Archive for the 'Pre-Game' Category

Just Kidding: Nelson WILL Play

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

The big news out of the pregame interviews was that Jameer Nelson will dress and will “probably” play according to Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, a surprise as it was reported earlier on Thursday that he likely would NOT play.

Here’s Van Gundy’s quote:

We’re going to dress him today and probably play him. Some ways not a difficult decision because it just comes down to trying to make a decision that we think gives us the best chance to win. The easiest decision would have been to not play him … He would have understood and it wouldn’t have disrupted our rotation. He’s ready to go, we think he can put some pressure on their defense.”

The plan is to put Nelson in off the bench when starter Rafer Alston takes a seat. Van Gundy said the Magic will stick with him regardless of how well or poorly he plays.

Nelson Not Expected to Play

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

Jameer NelsonInjured Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, who addressed media members yesterday at STAPLES Center, is not expected to play in Game 1 and is unlikely to play in the NBA Finals, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Nelson hadn’t played for the Magic since tearing the labrum in his right shooting shoulder on Feb. 2, but had been trying to come back early from his scheduled 6-month recovery schedule.

Nelson had been most effective for Orlando as a scorer, thanks to his 50.3 percent shooting percentage from the field, 45.3 percent from three and 88.7 percent from the line. His 5.4 assists per game also led the Magic in the regular season, and his 27.5 points per game against the Lakers were the key to Orlando’s season sweep.

Nelson explained on Wednesday afternoon that his shooting rhythm was, as expected, not what it had been during the season, and that if he played in the Finals it would be in a limited capacity. But apparently, he won’t be playing at all, but of course we won’t know for certain until the games have been played.
*****UPDATE 4:35 p.m. … Jameer Nelson WILL dress and probably play, so disregard this entire post.

Game 5 Video Preview

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 27, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
. Closed

Melo - ArizaIf you want to focus on one thing in particular that could determine who wins Wednesday’s Game 5 between L.A. and Denver, check the boards.

Assistant coach Frank Hamblen joined us to talk about the importance of cleaning the glass (Denver won that battle 58-40 in Game 2), getting the ball into the post, containing the Nuggets’ bench and more.

CLICK HERE to get to the Lakers.com Gameday Page and scroll down for the video.

Game 4 Video Preview

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 25, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
. Closed

Assistant coach Frank Hamblen joined us to preview L.A.’s second game in Denver, detailing his team’s focus on stopping the Nuggets’ penetration, controlling Denver’s bench and keeping the home team off the free throw line.

Hamblen also talked about how L.A. was able to twice steal key Denver inbound passes, and the importance of getting quality possessions on offense and matching the Nuggets’ energy.

To watch, CLICK HERE.

Game 2 Pregame Video

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 21, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
. Closed

Nene - GasolFrank Hamblen joined us once again to talk about countering Denver’s Game 1 advantage on the low block, defending Carmelo Anthony and the importance of winning the bench battle.

You can watch from our Gameday page by CLICKING HERE.

A few other things upon which to keep an eye:

A) Andrew Bynum’s presence early, and how it affects what Pau Gasol’s able to do at both ends of the floor.
B) L.A.’s defensive adjustment, which should be designed to limit the easy buckets Denver got early on: As Hamblen pointed out, 19 of Denver’s first 20 field goals in the first half came from their starting front line, and the Lakers coaches aren’t planning a repeat.
C) How quickly the ball moves within L.A.’s offense as Denver sends multiple defenders at Bryant, which should create more touches in better position for Bynum and Gasol. Furthermore, when Odom’s in the game, the interior passing becomes even more dangerous.

Remember, tip time is again early, at 6 p.m.

Missed Shots? Nahh

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 17, 2009
in Pre-Game
. Closed

Lakers assistant coach Craig Hodges knows everything you can know about shooting the basketball. That’s what he does.

As such, I thought his opinion on Derek Fisher’s 1-for-14 3-point shooting slump in L.A.’s second round series with Houston would be interesting. Perhaps most pertinent was his complete confidence that missing shots was far out of Fisher’s mind heading into Game 7, because that’s how it was for him.

Here’s part of our interchange:

MT: Coach, do you remember going through a shooting slump in a playoff series like Fisher’s?
Hodges: I couldn’t even tell you. I don’t remember misses. I only thought about makes, ever. The last thing I wanted to do was visualize the ball not going in the hoop.

MT: Really? Literally?
Hodges: I’m telling you. I didn’t even let one miss stay in my memory for one second. The only thing a miss does is prepare you for your next shot. That’s it.

If Fisher’s thinking like Hodges, you can erase his previous struggles. Sunday’s a new (shooting) day.

Lakers In A Decidedly Different Mood

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 14, 2009
in Lamar Odom and Pre-Game
. Closed

Lamar OdomCheck out the Video HERE
Last time the Lakers were in Houston, there was a certain sense of calm and confidence percolating through the pregame locker room air.

