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The Los Angeles Lakers came into Wednesday’s matchup 4-0 against the Eastern Conference. Likewise, the Washington Wizards entered with a 7-0 mark against sub-.500 teams. One of these records would receive its first flaw.
Perhaps the lactic acid finally set in for the Lakers on their road trip, because how else could you explain the Lakers morphing into tree sloths in the second half?
On the break, the Wizards appeared to be turbo-charged. Their youth, speed and energy all attributes dwarfing the present traits of the Lakers. On a few fast breaks, even Marcin Gortat found himself all alone near the basket. When you have Gortat beating you down the floor, you know you have a problem with transition defense.
Los Angeles ended up looking like a team jet-lagged, playing their second game in as many nights. Not only that, the Wizards’ selfless brand of basketball also exposed the Lakers as nothing but an aging group of individuals. Kris Humphries filled in for Nenê, and it was no problem. In fact, Humphries was a rebounding machine, snagging 10 boards in the first 16 minutes of action, finishing with 20.
Kobe Bryant attacked the basket more furiously than he did in Detroit, but No. 24’s first-half onslaught proved only to be a spark extinguished in the final 24 minutes.
The Wizards showed they are the Eastern Conference’s closest thing to a complete team, exposing the Lakers lack of a solid inside presence, and spacing the floor in both half-court sets and transition. They attacked Carlos Boozer with Gortat early, and had Humphries cleaning up the scraps. In transition, the Wizards sped down the floor with confidence, while the Lakers’ defense looked disoriented at best.
The fourth quarter became a formality for the Wizards as they coasted to another win, epitomizing the reality the Lakers will regularly face for the remainder of their season.
Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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