Lakers 115, Suns 110

December 10th, 2008, 10:09 pm · 5 Comments · posted by ART THOMPSON III, OCREGISTER.COM

LOS ANGELES - Lakers coach Phil Jackson never let on that he had something up his sleeve. But the Zen Master, perhaps conjuring up a method to shake the team out of its doldrums, benched forward Vladi Radmanovic in Wednesday night’s victory over Phoenix.

Radmanovic had started all 20 games prior to Wednesday but he did not get off the bench at all, except to hand slap his teammates during timeouts.

But instead of replacing Radmanovic in the starting lineup with Trevor Ariza, whom Jackson had contemplated making a starter during training camp, or even with last year’s starting forward, turned reserve Lamar Odom, Jackson sent Luke Walton out on the floor to start the game.

That this was a bombshell is an understatement. There was no clue at all that Walton would go from virtual benchwarmer to starter. He had played a mere total of 58 minutes, spread over 12 games, prior to making his first start of the season.

Walton was the only Laker player that did not even get in the game Tuesday night, in Sacramento, when the Lakers suffered their third loss of the year.

Until Wednesday, the starting five had been status quo - Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Radmanovic.

But Walton was part of the first group and the fresh look helped the Lakers bounce back from Tuesday night’s disheartening loss to the Kings.

Gasol scored a game-high 28 points. Bryant had an off shooting night (6 of 16) and ended up with 18. Bynum doubled up with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Walton, in his 23-minute stint, finished with eight points and six assists. Slumping Bench Mob member Sasha Vujacic hopes he has snapped out of his haze, after scoring 15 points in only 19 minutes. Vujacic sank 3 of 4 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Radmanovic, who typically lingers around in the locker room long after the game, was the second player to exit Wednesday, minutes before the media’s 10-minute cooling off period was over. Radmanovic said he did not find out he would not be starting until Wednesday’s morning shootaround. And even then, according to Radmanovic, there was no explanation.

Radmanovic said he heard Jackson say, “Luke, take Vladi’s place.”

There was no explanation afterward, according to Radmanovic.

“The biggest shock to me is that nobody said anything,” the Lakers’ forward said. “That’s one thing that’s disappointing. At this level, we should talk with each other and let each other know, regardless of what the situation is.”

Bryant believes that the lineup change will have no residual effects on Radmanovic, besides the initial shock and disappointment.

“He’ll be fine,” Bryant said. “Obviously, he’s taken aback, going from starting to no minutes. We’ll make sure he’s fine.”

An afternoon trade left the Phoenix Suns only with eight available players, in first visit this year to Staples Center. Former Laker center Shaquille O’Neal was one of the Suns missing. The new Phoenix acquisitions, guard Jason Richardson and forward Jared Dudley, were unavaliable.

Bryant slogged through a first half in which he only made 2 of 7 shots. Typically, in situations like that, when the opposing team is focused squarely on him, Bryant becomes a crafty facilitator. But in the first half he only had one assist and two of the Lakers’ seven turnovers.

With O’Neal unavailable, Amar’e Stoudemire made a more concerted effort to man up on the boards. He finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Former UCLA player Matt Barnes led the Suns with 25 points.

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Pinky says:

December 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm

He calls himself “MVP”.

But Lebron is better.

He’s a washed up player, he’s done for.

No defense.

Missed jump shot.

After missed jump shot.

Why on Earth did Steve Nash keep shooting?

Phoenix should release Nash and sign Lebron.

Can you imagine Phoenix with an aging Steve Nash?

It’s time Steve Nash walked the walk instead of talking the talk.

I’m sure glad the Lakers have Kobe.

And that Pau Gasol guy ain’t too shabby, either.

Jeffs Aho says:

December 11, 2008 at 12:30 am

We are all witnesses.

The movement is strong.

True Lakers fans are tired of listening to Kobe preach execution and defense because he doesn’t follow his own decree.

Kobe killed any type of ball movement with jumpers in the 1st quarter. There were several instances where nobody else on offense touched the ball while Kobe launched a contested jumper.

Kobe was also punked throughout the game by either Barnes or Hill on the defensive end. Heck, Grant Hill made Kobe look so bad on one specific possession in the 4th. I’m sure if you watched the game you know exactly the play I am referring to. Just got crossed up by an old fogey.

Notice how Kobe’s energy dipped after not making any shots?

He didn’t bring anything to this team. As I wrote many times before, if Kobe isn’t scoring, he isn’t doing much else on the court.

He certainly isn’t inspiring others with his team play or defense.

Another interesting phenomenon.

Kobe is way too thin skinned to ever succeed at a consistent basis.

Phil obviously got on Kobe for his shot selection and TO’s. Which immediately led to Kobe pouting on the court. Kobe decided to “mail it in” for the rest of the game.

The team cannot have such a knucklehead as their supposed leader.

He doesn’t lead by example. He’s already been called out in the media by Phil twice (once for shot selection and more recently, team defense) this year.

Phil doesn’t go the media as a first resort. Phil likes to resolve matters behind closed doors first.

If it doesn’t work, then Phil takes it to the media hoping the public scrutiny would make Kobe realize his faulty ways on the court.

But instead of “manning” up and taking responsibility like a Kevin Garnett, Kobe pouts by “going through the motions” on the court.

You cannot count on or depend on this type of person.

Ask yourself this. Would you truly want Kobe Bryant in your foxhole in a life-death situation? He’s definitely not the type of person you can count on.

The movement is starting. People are starting to become aware.

Awareness is key.

It’s time. LeBron or Wade, come on over in 2010. The Lakers kingdom awaits.

-Jeffs Aho

Jeffahosuck says:

December 11, 2008 at 1:14 am

jeff stfu,

You and your Kobe hate messages. Sure Kobe had a bad game but who hasn’t a bad game?

People like you are disgusting and give Laker fans a bad name. The same people who said Shaq was a crybaby and drove out Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones and gets swept by the Spurs suddenly leeped on the bandwagon when the Lakers won a title.

The same people who said Kareem couldn’t win at age 38 won the Finals MVP.

The same people that said Magic Johnson was a choker and called him “Tragic Johnson” who would later win 3 MVP’s.

The same people like you who doubted Mitch Kupchak and said he was a crappy GM then people like you call him a hero for getting Trevor and Pau.

LBJ is going to New York. He loves them Yankees. Wade is going home to Chicago. They ain’t coming here because you want them too!

Jeff Aho: Biggest bandwagon Fan.

Besides I would choose Bynum and Gasol over those two.

December 11, 2008 at 7:53 am

I can feel it.

A revolution agains the Celtics.

Kobe for MVP.

Isen says:

December 11, 2008 at 8:35 am

I’m not hating on Kobe, but i’ve seen a recent trend of a lackidazical mentality lately.. maybe due to either overconfidence or maybe something else that’s internal. But regardless, i see Kobe isn’t playing as hard as he was in the Olympics, and that was how I thought he would play with the laker. His lackidazical mentality sorta rubs off on Farmar, Ariza, Radman, and Odom also… who in my opinion, are the reasons why we are struggling defensively.

Change the mentality = better execution defensively.