Wow, what a game. The O-rena was as loud as it has been since the last time the Lakers were there. I hated to see the Magic blow the lead and ultimately lose the game - but they did play about as good as they can. There were only about a half dozen positions which could have gone better - but I'll take that anyday. I thought the difference was Tracy McGrady. He played a good game - but did not close it out down the stretch. Juwan Howard nailed 3 straight baskets - and after that - I thought it would have been perfect for McGrady to pick up the next 2-3 baskets. The Lakers were scrambling to decide who to defend. That kind of play - has me thinking ahead (here we go) to when we might have Grant Hill @ESPN" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=2626" target="_blank">Grant Hill, McGrady and Howard on the floor at the same time. That could be a big time defensive nightmare for any team we match up against.
This was a game that got away for us. It was achievable for us to take - but the Lakers played well at the end. Big time credit goes to Phil Jackson for leaving the bench players out there that long to get the Lakers back into the game. I think we could have gone with Shammond Williams at the end - to get a little energy and possibly a good shooter out on the floor. I really dislike having Gordan Giricek on the floor late in the games. Giricek and Gooden just have not been the same this year. They seem to be struggling with their identities on this team.
Good effort tonight - just short of a 'W'.
5 Comments on "Game Notes - Los Angeles Lakers"
The lineup of hill mcgrady and howard has eastern conference champion written all over it. Definitely the winning team in the "Southeast division" next year. The three things we need are hill reliable, mcgrady healthy and howard not being traded. It was truly something special to watch when Howard buried three straight shots over Luke Walton. Howard went right at Shaq a couple times too and scored. I was very happy even though they blew a big lead. The way I look at it is the more we lose the better chance we have of getting #1 draft pick. Thinking to the future the people we could do without are Gooden, Giricek, Lue and Declercq. Giricek pending if Garrity is back to natural form.
I think those four players are good trade bait - and I would like to see us get something out of Steven Hunter - even if its just a second round pick - before the end of the season. Then next year, focus on getting a good "starting" point guard through free agency/trade and then a center through our ~high~ draft pick.
That sounds like a good plan. Orlando office will probably mess up and sign some crappy point and pick a wingman in the draft instead of a center.
Back to the game, Zaza played some damn good defense on Shaq. I dont think anyone else other then Duncan has played Shaq that well. They called a bull foul on that beautiful block by Zaza. In comparison Declercq played him damn good at times as well. I dont really understand the fact that we have guys that can guard Shaq well and still be considered the smallest team in the league. Magic players have to bring this effort every night and not just when Shaq comes to play.
TWOLVES RUUULE