Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Lakers roll past Nuggets in Fairly Easy Win
Last night's game was comforting. Not knowing what to expect and coming out the way we did makes me feel much better about how this team will perform this year.
The first quarter really set the tone and threw Denver for a loop. I think they were expecting Kobe to come out with guns a'blazin' but instead it was Chris Mihm who was lighting it up. Mihm should excellent post up abilities against smaller players and nice finishes throughout the first quarter with a couple of dunks to boot.
Caron Butler came out pretty agressive as well in the first quarter with a lot of driving to the bucket.
Most impressive was the active hands on defense in that first quarter. Everyone was closing in on open defenders. No shots were being conceded, challenge everything! Lamar Odom did an excellent job of rebounding. He also showed the ball skills to rebound and start the break which can be a big advantage if we are to become the running team that I think we are trying to become.
In the 2nd quarter, I noticed that we started pretty slow. Luckily, thanks to Denver's horrific shooting we didn't lose the lead or momentum we had built in the first quarter. In fact, the lead grew thanks in large part to a couple of three's from Chucky Atkins.
We seemed to suffer another lull after halftime as we were trying too hard to feed Chris Mihm. Passes were stolen and there were far too many turnovers. By the time the offense got back on track in the mid 3rd, the defense had begun to lull (lull is the word of the day....yeeeeaaaaaah said in Crank Yankers fashion). The fourth quarter was much of the same, though Denver did make it a little interesting toward the end by getting within seven. All in all, an excellent effort all around. Offensive production was spread out pretty well and to think that the best effort from the 'Summer of Dissolve' came from the 'supposed' weakest acquisition Chris Mihm is somehow gratifying.
The first quarter really set the tone and threw Denver for a loop. I think they were expecting Kobe to come out with guns a'blazin' but instead it was Chris Mihm who was lighting it up. Mihm should excellent post up abilities against smaller players and nice finishes throughout the first quarter with a couple of dunks to boot.
Caron Butler came out pretty agressive as well in the first quarter with a lot of driving to the bucket.
Most impressive was the active hands on defense in that first quarter. Everyone was closing in on open defenders. No shots were being conceded, challenge everything! Lamar Odom did an excellent job of rebounding. He also showed the ball skills to rebound and start the break which can be a big advantage if we are to become the running team that I think we are trying to become.
In the 2nd quarter, I noticed that we started pretty slow. Luckily, thanks to Denver's horrific shooting we didn't lose the lead or momentum we had built in the first quarter. In fact, the lead grew thanks in large part to a couple of three's from Chucky Atkins.
We seemed to suffer another lull after halftime as we were trying too hard to feed Chris Mihm. Passes were stolen and there were far too many turnovers. By the time the offense got back on track in the mid 3rd, the defense had begun to lull (lull is the word of the day....yeeeeaaaaaah said in Crank Yankers fashion). The fourth quarter was much of the same, though Denver did make it a little interesting toward the end by getting within seven. All in all, an excellent effort all around. Offensive production was spread out pretty well and to think that the best effort from the 'Summer of Dissolve' came from the 'supposed' weakest acquisition Chris Mihm is somehow gratifying.
