The waiting is the hardest part
Generally speaking, we consider Tom Petty a sage. But in this case, waiting is actually pretty easy. A perk, even. Having polished off the Denver Nuggets in four games after last night's 107-101 win at Pepsi Center, the Lakers can kick back and wait for the conclusion of the Jazz/Rockets series, which continues tonight back in Houston, with the Rockets down 3-1. In the meantime (which might not be that long, if Utah closes things out) the Lakers can bask in the glow of their first playoff series win in four seasons. The fork-sticking win didn't come easy, unlike the first three, because Denver finally showed up to play all 48 minutes. They made LA's 10-point halftime lead disappear, took a lead in the third, and kept things tight in the fourth, but it wasn't enough to overcome a huge fourth quarter for Kobe Bryant, who had 31 points as Carmelo Anthony continued to struggle for Denver. But it wasn't just Bryant -- Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Vlad Radmanovic, and Luke Walton all played a role in the win and the box score shows once again that the Lakers used some solid ball movement to score points.
If there was a central theme of the series -- beyond Denver's inability to cope with stress -- it was LA's ability to share the ball. They finished the four games with a 66.2% assist rate. When the Lakers move the ball that well, they're very difficult to beat. It's that teamwork that separated them from the Nuggets, who undoubtedly have plenty of talent.
The Lakers managed to do what no other team could in the playoffs -- sweep an opponent. Still, they'll have to improve throughout the postseason if they want to advance, especially since they can't count on seeing a team as undisciplined as Denver -- who will not be missed -- the rest of the way.
The Nuggets have a decision to make about George Karl. Currently, though, his job is considered safe.
When you look at how the dominoes fell in the Western Conference arms race, it's pretty clear that the best one landed in LA. Needless to say, Gasol is happy to be on the right end of a sweep.
On Ariza, from the Daily News:
Trevor Ariza is scheduled to undergo another CT scan on his broken right foot in a little less than two weeks, which the Lakers hope will show that there is sufficient healing to allow him to play. He has been sidelined since January.
"He's cleared to do all sorts of activity levels up to dunking the ball," Jackson said. "He can't play contact basketball yet, but he can do all the basketball drills and shoot baskets - all that kind of stuff. We know there's a still another two weeks before he can be cleared to play."
Hornets coach and former Laker Byron Scott was selected the NBA's coach of the year. Certainly he's a worthy choice. In other coaching news, Pat Riley is done working the bench in Miami, and Larry Brown will return to the sidelines in Charlotte.
Utz,
May I join your prayer group? Go Ariza! Go Bynum!
Posted by: Charles | April 29, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Fatty:"Fatty - Who is afraid that at the end of this week, with no Lakers games, t
he bloggers will break out in a fight and beat each other to a pulp."
Would that be called Pulp Fanction?
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 29, 2008 at 11:07 AM
VMAN:"And our BOY has to be Mamba 24, our spirit catcher"
THEY LIKE ME! THEY REALLY LIKE ME! LOL!
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 29, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Good afternoon everybody!
Damn, what a fine day in Lakerville, sweep the Nuggs, Ariza's return on the horizon and dreams of the 15th Championship on the minds of little children everywhere.
A hearty congratulations and pat on the back to everyone's main man, Edwin Gueco, the wise jedi master of this blog. Award well deserved Mr. Gueco, have a great day.
Posted by: bozz | April 29, 2008 at 11:09 AM
LakerTom is a great fortune teller. He saw the sweep of the Lakers and the hardship of the much vaunted, most talked about, the No. 1 seed of all times, the (gatorade)Celtics. They are suffering to get out of the 1st round. For us, who grew in the Showtime Era, how sweet it is that Celtics are still playing, planning and plotting what to do next? Should they stumble again at the Boston tea pot, they might meet their doom in Atlanta. That's the greatest happiness we can enjoy for today that the Celtics will suffer under the watch the Napoleonic Ainge and smirking Doc Rivers. Perhaps, Chick and Johnny Most are betting in heaven for good old times while Wilt is saying to Red A., I told you so. haha!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM
LAKERMAN420"Inhale now as I blow smoke at the screen..."
