LAKERS LOOK JAZZED AGAIN IT WAS `LIKE OLD TIMES' IN LAUGHER OVER UTAH LAKERS 110, UTAH 101.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer After all the selnduced misery, all the cold spells and the cold stares, it can still look this easy, this effortless, this enjoyable - like 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. pulling up for a fast-break jumper, bumping off his defender, and hitting a bank shot as he falls backward, stumbling, laughing. Laughing. He laughed all the way back up the court, in fact, after that awkward third-quarter basket, and it only seemed right. After a rough start, the Lakers are finally themselves again - winning with flair, having fun, self-assured enough to laugh at their own foibles. Somehow, that fourth-quarter comeback against Dallas on Friday eased their banged-up psyches. The Lakers were relaxed and in sync from the opening tipoff Sunday, and they beat the Utah Jazz with ease, 110-101 at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . ``Like old times,'' Brian Shaw Brian K. Shaw (born March 22, 1966 in Oakland, California) is a former professional basketball player. The 6' 6" Shaw could play both guard spots, but was used primarily at point guard over the course of his 14 seasons in the league. said. ``Like old times.'' The Lakers (9-13) have won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 22-24, when they beat Chicago and Milwaukee in Shaquille O'Neal's first two games back. Their record since O'Neal's return is a respectable (if not overwhelming) 6-4. O'Neal had his best game of the season, finishing with 32 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Bryant put together another fabulously balanced game, scoring 32 points, making five steals and dishing out a season-high 14 assists - his sixth double-digit game of the season. Whatever clicked in the fourth quarter Friday, when the Lakers overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Mavericks, it carried through the weekend. This was the kind of follow-up effort coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. envisioned. ``I felt like they played with much more confidence and more aggression,'' Jackson said. ``I wasn't curious, I was expectant that they would.'' It was never much of a game, as the Lakers led start to finish, and by as many as 20 points. Andrei Kirilenko Andrei Kirilenko may refer to:
Utah stayed within striking distance by scoring 25 points off 21 Lakers turnovers. Otherwise, the Lakers were close to flawless, making 41 of 81 field-goal attempts and outrebounding the Jazz 44-36. Even their off-kilter moments ended successfully, as with Bryant's bumbling, off-the-glass 6-footer. ``It was a combination of slipping, which was pretty funny, and then the fact that the shot actually went in after the guy fouled me, off the glass. That was pretty funny,'' Bryant said. A strained groin, suffered Friday night, didn't slow Bryant as he made 9 of 18 field goals and played 39 minutes. O'Neal played 41 minutes and for the first time since returning, appeared to have the lift back in his legs. He reached the rim with ease, slammed through putbacks with a quick flick of the wrist and made 13 of 19 shots. He left without speaking to reporters. It looked a lot like the old Lakers, and it should. Samaki Walker Samaki Ijuma Walker (born February 25 1976 in Columbus, Ohio) is an American professional basketball player currently signed with the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. [1] returned to the lineup at power forward, giving Jackson his preferred starting five for the first time this season. The Lakers' core eight played just their second game together, and Jackson gave that group all but 11 minutes. ``I think we understand the importance of these games now,'' Bryant said. ``We have to come ready to play. And we're back to playing a Lakers style of basketball, which is high-intensity defense, getting out and trying to get some easy opportunities, and because of that, our rhythm is coming back and because of that, the game is more fun.'' Utah lost both its brawn brawn n. 1. Solid and well-developed muscles, especially of the arms and legs. 2. Muscular strength and power. 3. Chiefly British The meat of a boar. 4. Headcheese. and its brain in the first quarter when referee Derrick Stafford ejected center Greg Ostertag Gregory Donovan Ostertag (born March 6 1973, in Dallas, Texas) is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, who spent most of his career with the Utah Jazz. He measures 7'2" (2.18 m) and played center. and then coach Jerry Sloan Gerald Eugene Sloan better known as Jerry Sloan, (born March 28, 1942 in McLeansboro, Illinois), is an American National Basketball Association coach. He is one of professional basketball's most successful coaches, with a career win-loss record of 1035-689 (as of April 18, for arguing. With the oafish oaf n. A person regarded as stupid or clumsy. [Old Norse alfr, elf, silly person; see albho- in Indo-European roots. 7-foot-2 Ostertag out of the way, O'Neal was free to do his thing, and he did it often. He made seven of his first eight shots and by halftime had 20 points in 19 minutes. Now, with a trip to Golden State on Tuesday, the Lakers are positioned to get their first three-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" of the season. It's a modest goal, but the Lakers are happy with incremental progress these days. ``When we get over .500,'' Jackson said, ``we'll feel a lot better.'' CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Center Shaquille O'Neal slams home two of his 32 points as the Lakers beat Utah 110-101 at Staples Center Sunday. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Box: GAME RECAP |
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