Western Conference Semifinals – Game Five
It is May 21, 2012 and the (3) Los Angeles Lakers have returned to Chesapeake Energy Arena in the state capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma to battle the (2) Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers suffered another tough ‘come-from-ahead’ loss in Game Four and several people have started the ‘Blame Game.’
After Game Two, the target of blame or Laker-fans’-angst was point guard Steve Blake. Now that blame has shifted to power forward Pau Gasol. Despite the fact that there is a lot of blame to go around; to be quite honest, the Lakers’ deficiencies that we are witnessing now have been there all season.
Los Angeles has displayed an inability to get balanced scoring or consistent scoring off the bench. They’re not knocking down perimeter shots or holding a lead. The real problem stems from the changes that the team made – or attempted to make – before the start of this truncated season.
The failed Chris Paul trade; managements’ decision to hire head coach Mike Brown over Brian Shaw, ditching the triangle offense, the loss of Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown, and Brown not developing the younger players are all ‘changes’ that have become problems for this team. In Coach Brown’s defense, it is highly questionable whether or not he had enough time to develop said young players. In addition, whoever followed a legend like former Laker head coach Phil Jackson was destined to struggle.
The Lakers have a huge hill to climb. Teams up 3-1 in a best-of-seven series go on to win 96.2% of the time (200-8 all-time). In the Kobe Bryant era, the Lakers are 0-4 when down 3-1 (1997 Jazz, 2004 Pistons, 2007 Suns and 2008 Celtics).
It is evident that Gasol and Bryant are no longer on the same page. The reasons for the issues or lack of cohesiveness are due to the above-mentioned changes. Kobe has played in the triangle offense for most of his career. When Gasol arrived on February 1, 2008, his high basketball I.Q. and skill level allowed for the two to gel quickly and play at a high level.
Things have changed with the departure of the Triangle offense. Gone are the opportunities for Pau to carve up a defense as the anchor of the offense and with him in the low post. It is rare to see pick-and-roll plays between Kobe and Pau and, when it does occur, more often that not it is the action preceding a lob pass to center Andrew Bynum at the front of the rim.
The emergence of Bynum has pushed Pau further away from the basket as more of a facilitator and third option offensively shooting jump shots, as opposed to attacking the basket. The addition of point guard Ramon Sessions as the primary ball-handler has also limited Gasol’s touches. There is no need to use Gasol as a scapegoat if the Lakers fail to pull out a much-needed win tonight. The blame has to land at the doorstep of Mike Brown for not fully utilizing Pau’s talents if L.A. loses.
Los Angeles has to play with a lot of energy and focus. They must match the intensity of the Thunder. L.A. has to play with a sense of urgency and passion that displays that they want it more than OKC. They have to defend and do a solid job against the pick-and-roll play. The guards have to fight over the screen with the knowledge that more than one screen will be set to free the ball handler.
It is imperative that the Lakers stop the dribble penetration of the guards, box out their men, control the tempo, get back in transition, defend, control the boards, protect the paint and contest shots.
Lakers: R. Sessions, K. Bryant, M. Peace, P. Gasol, A. Bynum
Thunder: R. Westbrook, T. Sefolosha, K. Durant, S. Ibaka, K. Perkins
Tip-off: 6:30 pm pst
Television –
- Los Angeles: TNT
- Oklahoma City: TNT
Radio –
- Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (John Ireland & Mychal Thompson)
- Oklahoma City: 640 AM & 98.1 FM (Matt Pinto)
Injuries –
Lakers:
- Matt Barnes (Sprained Right Ankle) Probable
- Devin Ebanks (Middle & Ring Finger Contusions, Left Hand) Probable
Thunder:
- Eric Maynor (Torn Right ACL) Out