Real time game thread- Lakers at Hawks
February 6, 2008 | 4:06
pm
It's the second go round for Pau Gasol as a Laker, and a potential trap game for his new team. The Hawks are all bouncy and young, and run around a lot. They've also just capped off a 4-11 January. Still, they've won two straight, and are 14-9 at home. All in all, it's a game the Lakers should win, but they need to pay attention.
Remember, KCAL viewers, stay away from this one. And the Internet in general, until 5:30.
BK
RANDOM THOUGHTS AS I THINK ABOUT THIS UNEXPECTED LOSS...
* Kobe, on that last play, shouldn't have been handling that ball if his finger is bothering him. That was either his fault, or Phil's
* I told everyone not to get too excited about Pau. He's good, but he's not great.
* Pau is like a feather down in the box. I imagine Tryon Lue could push him out of position if need be
* What happened to Vlad Rad?
* My thing on playing hurt...do it only if you're effective, if not, you're being selfish...
* I won't blame Sasha too much, but he should have put the 3 up instead of going for the 2
* Why can't Kobe just accept making a bad play? His losing the ball was clearly on him. Just move on, Kobe, instead of always trying to argue everything
* I guess I'm the only blogger that feels the Lakers are NOT the best team in the West. I have them clearly behind the Spurs, Suns, Dallas, and Utah.
* I think Shaq will help the Suns...another not so popular opinion around here
* I've got to be fair, all the Lakers played good games tonight. The person who blew it for the Lakers was Kobe Bryant. But, it's just one game.
* I've long predicted the Lakers will go 6-3, and I stand by that...
Posted by: troy | February 06, 2008 at 08:06 PM
KOBIATCH IS A LOSER!!!!! HE HAS NO RIGHT TO PLAY IN THE NBA! HE SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE FIRST!!!! AT LEAST LEBRON SECRETLY WENT TO COLLEGE BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL!!!! KEVIN GARNETT DID ALSO!!!!! BUT I'M MORE IN LOVE WITH LEBRON SO I WON'T TALK ABOUT GARNETT!!!!!!! BUT I WILL TALK ABOUT KOBIATCH!!!!!!
Posted by: DUMBER | February 06, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Sigh.
It's okay. Growing process. With Gasol in, Bynum out we are still establishing a new dynamic.
Great game by Odom. Wish he would play like this every game.
K Brothers, for the love of God, give us a fricken update on the status of Ariza and Bynum.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 06, 2008 at 08:11 PM
please don't feed the trolls.
Posted by: Faith | February 06, 2008 at 08:11 PM
I think Sasha knew that they were down by 3. But in the situation he was in, he didn't have much of a chance to make a 3 pointer and so he thought it would be more resonable to go into the basket to score and draw the foul. Unfourtunatley, no foul was called and the play made him look like he didn't know that they were down by 3.
Posted by: | February 06, 2008 at 08:17 PM
wesjoenixon: that game against the Bucks at Staples
Chubbs: kind of like how Minnesota beat New Orleans and Phoenix twice? and how the Spurs lost to Memphis and Seattle? and Boston lost to the Bobcats?
it's more frustrating when our team loses to bad teams.. i know how you feel, but it happens to ALL teams. just... some don't lose as many as others.
Posted by: socalife | February 06, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Stephen Ward,
Horford isn't a thug. His foul on LO today was just a good hard foul, not dirty. And Ford got hurt on fluke play, he barely even touched him.
And this has nothing to do with me watching him play here at Florida for 3 years. lol
Posted by: Xodus | February 06, 2008 at 08:29 PM
people who think lebron outplays kobe
should look at what chris paul is doing to nash the 2 time mvp is getting 40 and 10 being put on him with no marrion i have no idea how they are going to play defense
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 08:31 PM
gunner, goober and dumber... all in one... lol....
all your posts are baseless....
GUYS, ignore them at once...
Posted by: | February 06, 2008 at 08:03 PM
You cant ignore GUNNER
He is so entertaining
reading his posts is like watching a drunk entering the wrong house
Posted by: LAKERDAWG | February 06, 2008 at 08:31 PM
No loss is good but not a bad loss at all. Fourth road game in the East Coast in seven days people. Our best player with a dislocated finger in his shooting hand. Our second best player in only his second game with the team, on a back-to-back, with only one practice after flying back and forth across the country. Only a 3 point loss with a chance to win it at the end. Take any team, Spurs, Celtics, whoever and I doubt they would do better.
Lots of encouraging signs actually. LO puts in another second consecutive good game in the Gasol era. Vlad Rad played well and is improving. Fisher shot well. Sasha shot well. Even Luke seems to be getting over his injury woes and played well. Farmar and Ronny look like they need a bit more time to adjust to the new lineup changes but that will come. And a good reminder to the players and the fans that we still need to show up and play the game, no matter how good the team looks on paper. Come June, no one is even going to remember this game.
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 06, 2008 at 08:32 PM
I can see them losing two more on the trip -- but 5-4 is really not bad at all for the longest roadie in franchise history. This trip is brutal, they've arrived at 3 a.m. twice on the trip already. They’ll be fine.
I see a direct correlation between the Lakers getting back to form and mental midgets making an appearance/reappearance on this blog.
It was so nice a few weeks ago. Oh well, if I have to deal with blathering simpletons to write my few words on this blog, so be it. Just keep your drool off the keyboard, you might electrocute yourself. No one wants that! Actually, I do.
Posted by: HmrHed | February 06, 2008 at 08:36 PM
I'm happy I passed on the game and hung out with my family. I saw the last two minutes and I then needed to take a TIME OUT. Back to back, looked tired, expected an automatic win and a turnover with a few seconds left. Let's get rest and beat Orlando next.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | February 06, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Sasha was not going to get a good shot off. Better to get a two, possibly an "and one", and make the other team hit their free throws. The three Fisher ended up with was a better shot than Sasha would have been able to get.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 06, 2008 at 08:39 PM
YOU KNOW WHY SASHA DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT THE 3-POINTER???????!!!!!!!!!?????? BECAUSE KOBIATCH DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE!!!!!!!!
PAU GASOL 5 - 16!!!!!!!! BECAUSE KOBIATCH DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE!!!!!!!!
I KNOW BASKETBALL MORE THAN MIKE T!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I KNOW THAT THE FIRST THING YOU DO AFTER EVERY GAME IS TO ALWAYS LOOK FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME!!!!!!!!!
I DON'T CARE IF WE WIN OR LOSE BUT SOMEONE HAS TO BE BLAMED!!!!!!!!!!!
AFTER FINDING THE PERSON TO BLAME, THE NEXT STEP IS TO FIND SOMEONE TO CRITICIZE!!!!!!!
AND IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THE PERSON TO BE BLAMED AND THE PERSON TO BE CRITICIZED IS ONE AND THE SAME PERSON!!!!!!!
AND IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF THAT PERSON IS KOBIATCH!!!!! BECAUSE BASKETBALL IS ALL ABOUT THE TEAM!!!!!! AND KOBIATCH IS NOT A TEAM!!!!!!! HE'S ONLY ONE PERSON!!!!!!!!! HE'S SO SELFISH THAT HE DIDN'T MAKE HIMSELF INTO FIVE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
Posted by: | February 06, 2008 at 08:40 PM
I guess that's true. If he had gotten the "and one" we would all be singing his praises right now. Is the last shot on YouTube or somewhere?
E
Posted by: Emma | February 06, 2008 at 08:41 PM
To whichever anonymous posted this re Luke:
"He destroys our offensive flow i think. And on defense, he's always a liability and needs a help defender"
Odd that someone who supposedly "destroys the offensive flow" had a +12, and the next highest was a +2. Pretty effective destruction, that.
Walton had a very solid game tonight.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 06, 2008 at 08:46 PM
win or lose, kobe is being blamed....
Posted by: | February 06, 2008 at 08:49 PM
I just got home...the Hawks? Really?
Posted by: Michael A | February 06, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Troy or what ever your name is , you have just proved that you have no knowledge of the basic fundamentals of basketball. Youe assessment is totally invalid and if you do not have something to write about, why dont you just shut up.
We lost this game simply because KB24 was not aggresive enough do do the damage he normally does. No drives to the basketball, not enough free throws for KB to carry us tonight.
Pau is a great player, tonights loss does not make him just a good player as stated by you. It was just a bad game for the lakers.
The lakers did not do a good job on the boards tonight, 2nd chance points killed us tonight. We will bounce back from this loss when we meet Orland on friday.
Posted by: | February 06, 2008 at 09:07 PM
KOBIATCH SHOULD BE RIDING SHAQ'S COATTAILS ALL HIS LIFE!!!!!!!! WE SHOULD TRADE KOBIATCH TO THE SUNS NOW!!!!!!! HE CAN RIDE SHAQ'S COATTAILS THERE!!!!! HE CAN WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP RIDING ON THE COATTAILS OF SHAQ AND NASH AND AMARE THERE!!!!!
