I don't like this match-up. I don't think Wafer can be effective with Vujacic playing with energy. I think Vujacic took advantage of Wafers hot-headedness and neutralized Vonzilla's offensive pressure. Vujacic also is a great timing cutter on offense who can get close shots thru cutting. If Wafer the ex-laker is gonna score... find a way to get someone else to guard him. Discuss.
I expect Wafer to come out and play better the rest of the series. Vujacic was an anomaly for the Lakers. He played with energy and zeal. He played aggressively and probably committed a few fouls that weren't called, but he was the only Laker who wanted to fight back. That being said, I think he's a complete douche. I'm sure that the intensity in this matchup has its origins back to Lakers practice sessions. TNT was talking about how there was lots of trash talking between these guys and that the referees told them to cool it. But Von needs to set the tone and not be caught flat footed like he was tonight. I have ever confidence that he will attack the next game and get the better of this matchup.
It's good sign when our biggest mismatch was with two individual bench players. but it seems that Sasha got into VonVon's head last night. I expect VW to come out with a double digit game.
Wafer and Barry and Carl were the 3 having a subpar game. Barry made a 3, but turn the ball over by making bad pass. Wafer getting smoother by that Laker dude. And Carl is weak on defense.
yeah, wafer lost his cool.. i agree with the OP.. vujab*tch is somewhat decent and cutting, but he's been more like the celtics shooters, where he'll run off screens and curls and take quick release shots. the release is not as fast as e.house or walter ray's, but if he's on, he can make us pay for lackadaisical defense. von needs to calm down and play hard nosed defense and not let vu out his sights. on the offensive end, von got caught playing careless. vujab*tch was playing pressed up on him, swiping at the ball, and it caused a turnover on the travel and the bad possession where he got the ball knocked into the backcourt. it almost became a TO because he nonchalantly went after the loose ball. if von wants playing time, he needs to play harder than he did last night. i don't know if it's his back that's bothering him, but game 1's effort will not suffice.
i've been seeing early reactions of posters saying that VON will reply with a good game. guys, i'm not expecting this to happen. I already see Sasha having one or maybe even a few mental steps ahead of Von. I think it will be like this for the next few games, if not the series. plain and simple. Wafer doesn't know how to mix up his rage with his game. he plays better in a good and confident, relaxed mode. him playing with a grudge is a snowball of negativity.
i don't know this to be true, but if it is, then we need to bench von and play barry. i would love to have von's athleticism and big play ability on the floor, but if he can't play under control through some anger, he needs to sit. i think von will do better at home IMO
Was Wafer playing the point while Sasha was on him? If that was the case Wafer should never be playing the pg. Next game Wafer should be ready for Sasha.
he wasn't playing point. they ran the screen for him to catch the ball up top, in an iso situation, so he can go one on one against his defender. he usually gets by the first man and creates his shot or an opening.
Good observation! Definitely was some frustration there There was also the play where Lowry tried to create a collision close to the end of the game and it was a clean turnover... I think you need to avoid contact in those plays and force them to make an obvious foul to put you at the line... the whole inbounds and time runout sequence showed some inexperience... I liked how Yao stepped out in the last few sequences after losing the ball against Pau early in teh fourth quarter... I think a) it helped because he seemed to be gettign winded and b) they were surrounding him and swiping at the ball to cause turnovers...
If we put Wafer in postions where he can succeed then this match up will be to our advantage. i.e. Yao passing to him out of the double team, allowing him to shoot or attack. We can't have Wafer handling the ball at the top of the key like last night. He is NOT a great ball handler, and Vujachick really put the pressure on him causing some TOs
Adleman showed us his counter last night. Aaron Brook and Kyle Lowry on the court at the same time. Completely stunts Vujabetch's offense while continuing our own surge. Good job, RICK. Keep it up!
