April 29, 2012 – Staples Center, Los Angeles
Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs opened with a resounding thud as the Los Angeles Lakers drop-kicked the Denver Nuggets 103-88, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven First Round series. There was little drama and no wild lead swings, only a severe beat down administered by the Lakers and taken on the chin by the Nuggets. If today’s contest was any indication of how this series will play out, Metta World Peace may have to sit out well past the start of the Second Round before he’s even eligible to return.
Laker fans had plenty to rejoice about as Andrew Bynum recorded a triple-double while Kobe Bryant posted 31-points. Copyrights may apply. All rights reserved.
Kobe Bryant (31 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal) found his shooting touch in the second half after going 2-10 to start the game. But his offense wasn’t needed early as Devin Ebanks (12 points, 5 rebounds) and Steve Blake (9 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds) provided all of the fire-power LA needed, finding themselves unguarded out on the perimeter as Denver chose to double-team the Laker bigs in the paint.
Blake drained 3-4 from behind the arc in the 1st quarter while Andrew Bynum (10 points, 13 rebounds, 10 blocks, 1 steal) didn’t attempt a single field goal, instead patrolling the paint and gobbling up every rebound in sight. Bynum was a one-man wrecking crew, swatting away or intimidating every Nugget shot attempt near the basket. His triple-double is the first such feat since Magic Johnson recorded a trip-dub back in the 1991 NBA Finals. Bynum seemed intent on making his presence felt on the defensive end and eagerly sought out shot attempts to block.
Jordan Hill (10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) was the first big off the bench, replacing Pau midway through the period. His tenacity on the glass forged an immediate impact on the game. After a slow, jittery start, LA pushed ahead behind Blake’s long-range shooting and found themselves up 27-14 at the end of one. Danilo Gallinari (19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) was the lone bright spot for Denver, scoring 9-points in the period. The 2nd period saw a deeper Nuggets bench start to knock down their shots. Andre Miller (12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal) and Al Harrington (10 points, 5 rebounds) began to chip away at the lead while the Lakers started settling exclusively on the outside shot.
Ebanks and Ramon Sessions (14 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds) reestablished the momentum on aggressive drives and confident pull-ups as the Lakers managed a modest, yet dominating 50-40 lead entering halftime. LA controlled the boards behind Bynum’s 9 first half rebounds while Pau led the way with 5-dimes. While Kobe was off-kilter with his shot, Ebanks, Blake and Hill stepped-up their play and provided a great deal of relief for Laker fans. LA held Denver to 35.9% (14-39) from the field while controlling the glass, 28-20.
Sessions, Gasol (13 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks) and a refocused Kobe propelled the Lakers to a 71-52 lead in the 3rd period as LA started pulling away. But Denver answered with an 8-0 run behind a pair of 3-pt plays from Miller and Corey Brewer (11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist). LA snatched back control of the tempo with the intimidating presence of Bynum while Kobe started finding easier and easier looks. Gallinari and Kenneth Faried (10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block) found themselves completely dwarfed by the Laker giants and fell helpless victim to both. The Lakers ended the quarter with a comfortable 77-64 lead and the Nuggets beginning to wilt under the might of LA’s 14-feet of post presence.
Hill’s pair of gimme baskets made it 85-68 but the Lakers encountered a brief cold spell as Ty Lawson (7 points on 3-11, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals in 31-minutes) finally chalked up a pair of field goals after going 0-fer to this point. With the Lakers holding a 15-point advantage, Kobe reentered the contest and quickly knocked down three consecutive shots forcing George Karl to call a quick time-out. Up 91-72 with 6:07 remaining, Kobe scored the next eight Laker points as LA put the game away for good. The Black Mamba recorded 23-points in the second half shooting 9-14 after his 2-10 start.
The Lakers shot 50% from the field (43-86) while limiting the best scoring offense in the league to 35.6% (32-90). Behind their huge frontline, LA enjoyed a 52-46 rebound advantage while pummeling the Nuggets 64-44 in points scored in the paint. The Lakers recorded 15 blocked shots with Bynum tying (Mark Eaton, 1985 and Hakeem Olajuwan, 1990) the mark for most blocks in a playoff game. His 10-blocks also surpassed Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9 blocks) for most ever by a Laker player.
