One thing I've noticed about the Lakers is that, they usually win games on their match ups advantages and the biggest match up advantage that favors them against 98% of the teams in the nba, is that most teams can not play Kobe strait up with out throwing his defender help. The problem occurs, once you have to slide a man over or double up on him, it usually opens up either the out side shooting or lanes in the paint, once this happens the Lakers are designed to dismantle a team, with ease.
Another match up that usually favors the Lakers is the height game, by playing two good 7 footers, not to mention Odem and a physical Artest, the Lakers are usually bigger and stronger than 90% of the teams they play.
Against the Cavs, they played against a bigger, stronger team, and they were unable to bully or intimidate them and like many bullies that get challenged, the Lakers showed signs of getting frustrated and off their game.
By being able to play them strait up, the Cavs expose several chinks in the Lakers armor, one is they are lacking a true point guard who is alble to facilitate other players shots, next they are lacking production from the three point shot,(statistically speaking their numbers may be decant, however much of that is due to them taking so many uncontested three-point shots, after their defender is forced to slide over and assist on defending another player.)
I know its early in the season, however it will be very interesting to see if this becomes a trend vs teams that has the personal to play the Lakers strait up. (Fortunately for the Lakers, not too many of those teams, play in the West.)
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