Division owned
Few, if any, Laker fans or media pundits predicted the Pacific division belonging to the Lakers for the calender year 2008. Especially not after the chaos leading into a season looking equal parts doom and gloom. But after last night's 117-114 win over the Hornets. The night kicked off appearing like a walk in the park, with Vlad Radmanovic's technical foul-inducing shove of Tyson Chandler feeling almost representative of the Lakers' bullying of New Orleans. The Laker lead swelled up to 30 at one point in the second quarter, and even after a bit of a swoon remained at a comfortable 20. But the Hornets didn't end up the Western Conference's first place squad by accident. It also didn't happen because they give up after 24 minutes. New Orleans shifted the momentum decidedly in their direction during the second half, going on a few runs and capitalizing on a Laker penchant for chucking (and missing) three balls. By the time the fourth quarter elapsed, the contest had grown a little too close for comfort and as Phil Jackson pointed out, another two minutes and the outcome could have been reversed. But the game did conclude after the standard 48, which amounted to a Laker victory in the box score, a victory with enough drama stuffed within to nearly burst the seams. A reminder that this conference remains wild and woolly.
For many an MVP voter, this game was used as bellwether material to help determine a vote between Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul (broken down to the serious nitty gritty here). While one can question the validity of putting so much weight into one game for a decision that reflects an entire season's worth of ball (CP3 would say the same thing), when it comes to the Kobe Bryant's credentials, his performance and the "W" only help his case (already made in stone to ESPN's Marc Stein). The ballots will already be counted by the time the playoffs commence, but were it a June election, Kobe might end up proving his worth through his postseason luck without the services of Andrew Bynum. Drew's return remains up in the air, his knee still lacking the stability required to compete at a high (or even medium) level. The mindset is one that eschews rushing him, a call supported by everyone to management to Bynum to The Mamba. The amount of credit given to "Kobe the motivational speaker" is up for debate, but it's hard to argue he didn't come through as promised.
The world will have to wait before learning what's Italian for "Starbury."
The Bucks have a GM!
have you bought your "Stephen Jackson Day" card yet?
Is D-Wade too caught up in raising his profile?
lol Kings won
Posted by: Tej | April 12, 2008 at 09:47 PM
I feel happy. Guess why.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 12, 2008 at 09:48 PM
I NEVER thought I'd say this....
But THANK YOU SACRAMENTO!!!
Tough win over NOH-
And guess what? We now control our destiny.
Win out, we get Spot #1.
Bring on da Spurs!!
Posted by: Jeff | April 12, 2008 at 09:49 PM
#1 Seed at stake at High Noon tomorrow.
MAXIMUS
24
LO
LEAD THE WAY TOMORROW
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: BD | April 12, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Is Sunday the biggest Lakers game since Game 5 of the 2004 Finals? The table is set. Win the West, Kobe can win MVP with a big game, what else is there?
Until next Sunday at 12:30.
Posted by: Jman449 | April 12, 2008 at 09:51 PM
No worries mates.
We'll take a shot at you on Tuesday.
Sonnybelfast
Posted by: sonnybelfast | April 12, 2008 at 09:51 PM
We are in first place in the West thanks to Sonny's Kings!!!
The number 1 seed is ours if we win out. Who could've ever imagined
that back in October? What a season!
Posted by: Bzar | April 12, 2008 at 09:53 PM
THE HELL WITH DIVISION OWNED---#1 SEED OWNED!!!!
Posted by: BD | April 12, 2008 at 09:54 PM
As of the end of the King - Bees game, the Lakers are Numero Uno in the conference!
All we need to do is win the next two games at home and home court is ours.
What a season!!
Posted by: Dave Rosenzweig | April 12, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Where is Sonny?
I guess sac is good for something. We still have to take care of business tomorrow though. The game of the year as LakerTom said.
Peace
Posted by: The Original Ken | April 12, 2008 at 09:56 PM
THANK YOU KINGS!!!
With the way this season has gone, the Lakers will beat the Spurs tonight, only to lose to the Kings in the last game of the season. BUT I HOPE NOT!!!
As a side note, you will HAVE to admit there's anti-Kobe media bias, if all of sudden they start saying the MVP race is between Kobe and KG, because the whole past week it's been Kobe and CP3. It's my pessimistic prediction that now that since CP3 will have lost a lost of luster in the public's eyes, instead of saying Kobe is the clear-cut favorite, they'll just replace CP3 with KG in their minds, because they just can't bear to give Kobe his due....
