John Denver is rolling over in his grave right now

Hey those cats in Denver will do what ever they can to stop us from sweeping them.

It ain't going to be easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYt_gnGogSI

Big up to all those fans chanting "MVP" for KB24 near the end of the game ... that must have felt like redemption for Kobe.

I might be wrong but I felt like the Kobe and the Lakers eviscerated the Nugs, just ripped the heart right out of them. This Lakers team is better than I thought and that's a good thing.

The Funs and and the Big Cactus won't sleep easy and rest well tonight, and the Lakers performance will be added misery.

Ha! My cup runneth over!

Knowing that at some point we're going to be be forced to play better defense, I sometimes wonder if it wouldn't have been better to have someone push us in round one so that we turn that corner early rather than when it's to late.

But, the more I think about it, the more I think that we're never going to be great defensively with our current injuries. If we're going to win, we must do so with great offense, basically consistent and occasionally great defense and Kobe. During the three-peat we were dominant offensively and, well better on defense during the playoffs than we were before them.

I believe that the most important thing with Phil's teams is to create a culture of winning, the belief that we're winners and to ride that for all it's worth. The great rhythm, the cockiness and the belief in our own greatness may not be enough to win it all this year, but it certainly may, and its our best shot.

And for those things, there only one sure fire recipe: the Denver Nuggets (apparently).

Anywho,

GO LAKERS!

I'd rather see Houston as our next opponent. I think the Lakers can beat either team, but Houston will be an easier route.

Then, I'm hoping for New Orleans. I can see the Lakers beating NO in 6 games.

As for Luke Walton, well, I guess I've been wrong all season. He's doing great. Vlad seems more confused than usual.

I hope the Lakers close out the series on Monday. As much as it would be nice to do it in Los Angeles, injuries as previously mentioned, can occur.

One thing that disturbed me about this game was not the physical play of the Nouguts, but the injury generating play of the Nouguts.

Several times in the game, they were trying to hurt our players.

Najera's elbow to the throat of Sasha could literally have killed Sasha if delivered properly.

I mean, I shout out "Punch him in the throat!!" all the time, but it is purely rhetoric. You can seriously hurt/kill somebody that way. Najera elbowing Sasha in the throat deserves not only a flagrant two, but a multi-game suspension, if not worse. (Like being barred from the NBA. He could have killed Sasha.)

Sasha's lucky.

The Nouguts know they can't win, but they want to bring the Lakers down with them... and that disturbs me... greatly.

GO LAKERS!

Hey, I like John Denver and he died in California.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K.
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Not to sound morbid, but I think he died just OFF California.....................lol.

One more, boys, one more.

Props to Luke for 3 very good games. Taking a page out of Shaq's old book. Hope Luke can continue to do this against teams that actually play D.

Go for the jugular on Monday!

So,

During Game 4, whether you are in a recliner, on a couch or at your local pub watching with other Laker buds, everyone should think that 'something good' will happen when Luke has the ball instead of cringing when he has it.

Channel those positive vibes in his direction.
MVP for first series???

Here's a few things the Denver fans are saying!!

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Made the playoffs in a tough conference = good season.

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All I have to say is thank goodness the Nuggets just squeezed into the playoffs. Better to get exposed this year, then with the same team next year.

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seeing them lose like this... 0-3 ... losing every game by 10+ ... is like being cheated by your girlfriend

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There is a game left. Nothing to play for really might as well end your run while we are at it. Kinda sorta like the cheap foot Kobe slid under Melo earlier in the year. It wouldn't bother me to see that payback happen.

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Bring JR in and ride him and his fantasy land shots.

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i hope they get swept.......... i dont even want them to win 1 game

Id rather they all stay in denver and lose in front of a crowd that should be booing them

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fans should be booing this gutless team-

Why would all those Laker fans be booing the Nuggets? They should be cheering them.

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lol ai miss again

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The Nuggets are so funny. Down by 18 so they start shoving people around like they are badasses

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remember guys, it is written in the Nuggets handbook that they can only play decent bball for a few minutes a game lol

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the whole team is smiling - stupid

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They're pumped for their vacation fellas.

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They're pumped for their vacation fellas.They're pumped for their vacation fellas.

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Thanks for doing your dumbness, Melo.
We're done.

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melo turnover

moron

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i wish we had darko

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i hope they fight in the locker room and all the staters get suspended lol

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I hope we flame out so bad that AI opts out on us.

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Even if LA tried to lose, the Nuggets wouldn't let it happen.

Boston down 10 at end of 3

I agree w/pslakerfan. Although we don't look overly intense on D, we seem to be playing very smart. We force them into a lot of bad shots and get hands on the ball all the time. While it would be nice to have AB back there blocking those easy shots that they get sometimes, I think we're playing very solid D and it's frustrating a dangerous 50 win team. I think we're making them look bad and them giving up is due to this frustration.