Denver looks to regroup for Game 2 on Tuesday, but all early indications show the Lakers clicking on all cylinders. Matt Barnes (2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 1 block in 29-minutes) looked relatively sound, although his sprained ankle is not yet fully healed. LA stuck to an 8-man rotation with Hill supplanting both Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy in the line-up. If the Lakers can sustain their defensive tenacity, Denver has little hope in making this series a contest. With leading scorer Lawson and Arron Afflalo (9 points on 3-11, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal) both sputtering from the field, and the Nuggets getting nothing out of their combined center position, Denver has much more than simple adjustments to make to counter LA’s size and dominance in the post.
Enjoy this scintillating video to get you into playoff mode, featuring The Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. Produced by Xfactor541.
First losing their cool, then all of their poise, the Los Angeles Lakers dug themselves out of a 17-point 4th quarter deficit and defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in improbable fashion, 114-106 in double-overtime at Staples Center. LA did so with a make-shift line-up consisting of Kobe, Pau, Steve Blake, Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill. Watching from the sidelines were starters Andrew Bynum and Ramon Sessions. Viewing the game from even farther away was Metta World Peace, who was ejected late in the 2nd period after he was assessed a Type 2 Flagrant Foul for elbowing James Harden squarely in the back of his head.
Metta World Peace delivers a vicious elbow to the head of Thunder player James Harden. MWP was assessed a Type 2 Flagrant Foul and was ejected from the game. A lengthy suspension is sure to follow. Copyrights may apply. All rights reserved.
Both teams stumbled to a sloppy start as neither could find the bottom of the net. Easy gimmes danced tantalizingly close to falling through but the lids remained intact over the rims. It was a battle of wills and OKC finally pushed through, finding the range from deeper out as the threes began to rain down. Kevin Durant (35 points on 11-34, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block) drained a pair from downtown while super-sub James Harden (14 points, 3 assists, 1 steal) splashed his first attempt seconds after he stepped onto the floor. OKC was able to forge ahead behind their long distance shooting and grabbed the early 26-20 first quarter lead.
The 2nd period saw more of the same as the Thunder moved the ball expertly, getting wide open, outside looks. A 35-24 advantage prompted Mike Brown to call a quick time-out, while his insertion of Jordan Hill (14 points, 15 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocks) this early in a game resulted in some raised eyebrows. Hill’s unfamiliarity with defensive sliding and weakside help allowed OKC to initially exploit open lanes to the basket. But his hustle on the glass helped them score on second chance points as the Lakers began fighting their way back.
Pau Gasol’s (20 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) run with the second unit proved to be the right move as his height advantage over the much smaller Thunder defenders allowed the Lakers to close-in on lead. The Spaniard played distributor and scorer while Bynum remained on the bench. Hill stayed on the court when Bynum finally made his return, replacing Gasol instead. His activity level had fueled the Lakers comeback and an appreciative Staples Center crowd acknowledged the fact.
Metta World Peace (12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals) was in the midst of another outstanding game when he broke away for a fast break dunk over Durant and Serge Ibaka (18 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 7 blocks), drawing the Lakers within 48-47 with just under two minutes to play. He culminated his momentum changing slam with a wild, chest pounding celebration, then swung his left elbow to clear room, “inadvertently” catching Harden in the backside of his head, sending the swingman sprawling to the ground. MWP, unaware of his own histrionics sprinted back on defense as angry Thunder players converged on him.
James Harden lays motionless after falling victim to a violent elbow from Metta World Peace. Copyrights may apply. All rights reserved.
MWP’s fighting stance upon being confronted didn’t help matters and he was assessed a Type 2 Flagrant Foul and promptly ejected from the game. World Peace tried pleading his case to the referees but replays clearly show a malicious and intentional attack. A stunned Lakers squad could only watch in disbelief as MWP transformed into crazy Ron right before their very eyes. Clearly shaken, the Lakers merely played out the half as OKC responded with a renewed vengeance on defense, blocking consecutive dunk attempts and willing themselves to a 52-47 lead to end the first half of play.
A lengthy suspension is in order and the league office will hand down it’s playoff affecting sanctions in the next day or so. Of greater concern is the immediate health of Harden. Concussions can last a day, a week, and as recently evidenced in the NHL, sometimes much longer than that. I don’t believe World Peace had any preconceived ill-will in mind when he flailed away, but the carelessness in which he did so clearly showed his “actions before accountability” mentality that swept carelessly through his mind. Celebratory is one thing, assault is a totally different matter, and the differentiation between the two is often a very fine line. If the reasoning was indeed over-the-top celebration, better discretion must be exhibited by Metta. Unfortunately, this is a huge step backward with much more at stake than mere wins and losses or playoff implications.
