Lakers Pummel Pistons
One win does not mean much in the NBA but this was truly refreshing. With the Lake Show slumping and the dysfunctional Detroit Pistons in town it seemed given that a W was in the forecast. Not even the Lakers in their weakened state could drop one to the D.
Well…the first half was anything but smooth. Kobe Bryant got off to a wretched start as he missed his first nine attempts. But once the second half started everything began to click.
KB24 got it going in a third quarter that showcased a Laker team we haven’t seen in some time. Bryant even made a little history as he passed The Human Highlight Film for 10th on the all-time scoring list.
After the dust settled, the Lakers punished the Pistons by outscoring their prey 31-17 in the third. That lead would last until the final buzzer as the Lake Show walked off with a 108-83 victory.
But this was expected. If ever there was a slump-buster, it’s the Pistons.
You can’t take much from tonight’s thrashing but it is a positive sign. This is what the Lakers are supposed to do with inferior competition. The first half was lethargic and lackluster – as usual – but the second half was pure class.
On offense, the ball moved and the turnovers were minimal. Despite some defensive lapses, there was a much more concerted effort.
Now, it’s on to Phoenix to see if this team has turned the corner or simply got a win dropped in their laps. Whatever the case, it was nice to see a focused effort for once. We’ve missed these Lakers. Let’s hope they’re here to stay.