Kobe, Clarkson Shine in Win vs. Celtics

Always good to top an arch nemesis. Kobe Bryant recorded a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in his final game in Boston as the Lakers defeat the Celtics 112-104. However, Jordan Clarkson's performance stole the show, leading the Lakers in scoring with 24 points on 10-15 shooting. Lou Williams added 19 points while D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle added 16 points and 15 points respectively off the bench.

Final Score: @ Boston 112-104 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151230/LALBOS/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights: *TBP*

Next Game: vs. Philadelphia (01/01)

Lakers Fall to Hornets

Kobe Bryant was the Lakers' top scorer with 20 points, despite a horrid 5-20 shooting night in the Lakers' 98-108 loss to the Hornets in Charlotte last night. Larry Nance, Jr. added 12 points, and Jordan Clarkson added 11 points. Brandon Bass lead all scorers off the bench with 12 points and both Julius Randle and Nick Young added 11 points.


Final Score: @ Charlotte 98-108 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151228/LALCHA/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Boston (12/30)

Lakers Lose to Grizzlies Late Sunday Afternoon

Rookie, Larry Nance, Jr. was the top performer of this game, recording his first career double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds in the Lakers' 96-112 loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis. Kobe Bryant was the top scorer, adding 19 points and Jordan Clarkson added 12 points to round out the starters. D'Angelo Russell lead all scorers off the bench with 10 points and Julius Randle added 13 rebounds off the bench.

Final Score: @ Memphis 96-112 [L]

Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151227/LALMEM/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Charlotte (Today, 4:00 PM Pacific Time)

Lakers Almost Come Back from 20 Down vs. Clippers, Still Fell Short

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' Christmas Day matchup vs. the LA Clippers where the Clippers looked like they were gonna wrap this up as a route, but the Lakers made one hell of a surging comeback in the 4th quarter even though it was in a losing effort, ending up in a 94-84 defeat.

First off, Merry Christmas my fellow Laker brethren. I hope you guys had are having a good time, celebrating with your family and friends and unwrapping all kinds of goodies under the Christmas tree. Now onto this game, this game was a "snoozer" in the first three quarters. The Lakers were not making any kinds of shots, not even from the free throw line and they were committing all kinds of turnovers, allowing the Clippers to widen the lead. Then in the 4th quarter, the Lakers surged out of nowhere when it was supposed to be garbage time for the Clippers. It was a nice tease and giving us Laker fans something to wake up from off of this boring X-Mas game throughout the first three quarters.

(+)

D'Angelo Russell, 16 points, 7-13 shooting, 7 rebounds. In evaluating Russell's performance off the bench during this season, it is rather inconsistent. Russell will have a decent game in one game and then the next, he will be a non-factor. This counts as one of the decent games Russell had off the bench. He got off to a good start by shooting a near-perfect 5-6 from the field and as the game went on, he started to to show activity all-around with those 7 rebounds on his stat line. Some highlights he had this game: blocking Jamal Crawford and finding a cutting Marcelo Huertas for his only assist of the game. He was one of the guys that lead the charge in a surging 4th quarter.

Julius Randle, 11 points, 3-11 shooting, 8 rebounds. Julius Randle's stat line is ugly. However, due to his performance in the 4th quarter, we'll give him a positive here. His only three pointer of the game was the spark plug for the Lakers' attempted rally, but he showed more effort on the defensive end, grabbing every rebound from every missed Clipper shot in sight, making some hustle plays, and pushing the ball after playing good defense. And he's the only guy to have one of the better free throw shooting percentage because the Lakers couldn't capitalize on the free throw line.

(-)

Free throw shooting. Throughout three quarters, the Lakers were shooting 9-21 from the field. When they had that rally in the 4th, the first we'll look at is the horrid free throw stat line in which the Lakers would've given themselves a chance to win an upset had they made their free throws. Kobe Bryant missed a couple of free throws, Lou Williams missed some free throws, D'Angelo Russell missed his only pair of free throws. If the Clippers had kept this to a blowout, we wouldn't be talking about this, but knowing the final outcome, the free throws hurt in the long run. Nonetheless, the Lakers finished 13-25 at the free throw line.

Turnovers. Though the Clippers committed the most turnovers due to the Lakers' relentless 4th quarter efforts, the Lakers were gift wrapping turnovers all game long. Head-to-head-wise against this Clippers team, the Lakers are turnover prone against them and this game is added to the recent trend. If you want to know why the Clippers keep blowing the Lakers out, it's because the Lakers can't take care of the ball and it results into easy points for the Clippers.

Conclusion

Overall, this game had only one good quarter, the 4th quarter, but everything else was just dominated by the Clippers. However, it was a good effort by the Lakers. They could've stopped trying, knowing it was a blowout, but they kept hanging in there and they made the Clippers' glaring hole known that they don't have a bench to close out the game when their starters get the job done early on in the game. At the end of the day, it's a loss and we are reminded once again that the Lakers are doing a tank job for the top pick. Well, this concludes my Christmas stretch by covering the Raiders game last night on Christmas Eve and covering this game tonight on Christmas Day. It's always the thought that counts and this is my gift for you guys by covering the blog on back-to-back nights. Merry Christmas to all and to all and good night. I'll see you guys later.

12/25: Christmas Day Game: LAKERS vs. LA Clippers Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

LAC 94 LAL 84

Through three quarters, this game was a blowout. Then, in the 4th quarter, the Lakers almost gave the Clippers a heart attack. Where was this effort the whole game? I must admit, I had a smile this quarter because it looked like the Clippers would have an epic collapse like they did against the Rockets in the playoffs. Entertaining quarter, but the effort was in vain and the Clippers pulled it out. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

LAC 85 LAL 57

The Lakers can't get any points, not even from the free throw line. 9-21 from the free throw line through three quarters of this game and the Clippers are just picking them apart. This is not a surprising outcome, but the free throw shooting for the Lakers this game, my goodness.

Q2:

LAC 60 LAL 44

Kobe Bryant found some life this quarter, hitting a pair of impossible threes to ignite the crowd. It's still not enough though. Whenever the Lakers look they're responding, the Clippers respond back in a big way to retain the lead or better yet, widen it up. It is what it is. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

LAC 32 LAL 21

Paul Pierce's air ball at the end ensues hilarity much to the delight of the Staples Center crowd. Other than that, the start is what you expect. The Clippers are too good offensively and when they're in transition off turnovers, it spells bad news for the Lakers and the Lakers committed 4 turnovers this quarter. Luckily, D'Angelo Russell and surprisingly, Roy Hibbert are off to a good start and they're lone bright spots for the Lakers offense.

LAKERS-Clippers Halftime Post

LAC 60 LAL 44

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Lakers' Christmas Day matchup vs. the LA Clippers where the Clippers have a comfortable 60-44 lead at the half.

(+)

D'Angelo Russell, 12 points, 5-6 shooting. This is probably the only positive I can find during the first half. When the Laker offense looked dead in the water to start, Russell gets inserted into the lineup and provided a much needed spark. Russell is off to a great start, maybe his best start in his rookie season, making 5 shots out of 6 attempts, a pair of three pointers. I thought he was efficient during the first half.

(-)


Turnovers. 9 turnovers in the first half and it's one of the many reasons why the Lakers are put into this hole right now against the Clippers. We all know the end result whenever the Clippers generate a turnover. They simply cash in with points in transition.

Defense. This is an inevitable negative for the Lakers this season. They are not finishing by boxing out for a rebound and they're letting the Clippers destroy them whether it's at the paint or in the pick and roll sets. Chris Paul is having his way with 14 points and J.J. Redick was abusing Lou Williams in the first quarter alone.

Bottom Line

A win may be far from attainability, but the Lakers just have to compete and make this game a game. Their first priority should be limiting the turnovers. Make them work for their shots instead of gift wrapping them some points from made shots. Let's see what happens.

Raiders Send Off Charles Woodson a Winner in Final Home Game vs. Chargers

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' TNF matchup vs. the San Diego Chargers on the night before Christmas where in an emotional game of epic proportions and that lasted almost over three hours, the Raiders eventually prevailed and they win it for Charles Woodson, beating the Chargers 20-23 in OT.

First off, Merry Christmas Raider Nation! I hope you guys are having a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your friends and family. To all the East Coast fans, Merry Christmas to you guys as it is 12 midnight and I'm sure you guys are unwrapping all your presents while us West Coast guys have to wait three more hours to unwrap our gifts. Onto this game, Raider Nation, this was the best Christmas present we can ask for: a win on Christmas Eve and definitely, this is the best present C-Wood can ever ask for. This game was an emotional one of epic proportions. Not only is this Woodson's last game, but it could possibly be the last game in Oakland, so there would be tears in the stands. The way the game was played out, it took the life out of us and credit where credit is due, the Chargers' defense tightened things up here for this game and kept the offense in check. But, like I said in the halftime post, the defense needed a play and late in the 4th, they managed to force a fumble to get the Raiders back into it. Grueling game, but it ended in jubilation with a W.

(+)

Latavius Murray, 19 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD, 6 receptions, 62 yards. I think this was Murray's best all-around game of the season. You guys could argue the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets games were Murray's best, but this game against the Chargers, he wasn't just used in the running game, but in the passing and caught a perfect 6 receptions off 6 targets. Though many said he had one of the best hands out of the backfield, he just couldn't show it because the football was bouncing off his finger tips or he was catching with his chest. He fully demonstrated the use of his hands and catching ability out of the backfield. Not to mention, he broke 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. It was a good, balanced, all-around game for the "Tay Train."

Defense. How the defense was able to hold the Chargers to 20 points was beyond me. The D-line wasn't getting any pressure on Rivers, the secondary was getting picked apart like an apple tree all game. It also didn't help that they made some untimely penalties after making a 3rd down stop, but they hung around. Malcolm Smith and Ben Heeney were tackling machines out there. Smith recorded 14 total tackles, Heeney added 9 tackles. Like I said, I hate the philosophy of "bend, but don't break" on defense, but a timely turnover in the 4th was that's needed to provide a spark for the Raiders and they delivered again to win the game off a 4th and 3 play in OT.

(-)

Penalties. 15 penalties for 121 yards. Most of it were due to false starts and holdings. The O-line as a whole didn't play their best this game and they were accountable for most of those penalties because of false start and holding calls against them. The way this game played out, it reminded me a whole lot of 2011 when the Raiders set the record for most penalties in a season. It's a mixture that Del Rio needs to discipline these guys and the refs need to quit throwing flags on literally every snap of each play.

Offensive playcalling. Personally after this game, I don't know if Bill Musgrave is the long-term answer for this offense that has so much talent on the field. I will note out the O-line's poor performance this game and Amari Cooper's injury as reasons why the offense couldn't get anything going. But Musgrave's calling didn't help any way either. 2nd and long or 3rd and long, what does Musgrave draw up? A checkdown, a screen pass, a quick throw that just generates minimal gains when the Raiders have so much ground to cover up to extend the drive and get a first down. Despite cashing in on the turnover to tie the game up and the long first drive in OT that set up Sebass' field goal, the offensive playcalling was lackluster and uninspiring all game long.

Conclusion

Overall, the Raiders didn't play a clean game, but against all odds, they did just enough to get a W. The Chargers blew a lot of games this season, but hey, the Raiders blew a lot of games too that they could've won. It was a matter which team could finish the game and luckily the Raiders got on the winning side after the Chargers pretty much dominated the whole game, but they couldn't put the game away. It was ugly, but a win is a win and Charles Woodson walks out a winner in the Raiders' final home game in Oakland.

Let me take the time to say this personally: Charles Woodson, C-Wood, when I was a kid, still understanding the game of football, I didn't understand how great you were in your first go around with the Raiders. You made some plays, but I couldn't jog them in my memory. When you returned to Oakland after establishing yourself as a champion and a leader in Green Bay, your return gave me a chance to witness your greatness as a young adult Raider fan who possessed more commitment and more knowledge about the game of football and I savored every second of it. Your return to Oakland was exactly what the Raider organization needed. It was a symbol of hope, a symbol of change, a symbol that would ignite the renaissance of Raiders football. Though it sucks you can't return for another year in to be a part the great turnaround, we, the Raider Nation are glad that this change in restoring the pride and glory of Raiders football started when you returned before you called it a career. You truly are one of the greatest to play the game of football and most definitely, you are a first ballot Hall of Famer. We'll see you in Canton, Ohio with that gold jacket on in the near future.

Thank You...

Week 16: Emotional X-Mas Eve Thursday Night Game RAIDERS vs. San Diego Chargers Q-by-Q Reaction

The last home game for Charles Woodson, it could be the final game in Oakland as talks of relocating to LA loom as the season ends. This is going to be an emotional night.

OT:

SD 20 OAK 23

Grueling game to watch. Oh my goodness. The Raiders had every opportunity to win in the first drive and they unveiled the special play with Woodson on offense. They had to settle for field goal and finally they get the stop they need on 4th and 3 to send Charles Woodson out a winner in Oakland. Beautiful farewell words by C-Wood after the game, thanking the fans, igniting the chant of "RAIDERS" one last time. Long way to give him a win, but it was worth it. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q4:

SD 20 OAK 20

This has been a poorly officiated game. Great rally from the Raiders though to take a brief lead after a fumble. Good heads up play by Benson Mayowa that set up a Michael Crabtree TD. The Chargers drove down the field for game tying field goal thanks to a PI by D.J. Hayden. Oh well, we get extra time. That means more action here.

Q3:

SD 17 OAK 12

Well, the safety finally got us something to cheer for. Other than that, both offenses struggled to get anything going this quarter. The Raiders offense had an opportunity to cash in on the safety and yet another quick 3 and out. It's either Musgrave is calling poor plays or the lack of depth on the O-line is starting to show, particularly on the right side. Feliciano got put on roller skates big time on the last 3rd down play.

Q2:

SD 17 OAK 10

What separates this game from the last game so far? The Chargers have their linebackers healthy. Te'o, Perryman, they weren't present in the week 6 game and they have proven to be a huge difference. The Raiders' offense, aside from the running game, they couldn't get anything going in the passing game and Carr took a sack, which all quarterbacks don't want to do when they're driving for field goal range. Well, good effort from the lateral to end the quarter, but the Chargers kept things in check to prevent a Hail Mary. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

SD 7 OAK 7

That's not one of the ways to close out a quarter, running with Latavius Murray for a loss. This game had some deja vu of last week's game vs. the Packers. Derek Carr is commanding a respectable drive, then he throws a pick, setting up a Charger TD. However, his throw was tipped. But, great response after with Murray running loose for a 22 yard TD to tie the game up.

RAIDERS-Chargers Halftime Post

SD 17 OAK 10

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' TNF matchup vs. the San Diego Chargers where the Chargers have a one touchdown lead, 17-10 at the half.

(+)

Latavius Murray, 12 carries, 66 yards, TD. We'd figure before the end of the season Murray would reach the 1,000 yard mark and this game was perfect given the Chargers' run defense is not that great. Murray becomes the first 1,000 yard rusher for the Raiders since Darren McFadden in 2010. He's running hard out there and credit to the O-line for opening up holes for him. Of course the highlight of the first half is when he burned the Chargers for a 22 yard run for a TD to tie it up at 7 a piece.

(-)

Penalties. Though the Chargers have a slight edge for most penalties with 5 compared to the Raiders' 4, the Raiders are committing penalties at the most crucial times they need to extend the drive. The false start and holding calls are coming to them at critical and when special teams finally shows their bag of tricks, they get called for illegal formation.

Defense. The pass defense was awful in the 1st half, there is no denying that. Most of that is because there is no pass rush generated. Philip Rivers is taking full advantage of that with a lot of quick passes that turn into big gains and they are rarely running the ball. With Mario Edwards, Jr. being put on IR after the Green Bay game, the lack of depth is starting to show and that results in less opportunities for Mack to put pressure on Rivers.

Bottom Line

Like I said, the offense had their way against the Chargers back in Week 6. However, with the return of Weddle, Te'o, and Perryman, it's not translating into the same winning formula. I don't understand why Derek Carr is being put under center more than playing in the shotgun. A few plays in the shotgun would help. On defense, somebody has to make a play because Rivers is going to have all day to burn this defense if there's no pressure on the D-line. Let's see what happens.

^ taken from my personal Facebook page

It's going to be quite an emotional experience of epic proportions on Thursday Night on Christmas Eve. Possibly the last game for the Raiders in Oakland and C-Wood's final NFL game, donning the Silver and Black.

