LAKERS vs MAGIC (POST-GAME REPORT)

LAKERS 103 - MAGIC 106

Battered, beaten, and just flat out tired(well everyone except for Kobe). Words defining the way the Lakers looked in yesterdays loss against the Orlando Magic. For the second night in a row, the Lakers had a chance(two chances actually) to win the game, or at least take the lead in the final seconds of the game. Sasha threw up a good looking 3-pointer, only to have it rattle out of the basket. Then Kobe had his chance to tie the game with 3 seconds left, but was way off shooting it from 31 feet away.

It's another loss I'm really not too mad about, just disappointed. A loss is a loss but like the guys at AM570 said, it's better to lose by 2 or 3 knowing that your team never quit, than to lose by 20 playing horribly... obviously, but you get what they're trying to say. We looked good out there last night. Defense was there, limited our turnovers to 9, and only missing one free throw out of 25 attempts(an improvement from the previous night). But Orlando's habit of shooting a million 3-pointers cost us making 12 of 30, and for some reason made us try to catch up throwing up 21 behind the arc and making only 7 of them. If you ask me, those possessions could have gone to higher percentage mid-range shots.

The battle in the middle was pretty much nonexistent. With both Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard in early foul trouble(57 fouls in total in the game), limited their minutes. Howard with only 6 attempts managed 18pts and 12rebs, with ten of his points coming from the free throw line. Big Drew was a Big Disappointment for the second night, getting 3pts, 1reb, 5fouls, and 2 turnovers. You would think this game would be all action in the middle with all the talent down there, but it was the Lakers starting back court and Magic's PG, Ja"meerkat" Nelson and PF Rashard Lewis who stole the show. Kobe with a season high 41pts and 8rebs, WOULD NOT miss. Fish stepped up with more minutes(due to Farmar missing the game) also with a season high 27pts. Meerkat Nelson averaging 16ppg, had his night with 27pts on 11 for 16 shooting, while Lewis added 22pts.

I think the loss the previous night to the Heat was still in their heads. And Farmar sidelined didn't help either, forcing Phil to make odd lineup changes during the game. Now is the time to focus and regroup. With a back-to-back loss, they cant afford another one. Up next is Pau's Former team, Memphis.