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Lakers caught cold by Bucks
Source: Agencies |
December 24, 2010, Friday
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THE Los Angeles Lakers were still licking their wounds on Wednesday after being humiliated by the Milwaukee Bucks the previous night in a game the NBA champions had previously earmarked as a possible upset.
Los Angeles had vowed not to look past Milwaukee with its biggest challenge of the season looming large - a Christmas Day showdown tomorrow with LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
However much they tried to guard against complacency, the Lakers were totally outplayed on their home court on Tuesday in a stunning 98-79 defeat by an under-strength opposition.
The Bucks had lost their six previous games to Los Angeles and were a lackluster 10-16 for the season after being pummelled 106-80 by the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
"We just didn't play very well," Lakers forward Matt Barnes told reporters after his team's five-game winning streak was snapped. "It was a sub-.500 team that we should've clamped down on, and we didn't do that."
Milwaukee was missing three regular starters - pivotal point guard Brandon Jennings, Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden - through injury. Not that anyone would have noticed, though, as the super-charged Bucks led for most of the game before finishing with a flourish on a 21-7 run.
"We could have lost to anybody in the league," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "We deserved to lose, they beat us. We obviously have to move on but I feel like that is a game we should win."
Whether or not tomorrow's home game against the Heat had been an unwanted distraction for the Lakers while on court against the Bucks, the subject had been discussed during their pre-game shootaround.
As Lakers coach Phil Jackson recalled: "It was mentioned, 'Don't mess around and let this game get away from us and then ruin what we're trying to do on Christmas'."
Veteran Lakers guard Derek Fisher did not rule out the effect of the Heat factor on Tuesday night.
"It's a possibility but even in looking past someone it requires an action on your part," he said.
"I don't think it was so much about the opponent. We just didn't play the type of game we needed to play."
Los Angeles had won five of its last six games on the road before being embarrassed by the Bucks, a back-at-home let-down Jackson has seen several times before.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls beat the injury-depleted Washington Wizards 87-80 to win ninth game in last 10. Also, Ray Allen scored 22 points and Paul Pierce recovered after missing his first seven shots to score 11 in the second half to lead the Boston Celtics to their 14th straight victory, 84-80 over the Philadelphia 76ers.
In other NBA action, it was: Spurs 109, Nuggets 103; Jazz 112, Timberwolves 107; Knicks 112, Thunder 98; Pistons 115, Raptors 93; Hawks 98, Cavaliers 84; Rockets 97, Clippers 92; and Hornets 105, Nets 91.
Los Angeles had vowed not to look past Milwaukee with its biggest challenge of the season looming large - a Christmas Day showdown tomorrow with LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
However much they tried to guard against complacency, the Lakers were totally outplayed on their home court on Tuesday in a stunning 98-79 defeat by an under-strength opposition.
The Bucks had lost their six previous games to Los Angeles and were a lackluster 10-16 for the season after being pummelled 106-80 by the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
"We just didn't play very well," Lakers forward Matt Barnes told reporters after his team's five-game winning streak was snapped. "It was a sub-.500 team that we should've clamped down on, and we didn't do that."
Milwaukee was missing three regular starters - pivotal point guard Brandon Jennings, Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden - through injury. Not that anyone would have noticed, though, as the super-charged Bucks led for most of the game before finishing with a flourish on a 21-7 run.
"We could have lost to anybody in the league," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "We deserved to lose, they beat us. We obviously have to move on but I feel like that is a game we should win."
Whether or not tomorrow's home game against the Heat had been an unwanted distraction for the Lakers while on court against the Bucks, the subject had been discussed during their pre-game shootaround.
As Lakers coach Phil Jackson recalled: "It was mentioned, 'Don't mess around and let this game get away from us and then ruin what we're trying to do on Christmas'."
Veteran Lakers guard Derek Fisher did not rule out the effect of the Heat factor on Tuesday night.
"It's a possibility but even in looking past someone it requires an action on your part," he said.
"I don't think it was so much about the opponent. We just didn't play the type of game we needed to play."
Los Angeles had won five of its last six games on the road before being embarrassed by the Bucks, a back-at-home let-down Jackson has seen several times before.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls beat the injury-depleted Washington Wizards 87-80 to win ninth game in last 10. Also, Ray Allen scored 22 points and Paul Pierce recovered after missing his first seven shots to score 11 in the second half to lead the Boston Celtics to their 14th straight victory, 84-80 over the Philadelphia 76ers.
In other NBA action, it was: Spurs 109, Nuggets 103; Jazz 112, Timberwolves 107; Knicks 112, Thunder 98; Pistons 115, Raptors 93; Hawks 98, Cavaliers 84; Rockets 97, Clippers 92; and Hornets 105, Nets 91.
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