THAT WILL TEACH HIM A LESSON!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DUMBER | February 06, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Nothing to worry about guys. It's only the second game for Gasol and Kobe has a hurt finger on his shooting hand. It'll just take a little time for the team to gel and Kobe to heal. No biggie.
Posted by: DavyJonze | February 06, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Keep up the good work Dumber. I assume you are the same poster as idiot and Stranger in the Night. Love the satire.
Lakerville, arguing or responding to trolls such as gunner is absolutely ineffective. It actually encourages. Gunner, for example, thrives on the criticism and ridicule. It "feeds" them, gives them fuel. If you cannot ignore, then be creative in your approach like Dumber and his satire.
Posted by: long live chick | February 06, 2008 at 09:20 PM
The suns got beat at home by the hornets who played without chandler
Paul had 42-9 and 8 steals
I think the only matchup prolems for the lakers are the Jazz and the Spurs
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 09:33 PM
I am thinking:
Nash had 10 turnovers
ang got outplayed by Paul are there going to be alot of people on the Suns blog who would want him traded away and will talk about how he doesnt deserve his mvp awards?
there is something about kobe that just brings hate like a magnet
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Over the last 5 games bryant and nash are averaging the same amount of turnovers
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 09:40 PM
5 games to go untill the allstar break we need a 4-1 finish
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Correction to my post above, it was the 5th road game of the Lakers in 7 days! Not 4th. So to lose by only 3 points is actually quite impressive.
The only people who will remember this game will be Hawks players and fans who will remember the time they were able to beat the 2009 NBA champion Lakers in Atlanta during the regular season back in February, 2009.
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 06, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Another game the Lakers had, but we'll be fine, no big deal. We just didn't execute down the stretch and Kobe's turnover was costly. The foul called on Fish against Joe Johnson was bogus and should've been an offensive foul. Anyways, we just move on and start another win streak. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | February 06, 2008 at 09:52 PM
the Lakers looked flat..and a little overconfident. Seemed as though they thought they would walk through Atlanta especiall with the lead and Joe Johnson didnt think so...Kobe had a hurt finger...and this time rather than be a decoy...the Hawks knew that Kobe was passing because he was hurt. Therefore that Kobe differing thing wasnt going to be as effective.
Posted by: The Lake Show | February 06, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Lakers will finish the rest of this trip 4-1. Lakers still ran their offense pretty well, but their defense in the fourth quarter wasn't there. Kobe didn't take bad shots, he just missed some shots he normally makes and wasn't aggressive going to the hoop tonight. I would be upset if Kobe forced shots, but tonight he took good shots that just didn't fall. Pau had several shots rim out, but he took good shots as well. Shots just don't fall some nights, but we'll be fine. Rad has found his stroke again, but needs to stay away from silly fouls. Hortford played a good game tonight, but no way does he get those numbers with Bynum in there. On to the next challenge, go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | February 06, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Have the Suns wached the Heat games this year?
I love Shaq for all he did as a Laker but looking at his game at this stage of his career i just can not belive why the Suns would want to make this trade
All of this talk about double teams is just stupis why would you double team a guy who commits 3 offensive fouls a game and only scores in the fist quater?
In the last 2 years Shaq has only had 5 games where he scored more than 12 points in the second half
the heat games usually went like this Shaq is active in the first q score 8 points on 4-5 shooting and grabs 4 rebounds the anouncers start talking about Shaq still being a dominant player than comes the second quater his play drops off in the third quater he is barely alive and in the forth he is on the bench.
Shaq just doesn't have it anymore he should have retired at the end of last year when they got swept by the bulls with 6-7 ben wallace guarding him
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 10:02 PM
I think the Heat asked Shaq for a buy out and he declined he is counting on the 50 million owed to him with his big devorce
Posted by: sneurson | February 06, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Correction to my post above. The only people who will remember this game will be Hawks players and fans who will remember the time they were able to beat the 2008 NBA champion Lakers in Atlanta during the regular season back in February, 2008.
I am psychic though so maybe this inadvertent mistake is actually a fortelling of what's going to happen.
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 06, 2008 at 10:22 PM
sneurson
I doubt if Shaq will owe that much on his divorce bec. I would expect that he had a pretty good prenuptial agreement. Unless of course he was as dumb as Paul McCartney in not even having any prenuptial at all.
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 06, 2008 at 10:24 PM
there must be a conspiracy theory out here in the nba...
