Archive for the 'Preview' Category

Video: B-Shaw on the Grizz

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on November 6, 2009
in Preview and Video
. Closed

On paper, the Memphis Grizzlies are among the most interesting of squads.

While they rank 7th in the NBA in scoring and have three players averaging at least 20 points (O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph), they are 30th (that’d be last) in the NBA in points allowed (115.2) and 29th in both opponent field goal percentage (50.5 percent), three-point percentage and assists per game. Translation: they don’t play good defense.

There’s a reason, after all, that Memphis is 1-4 on the season.

Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw put it like this: the Grizzlies play offense downhill and defense up hill.

Yet that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous, particularly in the likely absence of starting center Andrew Bynum (elbow) and power forward Pau Gasol (hamstring), both of whom are listed as doubtful.

For more on the matchup, check out our (above) pregame video with Shaw.

Western Conference Preview: San Antonio

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on November 5, 2009
in Preview
. Closed

SpursWhen the San Antonio Spurs added Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair to their trio of All-Stars (you know, Tim Duncan - Tony Parker - Manu Ginobili), pundits around the NBA took notice.

Through three games, the Spurs have won two and lost one as not a single player is averaging 20 points or 30 minutes per game, making it difficult to predict how the team will play later in the season … Which is why we brought in Spurs radio man Bill Schoening, who let us know what was happening down in Texas.

And, of course, he gave us his (courtside) take on Manu Ginobili’s bat incident. Here’s the audio:

 
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Lakers Looking for Energy in Houston

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on November 4, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
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Farmar - BrooksTo Phil Jackson, the key to Wednesday night’s game in Houston is anything but complicated.

“Energy,” he explained in a word. “Just simply being able to recover and come out there and lay it down in a 48-minutes game.”

It’s not about recognizing Houston’s scheme - the Lakers got an extended look in the Western Conference Semis - or X’s and O’s at either end of the floor. Just effort.

The Lakers know that won’t be easy after a tough overtime game in Oklahoma City, particularly against a Houston team that is both playing very well would like nothing more than to “Beat L.A.” (as the Toyota Center crowd will frequently remind them).

Key for the Lakers will be the play of their bench, which produced just six points in limited action against the Thunder. Meanwhile, Ron Artest played 47 minutes, Lamar Odom 43, Andrew Bynum nearly 49, Kobe Bryant 46 and Derek Fisher 35.

Heavy, to quite heavy.

Of course, the absence of Pau Gasol - who is not expected to miss much more time - has a major affect on the bench with Odom stepping into his starting slot. As such, Jackson isn’t worried about the pine.

“They’ll get it back,” he said after the OKC win. “We have to dedicate some real minutes to them. Right now they are just patching it up and filling the gaps, and without Pau it’s real difficult because we don’t have someone to anchor that group out there that has the ability to be a go-to person in a situation where they need some settling down.”

Moments later, Bryant agreed with his head coach.

“It’s not a concern,” Kobe offered. “We’ll pick them up. There have been times that (the starter’s) rhythm was off and they came in and made big contributions … We just try to pick each other up so that when the playoffs come around the bench and the starters are clicking.”

On the other hand, boding well for L.A.’s bench is that two players - Jordan Farmar and Josh Powell - had their respective best games against the Rockets last year; Jackson and his staff are hoping that one or both are able to channel that towards Wednesday’s game, which could change the game’s story entirely.

Thunder on the Horizon

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on November 3, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
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Westbrook - LakersThe forecast in Oklahoma City calls for clear skies and sun all week, but Kevin Durant and Co. are hoping for some thunder and lightning - at least inside the Ford Center.

The Thunder have opened their season with two wins in three games, beating the Kings and Pistons before falling to the Trail Blazers, led by 22 points a game from Durant heading into Tuesday’s showdown with the Lakers.

We spent several minutes getting the inside perspective on OKC with their radio play-by-play man Matt Pinto last week (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN) and have added a few numbers breaking down the former SuperSonics:

THUNDER BY THE NUMBERS:
4 Thunder players to bypass college. Three are international players (Serbia’s Nenad Krstic, Switzerland’s Thabo Sefolosha and Congo’s Serge Ibaka), while Shaun Livingston came out of Peoria Central HS in Illinois.
Note: The Lakers have five players with no college experience: Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum (high school); Pau Gasol (Spain), Sasha Vujacic (Slovenia) and D.J. Mbenga (Belgium).

5 NBA players to score at least 20 points a game in their second NBA season: Kevin Durant (25.3, 2008-09); LeBron James (27.2, 2004-05); Vince Carter (29.3, 1993-94); Shaquille O’Neal (29.3, 1993-94); David Robinson (25.6, 1990-91).

5 Rookies averaging at least 15 points, four rebounds and four assists since 2000-01: OKC’s Russell Westbrook (2008-09), Brandon Roy (2006-07), Chris Paul (2005-06), LeBron James (2003-04) and Dwyane Wade (2003-04).

11 Technical fouls whistled on the Thunder last season, the fewest in the NBA. This season, they’ve yet to receive a tech.

