The Lakers have focused on defense for this season. It might be a work in progress because there was very little defense played in a 116 - 105 win for the New Orleans Hornets. Chris Paul exposed the Lakers weakness in stopping guards and had a thirty two point (fifteen assists) night:

link: Box Score - Lakers / Hornets

The Lakers were not able to stop Chris Paul. He really could go wherever he wanted. It was evident where Chris Paul was looking as a first option. David West had forty point night. That is a combined seventy two points from two players. It was not a surprise that Chris Paul was going to set up David West. Even when that became abundantly clear, the Lakers could not make the necessary stops.

The defense gave up thirty two points in the first quarter. The Lakers have had the habit of playing from behind and, with the Hornets, it proved costly. Even their offense abandoned them in the final quarter when they managed only thirteen points while giving up twenty seven points to the Hornets offense.

Lamar Odom left the game with an injury. He becomes the third injury, joining Jordan Farmar and Luke Walton on the sidelines. In part, that may account for the discrepancy in rebounding. The Hornets has ten more defensive rebound than the Lakers. The Lakers may be one injury away from needing to look for an addition to their roster.

On a night where the defense took a hiatus, there are two notable offensive oddities. In the third quarter especially, Kobe Bryant had an exceptional scoring night. He was six for seven on three point shots and had thirty nine points. That Kobe Bryant had such a stellar scoring touch may have disrupted the Lakers offense. In the last quarter, when the Lakers needed to continue to score, they only managed thirteen points.

The other inexplicable oddity is ‘why does Derek Fisher have so much trouble finishing a layup?‘ The Lakers guard will look to pass, will look for help from the referee or put up a wild shot while driving to the basket. He is much more effective when he does not drive to the basket and settles for a jump shot.

The Lakers may view the loss to the Hornets as just part of the grind of eight-two regular game season. However, the Hornets now know that they can beat the Lakers and beat them on their home court. It is unlikely that Chris Paul will forget that he can set up the Hornets offense to make over fifty percent of their shots. And the Lakers have yet to find ways to stop him.

Catherine Forsythe