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 12, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Jeff Miller in the OC Register had a great line: "We'd spell out all the possible scenarios for you right here, but it would be less painful and more productive to attempt to shave our eyebrows with a stapler."
Methinks however, that Jeff wasn't contemplating the Kings doing us a big Belfast-ian favor... thanks Kings! Now, we just have to beat the Spurs tomorrow, or hope the Kings beat the Spurs Monday... and then we have to beat the Kings Tuesday.... grrrr, where's the friggin' stapler. Ow!
Posted by: dave m | April 12, 2008 at 10:11 PM
thank you queens for beating the bees. Lakers need to take care if their biz now.
Posted by: ick | April 12, 2008 at 10:21 PM
NOH lost
GO LAKERS
THANKS KINGS
Posted by: LAKERDAWG | April 12, 2008 at 10:22 PM
For all those people who were getting all pessimistic because
the Lakers lost to Sacramento and Portland recently...
Tonight New Orleans lost to Sacramento.
Tonight Dallas lost to Portland.
They are both young athletic teams that can be a big challenge,
especially on their home courts.
Lakers back on top.
Kobe on top of the MVP race.
Win the last two and it's looking more and more like a
Lakers-Celtics finals!!!!!!
YEAH BABY!!!!
Go Lakers
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | April 12, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Just for tonight, Lakers are back to No.1 tied with NO. Tomorrow we'll make it permanent.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/gameTrax?gameId=2008041223
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 12, 2008 at 10:24 PM
p.s. If Houston wins out and New Orleans loses to Dallas,
then New Orleans would slip all the way to the 5 or 6 seed.
(please Lakers - win out - please please please)
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | April 12, 2008 at 10:24 PM
All of a sudden, the Lakers are #1 again, I was so surprised that the Laker-hater Sac Kings played hard to beat NO to help the Lakers ! Incredible. K Martin was not even playing, NO must be playing very poorly. Go Lakers , win the last 2 .
Posted by: shum | April 12, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Ooooh baby, New Orleans loses to Sacramento!
Lakers are first in the West again b/c they have a tie-breaker with New Orleans.
I have a feeling if it's a 3-way tie-breaker there's a first team, then the next two have a tie-breaker versus each other, not versus all three. So, if Houston manages to win out the rest of their games along with the Lakers and Houston, I'd expect the Lakers to be tsecond and New Orleans third.
AK/BK, can we get some confirmation on this? I've read up on the tie-breaker rules, but what about 3-way ties?
Dallas loses, GSW wins, and Denver loses.
West is interesting top and bottom! Good stuff!
Posted by: Benjamin | April 12, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Well everytime this season and the past three, I've expected the Lakers to take care of business and they failed miserably...Oh how i would love to be proven wrong tomorrow night.
Posted by: Rhon Salmon | April 12, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I predict the Hornets lose tonight in Sac-town and the Lakers prevail in the west.
Posted by: LakerLarry | April 12, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I called this one first.
Posted by: LakerLarry | April 12, 2008 at 10:31 PM
LAKERS #1 SEED!!!!
YEA BABY!!!!!
WIN TOMORROW
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | April 12, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Nice to go to bed knowing that we're in the top spot tonight!!!! See y'all in the morning Laker gang. Good night!!! Go Lakers!!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 12, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Please clarify : if both Lakers and Rockets win out , who's the #1 ? Rockets have the tie-breaker , Lakers have the better WC record . To secure the #1 seed , we have to win out and hope the Rockets lose one game ( which is likely b/c they'll play Utah and Denver on the road.)
Posted by: Shum | April 12, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Part of me wishes that the Hornets had won, and lost to Dallas later in the week so that the Lakers played tomorrow with the desperation of knowing they HAVE to win. We will truly see what we are made of tomorrow. Sacramento are Kings today not Queens for at least one night. Even if we beat SA tomorrow, you know there is no team in the league that hates us more than the Kings except maybe the Suns at this point, so we know they won't lay down on us next week to let us win the west. Don't you think denying us the West crown would be like winning their own mini title this year.
Yet the more important part of me is gosh darn thankful. Lets fast forward a week and get to the playoffs already.
Posted by: Los Angeles Jaker | April 12, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Benjamin,
Here's how the seeding will go if NO, LA, and Houston get into a tie-breaker.
