About as positive a loss as they come
Realistically speaking, the undefeated ride would come to an end at some point. And tonight's game 3, which took Utah back to its turf for the first time in the series, struck me as logical a time as any for the Lakers to get hung with an "L." The dust settling on a 104-99 Jazz victory proved that instinct unfortunately correct. But like the title suggests, this loss doesn't bug me much as a Laker fan. Yes, there were negatives. Pau Gasol, save about the final three or so minutes of action, spent the game getting pushed around in the paint on both ends (which often led to some turnovers). The backup backcourt of Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar (often torched by Deron Williams) went a combined 0-9 from the field for a combined goose egg in the scoring column. The Lakers turned the ball over 18 times and hit only five of their 23 attempts from downtown.
But despite these issues, despite the Lakers playing often at their worst and Utah vice versa, the Jazz could never put away the Lakers for good. The purple and gold execution was often hinky, but the energy and spirit was always there. Kobe Bryant, overcoming a slow first half, set the final 24 minutes' tone with a killer performance that featured the majority of his 34 points and a few SportsCenter worthy buckets. His teammates eventually followed suit and put some legit screws to their opponents. It turned out to be a little too little, a little too late, but more "late" than "little." The Lakers' worst effort, and the Jazz couldn't pounce all over it. If I'm the Lakers, I'm neither thrilled nor satisfied with the box score, but I'm not be losing sleep over it, either.
AK
Well, darn, a new thread. Can everybody forgive me for wanting to keep my last comments?
AK, Xodus, et al,
pfunk, we tried. frankly, it's damn hard to stoke controversy on this blog anymore. Mike T is gone, possibly for 10-20, we don't know. Jon K is a nice guy, and willing to enter in conversation and have a good time. KL whatever, Gunner, neil, etc have wandered off to the land of blog where one can say irrational things or at least not post on real blogs. passionate lakers fan has undergone a remarkable transformation to a sane, articulate, concerned Laker fan. Others have been mostly just Laker fans from the get go and have been very happy that the Lakers are winning.
Very few, or possilby you, have been all we have left. The mysterious connection between Pfunk and Chuck 23 notwithstanding,...
ah, crap , I do pratter on.
I admire your persistance in posting despite getting smacked down by people who know what they are talking about. You obviously desire some kind of emotional fulfillment from this blog. However, it is not ours to question why, it is but ours to tell you to get stuffed and how. I do like having someone to mix it up with when I am feeling punchy. But let me just say, as a conscientous member of planet earth, SHUT THE FAHOOK UP ALREADY!!!!.
We don't care, nobody cares, you need to find fulfillment in other venues. In laymen's terms, GET A FARFAGNUGGIN LIFE!
I might be getting carried away here. I am just trying to kill time, and I can move on with things.
But, jeeez.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Yeah, maybe not. Anyway, AZ Laker Fan-
Thanks, I'm not sure what I said that keeps you laughing, but I appreciate the encouragement. I will keep firing as long as the Lakers keep playing, and, I suppose as long as stupid people keep posting things. It always helps.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 10:03 PM
AK,
Mark this date down. I agree with everything you said. In fact, you said it pretty good too.
I'm not happy about losing. But Utah, played about as well as they could and we stayed competitive in that Mad House (tip of a hat to most of the Utah crowd, they are involved)
Farmar seemed real nervous, he was rattled. He's acting human after all.
Can't wait till Sunday.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 09, 2008 at 10:04 PM
AK
Solid assessment... truth is Pau hasn't been dominating his position for awhile. He's been getting pushed out of his comfort zone. Aside from the one layup game against Denver, he's been better than average but not as advertised.
He's not the fall guy tonight, but he is in uncharted territory right now. It's crunch time NBA style and that's not the same as the international game. He'll bounce back, as will the team.
Posted by: Vman | May 09, 2008 at 10:06 PM
The bad news- We lost
The good news- A game five at the Staples Center means all those with tickets get to use them and enjoy a great game.
plus ........a bonus for Dr Buss, extra money to pay all these guys next year
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 09, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Fairweather Fatty,
"Mark this date down. I agree with everything you said. In fact, you said it pretty good too."