SNIFFF SNIFF SNIFFF, I THINK I WANNA, I KNOW WANNA
IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
WHEEEEEEEEWWWW!
EDWIN GUECO: "I did not expect Mamba24 to repeat the same blasphemy to this tread, "
LOL!
____________________________*
I HATE The CELTICS BANDWAGON
*_____________________________*
(01) EastCoastJessie – Owner & Driver
(02) FEARLESS – Co/Driver
(03) LAKER TOM – CEO – Made an offer they couldn’t refuse
(02) Milo Rambaldi--Team Prophet.
(03) Mamba24 – East Coast Jessie’s BodyGuard
(04) LakerFaze – Taught KG how to Dunk
(05) TOAD – Once beat Larry Bird in a game of horse
(06) LakerMan420 – Told Red Auerbach where to put his cigar
(07) HmrHed – Blocked KG’s hook twice
(08) SIimLakerGirl – Reports directly to Jeannie Buss
(09) LakerLegacy – Made Red Auerbach bow down to 9Rings
(10) PigMiller– sent LARRY Bird back to French lick IND.
(11) JEFF - Was born hating the Celtics.
(12) #4 Not only born hating Celtics but will bequeath the hate to his heirs
(13) MarkyTheArky – Director of Mirrors and reflections
(14) JustAnotherMambaFan – Hates them
(15) THE_D – Thinks Celtics fans should go to AA meetings
(16) JON K. - Put the chokehold in the Celtics choking
(17) FLOYD – Fought with Jerry west over who hated Boston most
(18) NEMAIA FALETOGO - Fan of the Purple Hulk - No not K.G.
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 29, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Old Laker Fan: PJ has a choice game to game. He can suit any 12 players with a roster max of 15. So, it helps to be able to change up for various match-ups.
Will be interesting in late part of Rd. 2 to see what PJ does with Ariza and who will be inactive........oh the drama and decisions we face! I can't take it..........
What are we going to do for a week? Well, I have my work road trip so I will miss everyone for the rest of this week. But the Laker shirt is packed and I am buying a fresh new one to bring with me to Boston.
Cheers all!
LET's GO LAKERS!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 29, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Fire trey-deuce,
Will as an actor = cool.
Will as an mc till 89' = pioneered the cheese side of urban music.
Will as an mc after 89' = whack...
Have a good one.
Posted by: Charles | April 29, 2008 at 11:18 AM
mrbarneydangles,
It sounds like your experience was similar to mine. I noticed (in addition to those fans who assaulted me) some other fans geting into fights and security having to break it up.
I looked up into section 380 and near the front was a cluster of Lakers fans, maybe about 4 of them... there were others spread out in the section as well. I knew there'd be no way to miss me since you knew where I was sitting, but without having you wave me down, I had no way of differentiating you.
Glad to hear that you could see my sign. The size of the MVP font was about 11 inches high and colored in really dark. At one point at the end of the game, I had it upside by accident. One Enver fan tried to make fun of me for it, but I just thanked him and turned it right side up. ha ha ha.
Really, I was not there to dis the Nugs. In fact, my sign wasn't even a Lakers sign, it was a MVP sign and I started holding it up when the chants started... sort of like my own 4-Show version of Rocky (the Enver Mascot).
Well, I'm glad it was over. It was quite an experience. I don't think I'll have any more signs anytime soon, or at least any that I'll hold up in an attempt to get the LAKER fans hyped up. There's no way my wife will let me. She saw how rude fans were on Saturday and was really worried about me last night. I tried to tell her that I didn't think anyone would really do much more than tell me to "go home"... but they cross the line.
Yep, the kicked beverage was what tainted my evening the most. My sign was all sticky and the jerk just sat there. I called my wife on the phone and started telling her how the guy next to me wouldn't even apologize (he could hear me), and still nothing. It finally dawned on me that he probably saw my sign under my seat and kicked the sign and it knocked over the drink... what an A-Hole.
