LAKERS' STARTERS GET LESSON FROM BENCH SECOND FIVE SCORES 51 IN WIN LAKERS 111, MINN. 94.Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer MINNEAPOLIS -- As the fourth-quarter comeback moved from the realm of inspiring to staggering Wednesday night, 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. , Luke Walton Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28 1980 in San Diego, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His position is small forward. and the rest of the Lakers' starters did the only thing they could. They popped out of their seats like pistons to cheer for a unit of Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar Jordan Robert Farmar (born November 30, 1986) is an American professional basketball player at starting point guard for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. He was previously the starting point guard for the UCLA men's basketball team. , Maurice Evans There are several people named Maurice Evans:
Having spotted the Timberwolves 87 points on 61.7 percent shooting and a 10-point lead through three quarters, the Lakers gave up just seven points the rest of the way and scored 34 of their own for a 111-94 victory. They won with Kobe Bryant scoring 24 points and playing 30 minutes, a far cry from his 54- and 47-minute marathons in recent games. Bryant sat until the 3:25 mark of the fourth quarter, when he returned with the Lakers leading by 10. ``We had a good time,'' Bryant said. ``I was sitting next to Luke and he and I were just enjoying it tremendously. The more time you get to sit on the bench, the better. ``I was especially happy for them because it gives them confidence, to perform like this on the road. It just builds confidence for later in the season. We were enjoying it.'' The Lakers' second five combined to score 51 points, with every player contributing. Radmanovic (17 points) and Evans (15) took care of the scoring while Farmar totaled four points, seven assists and no turnovers. Vujacic broke out of a season-long slump, knocking down two big 3- pointers, and scored eight points. Bynum played the last 19:21 of the game, finishing with seven points, nine rebounds and matching a career-high with four blocks. It was enough for the Lakers to rebound after consecutive losses and turn conventional wisdom on its head. One of coach Phil Jackson's biggest beliefs is that bench players come together better at home. ``It's one of those games,'' Jackson said, ``where you look at each other and say, `Go figure,' as a coaching staff.'' The reserves also built an eight-point lead in the second quarter. Jackson challenged the group in the pregame meeting, saying, ``We're going to have to have a bench that produces tonight if we're going to win this ballgame.'' The Lakers went down by 12 points on the first possession of the fourth quarter, then roared back with stop after stop on the defensive end. Minnesota made just 2 of 19 shots in the fourth and committed five turnovers. Evans helped force a couple of turnovers and Bynum came up with a big block of Randy Foye Randy Foye (born September 24, 1983 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. He previously played for Villanova University. in the lane. They tied the game at 91-91 with 7:49 left on a play that told the story of just how well the unit was clicking. Vujacic drove baseline against Marko Jaric before firing a pass to Farmar in the corner. Farmar then passed the ball on to Evans beyond the 3-point arc. Evans faked a shot, took a dribble in and drilled a 21-footer. ``We just moved the ball,'' Vujacic said, ``and we used every extra pass that we could use, and we just have to carry on and do that every game in the next four games on the road.'' Walton added: ``The first unit, if we watch tape, we can probably learn a little bit from the way they're playing right now.'' They took the lead for good the next time down court as Farmar lobbed a pass to Bynum for a layup. Minnesota coach Dwane Casey Dwane Casey (born April 17, 1957 in Morganfield, Kentucky) is the former head coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. Casey played college basketball at the University of Kentucky between 1975 and 1979, and would later serve as an assistant coach there. brought back Kevin Garnett Kevin Garnett (born May 19, 1976) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics. The 6 ft 11 in, 220 lb (0 kg) power forward is regarded as one of the best all around players in the game today. and Mike James
It was a test for Bynum, in particular. Jackson has talked about Bynum fatiguing after six- or seven-minute stretches. But he stuck with Bynum for nearly the entire second half after deciding Kwame Brown was not playing hard. Bynum blocked three shots in the fourth quarter, held his own against Garnett, pulled down five rebounds, ran the floor for a fastbreak dunk and found Evans cutting for a basket that put the Lakers ahead 100-91. ``When you get like that,'' Jackson said, ``sometimes you're never tired.'' Vujacic, meanwhile, came into Wednesday shooting just 32.8 percent for the season but went 3 of 4 from the field and 2 of 3 from the 3-point arc. ``I think that every player has one blackout period Blackout Period 1. A term that refers to a temporary period in which access is limited or denied. 2. A period of around 60 days during which employees of a company with a retirement or investment plan cannot modify their plans. in his year,'' Vujacic said. ``I'm glad that's hopefully behind me. I'd like everybody to know it wasn't great, but now I'm going to do everything that's going to be better.'' ross.siler@dailynews.com (818) 713-3610 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant, top right, shoots over Minnesota's Trenton Hassell Trenton Lavar Hassell (born March 4, 1979 in Clarksville, Tennessee) is an American professional basketball player currently with the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. A 6'5", 233 lbs guard-forward from Austin Peay State University, Hassell was selected by the Chicago Bulls with , top left, and Mark Blount. (2) The Lakers' Sasha Vujacic, right, and Minnesota's Marko Jaric battle for the ball Wednesday. Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion