Coming down the stretch of the Lakers’ 109-107 victory over the Raptors Tuesday night, it was easily apparent which team was more accustomed to the pressure of a close game. Los Angeles was able to take high percentage shots more consistently and get to the line more frequently than their opponent. Toronto was unable to take advantage of the bonus free throws to which they were entitled and made several questionable turnovers.
Furthermore, when Lakers defenders squeezed Raptors guards, teammates seemed frozen on the spot and timeouts were required to save the possession. Jarrett Jack had to bail himself out twice and this ultimately prevented Toronto from advancing the ball for a game-tying shot at the end of the game.
Throughout the game, Los Angeles executed their sets at a more proficient level, especially on Kobe Bryant’s final shot. Even if Toronto had attempted to trap Bryant in the corner, he still might have made a fade away from the corner. The key was for Toronto to take control of the game before it reached that point. Had the Raptors committed fewer turnovers earlier in the fourth quarter and taken more quality shots, they would have been in a more comfortable position down the stretch.
Los Angeles plays tougher defence. They do not wait for the opponent to miss a shot; on many occasions, they will go out and make stops. For example, when Hedo Turkoglu committed an appalling turnover with about two minutes remaining, Derek Fisher had dropped to the high post, adjusting to the different passing angle between the ball and his check. José Calderon should have continued to move and made the visualization more difficult for the man guarding him.
Really, a professional player should keep their head up and see that the passing lane was closed. It seemed that Turkoglu had made up his mind as soon as he received the ball rather than reading what the defence was giving him and adjusting.
Toughness and persistence are habits of highly effective teams and the hardest for mid-level teams to learn. It is much easier to become more skilled than to become a more truculent. Sometimes it is even necessary to experience a painful defeat or setback before developing those intangible skills. Like Chris Bosh should have come to the high post move and looked to drive on the slower Andrew Bynum, the Raptors need to take initiative and develop these skills. A disappointing effort versus Philadephia on Sunday followed by a close game against Los Angeles typified by missed opportunities will not result in a good long-term result, irrespective of the outcome of tonight’s game.