Live from Houston- Lakers at Rockets
Anyone want to explain why the Rockets' mascot is a bear? Just asking. Anyway, he just was raised on some sort of hydraulic platform with a big sign that says "Beat LA," and a "21-0: Keep the streak alive!"
Anyhoo...
FIRST QUARTER:
Ronny, Kobe, Vlad, Fish, and LO start for the Lakers.
10:40- Still no score. Pitcher's duel, I guess.
Finally, Scola scores on a backscreen, Turiaf goaltend. It's important that the Lakers don't get too far behind, because Houston's splits when leading at halftime and especially the third are fantastic. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but trust me, they're good.
9:02- Lakers on the board with a nice play from Turiaf to Odom in the low post. Ronny had Scola on his back, and when he flopped, it forced Mutombo to rotate over, and Ronny made a nice pass from the center of the lane to a cutting Odom for an easy two.
8:00- 8-4 Houston.
6:07- Great play by Kobe. He had Battier posted high, faced up, and as soon as the help started to come from Mutombo, he hit Ronny moving down the lane. Ronny draws the foul and goes to the line. That's the sort of thing they have to do, adn that Kobe is great with. Recognize the double, and move the ball before it can be effective. But for it to work, somebody needs to move.
5:50- Alston hits his third three of the quarter- deep- then he comes back on the next Houston possession and hits the baby hook in the lane. He's been one of their better players during the streak, and it's easy to see why. Timeout on the floor, Houston up 16-10.
Thus far, the Lakers have had a little trouble finding flow on the offensive end. Defensively, the Rockets are 6-10 from the floor, but a lot of that comes from Alston's deep shooting. At some point, stats say he'll miss.
Coming out of the TO, the Lakers get a good stand. Vlad sticks on T-Mac off a switch, and forces a reasonably tough shot. Then LO goes big to get the board. On the next trip, Turiaf stuffs Mutombo big time. No finger wag there, but I'd have respected it a lot had Ronny done it. 16-13 Houston.
2:59- Timeout on the floor. 16-15 Houston, but the Rockets have been stuck on 16 for a couple minutes now. The Lakers should/are likely looking to push when they can, but the Rockets don't give you a lot of chances. They're hardly a run and gun team themselves, and don't give a lot of easy run out chances. Most shots are within the O, so even long rebounds are well defended.
Farmar in for Fish off the TO.
Vlad hits a three to tie the game 18, 3:40 left in the quarter.
2:12- Lakers press off the Turiaf FT, but the Rockets break it easily and it results in an and-one for Chuck hayes. It's so hard to effectively press in the NBA, since teams are so athletic and good with the ball most can break it. Works in spots.
Mbenga in.
1:08- Alston hits another three, this time off a drive and kick from McGrady. Farmar counters on the other end for LA, and it's 24-23 Houston.
END OF THE FIRST-
24-23 Houston. Very fun entertainment on the floor. Houston brought out a line of kids, each wearing a jersey of the team the Rockets had beaten during the streak. Then the bear came out and while they played Another One Bites the Dust, he "punched out" each kid. Then they got to the Lakers at the end, and a little kid came out, maybe six years old, and did the deed, riling up the crowd. When he was done decking the big kid in the Lakers jersey, he pulled off his own Rockets jersey, was wearing a superman cape underneath, and started flexing for the crowd. Then all the other kids pulled off their other jerseys, revealing Houston ones underneath, and stomped on them.
A little violent maybe, but very entertaining.
SECOND QUARTER-
Lakers come out with Farmar, Sasha, Turiaf, Odom, and Kobe.
10:00- Lakers do a great job, setting a P and R with Farmar and Ronny. Jordan came across the screen, brought his men with him, and then hit Ronny cutting, almost in a back door play. Houston, though, comes right back with a backscreen of their own, and get a layup along the baseline, then on the next play get some good ball movement to create another easy hoop down low.
They really do move the ball well.
8:28- Dunk for Luther Head off a goofy play (Sasha and LO basically kept each other from securing an offensive board) gives Houston a 32-29 lead.
T on LO, but coming out of the TO Jackson misses the FT. Walton in for LA.
Lakers are REALLY small right now, with Turiaf, Sasha, Walton, Farmar, and Kobe. Hoepfully it results in some good ball movement for the Lakers on the offensive end.
7:28- Luther Head jumps way forward on his triple attempt, and ends up drawing contact on Sasha. Not sure about the whistle there, but he makes the FT, and the Lakers are now down by eight. Houston is really packing down on the Lakers inside, and they're having trouble finding good looks. The Lakers are being forced to take a lot of bad shots close to the end of the shot clock.
They need to find some sort of rhythm. Getting out on the run has been effective, but right now, the Rockets are rotating faster than the Lakers can create.
6:57- Timeout on the floor, Lakers down 38-29.
6:26- Lakers work the ball into the post, and after some patience, Ronny is able to draw a foul on Hayes. He makes his FTs, and the Lakers are back within eight. That was a pretty goo dpossesion, because they waited until they had a decent shot instead of forcing earlier in clock.
