Sorry about the hiatus, and becuase of the layoff this will be a big update.
NBA Trade
Lakers Trade:
Andrew Bynum
Jim Jackson (:crazy:, sorry Jimmy)
Memphis Trades:
Hakim Warrick
1st round pick
A few reasons for this deal. One is I've always liked Warrick, to the point that I thought about doing a franchise with them just to use him. The other reason is the lakers actually passed on him to select bynum, and the grizz need a big man. additionally im not really sure how to use bynum. And on top of all that, i get the grizzlies top pic
Lakers@ Raptors
This game was a while ago, and alot of the stats have been lost. I started Brian Cook with Odom at pf and Warrick at sf, just to see how he would go. He went well, despite the Raptors leading at halftime by 8 points, 55-47. Kobe was having a quiet night but Odom was playing really well, and I was able to get the lead back by the start of the 4th, up 73-71. I pushed that lead out to double digits before a furious surge by the raptors sent the game into overtime. In the overtime kobe hit a jumper to win it with 8 seconds left, and I escaped with the win (the video will be posted later)
Player of the Game
Lamar with 34 points and 10 rebounds
Kobe had 28 points and 13 assists, and Warrick had 20 in his laker debut.
Lakers@ Bulls
I played this game today so the stats and recap will be much more detailed.
1st quarter
Wow what a start. I came out and hit 23 of my first 24 shots! I should have long breaks from this game more often
. But seriously, Odom was on fire in the first quarter, schooling sweetney with his skill, size and quickness. He had 19 at the end of one and I ahd my sights set on a career high for him already. I put 38 on the bulls in the first quarter to lead 39-23. In the second quarter Caffey scored 8 points and Hakim Warrick continued to impress as I pulled away to a 67- 48 lead at halftime. Game over right?
Wrong. In the second half, Gordon came out on fire, and the bulls were playing like i was in the first quarter. The only difference was I wasnt playing like they played in the 1st, but they still trimed the lead to 97-87 at the end of the 3rd. Odom had 40 and i gave him a brief rest to begin the quarter. Gordon was still firing though and got the bulls to within three before Odom re entered the game and helped seal a less then convincing win, 130- 118.
Player of the Game
Lamar again:
54 points
10 rebounds
4 assists
2 blocks
Other Laker players:
Kobe 24 pts, 2 rbeounds, 12 assists, 1 steal 2 blocks
Warrick 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists 1 steal 1 block
Smush 5 points, 3 rebounds 12 assists and 1 block
The lakers had 50 assists in this game
Ben Gordons performance could not be ignored eithe. 48 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 steals. Another classic duel and congrats to lamar for setting a new career high
After that game I wanted to play another, so why not?
Lakers @ Twolves
Uh oh, this is the team that embarrased the lakers on their homefloor. The twolves won the tip, but kobe blocked ricky davis and dished it to Odom for a breakaway dunk to begin the game, but odom pulled his back out on that play. He would later return, but it would only add to the drama. Despite Odom's absence, Kobe would step back into his role of instigating the offense and kobe would resume his scoring role. Byron Russell (remember they signed him?) hit 2 3's in the first period, but even without Odom L.A. was up 32-30 after one. Kobe had 16 points in that first period. In the second quarter, Marko Jaric and KG started to find their rythym, but with Odom returning and contributing the lakers would take a 57-50 lead into halftime. It was amazing to see how differently odom played with the injury. His footspeed wasnt slowed, but he lost alot of elevation and was laying the ball up instead of dunking it in a lot of situatiuons where he would throw it down.
2nd half
The timberwolves began to press alot of more and put pressure on smush, but with that smush was able to break the pressure and get easy baskets for odom/warrick/ mihm/caffey. The tinberwolves were hitting their strides though and answered each laker run to keep it close, down by 8, 89-81. If Minnesota was hot in the 3rd, they were uneblievable in the fourth. Russell continued his suprising play. KG was domiant. Ricky Davis and Jaric were spectacular. They wiped a 8 point deficit away and managed to build a 6 point lead. Kobe was fantastic in the fourt however and kept it close, but I could stop the twolves. With 1:30 or so remaining, the timberwolves were up up by 7. Kobe drilled a three to cut it to four. Timberwolves would score to give themseves a 6 point lead back. Kobe hit another 3, and the lead was cut to three. Mark Blount was fouled and he made one of two free throws, and the lead was just 4. Kobe hit another 3, lead down to one. Jaric Hit a floater and was fouled, he made the foul shot. Lead back to 4. Kobe another 3, lead back to one. Russell was fouled on a drive, he made one ft, elad down to two. Kobe was instantly swarmed and dished it to mihm who missed an open layup. KG would make 2 free throws. Next play odom was fouled, and made one of two, 3 point game. KG hit a turnaround, minnesota up by 5. Kobe hit another 3, lead down to two. Jaric was fouled and made on of two, and kobe hit a three to tie it up with no time remaining! He hit 6 threes in such a small amount of time, and i was so stunned/ happy i forgot to save the replay!
In the second overtime on this road trip, Kobe continued to dominate, but no more 3's. The game was tied with 1 minute 30 remaining when kobe would hit an 18 footer, and KG would miss a turnaround defended by warrick and in tranistion odom drew kgs 6th foul and made a 3 point play. The game was effectivly over at that point, and I walked out of there with a 145 to 139 win. The twolves scored 47 (thats right, 47) points in the 4th quarter. When I look back at this season series, the way I beat minnesota convincingly without kg, the way they domianted me on my homefloor, and then this game, Ive never had a better season series in any game, and it ranks right up there with one of my classic videogame memories ever.
Player of the game:
Kobe
67 points (7/7 3pt)
14 assists
4 rebounds
2 steals
1 block
Lamar 8 rebounds 4 assists 1 steal 1 block
Brian Cook 11 points, 3 rebounds 3 assists 1 steal
Smush 7 points 6 assists 2 blocks
Minnesota players:
Jaric 23 points 9 assists 5 steals
Davis 22 points 5 assists
Russell 22 points (4-5 3's)
KG 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks