Score: LAL 55 GS 61
Alright welcome in to the halftime post of the Lakers' divisional and geographical showdown against the Warriors where the Warriors hold on to a six point lead heading into the half.
The Positives
Jordan Hill, 14 points, 7-10 shooting. Hill is picking up where he left off the last game. He has totally improved his shooting stroke from outside of the key. He missed a couple, but he picked it up and got it going again. The last few games, Mr. All-Out Hustle has been putting up a clinic, he's especially put up a hustle clinic in the 2nd when he dived for the ball twice to keep the Lakers in possession of the basketball.
Ed Davis, 9 points, 4-6 shooting. Davis has been a fine addition of providing inside scoring and rim protection off the bench. No Nick Young? No problem. The last few games, Davis has taken over as the Lakers' leading bench scorer and he's provided some needed buckets especially early on the 2nd quarter, when it looked like the Warriors were building some momentum, Davis gets the ball, gets the bucket and managed to quiet down the "Roaracle" crowd down.
The Negatives
Kobe Bryant, 8 points, 3-10 shooting, 5 turnovers. Kobe may have provided yet another throwback highlight or that insane reverse layup and 1, but he's struggled with his shot lately. If you combine his performance in the 4th quarter last night and this night so far, he's 4-17. I don't know if it's fatigue or if he's making ill-advised decision, but it's rare to see Kobe struggle at both taking care of the ball and with his deadly jumpshot.
Jeremy Lin, 6 points, 0-3 shooting. Lin has made progression last night, but tonight the Warriors have completely shut him down. Lin needs to get that aggressiveness that he had last night against the Clippers although credit has got to be given to Stephen Curry's defense and Bogut's stout rim protection as to why Lin is barely attacking the basket.
Bottom Line
All the Lakers have to do is take out one of the Splash Brothers. We can live with Curry going off or either Thompson, but once those two get going, it's all over. They've combined for 33 points of the Warriors' 61. Every Warrior player is held in check, but Lakers got to account for them too so none of them become that X factor along with Splash Brothers to put this game out of reach.
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