Early Turnovers, Penalties Doom Raiders' Playoff Hopes vs. Packers

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers where the Raiders kept this game competitive for the most part, but ill-advised turnovers by Derek Carr and a couple of penalties from the defensive backs hurt the Raiders in the long run as they fall to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 30-20.

This loss ensures another non-winning season. Considering the turnovers and the missed red zone opportunities, I had this same gut feeling that the Raiders would not come back and win this game. I had some hope when Amari Cooper caught two of the TDs, but I got glimpses from the Viking game back week 10. As soon as the Raiders took the lead, they "giveth" away as the Packers quickly strike to retake the lead. The 4th quarter, just something about that quarter, the Raiders couldn't get over the hump. They made some strides in the Baltimore, Cleveland, and last week's game against the Broncos at Denver in closing out 4th quarters,  but majority of this season, it has been all missed opportunities in showing up in the 4th quarter.

(+)

Amari Cooper, 6 receptions, 120 yards, 2 TDs. Outside of this blog, I've been conversing with my brother and a few of my friends who are Raider fans that Amari Cooper is due for a multiple TD game at some point of the season. My prediction was correct and aside from recording his first multiple TD game, he broke the 1,000 yard mark. Amari Cooper becomes the first Raider receiver since Randy Moss to reach 1,000 yards in one season. Yes, he's been plagued by drops and kept in check in some games, but next year, like the game slowed down for Derek Carr this year, the game will slow down for Cooper in his sophomore season. For the most part, Cooper burned the Packers' cornerbacks this game. Now, it should be noted that the Packers were playing without their best corner in Sam Shields, but that opened up some opportunity and Coop cashed in before the Packers' defense decided to put safety help. With Roberts out and Crabtree in and out because of an injury, Coop stepped up big time this game. On another note, he becomes the first rookie receiver to record multiple TDs on the Packers since Randy Moss. It's going to be one heck of a battle between Coop and Todd Gurley for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but I think this game will slightly break the deadlock in favor in Coop.

(-)

Turnovers. I think the Derek Carr's INTs set the tone for this game. To be down 14-0 quick in the first quarter is insurmountable by Raider standards. Despite the fact Derek Carr redeemed by throwing 2 TDs, the INTs were just killers and it set up a bad omen that the Raiders wouldn't be able to swipe this game away from the Packers.

Penalties. Defensive backs are so going to be the major emphasis in the offseason. Although, I will note that most of the PI calls were questionable. It's like every time the Raiders' defense gets a stop against the Packers' offense, the referees just have to get in on the action by flagging the defensive backs and what does that result in? The Packers getting second chance opportunities and the defense getting gassed out because they can't get off the field with these ticky-tacky flags. The Packers got away with some holding calls that weren't called, which is why Khalil Mack couldn't follow up from his 5 sack performance last week. I could argue all day, but the Raiders need a stout core of defensive backs so that these PIs don't get us Raider fans to jump because I was screaming expletives at the TV every time the a flag comes out after a third down stop for the Raiders' defense.

Red Zone opportunities. Like the INTs, the first two missed red zone opportunities were killers as well like Seth Roberts dropping a sure-handed TD. The Packer fans can argue either way because they know their team missed some red zone opportunities, but the Raiders needed to cash in on their opportunities the most to recover from a quick 14-0 deficit. The two aforementioned negatives and this one were key factors on what went wrong this game.

Conclusion

Well, this game shuts down playoff talks from here on out at this point of the season. But, despite ensuring another losing season Raider Nation, we can't deny that this team is on the rise. This game was definitely a tough loss, but this is a young team and they will take experience from these games. Closing out teams should be the emphasis next season because they were close in getting a few more wins. The Raiders need to just win out and get to .500. 8-8 is better than finishing 4-12 twice and 3-13. They get a short week because they play the Chargers on Christmas Eve, Thursday night. All we want for Christmas is a Raider win! I'll see you guys on Thursday, hopefully. It's going to be interesting for me to balance out covering a Raider game and talking with family. I'll see you guys later.

Week 15: "A-Rod vs. 'Baby A-Rod'" RAIDERS vs. Green Bay Packers Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

GB 30 OAK 20

I said it in my halftime post, it would only be a matter of time before Aaron Rodgers and the Packer offense to start clicking and their defense to tighten up. After a brief 17-20 lead, it just went downhill from there. Too many questionable penalties couldn't get the Raiders' defense off the field. Despite the defense surrendering field goals instead of TDs, the offense just couldn't get anything clicking in this quarter. These kinds of games is something that the Raiders have to develop next season. They have to show up when it matters the most in the 4th quarter. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

GB 24 OAK 20

This quarter was just like the Vikings game minus the kickoff return for the TD in which Korey Toomer made the TD-saving tackle. But first off, congrats to Amari Cooper, breaking the 1,000 yard mark this quarter. First receiver to break 1,000 yards for the Raiders since Randy Moss in 2005 and the first rookie receiver in a long time to break it. Back to the game, as soon as the Raiders worked to take the lead, Packers respond with a quick drive for a TD in taking advantage of busted coverage. Packers are still driving right now, but the Raiders need a key stop.

Q2:

GB 14 OAK 13

After two frustrating missed red zone opportunities, the Raiders' defense made a key takeaway in recovering a fumble by James Starks. It was good hit from Woodson as well and Benson Mayowa recovered it. Then, Derek Carr decided to go no huddle. Reece and Rivera set up good gains and the drive capped off with a much needed AC/DC TD. Great momentum builder at the half.

Q1:

GB 14 OAK 0

Ugh, well this quarter sucked for the most part. It started off positive, Latavius Murray was getting a couple of nice runs to get the running game going for the Raiders. Then, that start faded out with Carr's costly interceptions both leading to TDs. I know this quarter is going to bring up the Carr skeptics and yes that was a disappointing quarter for Carr. However, he has responded well so far and is driving the offense to a possible score.

RAIDERS-Packers Halftime Post

GB 14 OAK 13

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers where the Packers cling to a 14-13 lead at the half.

(+)

Latavius Murray, 15 carries, 64 rushing yards. As frustrating as the running game was, the last 2 or 3 games, the running game got off to a good start. Getting the running game going was highly by Jack Del Rio and it's running this game. Credit to the O-line though for creating up holes, Jon Feliciano has filled in admirably so far at the right guard position. Murray has found some big holes and that got the running game juiced up.

Defense. Khalil Mack with another sack, Charles Woodson and company had a key takeaway. Aside from the first score, in which it was set up by a Carr INT, the Raiders' defense has not allowed Aaron Rodgers and this Packer offense to drive into the end zone at will. The defense is doing an admirable job once again.

(-)

Red Zone opportunities. This could've been 14-21. The first drive, a Packers' penalty ensured a free play opportunity and Seth Roberts could not haul in a sure-handed touchdown. Then, the 2nd drive Carr just had nobody open and just throw it away. Those are key missed red zone opportunities, but looks like the offense managed to shake off the slow start.

Derek Carr's 2 INTs. Carr has redeemed the last few drives, but it was an awful first quarter start for Derek Carr. The first INT, it could be argued there was missed communication, but the Packers were bringing the pressure and Carr just had to make something instead of taking a sack. The 2nd one that lead to a pick 6, was definitely an overthrow to Seth Roberts. But, Carr has picked up from his slump.

Bottom Line

The Raiders have the ball back and the Derek Carr to Amari Cooper TD should be a momentum builder for this offense to get going. A balanced effort from the offense and defense of the Raiders needs to be in effect because you never know when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense are going to start clicking and when their defense is going to start to tightening things up. Let's see what happens.

Lakers Get Hammered by Thunder

And it wasn't even close. Lou Williams was the Lakers' top performer with 20 points on 5-11 shooting, but the Lakers, without Kobe Bryant, were severely outmatched by OKC this game as they get destroyed by Thunder 78-118. Jordan Clarkson was the only other Laker starter in double figures with 15 points. Nick Young lead all scorers off the bench with 15 points and D'Angelo Russell chipped in 12 points off the bench.

Final Score: @ Oklahoma City 78-118 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151219/LALOKC/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

*TBP*

Next Game: @ Denver (12/22)

Kobe Bryant Turns Back the Clock in Lakers' Loss to Rockets

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Houston Rockets where the Lakers got a bit of a throwback performance from Kobe Bryant, but they just couldn't secure a victory as they fall to the Rockets 107-87.