We all take one for the team sometimes. The Lakers and especially Kobe was really happy leaving last night. I think he enjoys having us Laker fans there to cheer the team on the road.
Looks like it's going to be Utah. I would go buy some Utah playoff tickets (I can drive to Salt Lake like you drive to Vegas), but there's no way Mrs. 4-Show will let me do it now. She's MAD at me and told me I owe her dinner.
These are the sacrafices one must make if you're to be the type of fan worthy enough for the best team in the NBA.
Are there any Salt Lake Bloggers here??? (I'm guessing no)
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | April 29, 2008 at 11:18 AM
4 DOWN, 12 MORE TO GOOOOOO!
yoooo Mamba24, add me to the I Hate (such a strong word, no?) the Celtics Bandwagon...oh yeah, and Mr. Kevin "Passion and Energy, the so-called most intense player in the league who brings it and wears his heart on his sleeve" Garnett deserves a suspension for passionately, energetically, intensely pushing a ref last night.
watch the footage. he did it.
I'm still torn between Lakers in 5 or 6 over the Jazz ... i feel now it's time for Luke to play with the starting five and send Vlad to the free-wheeling Bench Mob... maybe he'll relax and start giving us more or less consistent mins.
Posted by: CBuck | April 29, 2008 at 11:22 AM
HATE The CELTICS BANDWAGON
Mamba... I'm in!!!
Posted by: keifo | April 29, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Hmrhed,
Thanks for the Laker love, brother.
My neighbors must be really pissed at me because I was screaming at the top of my lungs late last night...around 1:30am. Pretty cool.
Later,
MichiganLaker...will always represent the purple and gold in the Midwest!!
Posted by: MichiganLaker | April 29, 2008 at 11:29 AM
J Fatty,
Before Saturday's game, the Nuggets dancers handed out the shirts and blue headbands to everyone coming in. The announcer told everyone to put them on and before the game they'd show someone on the big screen who was not wearing their shirt and the announcer would get on their case until they put it on.
Then last night, they just put the shirts on all the seats and told people to put them on just like on Saturday. They still handed out the headbands.
Unfortunately for me, I used my T-Shirt last night to clean up the spill. You be surprised, a new t-shirt isn't too absorbant, but it certainly did okay. Then a janitor working the floor came over and mopped. It was nice to see that someone actually cared (but they were paid to care).
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | April 29, 2008 at 11:29 AM
AK/BK - If Utah wins tonight, do either of you have a sense of what day Round 2 would start?
Posted by: lakers_sth | April 29, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Mamba24,
All you need to know about me is that when Craig Sager walked over last night and told me the Hawks won 97-92, I had a huge grin on my face.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | April 29, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Mamba24,
Do you want to know something funny??
He had a big grin on his face too!
Is there anyone out there that actually LIKES the Celtics? (outside of Boston that is)
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | April 29, 2008 at 11:32 AM
____________________________*
I HATE The CELTICS BANDWAGON
*_____________________________*
(01) EastCoastJessie – Owner & Driver
(02) FEARLESS – Co/Driver
(03) LAKER TOM – CEO – Made an offer they couldn’t refuse
(02) Milo Rambaldi--Team Prophet.
(03) Mamba24 – East Coast Jessie’s BodyGuard
(04) LakerFaze – Taught KG how to Dunk
(05) TOAD – Once beat Larry Bird in a game of horse
(06) LakerMan420 – Told Red Auerbach where to put his cigar
(07) HmrHed – Blocked KG’s hook twice
(08) SIimLakerGirl – Reports directly to Jeannie Buss
(09) LakerLegacy – Made Red Auerbach bow down to 9Rings
(10) PigMiller– sent LARRY Bird back to French lick IND.
(11) JEFF - Was born hating the Celtics.
