Lakers' bench must step up

[BDodgers at aol.com]

Lakers' bench must step up
 (http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/Charley-Rosen?authorId=227)    
_by Charley  Rosen_ 
(http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/Charley-Rosen?authorId=227) 
Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 15  books about 
hoops, the current ones being _The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the 
Birth of the NBA_ 
(http://www.amazon.com/First-Tip-Off-Incredible-Story-Birth/dp/0071487859/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221776146&sr=8-2)   and _No 
Blood, No Foul_ 
(http://www.amazon.com/No-Blood-Foul-Charley-Rosen/dp/1583228284/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207952386&sr=1-1) .

 


 
 
Game time: _Lakers  92, Pistons 77_ 
(http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9385498/Kobe-gets-30-as-Lakers-pull-away-from-Pistons) 

For the first game of a back-to-back stretch on the road, the best the  
Lakers could wish for was a blowout win that would enable Phil Jackson to limit  
his starters' minutes. Since Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Allen Iverson  
were out with injuries, it seemed as though the Lakers could easily make this  
come true.  
However, even without three starters, Detroit was still a dangerous ball  
club. Surely one or more of the Pistons' subs would relish, and take full  
advantage of, the opportunity offered by their increased playing time.  
Some of the above possibilities came to pass and some of them did not.  
As a result the ball game had three distinct phases.  
First phase
The Lakers came out smoking. They ran the triangle with energy and precision, 
 attacked Aaron Afflalo's inept defense and owned their defensive glass.  
Both Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom were hitting their jumpers, which opened  
cutting and driving lanes for everybody else.  
Moreover, the Lakers absolutely swarmed the Pistons on defense, making  
excellent rotations and judiciously jumping into passing lanes.  
As an unexpected twist, on one sequence L.A. doubled Kwame Brown in the low  
post — not because Brown is a dynamic scorer, but because his hands are  
notoriously weak and passing out of a double team is something that he's rarely  
required to do. As a result, the ploy totally disrupted Detroit's offense and  
Tayshaun Prince was forced to heave up (and miss) a midrange jumper under 
severe  pressure.  
Another changeup by the Lakers — who are usually reluctant to double anybody  
— was to trap Prince high on the right wing. Here, too, the surprise move led 
to  the Pistons' misfiring an awkward shot.  
The visitors led 25-12 after the first quarter, and it looked like the game  
would be a breeze. Surely the Lakers' second unit would pad the margin and the 
 starters would be well rested and ready to cut down the Nets on Friday.  
Second phase
In a word, the Lakers' subs were awful. Pau Gasol was the only holdover  
starter, and his temporary mates included Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan  
Farmar and Josh Powell.  

