Y13 [EN]: Chapter 209

209. 2011-2012 Regular Season

[The LA Lakers are still reeling from the fallout of the failed Chris Paul trade. Their guard rotation is thin, relying on aging players, and Lamar Odom is struggling, both from the sting of being a trade asset and the emotional impact of off-season tragedies. Their failure to integrate new talent, combined with their key sixth man’s struggles, is taking its toll. Kobe Bryant has also publicly criticized the front office’s decisions this off-season.]

Lamar Odom, who was a standout performer for the LA Lakers the previous year, earning the Sixth Man of the Year award in the 2010-2011 season, has been unable to focus on the current season due to a series of devastating personal events, leading to a mental and emotional breakdown. These included the murder of his beloved cousin and a tragic accident where he struck and killed a pedestrian while driving. The sheer volume and suddenness of Odom’s misfortunes felt like a crushing wave of bad luck.

[Looking at Lamar Odom’s season stats, he typically starts slow, but given the heartbreaking events he’s endured, the LA Lakers’ bench production this season is projected to be the worst in the league.]

The incidents surrounding Odom were so sensitive that commentators have been hesitant to discuss them. Perhaps that’s why Mike Breen subtly shifted the conversation to a lighter topic.

[In contrast, the Dallas Mavericks are ranked third in the league for bench scoring, averaging 41.3 points. They also lead the league in bench rebounds, steals, and blocks. Furthermore, they rank first in points allowed and second in point differential. As Shaq pointed out, the team, largely composed of veterans, initially struggled, but the young players on the bench are definitely stepping up to support their older teammates, wouldn’t you agree?]

Breen’s joke elicited a hearty laugh from O’Neal, who agreed with the assessment.

[The LA Lakers need their starting lineup to perform at its peak. If the starting five can’t maintain a double-digit plus-minus rating, the LA Lakers’ chances of winning, even at home, are slim. Kobe Bryant is carrying the team, averaging over 31 points per game, but that’s unsustainable. Other players need to contribute more.]

As the other players entered the court, the Staples Center erupted in a sea of yellow, with fans chanting the names of the LA Lakers players. A significant portion of the cheers were directed at Kobe Bryant. Mike Breen and Charles Barkley exchanged glances with Shaq to gauge his reaction. While it was a story from years past, the power struggle between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal was a well-known chapter in the team’s history. The LA Lakers ultimately chose Kobe Bryant over Shaq, leading to Shaquille O’Neal’s trade to the Miami Heat before the 2003-2004 season.

[Kobe Bryant certainly deserves the adulation. Any star player would receive such cheers during a home game. And Kobe and I are on good terms now. The media and others exaggerated things; we greet each other respectfully.]

Shaquille O’Neal, as always, remained cool and witty. Watching Shaq casually dismiss the past in his signature raspy voice, Mike Breen and Charles Barkley visibly relaxed and nodded. Charles Barkley elaborated further.

[As you mentioned, Kobe has been in peak form, scoring over 40 points in his last four games. However, as evidenced by last season’s playoff second round, the Lakers are extremely vulnerable to three-point shooting because their point guard, shooting guard, and small forward – Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, and Matt Barnes – are, respectively, practically ancient (a humorous exaggeration), and Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum lack agility.]

[That’s right. In the last playoffs, players like Barea, Terry, Peja, Yoon, and Kidd rained down three-pointers. However, this season, Dallas doesn’t have many players shooting above 38% from beyond the arc, except for the exceptional Yoon. The fact that Dallas’s three-point shooting, despite being an older team like the Lakers, isn’t as effective as last year suggests the Lakers have a chance to compete.]

[Moreover, Haywood, who defended Bynum effectively last year, is underperforming even more this season, making it questionable whether he can contain Bynum. Tyson Chandler, a Defensive Second Team selection last season, continues to provide consistent defense, but he struggles against big men who skillfully use post-up moves and strong drives. Haywood was more successful in defending Bynum in the previous playoffs.]

As the commentary intensified and the yellow wave in the Staples Center swelled, the ten players, including Youngjae, took their positions on the court. Youngjae slightly moistened his dry lips, attempting to quell his anxiety.