Sasha hits a three, and the Lakers are back to within five. They forced a 24 second violation in between points, as well, which was nice. Bobby Jackson dribbled the hell out of the ball on that trip for Houston.
4:48- Battier takes Kobe to the hole, and the Rockets are back up by seven. On the next trip down, Kobe works the ball inside on good penetration, then kicks to Farmar, who for some reason hesitates before going up on a WIIIIIIIIIIIDE open three. Brick. He should have just put it up in rhythm.
3:24- Kobe drives and kicks on the block to a wide open Walton for an easy layup. Kobe's taken a lot of shots today, but it's not like he's ignoring his teammates. When they make themselves available, Kobe is finding them.
2:53- LO gets in in the post on Hayes, then puts a baby hook over him. Odom has to live down there. On the next trip (after a Scola putback on the TMac miss) he's back down on the block, and draws a foul on Hayes. As long as they're going to go small and not force Odom to battle a Mutombo down low, that's where he should be. If the shot's there, he can take it. If it's not, he can move the ball to a cutting player.
Defensively, Houston is hurting the Lakers with screens and very, very good ball movement. They're not standing still, and the Lakers are having trouble with their switches and rotations.
2:18- Timeout on the floor, 51-40 Houston.
2:00- Odom goes over Scola in the post for an easy deuce, but then Scola comes back on the other end and burns the Lakers on the p and r. Walton picks up the foul. Hard to tell if that was his man coming off the screen, but either way, it was a terrible foul. At that point, the basket was scored, and they had to concede. Adding the and-one didn't do much to help the situation.
:33.3- Terrible call on Radmanovic. Scola trips over his foot, and falls out of bounds, then gets the whistle (this after a nice block from LO). Then it gets worse when Rad picks up the T. ON the next trip, Walton misses a floater, then the putback after gathering his own board... and they call an offensive foul on Kobe. I couldn't figure out for what, and nobody around me can either.
Lakers down by 15, last possession:
Kobe tries to pump fake Battier, he doesn't bite, and the jumper is short.
HALFTIME: Lakers down 59-44. 20-10 Houston run over the last five and a half of the first half, 9-2 run over the last two minutes of the first half. And oh by the way, T-Mac still hasn't scored yet for Houston. Not a good sign. More bad stuff? The Lakers are being outshot 49-43%, outboarded 22-17, out FT'd 19-9, outdimed 11-9, have given Houston 12 PFs and drawn only seven.
This wont' make you feel better, either: Houston has lost five games all year when at any point in the game they've led by 10 points or more. I'm talking mid first quarter, second quarter, whenever. That's pretty impressive. They're also 37-7 when leading at halftime.
Yikes.
THIRD QUARTER:
Lakers score first, courtesy of Kobe. They need to get the lead down fast, or it could get ugly. Turiaf picks up his fourth, at the 11:07 mark. That sends him to the bench, and brings Mbenga in. Not exactly conducive to a comeback.
9:37- Vlad penetrates and draws a foul. The Lakers have to keep trying to figure out ways to get deep into the Houston D. On the next trip, they push the ball off an LO board, LO to Kobe to Fish, Open three early in the clock.
8:41- Lakers force a 24 second violation on Houston. 6-0 run starting the quarter. This is a big trip...
... great play by Odom, who cleaned up the Fish miss (off a nifty pass from Kobe), then drove aggressively to the hoop and drew the foul on Mutombo. No dribble. Just went in. Fun thing from the PA guy- who when Odom went to the line said, "Lamar Odom to the line for TWO NOISY FREE THROWS!" Then the crowd started yelling.
He makes both, 59-51. Down by eight, and they get another stop. Fish hits a three on the other end, and the Houston lead is down to five. Houston calls timeout. 10-0 run to start the quarter for LA.
7:38- 59-54 Houston.
6:00- Kobe lobs to a totally- and I mean TOTALLY- unguarded Mbenga for an easy layup. DJ's getting the Kwame treatment down low, where literally nobody will guard him.
Houston finally hits a three to get on the board for the third, but then Odom comes back with a bucket on a penetrate from Kobe and easy dish. They created some space, then exploited it. Overall, they're moving much better offensively right now.
4:00- Lakers down two on an LO tip in, after Rad got a great pass from Kobe while cutting through the lane. Guys are diving at the basket, and it's making it much easier to play. Houston can't pack down the lane.
3:00- Lakers down 62-60.
2:46- T Mac finally gets on the board with a running jumper in the lane, but Kobe comes back on the other end, pulling up on Battier for a bucket. 64-60.
2:18- Walton in out of the TO, TMac misses his first FT.
1:31- Alston hits another three, proving that he is, apparently, the single greatest player in NBA history. Farmar got lost on the pick, and Alston went up quick before the help could get there. He scraped tight on that one. Then on the next trip down, he fouls Alston coming off the pick, grabbing him as he turned the corner. Teams are starting to pick on Jordan a little more.
