Lakers News and Commentary : Memphis Grizzlies

Kobe Returns To Action

Scott Mitchell — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:32:00 GMT

After an extended break to nurse some injuries, Kobe Bryant returned to the lineup last night to help the Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 99-98.

The Lakers steamrolled during Bryant's absence, winning all but one game comfortably. Their one loss came to the Boston Celtics and highlighted Kobe's important roll to the team. In the 4th quarter the Lakers lead against the Celtics started to vanish as the defensive intensity magnified. Each possession, the Lakers struggled with getting their offense started. They throw it into Pau, who would kick it out to Farmar, who would sling it over to Lamar, who would dribble, dribble, dribble, before passing it back to Farmar. Most possessions ended with Farmar or Shannon jacking up a tough, long distance jump shot with the shot clock winding down. Without Kobe the Lakers had no one who could get their own shot.

Fast forward to last night, with Kobe returning to the team. While he started off a little rusty, he finished strong, hitting a three late in the game to knot up the score, and then a last second three to put the Lakers up by one with only a few ticks left on the clock. (The Grizzlies missed the ensuing shot and the Lakers walked off with a 1 point victory.)

Nice! Kwame Gwone, Pau Now.

Scott Mitchell — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:24:00 GMT

Today the Lakers traded Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and two first-round draft picks for Memphis big man Pau Gasol! This is a great pickup and should help the Lakers front court fill in after injuries to Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza, and Luke Walton. Granted, Pau is not a domineering big man - he's got range and speed and plays suspect D at times - but his numbers are impressive - 18.9 ppg and 8.8 boards/game, 50.1% field goal average, 81.9% free throw shooting, and nearly 1.5 blocks/game so far this season. And best of all, they finally got rid of Kwame! So long.

I'm certain that it will take Gasol some time to integrate into the Lakers offense, but once he's worked into the system he will no doubt make important contributions. And just wait until Trevor and Andrew get healthy. I'd love to see Phil try out a "big & quick" lineup of Kobe and Lamar in the backcourt; Trevor or Luke as the shooting forward; and Bynum and Gasol in the front court. Speed and size. This lineup would cause mismatches with so many teams. Get Lamar or Kobe on the post on a small guard, and either back them down and score or pass to a cutter when the double team comes.

Go Lakers!

No Big Surprises in the Playoffs...

Scott — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 01:15:00 GMT

No big surprises after the first couple of games in the playoffs. The "Contenders" - San Antonio, Detroit, Miami, and Dallas - all hold 2-0 leads. Some people pegged the Bulls or Grizz as the surprise teams, and while 2-0 isn't the same as 4-0, I can't fathom any of the "Contenders" dropping four of the next five games.

Also, as I predicted, the Clippers are playing well despite their year end malaise. And the Suns/Lakers series is seeming to get more interesting, with a close game on Sunday and the Lakers up by 15 at half time. Going back to LA with the series knotted at 1-1 it vital if the Lakers hope in winning this series. Regardless of their half time lead and the possibility of a tied series, I don't see the Lakers winning this one, as the Suns have too much offensive firepower. Unless the Lakers can have monumental games from Odom and Kawme, they're going to have a hard time making it to the WCSF.

And what of the Pacers/Nets and Cavs/Wiz series? Those are shaping up nicely, too. Indy got a lucky win on Sunday, which will probably be their only one of the series. The Cavs/Wiz, I predict, will go 6 or 7, with the Wiz prevailing (only to get smacked around by Detroit).

The great games will commence in the Semi Finals... Dallas v. San Antonio being the premier matchup. And of course the conference finals promise to be delightfully entertaining as well.

2005-2006 Playoff Predictions

Scott — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 12:54:00 GMT

Time for this year's insanely inaccurate playoff predictions! But before we begin, let's review my oracle skills from last season, when I made my 2004-2005 playoff predictions. My Eastern Conference picks were nearly perfect. I ended up picking all of the first round winners and did predict the Pistons besting the Heat in the ECF. In the West, however, I took a beating as I ignorantly guessed that Denver would upset the Spurs.... which kind of ruined the whole Western Conference (although I did predict the Suns making it to the WCF). This year I'm going to put a little more faith in the Spurs!

