2011 NBA Playoffs: 5 Keys to the Lakers' Game 3 Win over the Hornets
Game 3 is considered by many to be the most pivotal game in a 7 game series. You can essentially put the series away at 3-0 or take a 2-1 lead with the opportunity to close out on your home floor.
As a result of the Hornets historic performance in Game 1, the Lakers fall into the latter category, yet, they have managed to regain control of a series that has been a bit more of a struggle than most anticipated.
The Lakers are 6-1 against the Hornets this season and their 100-86 blowout win in game 3 seems to indicate that the undermanned and undersized Hornets are running out of steam after their initial burst.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the five keys to the Lakers game 3 victory on Friday night.
5. The Return of the Three-Pointer
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In the beginning of the season, the Lakers were the best 3 point shooting team in the league. That faded about 1/4 of the way into the season and gradually got worse as the year went on. They ended up 17th in the league at 35.2%, which was a bit disappointing considering their hot start.
However, last night in New Orleans, we saw the return of the 3 point shot as the Lakers went 7-16 (44%) from behind the arc.
Four of those long range bombs came from Kobe Bryant while Pau Gasol even chipped in with his second 3 pointer of the season and the second playoff 3 pointer of his career.
Gasol's 3 from the corner was probably the biggest shot of the game as it stretched the Lakers lead from five to eight after the Hornets had regained momentum early in the 4th quarter.
4. Defense Wins Playoff Games
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Much like game 2, the Lakers were engaged from start to finish on the defensive end, holding the Hornets to 86 points, including 2-13 from three point range.
I've talked about the Lakers defense being the key to a third straight title all season long, and I think we are starting to see them execute their defensive strategy to perfection, mostly as a result of being involved in games that finally mean something to a team that has played in the NBA Finals the past three seasons.
3. Andrew Bynum, the Double-Double Machine
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Andrew Bynum recorded another double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just under 35 minutes of play. The Lakers had a brief scare early in the third quarter when they turned around to see Bynum still on the floor clutching his right knee.
He was eventually able to get up under his own power and jog off the court during a timeout and Lakers fans were able to breathe yet another huge sigh of relief in what seems to be an almost weekly "Is Bynum ok?" moment.
If it wasn't already obvious how important Bynum is to the Lakers 3-Peat chances, it certainly is now after witnessing nearly every member of the Lakers team rush to his side to make sure he was ok while he slowly peeled himself off the court.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again, IF (big IF here folks) Bynum is able to remain healthy for the duration of the playoffs and give the Lakers 30-35 minutes per game, the Lakers absolutely will win their third straight NBA title. They are simply too big and too deep for any team to matchup with when they are at full strength.
2. Kobe's 80th Career 30-Point Playoff Game
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Ho hum, another 30 point playoff game for Mr. Bryant, marking the 80th of his career, second only to you know who's 109. Can he get 30 more to break Jordan's record?
Well, considering he had 14 such games during last year's playoff run, I think it's safe to say he will break this record within the next 3 Lakers playoff runs.
Bryant was an efficient 10-20 from the field for 30 points, hitting that ever elusive, yet extremely critical, 1.5 points per shot mark. When Kobe averages 1.5 points per shot, the Lakers are nearly impossible to beat, plain and simple.
He also chipped in 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 4 absolute daggers from behind the 3-point line.
1. Pau Gasol Is Alive
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Returning from a two game disappearing act that no one saw coming, we can officially confirm that Pau Gasol is indeed a living, breathing, member of society once again. For a second there, I thought we were going to have to put out an APB for all Spaniards in the city of Los Angeles.
Gasol was 7-13 from the field in 33 minutes of play, contributing 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 1 game changing 3-pointer.
More important than any stat was a play during the fourth quarter in which Gasol missed a shot at the rim, grabbed his own rebound, missed the putback, grabbed his own rebound again, before finally dunking the ball and letting out a scream that seemed to release a weeks worth of frustration.
The scream indicated that he was back, and when Gasol is back, the Lakers are back. It took them a couple games, but this game 3 win was a message to the rest of the league that you can write off the Lakers all you want, but they aren't going anywhere.
They've come too far to not have a chance to defend their title and send head coach Phil Jackson off into the Montana sunset with his 12th NBA championship. Can his career end any other way than a title-clinching win in his last game as a head coach? I wouldn't bet against it...
