Jew World Order

The Los Angeles Lakers edged the Memphis Grizzlies 86-84 at the Staples Center on Friday night in a closely contested game that came down to the wire in the fourth quarter. Lakers forward Pau Gasol put up one of his better performances since returning back from a torn plantar fascia—he had 19 points and nine rebounds.

Despite 18 turnovers and shooting only 25 percent from the 3-point line, the Lakers were still able to eke out a victory.

“This is a playoff type of game,” said Gasol. “It comes down to the wire, a very physical game, a grind out game, this is what it takes, and this is what it’s about. You come up with stops and beat your opponents down the stretch.”

Without two starters, point guard Steve Nash and forward Metta World Peace, the Lakers were facing an uphill climb heading into the matchup. Unlike the Lakers, who were battling to retain their eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race, the 51-24 Grizzlies were only looking to better their position by trying to catch the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers were 2-0 against the Grizzlies this season, losing by an average margin of 10.5 points. Memphis leads the league in defense, holding their opponents down to just under 90 points per game—they did just that against the Lakers, but could not convert enough on the offensive end to steal the win.

“It was a good win,” said Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni. “We didn’t play real well, we missed a lot of shots an stuff, but they’re a hard team to hold off.”

The Lakers put up a good defensive stand in the first half, holding Memphis to just 40 percent shooting and hitting 51.4 percent of their own field goals. After the Lakers were up by as many as 13, the Grizzlies made a late run into the second quarter, cutting the lead down to four points. Clutch baskets by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who finished with 24 points and nine assists, pushed the Lakers’ lead back up to seven by halftime.

“I think our defense was really solid,” said Bryant. “We did a good job of locking in on them, and making their shots tough.”

The Grizzlies adjusted in the second half, taking a one-point lead with nine minutes remaining, which turned into a seven-point lead halfway through the third quarter. An eight-point run volleyed the lead back to the Lakers at the 4:20 mark and Los Angeles found themselves up by six to start the fourth quarter.

Another Grizzlies run got them back the lead, 80-79, with under five minutes remaining. The teams traded leads in the waning minutes until the Lakers held the 85-84 advantage with 16.2 seconds left and an opportunity for the Grizzlies to win the game.

The chant of “defense” trumpeted from the Staples Center crowd and they got what they wanted—Grizzlies guard Mike Conley missed a game-winning jumper. On the ensuing possession, Lakers center Dwight Howard was fouled with 4.1 seconds left, but could only convert on one of two tries.

With the Lakers up two, the Grizzlies had a second opportunity to tie or win the game, but Conley’s second chance to be a hero came unfulfilled after his layup was contested enough by Howard.

“We executed like we were supposed to and tried to get a shot up,” said Conley, who led all Grizzlies with 21 points. “We tried to get some penetration and see what we can make out of it, but tonight just didn’t work out.”

“Well, you want to force little guys into our seven-footers, and make them take contested twos,” said Bryant. “That’s what we were able to do.”

Howard finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. Earl Clark and Antawn Jamison both contributed 13 points off the Lakers’ bench.

For the Grizzlies, Marc Gasol had 11 points and eight rebounds. Zach Randolph had 15 points, seven rebounds and Jerry Bayless had 14 points off the bench.

Next up for the Lakers is another opponent they have yet to beat, the Los Angeles Clippers. However, with their playoff hopes weighing in the balance, they know that every game is a must-win in the final stretch of the regular season.

“We have big games coming up against tough opponents,” said Bryant. “I think at this point in the season, it should be very easy for us to maintain our focus.”

The Los Angeles Lakers edged the Memphis Grizzlies 86-84 at the Staples Center on Friday night in a closely contested game that came down to the wire in the fourth quarter. Lakers forward Pau Gasol put up one of his better performances since returning back from a torn plantar fascia—he had 19 points and nine rebounds.

Despite 18 turnovers and shooting only 25 percent from the 3-point line, the Lakers were still able to eke out a victory.

“This is a playoff type of game,” said Gasol. “It comes down to the wire, a very physical game, a grind out game, this is what it takes, and this is what it’s about. You come up with stops and beat your opponents down the stretch.”

Without two starters, point guard Steve Nash and forward Metta World Peace, the Lakers were facing an uphill climb heading into the matchup. Unlike the Lakers, who were battling to retain their eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race, the 51-24 Grizzlies were only looking to better their position by trying to catch the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers were 2-0 against the Grizzlies this season, losing by an average margin of 10.5 points. Memphis leads the league in defense, holding their opponents down to just under 90 points per game—they did just that against the Lakers, but could not convert enough on the offensive end to steal the win.

“It was a good win,” said Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni. “We didn’t play real well, we missed a lot of shots an stuff, but they’re a hard team to hold off.”

The Lakers put up a good defensive stand in the first half, holding Memphis to just 40 percent shooting and hitting 51.4 percent of their own field goals. After the Lakers were up by as many as 13, the Grizzlies made a late run into the second quarter, cutting the lead down to four points. Clutch baskets by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who finished with 24 points and nine assists, pushed the Lakers’ lead back up to seven by halftime.

“I think our defense was really solid,” said Bryant. “We did a good job of locking in on them, and making their shots tough.”

The Grizzlies adjusted in the second half, taking a one-point lead with nine minutes remaining, which turned into a seven-point lead halfway through the third quarter. An eight-point run volleyed the lead back to the Lakers at the 4:20 mark and Los Angeles found themselves up by six to start the fourth quarter.

Another Grizzlies run got them back the lead, 80-79, with under five minutes remaining. The teams traded leads in the waning minutes until the Lakers held the 85-84 advantage with 16.2 seconds left and an opportunity for the Grizzlies to win the game.

The chant of “defense” trumpeted from the Staples Center crowd and they got what they wanted—Grizzlies guard Mike Conley missed a game-winning jumper. On the ensuing possession, Lakers center Dwight Howard was fouled with 4.1 seconds left, but could only convert on one of two tries.

With the Lakers up two, the Grizzlies had a second opportunity to tie or win the game, but Conley’s second chance to be a hero came unfulfilled after his layup was contested enough by Howard.

“We executed like we were supposed to and tried to get a shot up,” said Conley, who led all Grizzlies with 21 points. “We tried to get some penetration and see what we can make out of it, but tonight just didn’t work out.”

“Well, you want to force little guys into our seven-footers, and make them take contested twos,” said Bryant. “That’s what we were able to do.”

Howard finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. Earl Clark and Antawn Jamison both contributed 13 points off the Lakers’ bench.

For the Grizzlies, Marc Gasol had 11 points and eight rebounds. Zach Randolph had 15 points, seven rebounds and Jerry Bayless had 14 points off the bench.

Next up for the Lakers is another opponent they have yet to beat, the Los Angeles Clippers. However, with their playoff hopes weighing in the balance, they know that every game is a must-win in the final stretch of the regular season.

“We have big games coming up against tough opponents,” said Bryant. “I think at this point in the season, it should be very easy for us to maintain our focus.”