Cru’s Corner: A Home Stand Ends, A Win Streak Continues

A Home Stand Ends, A Win Streak Continues

There’s talk of the Lakers having this great record primarily because of a home heavy schedule. True, it does help quite a bit to be able to sleep in your own bed this much to start a season, but there’s another side too.

For the first time in a long time (since 2001/2002 to be exact) the Lakers took advantage of such a favorable schedule. That focus has been lacking for a long time, but thanks to this team’s desire to be the league’s best, they’ve wound up as just that as they get ready to hit the road for a little 3 game stint.

Some of this game had the same ones as the last couple. Big 1st quarter scoring for the Raptors, high percentage shooting for the first half or so and the Lakers losing control thanks to quick guard play.

But like I said before that high percentage the Raptors were throwing down from 3 and mid-range was more due to the Lakers inattentive defense, rather than being outmatched. Once the Lakers took better control of the ball on the offensive end (which slid again as garbage time prevailed), the game fell right back into place.

One big reason the game fell back into place was Kobe Bryant – I know big surprise. His ability to see passing lanes and open men through double and triple teams was on full display tonight. His activity was feeding his shooting percentage and vice versa. Kobe’s shot looked like the Kobe’s shot of old as he was nailing outside jumpers from everywhere on the floor.

Once again as well, he used his own talent as a perfect decoy several times, duping the Raptors into collapsing on him only to find an open Bynum, Radmanovic or Gasol or in the process. That vision through the thick defense the Raptors were running in the paint left someone open in the 1st half. That someone was Pau who was off and running without him having to work as hard in the post for it as he sometimes does.

There was a beautiful back and forth then swing to the right hook shot from in the post on Bosh that had the Staples crowd oohing and aahing along with his increasingly dependable shots from the elbow. With Pau shooting so purely from outside there was plenty of room for Andrew to get to work in the post.

For the second game in a row now, Bynum got to the post quicker, making it easier for his teammates to feed the ball to him there. When Andrew gets dug in like he did tonight, Bosh and anyone else the Raptors threw at him was having more than a difficult time keeping him from where he wanted to go.

Andrew got back to backing down his man in the post as a first option tonight. That made all the difference in the world for his game. There was only one instance of an ill-advised shot from a bit beyond free throw range for Andrew. For the most part he was working in his office without concern for anything else but strong position.

This (and last game) was the Bynum the Lakers need to fill the paint.

With Bynum beginning to get his confidence back on the offensive end, he was also doing well holding spots on defense.

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