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Tuesday, March 08, 2016

Upside Down

03/08/2016 09:28:13 AM

Imagine a lopsided result of a heaven-and-hell game. And I mean “heaven and hell” because one team is currently sitting atop of the league standings; while one was on the verge of rebuilding for the next season.

Well, we hope they could get back on their winning track, even if Kobe Bryant will not be around by then.

Turns out, it was a blowout win by the Los Angeles Lakers against the top-seeing Golden State Warriors, 112-95. And does it get any better than this? At least you did not lose big time at your own turf—Staples Center. That deprived you from tallying loss #52 on your standing, and instead list win #13.

All that despite an ailing Bryant. The league's current star veteran only played 24 minutes and finished 12 points on a bit woeful 4-for-14 field goals. But his younger stalwarts stepped up for him. Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell teamed up for 46 points. With Brandon Bass and Marcelo Huetas checking their opponents on defense and beat them on their own rampaging game. These two had 13 and 10 markers, respectively. Julius Randle also had a 12-point, 14-rebound game.

Shucks.

Imagine the Lakers pulling off a biggest upset against the Warriors, the defending champions whose on the verge of seeking their first back-to-back titles in the NBA—and fifth since winning them in 1947, 1956, 1975, and 2015. Though honestly? Is this consdiered the biggest upset in the league history?

I don't think so yet. Maybe this season, it definitely is.

But hey, even winners are losing at some point in their lives. It definitely happens, even if you argue that it's a rare occurrence. Heck, they even lost to the Portland Trail Blazers by 32 points (105-137); thanks to a career-high 51 points by Damian Lillard. Quite a humiliating moment on their part.

When you think about it, it's a bad night. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson had a combined 33-point effort; but perhaps their defense made their shooting performance atrocious—a combined 13-for-40 field goal output. Draymond Green had a good news-bad news on his stats sheet: a near triple double on one end (nine points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), and a team-high seven turnovers at the other. As a team, they shot 4-for-30 from 3-point range, something that Clarkson and Russell's effort fare better (7-for-13).


Was an absence by Andre Iguodala became a factor on this one? That can be considered. But a second quarter surge? I mostly think so.

While they are a dominating road team in the NBA for the past 23 years, they wound up winless after five games when trailing after three quarters. All of their defeats were set outside the Oracle Arena; with five of them were decided by at least 10 points.

But we all know they will bounce back. Give them a break. Heck, they might even toppled the Chicago Bulls and their all-time high record of 72 wins.

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Author: slickmaster | (c) 2016 september twenty-eight productions

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