Let's get started!

Eastern Conference

Round 1
(1) Detroit beats (8) Milwaukee - Milwaukee has the least envious position of having to face the winningest, most veteran and poised team in the NBA. Barring Chauncey and Rip running into each other leading to season-ending injuries, followed up by Ben Wallace running over to see if his team mates are all right and colliding with Rasheed, ending both of their seasons, I don't see how the Bucks can win four games out of seven against this team. In fact, I'm thinking.... sweep!

(4) Cleveland loses to (5) Washington - Washington has a bit more playoff experience and while LeBron is a man child, he's still lacks the inexperience. It's OK, BronBron, MJ didn't reach the second round of the playoffs until his fourth season.

(3) New Jersey beats (6) Indiana - With New Jersey playing on fire lately and Indiana still enjoying their descent from what could have been since the Ron Artest mele, I see this one over with in 5 with NJ dominating throughout. They'll need to win quickly, too, as Kidd could use the rest.

(2) Miami beats (7) Chicago - Don't bet against The Deisel. Yes, Shaq's another year older and another year slower, but he's still The M.D.E. Combine that with Dwayne Wade and it's hard to see this Bulls team winning more than 2 (if that).

Round 2
(1) Detroit beats (5) Washington - More of the same from the Pistons (assuming no injuries), besting the Wizards in 5.

(2) Miami beats (3) New Jersey - While the Heat are a bit banged up and in a bit of a funk, and while the Nets are playing the best ball all season, I still think the Heat have more options and can beat teams in more ways. This assumes that Shaq is able to ratchet it up a notch and Wade is 100%. This should probably be a very interesting series, but I think the Heat will take it in 6.

Round 3
(1) Detroit beats (2) Miami - A rematch of last year's ECFs. However this time the series isn't nearly as close and the Pistons win in 6. Pat Reilly proceeds to detonate the Heat roster once again in the off-season.

Western Conference

Round 1
(1) San Antonio beats (8) Sacramento - while the Spurs aren't completely healthy, they are the defending NBA champs and have a solid roster of veterans and play makers. I've learned my lesson from last year - do not doubt the Spurs!

(4) Dallas over Memphis (5) - It's a shame that Dallas is seeded fourth (as Mark Cuban will happily tell you), but no one will regret that more than the Grizz, who have yet to win a playoff series in the franchise history and aren't going to start now. The big question for Mavs fans - will Dirk show up this postseason? He'll need to if the Mavs have any hope of reaching the WCF or beyond.

(6) LA Clippers over (3) Denver - this is one of my two “upset” picks. While the Clippers have been playing lackluster basketball the last few weeks of the season, it would be nice to see them actually have some impact in the postseason for the first time in a loooooooooong time. Should be a good series. Keep on eye on Cassell and his leadership. Clippers in 7.

(2) Phoenix over (7) LA Lakers - even though the Lakers bested the Suns in the final season meeting, that final game was sans Steve Nash and included 43 from Kobe. With Nash, the Suns won the other three games against the Lakers this season. I expect Kobe will have two (or three?) big games in this series, which should be fun to watch, but I can't fathom the Lakers winning four out of seven. Phoenix in 5, unless Kobe has multiple Herculean efforts, in which case Suns in 6.

Round 2
(1) San Antonio over (4) Dallas - this is the hardest matchup to predict, in my opinion, and will likely be one of the best to watch. I have to give the edge to the defending champs here, since Dirk has yet to prove himself able to step it up in the playoffs. Last year there was a lot of finger-pointing when the Ls started to pile up. This year the Mavs will need to put any dissent behind them and learn to prosper as a team. And Dirk will have to be able to say, “Give me the ball,“ in crunch time and, more importantly, make the big play.

