Nets vs Lakers Recap: Lakers Lockdown

The Los Angeles Lakers are a couple games out of even being an average team but their talent along with the pedigree of the team,makes them must see television.

With Dwight Howard being out for this game, the match up to watch was Brook Lopez against Pau Gasol and it turned out to be a good one in the first half. Lopez was aggressive early.He displayed strong moves and some quick moves and Gasol would answer. Deron Williams would also get off to an hot start, hitting two threes in that first half finishing with 11 points but only one assist. The Lakers hung around and eventually pulled away. Kobe Bryant did everything but score for most of the half. His new found distribution of the ball contributed to the Lakers 13 assist while the Nets had only 5. This was highlighted in the second quarter where the Nets went 0 for 12 until a Kris Humphries tip in. Los Angeles would still dominate and take the lead to a 12 point . Earl Clark for the Lakers, put up some good stats scoring 10 points. The Nets did cut the lead down to nine heading into the second half.

Brooklyn was overall sloppy as usual, but they managed to take the lead and a little momentum in the third quarter. The Nets tried to get Joe Johnson open shots but would struggle. Luckily, all-star Brook Lopez carried the Nets in that quarter. Kobe Bryant went 3 for 10 in that first half so everybody knew that he would start scoring but it was nothing the Nets could do. His intent was pretty obvious after a beautiful in-and-out crossover and finish over Gerald Wallace. Both teams would hang together and it shaped up to be a entertaining fourth quarter, despite the Nets back court throwing up bricks from the field.

The fourth quarter would be close all the way until the end. Brook Lopez had a double-double by the third quarter but the Lakers had a lot of help plus Kobe Bryant. Defensively, the Nets could not stop the Lakers. Steve Nash abused the Nets in the pick and roll. He would either nail that mid range jump shot or pass off to another player who would score or make something good happen. Pau Gasol injured his ankle in the fourth quarter and left the game but that did not stop their offense. They went on a 10 to 0  run late and would end up pulling out a tough win on the Nets. Kobe Bryant was hounded by Wallace all night but Kobe is just an Great. He simply willed this team the victory with two momentum field goals late. His defense was also special. He was a constant pest,daring Gerald Wallace to shoot and would often double Williams or Johnson which led to their inefficiency. Lopez was good but he couldn't score when the Nets needed him and Lakers would add to the dominant streak over the Nets.

Box Score

Final Score:92-83 Lakers
Most Disappointing Stat of the Game: Bench went 6 for 23 from the field.
Promising Stat of the Game: Lopez had a double-double midway in the third quarter.
Scary Moment of the Game: Reggie Evans crashed into Lopez's knee.
Best Moment of the Game: Kobe took two souls from the Nets with a monster jam.

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