The Lakers Strike Back and Even the Series by Beating the Blazers 111-88

 

Now that's how you dominate a game.

That's how you come out and play when you are the number 1 seed in the playoffs, and your opponent is the 8th seed.

That's how you come out and smother an opponent with suffocating defense.

That's how you make a statement if your end goal is to nab the hardware that only one team will bring home.

The Lakers, from beginning till end, dominated the talented, but shell-shocked Portland Trailblazers, leading by 33 points at one point during game 2 of their best of 7 game series. The Lakers played like champions and helped eradicate that rock-in-the-gut feeling we fans had after their failure to show up in game 1. 

LeBron James & Anthony Davis set the tone early on

 

The difference from Tuesday's game?

*The Lakers shot the ball better than the Blazers: from the floor, from the three point line, and from the charity stripe. Portland needed a map to find their way to the hoop. Meanwhile the streaking Lakers built a double digit lead soon after the start of the 3rd quarter.

 

*They out-rebounded the Blazers, and muscled Portland as they saw fit. The team used their strengths to their advantage, and denied the Blazers the chance to use theirs. They went out and GOT the game; they didn't wait until the game came to them.

 

*They played excellent team defense, especially against Damian Lillard. Lillard was a shadow of the player who dominated game 1 on Tuesday. His 6 made field goals were the result of a herculean effort to get any open looks. The Lakers aggressively picked him up full-court, and constantly double-teamed him off of screens. The defense applied by the Lakers guards gave Lillard very little opportunity to get going, but he wasn't the only Blazer to fall victim to the Lakers defensive efforts. 

Danny Green and the Lakers smothered Lillard

 

Carmelo Anthony finished just 1 for 6 from the floor, Jusuf Nurkic shot a below par 4 for 10, and C.J. McCollum, their best shooter beside Lillard, finished 6 for 16. The Lake Show played great team defense, and held a juggernaut offense, that had been averaging 123 point for the last 11 games, to 88 points. The Blazers shot a cold 40% from the floor. It would have been lower if it hadn't been for their scrubs raising their percentage by making a few shots in garbage time.

Portland's Offense Sputtered Under the Relentless Lakers Defense

 

*The stars came to play. Anthony Davis and Lebron James dominated the ball, and imposed their will on the Blazers. James did a little bit of everything, and dominated with a solid overall performance. AD did a great job getting quality looks around the basket, while using his size and athleticism against helpless Portland defenders.  He specifically did three things better tonight:

 

-He attacked the hoop with ferocity, both on and off the ball, grabbing weak side rebounds, and snagging easy put backs against the Portland bigs.

Anthony Davis was too much for the Blazers front court

-He didn't settle for jumpers, and scored many of his points inside the paint. Only after he established himself as an inside terror did he step out to shoot some jumpers. His 3 point shooting was on tonight as he knocked down 3 of 4 from deep.

 

-He didn't hesitate to be aggressive. Davis may have put up decent numbers in game 1, but his overall performance left fans pining for more. They got it tonight.  AD became the first Lakers player to put up 30 points in under 30 minutes (last accomplished by The Captain, Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, back in the 1980's). 

 

*Other players stepped up. A miserable showing by the Lakers backcourt in game 1 is a distance memory after tonight's performance. KCP came out of the gate firing, knocking down his first two threes. He eventually would make 4 from beyond the arc, and finished with 16 points. You could see his confidence building with every shot. He also played solid defensive against Lillard, giving him very little room to operate.

KCP after one of his 4 three pointers

Danny Green, Anthony Caruso and Markieff Morris did their best by tirelessly harassing Lillard and McCollum into shooting a combined 12 from 30 from the field.

 

Javale McGee made some noise in his short 13 minute stint. He finished with 10 points, 8 boards, and 3 assists, and effectively banged down low against Portland's front court.

 

No other player's stats really jumped out from the box score, but it was a great team effort nonetheless. 