First off, it's good to be back and knowing that I survived a hellacious week of finals. It was a tough decision for me to contract some activities here on the blog. But, I made it in one piece and I'm free to resume activities here of covering games for you guys. If there was one thing to describe this game, despite the loss, it was nostalgic. We all know that Kobe Bryant is no longer at the top of his game anymore, but performances like this is what makes him a legend and one of the all-time greats to play the game. Tonight was one of those games where we were reminded on what kind of a player Kobe was in his heyday. Now of course, this game shouldn't all be about Kobe. The Lakers had a chance to rally, but they had too many turnovers down the stretch. I'm not too angry about this loss because the Lakers have to keep that top pick. They already won against Milwaukee, the cost-benefit of winning again is that they win, but they decrease their chances at a top 3 pick for the draft.

(+)

Kobe Bryant, 22 points, 9-16 shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 assists. On social media, Thursday is usually defined as "Throwback Thursday." Kobe definitely provided a throwback moment this game whether it was splitting defenders and driving to the hoop for a tough, contested layup or isolating a defender one on one, dancing with the defender, and knocking down a jump shot, Kobe's arsenal in the past was on full display this game. Of course, we have to include the highlight when he posterized the young fella, Clint Capela. It goes to show that those 37 year old legs still have some hops in them, despite all the injuries. Now, I may be overreacting on this a bit, but it was just good to see that he's still able to pull off those patented moves (watch all the Jordan fans come at me for this). Like I said, it's rare to see Kobe pull off a performance like this during the season, but once he performs like he did this game, it just brings an overflow of memories from us Laker fans. It's not just only his performance, but he was doing the little things as well, such as securing defensive rebounds and getting teammates. He could've had more assists, but some players had a tough time catching Kobe's passes or they couldn't finish the shot attempt.

(-)

Turnovers. The stats indicate that it was close in the turnover category as the Rockets committed 13 while the Lakers committed 14, but the Lakers committed the most turnovers when it mattered the most. In the 4th quarter, the Lakers were within striking distance. They were hanging around and competing against this Rockets team. However, too many turnovers just doomed them and that translated to easy points in transition for the Rockets. As a young squad, they just have to develop the skill of taking care of the ball. I'm sure as Clarkson, Randle, and Russell continue to grow together and develop, they'll get the memo of not turning the ball over when the game is on the line.

Offensive rebounding. The Rockets thoroughly dominated this category and it wasn't even that close. One of the key fundamentals of playing defense in basketball is to box out for the rebound. No defensive sequence is complete until a defensive rebound is secured. Aside from Kobe and Julius Randle's rebounding, there was just no activity at the defensive end to secure some boards and gain possession. The Rockets generated all kinds of activity in getting 2nd chance possessions the lead to points. Knowing that the Rockets are capable of shooting the three ball and dominating the paint, it turns into an ugly result when you can't box out. Luckily, the Rockets had an off night from beyond the arc in this game, but it could've created an uglier margin of defeat if they hit their shots.

Conclusion

Overall we have to remember two things: this Laker team, outside of Kobe Bryant, are still learning the game at the professional level and they have to secure a top 3 pick or they will lose their first round pick if they don't make it at least into the top 3 of the 2016 draft. Yes, this game was against a struggling Rockets team, but there was no chance that this Laker team was able to matchup with established All-Stars like Harden and Howard. Their last meeting was self-explanatory in which the Rockets blew out the Lakers in Houston last Saturday. The Lakers will gain a couple of wins here and there, but at the end of the day, the team needs all the draft picks they can to secure a bright future after the Kobe Bryant era is over. I'll see you guys later on Christmas Day for the matchup against baby brother, LA Clippers.

12/17: LAKERS vs. Houston Rockets Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

HOU 107 LAL 87

When the Rockets build up their leaders, the Lakers attempt to make a comeback. When the Lakers make a comeback, the Rockets respond emphatically. This was the story of the game all night long. The Lakers made this game close early on, but the Rockets just proved to be too much. One thing about this game though, Kobe Bryant pulled a nostalgia act this game and as a Laker fan, it was a sight to behold. Enjoy it while it lasts guys because he's not always going to make magical moments like this all the time this season, but like Reggie Miller said, watching Kobe Bryant is worth the price of admission. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

HOU 78 LAL 68

Well, we know what the highlight of this quarter was: the man, the myth, the legend himself, the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. He truly turned back the clock 10 years, splitting defenders to get to the hoop, dancing one and one against a defender and knocking down a jumper, and we all found out that he could still dunk, even at age 37, putting Clint Capela in his poster that even Dwight had to smile, That was a great sequence for Kobe and provided a lot of nostalgia for the fans. The Lakers' offense fed off that, despite being down by 10 heading into the 4th.

Q2:

HOU 52 LAL 39

During this quarter, the Lakers were trailing only by 4 points. After that, the Rockets responded right back and ballooned the lead a bit. It's just a combination of bad defense and allowing the Rockets 2nd chance opportunities for the Lakers. This is the common theme so far in this game and that's why whenever the Lakers try to make comeback, they allow opposing teams to go on ahead and extend the lead. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

HOU 29 LAL 18

Well, a decent finish to end the quarter for the Lakers. But, allowing the Rockets 7 offensive rebounds, 62% shooting from beyond the arc is not a good way to start for the Lakers. Early on, their energy was sapped as the offense couldn't click and the defense was sloppy as usual. Luckily, a strong effort at the end to put the deficit within 11 saved this quarter from being mediocre for the Lakers.

LAKERS-Rockets Halftime Post

HOU 52 LAL 39

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Houston Rockets where the Rockets have a 52-39 advantage at the half.

(+)

Julius Randle, 11 points, 4-10 shooting, 4 rebounds. They got Randle the ball early on and despite the poor shooting, he's doing his job getting inside and making shots. He opened up his three ball game as well during the 2nd quarter as he made a three off an assist by Kobe, recording his first career three. But aside from that, Randle was doing what he does best and that is attacking the rim and using his versatility to exploit bigger power forwards and that also translates to his activity on the boards, grabbing 4 rebounds already in the game.

Kobe Bryant, 7 points, 3-7 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists. Kobe started to play well in the Tuesday game vs. the Bucks. The shooting stats say otherwise, we're not going to expect Kobe to give us spectacular performances on the day-to-day basis, but this game he's doing his job getting teammates involved and securing rebounds on the offensive end. He could've had more assists if some of the Laker players finished their shot.

(-)

Points in the paint. I don't have the points in the paint stats for the Rockets, but based on the 2nd quarter and parts of the 1st quarter, the Rockets have a dozen points in the paint. That's because the Lakers are getting caught sleepwalking when in transition and that lead to many opportunities for the Rockets to get easy shots in the low post area.

Offensive rebounding. Even though the rebounding was close as the Rockets have 10 offensive rebounds compared to the Lakers' 9, the Rockets were able to cash in on most of their offensive rebounding to get 2nd chance possessions and points. The Lakers have to find a way to box out because the Rockets are a good 3 point shooting team and they have some inside presence in Dwight Howard that they can just dish the ball to if there's an opening.

Bottom Line

The good news is that the Lakers are not down by a lot. This Rockets team is a lot different than last season because they are off to a slow start, but they can get hot once Harden gets hot and every Rocket player feeds off of Harden's game. The Lakers need to come out with more energy and continue to hang around as much as possible until the moment presents itself in which they can finish the game strong and secure an upset victory. Let's see what happens.

HELL F*CKING YEAH! *Warning: NSFW Language*

Since 2011, I've been waiting for this moment! RAIDERS BEAT THE F*CKING DENVER DONKEYS! OH YEAH! This is your fate Bronc-HOES in the coming future when Peyton finally retires and that #1 defense breaks down to sh*t! Khalil Mack is a motherf*cking beast! 5 sacks, breaking the double digit barrier this season. Clive Walford is one hell of a security blanket. Holy sh*t. I'm happy. I gotta get back to studying. Sorry I couldn't get cover the game today. But I still managed to see the game and what a win! F*ck the Broncos! I'll resume activities next week.

