Game Grades: Lakers Run Out Of Gas Late Against Suns
By Jacob Rude
Final. 116. 66. 107. 20
MVP: Nick Young, who led the Lakers with 21 points including burying his first four three pointers. A sign of the times might have been Kobe Bryant deferring to Young late in the fourth quarter
LVP: Jordan Hill, who finished with 9 points and ONE rebound. A single rebound. On top of not helping his trade value, he hurt the Lakers chances of winning tonight as well.
Stat of the Night: 11-20, as in the Lakers’ free throw shooting. In a contest that was a three-point game with under a minute to go, nine missed free throws make or break you.
The Starters
B+. <strong> 32 min, 4-10 FG, 1-3 3P, 1-1 FT, 10 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO</strong><p>In his return to the lineup, Bryant looked far more tempered in his shot selection and a willing passer, highlighted by his 7 assists.</p>. SG. Los Angeles Lakers. KOBE BRYANT
C. Los Angeles Lakers. JORDAN HILL. F. <strong> 22 min, 3-11 FG, 3-4 FT, 9 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO</strong><p>At this point, it’s hard to defend Hill, who has really struggled since <strong><a href=
Los Angeles Lakers. RONNIE PRICE. C+. <strong> 22 min, 4-7 FG, 2-2 3P, 0-0 FT, 10 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. PG
A-. <strong> 28 min, 5-9 FG, 3-6 3P, 1-1 FT, 14 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>On again, off again <strong><a href=. SF. Los Angeles Lakers. WESLEY JOHNSON
A-. <strong> 34 min, 5-6 FG, 1-5 FT, 11 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 3 TO</strong><p>Davis continues to impress and looks like someone the Lakers could grab some big assets for at the trade deadline, if they choose to trade him.</p>. PF. Los Angeles Lakers. ED DAVIS
The Bench
SG. Los Angeles Lakers. NICK YOUNG. A. <strong> 25 min, 7-15 FG, 4-6 3P, 3-3 FT, 21 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>The biggest reason the Lakers kept this close was the fact Swaggy P was red hot for most of tonight.</p>
JEREMY LIN. A-. <strong> 26 min, 8-11 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-4 FT, 19 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. PG. Los Angeles Lakers
<strong> 15 min, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3P, 0-0 FT, 2 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. SG. Los Angeles Lakers. WAYNE ELLINGTON. D-
CARLOS BOOZER. C-. <strong> 22 min, 4-7 FG, 0-0 FT, 8 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers
D. <strong> 14 min, 1-3 FG, 1-2 FT, 3 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>The worst news of the night for <strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. ROBERT SACRE