A nail bitin' advance

THERE IS ONLY ONE KOBE BRYANT…

And thankfully, he still wears purple and gold and plays hoops for the LA Lakers. We saw in tonight’s game, the first two rounds of the playoffs, and the NBA regular season that the Lakers are blessed to have Kobe Bryant in his prime and playing his career best. Talk about taking the ball to the rim and putting the pressure on the Jazz defense. Kobe controlled this game from start to finish, toying with a host of Jazz defenders who could never keep him from penetrating the paint and totally destroying the Jazz interior defense. 34/8/6 on just 19 shots with 15 of 17 free throws and a clutch pair of 3-point scores down the stretch were just another MVP performance for KB24. On to the conference finals. Where again there will be only one Kobe Bryant.

THE LAKERS LEARNING HOW TO CLOSE…

That’s 2-0 in closeout opportunities for the Lakers in the 2008 playoffs. While Boston and New Orleans failed to close out their playoff series with 6th game road losses, the Lakers continued their season long trend of improving each game. They lost their first road playoff game to Utah by 5 points, took their second playoff road game to overtime, and finally broke through to win their third road playoff game leading Utah wire to wire. As was pointed out by another poster, the Lakers now account for 1/3 of Utah’s total home losses. That is a real tribute to the Lakers growing confidence and ability to close.

KUDOS TO THE JAZZ FOR A TOUGH SERIES…

You have to respect that the Jazz never quit and actually had a couple of pretty good shots to tie the game and send it into overtime, which could have been disastrous for the Lakers. So give a lot of credit to Jerry Sloan and the Jazz, even though they are still one of the dirtiest and most physical teams in the league. DWill is a force and Mehmet Okur can shoot the eyes out of the basketball and is much tougher than I gave him credit for. Harpring brings it every game and AK47 is a poor man’s Lamar Odom. The player the Jazz needed to show up was Carlos Boozer, who was clearly outplayed by Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, who turned the league’s top power forward into a non-factor.

THE JAZZ CHAMPIONSHIP WINDOW JUST CLOSED…

That was the loud boom you heard as the final horn sounded in Salt Lake City tonight. Forget the big advantage that the Utah enjoyed on the defensive and offensive boards in this series because next year the reign of Andrew Bynum begins and the Lakers become dominant with the Bynum-Gasol-Odom front court to go with the championship-proven Bryant-Fisher backcourt. Throw in Trevor Ariza as our defensive stopper, a revitalized Chris Mihm as our “first round” pick, and maybe 6-9 point guard Sun Yue from China. Our under 25 crew of Bynum, Ariza, Vujacic, Farmar, and Turiaf will continue to get better and we may see a number of key veteran players looking to win a championship. Williams and Boozer are going to end up title-less just like Stockton and Malone.

BRING ON THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS…

There is something to be said about beating the defending champion. I for one would like to see the Spurs upset the Hornets on Monday night so the Lakers could have the opportunity to take the Spurs out personally. We missed that chance with the Suns and it doesn’t seem right that we should also miss ousting the Spurs. I actually think that the Spurs will give the Lakers more trouble than the Hornets but this may be the last hurrah for the Spurs and I would like us to be the team that kicks them back into the pack. In any event, Spurs or Hornets, it won’t matter. Lakers in 6 games regardless of which team.

Tom

Nothing like 4 days rest ! Well our script is half written !

Does anyone think that Derek's final missed free throw was... ?

1. a choke
2. a parting gift to his ex-teammates, to say we're leaving you here to bathe in salty water but I want to see you guys have a last chance, you deserve it.
3. a taunt to his ex-teammates to say, "I'm going to add to your misery by making you work and feel desperate for another 12 long seconds
4. just the law of averages.

Thehammer,
In fairness to Hollinger, he changed his take on the series before it began and said that - in spite of his own number crunching - the Lakers would win it. If I remember correctly, he predicted in 6 as well.

I've also sneezed at his statistical games, but in terms of predictions (but not of judgements) his tools seem fairly reliable. For most of the last part of the season he had the Lakers as the top bet to reach the finals.

I would rather play against the Hornets as well. My reasoning is a little different however. I want to end all of this silly "CP3 is the MVP of the playoffs" crap once and for all. Kobe will show the B-Ball world who the MVP is and the talking heads can shove those heads where the sun don't shine.

Lakers in 5......

Wow the NBA TV shot chart shows that Utah did not shoot 50% from any part of the floor, not even the key. Nice, very nice.....

I know the Lakers are happy that they won in Utah and are advancing to the Western Conference Finals. And they should be. It's a terrific accomplishment considering where they came from earlier in the season.