MechG Announcement 12/10

Hey Raider Nation, Laker Nation, I just want to make a quick announcement on the coverage of tomorrow's Laker game @ San Antonio Spurs and Sunday's Raider game @ Denver Broncos. This was tough for me to make this call, but it is for the better. I will not post up a Q-by-Q reaction, Halftime, or Full Recap posts for these games. I have finals in the next few days and I want to give myself time to study and prepare for my exams and turn in a few papers. Usually, I keep my college life behind "closed doors" when it comes to running this blog, but to tell you the truth, I was taking a boat load of units that are beyond the full time student load this semester (18 units to be exact) while covering Raider games and nationally televised Laker games for you guys on this blog. This was a tough decision to make for me. I love keeping you guys posted during game day, but priorities are priorities and academics always come first. You gotta love or reminisce about the college life at this time of the year, especially when you're a senior just wanting to get the hell out of your university as soon as possible. That's the current situation I'm in now. Other than that, there will be no coverage of tomorrow's Laker game @ the Spurs and Sunday's Raider game @ the Broncos. I'll resume all activity when the Lakers play the Rockets on Dec. 17 and when the Raiders play the Packers in week 15 of the 2015 NFL Season. Thanks guys, I'll see you later.

Lakers' Young Core Makes Major Strides in OT Loss to T'Wolves

Though this game counts as a loss in the books, the future of the Lakers showed signs of life this game. D'Angelo Russell was the leading scorer for the Lakers, racking up a career high 23 points on 8-20 shooting off the bench, but his clutch heroics fell a little short as the Lakers lose to the Timberwolves 122-123 in OT. Julius Randle notched yet another double-double on the bench, recording 20 points and 12 rebounds and Nick Young was the third leading-scorer off the bench with 13 points. Onto the starters, Lou Williams was the overall top performer this game with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, Jordan Clarkson added 14 points, and Kobe Bryant, for the last time in Minnesota, finished up with 11 points on 5-13 shooting.

Final Score: @ Minnesota 122-123 (OT) [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151209/LALMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: @ San Antonio (12/11)

Lakers Fall to Raptors

Hopefully, Philadelphia wins at least a couple of games more in order for the Lakers to luck out for the top pick. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant continues his farewell tour in Toronto, becoming the Lakers' top performer with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, but the Lakers tact on another loss, falling to the Raptors 93-102. Jordan Clarkson added 13 points and Lou Williams got promoted to start racking up 15 points. What happened to D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle? Well, Byron Scott have them come off the bench for some inexplicable reason. Randle happened to be the beneficiary, recording yet another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while D'Angelo Russell struggled, racking up 9 points.

Final Score: @ Toronto 93-102 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151207/LALTOR/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Minnesota (12/09)

Lakers Fall to Pistons

Lou Williams was the Lakers' top performer, scoring 21 points off the bench on 6-12 shooting, but the Pistons proved to be too much as the Lakers lose 91-111 in Detroit. Julius Randle added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds and D'Angelo Russell added 12 points. How did Kobe Bryant fare in his final game in Detroit? Well, it was pretty nightmarish as Kobe only scores 5 points on 2-15 shooting.

Final Score: @ Detroit 91-111 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151206/LALDET/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Toronto (12/07)

Offensive Mistakes, Conservative Playcalling Dooms Raiders' Season vs. Chiefs

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' divisional matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs where the Raiders had a lot of opportunities with the defense generating 2 turnovers, getting after the quarterback with 4 sacks, but the offense was a little too conservative and made too many mistakes against a streaky Chiefs team, losing 34-20 and possibly putting playoff hopes to rest for good.

Crushing loss, but it's no surprise that the Raiders couldn't handle a team that is on a hot winning streak. That was evident with the way they handled the game vs. Minnesota three weeks ago. I said last week that starting from this game against Kansas City, this was going to be a tough stretch for the Raiders to try and extend their playoff hopes and it was obviously a long shot. There's just absolutely nothing to say here other than that this is the game where the playoff hopes die.

(+)

Defense. You take away Carr's 3 turnovers in which two of those set up some TDs, the defense bended at times, but they didn't break. The Raiders defense managed 4 sacks against a very mobile QB in Alex Smith and they did a good job exploiting Kansas City's thin O-line. Charles Woodson, the ageless wonder, generated two turnovers off forced fumbles when the Chiefs had an ongoing streak of not turning the football over since their game against Minnesota. Despite giving up two rushing TDs, the defense held its own. When the Chiefs scored off two turnovers, they managed to block a pair of extra points to keep the game within reach. Another note, Mack had another multiple sack game and that should put him at double digits in the sack category this season, great leap from his rookie season.

(-)

Derek Carr's 3 turnovers. No doubt Derek Carr is a polarizing figure among the Raider Nation. Some say, he's the answer, while some are still skeptical. I consider myself a Derek Carr fan, but at the end of the day, I'm a fan of the team first and the player second and Carr wasn't that good this game, especially down the stretch. I like his competitiveness, I like his leadership, but there are times when he does too much. Particularly in this game, he was under pressure, he tried to make a play, and then it gets picked off by Josh Mauga who almost took it to the house. Carr looks like a seasoned veteran, but there are times when he should realize that the play is dead and best way is to just throw it away and live another down. The next two picks: one by the rookie Marcus Peters and the other by former Raider, Tyvon Branch were a result of miscommunication and putting the ball at the wrong place. Knowing Carr, he holds himself accountable for every game, but he still has much to learn in clutch situations even though he already lead three game-winning drives in his young career.

Bill Musgrave's playcalling. I had to laugh at what Dennis O'Donnell said in the 5th Quarter Post Game show that he said Bill Musgrave did a good job in the playcalling. Technically speaking, he did a good job for four possessions, but the rest of that was just bland playcalling: run up the middle, short pass, screen passes that weren't gaining anything because the Kansas City defense saw it coming, check downs on 3rd and long. He got bailed out on the turnovers and the quick 3 and outs the defense was generating to make his playcalling look respectable. The only time he did a good job was on the Raiders' first possession in both halves on offense. Everything else, he just shut it down and played too conservative.

Sebastian Janikowski, 1 missed PAT, 1 missed field goal. He'll benefit from the poor field conditions at the Coliseum and Marquette King's slight mishandling of the hold, but both of those kicks ricocheted off the tip of the upright and both the missed extra point and missed 49 yard field goal came back to haunt the Raiders. Those are things that Sebass can make in his sleep, but they were just terrible misses.

Conclusion

The good news, the Raiders are not mathematically out, the bad news, they play the Broncos in Denver next week and Brock Osweiler is doing one heck of a job filling in for Peyton Manning. Oh, and they still have a pretty incredible defense. The outlook is looking bleak for the Raiders and their playoff hopes. I look at this as a "play for pride" game. Let me remind you guys again, there is no other divisional rival I hate more than the Broncos. They haven't won against the Broncos since opening night in 2011 and that was the last time they won a game at Mile High. They need to snap the losing streak. It's been so long that they've won a game against them and they are due, but it's going to be a tall task with that defense and since Osweiler allows Gary Kubiak's offense to run properly. A win against them at Denver can salvage this season and may help establish the Raiders' AFC West dominance next season and beyond whether they stay in Oakland or move to L.A. I'll see you guys next week for the Broncos game.

Week 13: Must-Win Divisional Matchup RAIDERS vs. Kansas City Chiefs Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

KC 34 OAK 20

The playoff run is over. To lose this game and then going over to Denver, yeah chances of winning that game are slim to none. Adding insult to injury, Tyvon Branch comes back to Oakland and picks off Derek Carr to seal the game and erase all hope for a comeback. It also didn't help that Bill Musgrave called a bland offensive game plan aside from the first drive of the game. Stay tune for the full recap.

Q3:

KC 14 OAK 20

Well, better playcalling by Musgrave after the Chiefs cashed in on their opening drive in the 3rd. However a missed extra point by Sebass left the door ajar for Kansas City to potentially come back. Luckily, the defense continues to play lights out and forced a quick 3 and out to give Carr and company the ball back. The Raiders need to finish! Another long drive for a TD could do it.

Q2:

KC 7 OAK 14

Thank you Charles Woodson for saving this boring quarter! Bill Musgrave was calling a lot of poor plays and that lead to a lot of three and outs. But, just when the Chiefs were about to get within field goal range to take the lead, Woodson strips Travis Kelce and takes it almost to the house and that set up a Carr TD pass to Crabtree for the Raiders to take the lead. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

KC 7 OAK 7

Good opening drive by the Raiders. They were able to give the Chiefs every look there with a balance of quick passes and running the ball with Murray and Murray gained a big chunk of 44 yards and that was all that was needed to set up a TD. The Chiefs got the benefit of penalties to answer back, either they were bad or questionable, but Sebass needed to kick that ball out of the end zone. The Chiefs have good field position once again after Cooper failed to haul in a 4th and 2 pass.

