I hate writing about games we’ve lost. Three quarters of exciting play and four pages of handwritten notes just go out the window. One amazing play from the first quarters definitely bears mentioning, however. Kevin Durant ran down a loose ball in the corner, but Kobe didn’t quit on the play: he came from behind and picked Durant clean, then finished with an emphatic dunk and the chance for a three point play. It was a great sequence.
Last night was just perplexing in many ways. Fish hustled for numerous loose balls, the Lakers went inside often to Andrew and Pau (who was very aggressive), Lamar showed great leadership, Steve Blake hit three triples, Ron-Ron played well, Kobe lit it up in the second quarter especially… and the lost. Defense was the main culprit, as in they played none.
I think I’ve learned my lesson yet again about the perils of talking trash, as well. I’m sure everyone knows by now what was said about the Lakers by Kendrick Perkins, current Thunder player and former Celtic who is the supposed reason they didn’t win it all last year (due to his injury). In the second quarter he and Kobe got locked together, with Kobe attempting to free his head from underneath Perkins’ arm. They both started ja
wing at each other and technicals were called.
It was after this that Kobe went off, hitting 7 of the Lakers’ next 9 points. He hit a quick triple, got two points off an assist from Gasol and hit a jab step jumper. Mamba mode in full effect, which I trumpeted all over Facebook and Twitter at Perkins’ expense. Whoops.
Lamar Odom’s Team USA teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (the second highest scoring duo in the NBA) got the win last night, but I know that the Lakers will rack up the wins when it counts. They know they let one get away, we know they let one get away, and all we can do as fans is move forward. Hopefully the Lakers will fix their broken “switch” soon and do the same.
