Again, searching for the good

Another crummy loss. I'll start with the good.

1. Randy Foye doing a very good job in crunch time. He was
unstoppable when taking it to the basket. As explosive as advertized.
He is going to be a good one, and it's time to continue to give him 20+
minutes.

2. KG dominated. I love it when he plays like he did tonight. He was
demanded the ball, took matters into his own hands, and lead his team
by sheer will to comeback. H is performance at the end of the third
was amazing.

3. Craig Smith. Beast. Should be playing 30 minutes, not 18.

4. The James, Foye, Jaric, Smith, KG lineup that lead the comeback in
the fourth. The 5 best Wolves players in at the same time (with
apologies to Hassell), and they played well together. The type of
lineup I like with KG playing center.


Now the bad:

1. CASEY: The starting lineup is getting killed to start the second
half, yet he keeps that lineup togeter much of the 3rd. Clueless . .
..he should have got Smith in the game, and Davis and Hassell out. The
Wolves are getting killed inside by the 19 year old, yet EG and his
shot blocking prowess sits on the bench. And why do so many
possessions come and go without KG touching the ball?

2. Davis: The offense just doesn't run smoothly with him in the game.

3. Hudson: Ditto. He needs to become a bench warmer with Foye stepping
up.

4. Hassell. He was horrid offensively.

5. Wolves outrebounded again. Get EG into the game.

<ikrushlots.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1162966925.985493.156860@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Another crummy loss. I'll start with the good.
>
> 1. Randy Foye doing a very good job in crunch time. He was
> unstoppable when taking it to the basket. As explosive as advertized.
> He is going to be a good one, and it's time to continue to give him 20+
> minutes.
>
> 2. KG dominated. I love it when he plays like he did tonight. He was
> demanded the ball, took matters into his own hands, and lead his team
> by sheer will to comeback. H is performance at the end of the third
> was amazing.
>
> 3. Craig Smith. Beast. Should be playing 30 minutes, not 18.
>
> 4. The James, Foye, Jaric, Smith, KG lineup that lead the comeback in
> the fourth. The 5 best Wolves players in at the same time (with
> apologies to Hassell), and they played well together. The type of
> lineup I like with KG playing center.
>
>
> Now the bad:
>
> 1. CASEY: The starting lineup is getting killed to start the second
> half, yet he keeps that lineup togeter much of the 3rd. Clueless . .
> .he should have got Smith in the game, and Davis and Hassell out. The
> Wolves are getting killed inside by the 19 year old, yet EG and his
> shot blocking prowess sits on the bench. And why do so many
> possessions come and go without KG touching the ball?
>
> 2. Davis: The offense just doesn't run smoothly with him in the game.
>
> 3. Hudson: Ditto. He needs to become a bench warmer with Foye stepping
> up.
>
> 4. Hassell. He was horrid offensively.
>
> 5. Wolves outrebounded again. Get EG into the game.

For what it's worth from a Lakers fan, I was impressed by the Wolves'
tenacity on defense. It's early and the team still has hope, but Casey
seems to have the Wolves playing hungry. I mean, KG brings it every night
and I'm a fan of Hassell's defense, but I was impressed by what Jaric,
Smith, and Foye brought on D. That was the difference in Q4, they almost
got LA to completely melt down on offense but a couple of lucky-ish shots
(the late three by Smush and that running hook by Odom) kept the Lakers
above water just enough.

This was also the first defensive effot by the Lakers that impressed me this
season, without it LA would've been looking at a very frustrating loss.

Hudson took a break from his usual role of killing the Lakers tonight and
royally sucked. Actually, the small guard play was horrid for both
teams... Hudson, James, Smush, and Farmar all took turns trying to chip all
the paint off the rims...

KG really got Odom out of his new, improved assertive offensive game -- this
really hurt the Lakers in crunch time especially. Kobe was great.

brink