JR Smith scored 11 points in his Lakers Playoff Debut

*Another telling stat: the Blazers finished with only 14 assists, and it was plain to see why: the Los Angeles defense was stifling. The solid team offense the Blazers displayed in game 1, devolved into a mess of questionable shot selections, wide-open missed shots by not-so confident shooters, and far too much one on one basketball.

 

This was a great statement game by the Lakers. But just like the first contest on Tuesday, it's just one game. The series is tied at one game apiece, and you can bet good money, bent finger and all, that Lillard will find a way to will his team to be competitive Saturday against the purple and gold.

Lillard suffered a dislocated finger colliding with Anthony Davis's shoe

The Lakers played and looked like Champions tonight. Let's hope they can do this 15 more times before it's all said and done.

 

The Lakers, in Their 1st Playoffs Game in 7 Years, Lose to the 8th Seeded Blazers 100-93

 

"When you're the favorite team, you have to come out against the smaller teams and dominate in the early rounds of the playoffs." (sic). 

 

That was, more or less, Shaquille O' Neal's pre-game quote before the game 1 of the Lakers/Blazers game tonight. One of the most dominant players in NBA history, with four rings and six NBA Finals appearances to his credit, was calling out everyone on the Lakers with the possible exception of LeBron James. It's the playoffs: time to step up; time to dominate. Time to live up to the billing, and time to start earning the pay the Lakers franchise gave you to attain banner #17.

But the Lakers came out flat. They got out of the gate against the hungry, something-to-prove Blazers, like they were still dreaming in the beds in their fancy bubble hotel rooms. It's time to wake up. I don't think they were cocky prior to the series, but if they were, this 100 to 93 loss should humble them somewhat.

 

Here are some quick thoughts about tonight's game:

-LeBron was solid, but the main advantage we have is that no one can guard James (or AD), especially down low in the post. Shooting stats for LeBron? 1 for 5 from 3 point land, 8 for 15 otherwise. His 17 rebounds and 16 assists were great, but a loss is a loss. I know father time has caught up with LeBron a bit, but I'd rather see him a little more aggressive, especially in the 4th quarter.

 

-Anthony Davis went to the free throw line 17 times (but only made 12 of them), and he grabbed 11 boards. Fine. But am I the only one who's waiting for this kid to step up and take his toughness level up another notch? Oh there were flashes of what he could be, but Davis has already stated he doesn't want to play the 5 position. However, when it comes to the playoffs, you gotta leave it all on the floor, and do what's best for the team.

 

I don't like seeing him camped out on the three point line. There aren't many players as big and quick as he is. Chris Webber made a good point during the TNT broadcast tonight (or was it Stu Lantz on Spectrum?): when Davis gets the ball, he needs to strike quick and be aggressive getting his shot. He can't wait for the double team. Especially when LeBron is on the bench. 

 

-Kyle Kuzma did about everything he could tonight. I really liked his aggressive attitude.  Not bad for a player who has been roasted over the coals by fans and media for not being the reliable 3rd guy the Lakers need. He had 14 points and 8 boards off the bench, and played some decent defense. It was a solid performance for a player with no playoff experience.

-The bench, minus two key guards in Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo, played decent. Dwight Howard has to keep his anger an ego in check, and Caruso needs to grow up a little faster. Other than thought, I didn't think they played that bad.

-It's just one game, but Danny Green and KCP need to be a little more productive as our starting guards (4 for 21 from the floor, 2 for 13 from beyond the arc).

 

-In the playoffs, and during crunch time, for my money, I want the stars shooting the ball most of the time. LeBron was aggressive, but in the 4th quarter, during money-ball time, I though he passed up on too many key opportunities. Other than Anthony Davis, he should be only passing to the other players out of a double-team, or if they are wide open. 

