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.