Pistons 90, Lakers 89
January 31st, 2008, 7:15 pm · 6 Comments · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM
DETROIT – Tayshaun Prince’s go-ahead 3-point shot with 4.4 seconds left held up for the Pistons, foiling Kobe Bryant’s 39-point effort Thursday night.
Bryant couldn’t get the ball on the Lakers’ possession, denied by Prince, and the Lakers settled for Lamar Odom’s running shot that sailed over the basket without even touching the rim. Bryant walked off the court asking Lakers coach Phil Jackson what the Lakers were doing on that play, shaking his head.
Asked in his on-court postgame interview, Prince said it’s hard for Bryant’s teammates to step up there when Bryant has been so dominant: “It’s kind of tough for them because they haven’t gotten the ball.”
Odom had six points, seven rebounds and six assists. Prince had 22 points.
HOOK UP
After all of Andrew Bynum’s talk – and ultimate reluctance – to unveil the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar skyhook in a game, Bryant tossed one up from the right baseline in the opening minutes – but it was flat and banged off the rim.
KEY STAT
When Bryant lost the ball to Arron Afflalo, the Lakers committed their 17th turnover 4:12 before halftime. Their high for any entire game this season was 22. At the time the Lakers were facing a 17-point deficit. But they cleaned it up thereafter and committed only three turnovers till the end of the third quarter, at which point they led by five points.
WALTON UPDATE
Luke Walton seems unlikely to play Friday night in Toronto given his level of pain Thursday after trying to do some moves at Jackson’s request. Walton has even had pain just laughing or sleeping.
NEXT
Lakers at Toronto, 4 p.m. Friday, KCAL/9 (5:30 p.m.), KLAC/570
January 31st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
the lakers need to dump lamar. he’s overrated. his team needs him to step up and he gives them 6 points against the pistons. forget kwame. lamar needs to play like he deserves the $12 mil the lakers are giving him.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Odom got the open look, he could even go to the hoop. He simply couldn’t step up, especially down the stretch.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:20 am
This was one of several times this year kobe did not put up the final shot. While the defense was focusing on him, he is skilled enough to make something happen, considering he is one of the most clutch players and has done it continually in the past. You have to set up aplay for him, or even a player shooting well like fisher or sasha. Can’t remember last time odom hit a three or let alone solid perimeter shot. heart breaking loss, its got to be tough to recuperate especially with this disaster of a schedule…
February 1st, 2008 at 9:12 am
hey kevin,
it seems to me that phil draws the worst inbounds plays for last second shots in the league. they can never seem to get the ball to kobe, and last night they didnt even attempt to set a screen or use him as a decoy. the spacing was horrible, fish didnt even move to try and get open, and it basically looked like something a rec team would do that has no coach. can you shed some light on this?
by the way, is there any sense in the front office that they are tired of lamar and have finally realized he doesnt belong on the lakers?
February 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
I’m coach Phil, I on the horn to Mitch.Get me a player, Lamar looks like he is playing youth ball.He doesn’t have the killer instinct.Kobe,needs help and he is not getting from Lamar.Airball !!!!!!! He is 6′ 9″ and had a clean lane to the basket and shot an AIRBALL.He plays like his in youth basketball and not a PRO>.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I am disagree with Prince said “It’s kind of tough for them because they haven’t gotten the ball.” Well, except Bryant and Fisher, even they have gotten the ball, they could not make the shot consistantly. As Phil has been saying, they are timid, and this is what I say they are consistantly timid.