The 3rd quarter saw the Lakers fall into a familiar malaise as the Thunder struck from all angles. Laker turnovers produced easy OKC transition baskets. A steady stream of outside jumpers provided even easy run-outs. Already minus one small forward, the Lakers lost a second when Matt Barnes sprained his ankle when he stepped awkwardly on a defender’s foot. Add in a lackadaisical defensive effort and this only fueled an already steamed opponent. Bynum (10 points on 5-15, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 blocks in 29-minutes) looked disinterested and his body language clearly showed frustration and an inability to adapt. But the Laker center was the lone scoring option so Mike Brown had no choice other than to ride his big man, regardless of his apathetic defense. The Lakers managed only 14-points in the period as OKC jumped out to a 16-point lead.
Clearly without any other options, Brown started the 4th with Gasol anchoring the reserves. Steve Blake (13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Devin Ebanks (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block) and Hill started chopping into the monumental lead. Gasol’s tip-in narrowed the Thunder lead to a manageable dozen points forcing a quick Scotty Brooks time-out. Ebanks continued to get himself to the free throw line and although he was converting only 1-2 on each trip, the Lakers began drawing closer and closer. Hill remained a beast on the glass and found himself an eager and willing target in the paint. As the Lakers closed the gap, OKC started to miss from outside. Durant, harassed by Ebanks, missed numerous opportunities and the Lakers were able to capitalize on the Thunder’s sudden offensive collapse.
Sensing a change of fortune, Brown inserted Kobe back into the line-up and the Black Mamba (26 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal) went to work. His 3-point play made it 87-79, then Blake’s 3-bomb made it a 5-point game. Ebanks again sank 1-2 from the line and another Gasol tip-in drew the Lakers to within a deuce with 2:00 remaining. Another Durant miss resulted in the Lakers wasting most of their 24-second shot clock, but not before Kobe splashed a top-of-the-key 3-pointer off of one leg. A shocked Thunder squad could only shake their heads as the Lakers took the lead, 88-87. Russell Westbrook (14 points on 3-22, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal) drew Blake into a costly foul and the former UCLA stand-out drained his pair of free throws for the 1-point edge.
Kobe sized up his spacing against defensive stalwart Thabo Sefalosha (6 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block), rose up for a 3-pointer and calmly drained the 27-foot triple for the 91-89 lead. Westbrook found himself back on the free throw line after drawing another foul and his two charities tied the score with just :44 seconds on the clock. A missed opportunity allowed the Thunder a chance to win the game in regulation but Durant’s 3-pointer from the top-of-the-key was contested by Ebanks and fell harmlessly short as the two teams headed to overtime.
Brown stuck with the line-up that got him here and the two teams traded baskets and defensive stops. The Lakers went up by 4-points, but Kendrick Perkins (4 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks) and Westbrook got loose for lay-ups to tie the score once again. Neither team would score again but OKC had another shot at ending the game, but Westbrook’s 25-footer narrowly missed the mark, prompting a second overtime period.
The two teams traded baskets, then traded 3-pointers for the 102-102 tie. Kobe’s jumper was then matched by Durant’s lay-up but then the momentum swung in the Lakers favor. Ebanks stole the ball from Sefalosha, setting up a pair of free throws by Kobe. Another steal by Ebanks, this time intercepting a pass from Westbrook resulted in him getting fouled and the sophomore finally drained a pair of free throws for the 110-104 lead with :24 seconds to go. OKC got a pair of free throws from Durant but the Thunder were forced to foul and the Lakers converted their free throws down the stretch for the miraculous comeback and much-needed win against their Western Conference foe.
The Lakers may have won the contest, but the game took a back seat to the violent actions of MWP. I am stunned and disheartened by recent events. When the Lakers lost, they lost with class. And when they were fortunate enough to win, they won the right way. Not since Kermit Washington’s deadly blow to Rudy Tomjanovich’s face had a game felt so meaningless. Add in the immaturity of Andrew Bynum and his foolish antics over the past season and going into last year’s playoffs, and the luster of this team has vanished into thin air. The character of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise needs a serious make-over. Not some glossy cover-up, but a thorough cleansing from top-to-bottom.
What should have been a hard-fought win was muddied into an embarrassment for all associated with the purple and gold. Years of building the Laker brand were decimated in one wild swing of the elbow. As a Laker fan, I sincerely apologize to James Harden, the OKC organization and the NBA. One foolish act by an individual does not represent the mentality of the whole. The Lakers organization needs to take any league imposed sanction a step further and impose their own punishment as well. The message needs to be sent loud and clear that violence of any type will never be tolerated under any conditions whatsoever.