But they have to be disappointed with the way they broke down in the final stanza, like a tired and battered boxer trying to tie up his opponent and hold on until the bell while his opponent punched him silly.

Anyway, maybe Ariza can infuse new life into this bunch defensively when he comes back next week in the Conference finals.

Game 6 was raw. Raw!

Loved Kobe's entire game. He is so clutch he belongs attached to a transmission!!

Loved O-Dogg's game in the first half.

Loved G-Soul's first 3 and a bit quarters

Loved D-Fish's entire game. What a gangster!!

Loved The Machine's game. He assaulted Korver on got
that valuable charge at the end against Milsap. Lotta heart there!

Vlad Rad done well also.

Do any wolves know when game 1 of the west coast finals begin?

I need this info baby.

PS G-Soul, O-Dogg and Koback are the real Big Three. 'The triangle of pain' if you will.

TO LAKER TOM:

Excellent points all but one slipped by your usual "on the money" posts:.

"The player the Jazz needed to show up was Carlos Boozer, who was clearly outplayed by Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, who turned the league’s top power forward into a non-factor. "

I know it was probably just an exhuberant oversight b/c you were damn happy with the series winning game like all of us, but the best power forward is that #21 guy from the defending champs who still happens to be alive in these playoffst too. No taking a slap at you here, just reminding us all that we still may yet face that guy and he's a matchup nightmare for any team in the league as he's got 4 rings and has been the best PF the last 10 in the NBA hands down for proably the last decade... But nonetheless IT"S A GREAT FEELING NOW that we are in the WTF AND get to rest.... LAKER NATION REJOICE!!!!

San antone will be a MUCH harder matchup. The hornets have ONE player than can create shots. The spurs have THREE.

Great Post LakerTom!!,

Man, I don't think I took a breath during the last few hours(ok seconds) of the game. Its amazing how this season has turned out.

Peace to the GHF guys :) where is Andrew Z?

I like Deron Williams and I think the Jazz played a great fourth quarter (and this has been a very good series) but the first 3 quarters of game 6 was a huge advantage to the Lakers. The Jazz needed to have played with desperation and intensity but they didn't do that until it was too late. Still, I give them (the players) a lot of credit and respect because they fought hard to come back. The Lakers simpy got tired at the end, but I also love that the Lakers never got discouraged from the rally and hung on for the W. It was a win the Lakers deserved to win, especially outplaying Utah for 3 quarters.

Overall good series, but I don't think I was ever worried that the Lakers would lose this series.

Told you guys, Gasol,s doing his job. Moved to LA to take the ring. That,s his dream, together with getting another gold at the OG.

Go Lakers.

I want the Spurs. They have had a brutal road just to get to the WCF (If they win Monday), all their key players with the exception of Parker are over 30, and I think their prescence will bring out the best in a very good Lakers team, just like in the 2001 WCF.

New Orleans is better than a lot of the "experts" think. When you look at the factors that mark the Lakers as a top-echelon team (road record, record against the West, etc.), the team right next to us in all these categories is New Orleans. Plus, their home-court advantage has been huge in the last month or so, about as tough as Utah's.

Either way, we have the best team, and we should reach the NBA Finals.

3 qtrs of domination and we almost lost it!

whats wrong with our guys not playing 4 dominant qtrs?

i say bring whoever, NOH, SA aint shit. we got this especially if we play for 4qtrs!

trade luke for a back up point, JF's not cuttin it so far!

PURPLE & GOLD BABY!!!

Fantastic post-game commentary across the board...

Laker Tom: You punctual P.I.M.P... You should either be compensated for your attributes to the blog, or get your own underground thing going... (Laker Tom Bandwagon, anyone?)

thehammer: "Quantify this, Hole-In-G'Ya math..."

tsphere: definitely the LOA... Or tired legs... Or defensive ballsiness... Or KHARMA! You pick.

As far as the next opponent goes, I can't settle on who I'll be yelling at the plasma for. A big factor is Fish and the better match-up. Who can get him in foul trouble? Take him off the dribble? Make his own teammates better? Maybe the PG conversation is a wash...

Consider of course experience, and who might want it more. A youthful NO team with all the promise in the, well, Southwest Division? Or an aging, exasperated and banged up veteran team willing to throw it all on the line for one last ring?

I can see the pandemonium now: Big Shot Rob gets all up in Kobe's high-flying back on the break... Oooh, what drama...

How about the outside chance that Ariza can log some run? He'd be very effective at full strength (given he's finally there) vs Ginobili, while he may not even be a factor v NO and Peja. A bit to ponder...

