By Kelly Dwyer

Los Angeles Lakers 108, Chicago 93

Joakim Noah(notes):

     "To me, the most amazing thing about it is you're out there
competing hard, and these guys are hardly breaking a sweat because
they're so comfortable running their offense. They look like it's very
easy."

Does the talent help? Of course. Have I seen bench units dominate
starting units using the triangle offense, without breaking much of a
sweat? You bet.

It's the system. And the system is what sets Los Angeles apart. You try
stopping a play, mon frère, when there is no play.

The Lakers just dominated Chicago in this win. They moved the ball,
attacked the offensive glass, used superior spacing, and saved the real
effort for the defensive end. Which, as you've probably realized by now,
isn't really needed for a team like the Bulls.

97 points per 100 possessions for Chicago, which is reallyreallyreally
bad, but it felt like a proper extension. Meanwhile, the Lakers just
moved the ball and finished around the rim when it could.

Which is why someone like Pau Gasol(notes) could come through with 24
points and 13 rebounds in his first game back. Was he foaming at the
mouth? Was he slapping the backboard, trying to make a point?

No, he just filled in the open spaces. That's what all the Lakers do, if
their heads are on straight. And this is what takes them
heads-on-straight and shoulders above the rest.

This was a practice, for Los Angeles. They killed Chicago on the
offensive glass to start (Taj Gibson(notes) finished with seven rebounds
in 18 minutes, but he was pretty bad to start the game), they moved the
ball, and they closed out on shooters and obvious VDN-styled "plays."
Chicago's defense tried, but these are the Lakers. They're better than you.

12 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, four turnovers, four steals, and
two blocks for Joakim Noah. The guy never gives up. And Derrick
Rose's(notes) touch - if not his hops and strength and quickness -
returned for that second half. Doesn't matter. The Bulls are the
Bobcats, offensively, plus way too much hype.

You can't hype the Lakers enough. Go ahead. Try. I'll nod along.

--
Gary Collard
SABR-L Moderator
gmcollard at yahoo dot com
http://twitter.com/LakerGMC
http://sarcastipundit.blogspot.com/