Lakers End Road Trip 2-3

Since the days I started following the NBA there I seen and enjoyed many great players and teams. Other than the Lake Show the one team I have consistently like regardless of their personnel has been the Atlanta Hawks. The one time I almost boycotted them was when they traded one of my all time fave the Human Highlight Film 'Nique Wilkins. I am very glad to see them back in the mix after so many miserable seasons and hope Joe resigns in the summer. Having said that I expected a loss and since I also like Atlanta except when they play LA, it wasn't too depressing, the way they dominated though was frustrating to watch. The Hawks bench stomped who ever was playing for the champs after they started out strong and looked to steal one from Atlanta. Superb game by the Hawks and lousy way to end the road trip, the Lakers are missing defensive assignments, still relying too much on jump shots when they have 4 good post players even without Bynum. The bench is killing them though Farmar had a decent game and helped cut the lead, but that's it, no one else steps up, where's the broken machine? Give him a chance to harass Crawford and Evans, he starts playing like crap take his ass out, but give him a chance at least, at least he tries to play defense, slow foot Morrison can't do it. Walton Bynum, get healthy!!

Player of the Game: Former Laker Mo' Evans with 18 pts off the pine taking it to his former team, on just 7/9 shooting and some tight D.

X-Factor: Mo' Evans again, Joe and Jamal Crawford had their usual games but when someone other than the regular 6 else steps up the Hawks are tough to beat, in this case Mo.

Should Have Been Benched: Shannon Brown continues to struggle 1/5 shooting and little else, he is constantly getting beat off the dribble and it's hurting the team, you don't have to score to contribute if shot is not going find another way to help.

Laker Hater: For the second game in a row, the Lakers bench got clobbered by the opposition, Both Mo and Zaza had better than usual games, but I'll give this on to Zaza due to getting a double double for the first time in over a year, 2/10/09 vs. the Wizards.