May 9, 10:04 pm. Permanently noted. haha
Thanks. I appreciate it.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 09, 2008 at 10:32 PM
In a close game, someone has to make a mistake in order for the other team to win, unfortunately it was the Lakers turn in this game. Walton has a good game, exerted great energy in playing D, tho by standards of strong forwards, it leaves a lot to be desired. Vlad and Pau are very soft, and becoming softer every minute, they just have to push more bodies and put in those cheapy shots. I knew this is coming, we have seen it during the Bobcats, Blazers and Kings losses. We lost games not because Lakers were not good, they were just overpowered and outhustled. I don't know why PJ would not try Mbenga even only for short minutes, I believe he can cover Mehmet or at least distract him. He can block out Boozer on rebounds. When you have Sasha, Pau and Vlad they are just finesse players, they just could not excel in brawl and bruising type of game. Only Kobe and Fisher were prepared to play in that kind of game being veterans from previous Championship.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 09, 2008 at 10:33 PM
FIrst of all, I'd like to officially introduce myself here - I've been lurking for a long time and occasionally post. I'm one of Jesterguru's friends and a huge Laker fan.
I play drums in the band Ozomatli - For those of you who don't know, we do the song "City of Angels" that ABC plays as bumper music for Laker games this year. Apparently, the Machine loves that song...
I decided to post so I could say an extra big thanks to whoever it was that posted up the link to the live video stream. Me and the band were backstage at Irving Plaza in NYC waiting to go on and dying to watch the game. Sadly, the dressing rooms did not have cable tv. I got the stream to work on my laptop and we hooked up some speakers. Soon the whole band was gathered around cheering for the Lakers. As halftime approached, it was 10pm or so Eastern time so I did what I had to do- I set the laptop right next to my drumset with the feed going....
So as not to drop a stick or miss a beat, I couldn't watch the game all that closely but I did see some good effort in an obviously very hostile environment. The main thing I'd like to see Sunday is the Lakers match the Jazz' brute physicality, especially if the ref's are gonna swallow the whistles.
Kam bros - great job all around, I appreciate all you guys do and love the balance you strike between being fans and yet keeping a fair perspective. Chick would be proud.
Posted by: thehammer | May 09, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Edwin,
I don't know. I feel PJ is probably trying to weigh out the plus and minus of DJ.
It would be nice to see the Bang in MBenga come out and play physical. But tonight the boards wasn't the real problem. It was TO's.
Utah pushed us out of our system and forced TO's on the offense side. I don't know if DJ could've helped with that.
Too much DJ might bring the Lakers down to their level, which I feel they want.
No to worry. David Stern has got our backs, we can't lose.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 09, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Dang! Oh well.
You guys proll'y don't want me on anymore bandwagons. They always seem to fall apart as soon as I alight.
Sorry.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | May 09, 2008 at 10:46 PM
oh well, they'll just need to play a bit better on sunday.
Posted by: man | May 09, 2008 at 10:46 PM
The Hammer,
Do you really play for Ozomatli? If so, I've seen you guys play a couple times. I wanna say one of the times was with Run-DMC (I could be remembering wrong). Really fun shows. A friend of a friend also went to high school with a few band members.
Anyway, thanks for the nice words. We appreciate it.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 09, 2008 at 10:51 PM
the hammer-
if this is the closest I come to Ozomatli- You guys rock. Your second album was a bit of a disapointment, but I really don't hold it against you. You guys put on a good show.
AK- Did you guys do something with the posts on this thread? I swear there was a couple of post before me, then some delay. Perhaps I am Imagining things. Anyway, I am not a guy prone to kissing arse, but you guys pretty much summed it up. We could see this game coming, but we are not intimidated. The Lakers own this series. Much props.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 10:56 PM
"No to worry. David Stern has got our backs, we can't lose."
Oh, cr$p! I promised the NBA I wouldn't reveal that.
You didn't hear that, I was just joking, yeah, just joking.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 09, 2008 at 10:57 PM
AK-
Yes I really do. I've been with them for the last 5 years, it's a great band and the shows are always a blast. Consider yourself invited when we play in LA.
When I got the game to work on my laptop the guys were praising me like "YOU'RE THE MAN!!! How'd you find this!!!" To which I answered, "I found it on the Laker blog!".
Thanks for making me the Man tonight, Laker blog.
Posted by: thehammer | May 09, 2008 at 11:00 PM
phred
It appears that you must be drinking tonight. When the Lakers lose it brings out the worse in some of us!
With that in mind, I suggest you pull your self out of the gutter and call a cab to take you home before you cross the line and say something you'll later regret.
P.S Don't talk to strangers!
Posted by: chuck23 | May 09, 2008 at 11:03 PM
phred-
Although you didn't like the second record, I can say I had nothing to do with that. I joined up on the third one, which won a Grammy for best latin something-or-other. Before that I was pushing units in a rock band....
Posted by: thehammer | May 09, 2008 at 11:04 PM
The Hammer,
Thanks, man. I will likely take you up on the offer. And again, appreciate the nice words and readership.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 09, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Chuck23-
Huh?