END OF THE THIRD:
Alston ends the third with a huge three, as once again, Farmar gets wiped out on a screen. Not sure why he gave Alston so much space with the clock so low, but overall, it's hard to complain about that quarter. Lakers hold Houston to 12 points, score 22 themselves, and are back in the game (71-66 Houston). It looks like the Lakers are trying to initiate the offense a little higher out on the floor, setting more screens and running off more of them, too.
The number of easy looks they had in that quarter was about 3 times what they'd seen earlier in the game.
FOURTH QUARTER-
Sasha, Walton, Farmar, Kobe, Ronny.
Walton starts the quarter with a great lob to Farmar for an easy two. Houston lead down to 3... until Alston sticks another three, this time in Farmar's face while JF had a hand up. That was just mean.
9:15- Great pass from Farmar to Turiaf, cutting to the basket. JF took the ball to the corner, drew the double (totally unnecessary, I thought), which gave Ronny an easy path to the basket for the and one. They come down on the next trip, and JF hits Ronny with a lob, which he nearly puts in, but draws the foul in the process. Nice little stretch of redemption for Farmar after some terrible (or as Barkley would say, trruble) defense.
8:54- Timeout on the floor. 80-75 Houston, with Ronny at the line for his FTs. He misses the first, makes the second. 80-76.
8:39- Kobe bodies up T-Mac pretty well, but gets called for the foul when he slaps down on the ball on the drive. That'll almost always get called.
Lakers plant Odom back down in the post, he gets the entry and is fouled going on the shot.
7:48- Kobe drives on Battier, and gets a call from the refs on Scola. Looked like he went straight up to contest the shot and Kobe initiated the contact, but it was enough to get the whistle. He makes both, adn the Houston lead is down to two....
... until Sasha strays too far from Bobby Jackson, who drills a three on an Alston kick to push it to five... then Kobe responds on the other end with a turnaround J in the lane.
84-81 Houston.
5:50- Farmar peels off a baby screen from Turiaf, and drills a three. Alston went under the screen, and Farmar made him pay.
Kobe on the next trip takes the worst of his 27 shots on the day.
In the TO, the Rockets have the "Dunking Dancers," a bunch of hotties who do the trampoline dunking thing. Not to sound shallow, but this is the greatest T.O. thing I've ever seen.
5:27- Great play by LO to sky and get an offensive board off a missed jumper... but then he misses the FTs.
Battier comes back on the other end and hits a huge three, pushing lead back to seven.
Kobe hits a pull up jumper, back to five.
TMac responds on the other end, over Odom with the pull up of his own. Two very good players making very good plays.
3:40- Four straight trips with nobody touching the ball other than Kobe. They're getting away from what worked earlier in the half.
3:21- Jackson hits a three, and the lead is back to 10. 10-2 run for Houston over the last 2:30ish.
2:00- Kobe pulls up for a three- terrible shot, tehn on the next trip, brings the ball up and gets blocked. It's hard to avoid attracting attention on that end if you literally never give up the ball. They can't score enough that way, and it hurts them on the other end, as well. When he forces shots, they don't get an offensive set that lets them get back, either.
:56.2- Lakers down 15, 103-88. This game got away in a hurry.
:43.6- Alston draws a foul on Sasha, but was really showing him up. Sasha seemed content to let the clock run down and not foul, but then Rafer started doing his Globetrotters thing, and I think Vujacic got pissed. Can't say I blame him.
FINAL SCORE: 104-92
Lakers got themselves back into it, but stopped running any sort of offense in the fourth. Bad quarter for 24.
More to come. Thanks for following along.
BK
troy,
yes farmar is a bust. don't be fooled by a three pointer on 2-0.
and yes, UCLA plays great defense, but maybe he was week link and the rest of the team defense bailed him out.
also his choices of fault are boneheaded ones. remember the 3 point shot in the toronto game with .6 on the clock in the first quarter.
also i'm not sure what is going on between him and sasha, but looks like neither of them want to pass to each other. i guess they want to be the cockiest player coming from the bench.
Posted by: ZIn Master | March 16, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Gunner,
{BAM! BAM! BAM!} You want some more of that? Do you troll? {BAM! BAM!} Just blasted off your green Troll-horns! {BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!}
Not so tough now, Mr. Troll King! How about a little "Troll-B-Gone" with that whine? {Spray} Oh stop your shrill Troll screaming! Baby can't take a little of the aerosol Truth in the form of "Troll-B-Gone"?
The fact that you consider yourself a fan is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. You are nothing more that an annoying Troll.
Though I appreciate you typing in all-caps for sometime now because it alerted me to your posts so I could easily ignore them, your "one mode and one mode only--shouting complaints whether things are good or bad" is just plain lame.
Now why don't you scurry out of here and go back to Trollland (which is think is near Riverside)? You won't get any Troll food around here.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 04:25 PM
The Rockets played well, and if not for some mental lapses in the fourth quarter we damned well would have won this game.
