Skip to content

Lakers defensive issues start at the top, lead to 117-110 Jazz win

Dec 10, 2012, 2:07 AM EDT

Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Lakers Getty Images

The Utah Jazz are not the most talented team in the Western Conference, but they work hard. Every possession, every game.

That is far more than the Lakers, who showed no passion or consistent effort on the defensive end. Starting with their stars and filtering down to everyone.

The result of that sad effort was a 117-110 rare Jazz road win that sinks the Lakers to 9-12 on the season, having lost four of their last five.

Utah scored at a 133.1 points per 100 possession pace in this game — for perspective, the Thunder have the best offense in the NBA this season at 111.3 The Jazz shot 54.2 percent for the game and seemed to consistently get the shot they wanted, either in transition or the half court. Combined the Jazz big men — Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Enes Kanter — combined for 52 points on 21-of-37 shooting (56.8 percent).

The defensive issues with the Lakers start at the top, and it’s not just Steve Nash and Pau Gasol still being out. Howard couldn’t stop the Jazz big men and he is becoming more and more frustrated — rightfully — when nobody helps the helper. When the Lakers guards get beat and their man starts to drive Howard steps out to cut off the lane, but nobody rotates to get his man and suddenly it’s easy buckets for opposing bigs.

Kobe Bryant doesn’t get off cleanly here — more than once he didn’t get back on defense really at all after staying to glare and gesture to referees when he didn’t get a call on a drive on the offensive end.

Utah shot 55 percent in the first half but the score was close until midway through the second quarter when the Jazz went on 11-0 run. That separated the teams and gave Utah a 60-51 halftime lead. There were defensive lapses by the Lakers but credit the Jazz who got hustle plays from DeMarre Carroll. The Lakers got hustle from Jordan Hill (17 points and 6 offensive rebounds for the game) but not much else.

Adding insult to injury, the deliberate Jazz had 14 fast break points in the first half, which is tied to the Lakers nine turnovers in the first half.

Lakers came out on a run on the second half and this was back to being a close game immediately. They were doing it with threes — Los Angeles was 15-of-28 from three. The Lakers got 40.9 percent of their points from three. Which is a good sign for a team that has been worried about outside shooting.

All night long Lakers offense was fine, led by Kobe Bryant’s 34 on 9-of-24 shooting.

But that’s moot if you don’t get stops.

The Lakers made it interesting with a late push, actually defending with energy and with a Jordan Hill fastbreak dunk and some Kobe free throws we had a six-point game. But in the end, Utah just keep putting up points and the Lakers clock management at the end was a mess. Mo Williams finished with 22 for Utah, Gordon Hayward had 14 off the bench.

Utah is 12-10 and continues to be a solid team in the West. There are a lot of questions about this team’s moves with a lot of late year contracts as they head into the trading deadline, but they are not playing for tomorrow. They are grinding and working for today.

It’s not too early for the Lakers to get healthy and find a groove, there are more than four months of regular season left. We are just a quarter of the way into the season. But the hole the Lakers have dug themselves will hurt with their playoff seeding and very possible first round series on the road (unless you think they can catch the Thunder, Spurs, Grizzlies or Clippers).

Latest Posts
  1. Chris Andersen complements Heat’s Big Three so well

    May 23, 2013, 2:39 AM EDT

    Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat - Game One Getty Images

    For the 145th time since they joined forces in Miami, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh finished as the Heat’s top three scorers. For the first time in the 2013 calendar year, the fourth-leading scorer – Chris Andersen – scored more than 15 points. It’s been much less of a concern that many expected…

  2. Paul George introduces himself too much of America with a breakout game… that got overshadowed

    May 23, 2013, 2:08 AM EDT

    Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat - Game One Getty Images

    America, meet Paul George. He’s the Pacer that hit the insane, dramatic three pointer that sent Game 1 against the Heat into overtime. He’s the guy that drew the superstar call on Dwyane Wade, then with ice water in his veins hit three free throws to give Indiana the lead with 2.2 seconds left in…

