Crucifido’s Corner: Pistons vs. Lakers (Game 8)

Defense = Winning, Winning = Chemistry

Of course winning any game is sweet, but winning as a team the way the Lakers did against the Pistons last night – man that is beyond gratifying.
Starting in the first defensive set of the game, Kobe’s All-World defense s astounding to watch. Defending Hamilton isn’t one of the easiest assignments you can draw. With his constant movement and range of shots, he’s got to be one of the toughest opponents to keep after ion the NBA. However, Kobe, working his tail off every minute he was on the court, was jaw dropping to watch. That stellar defense he was throwing out there not only set the pace for the rest of the team on the back end, it got everyone thinking hustle first, everything else second.

I mean honestly, that was one of the more impressive defensive games from anyone in the last couple of years in the NBA. By keeping Hamilton physically and mentally out of the game, it took what couple of Pistons they had left in the engine from doing the damage they normally do at Staples.

Not enough can be said of Kobe’s D. Offensively I found it a blessing that he was a bit cold. I’m sure a lot of it came from using so much energy on D, but it was good in the way that it made the rest of the team step up into some great contributions. Likewise, the rest of the guys stepping up allowed Kobe the freedom to play more aggressive defense and use the lion’s share of his concentration on the defensive end.

That’s a strong sign of a team not only willing to play together, but capable of it.

Without Ronny in the lineup, it was essential that once again (as Kobe pleaded in San Antonio) that the guys keep up the energy. They all did that, and then some.

Along with Kobe’s torrid start, Kwame did an outstanding job on Rasheed in the post. For that matter anyone else who came into the low block was being solidly kept out of any turns into the paint or baseline, or any pet shot by Kwame. Of course as is always the case, its Kwame’s carnie stone hands on offense that keep him from being in the game as long as he’s needed sometimes. That aside though, Kwame did a great job sealing off the movement from strong to weak even when his man (or another near him) didn’t have the ball. Keep an eye on what Kwame does defending the baseline and about 5 feet in from it next game. Like the guy or not, he makes movement along that area (one of the areas the Lakers have had serious trouble keeping people out of the last couple of years) down to a minimum.

It would be good though to see Kwame back off of the reach gambling he’s doing on defense. As good as his post defense is, he compromised the team more than once by trying to poke a ball free when bodying up would have been the better choice. Let the perimeter players and those with more assured / quicker hands go for the steals.

So as Kwame came out of the game for his offensive problems, in comes Bynum, playing one of the best games he’s had as a Laker. Better yet, it wasn’t a solely offensive run from Bynum that kept him taking minutes from Mihm . One of the best plays Andrew threw down was that reaching dunk he had in the 2nd quarter. It wasn’t because of the dunk. It was that extra dribble he took to complement his footwork turning inside that perked me up. That dribble wasn’t there before. The last 2 years it was more of an attempt to reach over or through the defenders to get something to go.

One thing Andrew has learned is how to get through space on both ends of the court and draw his man out with him. His motion going through the key and from his growing reputation is bringing players out of traffic, making it easier for everyone to get easier shots.

Couple that with the use of his length to grab boards over the Pistons without a foul and Andrew was looking real good this time out. Not to mention that spectacular drop pass to Kobe on the back cut, man that was nice. Really though, Andrew’s leap in patience has been notable too. In this game there was no rushing of any shot, another leap fro3ward from Andrew. If he didn’t throw a head fake out to lose someone in the post, he used his physicality to bully his way from the side of the paint into the middle, where it became pretty tough to stop him from doing what he wants. Defensively Andrew was spacing himself damn near perfect for blocked shots. There was no swinging completely down with the arm or jumping into the target. The blocks Andrew did get (although it wasn’t a ton) were controlled in power and in jump. That use of his natural size will serve Andrew well as he comes up against the rest of the NBA’s top big men.

Its games like this one that make people pull their hair out over Odom. The guy is a fantastic talent that shows what he can be - sometimes. Therein lies the eternal question with Odom, when will he be the beast he can be? Backing away from that though, Lamar was on his game early and often. You get the feeling some of it was trying to make up for his dispassionate and lackluster game in Houston, but whatever it was, I’ll take it.

The work Lamar was putting in along the baseline and in the middle was heartening to watch. He was working extra hard to not only get into the mix, but once in there to use his skills to cash in on the hard work. Its one thing to do the work to get the boards or cause the havoc you have to inside, it’s another to finally take reap some benefits from it. By doing the work Lamar and Andrew were doing inside on the offensive boards, you saw the Laker perimeter and mid-range game open up like few times before. That kind of energy and work inside will draw extra help from other teams. With the length and size the Lakers have up front, it’s tough to contend with anyway. But if you throw in the work ethic to boot, suddenly teams have to start rolling down 3 or 4 players to contain only 2. This was the case this game. Andrew and Lamar were often (if not about 90% of the time they were in the key) drawing 3 defenders to push them out from second shot chances or from getting deep for an easy bucket.

Odom’s defensive rotations out on the perimeter were great too. For that matter, the whole team’s communication on switches in the first half was outstanding. That played a huge part in garnering the double digit lead early on. That lead not only put the Pistons on their heels, but it gave the Lakers the confidence they needed to realize that they can slow this team down.

Just a good solid game from Odom, that doesn’t have to be matched stat-wise every time out, but the hustle / work ethic he showed needs to be brought every single game.

Even Radmanovic played a heads up game. It may have not been a dead on shooting game for him, but Kobe’s defense seemed to even inspire Vladi to get out after everyone on the perimeter and do drop switches on the money. The “off-the-ref” play was a good sign from Vladi too. It seems odd to say, but from someone who is notoriously spacey on the court, it was a quick thinking play by Radaman to realize the ball was still live and make the most of it, when everyone else froze.

Lastly, the player of the game for me – Jordan Farmar. Sure Kobe’s defense was ridiculous, Lamar’s and Andrew’s work inside was beyond admirable and everyone else’s hustle was fantastic, but Jordan out and out changed the game when he came into it. I don’t know if it’s the drafting of Crittenton, the acquisition of Derek as a mentor for Jordan or just a deep desire to improve, but whatever it is – keep it coming. It’s been a long time that a point guard of all positions has improved this quickly on the Lakers. The guard core from last year to this year has taken a giant leap forward.

Farmar’s fearlessness, challenging any size player, getting involved in every play defensively, getting around screens and picks, active hands, use of his body on drives to seal off block attempts, spot on lateral movement and quickly developing offense is sparking this team’s second unit to heights that didn’t look attainable not but a year ago.

The best sign for me this game was that Kobe Bryant was cold as cold could be offensively, yet the rest of the team didn’t continue to solely look for him, get down in the mouth or stop looking to score their selves. I’ve never been happier with a 1-8 shooting performance from Kobe in the first half.

I don’t want to hear about the Pistons missing Billups and McDyess, every team plays wounded. Not but one season ago, the Lakers would lose almost every gamer to crippled teams. So to me, that whole line of reasoning doesn’t fly, especially for the Lakers.

It was one of the best team wins a recent memory and something I hope becomes an inspiration for these guys. A game I hope they look on and realize that they can compete with the NBA’s best teams through defense, hustle, communication and passion.