All of a sudden, the triangle flat-lined. Passes were thrown to nobody.  
Layups and open jumpers were missed. Shots were forced and shots were blocked.  
The bench men couldn't find the basket with a road map.  
At the other end, nobody could keep Will Bynum out of the lane. And it was  
Bynum — with his 25 points and 11 assists — who single-handedly turned the 
game.  Suddenly, Bynum's passes found open shooters and the Pistons' shots began 
to  fall.  
In less than five minutes, Detroit went on a 17-0 tear and eventually turned  
its deficit into a 10-point lead.  
Instead of getting his starters a long rest, Jackson was forced to insert  
them back into the game much quicker than he wanted to. But even though Kobe,  
Odom, Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher re-entered the game at about the  
eight-minute mark, the Pistons were amped up and the Lakers' starters had  trouble 
getting their groove back.  
As a result, the Lakers didn't score their first point in the disastrous  
second quarter until the clock had flashed down to 6:46!  
Third phase
Down 50-40, Kobe took over. Scoring on twisting jumpers and dunk-punctuated  
drives. Dropping assists to Odom and Fisher. Smothering Prince with ferocious  
denial defense. And registering nine of his 30 points during the eight-plus  
minutes he played in the decisive third quarter.  
Aided by Fisher's long-range shooting, Kobe led the Lakers to a 30-5 burst  
that put the game away for good.  
When it was time for the Lakers' second unit to re-enter the game late in the 
 third quarter, Jackson kept Powell on the bench and had Farmar, Vujacic and  
Walton playing with Gasol and Odom. (After a few minutes, Gasol was replaced 
by  D.J. Mbenga.) The Lakers had a 12-point lead when this particular five was 
on  the court, and the lead remained intact when Kobe, Fisher, Ariza and 
Gasol  returned.  
Basketball protocol demands that the coach on the short end of the score  
concede the game by making the first move to insert his subs and remove his  
starters. Which is exactly what Michael Curry did with 2:35 remaining and  Detroit 
trailing by 14 points.  
Jackson waited another minute before he followed suit.  
Even so, Gasol logged 40 minutes, while Odom had 39 and Kobe had 38. That's a 
 lot of time and a lot of mileage for the Lakers' core players in what might 
have  been a laugher against a drastically short-handed team.  
How will this game impact Friday's visit to New Jersey? Will Jackson tinker  
with his substitution pattern? Will Kobe, Gasol and Odom be able to recover  
their chops overnight?  
And, given the late arrival in New York — the Lakers' hotel of choice is  
across the Hudson — what shape and form will their game preparation take?  
Especially since the Lakers haven't played the Nets since Nov. 25. Will L.A.  have a 
shoot-around to go over the scouting report? Or will some pre-game verbal  
and X's and O's instructions suffice? And how do players react to back-to-back  
games? Are their game-day routines the same or are they altered?  
All of these questions will be answered when yours truly returns from the  
Izod Center after eyeballing the game and interviewing several participants.  
Straight shooting
Here's another in my never-ending series of lists. In fact, this just might  
be the mother of all lists.  
The following players demonstrate the highest basketball IQ's in the league.  
Not to be confused with sheer talent, the qualifications for this category  
include:  
A player knowing his role, which means appreciating both his strengths and  
his weaknesses. Also, a player being aware that his role might change depending 
 on the personnel of his team or the moment.  
Being cognizant of the game situation. Score. Time and timeouts. Team fouls  
and individual fouls. Matchups. Referees' favorite calls.  
Knowing both teams' respective game plans.  
Having his teammates and the opponents well scouted.  
Seeing the floor and knowing who's where, plus who's supposed to be where,  
plus knowing who's likely to be where and when they'll get there 
 
 Recognizing destinations when opposing players cut or drive.  
Getting the most out of their skills, no matter how bounteous or limited  
these might be.  
In alphabetical order, the current crop of hoop geniuses include: Ray  Allen, 
Shane Battier, Chauncey Billups, Bruce Bowen, Nick Collison,  Jarron and 
Jason Collins, Tim Duncan, Michael Finley, Derek Fisher, Jeff Foster,  Pau Gasol, 
Manu Ginobili, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Sean Marks (who's from New  Zealand, 
not Australia as I had previously written!), Andre Miller, Dikembe  Mutombo, 
Steve Nash, Fabricio Oberto, Chris Paul, Malik Rose and Deron Williams.   
What are the qualities of a player with a low basketball IQ?  
Selfishness to the point where his personal game plan is more important than  
his team's game plan. Therefore he tends to abort plays.  
Thinks shot first, and passes only when he's likely to get credit for an  
assist.  
Resists coaching.  
Is often undisciplined.  
Doesn't work hard either in practice or the offseason.  
Either can't or won't concentrate during tape or blackboard sessions.  
Loses his connection with a game when he's on the bench.  
Is only aware of four things on offense — himself, the ball, his defender  
and the basket. 
 