(12) #4 Not only born hating Celtics but will bequeath the hate to his heirs
(13) MarkyTheArky – Director of Mirrors and reflections
(14) JustAnotherMambaFan – Hates them
(15) THE_D – Thinks Celtics fans should go to AA meetings
(16) JON K. - Put the chokehold in the Celtics choking
(17) FLOYD – Fought with Jerry west over who hated Boston most
(18) NEMAIA FALETOGO - Fan of the Purple Hulk - No not K.G.
(19) KEIFO - Riding ShotGun
(20) CBuck - Played Horse with McHale and made him retire
Posted by: Mamba24 | April 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Tim-4-Show"He had a big grin on his face too!"
Tim, Tim, Tim most homicidal maniacs have big
grins on their faces. Consider yourself Lucky. LOL!
Posted by: Mamba | April 29, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I predict right now that neither Detroit or Boston
will be in the Finals. Put it in your book and check back in
about a month.
Posted by: Mamba | April 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Good Afternoon MAMBA24, Charles, Jon. K, Faith, Toad, Pig Miller, Fatty, and everyone else in Laker Nation!
A hearty welcome goes out to Michigan Laker!
Also, A hearty congratulations goes out to Edwin Gueco - I hope you enjoy your day sir! (p.s. - MAMBA24 said that you are well versed in philosophy - I'd love to have a conversation with you about your interests within the field!)
Our team has earned some well deserved rest - time to rejuvenate the mind, spirit, and body. I look forward to hearing good news regarding Trevor's scan later this week.
Otherwise, I hope that everyone has a good day today!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | April 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Hey guys, is there any link for the game last night? I missed it and i want to watch it so bad! Go Lakers!
Posted by: Hyacinth | April 29, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Mamba----please put me on the Celtics hate and sweep Utah bandy (I think it may go 5 though).
Good Morning to all. Already going stir crazy. Not enough good articles on this years most dominating playoff team.
Garnett needs a 3 game. Like Nicky V got. 1 game for all of the bench leavers as well.
Gotta try to do some work. Laker love to all.
Kobesbaaaaad(and he is)
Posted by: Kobesbad | April 29, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Sorry...
Congrats Edwin. Great Honor.
Wattup Michigan Laker Fan?
Kobesbaaaad(and he is)
Posted by: Kobesbad | April 29, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Mr. Gueco, Congrats!!
How sweeeeet it is!!!! We've made the second round. We are contenders for years to come. Lakers, WELCOME BACK!!
Mr. Brown nose. As one who has already received an award, I think they suck. This blog can sometimes get a bit nasty. We need to be kind to those who are ocassionally nice. To be ridiculed for just complimenting someone, for being appreciative and congenial, sucks.
I brown nose to all of you. I enjoy hanging out on this blog. I like the people. I LOVE the topic. If you want to call me names for complimenting people, go ahead. But I think it antagonizes team spirit and totally SUCKS!!
A friend to all, JohnnyP
Posted by: JohnnyP | April 29, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Great day Laker Blog family!
Like I said last night, how SWEEP it is!
I'm going to be in withdrawals until the next game... I'm guessing either Friday or Sunday.
MAMBA24, can you add me to the "I Hate the Celtics" bandwagon... you can put me
down as "Torched the old parquet floor" or something like that. Thanks!
Posted by: Bzar | April 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Here's a perfect explanation of why PJ didn't get the COY award.
The COY award is given to the coach who achieves the unexpected during 1 year's time (aka Byron Scott). It is NOT however, meant for coaches who achieve greatness on a regular basis (aka Phil Jackson).
The award given to the latter is the induction into the Hall of Fame as one of the best coaches of all time, 9 championship rings and soon to be 10, the opportunity to coach the best player in the world, and the honor of having the best fans in the world.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | April 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Tim-4-show, were you sitting near Michelle Kwan? I think she was rooting for the Lakers.
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | April 29, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Wes, I totally agree with you! (at the risk of getting taunted). I think the strategy with Luke is paying off. I agree with giant squid that Luke deserves a new nickname.
