[0] LAKERS INSIDE LOOK: A WINNING FORMULA FORMS FOR LAKERS.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer The Lakers See Lake poets left the Sacramento Kings' window of opportunity slightly ajar in the second quarter Tuesday, only to slam it shut on them in the third quarter on their way to a 96-90 victory. For the Lakers, a trend is forming. Toy with the Kings in the first half, bury them in the third quarter then hang on in the fourth. The same thing happened Sunday in a 108-105 victory in Game 1. In both games it was a combination of things. The Lakers have played their best defense in the third quarters, and the Kings have shot their worst, missing as many open looks as shots with hands in their faces. In addition, Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. elevates his game to another level. On Tuesday Bryant had 10 points on 5-of-12 shooting in the first half, then shook free for 13 points in the third quarter to help turn a 43-43 tie at halftime into a 74-56 lead going into the fourth. The Kings didn't help matters with their cold shooting. At one point their starters were shooting 11 of 43 from the floor midway through the third. In the third quarter Chris Webber For the Canadian-born former BBL basketball player, see . Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III, better known as Chris Webber or C-Webb (born March 1, 1973, in Detroit, Michigan), is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.. was 2 of 6 from the floor, and he didn't get any help from Vlade Divac Vlade Divac (Serbian Cyrillic: Владе Дивац, pronounced [ˈvlaːdɛ ˈdiːvaʦ] (0 for 2), Doug Christie Doug Christie may refer to:
The Kings shot 25 percent from the field in the quarter; the Lakers shot 55.6 percent. The Lakers defense deserves credit. Rick Fox has taken Stojakovic out of his game, hounding him into poor shots or no attempts at all. In the third, Stojakovic took one shot in eight minutes. For a guy who led the Kings in scoring during their first-round win over Phoenix, he has to do more than that. Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). has also played a role. Obviously his utter dominance offensively is wearing the Kings down. They expend ex·pend tr.v. ex·pend·ed, ex·pend·ing, ex·pends 1. To lay out; spend: expending tax revenues on government operations. See Synonyms at spend. 2. so much energy on stopping him - most times to no avail - it affects their flow offensively. But it's more than that. In the third quarter O'Neal changed shots just by perching himself in the middle of the lane and daring someone to challenge him. At one point Christie beat Bryant off the dribble from the wing, made his way into the paint only to find O'Neal standing there waiting for him. Christie retreated backward than passed the ball off. Now all the Lakers have to do is play two consecutive quarters like they do the third. In Game 2 they opened up a big lead in the first, gave it away in the second, took back control in the third, then threatened to give it back again in the fourth. LAKERS vs. SACRAMENTO Lakers lead best-of-seven series 2-0 GAME 1 LAKERS 108 SACRAMENTO 105 GAME 2 LAKERS 96 SACRAMENTO 90 GAME 3 Friday at Sacramento 7:30 p.m., Ch. 9 GAME 4 Sunday at Sacramento 2:30 p.m., Ch. 4 GAME 5 Tuesday at Lakers TBA TBA See: To be announced , (if necessary) GAME 6 May 17 at Sacramento TBA, (if necessary) GAME 7 May 19 at Lakers TBA, (if necessary) CAPTION(S): box Box: LAKERS vs. SACRAMENTO (see text) |
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