 Doesn't believe he has any weaknesses, and that all of his failures can be  
blamed on others — his coach, teammates, the media, the phases of the moon.  
Isn't always mentally and emotionally prepared to play.  
Plays best against the worst teams and vice versa.  
Never fully realizes his potential.  
It should be noted that inclusion in this category does not necessarily mean  
that the player is lacking in overall intelligence.  
Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Matt Barnes, Marcus Camby, Vince Carter,  
Jamal Crawford, Monta Ellis, Gerald Green, Allen Iverson, Damon Jones, Corey  
Maggette, Jamario Moon, Lamar Odom, Vladimir Radmanovich, Josh Smith, J.R.  
Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tim Thomas and Jamaal Tinsley.  
It should also be noted that over the course of a player's career, his  
basketball IQ can definitely be raised, but is rarely if ever lowered.  
Vox populi
If you were building a brand new NBA team and you could pick three  players 
who were 26 or under off of any existing team who would you pick and  why?— 
Jeffrey Jones, Sandy, Ore.  
LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Deron Williams.  
LBJ for his versatility, explosiveness to the hoop, competitive nature,  
strength, ability to light up a scoreboard, the necessity of opponents' having  to 
double team him which opens up so many offensive possibilities for his  
teammates — and above all his sincere desire to improve his defense and his  
shooting.  
Howard for his board-power, shot-blocking, and improving offensive  
repertoire. I'd also pay whatever it would take to hire Clifford Ray as his  mentor.  
Williams is the pick simply because LBJ's shot is so erratic that the point  
guard has to be a knockdown shooter — which disqualifies Chris Paul.  
Travels with Charley
It was the last day of the 1974-75 season and the Knicks were playing an  
afternoon home game against the Buffalo Braves. To make the playoffs, the Knicks  
needed to win, and the Cavs (who played later that afternoon) needed to lose. 
 
My then-wife and I brought our 6-month old son, Darrell, to the game. June  
Jackson (Phil's then-wife) also brought their 4-month old daughter, Chelsea,  
along too. All snuggled in their portable basket/cribs the two infants snoozed  
throughout the game, blissfully oblivious to the thunderous crowd noise and 
the  raucous celebration when the Knicks finally pulled the game out.  
Immediately after Phil had showered and dressed, we all scooted over to his  
19th Street loft and arrived in time to see the last quarter of the Cleveland  
game. With 10 seconds on the clock and down by two points, the Cavs huddled  
around their coach during their final timeout while Bill Fitch masterminded 
the  most critical play of his team's season.  
We could tell by Fitch's frantic scribbling on his miniature game board, and  
by his team's utter confusion when they attempted to inbound the ball from 
the  sideline that the play he had drawn up was an improvisation and was not in 
the  Cavs' playbook. This was a bad idea. And the result was a bad pass and 
nary a  shot.  
The Knicks were in with a record of 40-42, and the Cavs were out.  
Immediately after the final buzzer, Phil's phone rang. It was Walt Frazier  
inviting his teammates and their guests to a celebratory party at his luxurious 
 midtown apartment. Of course, we had to bring the kids.  
The bathtub in Frazier's master bathroom was loaded with ice, beer, wine and  
champagne. The large dining room table was loaded with cartons of takeout  
Chinese food. And, besides the Knicks themselves, several other New York sports  
celebrities were on hand.  
Everybody was instructed to deposit their coats on either of the two beds in  
the bedroom nearest the front door. And, carefully arranging protected areas 
for  Darrell and Chelsea, we carefully laid them down when they both fell 
asleep  again. Every fifteen minutes or so, one of the four parents peeked into 
the room  to check on the kids' well-being — and I was astonished at what I saw 
when it  was my turn.  
Chelsea was awake and merrily chortling, but Darrell was wide awake and  
laughing as though he was being tickled. In fact, two men were standing on  
opposite sides of the bed and tossing Darrell back and forth!  
One of them was Spider Lockhart, a glue-fingered free safety for the New York 
 Giants. The other was Nate Bowman, a backup center for the Knicks whose  
assist-to-turnover ratio was an exercise in negativity. And both were laughing,  
bobbing and weaving in a mild alcoholic haze.  
"Nate," I said with as much nonchalance as I could muster. "Don't drop him,  
man."  

"No chance, bro," he said. Whereupon Bowman set himself to receive the  
incoming baby, and slyly bounced him in the air before securing him.  
I didn't know what to do or say, so I hustled back into the living room and  
relayed my worries to Phil.  
"Don't worry, Charley," said Phil. "Nate can catch all right. Everything will 
 be OK as long he doesn't try to dribble the boy."  
Darrell survived, and the Knicks lost a three-game series to Houston.  
Thirty-three years later, both Bowman and Lockhart have passed away. And  
Darrell is now a red-bearded, 6-7, 280-pounder, and living with his wife and  
their three kids in Bellingham, Wash.  
Until now, Darrell never knew that he was one dribble away from  disaster.
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