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 04:08 PM
The Lakers have had mental lapses (AKA: no defense)
since they began reading their press clippings after going 7-2 on their East Coast road trip.
And it is finally catching up with them on this brutal 4 game trip in the West.
Notice no curse words?
Go ahead, use curse words (I love eating trolls).
Posted by: passionate Lakers fan | March 16, 2008 at 04:26 PM
troy
paul kelley in costa mesa but grew up in downey fan since 1965
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | March 16, 2008 at 04:28 PM
troy,
You're not a Troll. You complain sometimes, but we all do. A Troll is someone who complains ALL the time and the complaints aren't even interesting.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 04:29 PM
spring is in the air
U make a fool of yourself
Jon K. get a shrink
that haiku for U
i did not want to spoil your birthday or the difficult stretch with your pet, but i'm really tired of your rants and personal, sexist and other type of remarks. take it to the clippers site.
and your GO LAKERS is the thinnest insight on this blog.
ginko and ginseng helps with mental problems.
Posted by: ZIn Master | March 16, 2008 at 04:33 PM
AK/BK,
Hey I would check the I.P address of some of the above commentators. I highly believe that they are from the same person
Jon K., Rick F, others
Stop talking to them. Thats what im deciding to do.
Posted by: The Lake Show | March 16, 2008 at 04:35 PM
K Brothers,
The Rockets mascot is a bear because bears invented the rocket. I thought that part was clear.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 04:36 PM
11 for 33??? Let's hear it for the BALL HOG!!!! Ball Hog fans are delusional when they consider him for MVP. The last two games, we've seen what he's worth when he goes into ball hog mode. Biggest surprise is that the didn't throw up 40 today.
Laker fans, stop you're crying at the refs. It's what give you your reputations around the league as bandwagon riding, uninformed, delusional crybabies.
Posted by: yanks0001 | March 16, 2008 at 04:36 PM
greek dude vlad rad did a good job on tmac in the first half, tmac missed all 5 shots when he was being guarded by vlade than tmac made one shot against vlade, but that shot got tmac going and then scored 8 big points in the 4th, vlad is going to be ok, he is coming off of a calf injury, People we will get our groove back when gasol comes back in a week or so
Posted by: jon | March 16, 2008 at 04:37 PM
Jon K,
"troy,
You're not a Troll. You complain sometimes, but we all do. A Troll is someone who complains ALL the time and the complaints aren't even interesting.
GO LAKERS!"
Speaking on your terms for you to understand.
TROLL = Someone who can make comments against anyone else but it better not be Kobiatch.
If that makes me a Troll. Then I'm fine with it.
AND KOBE STILL SUCKS!!
Posted by: Gunner | March 16, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Passionate Lakers fan.............Tyre Kickers......
Supporters of other NBA teams that come by to stir the pot...
Not Laker fans who are not happy with how a player or the team is playing.......Even I have been unhappy with players and singled them out......Tyre Kickers......post to get a reaction from PASSIONATE LAKER FANS LIKE OURSELVES....
Posted by: Thirty2 | March 16, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Bynum's out - whaaaaaahh!!!
Gasol's out - whaaaaaaaaaahh!!!
Mihm's out - whaaaaaaaahhh!!!
Ariza's out - whaaaaaaaaahhh!!!
The ref's are picking on us - whaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!
Suspend the blog for the next couple of games - this is all you'll be reading, anyway...
Posted by: yanks0001 | March 16, 2008 at 04:46 PM
I, the Troll Man feel no need to gloat about the Laker's problems. Their faults have been staring at everyone for some time now but it seems all Laker fans are playing their part as "royal subjects" in the book "The Emperor Has no Clothes". But since you asked I will tell you some of the reasons why.
01. DEFENSE, obvious of course. I don't blame Kobe for jacking up shots all night long, his teammates allow easy basktet after easy basket. If I was the only player to play both sides of the ball I would feel entitled too.
02. FARMAR and SASHA bring nothing to the Lakers except for 3 point shooting.when their shots are not falling (which is the norm now) they are huge liabilites for this team. I remember some bloggers wanted J-Kidd and they were crucified by you so called Laker Blog Experts.
Let me say this. Anyone who would take these one-dimensional players over J-Kidd doesn't know a thing about BB. Think we could have used him today? Not only is J-Kidd a great distributor but he plays hard nosed defense. He is big enough to go over the top on a P&R and i think everyone would agree that he is maybe just a little bit better than Sasha on the fast break.
03. COACHING. I am just putting this out there, is defense a part of coaching? You consistently get outcoached and the staff gets a free-ride because Phillip has nine rings. It's time to coach Phillip, quit resting on your laurels. And BTW, Adelman is a real coach, always had a lot of respect for the way his teams played.
04. MIRRIR MIRROR on the WALL---this is pretty much the same team we had at the end of last year, and even though the bench has had some good offensive games this year, it still looks like the team that barely backed into the playoffs last year.