RAIDERS-Chiefs Halftime Post

KC 7 OAK 14

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' divisional rivalry and a must-win matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs where the Raiders have a 7-14 advantage at the half in this critical game.

(+)

Defense. The Chiefs have not turned the ball over since the Vikings game. Alex Smith knows how to escape out of the pocket. The Raider defense managed to get 2 turnovers against the Chiefs and 3 sacks on Smith. The Charles Woodson forced fumble on Travis Kelce for the Raiders to take the lead was huge. The Chiefs taking the lead would've foreshadowed bad news ahead of the game, but a turnover was needed, make that 2. The sacks were big as well, Khalil Mack now has 9.5 sacks of the season, just half a sack away from reaching double digits, Mario Edwards, Jr. continues to prove us wrong and living up to 2nd round pick expectations, and Ben Heeney saw some action too. The pass rush is doing its job as well, especially given how Alex Smith is so mobile.

(-)

Bill Musgrave's playcalling. Good offensive playcalling on the opening drive and then after that, Musgrave decided just to fold and play conservatively. That lackluster 2nd quarter offense until Carr's pass to Michael Crabtree to cash in on the turnover all falls on Musgrave. In one possession, a screen pass to Cooper, he didn't have time to juke because Tamba Hali was already in his face for a huge loss, run up the middle with Murray for just a minimal gain, check down to Mychal Rivera, quick 3 and out. That's just one particular example. He needs to open up the playbook more or give Carr more creative control.

Bottom Line

The defense is playing hard out there and they're holding their own against Alex Smith and the Chiefs offense. Meanwhile, the Raiders' offense has to wake up a little, better yet Musgrave needs to open up the playbook. Turn back the clock to weeks 6-8 and just let Carr and this offense loose! Let's see what happens.

Lakers Recaps: Kobe Shows Vintage Flashes vs. Pacers @ 76ers @ Wizards @ Hawks

Last Sunday, Kobe Bryant shocked the basketball world through a poem he wrote called Dear Basketball. In short, Kobe is planning to say goodbye after this season of dedicating his life to playing in the NBA for 20 seasons. These last four games, both Laker fans and opposing fans when the Lakers visit the opposing team's home court were in for a treat for the Black Mamba's final curtain call. Especially fitting that the last three games on the road, that may be the last time Kobe plays in front of the Philly, D.C., and Atlanta crowd. Despite the lack of wins, the crowds make it known that it is time to appreciate a future Hall of Famer in his last season.

vs. Indiana

I'll take it that this was an emotional game because just looking at the highlights, the Staples Center crowd was just amped up, knowing that they need to shed every moment when Kobe is on the floor this season. However, the game didn't go as the Lakers thought it would have because the Pacers had most of the lead this game until the 4th quarter. Just like the Lakers were struggling in the 4th quarter all season long, the Pacers had a near melt down in the 4th quarter. Kobe made some vintage, impossible 3-pointers to keep the game close, but it wouldn't have been as close with the way Jordan Clarkson and Nick Young were playing. Clarkson had 22 points, he had a solid game as a scorer, Nick Young went 6-14 from three point range, tallying up 22 points as well. There was one funny highlight, 4:50 left in the 3rd, MWP tried to go for layup, but misses badly and Nick Young just grabs the rebound and pulls a Reggie Miller, dribbling to the 3 point line and scores. For all you NBA history junkies, you can recall Reggie Miller's 6 points in 8 seconds in a 1995 playoff matchup against the Knicks. Reggie hits a quick 3 and then after, he gets the ball, dribbles back to the 3 point line and scores to tie it up. Back on topic, Lakers had a chance to tie it up with Kobe attempting another 3, but he misses wide right and the Pacers escape with a 107-103 victory.

@ 76ers

Previously, the 76ers were 0-18 to start the season and had a combined 28 game losing streak dating back to last season. This is the start of Kobe's farewell tour and what better way to where it all started in his home town of Philadelphia. You hear about the bad reputation of Philly fans in the sports world, but kudos to them for giving Kobe a nice ovation both beginning and end of the game and a nice touch on a video package that Philly knew him first before the world did and unveiling his #24 Lower Merion High School jersey with Dr. J and the head coach of Lower Merion. Fun trivia, #24 was Kobe Bryant's first jersey number before he ultimately switched to #33. If you guys looked at the highlights of his high school days, you'd notice that he wore #33, but Kobe started with #24 and is going to end donning the same number at the professional level. Onto the game, it was a good start for Kobe, hitting three of his first four shots from 3-point land. He absolutely schooled Robert Covington in those three series and got the crowd buzzing. That set the tone early and the Lakers had the majority of the lead. But in the 2nd half, it all came crashing down, the Sixers got back in it and they played with more desperation than the Lakers did and after this game, the Lakers reached an all-time low losing to the 0-18 76ers 91-103. Kobe started fast, but he finished 7-26 shooting with 20 points, he just struggled after the hot start in the first.

@ Wizards

Now, this game against the Wizards truly had vintage Kobe Bryant written all over it and keep in mind, this up against a Wizards team that has made the playoffs the last two seasons, although the Wizards are not to a hot start this season. 31 points, 10-24 shooting, the Black Mamba definitely turned back the clock in front of the Washington crowd, but it looked like a home game for the Lakers because there were more Laker fans in that building, living every moment. Hopefully, they enjoyed it while it last because a performance by Kobe at his age right now is going a rare sight to see nowadays. But I'm sure they savored every moment of it because Kobe carried the Lakers that night to a 108-104 victory after a foul-tasting loss to the Sixers on back-to-back nights. How about Julius Randle though? Career high 19 rebounds, he was all over the floor, grabbing every ball that falls off from grazing the rim. Nonetheless, this road game was a hit for Kobe's farewell tour.

@ Hawks

Last night's game against the Hawks was a really dreaded one. Not too much highlight "oohs" and "aahs" from Kobe as he deferred some of his shots to Lou Williams, but if you're a Lakers fan who's looking to the future, D'Angelo Russell is making some little strides. Yeah 7 turnovers doesn't denote making strides, but he's notched a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds and his 3 ball came along this game shooting 4-7 from beyond the arc. Other than that, this game after seeing the highlights, it was just trash to say the least.

Key Takeaways

Kobe Bryant this season has been ridiculed for the amount of shots he attempted. Yes, it's still hard to see that he doesn't have the lift from his legs to make shots that he usually makes. I'll say this though, throw Kobe Bryant's stats this season out the window. The season is lost, the Lakers are playing for the top pick. No matter how many shots he takes and costing Lakers some wins, just appreciate the limited time he's going to be on the floor. As Laker fans, we are not going to remember Kobe for the three seasons since the Achilles injury anyway. Don't expect to see the Kobe of old night in and night out, but he'll pull some vintage moves once in a while. The life after Kobe though is making some strides of playing together during these four games and that's what you want to see out of Clarkson, Russell, and Randle. So far, Clarkson has been the most consistent out of the two, but both Russell and Randle are coming along during these games and they'll eventually gel late in the season. I've heard the rumors that the Lakers are trying to trade either of those three to get superstar players, but I'm hoping Mitch Kupchak doesn't pull the trigger. The Lakers have to learn how to home grow their talent and it's impossible for them to make a stretch run considering the shape of this roster right now. At this point it's just all about appreciating Kobe and evaluating the future for this Lakers franchise. I'll see you guys later.

Raiders Outlast Titans in a Rainy Road Game

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' matchup vs. the Tennessee Titans where the Raiders get back on track with a 24-21 victory over the Titans on the road in what was a very wet, rainy game in Nashville.

No more 4-12 or 3-13 finishes at least. But finally, the Raiders get that elusive win against a team they were favored to beat this season. The Raiders were favored the last two games and they couldn't capitalize and we're thinking that Vegas Oddsmakers need to go back to betting against the Raiders. This is at least a way to get the monkey off the back and eclipse our win total from the past 4 seasons. Yes, they're still alive in the playoff hunt, but I'm just going to keep my mouth shut about playoffs and just be glad that the Raiders got a win.

(+)


Seth Roberts, 6 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TDs. Hands down, this is Seth Roberts' best game of his career. Last week against the Lions, you can even date back to the preseason, Roberts showed potential of big play ability. I can't even recall how many big plays Roberts made this game, but they were crucial, especially on both his TDs. The first one, he made a Titans defender miss and nothing but green ahead of him and on the 2nd one, he was just at the right place at the right time when Carr delivered that deep ball. I think it's time to give Roberts the nickname "Big Shot Rob" (reference to Robert Horry for all you Laker fans) because he's caught both Carr's two game-winning TD passes this season.

