Written by: Steven Almazan
The Los Angeles Lakers did not look the same in Game 2 of their series against the New Orleans Hornets. They were playing with a drive to prove doubters wrong, with a passion to move on to the next round, and with a fly-swatter to squash the Hornets. Even though the Lakers did not blow out the Hornets as many expected they would, they played well enough to win the second game of the series 87-78.
In the first quarter, both teams challenged the frontcourt by limiting their jump shots and driving aggressively to the basket. Both teams were evenly matches for the first 12 minutes of play as they were tied 23-23. It seemed as if the Staples crowd were in for a long night of back-and-forward basketball, but the Lakers finally geared things up in the second quarter. They realized that this is the playoffs and changed exchanged their regular season caps with postseason caps.
The Lakers’ own Killer B’s were reunited as Steve Blake returned after a 7-day battle against the chicken-pox. Blake ran down the paint with a passion as he was playing with a fast-paced tempo all night. Blake, Barnes, and Brown were connecting on all cylinders as they easily found each other down the floor with smooth assists.
The New Orleans Hornets were unable to control the ball with 16 turnovers as opposed to the first game with 3 turnovers. The Hornets have players with the least amount of playoff experience out of all the teams in the postseason, and they finally played like it. The Lakers undoubtedly have the most players with playoff experience coming into this postseason, but they did not display a championship-caliber performance.
Chris Paul is meant to serve as the facilitator of the Hornets offense, but ever since David West suffered a knee injury late in the season, Paul has had to change roles and become the leading-scorer of the team. CP3 zoomed past the Lakers the entire night, slicing through the paint either for an effortless pass or an uncontested shot. Even though he did not have the same MVP-like performance that he had in the first game of the series, he contributed offensively ending the second and third quarter with a 3-pointer and also beating the shot-clock multiple times.
Although he has not worked alone on the offensive side, with help from Trevor Ariza. Ariza was playing as if he was out on a vendetta against Artest as he shot a ridiculous, hand-in-the-face shot toward the end of the first quarter. He also played body-to-body defense against Kobe the entire night, making him work for everything on the offensive end. He ended the night with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Next: Familiar Faces Struggle in Game 2
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Kobe returned to Game 2 after suffering a hit on the head on a metal chair, essentially influencing the Staples Center staff to add cushions to all of the courtside seats. Kobe played more of a facilitative role the entire game with only 11 points, but he was swarming the Hornets players the entire night with suffocating defense.
Every time Pau Gasol touched the ball, the Staples Center crowd were buzzing and waiting for him to make an aggressive move. Even though Gasol did not remove his “soft” label by displaying yet another lackluster offensive performance, Bynum was able to pick up the slack by posting a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Bynum not only scored effectively, but he also lived up to his 7,1” frame with an overpowering presence down in the paint.
A play that defines the effort of Gasol occurred in the first quarter when he threw a lazy pass to Bynum for a missed alley-oop. Gasol was pounded the entire night by every Hornet he posted-up against, having to earn half of his points on the stripe. Gasol once again failed to meet expectations as he struggled made only 2 for 10 on the field for a total of 20% on the night.
Luckily, Lamar Odom was also able to aid the struggling big man with a stellar performance. Odom proved that he deserved the Sixth-Man of the Year Award, the first Laker to ever receive the award, with 16 points and 7 rebounds. He started the game with 3 quick baskets in the first quarter and started the second half with impressive floaters and layups in the paint. Odom utilized his lengthy size against the smaller Hornets by extending his entire body through the pesky defense and capitalizing on open shots.
Playoff basketball finally arrived to Staples Center in the second half with a series of offensive fouls on both ends. Gasol and Landry showed their emotions in the second half as they bickered and shoved each other down the court, influencing their teammates to do the same on later plays. Barnes also joined in on the fun by getting a flagrant foul for swatting across Ariza’s head as he went for a layup. Emotions were certainly flying high Wednesday night as a combined 6 players had more than 4 fouls for the game.
With less than a minute left in regulation, the Staples Center crowd rose to their feet as they knew 2 things: 1) They would leave the game with a coupon for 2 complimentary tacos from Jack in the Box and 2) The Lakers were on their way to New Orleans with the series tied 1-1.