At first keeping Pau and Kobe on the bench at the beginning of the fourth made me upset. Kobe had been doing well. But, the second string kept the lead. They gained experience. Denver knowing they didn't gain ground against our second string likely humiliated them. When Kobe came in it likely deflated the Nuggets. And, in the end we won.
I think there is a calm a ZEN if you will to PJ. He doesn't panic and throw in the starters all the time. He lets the team realize that bad passes are hurting us. This builds court IQ.
I am starting to like the guy. I'm starting to see that he may have more basketball wisdom than me and the others who doubt him when he doesn't do the obvious.
GO LAKERS!!! 2nd round, WE ARE BACK!!!!
Posted by: JohnnyP | April 29, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Caliphilosopher,
Thanks for the welcome my Laker brother.
MichiganLaker
Posted by: MichiganLaker | April 29, 2008 at 12:47 PM
____________________________*
I HATE The CELTICS BANDWAGON
*_____________________________*
(01) EastCoastJessie – Owner & Driver
(02) FEARLESS – Co/Driver
(03) LAKER TOM – CEO – Made an offer they couldn’t refuse
(02) Milo Rambaldi--Team Prophet.
(03) Mamba24 – East Coast Jessie’s BodyGuard
(04) LakerFaze – Taught KG how to Dunk
(05) TOAD – Once beat Larry Bird in a game of horse
(06) LakerMan420 – Told Red Auerbach where to put his cigar
(07) HmrHed – Blocked KG’s hook twice
(08) SIimLakerGirl – Reports directly to Jeannie Buss
(09) LakerLegacy – Made Red Auerbach bow down to 9Rings
(10) PigMiller– sent LARRY Bird back to French lick IND.
(11) JEFF - Was born hating the Celtics.
(12) #4 Not only born hating Celtics but will bequeath the hate to his heirs
(13) MarkyTheArky – Director of Mirrors and reflections
(14) JustAnotherMambaFan – Hates them
(15) THE_D – Thinks Celtics fans should go to AA meetings
(16) JON K. - Put the chokehold in the Celtics choking
(17) FLOYD – Fought with Jerry west over who hated Boston most
(18) NEMAIA FALETOGO - Fan of the Purple Hulk - No not K.G.
(19) KEIFO - Riding ShotGun
(20) CBuck - Played Horse with McHale and made him retire
(21) BZAR - Painted the Parquet floor Purple and Gold
(22) KOBESBAD - Put exploding cigars in Red Auebachs Humidor
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Kobesbad,
What's up dude!!!
I am just trying to get my voice back in time for Game 1. hehehe
My voice went hoarse when Luke hit the 3 from the corner. Sweet!!!
MichiganLaker
Posted by: MichiganLaker | April 29, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Lakers Legacy,
I had no idea Michelle Kwan was at the game! I know she goes to the ones at Staples... perhaps she was getting a winter Olympics preview (they will be held here eventually) but I'm sure she'll be retired by then (if she isn't already).
I'm going to watch the game on TV and figure it out. I was sitting right near John Elway though. The guy showed up in the middle of the 2nd I think and sat courtside front row.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | April 29, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Mamba,
If neither Boston nor Detroit makes it to the finals (which I'd be so happy), then it would likely mean a second straight year of LeBronze.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | April 29, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Game 4 link please, i want to watch it badly!
Posted by: hyacinth | April 29, 2008 at 01:02 PM
With Kobe's MVP about to be announced we'll need a bigger bandwagon as the nation jumps on.
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Benjamin is right. Tom Petty IS more of an herb than a sage.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 29, 2008 at 01:05 PM
____________________________*
I HATE The CELTICS BANDWAGON
*_____________________________*
(01) EastCoastJessie – Owner & Driver
(02) FEARLESS – Co/Driver
(03) LAKER TOM – CEO – Made an offer they couldn’t refuse
(02) Milo Rambaldi--Team Prophet.
