First Start For Ramon Sessions, Start Of Something Big For Lakers
Oh yes…the Ramon Sessions effect is real. There is no catchy Linsanity-esque nickname for this though. So there is no point in trying to pump out puns. Instead just push play on the game tape against Portland tonight and enjoy the show.
Right about now this is becoming the Sessions takeover of the Lake Show.
Razor Ramon (yeah, I know it’s not pronounced like that) sliced the Blazers D like a laser beam through butter. In the first start of his Laker career, Sessions went nuts putting up an unheard of for a Laker point guard 20 points and 11 dimes. What’s nasty is he was 6 of 10 from the field including a clutch three that helped put Portland away in this 103-96 Laker victory.
Now, Sessions is certainly the fastest man to ball in L.A. since Nick Van Exel. But there is already talk spreading of Sessions being the best pure point guard to hit a Laker jersey since Norm Nixon. That’s not even crazy talk. Not after what he did tonight.
Everyone in purple and gold is getting better with Ramon running the show.
Andrew Bynum is still getting a lot of attention. Those double-teams are standard these days. Thanks to Sessions setting the table, Drew is getting more quality touches too. Bynum hardly broke a sweat dropping a cool 28 points. But you’d expect a breakout big man like Bynum to get his no matter who is pushing point.
The real proof of the Sessions effect could be seen in how Metta World Peace produced. Yeah, you heard that right. World Peace is getting his game back. The former Ron Artest scored 14 tonight capped off with a clutch jumper in the final minute that pretty much sealed the deal in a close contest.
Even more amazing about what we’re seeing from Sessions is that infectious nature that comes with a great passer. Suddenly everyone is in on the act of sharing the rock.
Pau Gasol went for 10 and 16 with 6 dimes. Matt Barnes has found a great chemistry with Sessions. Off the bench Barnes put in a solid 9-point, 5-board, 5-assist and 3-block night. As a team the Lakers had an unreal 33 assists.
Here is the real crazy thing, Kobe Bryant had another miserable night shooting and it didn’t even matter. Mamba flipped the script. He decided to be the starter instead of the closer. Kobe came out of the gate aggressive making 5 of 6, scoring 11 in a first quarter.
Kobe cooled off considerably after that though. In fact that is an understatement. Bryant didn’t make another bucket the rest of the game, missing 11 in a row. He got 18 on the night, well below his average. What’s great is Kobe didn’t care. He had a nice laugh at his own poor performance, intentionally banking in a free throw when the game was in hand.
What is happening with Sessions at the point is nothing short of amazing. All five starters were in double figures. The Lakers are getting over that 100-point barrier with ease after struggling to even sniff it prior to Ramon’s arrival. The pick-and-roll has become a pick-your-poison type weapon. There’s even a transition game.
Before getting too carried away the Lakers did cough up another double digit lead to a team that hasn’t been playing good ball lately. LaMarcus Aldridge killed the Lakers with a game high 29. Now 21 of those points for Aldridge did come in the first half. So you gotta give Mike Brown’s defense credit for stepping it up out of the locker room. Still, this one was a little too close for comfort.
None the less with Sessions the Lakers are a completely reinvented team. They’re also rejuvenated. Kobe had a grin on his face like man that just got a new lease on life. With Sessions overseeing the Lake Show this team has a whole new swagger just in time for the playoff push. KB24 is talking title. Might be a little premature but when a man with 5 rings starts thinking a 6th is in reach that’s bad news for the rest of the league.