2011 NBA Playoffs: 3-Point Shooting Mavericks Overpower Lakers, End Jackson's Career
The Lakers plan coming into Game 4 was to force the Mavericks to drive in and take two-point shots. It was a good plan, and the Lakers were feeling confident that they could execute it to perfection.
There was just one problem; the Mavericks tied an NBA record for threes made.
Peja Stojavokic and Jason Terry combined to make 15 out of 16 threes, Jose Juan Barea scored 22 as the Mavericks dominated the Lakers 122-86. The game was close in the first quarter, but an avalanche of triples gave the Mavericks a 63-39 halftime lead.
Sometimes, the Lakers wouldn't even contest a shot. Jason Terry made his first five shots from beyond the arc, and three of them were uncontested. Peja knocked down all six of his from downtown, and only two or three were contested.
When the Lakers did try to avoid a three, Jose Juan Barea just drove right by them. The six-foot tall Barea saw easy openings and finished with the left hand, the right hand, or any hand. He scored more than Kobe in this game, and so did Terry and Peja.
In fact, the entire Dallas bench scored as many points as the Laker team. Barea, Terry, Peja, and the rest of the bench players combined for 86 points (75 of them from the three I mentioned). The Lakers bench added 37, 49 less than the Mavericks bench. Dallas' bench scored 15 more than LA's in Game 1, 18 more in Game 2, 27 more in Game 3, and now 49 more.
After the game, Phil Jackson announced his retirement. It took a lot for the Lakers to persuade him to come back for another year, but he did. Although this is not the way Jackson wanted to go out, he has still won 11 championships, more than any other coach.
Another reason this was a terrible way for Jackson to go out was that Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum were both ejected. Odom bumped Dirk Nowitzki while setting a screen, and Bynum elbowed J.J. Barea when he was in the air. Odom finished with ten, but Bynum only had six points.
Kobe Bryant was almost a complete non-factor in Dallas. He scored 17 in both games, and in this game, he only scored four points after the first quarter. In Game 4, Bryant made big shots in the first, which is why they only trailed by four, but in the second, he made one basket.
Bryant averaged 23.3 PPG during the series, with his only good game coming in LA's heart-breaking 96-94 Game 1 loss. He needed 39, however, because his game-winning three, one that he almost never misses, clanged off the rim. He hasn't been as clutch; in Game 3, which was tied at 91 with under two minutes, he made no plays.
Without Jackson at the helm, what's next for the Lakers? Will assistant coach Brian Shaw or whatever coach the Lakers hire lead another dynasty? How will Kobe perform?
He is the star of the team, and the Lakers count on him for performances like Derrick Rose's this playoffs. If Kobe plays like he did against the Mavericks this series, it's not going to be a pretty sight watching the Lakers.
As for Dallas, they await the winner of the Oklahoma City-Memphis series. The Grizzlies lead the Thunder 2-1, trying to become the first eighth seed to make it to the conference finals.
There was just one problem; the Mavericks tied an NBA record for threes made.
Peja Stojavokic and Jason Terry combined to make 15 out of 16 threes, Jose Juan Barea scored 22 as the Mavericks dominated the Lakers 122-86. The game was close in the first quarter, but an avalanche of triples gave the Mavericks a 63-39 halftime lead.
Sometimes, the Lakers wouldn't even contest a shot. Jason Terry made his first five shots from beyond the arc, and three of them were uncontested. Peja knocked down all six of his from downtown, and only two or three were contested.
When the Lakers did try to avoid a three, Jose Juan Barea just drove right by them. The six-foot tall Barea saw easy openings and finished with the left hand, the right hand, or any hand. He scored more than Kobe in this game, and so did Terry and Peja.
In fact, the entire Dallas bench scored as many points as the Laker team. Barea, Terry, Peja, and the rest of the bench players combined for 86 points (75 of them from the three I mentioned). The Lakers bench added 37, 49 less than the Mavericks bench. Dallas' bench scored 15 more than LA's in Game 1, 18 more in Game 2, 27 more in Game 3, and now 49 more.
After the game, Phil Jackson announced his retirement. It took a lot for the Lakers to persuade him to come back for another year, but he did. Although this is not the way Jackson wanted to go out, he has still won 11 championships, more than any other coach.
Another reason this was a terrible way for Jackson to go out was that Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum were both ejected. Odom bumped Dirk Nowitzki while setting a screen, and Bynum elbowed J.J. Barea when he was in the air. Odom finished with ten, but Bynum only had six points.
Kobe Bryant was almost a complete non-factor in Dallas. He scored 17 in both games, and in this game, he only scored four points after the first quarter. In Game 4, Bryant made big shots in the first, which is why they only trailed by four, but in the second, he made one basket.
Bryant averaged 23.3 PPG during the series, with his only good game coming in LA's heart-breaking 96-94 Game 1 loss. He needed 39, however, because his game-winning three, one that he almost never misses, clanged off the rim. He hasn't been as clutch; in Game 3, which was tied at 91 with under two minutes, he made no plays.
Without Jackson at the helm, what's next for the Lakers? Will assistant coach Brian Shaw or whatever coach the Lakers hire lead another dynasty? How will Kobe perform?
He is the star of the team, and the Lakers count on him for performances like Derrick Rose's this playoffs. If Kobe plays like he did against the Mavericks this series, it's not going to be a pretty sight watching the Lakers.
As for Dallas, they await the winner of the Oklahoma City-Memphis series. The Grizzlies lead the Thunder 2-1, trying to become the first eighth seed to make it to the conference finals.
Comments