To quote BK:

"The defense has been spotty, but overall I don't think it's been particularly bad, overall. Denver is going to score. A lot. The "keep them under 100 points" concept is admirable, but not particularly realistic."

To which the Lakers can only respond "84 points".

It's good to be a Laker's fan...

CELTICS LOSING...

Hawks by 15 with 7 minutes to go in fourth quarter.

Tom

ATL is kicking the celts azz right now. 100-88 with 1:19 to go. Please let hawks hold on to this win. The celts need to be slapoed back to reality. Bibby is shooting them out of the game. Send his azz back to the queens. Josh Smith is a stud. That kid Hordford is a stud, and he knows how to win.

I have my broom ready for our sweep
DIrector or win #8. I have scouted and ready for my report.

The Lakers and Kobe have played very good ball, and improved each game.

Offensive effeciencey has been excellent.

Now it looks like the D is starting to catch up. Yikes

Lakers are acting like they are in school and applying themselves.

They are focused, the glasses are on and they are intent on getting better.

Its exams baby, and they are acing the test!

I have to admit I was way off in my prediction of this series.I really thought with all the talent the Nuggets have they would put up a better fight.If I was a Nugget fan I think I would be going crazy with the way the Nuggets have played in this series.Denver would probably be a better team right now if they never made that AI-Andre Miller trade and had JR Smith starting at the two.I would imagine the next series against Utah won't be this easy.

Posted by: jf | April 26, 2008 at 06:20 PM

jf,

Great post mate. I didn't think Denver had a chance at all in this series because they're too undisciplined on offense and play NO defense.

As far as the Jazz are concerned, we won the season series 3-1 with all our wins being blowouts(Jazz blew us out in their one win at Utah) and Pau didn't play in any of those games. If we execute and run our offense and play defense the way we're capable of playing defense I wouldn't be surprise if we beat the Jazz in 4 or 5. Let me qualify my statement by saying it could be done if the Lakers play their game.

Atlanta shocks the Celtics tonight!!! Hortford was a beast tonight. Things are getting really interesting now. Go Lakers!!!

I've gotta call you guys out on that particular photo of JD. It's kind of sexed up and about as disturbing as the Meatloaf GoPhone commercial with his family.

The split-screen "There Can Be Only One" commercials are played out already.

I need Houston to win at least one more game so I'll be guaranteed to be back in LA for the start of Round 2.

Josh Smith had a couple pretty sick dunks in their win over Boston. I love that "extend the arm out to the side" type of dunk he threw down twice. Only he and LeBron have that in their arsenal. Unfortunately, Kobe doesn't have the size to pull off something like that.

Yes, A.I. and Carmelo both bought new fishing lures this weekend in preparation of their early playoff exit, but the funniest thing of all was Shaq and Steve Nash chartering a boat for the entire group. They're all going fishing while the Lakers make a run at the championship.

It'll be very interesting to see what both the Suns and Nuggets try to do during the off season. Karl is definitely gone as Nuggets coach. He simply doesn't have control of the team. Also, either Mike D'Antoni or Steve Kerr is out in Phoenix. I suspect it'll be Mike D'Antoni since this is Kerr's 1st year. Kerr made the trade for Shaq and now they're stuck with Shaq for two more years. Shaq doesn't fit the Mike D'Antoni scheme of offense so look for D'Antoni to be gone. Maybe the Nuggets and the Suns trade coaches, LOL.

Know what I love?

The focus, the determination, the DEMORALIZATION.

I love that Kobe smells blood and he isnt going to let up.

This team will come ready for game 4 and play off of Kobe.

Let's not let them off the hook. Let's kill them and then get guys like Turiaf, Ariza, and Bynum more time to heal.

Then, let's get our mind focused and beat the heck out of Houston/Utah.

Those teams actually play D, so we might be in for a game 1 barnburner as we adjust ourselves...

May the Lakers put the Nuggets out of their misery on Monday.

Korey,

That's why they call him the Mamba. What's great is it's seeming like every person in our team is embracing that same mentality. Pedal to the medal commander lol.

Xodus,
I try to hide it, but every once in a while it sneaks out.

"Najera's elbow to the throat of Sasha could literally have killed Sasha if delivered properly.
Sasha's lucky." (Posted by Jon K)

Jon K,

Sasha's defense is quite often, literally, in your face, if you know what I mean. It is good defense but is also very risky, since his neck usually is at the level of a swinging elbow. Most defensive players will allow a bit more space to his opponent than Sasha.
Having said that, I know Sasha does anticipate those elbows coming at him and would often sell the faul to the referee. He also knows how to annoy his opponent just a little and get under their skin.
I like Sasha and I believe he can become very valuable down the stretch deep into the playoffs!