Lamar Odom was digging through a slew of candy bags; Trevor Ariza was messing around with Derek Fisher; Shannon Brown and Josh Powell were chatting about music … And so on.

The team’s mood subsequent to Thursday’s shootaround on this trip to Texas was decidedly different.

There were no smiles, no jokes, no candy and little engagement in interviews with Kobe Bryant (all business), Phil Jackson (quite brief) and even the ever-gregarious Lamar Odom, who kept his commentary on questions to a minimum.

Odom did reveal a few things: A) He’ll come off the bench and Andrew Bynum will start; B) His back is still stiff, but has improved slightly and won’t keep him from helping his teammates.

On the surface, it would seem that L.A. remembers all to well what happened in its 99-87 loss to the Rockets the last time they set foot on Houston’s floor, but as Odom admitted, talk is cheap.

L.A.’s going to have to prove that its more focused pregame mood will translate into effort on the court. Sure, it’d be nice to pound the ball inside to Bynum and Pau Gasol, get Bryant good looks out of the triangle, limit Houston’s three-point shooting with solid help rotations and continue to clog up the defensive paint, but assistant coach Jim Cleamons said there was only one thing upon which the Lakers need to focus: effort.

It’s the most simple point that could be made about L.A., but also the most accurate: Just look at the team’s past 92 games and see how the Lakers did when they brought the pain (er, energy).

They won.

Check out the Video HERE

Clem’s Video Scouting Report: Game 5

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 12, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
. Closed

Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons sat down to talk about the adjustment’s L.A.’s making heading into Tuesday evening’s Game 5.

CLICK HERE to watch.

Yao Ming Out for Game 4

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 10, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
. Closed

Yao MingHere’s a line from L.A.’s scouting report, amassed by the assistant coaches and video coordinators, heading into Game 4 in Houston:

“As we’ve pointed out many times through the season, an injured animal is a dangerous animal.”

In other words, don’t sleep on the Rockets just because Yao Ming’s out with a broken foot. As dominant as Yao can be at times, Houston remains well capable of playing good basketball, particularly defensively, as both Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes do a solid job both on the weak side and with man-to-man assignments.

Where Houston will miss Yao most is as the initiator of their offense. To make up for his absence, L.A.’s coaches expect the Rockets to more often run a play called the “Paul Pierce Play,” which is an elbow set designed to get Ron Artest the ball in the paint, in addition to more high screen and rolls with either Artest or Aaron Brooks on the ball and Luis Scola setting the screen.

But the bottom line is that Houston will certainly possess an us-against-the-world, rally-around-the-flag mentality, and if the Lakers don’t meet the Rockets competitive level, Game 4 won’t be anywhere near as easy as it looks on paper without the 7-6 Chinese tree in the middle.

Kobe vs. Ron-Ron Not The Story

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on May 8, 2009
in Kobe Bryant and Pre-Game
. Closed

Kobe Bryant - Ron ArtestSurrounded predominantly by local TV cameras after L.A.’s Friday afternoon shootaround in Houston, Kobe Bryant was asked so many questions about his interaction with Ron Artest that he finally had to give his opinion:

“Do I look like I care?” (WATCH HERE)

Realistically, how much can be made of an elbow to the chest that followed Artest’s shoving of Bryant underneath the hoop in an rebounding tussle? How many ways can the “Do you expect anything extra from Ron Artest” question be worded*? How many columns can we get out of it? After L.A.’s Game 2 win, from which Artest was ejected in the fourth quarter, some pundits condemned Bryant for the action in over-the-top fashion, while others condemned the league for assessing a flagrant 1 foul for what they saw as relatively harmless position battling.
*I counted nine.

Here’s the point: Who cares?

“What Kobe did happens every single game, maybe 20 times in a game,” said Phil Jackson, when peppered with the same questions asked to Bryant. “Big guys try to shove a small guy* underneath the basket, they’re going to have to fight for their life under there … It just got a focus because of what happened, but those things happen all the time in our game. This is not a game for boys, it’s a game for men.”
*Bryant may be heavier than his listed 205 pounds, but regardless, he gives up considerable weight to the 260-pound Artest.

The physical interaction between Bryant and Artest will not only be limited by officials, but also because the two will probably not even guard each other until the fourth quarter. Indeed, Houston needs to throw a different, more physical look at Bryant than Shane Battier at times, and the Lakers don’t want Artest to back Trevor Ariza into the paint. But whether or not two guys that never back down get into some physical contact isn’t going to decide the game.

More likely, it’ll be how aggressive Pau Gasol is with Yao Ming; how effective Kobe’s jumper is with Battier chasing him around; how Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown fill Derek Fisher’s shoes; if L.A. can knock down the open threes it gets when Houston doubles Bryant and Gasol; if L.A. can keep Aaron Brooks out of the paint; if Artest continues to drain out-of-character jumpers; or if Houston can find a way to score enough points. And so on.

Perhaps that’s why Kobe’s “Do I look like I care” really said a lot … He and the Lakers have plenty of other things to worry about in Game 3.