By John Carroll
The L.A. Lakers won Game 2, but they have not been able to rid themselves of the inconsistency that permeated their team throughout the regular season. No one knows what to expect every time they step on the court . In their 87-78 Game 2 win at the Staples Center Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined for 19 points on 5-20 shooting from the field. Hard to believe that the two best players for the Lakers could shoot like that and the Lakers could even win the game. But that’s par for the course with this team. Luckily for Lakers fans Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest stepped up their games offensively. In addition the Lakers changed their defensive philosophy putting Kobe Bryant on Chris Paul and they held the Hornets to only 78 points on 39.1% shooting from the field.
The Lakers should be very wary of the New Orleans Hornets. They have allowed a team playing without their second best player, David West, to not only steal a game at Staples Center, but they have allowed the Hornets to feel very good about their chances to win this series. The Hornets feel that they battled the Lakers in Game 2, held them to only 87 points, and kept their two best offensive players in check. The Hornets know that if they play the same way defensively and play with more poise offensively they can win Game 3.
The L.A. Lakers won Game 2, but they have not been able to rid themselves of the inconsistency that permeated their team throughout the regular season. No one knows what to expect every time they step on the court . In their 87-78 Game 2 win at the Staples Center Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined for 19 points on 5-20 shooting from the field. Hard to believe that the two best players for the Lakers could shoot like that and the Lakers could even win the game. But that’s par for the course with this team. Luckily for Lakers fans Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest stepped up their games offensively. In addition the Lakers changed their defensive philosophy putting Kobe Bryant on Chris Paul and they held the Hornets to only 78 points on 39.1% shooting from the field.
The Lakers should be very wary of the New Orleans Hornets. They have allowed a team playing without their second best player, David West, to not only steal a game at Staples Center, but they have allowed the Hornets to feel very good about their chances to win this series. The Hornets feel that they battled the Lakers in Game 2, held them to only 87 points, and kept their two best offensive players in check. The Hornets know that if they play the same way defensively and play with more poise offensively they can win Game 3.
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