05. FRONT OFFICE, give them credit for keeping Bynum and stealing Gasol, but it still doesn't make up for a history of horrible moves.
06. ODUM, a lot of praise for his line today, but his high FG % is because he only takes shots with a high probability of going in. As someone stated, its the intangibles, missed free-throws, disappearances in crunch time, mental lapses. Ron Artest anyone?
07. KOBE (not really a problem but I wanted to comment), great player, wish he had some players around him. It would be smarter for him to keep passing to his horrible teammates and let them take the blame after they miss shot after shot instead of trying to win the game by himself. He sets himself up for ridicule for bloggers like GUNNER when he has a game like today. But that's what I like about KOBE, he's willing to put himself out there for criticism, he knows what kind of talent and heart surrounds him.
*******
there's a lot more but there are a lot of bloggers who are pointing out the Laker defieciencies a lot better than I. Open your eyes Laker fans the emperor isn't wearing any clothes.
AS FOR ME, I'M STUFFED, TOLD YOU I WOULD HAVE TO PURGE AFTER THIS GAME
and there is still 2 games remaining on this true murderers row road trip.
KEEP FEEDING THE TROLLS
LATE LUNCH ANYONE?
Posted by: Troll Man | March 16, 2008 at 04:50 PM
Does KB24 deserve the MVP for the year? YES
Does he deserve it for today? NO
MVP is not a one game award.
I felt like Kobe was beginning to become a leader toward the middle of the season. I still think he canbe, but a good leader doesn't whine about calls, realizes that he can't keep shooting if it's not falling and plays tough defense. But if I'm gonna call Kobe out, you must include his teammates. Play hard and stop looking for the whistle. When the defense collapses on Kobe cut to the basket, don't keep watching to see what he is gonna do. If you shot isn't falling drive to the basket. Make the opposing team react to you. Play hard & hustle & get the darn rebounds the whole game from start to finish. These are some of the reasons this team is called soft. Take the hit, or the push and keep on playing. We have been waiting 3 years to see this team play defense. Is defense part of camp? What about practice? No championship this year!
Posted by: Toni | March 16, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Farmar a bust? Surely you jest!
Pig
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | March 16, 2008 at 04:58 PM
You whiners represent exactly what the country thinks of your sports fans.
Show up late, leave early, and blame the officials for the loss.
"tivo shows kobe was fouled three times."
Is that what the lost the game for you?
Nobody that knows basketball in Houston gave the Rockets to beat you even w/out your big man.
Man up people, you got beat., and no, I don't think we'll end up in front of you in the post season, but hell, my teams on a good run without a bigman that put's your Gasul's numbers to shame.
You people are pathetic, I wouldn't have even posted on this board if you Laker fans hadn't have bombarded our board before this game with a bunch of silly crap.
I'm glad you people hate Texas. It's the natural order of things.
What a bunch of simps.
Posted by: warren | March 16, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Man up people, you got beat., and no, I don't think we'll end up in front of you in the post season, but hell, my teams on a good run without a bigman that put's your Gasul's numbers to shame.
Posted by: warren | March 16, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Glad you admit your team's still going nowhere as usual, and that the Lakers are still your superiors Way to man up, genius.
Posted by: Jman449 | March 16, 2008 at 05:18 PM
ZIn Master,
{BAM! BAM! BAM!} Reload. {BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!}
Take that, right in your giant Troll snout!
{BAM! BAM! BAM!}
I can see that you're the Southern Variety of Troll--whiney, self-righteous, politically correct, humorless, blind to subtlety, and easily confused by sarcasm breed of Troll. You can tell by your awful smell, the particularly shrill Troll whine when something confuses you, and the remarkably small sexual organs.
{BAM! BAM! BAM!}
Now get out here you filthy Troll and take that glass of chardonay with you!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 05:24 PM
Troll Man,
I can't shoot you because you have at least your true self. All these other Trolls are wear ridiculous "Fan masks", but they're too stupid to realize it doesn't cover their huge Troll ears, curved Troll horns, long Troll tail, or their horrendous smell (like homeless person vomit.)
The Troll Hunt Continues!
Hunting Trolls Is Fun!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 05:30 PM
warren,
You're confused. Those people aren't fans. They're Trolls. Being from Texas, the smell probably doesn't seem out of the ordinary for you.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Excuses excuses, you still lose.
Posted by: chickens come home to roost | March 16, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I love being the most hated franchise in the NBA!! COME ON OUT TROLLS!!!!! Bring aLl of that weak trash talk! The Lakers are the best team in the NBA! It hurts to hear the truth doesn't it!
Oh my friend Mamba 24, where are you when we need you most? Well . . . since The esteemed Larry (aka Mamba24) isn't available for a roll call I think I'll honor the rest of the true blog posters here and start a roll call of a different ilk. This roll call is dedicated to all of you trolls, haters, busters, Funs Fans, Crocket Fans, Slurs Fans, and every other hating franchise in the NBA.
