…the more they stay the same
44 shots, 48 points. And do the Wizards own the Celtics?
Very interesting change to the tone of the season last night. News came down that Andrew Bynum will be out of action for at least 8 weeks, right as the Lakers were playing their best team ball in years, riding high on a six game winning streak. The natural reaction was for people to wonder how Kobe would respond, how he would adjust his game.
The answer was he scored an NBA season high 48 points and hit the game winner in OT to push the win streak to seven, a vintage Kobe performance putting his team on his back and carrying them when he felt they needed him to.
He also took 44 shots in 42 minutes plus seven free throws, only had two assists, was credited with a -3 in the plus/minus category, and the hard fought OT win was over lowly Seattle, who dropped their seventh straight with the loss.
As always, there will be strong opinions on both sides of the fence. It’s been a very different season around the league, while there have been the individual breakout stars as always, guys carrying teams, there has been a noticeable shift back to a more team-oriented style that’s been brewing for a few years. With their win last night, the Lakers moved into…
THE NUMBER ONE SEED IN THE WEST.
Of course they are tied with Phoenix record-wise, and there’s just a half game separating them and Dallas and San Antonio. But it’s the symbolism of being #1 right now. How long will it last? Do they have to exert more energy than they hoped to? Last night was one game against a bad team. It’s almost comical how tough their schedule gets, beginning with their next game on Thursday. Phoenix, Denver, at San Antonio, at Dallas. Was this the high point of the Laker season before they come crashing back down to earth? Or do they step up to a humongous challenge and become a better team for it? Story developing.
In other big news, the Celtics lost last night, making it two in a row for the first time this season, both losses to Washington. Welcome back to earth. One long-term implication of that loss is we won’t have to listen to the “can they beat the Bulls 72 win record” stuff much longer. The other is this… do the Wizards have the Celtics number like the Warriors had the Mavs number? You might recall on opening night Gilbert talked a lot of trash about how he would deprive Boston fans of a win as they debuted the big 3 in Boston. That was an L for the Wizards, and these two wins obviously came without Gilbert. Washington is playing too well to be the 7th or 8th seed to meet Boston in round one, but perhaps a second round matchup…
18 Responses to “…the more they stay the same”
Jan.15 at 8:50 am
Keith says:
A nice piece to start the day Sam. It’s just like the old days - Celtics/Lakers being the best in the East and West respectively. It’s going to be interesting to se how both teams react to the current adversity they’ve both found themselves up against.
Jan.15 at 9:31 am
beantown's Finest says:
so far, the series is 2-1 washington. boston had this game but caronRon was just a beast. i actually enjoy watching the wizards play w/o agent zero. and thats not to downplay what he has done because he’s a great player, but you see a HUGE difference when he’s in and when he’s out. Team basketball, plenty of ball movement, everyone plays big. haywood was everywhere, stevenson was clutch, and caron butler was just sensational. after the game, we had a discussion; if you were danny ainge, would you consider trading paul pierce for caron butler? personally i would. I HATE paul pierce’s shot selection. since he’s been wearing green, those fade away shots, BS shots over two defenders, waiting for the ref to blow a whistle; always aggravated me. watching caron plays these 3 games against boston, he just came and balled up first game he had 18, saturday night he dropped 16, and last night he made key baskets to end w/ 21. he hit big FT’s down the stretch and so did pierce, but caronRon is THAT DUDE!!!
Jan.15 at 9:33 am
white hot eboy says:
Celtics needed a reality check and between “lowly” Charlotte and Washington, these dudes better be prepared for a dogfight. As far as the Lakers without the Big Youngster, oh lord……..
Jan.15 at 9:34 am
rodge says:
Why do people feel the urge to comment at all, and address whoever has written the piece? Have they really got anything remotely interesting to say?
Usually very much ‘no’.
Jan.15 at 9:34 am
Cheryl says:
I watched some of the Celtics/Wizards game and now I’m wondering if Gil did stifle some of the other players’ growth. I’m not on the “the Wiz are better without Gil” bandwagon, but sometimes it takes a star being out to really see what the other players can really do, unlike the Heat…
Jan.15 at 9:36 am
Sesa says:
The Lakers should just put Ronny Turiaf as their starting Center while Kwame as the backup.
Jan.15 at 9:40 am
The Cool says:
THE LAKERS WILL WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR AND I’M 100 PERCENT SURE OF IT! Now that I have come back down to earth I really feel that the Celtics are going to be the Dallas Mavericks of this year in the playoffs. They just aren’t playing good ball right now and all those superstars on one team is just a bad idea. CARON BUTLER FOR ALL STAR. play wit it.
Jan.15 at 9:46 am
Simone Lawy says:
let’s hope kwame brown can post up 10/10 every night…possible??? perhaps. KObe need to average around 27-6-5-2-1, and lamar need to step up be more aggresive, so is the bench player, and the dude Ronny Turiaf.
Jan.15 at 9:48 am
TADOne says:
The 4th quarter of that Celtics game was great. The Wiz dug down deep and got some big stops and steals off Boston and Caron Butler took over at the end. And I agree with Cheryl: with Gil being out, they have got to see some of their young cats like Roger Mason Jr. develop.
Jan.15 at 9:51 am
James says:
Im sitting here crying on the inside for my Lakers. Im hoping they can go 1 win for 1 loss at least for the next couple of months. If they stay above .500. When AB comes back they can get back to they’re dominant ways.
Jan.15 at 10:09 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
I loved the fourth of the Celtics/Wizards as well. That run was fantastic and Butler just keeps on getting better and better. As for LA…overtime to beat Seattle. damn, damn, damn!
Jan.15 at 10:28 am
Tarzan Cooper says:
the lakers will set the record for the fastest a no.1 seed falls out of playoff contention.
Jan.15 at 11:16 am
BETCATS says:
the celtics will be TKOd by that Cats if they make the playoffs.
Jan.15 at 12:13 pm
Myles Brown says:
…
Jan.15 at 12:25 pm
Pic says:
dallas: golden state = boston: charlotte
Jan.15 at 2:49 pm
Kadavour says:
Kobe took 46 shots when he scored 81. That’s a scary fact, ESPECIALLY when this team STILL can’t guard the pick and roll. Someone else has to step up on defense.
Jan.15 at 3:14 pm
Michael says:
First off i hate that plus minus crap. Last week when Lebron scored 24 in the 4th to beat the Raptors he was a -1, so thats BS. But i honestly don’t think the Lakers are going to play like that every night I don’t think Phil will allow it. My bigggest problem with last nights game was not their offense it was the interior defens. The Lakers did score 123 freaking points, but Nick Collison destroyed Kwame and Ronie on the inside, and as a team the Lakers were out rebounded 55-45. That will be the biggest difference without Bynum, not the offense.
Jan.15 at 3:26 pm
Kadavour says:
good point Michael