NBA Playoffs 2011: LA Lakers Vs. New Orleans Hornets Game 3 Report Card
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets 100-86 Friday night to take a 2-1 advantage in their best of seven first-round playoff series.
The defending champs got a big game from Kobe Bryant. Bryant scored 30 points on 10-20 shooting from the field.
The Hornets will hope to even the series Sunday night in Game 4.
Before we can look ahead to Game 4, we must first hand out the grades from Game 3.
Unfortunately for the Hornets, I did not grade on a curve.
12. The Hornets Bench
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So much for bench players playing better in front of their home crowd. The Hornets reserves only scored nine points the entire game.
After scoring 39 in Game 1, and 13 in Game 2, the bench provided next to nothing on a night when the team could have really used a spark offensively.
The Hornets reserves must play better in Game 4 if the team hopes to even the series.
Final Grade: F
11. The Lakers Bench
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Outside of Lamar Odom's 13 points and nine rebounds, the other members of the Lakers bench weren't particularly good or bad.
However, they really didn't need to be, seeing as the Lakers had control of the momentum most of the game.
Also, when they were on the floor, they didn't relinquish any of the lead the starters had built.
Final Grade: C+/B-
10. Emeka Okafor
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After the first two games of the series, Emeka Okafor had 11 points.
Okafor finally got his offense clicking in Game 3.
He finished with 15 points on 7-9 shooting.
If the Hornets have a shot in Game 4, Okafor must provide something offensively.
Final Grade: B-
9. Ron Artest
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After a disappointing regular season, Artest has been very consistent in the series thus far. In Games 1 and 2, Artest had 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Artest added nine points in Game 3, seven of which came in the opening frame.
For a guy who is so easy to blame when things are going bad, it is only fair to give him credit when he is playing consistent basketball.
Final Grade: B
8. Pau Gasol
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It looked as though Pau Gasol was headed for another head-scratching performance after the first two quarters of Game 3.
However, to the delight of Lakers fans, Gasol started to look more like the All-Star player he is, in the second half.
Gasol finished with 17 points and ten rebounds, and he looked as engaged and assertive as he has all series.
Now he must do it for an entire game.
Final Grade: C
7. Andrew Bynum
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Andrew Bynum was simply too big and too strong for the Hornets in Game 3. Bynum finished the first half with 14 points and nine rebounds, four of which came on the offensive end.
While Bynum was relatively quiet in the second half, it was his assertiveness and hard work in the first half that set the tone for the Lakers the entire game.
Final Grade: B+
6. Chris Paul
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At the end of the first half, it looked as though Chris Paul was on his way to a big game. Paul had 18 points and three assists at halftime.
Paul finished with 22 and eight. While much of this had to do with the Lakers' stingy defense, Paul still must find a way to come up big for his team, especially playing at home.
If the Lakers continue the lockdown defense on Paul, it is all over, except the crying, in the Big Easy.
Final Grade: C+
5. Kobe Bryant
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Kobe Bryant had a very efficient game for the Lakers in their Game 3 victory. Braynt finished with 30 points on 10-20 shooting, including four three-pointers.
After only scoring 11 points on 10 field-goal attempts in Game 2, Bryant set the tone early for the Lakers in Game 3.
However, he didn't do so at the expense of his teammates. The Lakers offense saw a healthy balance the entire game.
Final Grade: B+
4. The Hornets Offense
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The Hornets offense never really seemed to find a rhythm throughout the course of the game. Especially in the second half when the Lakers built a 20-point lead.
Chris Paul was even thrown off course in the second half thanks to the Lakers defense.
The Hornets were held to 86 points on 45 percent shooting from the field.
Final Grade: D
3.The Hornets Defense
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On a night when the Hornets offense sputtered, their defense was able to keep the game somewhat competitive in the early going.
The Hornets had one of the best defenses in the regular season and, for the most part, it has shown in the first three games of the series.
Final Grade: C+/B-
2. The Lakers Offense
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For the most part, it is hard to find anything terribly wrong with the Lakers offense in Game 3.
The combination of Gasol, Bynum and Odom took 34 shots and Bryant took 20.
Looks like a fairly healthy balance to me.
The Lakers shot 48 percent, to go along with 17 assists and seven three-pointers.
Final Grade: B
1. The Lakers Defense
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In Games 2 and 3, the Lakers defense has been fantastic. The Hornets have been held under 90 points inย both contests.
In addition, the Lakers won the rebounding battle in Game 3. The Lakers outrebounded the Hornets 43-38 and amassed 14 offensive rebounds which lead to numerous second chance points.
Most impressive, was the defensive job the team did on Chris Paul in the second half. Paul only scored four points and five assists in the last two quarters.
Final Grade: A
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