(03) Mamba24 – East Coast Jessie’s BodyGuard
(04) LakerFaze – Taught KG how to Dunk
(05) TOAD – Once beat Larry Bird in a game of horse
(06) LakerMan420 – Told Red Auerbach where to put his cigar
(07) HmrHed – Blocked KG’s hook twice
(08) SIimLakerGirl – Reports directly to Jeannie Buss
(09) LakerLegacy – Made Red Auerbach bow down to 9Rings
(10) PigMiller– sent LARRY Bird back to French lick IND.
(11) JEFF - Was born hating the Celtics.
(12) #4 Not only born hating Celtics but will bequeath the hate to his heirs
(13) MarkyTheArky – Director of Mirrors and reflections
(14) JustAnotherMambaFan – Hates them
(15) THE_D – Thinks Celtics fans should go to AA meetings
(16) JON K. - Put the chokehold in the Celtics choking
(17) FLOYD – Fought with Jerry west over who hated Boston most
(18) NEMAIA FALETOGO - Fan of the Purple Hulk - No not K.G.
(19) KEIFO - Riding ShotGun
(20) CBuck - Played Horse with McHale and made him retire
(21) BZAR - Painted the Parquet floor Purple and Gold
(22) KOBESBAD - Put exploding cigars in Red Auebachs Humidor
Posted by: | April 29, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Put me on. Can we note that we hate the city of Boston as much or more than the Celtics?
Posted by: Jman449 | April 29, 2008 at 01:06 PM
giantsquid,
I think Cool Hand Luke is clearly the best moniker.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 29, 2008 at 01:08 PM
HEY HEY HEY LAKER NATION!!!!!!!!
Guess who didnt quit last night? Thats right baby... the Lakers never quit....bet Melo is jealous!
That was a very intense game to watch my friends... I thought the refs were going to hand it to the noguts for a while there. I was smoking some bowls and drinkin some beer with Lakerman420 and experiencing the excitement of playoff basketball, when I saw that the whole pepsi center crowd was standing. I jumped off the couch looked at Lakerman420 and said if the losers crowd is standing, I'll be standing for the winners here. We swept the Nuggets!!!!!!!
Yo Houston and Utah, would you please decide tonight who we are gonna sweep in the next round, you know you want a piece of this!!!!!
Thats right baby!!! All the way to the championship!!!!!!!!!
*sniffs the screen* You lakerman420 thanks for the good stuff- winning shot gun!!!!!!!!
Simi Laker Girl is glad to be back!
Posted by: simi laker girl | April 29, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Tim-4-Show - I think I did see you on TV last night. Were you wearing a long-sleeved gold/yellow shirt, carrying the MVP sign & wearing glasses/
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 29, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Mamba24 -
Please add me to the NBA RESISTANCE IS FUTILE
AGAINST LAKERS BANDWAGON - because it is, it absolutely is. The Lakers are like the Borg - they assimilate the good & what they can't use they destroy!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 29, 2008 at 01:12 PM
And just think...in my neck of the woods industrial sized broom were on sale and nobody knew why...hahaha
Posted by: lakeraholic | April 29, 2008 at 01:16 PM
repost
---------
THE JACKSON REPORT…
Just kidding! lol. While I don’t intend to publish a Jackson Report after every game, I thought it might be appropriate with the Lakers now the only undefeated team left in the playoffs to reprise the infamous Mike T’s Jackson Report. An abbreviated version, i.e.
GRADE FOR SEASON: A+
Phil Jackson truly deserves the COY award and recognition for the unbelievably great job he has done this year building this team’s competitive heart and championship character. Phil is truly a genius whose evaluation demands that you view the season as a continuous journey designed to create chemistry, confidence, and capability peaking for the playoffs. It’s a formula, plan, philosophy, system that has won 9 NBA championships.
I have as many problems as anyone with Phil’s sometimes inscrutable support for the Kwame’s and Smush’s, his often indecipherable substitution patterns, or his annoyingly lame end-of-game plays, but cannot deny that he is a master of the craft of building a championship team. He has never done a better job than this year and we are blessed that Phil cared enough about the Lakers and Kobe to return and help both redeem themselves.
