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Lakers lose...goodbye perfect season
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AP Photo/Gus Ruelas
Well there's always next year.
The Los Angeles Lakers were dominated from start to finish as they lost their first game of the season Friday, 106-95, to the visiting Detroit Pistons. Also lost are the dreams of a perfect season shared by countless die-hard Laker fans.
You think I'm joking, but many fans honestly believed that the Lakers weren't going to lose a game this season.
Anyway, here is the season's first post-loss edition of five thoughts.
Deja Vu all over again. Tell me you didn't cringe when you saw those familiar blue and red Pistons jerseys celebrating and laughing after a convincing win at Staples Center. Friday's game was eerily reminiscent of the Pistons' 4-1 domination of the Lakers in the 2003-04 NBA Finals. Fortunately for the Lakers, this time it's just an early season game.
So...about that defense. The Lakers have been praised for their commitment to defense this season, but all that seemed to go out the window against the Pistons. Allen Iverson started the game by knocking down uncontested mid-range jump shots and we all knew the game was over when Kwame Brown threw down a one-handed stuff (Kwame dunked about 3 times while with the Lakers). The Pistons shot 50.7% for the game. Not going to get many wins allowing that to happen in your own building.
And...about that offense. The Lakers team that came into the game leading the NBA in scoring looked like a YMCA adult league team trying to execute against the Pistons defense. Kobe came out firing, perhaps trying to show the world that Tayshaun Prince can't guard him, but effectively proved exactly the opposite as Prince held him to 12-30 shooting. What's alarming for the Lakers is that they had no problems scoring against the run-and-gun teams from the West, but as soon as a tough, gritty team from the East comes in they look paralyzed on offense.
Stay away from that tantalizing "PANIC" button. Tomorrow there will undoubtedly be calls for drastic reformation in the Lakers organization. "Put Lamar in the starting lineup!" "Kobe's back to being a ball-hog!" "Bynum and Gasol can't play together!" Relax. It's just one loss. There are certainly things to learn from it, but there's no need to go back to the drawing board. The Lakers got outplayed. It happens. Move on.
The enigma that is Allen Iverson. 33 years old. 6-feet tall. 13 seasons of wear-and-tear on his 165-pound frame. All that and Iverson is still virtually unguardable. He slithers through the defense, keeping them off balance with hesitation dribbles and crossovers. He averaged 26.4 points per game last season, and if Detroit lets him, he can do it again this season. One of the more remarkable players in NBA history, Iverson hasn't lost a step since crossing over Michael Jordan in his rookie season.
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