbeatable when their two seven footers beat the effort drum. Like Bynum, the Spaniard was privy to a triumphant standing ovation upon checking out of the game with 3:34 to play, his Lakers up 29 thanks in no small part to 21 points and 18 rebounds (six offensive).

“I was just proud of the way (Gasol) played,” said Bryant, seated next to Gasol at the postgame podium. “He played like one of the best players in the world. I was excited for him.”

Gasol and Bynum combined with Lamar Odom off the bench to block six shots, grab 55 boards to Houston’s 33 and limit the Rockets to only 30 points in the paint.

“(We) stopped penetration,” said Odom, who battled a sore back to score six points with seven boards and three assists. “We were able to stop (Aaron) Brooks from getting to the hole and we made them take jump shots, and they never got on track.”

With Sunday’s effort, L.A. had outscored the Rockets by a collective 59 points in its last two home games, with neither game in doubt after respective first quarters. Surely that’s the kind of effort that the Lakers hope to bring in just two days as the Denver Nuggets stroll in for a Western Conference Finals showdown that Houston’s Shane Battier briefly handicapped:

“The Lakers are the favorites,” he offered. “I don’t think the Nuggets have been tested yet.”

They’ll certainly be tested, and then some, if L.A. brings its A game, which Bryant acknowledged simply wasn’t there in every game of the Houston series.

“Our effort could be much better in Game 4 and Game 6, but still, Houston played extremely well,” said Bryant, who could have added “We were weak in Game 1″. “(But) in Game 6 at halftime we made a decision to get more aggressive - to get up in passing lanes - and we just turned it up another notch. After that game … we understood that there was another level still that we could go to defensively.”

Whether or not they can lock that defensive energy up and stick it into a bottle, due to be released on Tuesday, remains to be seen; but the Lakers are confident that they’ll do just that.

“Hopefully we’re going to carry that (defense) into the next round and to a championship,” concluded Gasol. “That’s something we need to do consistently no matter what, no matter where we play.”

With that, some numbers:

0
Times Houston led in the game, the same number of leads L.A. held in Game 6.

8
Wins in the playoffs for the Lakers, who have their minds wrapped around getting eight more.

9
First quarter points from Trevor Ariza, including two 3-pointers, which were key as the Lakers as a team shot just 39 percent in the period. Ariza finished a productive game with 15 points, five boards and two blocks.

9
Fourth quarter points from Sasha Vujacic on 4-of-6 shooting, encouraging for L.A. as the Slovenian had struggled with his shot throughout the playoffs.

10
Blocked shots for the Lakers, to just three from Houston.

31
L.A.’s biggest lead.

36.8
Houston’s field goal percentage as the visitors struggled to get good looks at the basket throughout the afternoon. The Rockets made just 5-of-20 threes, two of which came in the final minute (Kyle Lowry) of the game with L.A. playing token defense.

55
Rebounds for the Lakers, including 13 on the offensive end, to dominate the Rockets’ 33 boards (five offensive). Pau Gasol alone had 18 boards, while Houston’s high-man (Ron Artest) had eight.

Lakers Know What To Do In Game 7

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 16, 2009
in Phil Jackson and Post-Game
. Closed

Lakers The last time L.A. played a Game 7 at STAPLES Center, George W. Bush had just taken office, Y2K had failed to ruin the world and Andrew Bynum was 12 years old.

But Phil Jackson’s attitude hasn’t much changed.

The thesis statement from the head coach after Saturday’s practice was simple: His players were fully prepared, and knew precisely what was required of them leading into Sunday’s Game 7 with Houston.

“The guys on our team believe that we know what we have to do to get this accomplished. We came out in the third quarter (of Game 6) and got the game back in hand, but we lost it by a series of misplays that weren’t related to anything that Houston did but what we didn’t do. We were able to match the energy level in that third quarter, but we couldn’t sustain our mind set, how we’re going to play against them and what we’re going to do, so that’s what we have to do (on Sunday).

Of course, Jackson wasn’t interested in detailing exactly what adjustments will be made, but his general point that his players knew the onus was on them was confirmed by one Laker after another, including Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

“I don’t know, don’t care (what kind of Rockets team will show up),” said Bryant. “We know they’re going to come out fighting and we have to be ready. We have to worry about what we’re going to do.”

“We know what we’re facing and we’re excited about it,” added Gasol. “The mind set has to be really aggressive and confident.”

Now, if you had to pinpoint a single focus, you can guess what end of the floor it was on.

“We’re continuing to evolve, (but) I think in the second half of (Game 6) we picked up our defensive intensity and saw kind of what we’re capable of in playing as hard as we did,” Bryant continued. “Hopefully tomorrow that effort will be there at the start.”

FisherFisher’s Confidence Not Faltering
One common question of late has centered around the struggles of Derek Fisher, who had made just 1-of-14 3-pointers en route to 29.4 percent shooting in the series and struggled at times to stay with the younger, quicker Aaron Brooks. Yet Fisher’s been around the block too often, come through in too many big situations to feel anything but confident about his game heading into Game 7, as he intimated after practice. He certainly has the trust of Phil Jackson, who indirectly suggested that Fisher would again be on the floor at the opening tip.

“We want all our players to be ready to play,” Jackson said. “What we have as a starting lineup is certainly not going to be always the team that we’ve got in there, but these are the guys that we count on and we’re going to go with the guys we believe in.”

In other words, the starting lineup should stay the same, but other than Kobe Bryant (he won’t be sitting much), minutes will be determined by who’s playing well, which could well mean more burn for Jordan Farmar in particular.

Bynum - ScolaOn the Block
The tenor of the game may be decided not on the perimeter by Fisher and Bryant, but rather on the block with Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. After all, the Rockets took advantage of the physical nature of Game 6 after noticing early that heavy contact was allowed in the paint, but that may not be the case on Sunday.

With Odom, L.A.’s biggest concern is his bruised back, which Carl Landry took advantage of Odom’s in the second half of Game 6. Jackson said Odom’s pain is “a concern,” but won’t keep him off the floor. Phil had more to say about Gasol and Bynum:

On Gasol: “If he stands still on the post and receives the ball, Chuck Hayes is a big, solid, wide guy, a lot of power in there to get up underneath (Gasol) where he doesn’t have a lot of room to move. But if we get him moving, get the team moving and the ball moving, (Gasol) is fine, he’ll do a good job against (Hayes). We have to set him up, it’s not just going to be get him the ball and let him go 1-on-1.”

On Bynum: “The guys just have to look for him. He’s a great target, he has a big body, if he asks for the ball and guys rotate off him we have to get him the basketball. He was open in certain situations, and we were interested in 3-point shots because we got concerned with making up the distance. But I think the guys will have the right idea, they know what do to.”

The Meditator
When asked if the public confidence he’s portrayed throughout the series was different from his personal feelings, Jackson acknowledged the following:

Has my sleep pattern changed? Yes. But that’s why I meditate and work on the things I work on. You have to play with control, but you have to play at optimum speed, so if you get hyped up and are trying to play above the level at which you can play controlled basketball, you’re doing a disservice. So it’s a combination of two things. I think (John) Wooden said it best: “Be quick but don’t hurry.” That’s kind of the statement.

Eyes Wide Shut
Sasha Vujacic, who like Fisher has struggled with his shot in the playoffs (24.6 percent), was still on the court shooting an hour after the first interview was conducted. After hitting 13-of-14 shots in seven spots around the 3-point line, Vujacic made 10 straight free throws, then 10 more with his eyes shut. “OK, now I can go,” he said before finally walking into the locker room.