KERR IS HELPING HIS FORMER TEAM THE SPURS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BY GETTING SHAQ TO THE SUNS
PAT RILEY IS HELPING HIS FORMER TEAM THE LAKERS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BY GIVING SHAQ TO THE SUNS
JERRY WEST HELPED HIS FORMER TEAM THE LAKERS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BECAUSE OF GASOL
SUNS LOSES BEACAUSE THEY GOT OLD SHAQ!
SPURS AND LAKERS MEET IN CONFERENCE FINALS
ANY THOUGHT?
Posted by: leftover72 | February 06, 2008 at 10:26 PM
there must be a conspiracy theory out here in the nba...
KERR IS HELPING HIS FORMER TEAM THE SPURS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BY GETTING SHAQ TO THE SUNS
PAT RILEY IS HELPING HIS FORMER TEAM THE LAKERS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BY GIVING SHAQ TO THE SUNS
JERRY WEST HELPED HIS FORMER TEAM THE LAKERS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BECAUSE OF GASOL
SUNS LOSES BEACAUSE THEY GOT OLD SHAQ!
SPURS AND LAKERS MEET IN CONFERENCE FINALS
ANY THOUGHT?
Posted by: leftover72 | February 06, 2008 at 10:29 PM
leftover72,
"there must be a conspiracy theory out here in the nba...
KERR IS HELPING HIS FORMER TEAM THE SPURS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BY GETTING SHAQ TO THE SUNS
PAT RILEY IS HELPING HIS FORMER TEAM THE LAKERS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BY GIVING SHAQ TO THE SUNS
JERRY WEST HELPED HIS FORMER TEAM THE LAKERS WIN THE CONFERENCE FINALS BECAUSE OF GASOL
SUNS LOSES BEACAUSE THEY GOT OLD SHAQ!
SPURS AND LAKERS MEET IN CONFERENCE FINALS
ANY THOUGHT?"
THE HEAT TRADED SHAQ TO THE SUNS BECAUSE KBIATCH IS SELFISH!!!!!!! HE WANTED THE HEAT TO TRADE SHAQ!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DUMBER | February 06, 2008 at 10:35 PM
What guys forget is that when Shaq scores it takes him 16-22 seconds of the shot clock he backs in passes out backs in passes out backs in and finally shoots how are the suns going to win when they are going to have 20% less shots with shaq in there and also the big question is that shaq has never been a good defensive player in his life, mouring was doing all the defensive work for the heat and now the suns want him to play defense??????
What will happen is maybe shaq will get some stops by putting a body on bynum boozer duncan and so on but how is he going to stop guard penetration he is not agile enouph to block shots all he does is faull all the time
Posted by: shneurson | February 06, 2008 at 10:41 PM
I've been posting on the Suns blog lately to see their reactions and give them some reaction from a Lakers fan point of view on the Shaq trade. It's pretty interesting so far. Mostly everyone seems pretty pissed off, although they are willing to give him a few games to see how it goes. If they start losing when Shaq joins the team, it's going to look very ugly on the Suns blog. Quite a contrast to this blog. Even though we lost tonight, were still very happy. We know it may take a little time to gel and heal. They don't seem to have nearly our amount of patience. Looks like a fun season.
Posted by: DavyJonze | February 06, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I noticed Kobe was apparently in a great deal of pain while trainer worked on his injury during the Nets game. I guess he went to the locker room to scream while they worked it. Dislocations need to be forced back into anatomical position and it is often very painful. Swelling and pain may linger after the joint is put back into proper position. Dislocations vary in severity. The joint may just remain swollen for a while or it's possible for significant soft tissue damage to occur that requires surgical intervention. Let's hope this isn't the case with Kobe.
Interestingly, fixing a finger dislocation is one of two dislocations that supposedly all people can fix. It's a fairly easy fix not requiring a doctor.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 07, 2008 at 05:05 AM
Some poor shooting, so so defense and a little too much general mellowness on the court.
We need to put on a better showing and we can just hope we shoot better.
We need to adjust better to good shotblockers too. Obviously, if it were super easy to adjust to them, they wouldn't block so many shots so we have to take that into consideration to be fair.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 07, 2008 at 05:07 AM
Know what the best thing about this was?
The vast majority of bloggers were happy enough and confident enough to just blow this game off as a result of unfortunate circumstances and as a learning experience.
I don't think I've ever seen the blog be so implicitly positive about the team.
Very good stuff.
Posted by: Benjamin | February 07, 2008 at 05:16 AM
Long time laker fan, I am glade you care.
I disagree. If we say PLUKE"S play was good, then that what we are to get from PLuke? Not good enough for me needs lots of improvement.
Why do you think the other team go after PLUKE and get a lift from the man slow footed PLUKE is guarding?