 

-Davis's shot selections: Offensively I compare him, somewhat to Hakeem Olajuwon. A big man with decent ball skills (probably better handles than Hakeem) with good speed, and great moves. If he gets the ball down low, or within 15 feet of the basket, neither Nurkic or Whiteside have a chance of stopping him. And if the double team comes, the team has to do better than 5 for 32 from three point range.

-The 1st and 4th quarters: the Blazers outscored the Lake Show in both of these key quarters. They were outscored by 16 points in the the 2 quarters combined. You don't win championships starting off slow and finishing the same way.

 

-Typically when you out rebound, out assist, out steal, and have 18 more shots than your opposition, it's a good bet you're going to win the game. Unfortunately that wasn't the case for the Lakers.

All that being said, it's just game one.

We, the card-carrying members of the Lakers fandom, have been here before. In the first game of the 1985 NBA Finals, the Celtics beat the Lakers by 34 points. This on the heels of the Lakers losing to the Celtics in 7 games in the 1984 Finals. However the Lakers persevered and beat Boston in six games.

 

It's still early in the playoffs, and early in this series. It's the best out of seven, not the best out of one.

A few of the veterans have been here before: James, Green, and Javale McGee. Even Howard has been to the Finals. They have weathered the storms, and the Damian Lillard's of the world.

 

For the newbie's, including Davis (only 14 playoff games to his credit), it's time to step it up. You don't earn the best record in the West, and then fall flat in the playoffs

I do have one last criticism, and it's for the coaching staff: go to your strengths. The three point line has not been a consistent strength for us all year. Draw up some schemes to get the ball to your best players on the best spots on the floor. If those two guys are draining shots, and the double teams force them to pass the ball, our other players should get more wide open looks.

 

I expect  the Lakers to come out with a better game plan in game 2, and more realistic point of view as to this series. There's a reason that no one in the West wanted to face a now full-strength Portland team in the first round: they can be spoilers.

This series is going to be a dog fight. I expect the Lakers to adjust accordingly.

 

Pau Gasol: Raise the Jersey to the Rafters, and Bring Him Back to the Lakers for One More Ride

Recently, Pau Gasol was mentioned in the media as the next potential candidate to have his jersey hung from the rafters at Staples Center. And just this week, Gasol said that he'd consider putting off retirement if he could play one last time in the purple & gold. 

Pau Gasol Wants to Finish in the Purple & Gold

The retiring of Pau's jersey, to this die-hard Lakers fan, is a no-brainer. He is one of my favorite players to don the famous purple & gold, and I would love to see him retire as a Laker. I believe he'll be in the Hall of Fame before it is all said and done, and for good measure, I think he is the greatest power forward to ever suit up for the Lakers.

 

Pau Sporting One of His 2 Lakers Championship Rings

First point of business: should the Lakers raise number 16 to the rafters with the other Lakers greats? In a word, Yes. Pau will be elected into the Hall of Fame one day, and many of his best years were in a Lakers uniform. Pau and Kobe Bryant were a fun one-two punch from 2008 through 2014, and their chemistry together was obvious.

Bryant & Gasol - Forever Linked in Lakers Glory

The numbers certainly bare out: while with the Lakers, and serving as a secondary scorer behind Kobe, Pau averaged 18 points, 10+ rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. If you throw in the nearly 2 blocks per game, and the solid overall defense he played, there doesn't seem much room for debate.

Pau put up better scoring numbers while in Memphis, but there he was the number one option. In fact, for many years he was the only option. While in Memphis, it didn't take long for Pau to establish himself as he won the Rookie of the year award in 2001-2002.

Gasol Holding his NBA Rooking of the Year Award in 2002

Over the course of his career, his statistics and accolades make a case for greatness. Over 18 seasons and 1200 games played, Pau averaged 17 points, better than 9 boards, 3+ assists and 1.6 blocks per game. Playing for Spain, he won a FIBA World Cup title, three EuroBasket titles, two Olympic silver medals, and one bronze medal.

