Showtime MVP – Los Angeles Lakers Week 5

By Guest Writer
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Updated: December 3, 2014

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Andrew Wiggins defends against Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

For a team which has been struggling for the majority of this season, the Lakers had a pretty good week going 2-2 in their 4 games played in the 7 days. The Lakers began the week losing their first two games by a combined total of just 7 points. Then, the Lakers would win their next two games including one victory against the current top-seeded team in the eastern conference, the Toronto Raptors.

Game #1: Memphis Grizzlies 99, Los Angeles Lakers 93

The Lakers would be winning most of this game until they reached the 2nd half when the Grizzlies would rack up a 34-23 advantage in scoring in the 3rd quarter. The Lakers would try their best to come back in the 4th quarter but just simply could not even it out with the Grizzlies.

Kobe Bryant would be the leading scorer with 22 points who would be 10-10 from the free throw line for the game. Besides Kobe, there really would not be any other prolific scoring for the Lakers in this game. Heck, there would not be another player on either side to score at least 20 points in this game.

The Lakers would be 8-19 from the 3-point line (42%) which would keep them in the game as their overall field goal percentage would only be 40%.

Game #2: Minnesota Timberwolves 120, Los Angeles Lakers 119

A great game here as both teams would have their moments in this one. Either team could have easily won this game and, basically, it was just a matter of who had the ball last. For the Timberwolves, #1 overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, would struggle on offense for the night scoring only 3 points on 1-6 shooting.

For the Lakers, again, Kobe would lead the way with 26 points and there would be a couple others who would help out Kobe with the scoring load as well. Wesley Johnson would have 19 points and Jeremy Lin would have a double double with 18 points and 11 assists. Even recent returnee, Nick Young, had 16 points off the bench.

Unlike the Grizzlies game, this match-up would feature both teams going over the 50% mark for overall field goal percentage for the night. The Timberwolves would shoot lights out from the 3-point line being 10-18 (55%). The Timberwolves would barely take the edge in the 4th quarter outscoring the Lakers (27-23) which would, ultimately, be the deciding factor in this close match-up.

Game #3: Toronto Raptors 122, Los Angeles Lakers 129

Finally, a Laker victory! This time, against the top dogs in the eastern conference, the Toronto Raptors. This game would be an overtime thriller where the Lakers would edge out the victory in the 5th period of basketball.

Kobe would play a staggering 42 minutes in this extended game and would end up with 31 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds as he would record a triple double. Center, Jordan Hill, would also have a good night having 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Nick Young off the bench would also have a nice night of his own with 20 points.

The main difference in this game would be, simply, who could make the most efficient shots. The Lakers would shoot 49% from the field compared to the Raptors’ 43%. The Lakers would also shoot 41% from the 3-point line compared to 26% for the Raptors.

The Lakers deserved to win this game which would be a very impressive win against a very good and deep opponent in the Toronto Raptors.

Game #4: Los Angeles Lakers 106, Detroit Pistons 96

Do I dare say a winning streak has emerged for team Showtime? I believe so!

The Lakers went to Detroit to take on the Pistons where a collective effort by several guys on the Lakers would be the deciding factor in this game. In fact, 6 players on the LA roster would have double figures in scoring for the night. What would be even more surprising would be the fact that 4 Laker players outscored Kobe Bryant for the night. Yes, I said 4.

Kobe would have just 12 points for the night but would have 13 assists. Kobe would actually be held scoreless for the first 28:36 of the game but, in just 2:04, Kobe would score 12 consecutive points for the Lakers which would be his total amount for the night. Jordan Hill would lead the team in scoring with 22 points to go along with 13 rebounds. Nick Young would continue his impressive performances since returning from his injury with 19 points for the night.

Again, it would be not in the turnover department or the rebounding department but, instead, effective scoring which would be key to another Laker victory…and also another poor shooting night for the opponents. The Lakers would shoot 48% from the field and the Pistons would only shoot 36%. The Lakers would shoot 58% from the 3-point line and the Pistons just 28%.

Showtime MVP:

There was a guy this week that recorded a triple double in one game, scored 12 consecutive points in just 2 minutes in another game, made 10 of 10 free throws in another game, and recorded 5 steals in another. Who else could the Showtime MVP be other than Kobe Bryant? Nobody.

Kobe had a great overall game this past week averaging 22.75 points per game, 5.25 rebounds per game, 8 assists per game, and made 28 total free throws. Heck, Kobe had the most points averaged and the most assists averaged over the past week.

Kobe proved that he can, not only take over a game on his own, but set his teammates up for success of their own. As a result, the Lakers pulled out 2 wins out of 4 and are currently on a two game winning streak.

Lets see how this next week turns out as the Lakers will have another 4-game week taking on Washington and Boston on the road and then returning home to take on New Orleans and Sacramento.

Lets hope for a continuation of the current winning streak!

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