Gasol and Odom in the 2nd Halves

[Big Ticket]

I went through the play-by-play from the first 4 games to see how the Lakers big men, and 2nd & 3rd options of the team, have faired thus far in the 2nd halves.

Game 1
10 points

Game 2
6 points

Game 3
11 points

Game 4
11 points

Total
9.5 2nd half ppg (or 4.75 each)


There are many causes for this... Kobe has been going into "KoME" mode when the team has been down.  The team was firing threes during the entire 4th quarter of game 2.  But along with those two, much of the credit goes out to KG, Perk, PJ and the Celtics big man that have been amping up and just shutting down the middle when the games get close and late.

[Who]

There are many causes for this... Kobe has been going into "KoME" mode when the team has been down. 

I completely and utterly disagree with you. The problem is they've become passive in the second half. They just stand around and watch their teammates, especially Kobe. They force Kobe to play as he has because of their play. Gasol in particular because he's actually played well when he's attacked offensively. Odom has struggled anyway until last night so I don't hold too much against him. Heck when Gasol is out there with the second unit he's been standing around watching Luke Walton work with the ball.

[jaketwice]

I found a picture of Pau Gasol in the second half on the internet. You can see Lamar Odom in the background...


               

[Big Ticket]

There are many causes for this... Kobe has been going into "KoME" mode when the team has been down. 

I completely and utterly disagree with you. The problem is they've become passive in the second half. They just stand around and watch their teammates, especially Kobe. They force Kobe to play as he has because of their play. Gasol in particular because he's actually played well when he's attacked offensively. Odom has struggled anyway until last night so I don't hold too much against him. Heck when Gasol is out there with the second unit he's been standing around watching Luke Walton work with the ball.

I think, and this doesn't really apply to Gasol, the teammates are pretty firmly conditioned on how the Lakers offense works late in a game.  Give Kobe the ball and get out of his way.  Sometimes it works, because he can do it himself pretty well.  But he was what, 4 for 15 in the 2nd half?  Maybe they stood around and watched... well guess what, Kobe is their unquestioned leader.  It's his job to get them going.  And ripping them on the court for not doing what he wants is not 'getting them going'.  I've heard Phil say 100 times that the team gets stagnant sometimes and watches Kobe, so I'm sure he's addressed it multiple times.  But when 7 out of 10 close games, it's Kobe Kobe Kobe, the roles players don't have the experience to answer the call the other 3 times.

I'm not talking about last night specifically... I think he pretty much did what he needed to, but guys weren't really hitting shots around him.  But game 1... he shot them out of it I felt.  Game 2, I already touched on.  Game 3 he was great, but that didn't get the team involved. 

I admittedly have a large bias against Kobe, but I feel he is a big part of his other teammates getting stagnant. 

[Cman]

I found a picture of Pau Gasol in the second half on the internet. You can see Lamar Odom in the background...


               

hahahahahaha!  that's awesome!
who are they surrounded by, the rest of the Lakers bench?

[jaketwice]

I found a picture of Pau Gasol in the second half on the internet. You can see Lamar Odom in the background...


               

hahahahahaha!  that's awesome!
who are they surrounded by, the rest of the Lakers bench?

Were you able to tell it was them because you couldn't really see them?

[Last Train]

Kobe has nobody to blame but himself for his passive teammates. Watch some of the replays when Vujacic or Vlad take a shot near the end of the game. Kobe is clapping at them to pass to him and then aftrer the play he gives the death stare. I suppose the thought process for his teammates after one of those experiences is "well, I won't do that again."