I can drink a lot some nights, but your post is pretty random even my my standards. Elaborate.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 11:08 PM
the hammer- that's cool
honestly, Ozomatli is the house, I know that by now.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Ïs in the house"
sorry.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 11:14 PM
RE POST
There is no cause to panic, its only one loss. Considering the way the lakers came back into this game, I can assure everyone on this blog that we will wiin game 4. Remember, we came to Utah to win a game. Nobody, apart from Lakertom suggested a sweep. We need to get back to our offense in game 4 which includes 1. Ball movement 2. Getting the ball to Gasol at the post and 3. Limiting turnovers.
We've seen the best of Utah at home and we will make adjustments as Kobe suggested and be ready for game 4.
If I were Phil, I will make some changes in the lineup though, I know you guys think its too premature, but since we are not getting much from Radman, I will think of either re-inserting Ronny as a starter and moving Lamar to the small forward. Also, we may also just give Walton the starting nod at the SF spot.
Walton has shown that he is ready to start and tends to move the ball better when he plays with the starters.
With ronny in the lineup, I think we will have more presence in the post defensively. He will also help to anchor our defense by altering and blocking shots. Gasol, as much as we love him in the Lakers uniform does not provide the toughness of Ronny in the post .
Get ready for game 4 and I know we shall be ready. My predictions Lakers go 4-1
Posted by: AA LOS | May 09, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Posted by: AA LOS | May 09, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I don't agree.
In sports there are no moral victories. There are no, if...
Only wins and losses.
Though to be honest I'm saying this mostly because I disliked the Jazz cheering their so called moral victories in Staples.
But at the end of the day, the record remains the same. And we're faced having lost one game (in my one game at a time mentality). Sure there's always tomorrow but if you lose game 7 of the 7 game FInals series, will the moral victory count then? Or should we say there's always next year?
I actually don't mean this post to be this negative...all I really mean is, this is a loss. Simple as that. There are no positives really to be had...even with the players that played well...but learning opportunities. Let us learn from this game; I am afterall a proponent of learning more from losses than wins.
And boy do we have a lot to learn. For starters? Do not come off the game tentative. We have shown playoff poise, now it's time to keep up with that. The crowd didn't bother us, we bothered us.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | May 09, 2008 at 11:19 PM
phred
You appear to be mummbling about the fact that you can't get no satisfaction! And because of that you have unfortunately turned to the bottle!
Please be careful and try to drink in moderation and please don't drive!!!
Posted by: chuck23 | May 09, 2008 at 11:23 PM
faith-
very few NBA champions win 16-0- It's cool. I would worry if we lose one at home. But, not gonna happen. We will at worst lose the Celtics in 7. We don't need no moral victories. The real kind is good enough.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 11:27 PM
"to the Celtics in 7. My bad.
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 11:28 PM
It is obvious that the players with the most Lakers playoff experience: Kobe, Fish, Luke played the best in the hostile home crowd of SLC. Kobe and Fish have the rings, Luke played in the 04 Finals.
For everybody else, this was a valuable learning experience. It is a matter of desensitization. Next game, the other Lakers will be less sensitive to the SLC environment and will play more normal.
Gasol never reached this level of the NBA playoffs before. But he will learn to adjust. International basketball at the championship level is just as physical., and Gasol has done well in that arena (World Championship MVP). The guys is a winner and will find a way to bounce back.
Posted by: LakerinBC | May 09, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Laker Fans
Better get use to it now coz' this will be the start of a spiral downward. It will unfold in your eyes. Your Lakers are just tooooooo soft inside. Tough luck for your guys. Its now Utah's turn... Yeeee Haaaaaaaa
Jazzers
Posted by: Jazzers | May 09, 2008 at 11:39 PM
I actually thought that, as well as Kobe played, there was no way we were going to win from about 7 mins into the quarter. He had completely stopped looking at his teammates by then, and I figured he wasn't going to outscore the Jaz by himself. Despite the turn-overs, this game was winnable.
Guess we've got 'til Sunday to sort that out. We can't let Boozer have another game like that, that's for sure, he abused us inside, every player we put on him.
Posted by: Michael A | May 09, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Chuck23-
Perhaps I have had a bit too much to drink of the heady wine of Lakers general Kickassitude. I drink that when I can't drink deeply of the drought of Lakers victory. And you perhaps have drunk too deeply of the draught of I don't know what the heck your talking about. Is there some point we are working towards here? I was saying that Pfunk is a bit of a spaz, and that's as far as I got. Help me out here.