  3. Pacers’ coach Vogel explains decision to bench Hibbert late, says ‘we’ll probably have him in next time’

    May 23, 2013, 1:49 AM EDT

    Roy Hibbert

    The Heat came away with the 103-102 overtime victory over the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, thanks to a triple-double performance from LeBron James, which included hitting the game-winning layup as time expired. The words “game-winning layup” should never be a relevant phrase this deep into the postseason; teams normally defend…

  4. LeBron’s triple-double, game-winner in overtime lead Heat to Game 1 win over Pacers

    May 23, 2013, 1:16 AM EDT

    Miami Heat's James drives through Indiana Pacers' defense during their NBA Eastern Conference final basketball playoff in Miami

    The Pacers gave the Heat all they wanted in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but in the end, the game’s best player — along with some questionable coaching strategy down the stretch — was too much for Indiana to overcome. LeBron James finished with a triple-double line of 30 points, 10 rebounds, and…

  5. LeBron’s game-winning layup at the overtime buzzer gives Heat Game 1 win over Pacers (VIDEO)

    May 23, 2013, 12:28 AM EDT

    Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat - Game One Getty Images

    Paul George hit a big time shot at the end of regulation to get the Pacers to overtime, but once we got to the end of the extra session, LeBron James took his turn at the last-second heroics. With the Heat trailing by one and 2.2 seconds remaining, James receives the inbounds pass and immediately…

  6. Pacers’ Paul George hits the three to send Game 1 vs. Heat into overtime (VIDEO)

    May 22, 2013, 11:50 PM EDT

    Indiana Pacers' George shoots over Miami Heat's Allen during their NBA Eastern Conference final basketball playoff in Miami

    At the beginning of this possession, it looked like Paul George of the Pacers made a huge mistake by not raising up for the shot when he first received the ball at the top of the arc. As the seconds ticked away and with the Pacers down three, things seemed to be breaking down to…

  7. Report: Carmelo Anthony has torn labrum, may need surgery

    May 22, 2013, 9:52 PM EDT

    Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks - Game Five Getty Images

    Carmelo Anthony’s shoulder was clearly bothering him through much of the playoffs, but he fought through it as best he could averaging 28.8 points per game (on just 40.1 percent shooting, down from 44 in the regular season) with 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists. He injured it in Game 5 against the Celtics and went…

  8. LeBron loves that Coach K is back with Team USA, but will he play in 2016?

    May 22, 2013, 9:02 PM EDT

    London Olympics Basketball Men AP

    Mike Krzyzewski coming back to coach Team USA for the 2016 Rio Olympics is certainly a good step toward another gold medal for the Americans. Coach K has been 62-1 at the helm of USA Basketball. But it’s not the biggest key. That would be getting LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the elite talent of…

  9. A brief history of the Charlotte Hornets (and other things)

    May 22, 2013, 7:36 PM EDT

    Charlotte-Hornets1

    Economists have done countless studies that show the economic impact of major league sports — and especially the impact of building new arenas and stadiums — are pretty negligible, often even painful for individual cities. I believe that. But it’s still hard to explain just what it meant to Charlotte to get the Hornets. We…

  10. Report: Mike D’Antoni will not return as Team USA assistant coach

    May 22, 2013, 7:32 PM EDT

    Mike+Krzyzewski+Jim+Boeheim+2008+State+Farm+xBpchka4VI8l Getty Images

    We mentioned this in our story telling you Mike Krzyzewski will be back as head coach of Team USA for the 2016 Olympics — there might be some changes to his staff. One bit of news is in — Mike D’Antoni is out as an assistant coach, reports Marc Berman at the New York Post.…

  11. Wednesday And-1 links: The Knicks expect Jason Kidd back

    May 22, 2013, 6:28 PM EDT

    New York Knicks guard Kidd looks down during their NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, Utah Reuters

    Here is our regular look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT) — done in bullet point form. Because bloggers love bullet points. • Knicks GM Glen Grunwald says after his exit meeting with Jason Kidd, he…

  12. PBT Draft preview: Jamaal Franklin can dunk, but can he shoot?

    May 22, 2013, 5:16 PM EDT

    Jamaal Franklin AP

    For the next few weeks PBT will be profiling likely first-round draft picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Today we talk about one of the best dunker’s in the game right now. San Diego State is turning out some talent under Steve Fisher the last few years. That Kawhi Leonard guy is giving the Grizzlies…