Now
it's time for
the TROOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL CCCCCCAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EXPOSE YOURSELVES TROLLS!!!!! YOUR WEAK AND PATHETIC HATRED OF THE BEST AND MOST EXITING TEAM IN THE NBA DOES US NO HARM.
We are the LA FREAKING LAKERS!!!! Home of 14 NBA banners and the most exciting team in the NBA. A starting 5 of
CENTER AANNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDRRRRREEEEEEWWWWW BBBYYYYYYYNNNNNNNNNUUUUUUMMMMMMMM
SMALL FORWARD
LLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAARRRRRR
OOOOOOOODDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM
POWER FORWARD
PPPPPPPPPAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUU
GGGGGGAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL
POINT GUARD
DDDDDEEEEEEEERRRRRREEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK
FFFFFIIIIIIIIISSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEERRRRRR
AND
SHOOTING GUARD
KKKKKOOOOOOOBBBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
BBBBBBRRRRRRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAANNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTT
Will eat your sqaud for lunch. Give us the hate. It makes us stronger. We feed off of your troll meat and grind your bones to make our bread?
Kobe is a ballhog? Try the best player in the game, who has a night off and you're chomping at the bit to criticize him. Your attempts are feeble at best. The mark of greatness is not how many people adore you, but how many people hate you. Kobe is greatness.
The Lakers defense? Is shotty at best due to a depleted roster which would thrash any and all comers if healthy. No excuse for a loss, but a valid reason for several deficiencies. The day of reckoning is coming for th troll nations when this team becomes the beast.
Coaching you say? Count the number of rings on your coaches fingers. I'm sure you don't see many, and surely not as many as the great Hall of Fame Coach Phil Jackson wears on BOTH OF HIS HANDS!!! 9 RINGS = BEST COACH IN THE GAME!!!
Laker Roll Players? They are still the best bench in the league. They are young and athletic, not aging and decrepit like the troll teams out there.
Bring it on trolls!!!!! We LOVE THE LAKERS!!!!!
SAY IT LOUD AND PROUD LAKER FANS!!!
BRING THE MADNESS TROLLS, THe LAKER ARMY RISES!!!!!!!
Don't Be ashamed to squash this troll Uprising!
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Posted by: "Pig" Miller | March 16, 2008 at 05:32 PM
GUYS chill out. Ive been reading this blog 4 a while and now have decided to post. U guys r fighting with each other over little things. We all r laker fans, we shud stop screaming at each other. U just got to respect other peoples opinion. Instead we all r actin like 10 year olds callin everybody names i mean COME ON! We shud be together supporting our team. Support them not fight amongst ourselves.
LAKERS 4 LIFE
Posted by: LAKERS 4 LIFE | March 16, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Not disappointed at all.
-We're down 3 centers. THREE centers. Bynum, Gasol, and Mihm.
-We're down our 6th man. Our most versatile small forward, who plays both sides of the ball.
-The championship is more important. Let everyone else hang banners for the regular season. Health for the playoffs is more important. Take your time Bynum and Gasol. Take your time.
-Keep your chin up Laker fans. We aren't doing bad for having the injuries that we have. Look at where we are, look at where we were. Go back and look at the preseason predictions. We have improved greatly, and its obvious.
-Hats off to Houston. They came to play.
#4
Kudos #4 for the best post of the afternoon. Rick, nice work from you, too, on the same theme.
Posted by: Laker Kev | March 16, 2008 at 05:43 PM
So....Let's get this straight.....according to some of the negative bloggers here, the Lakers are supposed to go onto the home floor of the hottest team in the NBA without their starting center and just dominate the Rockets. We can argue all we want that the Rockets are not all that and a bag of chips, but they must be doing something right. They now are leading the most competitive conference in the NBA.
The Lakers lost that game for one simple reason....they couldn't defend the three point shot. Rafer Alston and Bobby Jackson combined for FIFTY points, THIRTY of which came on TEN 3 pointers. One thing I've seen time and time again...in today's NBA, it is very difficult to beat a team that is hot from behind the arc.
My beef with the defense is that Fish, Farmar and Sasha were too often caught playing off of their man who was spotted up behind the 3 pt. line. There is NO ONE on Houston that commands a double team!! It made absolutely no sense for Sasha or Jordan or Derek to be sloughing off their man and looking to give help. What are any of them going to do...block a shot? The Lakers have to be more disciplined on D. This game was winnable until the late uprising by the Rockets in the 4th Q.
If the Lakers had lost these 2 games without Pau being injured, I would have a little more concern. But the teams they are facing on this trip would test even a Laker team at full strength. I'd like to thank all the trolls for all their insightful takes on the current Laker situation....there can never be too many different variations of "Kobe Sucks". The mindless drivel that fills this site after a Laker loss cannot bring down the enjoyment of this Laker season anymore than injuries can.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 16, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Excuses excuses, you still lose.