Kobe & Pau Fighting for Position in the 2008 Olympics

Other career accomplishments include two championships with the Lakers, a six time All Star nominee, a four time All NBA , a 2001-2002 All Rookie Team nod, and his Rookie of the Year award. His career totals are definitely Hall-worthy: nearly 21,000 points, over 11,000 boards, 1,941 blocks and nearly 4,000 assists.

Gasol Blocks A Shot by Kevin Garnett in the 2010 NBA Finals

Not bad for the forgotten position of power forward. In the ever-changing NBA environment, where the emphasis is three points shots, fast breaks, and the de-emphasizing of post play, Pau played a solid 4 position.

He excelled in the playoffs. In the two seasons in which the Lakers won back to back championships in the Pau era, his numbers exceeded his regular season stats. During the grueling 2010 playoffs alone Pau averaged 19.6 points, 11 boards, over 2 blocks and 3.5 assists per game.

Nothing Came Easy for the Lakers and Gasol in the 2010 Playoffs

His performance in the playoffs that season was even more impressive considering he matched up against the likes of Serge Ibaka, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Paul Milsap, and of course, the Boston frontcourt players: Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Glen "Big Baby" Davis.

When the Lakers acquired Gasol, it breathed new life into the organization, and gave Kobe a legitimate 2nd shot at the title.

I remember where I was on that February day in 2008. ESPN broke the news that the Lakers picked up Gasol in a trade (thank you Jerry West, then Grizzly GM). My mother, another big Lakers fan, and I were at a Yardhouse restaurant in Pasadena, California. I remember thinking if we didn't win it all that year, it would only be a matter of time.

I was a little concerned because I felt Pau was a little soft for a 7'0 power forward. Proving me wrong, in one of his first games with the Lakers, the Spaniard had to guard Shaquille O' Neal when he a member of the Phoenix Suns. Andrew Bynum was injured, and Pau had to man the middle against Shaq, and his late-career, ever-expanding girth. Pau held his own scoring 29 points against O'Neal and the rest of the Sun's front court. My concerns were cast aside.

Shaq and Gasol Square off February 2008

Now to tackle my 2nd point: best power forward in Lakers history. My criteria: 

-team and personal accomplishments whilst in a Laker uniform

-popularity of the player with the fans

-If the player was in his athletic peak.

Gasol Scores Against Orlando in the 2009 NBA Finals

Pau's resume? 

2 NBA titles with the Lakers, he played in his prime for the Lake Show for 6 1/2 seasons, he had 3 All-Star selections as a Laker, and he was a 3 time All-NBA selection during his LA years. The stats I mentioned earlier cement my argument. He was the best power forward, during his prime, who ever played for the Lakers.

Here are my also ran's and the reasons why they fall short of the best Lakers power forward honor:

*Karl "the Mailman" Malone - Malone had many great years in the NBA, but his one season with the Lakers wasn't one of them. His line of 13 points, and nearly 9 boards were a game were respectable considering he was 40 years old, and he was playing with a full-ensemble all-star cast. But he was nearly a decade removed from his prime, missed more than 2 games for the first time in his 19 seasons (he missed 40!), and was injured during the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs.

Karl Malone

*Happy Hairston - The late Hairston was a beast in the paint for the Lakers averaging around 13 boards over a six year period from 1969 to 1975. He was a decent scorer too, but not on the same level as Pau.

Happy Hairston and Phil Jackson

*Rudy La Russo - La Russo was a poor man's power forward during the early and mid 1960's  for the Lakers. Undersized, but gritty, La Russo put up fine numbers, but he lost points to Elgin Baylor & Jerry West. Baylor also snatced a lot of rebounds that would normally go to a power forward or a center, further depleting La Russo's stats.
 

Rudy La Russo Battles Tommy Heinsohn & Bill Russell of the Celtics

*Maurice Lucas - People tend to forget that "Mo" spent one year in the purple & gold during the 1985-1986 season. Far from his prime, Lucas's numbers suffered playing alongside the Showtime Lakers. There were also tales that his teammates didn't get along with him, and that they would rather have played with the guy whom he replaced (Bob McAdoo).