Youngjae had no premonition of how poorly the game would unfold. However, having enjoyed dinner with Blake Griffin in a private setting the night before and forging a friendship with a promise of a good rivalry, Youngjae felt optimistic. Yet, that ‘good feeling’ was distinct from the reality of the game, and Youngjae was in his worst condition during the final team meeting and training session that morning. It wasn’t just Youngjae; other key players like Nowitzki, Kidd, and Terry were also performing below par.

‘Today’s game will be a grind, a real slog. We’re not at our best today. What will determine our victory in times like these is an unwavering mental fortitude. Regardless of how poorly our shots are falling, no matter how badly the game is going, we must maintain our composure. And we must drag our opponents down into the mud with us. If we approach the game with unwavering resolve, we will, at the very least, not lose easily.’

Carlisle’s words resonated with the players more than any other pep talk could have. His words rang true. Even if it meant a dogfight, a struggle through the trenches, a win was still a win. If their shooting was off, they had to ensure the opponent’s was even worse.

Beeep-

[The game begins with a jump ball between Tyson Chandler and Andrew Bynum!]

Tap!

[As expected, Andrew Bynum! He wins the jump ball, showcasing the momentum he’s built this season!]

The game commenced with the LA Lakers on offense. Following Phil Jackson’s retirement, the LA Lakers appointed Mike Brown as their head coach. Brown had previously served as the Eastern Conference coach for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game and coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from the 2005-2006 season to the 2009-2010 season, earning the Coach of the Year award (2008-2009).

Mike Brown led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the top of the regular season standings for two consecutive years with LeBron James on the team, but he was ultimately fired after LeBron’s departure. This was attributed to his limited offensive strategies, over-reliance on superstars, and insufficient team management skills. As soon as LeBron left, his weaknesses became apparent, and the team’s performance plummeted, leading to his dismissal.

Initially, the Lakers players, including Kobe, advocated for Brian Shaw, a long-time assistant coach who had earned their trust, as Jackson’s successor. However, Jim Buss, the executive vice president with personnel authority, chose Mike Brown. Consequently, the Lakers players were not particularly enthusiastic about Brown as their coach.

[The LA Lakers, under the new leadership of Mike Brown, are still incorporating elements of the triangle offense [a complex offensive strategy emphasizing spacing, passing, and player movement] from former coach Phil Jackson. It’s challenging for a new coach to fully integrate new tactics in such a short period. Moreover, it’s debatable whether Brown himself fully grasps the intricacies of the triangle offense.]

[Mike Brown, who became a head coach at the young age of 34 in the 2005-2006 season, had a successful run in Cleveland with LeBron James as his star player, but consistently fell short of reaching the finals. Brown is considered competent in defensive strategies, but his offensive tactics have been criticized for being simplistic and dependent on LeBron. Even after joining the LA Lakers, there’s little evidence of well-structured offensive plays.]

Derek Fisher passed the ball to Kobe Bryant once again. The Lakers’ offense lacked variety. It was rare to see plays involving more than three players moving fluidly, aside from Kobe and Gasol’s two-man game or Bynum’s post-ups. However, these plays were effective due to the exceptional talent of the three players. Because the coach’s ability to implement offensive strategies was limited, they had to rely heavily on individual brilliance.

[Youngjae Yoon and Kobe Bryant’s first matchup of the game!]

[The two players engaged in a fierce battle during last year’s conference semi-finals, a contest that was essentially a draw. This matchup is highly anticipated!]

Youngjae heightened his awareness, considering all possibilities: would Bynum or Gasol set a screen from behind, or would small forward Matt Barnes attempt a screen? What kind of dribble would Kobe use to create separation?

Toot!

Kobe Bryant, after holding the ball for about 10 seconds, finally made his move. Simultaneously, Pau Gasol moved behind Youngjae. Youngjae anticipated difficulty navigating Gasol’s screen, so he quickly opted to go around it. This defensive approach might allow Kobe to take a pull-up jumper, but Youngjae prioritized preventing a drive to the basket. Defending against the higher probability attack was the standard procedure.