On the whole, a win is a win and advancement is just that. Big leads obtained and lost, questionable foul calls, disappointing FTs, superstar injuries, inconsistent bench play, whatever...

The Lakers are on to the Conference Finals! It's like Fish said after losing a few big leads in the second half: If you would have told me in September we'd be resting 4+ days awaiting the WCF in May, without AB, I'd have asked you if the bartender was still serving...

The good times are killing me... Bring on the Spurnets!

It's official, I love LA

man that game went from a happy win to a near heart attack.. again.. i guess LA lives for drama... regardless.. we won and kobe can rest that back...

GO FREAKIN LAKERS!!!

It sure is nice to just take care of business instead of having to eek one out in a game 7 fiasco.

What poise.

What determination.

How nice is it to have the MVP of the decade?

We move on.....

Kobesbad
...and so are the Lakers

I think that right now the Hornets have a higher ceiling but also a lower floor than the Spurs. Overall, I would rather than the Lakers play the Spurs.

Pfunk and Korey,

I addressed you in the game thread, check out my responses.

-Troy

Paul

Lee

Bows down

2

me.

Great series...had to expect a Jazz run at the end. They are very tough. That flurry of threes at the end really had me worried for a while.
Deron Williams is awesome, the rest of the Jazz team just couldn't come through.....and I have to take my hat off to Jerry Sloan. The guy really is a class guy. He does not make excuses for his team or blame the refs. When asked about any foul disparity, he said fouls take care of themselves when you start playing aggressive.
A few days rest will not only do the Lakers good, but will allow us fans to catch our breathes too, as we wait for the Western Conference Finals. What a great season this is!!!!

Please, Lord (God or Byron)

Grant the Hornets a game 7 win on Monday. I know I'm asking a lot, given their overall team health situation (West's bad back, Chandler's gimpy left ankle, BOTH of Paul's sore ankles, and Peterson's lacerated ego, after KB lit him up for 80+ a couple years back). But the long suffering fans in Naaaw-leans really deserve their own "mini-championship" - the thrill of a game seven victory over the defending champs. Then, once the Lakers beat them in five, they can graciously pass us the Western Confernece baton, which we will carry to the finish line.

As sweet as it would be, to knock off Saint Anthony's in the WCF, let's bear in mind a few key indicators from seasons' past:

Duncan can handle Gasol by himself. Gasol will have a very tough sled against aaaaarrrrghhh...TIMMY! And thus far, against the Nougets and the Jizz, Gasol has produced outstanding assist numbers by finding cutters from the mid-post. This won't be so easy when playing against aaaarrrghhh...TIMMY! because Saint Anthony's other players have been schooled to have faith in their defensive anchor and to not get caught peeking in. What's more likely is that Gasol is limited by foul trouble, and the rebounding woes will continue.

Furthermore, as the only surviving teammate of Cedric Ceballos, the NBA has granted Bruce Bowen a blank check when it comes to laying hands on perimeter scorers. Seriously, if the guy ever retires from playing ball, he'll have to call in and register his whereabouts with local authorities, he uses his hands so much. Bowen makes a problem for the Lakers - a lock-down defender that isn't requred to exert any effort at all on the offensive end. This is a problem that the Lakers would rather cause for someone else (like Ariza hounding Peja S?) than have to endure over a long series.

Then there's the Horry factor. Old (old-old-old) Rob has become like another Bill Lambeer (sp?) - the timely spot-ups, the smart defense, the subtle undercuts on players going up, the sly elbows, the cheap hits. He does have a weakness, however: during a dead ball or while lined up on the free throw line, if an opposing player reminds Old (old-old-old) Rob of the time when his Alabama squad was matched up against Stanford in the second round of the NCAA tournament, and ADAM KEEFE sealed young Rob with a left hip, drop stepped over the right shoulder, and THREW DOWN the most ridiculous two handed posterizer that Rob (any age) would ever see in his life...well, upon being reminded of this, Rob can be counted upon to disintegrate into a disorganized flurry of flagrant fouls and rushed three-pointers - just ask Stevie Nash: last year, just before Old (old-old-old) Rob tossed him out of bounds, Nash organized his Phoenix Phuns in a chant of "Adam Keefe! Adam Keefe! Adam Keefe!"

I digress, oh Lord.

Please grant the Naaw-leans Fishnets a HARD FOUGHT victory of those despicable Cowboys from Saint Anthony's tomorrow!

Whats up Laker fan's question I have is I know Bynum is hurt and is not going to return but has anybody seen him at any of the home games? I 'm not in LA so the coverage I get out here in FL. is kind of weak. I saw Trevor the other night , I was just wondering why he wasn't at the home games supporting the team?