Lakers 130, SuperSonics 105
March 21st, 2008, 9:50 pm · Post a Comment · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM
LOS ANGELES – It’s funny how these things work out sometimes. The Lakers were eager beavers to unload Vladimir Radmanovic’s fat contract at the trade deadline last month, but no one wanted it. Now Radmanovic is becoming a player again as the Lakers dominate.
Radmanovic had his third consecutive assertive game in the Lakers’ third consecutive victory: a relatively comfortable cruise over Seattle at Staples Center. Radmanovic had 13 points, six rebounds and five assists in a team-high 38 minutes.
Radmanovic has even been dunking the ball to finish hard cuts in the triangle offense – which is a major upgrade from his brainless foray down the lane that led to Pau Gasol stepping on Radmanovic’s foot and spraining that ankle a week ago.
Especially with Luke Walton not having found a really sharp edge again – although Walton did play better in the fourth quarter vs. Seattle – Radmanovic has been valuable at key times. He had 21 points in Dallas and 13 points in Utah after Phil Jackson prodded the team at practice before those games to look more for Radmanovic.
QUOTABLE
Jackson, expressing some rare optimism: “I think we’re the frontrunners. That’s what I would say. If we had a healthy roster, I’d be much more capable and comfortable saying that. But given our schedule, I think we have a really good opportunity.”
TURIAF CELEBRATION NO. 184
Radmanovic had a tip dunk in the second quarter, prompting Ronny Turiaf on the bench to toss a towel in the air – and gleefully dance underneath it so the towel landed on his head.
ODOM IN THE OFFENSE
Lamar Odom hit his first three shots – all on nice catch-and-shoot plays where he found the right spot to let go a short jumper. Odom hit his first five shots of the game and finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
NEXT
Golden State at Lakers, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, FSN, KLAC/570.