(2) Phoenix loses to (6) LA Clippers - here's the other “upset” pick, another risky guess. Regardless of the eventual winner, I think this is a series that goes six games, minimum. I pick the Clips, in part, because I'm hoping to see a ray of sunlight into the otherwise dreary lives of Clippers fans.

Round 3
(1) San Antonio over (6) LA Clippers - after a brutal WCSF series against the Mavs, the Spurs will have it easy against the Clippers, out playing them with ease and winning in 5.

NBA Finals

Detroit beats San Antonio in 7 - another great Finals matchup. Like last year, there will be some blowout games, but the series will go 6, if not 7, and have a fair mix of down-to-the-wire games, with the Pistrons (if they can stay healthy!) taking the title back from the Spurs.

Assessing my Playoff Picks Thus Far

Scott — Sat, 07 May 2005 18:14:00 GMT

Back on April 22nd I made my NBA playoff predictions. I am notoriously poor when it comes to making predictions, but, if you don't mind me saying, I did a pretty decent job in picking the teams through, at least, the first round.

Eastern Conference

My pick: Heat (1) beats New Jersey (8) in 6
Results: Heat (1) beat New Jersey (8) in 4. The series wasn't nearly as close as I had suspected, even with Shaq at half strength, still troubled by his leg injuries. However, the Heat did shoot insanely well, Wade and Damon Jones playing extremely well throughout the series, with a better than expected contribution from Mourning. That, coupled with the lackluster and inconsistent play from New Jersey gave the Heat an easy first round shutout, the only game of interest being the double-OT Game 3.

My pick: Detroit (2) beats the 76ers in 6.
Results: Detroit (2) beats the 76ers in 5. This series had a number of closer games than the Heat/Jersey series, but Detroit played pretty much in control throughout, even though they had some concerning deficiets in certain games. Watching this series increased my resolve in my pick as Detroit as the Eastern Conference champs. Even though they faced a number of situations in games where things looked dark, where it would have been easy to just pack it in and take the L, they stayed calm, level-headed, and pulled out the win. The mark of a true gelled, talented, professional team.

My pick: Celtics (3) loose to Pacers (6) in 6.
Results: ??? Game 7 is tonight. Personally, I think the Pacers will win this one. Regardless who wins tonight, though, I think they'll lose to the Pistons in 5 or 6.

My pick: Chicago (4) loses to the Wizards (5) in 6.
Results: Chicago (4) loses to the Wizards (5) in 6. Called this one perfectly. Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the series, but the Wizards hung tough and came back to win the next four straight, hanging on against a tough Bulls rally in Game 5 and coming from behind at the end of the game in the clinching Game 6. While this first playoff series win for the Wiz in 20-some years is great for the franchise and city, it's unfortunate that they now have to face the Heat, who I anticipate will take this series as convincingly as they did the first, winning in 4 or 5.

Western Conference

My pick: Phoenix (1) beats Memphis (8) in 4.
Results: Phoenix (1) beats Memphis (8) in 4. No surprises here.

My pick: San Antonio (2) loses to Denver (7) in 6.
Results: San Antonio (2) beats Denver (7) in 5. This was, admittedly, my “risky” guess, and I was giddy to see Denver win Game 1. But then the Spurs regrouped and showed their mettle. They are a veteran team used to the playoffs, and I anticipate they'll get past the Sonics without too much difficulty, winning in 5 or 6.

My pick: Seattle (3) beats Sacramento (6) in 6.
Results: Seattle (3) beats Sacramento (6) in 5.

My pick: Dallas (4) beats Houston (5) in 5.
Results: ??? Game 7 is tonight in Dallas. The Rockets played a lot better than I had expected, in large part thanks to McGrady playing off the hook, and a phenomenal Game 2 from Yao. My guess is that the Mavs pull out the W tonight unless McGrady has an insane game or Yao returns to his Game 2 form. This series has been one of the most interesting - exciting games, high scores, and Van Gundgygate, with Houston Coach Van Gundy getting a historic $100,000 fine and further threats from Commish Stern.

Depending on how tonight's two Game 7s turn out, I could be 7/8 for the first round, with my only incorrect pick my most risky.