With the first rule of more than two teams tiebreaker, they'll look at the head-to-head record among the teams.
That means:
Houston - 2-1 against LA, 2-2 against NO
LA - 2-2 against NO
That means, combining all the games:
1. Houston 4-3
2. New Orleans 4-4
3. LA Lakers 3-4
We'll be #3 seed
Posted by: KB8th Wonder | April 12, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Blogger jeff said "win out we get spot #1"
Not necessarily true. Right now there are 4 west teams tied with 25 losses. Assuming we win tomorrow, we hold the tie breaker against all of them BUT Houston. If the Rockets win out as well, they get the #1 seed. So Go Nuggets! Go Jazz! (their next 2 opponents).
Also, I hear Genobli might be out tomorrow. Good, that'll even us up for Drew not being back. Plus I hate Manu - reminds me of Danny Ainge when he was playing for the Celts back in the 80's - a whiner AND a dirty player.
Prediction - Lakers by 6 plus Kobe will go for 30,8, and 8 and cement himself as the MVP winner. I can't wait to watch!
Posted by: Jay Jay | April 12, 2008 at 11:32 PM
KB8th Wonder,
Looks like you didn't get it quite right. The Lakers are number one again, just like I predicted here in this very blog after they dropped those two home games.
I've been preaching patience and it looks like we have once again regained control of our destiny.
Win out, and we are number one in the West.
I've said many times that PJ has been working towards this end for over a month. That he knows about fatigue and pressure and how sometimes you have to give up on a game when there is a bigger picture involved.
Some of you guys have consistently vilified him for those decisions, because sometimes his overall strategy is very apparent.
But, like I said, the pressure of being number one has been crumbling the competition time and again. The West is just too tough this season. But, after every stumble, PJ and Kobe manage to get the team back to the number one spot. That is now four times in the second half that the two of them have been able to do that (with a healthy dose of Fish as well).
The Kings do scare me a little, however. They would love to spoil us even more than they did enjoy spoiling NO.
PJ IS A CYLON AND HE HAS A PLAN.
ALL WILL BE REVEALED.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | April 12, 2008 at 11:40 PM
KB8th Wonder,
Disregard my last post. I mis-read yours. Please accept my apologies...
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | April 12, 2008 at 11:42 PM
BTW, when CP3 said that NO would win their last three, I thought to myself, "Famous Last Words"...
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | April 12, 2008 at 11:46 PM
No guys, we don't control our destiny yet. Even if we win out we still need Houston to loose or we're in 3rd place.
Wes
Posted by: | April 12, 2008 at 11:49 PM
"No worries mates. We'll take a shot at you on Tuesday"
that is, after we plunder the Spurs on Monday.
Sonnybelfast
Posted by: sonnybelfast | April 13, 2008 at 12:01 AM
its amazing that sacramento will have the biggest impact at the end of the season... their last three games are NO, San Antonio, and LA. WoW. They spoiled one team tonight. Hopefully Lakers can take care of business.
Posted by: lent | April 13, 2008 at 12:15 AM
I think there's about a 50% chance the Lakers don't win the next two games. I hope I'm wrong. I really wouldn't be surprised if the loose both games. I just don't think this team is comfortable being the favorites. They've played their best all season when they were the underdog for one reason or another and now that they're on top, I think they may respond poorly to the challenge.
Which makes me think the team will also loose early in the playoffs and give up the home court before playing that dynamite desperation basketball they play so well.
I guess we'll find out soon if they can handle the presure.
Wes
Posted by: | April 13, 2008 at 12:15 AM
I would not be so happy!
Someone just said above that the Lakers are practicing the 3's for next year contest!
Experts are always saying " You live by the 3, you die by the 3"
San Antonio is certainly a team that would rather see the Lakers shooting those 3s than make them work inside and put awhole bunch of foul on Tim Duncan. Anyway, San Antonio play defense all the time and the Lakers is a team that are in the process of learning how to play defense.
PJ must be the most ridiculous coach out there... because I doubt it if he really coaches defense or at least take a week to practice defense. As a result, when the game is on the line, he makes the most absurd decision out there by throwing Luke Walton into the game which results in several unfinished plays such as turnovers etc.
If the Lakers end up on the first place before the playoffs, I give the full credit to Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and B. Shaw. Although some people rip L.O all the time, they forget who is always out there collecting those rebounds.
