Lakers in Closeout Games, Post Threepeat.

I was just browsing lakers forums when i stumbled across this.

all credit goes to that poster, a real fan of his team.


http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=87357
Lakers in Closeout Games in recent years:

2003: (this was the season after our threepeat title)
Game 6 vs. San Antonio (110-82 loss)
Kobe: 20 points (9-19), 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 7 turnovers
Fisher: 6 points (2-6), 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers

2004: (this was the last year with Shaq, also featuring Payton, and Kobe in his first opportunity as the man)
Game 5 at Detroit (100-87 loss)
Kobe: 24 points (7-21), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers
Fisher: 10 points (3-6), 2 rebounds, 1 asisst, 2 steals
Walton: 2 points (1-4), 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals

2006:
Game 7 at Phoenix: (121-90 loss)
Kobe: 24 points (8-16), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 turnovers
Odom: 12 points (5-14), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover
Walton: 16 points (6-13), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover
Sasha: 11 points (2-6), 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Bynum: 0 points (0-1), 0 rebounds (played only 1:52)

2007:
Game 5 at Phoenix (119-110 loss)
Kobe: 34 points (13-33), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 6 turnovers
Odom: 33 points (13-21), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Farmar: 11 points (4-6), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover
Walton: 2 points (1-3), 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Sasha: 0 points (0-0), 1 assist (played only 4:38)
Bynum: 2 points (1-1), 2 rebounds, 1 turnover (played only 3:16)

2008:
Game 5 vs. Boston (103-98 win)
Kobe: 25 points (8-21), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, 6 turnovers
Gasol: 19 points (6-10), 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Odom: 20 points (8-10), 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 4 turnovers
Fisher: 15 points (3-10), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
Farmar: 11 points (5-9), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Sasha: 4 points (2-10), 1 rebound, 1 steal
Walton: 2 points (1-2), 2 assists
Ariza: 0 points (0-0) (only played 1:15)

Game 6 at Boston (131-92 loss)
Kobe: 22 points (7-22), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers
Odom: 14 points (2-8), 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers
Gasol: 11 points (4-7), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 turnovers
Fisher: 7 points (2-4), 4 assists, 1 turnover
Farmar: 12 points (3-5), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers
Sasha: 7 points (3-4), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Walton: 8 points (2-4), 2 assists, 1 steal
Ariza: 3 points (1-3), 1 rebound

In the two Phoenix series we were outmatched. Against Boston, San Antonio and Detroit it was a pretty even matchup, we were just outplayed. Overall though we have a 1-5 record in win or go home games since the threepeat ended. What's more disconcerting though is how we've lost those games.

Our one win was a home win against Boston last year, a tough 5 point victory. Our 5 losses though have been by 28, 13, 31, 9 and 39. We've lost by an average of 24 points per game, and only once was the margin of victory under 10 points, at 9. Even in that game, it took a furious fourth quarter comeback where Odom played one of the best games of his career to make it a close game. Phil, Kobe and Fisher were a part of all of those games. Walton was a member of all but one. Sasha played in four, Farmar and Bynum in two, though it should be noted that Bynum played a total of 5 minutes in those two games.

Here's how our guys fared individually in those games:

Averages in win or go home games:

Kobe: Only shot 50% in one game (the 3 shot second half game vs. Phoenix). Averaged just 1 assist in our last three closeout losses, and had 4 assist in our one closeout win.
24.8 points (39.4% fg), 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.2 blocks, 4.8 turnovers in 6 games

Gasol: Gasol was great in game 5. But he was a turnover machine in the post and was visibly frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of foul calls in game 6.
15 points (58.8% fg), 10.5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 4.5 turnovers in 2 games

Odom: Odom had a poor game in vs. Phoenix in 2006, but he brought it in our last three games.
19.8 points (56.6% fg), 9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, 0.3 steals, 2 turnovers in 4 games

Fisher:
9.5 points (38.5% fg), 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.3 turnovers in 4 games

Farmar: Farmar has played pretty well in the three games he's been a part of.
11.3 points (60% fg), 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 1.7 turnovers

Walton:
6 points (42.3% fg), 2.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 0.2 turnovers in 5 games

Sasha:
5.5 points (40% fg), 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1 steal in 4 games

In all honesty, I don't feel all that confident about coming into a game 7 and winning, despite us having home court advantage. If we have a poor start, as we have the past three games, we could put ourselves in a bad spot. We haven't shown much resolve in these closeout games, and as much as we all love Kobe, he has been less stellar. The Lakers put themselves into this position though, and if they lose, they have noone to blame but themselves. Let's hope they take a long hard look in that mirror this weekend and they come out and show us what they are made of on Sunday.


We are in their heads now!!! ATTACK!!!

 

a lot of game 7's and 6's. And no matter how you look at it, Lakers are not a team that is built around closing out a playoff series. They are built for getting ahead and maintaining the "flow of a playoff series" IF they are ahead.

when series are tied or they are down a game going into games 6 and 7's. I would put money on the team playing the Lakers if I were to play the averages like NBA players are taught to do.

I love our chances going into game 7 for this fact alone.

Phil Jackson has always failed miserably when trying to close out games(after he had MJ & Shaq) because of the style of basketball he coaches.

FAITH.