Looking forward to the next round, I think the most exciting series will be the Suns v. Houston/Dallas, while the other series won't be too exciting. However, both Conference Finals ought to be amazing, assuming it's the Suns/Spurs and Heat/Pistons as it appears it will be. If those four teams make it to the Conference Finals, the NBA Finals are going to be great, no matter who makes it.

My Playoff Predictions

Scott — Fri, 22 Apr 2005 18:58:00 GMT

The NBA playoffs get underway tomorrow, so I best be making my picks. Before I do, though, let's look back at my, accurately dubbed, “insanely inaccurate” picks at the beginning of the season. Out of the east I thought the conference would shake out like so:

Detroit
Pacers
Heat
76ers
Bucks
Cavs
Nets
Knicks

Personally I think those picks weren't too bad. Who could have guessed the Bulls of all teams would have had the season they've had, or the Wizards for that matter? Or that the Cavs would self-implode? Or that an in-stands brawl would knock out one of Indiana's top players for the season (Artest) and their premier center (O'Neal) for a month?

In the West I did a bit worse, IMO. Here's how I envisioned the season would shake out:

Spurs
T-Wolves
Kings
Rockets
Nuggets
Mavs
Lakers
Jazz

Regardless, though, I don't think these picks were too far astray. The Lakers should have made the postseason, and who knows how the Jazz would have fared with AK, a productive Boozer, and a content Arroyo? And the T-Wolves surely disappointed.

I guess what's most disappointing is that all my picks were safe. I didn't roll the dice on a team like the Bulls, Sonics, or Wizards breaking out. I didn't have the foresight to see that young and gun + a true point guard would have equalled excitement and Ws in Phoenix. Eh, so it goes.

Without further adeu, here are my picks for the playoffs:

Eastern Conference

Round 1
Miami (1) beats New Jersey (8) - New Jersey is playing well now, but Miami is a better team. There will be matchup problems on both ends - the Heat have no answer for VC, the Nets no answer for Shaq. Miami in 6

Detroit (2) beats the 76ers (7) - Detroit is going to cruise through this series. They ended the season hot and are ready to repeat as NBA champs. Detroit in 5.

Celtics (3) lose to the Pacers (6) - will be a tough fight, especially with O'Neal not being 100%. I think the series could go either way, but I'd rather put my money on a team I think has more consistency. Pacers in 6.

Chicago (4) loses to the Wizards (5) - the Bulls have been hurt with Curry and Deng injuries. Bummer. Plus, team is too young. If Krause keeps the nucleus together, this team will be back here next year and will be better/smarter. Wizards in 6.

Round 2
(1) Miami beats the Wizards (5) - Miami is a better team than these Wizards. More postseason experience, too. Miami in 4.

(2) Detroit beats the Pacers (6) - Detroit is the team to beat in the postseason. They are on a roll, have a healthy roster, and will manhandle the Pacers (or the Celtics, if they make it). Detroit in 5.

Round 3
(1) Miami loses to Detroit (2) - Personally, I'd like to see Shaq make it to the Finals (again), but I think the Heat are going to have a hard time against the Pistons. Miami limped into the postseason with a piss poor finish; Shaq is older; the Heat don't have much of a supporting cast. Compare that to Detroit, which has a deeper team, the experience/swagger of being the NBA champs, and is on quite the roll. Pacers in 6.

Western Conference

Round 1
(1) Phoenix beats Memphis (8) - Phoenix is red hot, the Grizz are ice cold. Memphis hasn't won a playoff game in its team's history yet, and it ain't gonna happen this season, either. Suns in 4.

(2) San Antonio loses to Denver (7) - This is my “risky“ guess here, rollin' the dice.... Denver is the last team the Spurs want to face, and they'll provide a great challenge. I think that the Spurs are better than the Nuggets and have more experience, but the Spurs have a track record of folding in the playoffs in the past... Denver in 7.

(3) Seattle beats Sacramento (6) - Peja is hurt; the Sonics have been in a slump. Prediction: this playoff series will not be nearly as exciting as it could be if both teams were playing top-notch, light-'em-up basketball. Sonics win in 6.