A well coach team would never give away its momentum willing. How hard is it to sub in one or two fresh players while keeping the core in tact?
To me, Phil is looking to get the win in the last few minutes of the game after he has made his miss-steps. The team should never be put in this type of pressure situation of who lost\won the game for us.
A win is more import ion than any single players playing time, to me that is.
I wish PLUKE WALTON'S mama would stop lobbing for PLUKE IQ and good play. Is this a way of saying that all of the other players are dumb? What did PLUKE do that was so intelligent?
The Team WINS or the Team loses, stop the separation.
We have a TEAM let’s play all out hard for 48 minutes maximum effort and usage of every man on the team according to his best use every game.
Stop the waite in 08!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: fisheye | February 07, 2008 at 05:50 AM
Lets not confuse hate with criticism. After Laker losses, particularly bad Laker losses, every player at one time or the other has been criticized; Lamar is trashed alot, Luke of course, Derek gets blames, why not Kobe?
When Kobe plays bad, I criticize him. When people insult him based on nonsense, or dredge of his past mistakes, then that's hate. Know the difference.
Posted by: troy | February 07, 2008 at 06:00 AM
Long time laker fan, I am glade you care.
I disagree. If we say PLUKE"S play was good, then that what we are to get from PLuke? Not good enough for me needs lots of improvement.
Why do you think the other team go after PLUKE and get a lift from the man slow footed PLUKE is guarding?
I am not blaming PLuke for this lose.
"This loss is totally on Phil, no rotation, just kill your own team’s moment ion and flow with a second unit when the game is on the line. Then put your starters back in cold and under pressure. Why not put the second unit in at garbage time, BB 101.
Pluke was Pluke he must follow Brown out of town or suffer the consequences. \
Phil and Pluke there is no where to hide now. Phil I hope you are enjoying the game you are playing with Pluke and koby Carl at the expense of team chemistry. Do you really think the other team members are not effected. Do you think the other team members have the energy and focus to over come your B.S. and lop sided head games every game.
Fans want to win NOW."
A well coach team would never give away its momentum willing. How hard is it to sub in one or two fresh players while keeping the core in tact?
To me, Phil is looking to get the win in the last few minutes of the game after he has made his miss-steps. The team should never be put in this type of pressure situation of who lost\won the game for us.
A win is more import ion than any single players playing time, to me that is.
I wish PLUKE WALTON'S mama would stop lobbing for PLUKE IQ and good play. Is this a way of saying that all of the other players are dumb? What did PLUKE do that was so intelligent?
The Team WINS or the Team loses, stop the separation.
We have a TEAM let’s play all out hard for 48 minutes maximum effort and usage of every man on the team according to his best use every game.
Stop the waite in 08!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: fisheye | February 07, 2008 at 06:01 AM
Who is Dumber?
This guy seems worst than Gunner. Is that Staples24 or Kobe Apologists?
Just sounds like that could be them. Anyways, I wish that nonsense could stop.
Posted by: | February 07, 2008 at 06:03 AM
How the hell does Lamar Odom not know what "disjointed" means? Rhode Island must be one fine school.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 07, 2008 at 07:37 AM
AK,
Nice observation on Kobe's response to Sasha's brain cramp. You're right. He gave just enough negative feedback without going volcanic, which is something he might have done as recently as last year. Derek Fisher's presence has truly been a maturing force upon Kobe. Good.
Last night was a bad loss ("heartache" as Phil Jackson succinctly descibed it), but it doesn't really mean anything.
It was a bad game. An anomaly. Does anyone expect more games like this once the Lakers are rested, Kobe's finger has healed, and Kung-Pau and the team have had some decent time to practice together? I think not.
The good news is that 340 pound, bad knees, bad hips, Shaq--Diesel In Need Of An Overhaul--O'Neal is now a Phoenix Sun.
If anything, this is going to be a VERY entertaining season.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 07, 2008 at 07:53 AM
K Brothers,
Do you know what book Lamar Odom was given by Phil Jackson? With that vocabulary, maybe something like Dr. Seuss's "Cat In The Hat" might be most appropriate.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 07, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Move on people, We lost, Atlanta has always gotten a couple games on us here and there, even in the Shaq era. Now, they are more athletic and their guys have experience playing together. They got us on a 2nd night of back to backs and did what they were supposed to. We got careless, lost the game, ISH happens...Next game and stop the blame game, cuz in reality its useless! If players can and have to move on, so can you.! And that's word!
LakersRydeOrDie!
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | February 07, 2008 at 08:03 AM