Amari Cooper, 7 receptions, 115 yards. We all admit Amari Cooper played horribly last week against the Lions. Sensational rookies will have their off games and all they can do is bounce back the next game. This game was a major bounce back for Cooper. To go from 4 yards from the previous game to 115 yards to the next game just personifies his work ethic and do anything he can to help his team win. Coop had a great redemption performance this game.

David Amerson, 6 passes defensed, 1 INT. Amerson played out of his mind this game. Yeah, I know covering guys like Harry Douglas or Dorial Green-Beckham is not that impressive, but Amerson wasn't giving any of the Titans' receivers any room to get any separation and possibly make a big play from a throw by Marcus Mariota. I didn't understand why ever since Nate Allen and T.J. Carrie came back, they demoted Amerson to the slot when he's clearly a better option than D.J. Hayden. I think this game should warrant Reggie McKenzie and the front office that Amerson is worth a keeper.

(-)

The "Zebras." The Raiders committed 11 penalties for 94 yards while the Titans committed 4 penalties for 25 yards. Hmmm, I wonder which team the refs were trying to help? I think the only legit penalty they called was when Neiko Thorpe had his hands full on Harry Douglas when Douglas scored a TD. But, back-to-back pass interference penalties on T.J. Carrie that should've never been called, an unnecessary roughness call on Khalil Mack, and a hold on the end zone when Thorpe didn't excessively grab the jersey. Those were some penalties that stood out and they were just horrible calls that the refs were making.

Conclusion

Despite the rainy weather and penalties that were lopsided against the Raiders, they managed to will themselves to a victory, but a little more work has to be done to finish these kinds of games against teams that are supposed to be "easy wins." They're still alive in the playoff, but next week, the tough stretch begins of the schedule begins. Kansas City is also in the playoff hunt and they are playing like a different beast after starting 1-5 for the season. I bet they have last year's awful loss stuck in their heads the last time they played the Raiders in Oakland as they handed the Raiders their first win. For sure, they'll be out looking for blood and the Raiders have to be well-prepared because this is a critical divisional battle if they want to keep their wild card hopes alive. I'll see you guys next week for that game.

Week 12: RAIDERS @ Tennessee Titans Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

OAK 24 TEN 21

Seth Roberts with the clutch TD catch, Nate Allen with the clutch INT to end the game! I'm going to have a heart attack with this game. With the way the offense was playing throughout the most part of this quarter and letting this Titans team hang around, I'd thought this was going to be a heartbreaking loss, particularly when Carr failed to convert on the 4th and 8 play. But finally the refs stopped screwing this team over with a big holding call on the Titans to set up Carr's third career game-winning drive. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

OAK 17 TEN 14

It's turning out into an ugly game out there with rain pouring down on the field. Jeremy Ross' fumble was costly, could've allowed the Titans to take a quick lead, but luckily David Amerson's INT offset that fumble. It looked like the refs were helping the Titans during their last scoring drive. The Raiders managed to get a stop and then boom, back-to-back penalties on T.J. Carrie. The only legit penalty they called was Neiko Thorpe's hold on Harry Douglas in the end zone. Raiders still have the lead in the 4th.

Q2:

OAK 10 TEN 6

Well, that was some comedy at the end of this quarter. Sebass laughing on the sidelines, failing to convince Del Rio to kick a 65 yard field goal and then a big gain by Roberts before he laterals it to Cooper and Cooper passes it to Carr. Carr could've thrown it, but that would've been an obvious illegal forward pass. The last drive though, they gotta finish those long drives with TDs, not field goals, but nonetheless, a better start this week. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

OAK 7 TEN 6

Slow start for both teams to begin the game. The Raiders couldn't capitalize on good field position early on and Marcus Mariota and the Titans absolutely killed the defense with some bootlegs and play action to the tight ends. After that though, the offense managed to pull through a good response by sustaining a long drive that culminated in a Crabtree TD. Who knows, the Titans' blocked PAT could be a pivotal moment as the game progresses.

RAIDERS-Titans Halftime Post

OAK 10 TEN 6

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' road matchup vs. the Tennessee Titans where the Raiders have a 10-6 advantage at the half.

(+)

Amari Cooper, 4 receptions, 58 yards. Last week, Coop had the worst performance of his rookie season against the Lions, only grabbing 1 catch for just 4 yards. So far, he has redeemed big time. He's a lot more aggressive this game, running hard on his routes to make plays. One particular play, Carr underthrew the pass and it was guaranteed INT by the Titans defender, but Cooper just snatches it away for a 30 yard gain when the Raiders were backed into their own end zone for a moment. With the aforementioned stat line, that's the Amari Cooper we're used to seeing.

Seth Roberts, 2 receptions, 60 yards. Roberts is developing into a big play receiver this game. He's known for his blocking for the Raiders' running game, but the last two games, he's been making big plays for big gainers and in this game against the Titans, he made some multiple big plays for 20+ yards.

(-)

Finishing long drives. As I said in the 2nd quarter, the Raiders had a good, long, solid drive that started in their back end zone. They made it to the Titans' red zone, but they couldn't cap off the drive for a TD and have to settle for a Sebass field goal. Good job, chewing up the clock, but the goal is 6 instead of 3.

Bottom Line

The Raiders deferred on the coin toss and the offense is coming right back. I like that the aggressiveness is back on the offensive side of the ball, let's hope that they stay aggressive and the defense just needs to hold the fort against Mariota and the amount of tricks the Titans' offense has up their sleeves.

Blazers' Back Court Alone Burns Lakers

Julius Randle was the top performer of this game racking up 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, but the Lakers had no answer for Portland's back court duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum as their combined 57 point effort helped the Blazers put away the Lakers 96-108. Jordan Clarkson added 19 points and D'Angelo Russell added 16 points, making some strides in having an efficient game by shooting 6-11 the field. Despite a 7-20 shooting night, Kobe Bryant turned back the clock a little bit, racking up 21 points, shaking off a nightmarish shooting performance against the Warriors back on Tuesday.

Final Score: @ Portland 96-108 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151128/LALPOR/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: vs. Indiana (11/29)

Lakers Slapped Around by Warriors as Warriors Set Record for Best Start in NBA History

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the defending champion Golden State Warriors at the Oracle where the defending champs made it look easy as the Lakers got an inevitable old-fashioned butt whooping by the Warriors 77-111.

It is what it is as the final score suggested. We drank the "kool-aid" thinking that the Lakers might have a chance to upset the defending champions on their home floor and spoil their run at history, but we knew that the Warriors were going to straight up kick this Laker team in the @$$. And the end result was expected. I couldn't help but laugh because this game was laughable from the start to finish because this Warriors squad made the Lakers look like a JV basketball team out there.

(+)

No positives. Unless you count putting up 77 points on this Warriors team, fine. The Lakers did have some fight in the 2nd quarter, but this game was all bad to warrant no positives to take away from this game.


(-)

Basketball Fundamentals. The Lakers just lacked this all season long. No ball movement, no defense, what more can I say? I've lost count on how many lobs this Laker team allowed, how much they left this Warriors team wide open on threes, how much they let Curry work his magic. Players are not spacing the floor. Nobody is making an effort to go after the ball and give second chance possessions. Nobody is running. Nobody is cutting. Everybody's calling for "iso" plays and throwing up "Hail Mary" shots. Too much dribbling. There is no identity with this team! They're not an offensive team. They're not a defensive team. What exactly is this team? I know this is a young team; this is their first year together. However, what kind of identity will this team shape from now to the future? The soul searching just continues for this team and this game is the latest chapter of it.

Kobe Bryant, 4 points, 1-14 shooting. It's really hard to see Kobe Bryant's 20th season go up in smoke like this. He missed a lot of shots this game that he usually makes if he was still in his prime. Multiple air balls, in fact, he had a shot in which the ball got stuck between the backboard and the back of the rim and the refs had to call for a jump ball. And you got a lot of Kobe fans out there saying "Kobe is going to drop 30 points a game, he'll win MVP, and deliver the Lakers another NBA championship!" As a Laker fan and as a Kobe fan, I am embarrassed by those over-the-top statements because for the past three seasons, he hasn't been the same player. He's 37, has a lot of mileage, the injury bug finally caught up to him, his time is up. He even preached the young Laker squad to move the ball, but still, he tried to play hero ball this game and Byron Scott has the audacity to defend his shot selection, saying "he earned it." I've woken up to the harsh reality, but some would deny it and I bet they'll vote him on the All-Star ballot this season. I love Kobe, he defined my lifetime as a Lakers fan, but enough is enough already.