Posted by: chickens come home to roost | March 16, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Excuses excuses, you are still stupid.
Posted by: Jman449 | March 16, 2008 at 05:50 PM
btw Battier is a GREAT defensive player not Ariza...
Posted by: neil | March 16, 2008 at 05:51 PM
* raises hand
"pig" - nice
we'll be alright. losses to good teams on the road are gonna happen. San Antonio has lost 4 of 5, the last one to Philly. Are they out of it?
Actually the Lakers played better team defense today than they have in awhile, but they've got to get better efforts out of Jordan/Fish/Sasha on lead guards. Drew will help when he gets back to slow down the drives but it's gonna be tough until then.
COME ON NOW, LET'S SHOW SOME LAKER PRIDE!!!
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 16, 2008 at 05:55 PM
The lakers will be alright, just hope Lamar is done not playing smart. I mean why kick the ball why not floor one of there guards which were killing us and the machine needs a refill.
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | March 16, 2008 at 05:55 PM
"The mindless drivel that fills this site after a Laker loss cannot bring down the enjoyment of this Laker season anymore than injuries can."
AMEN! BRONXLAKERFAN, AMEN!!!!
LAKERS FANS EAT TROLL FOR BREAKFAST,LUNCH, AND DINNER!
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | March 16, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Jon K.
to much Dit Da Jow hardened your little brain carc-a##, so too late for the good effect of the ginko and gingesg
but 2 days ago, u were still at this level:
"If you haven't noticed, Jon K. is both manic, and obsessive.
Here is a summary of his last 20 posts:
Dit Da Jow
Labron sucks
Dit Da Jow
He's a tool
Dit Da Jow
I want to strangle Gary Vitti
Labron sucks
Dit Da Jow
He's a troll
I study martial arts
Dit Da Jow
Labron sucks
I study martial arts
He's a troll
Dit Da Jow
He's a tool
I study martial arts
I want to punch him in the throat
I study martial arts
USC Sucks
WE GET IT. You study martial arts, Dit Da Jow is the miracle cure, He's a tool, and also a troll.
You appear to be struggling for fresh material. It's OK not to post everyday if you don't have something FRESH to say. It's not a contest to see who can post the most.
Dude.....IT IS ONLY A GAME.
You call it PASSION.
Most see it as POSTAL in waiting."
David M
Posted by: ZIn Master | March 16, 2008 at 06:01 PM
I hate games where all I do is sit there and yell at the tv screen telling Kobe to stop shooting.These games for me are the most painful to see the Lakers lose.The best part about having Pau is that with him in there Kobe doesn't feel the need to chuck it up 30 times a game.
Posted by: jf | March 16, 2008 at 06:02 PM
bronxlakerfan:
I think you hit the nail on the head. The loss today was frustrating because I honestly think we outplayed the Rockets in a lot of ways. But anytime somebody heats up at the 3-point-line like that, there's not much you can do. If we had been that hot, hitting our 3-point attempts, we wouldn't've had the necessity to loft up bad shots in the last three minutes. And of course, the most encouraging thing about it was, we had no big men.
Hats off to the Rockets, though. You don't win 22 games in a row without doing something very very right. If history has any say in the matter, they will be vying for the title this year. And of course things could be worse: It could be the Celts or Suns doing this.
Posted by: Marty | March 16, 2008 at 06:07 PM
"Pig" Miller....
Thanks for the roll call, guy! We need to remember that a true fan accepts that their team can't win every game and that the players care and are trying their best.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 16, 2008 at 06:08 PM
So unfortunate that we haven't been able to see Bynum, Gasol and Kobe play together yet. All of these scrub teams in the West (Hornets, Rockets, Jazz ect.) better enjoy this while they can. As soon as the Laker's get healthy, they'll be playing Detroit or Boston every year for the title.
Posted by: prp&gold | March 16, 2008 at 06:08 PM
this is a ridiculous thread...
Posted by: p0s1t1v3 | March 16, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Wow, the top 7 in the west is separated by 2 1/2 games. That's crazy. Lakers need to find a way to win at least one of these games without Gasol if they want a to stay out of the seventh seed.
Posted by: Ben Goldberg | March 16, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Marty...
Like yourself, I can give credit where it's due. Houston has a fine team. Battier did a great job on Kobe, although I don't particularly like that "face-guarding" tactic of his. Once upon a time that wasn't allowed and resulted in a foul being called. One aspect of the Rockets that can't be overlooked IMO is how hard they play. I heard that 6 players on their roster have roots in the D-League. I can't help but think that contributes to their hunger and hustle as a team.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 16, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Kambros....
No post game thread?
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 16, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Its all good. We have to have a low before we paek in the playoffs. All is not lost...my pic is featured in the YOUR SCENE...and yes peeps here in Az we only have to roll with one plate on our ride the other is on my so I respresent my true colors 24/7 here in AZ !
