Lakers Struggle Again, but Prevail in Memphis

It was brother against brother, and legend against legend in Memphis tonight, as the brothers Gasol faced-off against one another while the reigning MVP, Kobe Bryant, and rookie sensation O.J. Mayo matched jump shots.

Although the Lakers (22-5) eventually pulled the game out in the last two minutes, 105-96, it was not as close or as easy as the score might indicate.

In fact, none of the Lakers' last dozen games have been easy. They are 8-4 in those 12 games and both the wins and the losses have been ugly. Tonight, they barely avoided their first three-game losing streak since Pau Gasol joined the team last February.

Despite the win, the same problems that have plagued the Lakers all during December were still evident through 3.5 quarters. Perimeter defense, screen and roll rotation, and dribble penetration.

That is the formula for any team that wants to beat the Lakers. Spread the court and screen off your best three-point shooter. If the Lakers double team, look for an open man around the basket. If the Lakers come out to defend the perimeter, drive right down the middle.

And that’s exactly what the Grizzlies did all night long. At halftime they were up by eight points, 57-49, even though the Lakers were shooting 58 percent.

So, how come a team that shot 58 percent over 24 minutes only had 49 points and found themselves down by eight?

For one thing, the Lakers had 10 turnovers, and their defense allowed the Grizzlies to grab eight offensive rebounds in the first 24 minutes.

Part of the reason, as I pointed out in my article yesterday, was Andrew Bynum and his hesitant start. However, in the second half, the Lakers limited the Grizzlies to just four offensive rebounds. Again, the reason was Bynum, who played much more aggressively around the boards.

Bynum ended up with 13 points in 21 minutes.

But in the end it was Kobe Bryant who carried the Lakers down the stretch. It was his 10 points in a 17-3 run in the last three minutes of the game that lifted the Lakers from a 93-88 deficit to their 22nd win.

Bryant led all scorers with 36 points, shooting 14-23 from the field. Overall, the Lakers shot 54 percent.

Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 23 points while O.J. Mayo was right behind him with 22 points and six assists.

Pau Gasol, who spent six years in Memphis, was met with a mixture of cheers and jeers. Gasol, the only All-Star in Memphis history, still holds the team records for points, rebounds, and blocks.

He played against his younger brother, Marc, a rookie, and put in 15 points with seven rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. Meanwhile Marc Gasol had eight points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Last February, the Lakers traded the rights to Marc Gasol along with Kwame Brown to the Grizzlies for Pau Gasol.

Tomorrow night, the Lakers will finish their four-game road trip in New Orleans before returning to Los Angeles to play the Celtics on Christmas Day.

However, Lakers fans shouldn’t expect a very Merry Christmas. Not only do the Lakers and their soft defense have to face their arch-nemesis, the NBA Champion Boston Celtics, who have four players going to the All-Star game and are riding an 18-game winning streak, but today the Grinch was active at Staples Center.

After an MRI on Jordan Farmar, two doctors recommended surgery to repair his torn meniscus. If Farmar follows their advice, he will most likely miss at least eight weeks.