12 Thunder rank in rebounding through three games, though the Lakers are tied for seventh (Portland).

14.3 Shooting percentage by Kevin Durant in a horrid third game of the season (83-74 loss to Portland), in which he made only 3-of-21 field goals. Durant, a career 45 percent shooter, said he had never, ever shot that poorly in a game.

19 Games out of their 23 wins last season in which the Thunder outrebounded their opponent.

25 years, 130 days The average age of the Thunder, making them the 2nd youngest team in the NBA (Golden State). OKC’s starters are even younger (23 years, 179 days), while the league average is 26 years and 329 days. San Antonio is the league’s oldest team with an average of 29 years and 73 days.

27 Thunder rank in steals, nearly as far away as you can get from the league-leading Lakers.

28 Thunder rank in scoring through three games. The Lakers are 16th.

90 Through three games, the Thunder are the only team in the NBA yet to allow 90 points. While the Lakers scored just 80 points in their lone loss to Dallas, they put up 99 against the Clippers and 118 versus Atlanta.

Western Conference Preview: Minnesota

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on November 2, 2009
in Preview
. Closed

Bynum - JeffersonShortly after winning the 2008-09 NBA Championship as a Lakers assistant coach, Kurt Rambis interviewed for the head coaching job of the Minnesota Timberwolves, impressing new President of Basketball Operations David Kahn and owner Glen Taylor enough to beat out a slew of other candidates.

What Rambis inherited was the league’s newest roster, full of young players, freshly-signed free agents and only five holdovers from the previous season.

To break down a complicated offseason and look ahead towards Rambis’ first campaign as the main man in Minnesota, we called Wolves radio play-by-play voice Alan Horton.

 
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Video Scouting Report: Mavericks

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on October 30, 2009
in Pre-Game and Preview
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Prior to every home game, we sit down with whichever Lakers assistant coach prepares the scouting report for that night’s opponent, which in this case is the Dallas Mavericks.

Jim Cleamons joined us after practice yesterday to talk about the addition of Shawn Marion, what to do defensively with Dirk Nowitzki in Pau Gasol’s absence and how the improvement in Jason Kidd’s outside shooting makes him a different player.

You can also listen to our Mavericks Season Preview with Dallas play-by-play voice Mark Followill by clicking here.

Western Conference Preview: Phoenix

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on October 28, 2009
in Preview
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Nash Stoudemire Odom FisherSeven seconds or less is back in Phoenix.

Of course, the same level of talent that existed in the Valley of the Sun during the team’s magical run may no longer be in place, but with the presence of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson and Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix can still get up and down the floor.

In fact, Suns TV play-by-play voice Tom Leander told us that Head Coach Alvin Gentry sets the practice shot clock at 18 seconds, and the team is expected to continue the running pace that produced 100+ points in 27 of the team’s final 31 games last season.

For those details, a health update on Stoudemire/Nash and more, here’s Leander:

 
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Western Conference Preview: Oklahoma City

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on October 28, 2009
in Preview
. Closed

Durant - KobeThe Oklahoma City Thunder promise to be a very good basketball team sometime in the near future … the question is, can that possibly be this season? Too early?

With a talented young roster spearheaded by Kevin Durant (who could well lead the NBA in scoring in 2009-10), the Thunder started last season on a horrid 3-27 pace, but rebounded to win 19 games to 30 losses after January 1. Durant put up 25.5 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting and 42.2 percent from three, plus 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals, while rookie Russell Westbrook and second year forward Jeff Green served as solid complements.

To look more closely at the Thunder, we called radio play-by-play voice Matt Pinto.

 
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Western Conference Preview: Houston

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on October 28, 2009
in Preview
. Closed

Tracy McGradyRockets radio play-by-play voice Craig Ackerman joined us to talk about a team that became quite familiar to the Lakers after a seven-game Western Conference Semis last season.

However, this group of Rockets is quite different from the 2008-09 variety, first due to the season-ending injury suffered by Yao Ming, in addition to the Ron Artest for Trevor Ariza swap (effectively) that occurred in free agency. Yet we did learn a potentially positive piece of news about Tracy McGrady when speaking with Ackerman after asking him about T-Mac’s status:

“Frankly I’d be shocked if (his return is) any later than (December),” he said. “At least from what I can see with my own eyes, he looks great … I think if it were up to him personally, he’d be playing right now.”

Ackerman also offered his take on Ariza’s first few weeks in Houston, talked about Ron Artest’s 2008-09 for the Rockets and delved into the point guard combo of Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry.

 
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Western Conference Preview: Memphis

Published
by
Mike Trudell
on October 27, 2009
in Preview
. Closed

Mayo - KobeIt’s quite a mix in Memphis, with veteran scorers Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson being added to a young core of Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, not to mention No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet.

To help us break things down, we dialed up Grizzlies radio play-by-play voice Eric Hasseltine.

Hasseltine pointed out that Memphis lost Darrell Arthur to a torn pectoral muscle that could keep him out up to four months (a blow since Arthur was set to be the first Grizzly off the bench), discussed the unfortunate Andrew Bynum injuries suffered in back-to-back years against Memphis and offered his insight into Mayo and Gay in particular.

 
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