(4) Dallas beats Houston (5) - Dallas is playing well and the Rockets are still waiting for Yao to become a true franchise player (although I doubt he ever will). Dallas in 5.

Round 2
(1) Phoenix beats Dallas (4) - This is likely to be one of the most exciting and fun series to watch - two offensively minded teams going at one another on one end of the court (but not really the other). Plus this series will have the extra drama of Nash's chance to show Cubes what's up. Should be a close and fun series, but the Suns are a more talented, younger, and exciting team. Suns in 6.

(3) Seattle loses to Denver (7) - bouyed with their win over the Spurs, an energetic Denver will take it to Seattle, winning the series in 6.

Round 3
(1) Phoenix beats Denver (7) - this will be a good series, but not quite the Spurs/Suns series everyone was itching to see. The Nuggets will get frustrated by early Suns wins and pack it up and go home. Suns in 5.

NBA Finals

Phoenix loses to Detroit - we have a repeat, ladies and gentlemen. If this matchup comes to fruition, I don't care who wins - it's bound to be one helluva exciting and entertaining series.

Big Game Tonight

Scott — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 14:01:00 GMT

The Lakers take on the #1 Western team, the Sacramento Kings, tonight. The game is on ESPN but, naturally, I'll be teaching tonight and only able to follow the game on the Internet during class breaks. Meh.

The Lakers have won their last five games, but all of them were close wins against subpar teams. A seven point win against the TerriBulls; an OT win against the Magic; two close wins against the Clippers; an OT win against the Bucks. Since the All Star Break, the Lakers have lost to the top Western conference playoff-bound teams, such as Minnesota and Sacramento.

Tonight, the Lakers play at home against the Kings. On Friday, another home game against the T-Wolves. These are two big games that the Lakers need to win in order to keep pace with the other Western Conference teams, and to send a message. The playoffs are coming, and what could be worse than not being able to beat any true contenders?

We're getting near playoff times, and things are heating up all over the league. It's a great time to be a fan! The Eastern Conference has been exciting to watch as of late, with the Pacers and Pistons playing lights out, and a number of scrub teams vying valiantly for the lower couple of playoff spots. Mark Stein has a good article on the East's rise, and how this year will likely see no teams with 60+ wins (especially with the King's loss to the Bucks last night).

Too, how about those Grizzlies? What a turnaround for this team in just a short couple of years. The Grizz are in fifth place in the West and on pace to break 50 wins. They're quickly becoming the team no one wants to face in the first round. Looking at the Western Conference picture right now, though, I think you can say the same thing about five other of the eight teams - the Kings, Wolves, Lakers, Spurs, and Mavs. While Houston, Utah, Denver, and Portland aren't bad, I can't conceive of any of these teams winning a best of seven series. (I guess I feel the same way about the Grizz, since they lack the post-season experience, but they have been playing lights out lately.)

I hope the Cavs make it to the playoffs this year, they're barely hanging on to the 8th seed in the East with a 31-39 record. (Comparetively, the current eight seed in the West, the Jazz, have a 37-34 record, which is equal to the fourth seeded Hornets record in the East.) If the Cavs make it they'd be facing either Indy or Detroit, and would be lucky to win one game in the series, but getting playoff experience is vital for young teams and players. Too, it would mark an impressive turnaround for this organization, which had the worst record in the league last year.

On a final note, I wish the first round of the playoffs went back to a best of five series. I always liked the shorter first round series for two reasons:

It brought on the next round of the playoffs that much quicker, and
It made upsets more possible. Part of the excitement of college hoops is that it's single elimination, so even the best teams (ahem, Kentucky), can be upset. It's harder in the NBA due to a seven game series. I definitely like the series approach, as it does result in the best team winning, but the five game series was always exciting because it opens the door a bit more for an upset. For example, had the league not made the rule change last year to placate the L.A. fan base, the Lakers would have lost the first round to the Wolves, IMO.