  13. Report: Mavericks looking to move No. 13 pick to clear out cap space for run at Howard, CP3

    May 22, 2013, 3:43 PM EDT

    Dwight Howard AP

    It’s no secret that the Dallas Mavericks want to get a big star to pair with — and eventually take over the franchise mantle from — Dirk Nowitzki. And there are only two franchise-caliber players on the market this season, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. But to offer a max contract Dallas has to make…

  14. Kevin Durant’s large back tattoo finished… except maybe for a typo

    May 22, 2013, 3:21 PM EDT

    via sniperjones35 on Instagram via sniperjones35 on Instagram

    Kevin Durant has a plenty of business tattoos — he’s got ink, just not where it shows when wearing a basketball uniform. Somehow this shocked people, although if most of those people saw the 25-year-old from accounting they think so highly of out on the weekend they’d find he has ink under his suit to.…

  15. As expected, Dwyane Wade is a go for Game 1 vs. Pacers

    May 22, 2013, 2:43 PM EDT

    Dwyane Wade AP

    Not that there was any real question after he played in Game 5 against the Bulls then had a week off to rest his bruised knee but now it is official: Dwyane Wade will play for the Heat in Game 1 against the Pacers Wednesday night. So reports Tim Reynolds of the AP and the…

  16. Tony Parker to have “precautionary MRI” on his calf.

    May 22, 2013, 1:56 PM EDT

    Memphis Grizzlies v San Antonio Spurs - Game Two Getty Images

    There is no need to panic Spurs fans. Not yet. Tony Parker has been playing through a sore calf for a while now and playing well — to the tune of 14 points and 18 assists in the Spurs overtime win Tuesday night. But after the game he was limping a little around the locker…

  17. Report: Mike Krzyzewski to return, coach Team USA in 2016 Olympics

    May 22, 2013, 1:09 PM EDT

    The U.S. head coach Krzyzewski watches his team against Spain during their men's gold medal  basketball match at the North Greenwich Arena in London during the London 2012 Olympic Games Reuters

    Looks like Kevin Love will not have to do any recruiting after all. After saying before, during and immediately after Team USA won the gold medal in London last summer that he was done as the head coach of the team, Mike Krzyzewski has had a change of heart. Coach K will be back to…

  18. Clippers’ owner basically admits Del Negro let go to keep Chris Paul happy

    May 22, 2013, 12:55 PM EDT

    Los Angeles Clippers v Denver Nuggets Getty Images

    We said as much in our story telling you Vinny Del Negro was not coming back to the Clippers — this was what Chris Paul wanted. Clippers owner Donald Sterling personally liked Del Negro a lot and was his biggest supporter in the organization, so something had to override that. It was free agent to…

  19. LeBron says he isn’t afraid to challenge Hibbert at the rim. But watch for floaters anyway.

    May 22, 2013, 11:54 AM EDT

    Heat's James prepares to dunk against the Bulls in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Miami Reuters

    If you want to know what happens when you to right at Indiana’s Roy Hibbert at the rim, watch the video above or ask Carmelo Anthony — Hibbert sent him back dramatically in Game 6 last round. It changed the momentum of the game that eventually sent the Knicks fishing for the summer. So, LeBron…

  20. Reports: Clippers, Bucks waiting to talk to Lionel Hollins for coaching jobs

    May 22, 2013, 11:14 AM EDT

    Memphis Grizzlies v San Antonio Spurs - Game Two Getty Images

    Whenever the Memphis Grizzlies’ season ends — which could be sooner rather than later if they don’t start cutting off Tony Parker at the point of attack, but that’s another post — Lionel Hollins is going to be a popular guy. Hollins’ contract is up as coach of the end of this season, and while…

Top 10 NBA Player Searches
  1. G. Hill (3428)
  2. D. Wade (3363)
  3. C. Anthony (3277)
  4. L. James (2845)
  5. D. Howard (2634)
  1. T. Parker (2617)
  2. D. Granger (2574)
  3. C. Paul (2520)
  4. D. Rose (2341)
  5. T. Chandler (2287)