Posted by: LALAKERLOVER | March 16, 2008 at 06:32 PM
i love streaking! I also love the facial expressions of the jealous non-streakers while I'm doing my thing! 22-0! The second best winning streak of all american professional sports leagues(mlb, nba, nfl, nhl)! It's on the books and the jealous haters will go to sleep tonite mad, once again. From Miami to Seattle, Bangor to L.A., Sault St.Marie to Brownsville, the amount of streak-haters in this country is laughable!
Posted by: skuter | March 16, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Alot of you laker fans seem to be whining about the fact that you're missing Gasol and Bynum to injuries, the rockets have been playing without their best player for the past 11 games. The reason you lost isn't because you're missing key players...the reason you lost is because the lakers don't play team ball, Kobe is a no team ball playing, no defense playing joke who the rest of the fans in the league consider a hack and no team he plays on will ever win another nba championship.
GO ROCKETS!!!
Posted by: Aaron S | March 16, 2008 at 06:37 PM
AK/BK I know you weren't thinking of allowing Aaron S' comment to be the last one on this thread. Right!??!
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: JohnnyP | March 16, 2008 at 06:58 PM
"Kobe is a no team ball playing,"
Try the best passing SG in the NBA with an average of almost 6 assists per game.
"no defense playing joke"
That statement is simply ludicrous!
"who the rest of the fans in the league consider a hack"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! STOP IT!!! I'm Laughing so hard it hurts!!!!
"and no team he plays on will ever win another nba championship."
Surely you're joking. The Lakers will be making title runs for the next decade with Kobe and Bynum and then Somebody else and Bynum.
YUMMY!!! I love troll meat.
Better luck next time Troll.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | March 16, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Aaron S
Come back when you win a title that doesn't involve the best player in the league retiring during those seasons. We're the Lakers, you're not. It's not really a contest, nobody here would switch with you. Sorry.
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 16, 2008 at 07:06 PM
"Pig" Miller,
Dude, you are awesome! Definitely blogger of the day!
Go Pig!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 16, 2008 at 07:26 PM
DrewPauKobe.......See thats a Tyre Kicker....I have banned myself from posting to them.....Its like putting fuel to the fire
Posted by: Thirty2 | March 16, 2008 at 07:29 PM
*hand not raised.
Actually, like warren, a Rox fan in Houston-- I wouldn't have stopped in had we not had some real spazzy LA yahoos trolling our blog.
But-- since I'm here and the 'circular-firing-squad' is locked, loaded and firing-at-will-- I'll leave some commentary.
IMO Battier is the DPOY. No one else is close. During this streak he's locked down on a few scorers:
LAL K. Bryant 11-33 24
NJ V. Carter 5-15 13
NO P. Stojakovic 5-14 13
NO P. Stojakovic 3-10 8
DAL J. Howard 8-19 21
DEN C. Anthony 7-17 19
CLE L. James 7-18 26
ATL J.Smith 3-9 7
The difference between Kobe and those listed after-- The others realized after about 15atts. that they weren't gonna' get it done-- and didn't jackup another 15atts.
It all begins and ends with D. If the Rox hold the opponent to 90pts.? The Rox'll score at least 90. Been the blueprint.
The Rox are playing the best fundamental ball I may have ever witnessed. At any level. It's a joy.
The strategy I might've employed? Posting Odom. Once the lineups went small with Mutombo out (essentially after the 1stQtr)-- Odom's a height mismatch for which the Rox might not've had the answer.
Maybe not 12pts worth-- but who knows how it might've changed the ebb&flow. Perhaps 12pts. worth.
On the 'troll theme'-- I AM a troll-killer on a Houston Chronicle blog. You do it with persistent ideas, insight, and wit. Not sound effects and digital aerosol (Jeebuscrisisonapogostick! That's lame. And I'm from Texas for godzsake. Izzat the best y'all can do? ;-) ).
Good Night and Good Luck.
jw1
Posted by: jw1 | March 16, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Venting about the poor play of garbage players does not make you a troll.
The real trolls are bloggers like yourself who think it is wrong to vent.
Attention "real" bloggers: do not feed this troll Jon K. who is so high and mighty that he or she (or it) will come down on you for being critical.
Idiot.
Posted by: passionate Lakers fan | March 16, 2008 at 03:43 PM
-----------------------------
Passionate Lakers fan
You should change your name to passionate Hate the Lakers Fan.
Every post you make is negartive about the team. Nothing positive. You even call Jon K a troll for being passionate and you call him an idiot. Resort to criticism not insults.
I also see that you you are either Troll man as you use the same feed the trolls hungry line or just can't think of your own lines.
I for one will not hesitate to constructively criticise any Laker player or coach. But I still want our team to win and also praise or take note of the positives the players do.
Barring reinjury when our bigs get back, it won't matter if in first or 6th spot. At full health we can beat anyone. It will be harder but we have a great road team and our D will be back and we can win it all.
As Jon K would say
GO LAKERS.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | March 16, 2008 at 07:55 PM