Luke Walton’s performance in the first three games of the playoffs basically now means that every player on this Lakers team is playing the best they ever have played. Think about that. Not just Kobe, but Luke, Lamar, Pau, Derek, Drew, Jordan, Sasha, Ronny, Vlade, Coby, Trevor, and DJ are all playing the best basketball of their careers right now. That is 13 players who are at the top of their game. The only guys who aren’t are Chris, who is still injured and next year’s first round pick for the Lakers, and Ira who hasn’t really played. Talk about a great coaching job. No wonder the Lakers are playing well.
Thanks, Phil. Bring home #10 this year and give Red’s ghost postmortem paroxysms.
PHIL JACKSON FOR COACH OF THE YEAR!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 29, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Dear mamba 24,
GREAT ROLL CALL!!!! (throw me on the 'I HATE THE CELTICS' bandwagon as leprachaun hunter)
Hey Laker Blog,
GREAT WIN!!!!!
Hey Lakers,
WAY TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!!!!!
Of course, we all knew deep down that the over-inflated Nuggets couldn't run with our boys for four games, but you still have to man up and prove it, which is what makes this sweep so sweet. Up and coming super-star center still hurt? No problem, our offense is ticking like a swiss watch. The one concern I have is lethargy, I don't want to see everyone at Fatburger eating tasty veggie burgers in Santa Monica when they could be studying how to stop the Utah pick 'n' roll or how to keep the ball out of T-Mac's hands and force another guy to make a play on the Rockets.
But I digress, bask in the winning glow which has eluded our Southern California skies since 2004. Accept the warm compliments and high fives from your adoring fans. Listen to your Hall of Fame coach as he imparts words of winning wisdom to a young team that cannot afford to get full of itself yet. Win 12 more and bring home the bacon if you want to sit high on the hog. Or some country-type expression. Go Atlanta, stay athletic. rest up team and get better AB 17, see you soon Trevor.
GO LKAERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | April 29, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Hey, i was the first 1 to predict a sweep before the series even began, i guess no one took me seriously then but dont credit Laker Tom i was first!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ps this is not Frank Rizzo this is Rizzo, been here since 2006 offseason reading Mike T's long ass posts. So correct that, I was first. Next Prediction, Lakeshow in 5 against Utah!!
Posted by: Rizzo | April 29, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Tim-4-Show
If you want to do a road trip like my friend Jack Kerouac...to Utah, let me know. Seriously.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | April 29, 2008 at 01:39 PM
LakerTom,
I think that Byron Scott's Coach of the Year virtually guarantees Kobe Bryant's MVP.
Byron Scott gets the credit for the Hornets.
Kobe Bryant gets the credit for the Lakers.
Not really accurate, but that's how politics go, methinks.
NO MVP? NO PEACE!!!!!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 29, 2008 at 01:41 PM
LakerTom,
One thing I will (kind of) disagree with you on "best play of their career assessment" is Rad Vlad. While Rad Vlad IS playing better defense and passing better than he ever has in his career, his offense (and shot) was superior when he was a Sonic and a Clipper.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 29, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I haven't really been feeling the need to post recently. I'm glad, because it means there isn't much strife around here, and I like that.
The Celts look like they've got a real fight on their hands. The Spurs had better get it done tonight, or they're in trouble.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | April 29, 2008 at 01:45 PM
lakers_sth-
I'm actually trying to get a handle on that, myself. I think if Utah wins tonight, they'd probably open up the series this weekend.... but I have no real idea. If Houston wins, it'll likely be early next week because Game 6 is scheduled for Friday in Salt Lake. I doubt they'd make the Jazz (assuming they won, of course) turn around and play on Sunday. It might depend, too, on what happens in the other two series.
When we know, we'll pass it along.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 29, 2008 at 01:47 PM