Phil Jackson not satisfied the way Lakers played against Hornets: NBA Update
The Lakers’ Head Coach, Phil Jackson, is not pleased the way Los Angeles played against the New Orleans Hornets. He even mentioned in public in this regard when some reporters asked him about the Lakers’ preparations towards that big game against the
New Orleans Hornets on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Jackson said, “I thought we had a little lack of focus today, just not as tuned in as we normally could be, some of it was just a matter of a different schedule that we had. But still in all, I'd like to see a little more focus.”
The Sunday’s meeting was an epic battle between the Hornets and the Lakers. New Orleans came for their first play-off encounter against Los Angeles on Sunday night at Staples Centre, in Los Angeles. The best-of-seven first round series was about to
start and the early advantage was certainly going to determine the tougher team in this first round play-off series.
The Lakers were coming into the play-offs as the second best side in the Western Conference while the Hornets have qualified into the play-offs grabbing the seventh position in the same conference.
By all means the Lakers were coming into this game with their killer instinct, but the way the Hornets played and handled the Lakers on Sunday night was mind-blowing as they stunned the Lakers with 109-100 win.
The Lakers’ superstar, Pau Gasol, was very frustrated on this defeat when he said, “I'm disappointed, yeah. Stunned, surprised, But we were the ones responsible for that to happen, so we have to own up to that and come back to work in the next couple
of days and get the series where we want it to be.”
The Hornets proved to be a better side when they outclassed the mighty Lakers with full preparation for this meeting. This very play-off duel is a frightening nightmare for the Lakers if they still ignore the strategy mapped out by their head coach
during the matches in these play-offs.
After this humiliating defeat by the Hornets, Jackson also said, “Our defense, I thought, was late, I think we were late on everything. They were the aggressors, and they stayed aggressive. ... I think they respect the Hornets. I just don't think they
were keyed in on what they have to do.”
Phil Jackson knows how tough this competition is going to be for the Lakers if they still show lack of team spirit and confidence in the practice sessions. The New Orleans Hornets are leading this seven match first round series with 1-0. Both teams
will be meeting again on Wednesday night at Staples Centre, Los Angeles.
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