Maurice Lucas with Magic Johnson & James Worthy

*Bob McAdoo - McAdoo was also a little past his prime while playing in the Showtime era from 1982 through 1985. But his numbers were solid, and he did help contribute to the hoisting of two banners in '82 and '85, but he was Kareem's primary backup, so he played center most of the time.

Bob McAdoo Squaring Up Against Larry Bird

*AC Green & Kurt Rambis - the two most notable forwards during the Showtime era, these two were the hustlers, the nitty gritty players, who would do whatever was needed. These scrappers were the perfect contrast to the elegance of the Lakers fast break offense. And while both were key components in acquiring championships during the 1980's, neither player would put up numbers to rival Gasol's stats.

A.C. Green Scoring on Moses Malone

Kurt Rambis Battling the Celtics in the NBA Finals

*Robert Horry - technically he was a small forward who played a stretch 4, but he was thrust into the power forward role quite often because of his length, his defense, and his ability to stretch the floor. Horry certainly held down the position admirably when he was forced to play it.

The Biggest Three of Robert Horry's Career

*Horace Grant - Another player past his prime when he wore the purple and gold, Grant brought solid play to the 4 spot, pairing with Shaquille O' Neal during the memorable 2000-2001 season. He was not quite the Grant of the Chicago Bulls era, but he did the job he was hired to do. The Lakers liked him so much, they brought him back a few years later to back up Karl Malone.

Horace Grant during the 2000-2001 Season

*Dennis Rodman - In the "what could have been" category, Rodman was fresh off winning his 3rd Bulls Championship when the Lakers signed him during the 1998-99 season. Shaq said something to the affect that "he finally had his thug" to play alongside him. The thug suited up for 23 games before his antics grew tiresome, causing the Lakers to cut him mid-season.

Dennis Rodman

*Elden Campbell - Sort of a stretch to be on this list, but he was with the Lakers for nine years. He had some solid seasons, but in the end, he was a slightly above-average big man who always seemed to be holding something back. Plus he played center quite often.

Elden Campbell

*Anthony Davis - If there's someone who is destined to be the best power forward ever for the Lakers, AD may be that guy. But since he's only been with the club for half a season, and he hasn't had time to build up the accolades and accomplishments that Pau has earned, he's not getting my vote....yet.

Anthony Davis

Final conclusions:

-I think I've made my point for Gasol. Everyone, of course, will have their own opinion. If you compare Gasol's stats to some of the individuals who have their jerseys hanging at Staples Center, you will find that his are better. Stats don't always tell the whole story. But if you consider attributes like a player's contributions to the organization, personal accomplishments, and how well-liked the player was by both teammates and fans, Pau's #16 needs to be raised into the Lakers wall o' fame. But he doesn't really need my endorsement. He already has Kobe's.

Kobe Endorses the Retiring of Pau's Jersey

-As for being the best power forward to wear a Lakers uniform, I will entertain debate and listen to other's opinions, but considering what Pau brought to the team while in his peak years, he gets my vote. He continued to shine on other teams after the Lakers didn't re-sign him in 2014.

Pau Gasol was on the Chicago Bulls from 2014 through 2016

-Does Pau deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? In my opinion, that is an obvious yes. It's not a matter of if, but when.

-Lastly, bring back Gasol for one more turn in the purple & gold? Yes indeed. It would be a fine ending to a great career. Plus it will give my wife and I chance to wear our Gasol jerseys a little more often to the games.

Laker Dave & My Wife Veronica Sporting Our Gasol Jerseys

One final thought not related to Pau Gasol: RIP to former Lakers player Mark McNamara. He was a backup center for the Lakers from 1988 to 1990. He played in 72 regular season games, and 5 playoff games for the team. He passed in April of this year from heart failure.

Mark McNamara