[h1]Lakers look good inside and out[/h1]
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Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
Lakers forward Trevor Ariza eyes a loose ball from the court as he battles Golden State's Kelenna Azubuike in the first quarter.
Sartorially sharp in 1988 throwback jerseys, they are also dominant in the post while beating Warriors for the ninth straight time, 123-113.
By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 10, 2007
It wasn't quite Magic to Worthy, but the Lakers did pretty well for themselves Sunday night.
They threw on throwback jerseys from the 1987-88 season and then tossed aside the Golden State Warriors, 123-113, Sunday at Staples Center.
Photo Gallery
Lakers 123, Warriors 113
Andrew Bynum tied a career high with 20 points and Kobe Bryant had 28 points, eight assists and six rebounds while showing no hangover effect from a bruised left shoulder.
Bynum wasn't even a year old when the Lakers won the 1988 NBA championship, but his value is becoming more and more apparent to a team that improved to 12-8 with a third consecutive victory.
"He's playing excellent ball," Bryant said.
The game plan against the small-but-spry Warriors was simple, really.
The Lakers imposed their will by feeding Bynum over and over. He made a career-best nine field goals in 14 attempts and almost doubled his typical shot total. Ronny Turiaf wasn't forgotten either, scoring 10 points in his return after sitting out two games because of a concussion.
Along the way, the Lakers beat the Warriors for a ninth consecutive time and for the 14th time in the teams' last 15 meetings.
Once again, small ball couldn't top tall ball.
"I thought that was one of the keys, to have Andrew and Ronny effectively tag-team with each other out there," Coach Phil Jackson said.
It was interesting to see how the Lakers would play against the surging Warriors, who had been on an 11-2 tear after starting the season 0-6.
Jackson wasn't thrilled with his players at Friday's practice, acknowledging he "upbraided them a little bit" because they didn't arrive with the energy he wanted.
On Sunday, the Lakers were without Luke Walton (sprained ankle), but Trevor Ariza was active at small forward, scoring 11 points and continually getting to the line, making seven of 10 free throws.
There was also that Bryant guy.
As if to underline the point that his shoulder felt fine, he dived into the seats twice in the first half, including a successful foray into the end of the Lakers' bench to save the ball after poking it free from Warriors center Andris Biedrins.
"You've got to do what you've got to do," he said with little more than a shoulder shrug.
The Lakers also shook some life into their Sunday nights, which had been a time of recent mishaps. They were stunned in a lackluster home loss to New Jersey on Nov. 25 and were beaten by a better Orlando team Dec. 2.
Thanks to a better second half, the Lakers were the better team against Golden State.
The first half was whisker-close, the Lakers taking a 60-59 lead as the teams rattled off 10 lead changes. Then the Lakers began to push away from the Warriors with a 32-point third quarter and a 31-point fourth.
Jackson said Kwame Brown could be back by next weekend, which sets up an entertaining thought -- will Bynum keep starting at center?
There's at least one vote for yes.
"I'm having much more fun, actually," Bynum said, "because anything beats riding the pine, you know what I mean?"
The Lakers now have another unusual three-day break between games. They will not practice today, but will return to their training facility Tuesday and Wednesday before playing host to San Antonio on Thursday.
They won't get a push-the-pace, shoot-at-will opponent like Golden State, which took a staggering 33 three-point shots Sunday.
Instead, the Lakers will see the same methodical defense-driven bunch that beat them handily in San Antonio, 107-92, on Nov. 13.
"They're a team that prides themselves on their defense," Bryant said. "It's going to be a real test to see how much we've improved since the last time we played them."
Until then, the Lakers have three days to savor a victory, yet another, against Golden State.
Perhaps Warriors point guard Baron Davis summed it up best.
"They are a big team," he said.
LAKERS REPORT
[h1]Bynum hears Jackson's wake-up call[/h1]
A day after having his fitness questioned by coach, the 20-year-old center equals his career high with 20 points in win over Warriors.
By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 10, 2007
Andrew Bynum had already ditched the stomach flu. He hoped to leave behind a few nondescript games as well.
All he did Sunday was match his career high with 20 points in the Lakers' 123-113 victory over Golden State.
It was safe to say he was feeling better, mentally and physically, after a herky-jerky sequence in which he averaged 6.7 points over a three-game span, sat out another game because he was ill and, on top of it, heard from Coach
Phil Jackson, who on Saturday criticized the 20-year-old center's fitness.
"I just had to give him a little bit of a jolt the other day because he wasn't at practice on time to work with Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]when he's supposed to work with Kareem," Jackson said.
Jackson was otherwise complimentary Sunday while providing the latest in-depth analysis of Bynum's on-court development.
"One of the things about Andrew is that he's completing at the offense end," Jackson said. "
He's dunking, and we want him to keep working on his shot so we have a target to go in to. He's a good passer in there and he sees the court and he's willing to pass the ball, but he's also got to be willing to score out of that position.
"That's a great penetration position. To work on his offensive moves is going to be really important for him to be a threat. He's got a real good touch, he's got nice hands. Those things should start to come together."
Jackson has already made clear his disdain for the league's recent decision to attach microphones to coaches during games.
It looks as if it will be his turn Thursday to be miked up when TNT televises the Lakers' game against San Antonio.
Jackson was watching a TNT game over the weekend in which coaches were interviewed before the start of the second and fourth quarters by sideline reporter
Craig Sager.
"I thought they all rolled over," he said. "Craig Sager had an iridescent suit on and no one said, 'You're blinding me.' [Utah Coach]
Jerry Sloan had a chance to nail him. His tie was flaming in the camera. You needed sunglasses to talk to him."
TV networks are hoping to interview coaches before they get to their huddles between quarters. Jackson didn't think it would be difficult with him.
"They know I'm never in my huddle," he said, smiling.
Luke Walton sat out Sunday's game after suffering a mild sprain in his right ankle during Friday's practice. Walton tested out the ankle at Sunday morning's shoot-around but couldn't cut or stop to his liking. He said he would play Thursday against San Antonio.