Toong!

“?!”

But as soon as he circled around, he saw Kobe throwing a bounce pass into the paint during the brief moment Youngjae had dropped back. Youngjae reached out in dismay, but his hand barely missed the ball. Bynum, receiving the bounce pass perfectly, began to post up Tyson Chandler in the paint.

Tyson Chandler was undoubtedly a top-tier defensive center. However, his weakness was his relatively slender lower body compared to his height. Because his frame wasn’t naturally thick, there was a limit to how much muscle he could add, making him susceptible to minor injuries. Consequently, he struggled against players like Bynum who relied on their size and relentlessly pushed with immense force. Instead, Chandler compensated with superior mobility and jumping ability.

[Andrew Bynum!! A skillful pivot! Tyson Chandler anticipates the pivot and doesn’t fall for it, but he continues to get pushed back!]

Finally, when Bynum pushed Chandler near the rim to his preferred range, he attempted to spin past Tyson Chandler with a couple of pivots. Tyson Chandler was surprised by the spin move, which was remarkably smooth for a big man, but Andrew Bynum didn’t realize his mistake until he had already turned past Tyson Chandler.

Tak!

That reckless dribbling in an offensive situation where a hook shot would have been sufficient was a terrible decision.

[YES!! STEAL! Y13 FOR THE STEAL!]

[Andrew Bynum! I don’t understand why he made that choice after driving all the way in! He could have easily scored two points with a simple hook shot instead of that awful dribbling!]

Shaq’s description, ‘that awful,’ was spot on. Bynum’s face twisted as if last year’s nightmares were resurfacing, and Youngjae, with the stolen ball, looked ahead and casually passed it to Kidd to initiate a slow-paced offensive possession.

‘Idiot.’

Contrary to his inner thoughts, Youngjae smiled at Bynum, which only fueled Bynum’s frustration.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

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@Shaq and Kobe broke up because they were on bad terms, but Bill Russell mediated and reconciled them, and they haven’t been on bad terms since. They respect each other in interviews. Shaq’s move to Miami made them the worst combination, but the fact that they reconciled afterwards is not well known to the media, so many people still think they are on bad terms.

@Yes… ‘Ma Coach’ Mike Brown, who started the Lakers’ downfall, lol. He’s pretty much someone who got the Coach of the Year award and continued his coaching career thanks to LeBron. He’s really only fit to be a defensive assistant coach. He doesn’t have the ability to control players, offensive tactics, or improvisation to be a head coach.

h0h/// Thank you for the first comment. In that season, there were back-to-back-to-back games for 3 consecutive days for each team 1-3 times, lol.

Eunsin Seolya, Omarion, Lee Dongseok, Goddess Yuri Praise, -DarkANGEL-, Disappearing Soul, Misscherry, Financia/// Thank you for the comments as always. I hope you enjoy reading it today too, lol.

Ultra10, Goimosp/// Every team is like that in that season. All teams had one or two games for 3 consecutive days. That’s why there were so many injuries throughout the league that season. Moreover, the performance was worse than in previous seasons, so there were many turnovers and the efficiency dropped a lot, which slightly lowered the popularity. Well, there is no case where popularity does not decline after a lockout.

Cup in a Cup/// As far as I know, this 14-15 season is the first time San Antonio has recorded a record of less than 50% in the Rodeo Trip. Until then, it was always over 50%, and San Antonio usually starts to pick up pace in the Rodeo Trip. It’s a strange team, lol;; In the first place, it is a team with an average winning rate of nearly 70% for 15 years. People say that it is difficult because it is 8 to 9 consecutive away games, but the actual data shows a very good winning rate.

Grand Line/// Yes, that’s right. Because there was an ace to take over Nowitzki, they decided to maintain the existing power. And with a little correction, Parsons too, lol.

Oh Gwang/// Wow, you chew up the Hall of Fame with 60 overalls… I don’t know much about MyPL, but when I play 2k series with my younger brother, I only play with guards or swingmen, so I’m not good at teams like New Orleans and Memphis, which have strong inside and weak 3-pointers. As you said, it seems that everyone has their own tendencies.