Conclusion

Well, excuse my semi-tirades on the negative list. Like I said in the 3rd quarter post, congratulations to the Warriors on making history to start the season at 16-0. There is no better fanbase that deserves this moment in history than those a part of Dub Nation. For the Lakers, this organization needs to be evaluated. They're bent on the notion that because it's LA and they have 16 championships, big time free agents will want to play for the Lakers. Well, if there's not a stable core of players in place and there's no contingency plan for the future, I don't see any star player play for the Lakers anytime soon. Sorry, but that's reality. The Raiders have gone through this process and are almost out of the hole and the Lakers are going through this turmoil since 2013 (I was eventually going to bring out this parallel path). I expect the growing pains to continue this season. I'll see you guys for the next televised game, whatever that is.

#FireByronScott
#FireJimBuss

10/24: #ShockTheWorld LAKERS @ Golden State Warriors Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

LAL 77 GS 111

At least they tried. Okay, maybe they didn't try enough. Stay tuned for the full recap. 

Q3:

LAL 55 GS 89

Congratulations to the Warriors on a 16-0 start. That's all I can say right now for this quarter.

Q2:

LAL 38 GS 54

The good thing I can take from this quarter is that the Lakers are showing some fight at least. The first quarter was an atrocity to start with, but things got cleaned up a little bit in this quarter to make this competitive. The Lakers still have a lot of work to do though. Onto the halftime post.

Q1:

LAL 11 GS 30

1st quarter in and this game is just becoming comedy gold. The Warriors are just making mince meat out of this Laker team. Too many easy baskets, how in the hell do you leave the best player in the NBA wide open for a three? Poor defense, a lot of missed opportunities to get something going. The Lakers just don't have any answers right now and they're just being embarrassed on national TV.

LAKERS-Warriors Halftime Post

LAL 38 GS 54

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Lakers' matchup against the undefeated, defending champion Warriors where the Warriors have a 38-54 advantage after the half.

(+)

Lou Williams, 10 points, 4-5 shooting. Looking at Williams' stat sheet the past few games, they haven't been good from a field goal percentage stand point. This game though, his mini run in the 2nd quarter against the Warriors was a big one to put the Lakers back in. Lou Williams was heating up, but typical Byron Scott had to bench him while he's hot.


(-)

Defense. The Warriors are making this look easy against this Laker defense. It's like watching the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals out there. The Lakers are allowing the Warriors to get wide open, leaving a lot of space for guys such as Curry, Draymond Green, and Iguodala to make plays. Leaving Curry, the best player in the NBA right now, wide open for a three says it all about how bad the Lakers defense has been all season long.

Ball Movement? Kobe Bryant in an article preached to this young Laker squad to move the ball. Apparently nobody got the memo. Too much isolation, too much dribbling, too much standing around, too many forced shots, nobody is making an effort to get open, nobody is cutting to the basket. You do this kind of stuff against the Warriors, they will destroy you defensively, and that was evident in the first half.

Bottom Line

For the Lakers to win this game, Luke Walton has to send the Splash Brothers, Iggy, Draymond, and Andrew Bogut to the showers early, to get ready for their game against the Suns on Friday in Phoenix. That's the only way! All jokes aside, there's a lot of basketball left. This Laker team has to slow their role at some point. This game is not over yet, but it will if they don't continue to compete like they did in the 2nd quarter. Let's see what happens.

Lakers Lose to Trail Blazers

Rookie, D'Angelo Russell had his best all-around game of the season (well, if you can call it that since the numbers don't look that impressive) as he was the Lakers' top performer, notching a near triple-double of 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, but that stat line pales in comparison to his counterpart, Damian Lillard as Lillard's 30 point and 13 assist performance helped the Blazers pull away from the Lakers 107-93. Julius Randle notched another double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson added 19 points, and Kobe Bryant added 18 points to round out the starters. Lou Williams lead all scorers off the bench with 14 points. Things don't get easier as the Lakers have a daunting matchup on the road in a prime time Tuesday night against the 15-0, defending champion, Warriors.

Final Score: vs. Portland 107-93 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20151122/PORLAL/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:scoreboard

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Golden State (11/24) <= Q-by-Q, Halftime, and Full Recap Posts

Raiders Defense Competitive, Offense Lackluster in Loss to Detroit

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' road game vs. the Detroit Lions where the Raiders' defense kept it competitive, holding the Lions to 3 field goals in the first half, but with a horrible game by the offense, the Lions pulled away in 13-18 upset.

Nice tease. The Raiders gave us a nice tease with great wins over the Chargers and the Jets, looked like a playoff contender. They lose a heartbreaker  against the Steelers in a big game, we were proud the way they fought back. Then, it comes crashing down in a home game vs. Minnesota and on this awful loss against Detroit, it looks like the fun is over. Not to be a downer or anything, but the playoff hunt is over. A game like this against Detroit, was going to tell a whole lot about the Raiders and they are just not quite there yet.

(+)

Khalil Mack, 8 tackles. Let me say this first and foremost, aside from allowing a rushing TD by Matthew Stafford in which the defense probably looked gassed from carrying this team all game long, the defense played well. Holding the Lions team to three field goals at the half is a win in itself. Like I said, this would've been more of a beat down had the defense played like they did against Pittsburgh and Minnesota. I said this in when I posted up my thoughts on Aldon Smith's suspension, they needed to move Khalil Mack back at his natural OLB spot. It was good to see Mack back at that spot and once again, being that relentless tackling machine and being a disruptive force all over the line. The sacks didn't show, but it created some opportunity for Benson Mayowa, Ben Heeney, and Shelby Harris to finish off Stafford in the pocket.

(-)

Amari Cooper, 1 reception, 4 yards. Don't get me wrong, I still like Amari Cooper ever since he broke out in his junior year at Alabama. I'm glad we got Amari and I think he's hands down Rookie of the Year. But I was 100% disappointed at his performance today. Just one reception and that came off a quick screen pass. Everything else that Carr threw to him, he just couldn't make the grab. Is it a little concerning that he hasn't reached over 100 yards since the Chargers game? It is, but then again Crabtree is eating up his targets. But this doesn't change the fact that this was a horrible game for Cooper, a "drop fest" to say for him. He'll have his growing pains as a rookie throughout the season, but disappointed in his performance.

Offensive miscues. Miscommunication on timing and routes, miscommunication on blocking protections by the O-line, delay of game penalties, the offense was just not on its game today. Derek Carr, he may look like a seasoned veteran, but he's got to know when the play clock is about to expire. The O-line had a hard time to open up holes for the running game and to make matters worse, Rodney Hudson went down again. The receivers weren't on the same page with Carr for the majority of the game. Just a lot of ticky-tack miscues that were part of the reasons why this offense couldn't get going.

Coaching. Too conservative, too hesitant. On a 3rd down play, Jack Del Rio had a chance to challenge a catch made by Michel Crabtree in which he maintained two feet inbounds and maintained possession before falling out of bounds. Del Rio didn't even bother to challenge that. Poor usage of the timeouts, poor clock management, uninspiring play calling by Bill Musgrave. The coaching staff as whole got outcoached.

Conclusion

Mathematically, the Raiders are not completely out of the playoffs, but with their schedule down the stretch, I don't see how this team can run the table and win out with Kansas City twice, Denver, Green Bay, and San Diego. That is too tough of a stretch to overcome to clinch a playoff spot. I know I'm being a downer, but it's just now all about finishing with a respectable record. Don't get me wrong, this team is close to turning the corner, but obviously they have more roster holes to fill before they can truly be a contender and this game vs. Detroit opened our eyes and put us back to reality that this team is not there yet. Right now, I just want the Raiders to just play to win the game, play with pride, and just finish strong to end the season. I don't care about playoffs, Super Bowl, or whether or not this team is staying in Oakland or moving to LA, just finish strong. If we can get some divine intervention down the stretch, then sure I'll ride the playoff bandwagon again. But it is what it is and the Raiders just gotta play with pride and play to win the game. I'll see you guys for the Titans game on Thanksgiving weekend.