Well, looks like the Champs start playing like Chumps earlier than usual and CP3 and company took advantage of it leaving the Lakers in shock and traling in the playoffs opener. No one outside Mamba and Artest showed up to play for the Lakers. Size advantage? You'd never know it as the smaller Hornets played bigger than the defending Chumps led by CP3 who had as many rebounds as Gasol and Odom combined. Have I mentioned that New Orleans second best player and primary post option, David West is out for the playoffs? What about the next best options, Ariza, Bellenli, and Landry were a combined 12 for 35, and still they won the game by 9, but only because Odom hit a late 3 pointer to end the game, if not they lose by double digits. The bench for the Chumps was abyssmal with only Lamar reaching double figures and losing that battle 39-18. Jarret Jack and Aaron Gray combined for 27 points 10/11 shooting, not that's efficiency. The worst was sidekick Pau Gasol who in 37 minutes could only muster 8 points and 6 rebounds, by far the worst I've ever seen him play in Laker uniform. As a unit, the Lakers looked sluggish and out of rythem and now have lost home court advantage for failing again to bring it every game. The Chumps did not deserve this game, and one can hope they take the Hornets seriously. A team with nothing to lose is pretty dangerous.
Player of the Game: CP3, toyed with anybody that dared try to guard him, led Hornets with 33 points on 11/18 shooting, 14 Dimes, 7 Boards, and 4 steals along with 9/12 from the stripe.
X-Factor: Aaron Gray i n 20 minutes did more than any of the big men for the Lakers, he was +25 when on the floor and finished a perfect 5/5, unfortunately he went down at end of game, we'll see how bad the injury is as the days go by, at least game 2 is not 'til Wednesday.
Should Have Been Benched: All Lakers save for Bryant and Artest, but specifically Pau. As part of the 1-2 combo he has to play better than this.
Laker Hater: Aaron Gray hit a season high on Sunday, the last time he reached double figures, way back in March 24, he reached double digits only 4 times all season including game 1. Amazing what playing the purple and gold do.
Overtime: The Lakers have never lost game 1 of an opening round in any of their title runs. Phil Jacksons teams have never lost game 1 of round 1 in any of their runs either. Conerning? Not really before last year, the Celtics had never lost a game 7 in the Finals, and that history stat didn't affect the outcome.
Player of the Game: CP3, toyed with anybody that dared try to guard him, led Hornets with 33 points on 11/18 shooting, 14 Dimes, 7 Boards, and 4 steals along with 9/12 from the stripe.
X-Factor: Aaron Gray i n 20 minutes did more than any of the big men for the Lakers, he was +25 when on the floor and finished a perfect 5/5, unfortunately he went down at end of game, we'll see how bad the injury is as the days go by, at least game 2 is not 'til Wednesday.
Should Have Been Benched: All Lakers save for Bryant and Artest, but specifically Pau. As part of the 1-2 combo he has to play better than this.
Laker Hater: Aaron Gray hit a season high on Sunday, the last time he reached double figures, way back in March 24, he reached double digits only 4 times all season including game 1. Amazing what playing the purple and gold do.
Overtime: The Lakers have never lost game 1 of an opening round in any of their title runs. Phil Jacksons teams have never lost game 1 of round 1 in any of their runs either. Conerning? Not really before last year, the Celtics had never lost a game 7 in the Finals, and that history stat didn't affect the outcome.
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