In this edition of the purple and gold blog, we will be recapping the Lakers’ games against the Pacers and Sixers. In addition, we will analyze the elusive “switch” theory, and look ahead to the Lakers’ Christmas Day game against the Miami Heat…. and we will say farewell to a certain Slovenian machine.
Lakers defeat Pacers and Sixers
The Lakers improved to 5-1 on their seven game road trip on Friday night by defeating the 76ers 93-81. The game was very competitive until the fourth quarter when the champs went on a 27-8 run en route to a 12 point victory. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with a season high 28 points, and Matt Barnes chipped in 15 points off of the bench. In his third game back, Andrew Bynum scored 3 points in 13 minutes of playing time.
In Wednesday’s game against the Pacers, the Lakers demonstrated the the high level of play they are capable of executing when firing all cylinders. The Lakers had a little extra motivation for Wednesday’s game. For starters, the Pacers beat the Lakers on their home floor at the end of November. In addition, the Lakers thought the Pacers celebrated a little too much after the upset victory. From the opening tip, the champs showed why they are the champs. The game was over before it started, as the champs rolled to a 109-94 victory.
Is the “Switch” Theory Valid?
Many people have thrown around the idea that sometimes the Lakers don’t play to their full capabilities, primarily against inferior teams. Some would say there is a switch the Lakers can turn on when they need to. The Lakers have had their fair share problems this season taking care of the league’s weaker teams. They have had sloppy wins against the Nets, Clippers, Wizards and, to some degree, Friday night’s game against the Sixers.
Like I mentioned above, the team had a little extra motivation for the Indiana game, and they thoroughly wiped the floor with the Pacers. Was Wednesday’s game against Indiana a case of flipping the switch, considering the team was looking for revenge?
Sasha’s run as a Laker has come to an end
Earlier in the week, the Lakers dealt Sasha Vujacic to the New Jersey Nets, along with their 2011-2012 first round pick for veteran Joe Smith. In the trade, the Lakers gained the rights to Ukraine’s Sergei Lishouk, along with Golden State’s second round pick in 2011 and Chicago’s second round pick in 2012.
All in all, the trade was beneficial for the Lakers. By trading Vujacic, the Lakers cleared some cap space and added some depth in the front court. Joe Smith has played fifteen years in the league for a slew of different teams. Obviously, with Gasol, Odom, and Bynum as teammates, Joe is not going to get many minutes. However, it gives fans peace of mind by knowing the team is not so thin anymore when it comes to post players.
In addition, Vujacic will get much more playing time on a rebuilding Nets team. Sasha will always be remembered by Lakers fans for hitting the two crucial free throws in game seven against Boston in last year’s finals. In addition, the machine had a decent run in the 2007-08 playoffs, as the team made the finals. However, that season he hit his ceiling as a Laker, and he never achieved anything else but playing spot minutes.
Lakers vs Heat on the Horizon
The Lakers conclude their seven game road trip Sunday afternoon in Toronto. Tuesday night they will host the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center. Then…. Lebron James will be taking his talents to Los Angeles for a Christmas Day showdown with the defending champs. Friday night’s win against the Knicks was Miami’s 11th straight win. Their overall record is 20-8, compared to the Lakers’ record of 20-7. So, going into next Saturday’s game, the teams will have very similar records. While seven or eight losses is nothing to sneeze at, I think it is safe to say fans thought both teams would have fewer losses than what they currently have.
Both teams have had their struggles this season. The Lakers suffered their first four game losing streak since the 2007 season, and the Heat lost four out five in the middle of November, which had everyone wondering if the Heat were going to make a coaching change.
Well, for the time being, both teams are playing pretty good basketball. Which should make for a great Christmas Day game. As strange as it sounds, the match-up with the Heat will be the first elite team the Lakers will face so far this season. Minus the two Chicago games and the game against the Jazz, the Lakers have been blessed with playing plenty of weak teams. With that being said, if the switch theory is valid, expect the Lakers’ switch to be turned on all the way come Christmas Day.
Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.
