Crucifido’s Corner: Lakers vs. Spurs (WCF Game 4 5/27/08)

Crucifido's Corner - ClubLakers.com

Pacing vs. Panic

There were spurts of the Lakers imposing their will on the Spurs. Then there were times when the Lakers looked like a cornered animal freaking out for no reason when control was the order of the day. The Spurs kept in the game, but the Lakers held them at bay with some tight outside defense and holding Ginobili to almost nothing again.

Words can’t say how big the win was but the difference between 2-2 and 3-1 going back home is obviously enormous.

Game starts and so do the Lakers that was the way to get this game not only going but also going directly to the pace you need to set on the road. Aside from two easy Parker penetrations the Lakers’ did well in keeping the Spurs out of the post early on. Keeping the Spurs from setting up that deadly Duncan game in the post early on is beyond key.

You live with Tim making shots from the high post, free throw line or further out. What can’t happen is relenting that low block position without ever trying to hold position first.

With the Spurs looking to avoid putting Kobe on the line at any cost, you’d have to think that would work heavily to Kobe’s advantage. If Kobe gets any kind of look in the open court in particular there is no reason it shouldn’t be taken hard to the rack. It’s not something you have to beg Kobe to do, but the Lakers need to make sure to stay with the run rather than staying back and watching Kobe work. Sending at least one other person with Kobe going to the middle will prevent that running away from the offensive boards habit the Lakers had in Game 3.

All in all Kobe played an odd game for him. That possession with Kobe not stopping to get the free throws late in the game was beyond strange to see. Come Game 5 I don’t think there’s a doubt in all of Lakerland that this absent-minded forced game Kobe showed at times won’t be showing up again.

Pau did better defensively keeping on his feet in the posts. He was biting on the tiny head fakes far too easily in Game 3, but right off the bat it looked like Pau was making a conscious effort to keep grounded at all costs. That mentality had Pau in much better position to contest Duncan’s shots fading to the middle and it also gave him the chance to keep his hands more active when Duncan turns to shoot.

On the offensive end you could see Pau worming his way right into the deep posts before shots were even thrown up. Before Pau was waiting for the shot to be in the air before trying to get position. Tonight had Pau in the post as soon as he made the kick out pass. That’s how Pau can pull the defense off of the outside shot and in turn get himself in far better rebounding position.

Lamar’s aggressiveness to the offensive boards was evident. It started off quickly in the 1st quarter with 2 offensive boards within San Antonio traffic. Odom’s foul trouble came when he was getting into the posts too late. When he doesn’t get position early he has a tendency to reach over or through the guys on the block. His fouls come from light touches much more than plain old rough fouls. So with that in mind, Lamar has got to stay as aggressive and assertive as he was in the first 8 minutes of the game.

When Lamar took Duncan off the dribble at the 6.32 mark in the 3rd, that’s the way he can break down the Spurs 9and the way he did in Games 1 & 2). Duncan and/or Oberto have no hope of keeping up with him if he starts a drive from outside going into the paint from the side.

Derek’s quick foul problems were a result of spacing. The Lakers knew that Parker would be looking to get inside much more this time out, and to that effect Fish should’ve given more room between him and parker out on the perimeter. Once Parker gets that should ahead of Derek on his drive, Fisher’s in trouble. A couple steps between them makes parker a shooter and it keeps him from pushing the ball into Derek, drawing that blocking foul that Derek is prone to get against quicker guards.

Luke has got to stop turning on his drives. When he faces up and pulls a turn at the end of his dribble he’s much better at completing the play. When Luke gets the ball outside and throws that turn into his drive as a first move, he almost always gets out of control resulting in a charge or travel.

Simply put - Luke’s trying to do too much. You saw in the 2nd quarter when he got the pass from Lamar cutting along the baseline what Luke does best – move off the ball. He ‘s got to stop trying to be Mr. Everything and stick to what he does best and in turn what benefits the Lakers’ game best too.

One thing I absolutely love about Sasha is that despite a cold shooting performance he doesn’t quit. That 4-point play couldn’t have been timed better.

Farmar has got to play under control if he expects to get minutes away fro Fisher in foul trouble. The block he gave Duncan and the ridiculous off arm push he threw on Bowen were from him trying to push the ball way to hard into bad situations. If you want one key phrase for Farmar – “jump stop”. If you insist on taking the ball into the trees, put the brakes on real quick, let the guy jump on or by you, then go up. Just taking it up at the easiest to read point in the drive is doing nothing but making the Spurs look better on D.

Radmanovic had one of his “everything but” games. When his shot wasn’t going at times he did well in keeping active off the ball. He did an especially great job in moving along the baselines. When he isn’t shooting the Spurs are basically leaving him almost unguarded. They’re not thinking he’s going to do anything but prop himself up on the arc then run back for D. Fortunately for the Lakers, Radmanovic saw the Spurs pull this early and did real well in using that to free up his game. Now if Vladi wants to be ultra-effective (as he did here and there during the regular season), hit a 3 after a couple possessions on the inside. As it stand Vladi isn’t getting to his shooting spots quick enough to get the open looks he gets when he’s most successful.

Defensively Vladi has got to watch his help D. He’s helping alright, but he’s sticking with the help too long instead of getting back to his assignment.

The most significant change from Game 3 to Game 4 was the aggressiveness in the posts on both ends from the Lakers. Not only in setting up shots, but also in looking to swoop inside to grab a rebound. Every Laker on the floor was looking to cover up the otherwise empty spots off the sides of the key.

All that post aggressiveness had the Spurs absolutely shaky on their defense. They were looking to cover up the now rough to hold posts and in turn letting a lot of room go on the outside on all fronts. The mid-range jumper was opening up and the passing lanes were wide open. The Lakers need to cash in on those passing lanes a bit more than they did tonight.

Tonight had tiny flashes of the Lakers shooting themselves sin the foot after good defensive sets. The points off turnovers were decent, but when the Lakers had a good run on defense, they would get a good look on the inside only to miss it by losing concentration.

It is maddening to watch the Lakers still back off of shooters. Essentially guys like Brent Barry are one-trick ponies, only looking to spot up (and slowly at that) to shoot the long ball. There is no reason that Barry should have been as open as often as he was tonight. It’s been a thorn all season long and I hoped it would be watched tighter by now.

My favorite part of the game was when the Lakers were playing 8 on 5 in the 1st half they still went into the half with a lead. Between that and the Lakers having an answer for every Spurs run, the guy showed that they have the tenacity it takes to complete a rough game. That right there showed the incredible fight and desire this team can have. That kind of determination will go a long way to finishing off this playoff run – hopefully all the way.

So now there’s blood in the water and the sharks are circling the Spurs - time for the Lakers to strike and get back where they belong – the NBA Finals.