LOS ANGELES – The Lakers showed the team that beat them in the 2004 NBA Finals a thing or two about team ball Friday night at Staples Center.
The Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons, 103-91, with a spirited fourth-quarter effort that was started by five reserves: Jordan Farmar, Andrew Bynum, Maurice Evans, Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton. Kobe Bryant hopped onto their wave and finished things off after missing 12 of his first 14 shots. Bryant finished with 19 points on 6-of-18 shooting, and Lamar Odom had 25 points and 15 rebounds.
The Lakers improved to 5-3. Detroit was missing two starters because of injuries: Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.
NOTES
Bryant’s tenacious defense on Richard Hamilton (16 points, five turnovers) affected the whole Pistons team because Hamilton became consumed with Bryant, according to Detroit coach Flip Saunders. “It took us out of rhythm,” Saunders said. … Brian Cook went from not playing at all in the past three games to starting for the injured Ronny Turiaf and scoring eight first-quarter points. Lakers coach Phil Jackson hoped to keep most of his players’ still-developing roles intact by just subbing Cook for Turiaf. … Turiaf isn’t likely to play Sunday night against Chicago either.
QUOTABLE
After Odom dogged Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince until both slid out of bounds with the ball for a Prince turnover with no foul called, Rasheed Wallace howled at referee Derrick Collins: “They (darn) near tackled him!”
DID YOU SEE THAT?
Odom ball-faked Detroit’s Cheick Samb beautifully on a 2-on-1 break with Bynum in the second quarter, finishing with an uncontested dunk for a 39-29 Lakers lead.
WHAT WAS HE THINKING?
The Lakers had only one turnover until 5:23 remained in the second quarter, when Bryant threw a bad pass toward Bynum.
NEXT
Chicago at Lakers, Sunday, 6:30 p.m., FSN, KLAC/570
Finally a victory against Detroit — I don’t remember the last time we beat them. Kudos to the whole team.
The game on Sunday is going to be tough as the embarrassed Bulls will put great stake in winning that game to help them turn around their season. If the Bulls don’t try to capture this opportunity and you would have to seriously wonder about their chemistry, coaching and desire to win. But, I expect the Bulls to give it their all and our Lakers better be ready.