LAKERS vs CAVALIERS (POST-GAME REPORT)

LAKERS 105 - CAVALIERS 88

A battle of the two best teams from the east and the west, and the leaders of the west came out on top. Just check the scoreboard. Need I say more? The Lakers snap their 2 game losing streak with a win over the No. 1 team in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers, since acquiring Gasol last season, have not lost more and two consecutive games.

There was an early scare in the first quarter when Kobe dislocated his right ring finger while guarding LeBron James. It being a big game and Kobe being Kobe, Gary Vitti just popped that finger right back in its socket and Kobe went on and played through the pain(mind you that he still has a torn ligament in the pinky of that same right hand). The battle between the reigning MVP and this years favorite to win, continued through the night as they both went at it scoring, while at the same time shutting each other down. Though Lebron won the scoring column with 23pts and adding 9rebs and 4asts, Kobe showed exactly why he’s the reigning MVP and put up 20pts while dishing out 12asts! Ladies and gentlemen, Kobe Bryant is a facilitator.

The Lakers did what I thought they should, and exposed the Cavaliers’ lack of size in the paint. Early on in the game they dumped it down to Bynum and Gasol to do some work down low, and the Lakers’ size and length was an obvious advantage. Pau led the Lakers in scoring with 22pts and 12rebs, shooting 11 of 13 from the floor. Bynum aggressively muscled in 14pts and 6rebs(but the kid really needs to work more for the rebounds). Vujacic had a great game tonight who also had 14pts. But it was Ariza’s small, but significant plays that really helped the team tonight.

D-Fish and Sasha did a pretty good job on Mo Williams who scored 16pts, 6rebs, and 5asts.(I know its still high, but I expected for Mo to go off in this game). Pavlovic added 12pts(who the duck?), while Verajao put up a measly 10pts who was bothered by the length of Pau and Drew. This win shows that the Cavaliers still need more improvement in their bench. When LeBron is off the floor, the Cavs seem to struggle and really don’t have anyone else to lead them. Mo Williams is good, but is incapable of being the go-to-guy when the Cavs are LeBron-less.

Lakers show up when they need to, and I guess it does take back-to-back losses for them to wake up. Finally playing the whole 48 minutes of the game and winning the rebound battle with 44, 3 more than Cleveland. They just need to continue that type of play with intensity and consistency. And if they do… Unstoppable.