Kobe Bryant is good but sometimes he gets so excitedthat start to screw games by dribbling too much, forcing shots and collecting turovers after turnovers
Sasha.. all he knows how to do is have the ball on his hand for 3 seconds before shooting a 3
Ruriaf... oh boy this man lost intusiasm he's no longer a man that produces on the defensive end like he used to. If he stays on the court for 12 minutes, he'll collect 12 fouls and be out for the next game LOL.
Fisher... Fisher, oh Fisher! why! why! why you!? have you made a layup lately? have you scored more than 10 points without shooting 3s??
Walton... gets blocked, throws bricks, helps opponets get into the game if the lakers have big lead... indeed... he's walton PJ' favorite player in a long time!
Farmar... your pharmacy is out of medical Aid (out of stock) ... if you were playing one-on-one with Kwame Brown and he was shooting from behind the arc, he would go 10 for 10 because you don't even know how to bother an offensive player!
Tic toc, tic toc! ..time is tickin until we may see a couple of us (lakers fans) crying, cursing etc here later on today if the Laker lose to SA.
COY
Posted by: COY (Critic of the year) | April 13, 2008 at 12:21 AM
Kings win! Artest must really be auditioning for the Lakers. First, he comes back from a sprained thumb to play against the Lakers... the more to showcase his play to his future employer???! lol Then, he takes the next 2 games off due to same sprained thumb.... comes back to play an instumental role in beating the Hornets, which helps the Lakers cause. I'd love Artest to join the Lakeshow... he would be a big upgrade over Luke.
Posted by: SamII | April 13, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Just concentrate all of your collective positive thoughts on winning the next 2 games. The Rockets will lose to the Nuggets (very hungry) or the Jazz (one of the hottest teams right now). Control what you can control and good things will happen.
Posted by: bruzer | April 13, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Wes and COY,
I completely agree with you too and I kind of said the same earlier today (see above).
Maxx
Posted by: Maxximo | April 13, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Some choice quotes written by blogger Ron Hitley stolen from http://www.hornets247.com/ about the Hornets loss to the Kings:
"That might have been the most disappointing performance of the season by the Hornets.........You'd think we'd win such a game even if Chris Paul was blind and limbless. But no. We sucked and we lost."
"The Hornets seemed to have it on cruise control all game, as if they were going through the motions and planned to turn it on in the fourth quarter to get the win."
"Before the game, Byron Scott was talking big about how we could ill afford another slow start, but then it seemed our early game plan was to utilize Tyson's fantastically limited low-post super-moves. Good call."
"How about we try get Chris Paul's offense going early for a change? That might be an idea, because the dude has made just one single field goal before halftime in the past four games combined. Yes, one (f***ing) field goal!"
"Jannero Pargo shot like a dog tonight."
"I guess I'm blaming Byron a lot for the way things went tonight, but I think he deserves the criticism."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Just substitute some Laker names for those Hornet ones and this rant sounds a lot like what we've been guilty of posting.
*I'm certainly guilty concerning the last comment.*
I pledge to keep my negative vibes to myself the last two games.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | April 13, 2008 at 12:50 AM
I'm pretty sure that if the Lakers, Hornets, and Rockets all finish with the best record in the West, then the Lakers still get the #1 seed. I would imagine that the division winner is settled first. So, Lakers get Pacific, and Hornets and Rockets go to a tiebreaker for the Southwest. Their head-to-head record was 2-2, but the Hornets win the tiebreaker with a better record within the SW Division. Next step would be Hornets-Lakers for top seed, with a 2-2 head-to-head record, but the Lakers get it because of the better conference record.
Posted by: The Dude Abides | April 13, 2008 at 01:29 AM
COY (Critic of the year)
"If the Lakers end up on the first place before the playoffs, I give the full credit to Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and B. Shaw. Although some people rip L.O all the time, they forget who is always out there collecting those rebounds."
-The man that lays it all out on the floor every given night
-The man who never takes a possesion off,
-The man first in the gym and the last one out
-The man who has sacrificed his health for the sake of the team
-The man who carries the team when its down
-The man who bails them out after sitting on the bench and watching his team lose big leads over and over
Where does Kobe Bryant fit in your list of those who deserve credit for the Lakers success?
Don't be ignorant and look past one of the greatest talents to touch the floor. He just wants to win. I know I might be defending him a bit too much, but I believe that Kobe has EARNED a lot more respect.
GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
Posted by: Tej | April 13, 2008 at 01:30 AM
LakerTom -
Totally agree with your analysis on Lamar. I see him as the MVP of the Lakers' defense.
BUT, I wish he could hit some open 15-17 footers with some consistency, and maybe work on that right hand... but that might be a bit too much to ask, kinda like hoping that Kobe won't blindly shoot the next jumper after he's made two in a row... Lamar is a great defender, I'm just nitpicking on spots that I think he can improve on just by putting in the time and work. Lamar with David West's outside shot would just be unfair ...
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 13, 2008 at 01:31 AM
Kings win! Artest must really be auditioning for the Lakers. First, he comes back from a sprained thumb to play against the Lakers... the more to showcase his play to his future employer???! lol Then, he takes the next 2 games off due to same sprained thumb.... comes back to play an instumental role in beating the Hornets, which helps the Lakers cause. I'd love Artest to join the Lakeshow... he would be a big upgrade over Luke.
Posted by: SamII | April 13, 2008 at 12:23 AM
I think he is a very good player and would be a huge upgrade over Luke.
But I still don't want him. He is a head case and disrupts team chemistry more than he adds.
Why has Sac tried so hard to unload him?
Remember Kings gave Peja to get him and then he rode Bibby out of Sac. I don't remember but I think getting him made the Kings feel Turkalo (sp?) was expendible or cause of him leaving. Not sure on that one.
But if he came to Lakers I would bet he has issues with our players and would cause dissention on this team.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | April 13, 2008 at 01:33 AM
Here's the link to the tiebreaker criteria. It's ambiguous if there's a three-team tie.
http://www.nba.com/statistics/playoff_picture.html#tbb
Posted by: The Dude Abides | April 13, 2008 at 01:38 AM
The final days of the race will be interesting. Independently of today's game against San Antonio, the Houston/Denver game will be critical for the eigth seed. GS will then be in Phoenix fighting for that spot, which should provide a strong challenge for the Suns, who will be trying to build momentum as they're locked into the 6th seed. The Spurs are in Sacto Monday on a back-to-back, and the Kings, egged on by SonnyBelfast, are playing with pride the role of spoilers (which will carry over to the final game in Staples, but we'll be on home ground). Then they have to face Utah at home, though Utah is terrible on the road. In the meantime Utah at home should have no trouble with Houston, potentially knocking Houston out of the running for n° 1 in the West.
In other words, if we eat the Spurs for Sunday lunch, we'll be sailing into a situation of home court advantage in all series except the NBA finals (I expect Detroit to beat Boston, but it would be great to have another Celtics-Lakers final).
If we lose to the Spurs, the drama will simply intensify and all the sports writers will be spending the last three days of the season doing simulations on their calculators, while David Stern's team works overtime booking and unbooking dates and places for next weekend.
Posted by: Tsphere | April 13, 2008 at 01:41 AM
MORE THAN TWO TEAMS TIED
1. If applicable, division champions must be determined first.
2. Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.
3. Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in same division).
4. Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
5. Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including team that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
6. Best point differential between offense and defense.
Note: If a multiple team tie is reduced to a two-team tie at any point using the above criteria, the two-team tie will be resolved in accordance with the existing two-team tie procedure.
There you have it, no need to even worry about Houston if LA and NO win out, they would be division leaders, thus making them the two tiebreaker teams, unless I am interpreting that wrong.
Posted by: Troy S. | April 13, 2008 at 01:46 AM
Trying to catch up on the blog after a busy week at work and I am completely stoked that our Lakers have achieved two great goals....winning the Pacific division and winning their 55th game of the season!!
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 13, 2008 at 02:03 AM
ANTHONY JOHNSON......
Glad to see you admit that your previous statement was a bit ill-advised, to say the least. No worries...making a foolish statement does make one a fool, but being inflexible certainly does.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 13, 2008 at 02:09 AM
Is it just me, or does it look like David West is enjoying this a little?
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/95/fullj.1eff12f38385c933abef14df4a09e0ef/1eff12f38385c933abef14df4a09e0ef-getty-76076191ng020_noh_lakers.jpg
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 13, 2008 at 02:10 AM
A belated birthday shoutout to the 1st lady on the Roll Call....Faith! This site wouldn't be the same without you!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 13, 2008 at 02:14 AM