The Lakers, injured and lifeless, rolled into Anaheim with a skeleton crew of players, many of whom won’t be in the rotation opening night. They faced a Utah Jazz team that had not lost in the pre-season. Kobe Bryant played eight minutes in the first quarter, a departure from his traditional 10 minutes. He shot 50% and had 9 points, getting to the line twice. When Kobe left the game for the bench, he took with him execution, shot making and energy. The remaining Lakers didn’t move without the ball or pass from side to side so the shots were all the same: long perimeter jumpers. Of course they missed.
Oct 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and coach Byron Scott during the game against the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center. The Jazz defeated the Lakers 119-86. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
On defense, in the first quarter, the Lakers were okay as they kept track of their man and the ball. They rebounded and got a couple of steals. But on the inside the Jazz were too much. Trevor Booker looked like an All-Star. Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors finished at the rim. With Kobe out of the game, the Lakers didn’t have a quality offensive player and trailed early in the second quarter by double digits.
“I was disappointed because they didn’t play with energy. They had a lack of communication”, Byron Scott said afterwards, aware that many of his best offensive players were in street clothes.
Julius Randle continued to do his best I’m-a-rookie impersonation. On one offensive possession he just drifted on the perimeter without making a move to the paint, his eyes glazed. He struggled defending Utah’s big men. Surprisingly, he missed an easy layup. But he made a runner in the lane and after that he went into the locker room with Gary Vitti on his heels, a familiar sight that elicited Twitter groans.
Kobe’s 14 minutes in the first half kept the Lakers from trailing by 30. Yes, he took 14 shots in 14 minutes but it was a far better look than a disinterested and bored Carlos Boozer shooting it.
A double digit lead going into the third quarter and Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill showed what was possible on offense. Both were aggressive driving to the rim. The entire team looked energized by Byron Scott’s tongue lashing which was not to say they had any answer for the Jazz in the paint. They have no rim protectors. But for the first time since last Monday their offense had chemistry and flow. Then Kobe went out the game.
This sidenote: Utah Jazz small forward, Gordon Hayward, proudly boasted he could beat Lebron James one-on-one. And yet he struggled keeping Kobe out of the post. Kobe who is the 40th best player in the NBA. No luck with Lebron kid.
As for that ranking, Kobe said he’s known for a long time that ESPN “are a bunch of idiots.” He went on to say he uses things for motivation that “tend to be in the realm of reality”, another humorous dig at the ranking. After joking, he admitted that it didn’t bother him. “I’m going to do what I do regardless. God willing, I can stay healthy. And if I wind up proving a lot of people wrong in the process that will just wind up being collateral damage.”
Oct 6, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington (2) shoots while defended by Denver Nuggets forward Quincy Miller (30) during the second half at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
After Kobe went out in the third quarter the Lakers offense came crashing to a halt which is a big problem for Byron Scott’s team if he is going to play Kobe 32-34 minutes. How do they get any offense when Kobe is on the bench? The third quarter limped by with the Lakers missing shots and the Jazz making them. Wayne Ellington stood out. He was supposed to be the beneficiary of Nick Young’s absence. But his three point shooting which is supposed to be his specialty abandoned him. He missed all eight three pointers he took. In fact, he has made only 1 three point shot the entire pre-season.
For the Jazz, Dante Exum had a good game off the bench. He had 13 points and 6 assists. Julius Randle was said to have blisters but he did not return.
“I didn’t think it was necessary”, Byron Scott said of Randle playing. Then he clarified. “It wasn’t a punishment.” Scott chose to sit Randle as a precautionary measure. But he admitted Randle is still struggling with the pro game. “He has to let the game slow down. I know he’s thinking a lot right now. I expect him to get it.”
Kobe added, “there are many ways to learn. It’s not always on the court.”
Kobe was the show for the Lakers. 27 points in 27 minutes. Impressive shot taking for the 40th best player. Imagine what he would have scored had he made his free throws. “I was just trying to be more aggressive. I was trying to play it like a real game”.
Kobe admitted his concern for Steve Nash who wanted to play but just couldn’t. HIs back and nerve issues are a continuous plague. Kobe felt sympathy. “He can’t get going on a consistent basis. He has to stay at it and turn the corner.”
The Lakers defense was as usual, pathetic. They gave up 50% shooting. On Sunday the Lakers will get more of their regular rotation back and the Jeremy Tyler’s of the world will have to watch from the bench. Kobe admitted the younger players were “nervous”. But he said, “the desire was there.”
If the Lakers did anything well in this game it was offensive rebounding. Everything else was forgettable. Byron Scott had the line of the night. When asked what did he like about the game, he said “when it was over.”
Next game: Sunday.