Game Grades: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James Provide A Classic In Lakers Loss
By Jacob Rude
102. 20. Final. 109. 156
MVP: Kobe Bryant, who set a career-high in assists and looked as spry as he had in a LONG time. This was one of his best performances of the season, if not his best one. He went mano-y-mano against LeBron James late and kept the Lakers in the game late.
LVP: Ronnie Price. While he fits better with Bryant the ball-handler than Jeremy Lin might, he still offers little on the defensive end. And when I say little, I mean nothing. He does nothing defensively. Kyrie Irving blew by him all night.
Stat of the Night: 13-8. The offensive rebounding battle, which ended in favor of the Cavs. It was especially evident down the stretch when the Lakers would force a missed shot, only to have it rebounded a put back in, negating the solid defensive possession.
The Starters
<strong>32 min, 7-14 FG, 3-6 3P, 2-3 FT, 19 PTS, 6 REB, 17 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO</strong><p>There is nothing else you could have asked for from Bryant tonight. He was fantastic.</p>. SG. Los Angeles Lakers. KOBE BRYANT. A+
Los Angeles Lakers. JORDAN HILL. A. <strong> 32 min, 10-14 FG, 0-0 FT, 20 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>The recipient of many of Bryant’s assists tonight, <strong><a href=. C
RONNIE PRICE. D-. <strong>27 min, 1-5 FG, 0-2 3P, 3-4 FT, 5 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>Price offers little on the offensive end and hardly any more defensively. He’s the epitome of a tanking player.</p>. PG. Los Angeles Lakers
C+. <strong>29 min, 3-5 FG, 2-4 3P, 0-0 FT, 8 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. SF. Los Angeles Lakers. WESLEY JOHNSON
B-. <strong>22 min, 3-5 FG, 2-4 FT, 8 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. PF. Los Angeles Lakers. ED DAVIS
The Bench
Los Angeles Lakers. NICK YOUNG. F. <strong>22 min, 4-13 FG, 2-8 3P, 4-5 FT, 14 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>Swaggy P is really, really struggling at this point. <strong><a href=. SG
B. <strong> 16 min, 3-4 FG, 2-3 FT, 8 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. TARIK BLACK
B. <strong>15 min, 3-4 FG, 1-1 3P, 2-2 FT, 9 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO</strong><p>Lin had a relatively good game, but was relegated to the punch as Bryant played so well today as a distributor and Lin has been unable to adjust his game to play alongside Bryant.</p>. PG. Los Angeles Lakers. JEREMY LIN
C. <strong>23 min, 4-6 FG, 1-2 FT, 9 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. CARLOS BOOZER