Lakers Play D’antoni Ball Without Kobe Bryant

Give an assist to the schedule. The Lakers, without Kobe Bryant, beat a tried and disinterested Warriors team. Playing on the second night of a back to back, the Warriors barely put up a fight. Despite Steve Kerr’s observation that the Warriors got their “asses kicked”, the Warriors mental energy was elsewhere. Focused on their Christmas night showdown with the hated Clippers, most of the Warriors didn’t bother to show up.

Without Kobe Bryant in the building, the game had an easy flow to it. It’s what happens when you uncork wine. It breathes. As did Kobe’s teammates who were without his legendary perfectionism and maniacal intensity. Basketball could be simple again. It could be fun, like it was in high school, absent of pressure.

The Winners:

Dec 3, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Ronnie Price (9) dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ronnie Price: He took 10 shots and shot 60%. He had 8 assists as he moved the ball to open shooters. It helped that the Warriors played no defense on the perimeter. It also helped that the Lakers shots went in. This was the first game all year that the Lakers weren’t destroyed in their point guard match-up. Credit Price.

Wesley Johnson: He took 10 shots and hit half of them. He had 3 assists which is twice his season average. He also had 3 rebounds. And he had to guard Harrison Barnes.

Wayne Ellington: He took Kobe’s place, starting at the shooting guard. His efficient shooting was a plus but his 5 rebounds in 25 minutes showed his level of aggression.

Ed Davis: Perfect from the floor, 7-7, he didn’t have one foul, the third time that has happened all year. It also showed how passive the Warriors were in their game plan that they did not attack him.

Ball Movement: Without an isolation player to stall the offense, the ball was crisp. The Lakers made shots so it made their offense look good. Their 28 assists tied a season high (Charlotte, Oklahoma City), and was 8 more than their average of 20.

Three Point Shooting: Lacking a creator, D’antoni ball was in effect. The Lakers took 26 three point shots and made 46% of them. Against Golden State, 12 of their three pointers went in, which tied a season high (Washington, San Antonio). The Lakers average 6 made threes per game.

Jordan Clarkson: He played 15 minutes and took 7 shots. He didn’t shoot the ball well, he hasn’t all season, but the playing time helped restore some confidence.

The Losers:

Jordan Hill: He has the most chemistry with Kobe and it makes sense. Kobe has always functioned well with a post player, feeding him constantly. Jordan Hill only had 5 shots the entire game as the Lakers took advantage of a porous perimeter defense by the Warriors and took a lot of threes. But Hill had 6 rebounds in 18 minutes.

Jeremy Lin: Out of all of Kobe’s teammates, he has been the most critical. His demotion to the second team was seen as a way to revitalize his game away from Kobe. It has not helped much. Kobe’s absence on Tuesday night was supposed to be a moment for Lin to grab back the spotlight. He took 3 more shots but the result was the same. 11 shots, 11 points, 36% shooting. The Lakers shot 52% but Lin only had 5 assists, what he normally amasses on a 36% Lakers shooting night.

Byron Scott: His refusal to go to D’antoni ball during stretches of winnable games looks particularly short sighted. His 15 threes a game was never going to work. The Lakers have beaten 5 teams with winning records (Atlanta, Houston, Toronto, San Antonio and Golden State). In those games, the Lakers have taken 22 three pointers, shooting 40%. (The top three point shooting team in the NBA, the Washington Wizards, shoot 39%). With a lack of versatile players and bigs that can run the floor, perimeter shooting is mandatory, as is resting your 19 year veteran whose body is about to fall off.

Kobe will be back on Christmas Day but will probably be off again the next night against the Mavericks.

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