Oh, unless you take my postings seriously. Well, you might take your own postings too seriously as well. Frankly, I have no idea. Help me out here. I will be drinking many more draughts of Laker pride here tonight, so I might need a designated poster. Can anyonr help me out?
Posted by: phred | May 09, 2008 at 11:54 PM
The anouncers were talking about how except for Fish and Kobe, these young players never played a playoff game in such a hostile LOUD environment with a very muscular physical team to boot. And it really showed.
The cockroach got stepped on. The machine malfunctioned. Pau played so bad in the first quarter....even Kwame couldn't have done worse.
But it's better to experience a hostile environment like this and learn when you are two up, then in a tight contest.
Posted by: | May 09, 2008 at 11:54 PM
woooogo alkers.
Posted by: Grady | May 09, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Ahem,
looks like someone wanted free tickets....Hehe...
Posted by: Anomalous | May 10, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Lakers need a big man that can bang around and defend the post. Kwame would be really useful right now coming off the bench for defensive purposes.
Posted by: Insight | May 10, 2008 at 12:33 AM
thehammer,
Great to have you aboard. Good, interesting band!
We also have an emmy award winner on the blog. And we used to get Roland, the guy that wrote a book about the Lakers and has his own Lakers blog.
AK,
I'm in agreement with the agreement. I feel like we didn't lose by much and my Rx wasn't followed. The rest of the team didn't step up enough to help Kobe. Okay, I give credit to Luke and Turiaf, they both did pretty well.
If Pau Gasol is going to play like a girl, he needs to play like a girl that's glued to Mehmet Okur at all times. Let Turiaf, Odom, or Kobe protect the basket if Okur is chilling in 3 point land. You can hedge or double a little, but you have to get back to Okur ASAP.
Odom was okay (save for too many TO), but I would like to see him imprint himself a little more on the game.
Vlad was a major disappointment. Luke is playing well and playing a lot better than Vlad. He's not doing his job (shoot 3s and make them) well enough or often enough.
I think overall that this game should be good for the Lakers.
Faith, please don't kill me for looking on the bright side here.
I honestly believe that they need to know what it feels like if you don't play well enough now rather than later. They need to know when they're overmatched in a particular area so they can adjust and get better in that area (physical play) and learn to better leverage their own assets.
I'm also extremely pleased how little we yelled at the refs. They deserved to get much more of an earful, particularly with shots in the 3rd quarter when a foul caused a Laker shot to not go in the basket. The officiating was largely consistent, but I did notice for a time that the Jazz got way more calls during shots than the Lakers with similarly limited, but game-changing contact.
Posted by: Benjamin | May 10, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Why do we have to get all the idiot fans from other teams?
Geez...
Posted by: Benjamin | May 10, 2008 at 12:58 AM
I'm almost relieved that they lost. It just didn't seem real, this undefeated thing. I love this team but am not sold on its championship readiness yet. Why? The D! this team is not getting tested on the defensie end. Or at least, they weren't until tonight.
It's alright, you know. This team went from almost losing to Kobe to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 7 quick months. This team is in a good place. I think that they might be the most offensively complete team in the league, at least the starting 5.
But most of these guys are not good defenders. It's just the case. They are ok... Fisher draws a lot of charges, Kobe is a quality defender, of course, Odom is decent given the right matchup. OK. Great. Now name one other guy on the roster about whom you can honestly say, "He's a good defender."
This is why Ariza was such a godsend. This is why, a month ago, everyone was still saying, "The Lakers need Bynum to really get it done." It's still the case. Don't worry... don't burn your Laker flag... Phil knows it. Kobe knows it. Mitch knows it. That's why they gave Newble a contract. They were a little desperate. It sucks to get this far and not quite have the team to get it done. Who knows, they might pull it off. But it will take an awesome display of offense throughout the playoffs.
Lots of comments about Pow this evening. Just get it out of your head about Gasol being a good defender. He doesn't move well laterally. Period. But at the same time, get it out o' your head that he's soft. He's not soft, he's just not built to lay down the law in the paint. He plays with a lot of heart and is as good an offensive player as you'll find. He doesn't get rattled. But he does get pushed around sometimes and needs backup in there. You could say the same thing about most of the team.
It's not like they don't try. But what's a guy like Farmar supposed to do against Williams or Paul or Billups? This is why PJ likes big guards.
Iverson's a hall of famer but he always came up short against big guards Brian Shaw, who was never even an all-star, has rings.
May the spirit of Ron Harper be upon the Lakers as they continue their journey through the 2008 playoffs.
Posted by: East Nyboer | May 10, 2008 at 01:13 AM
By the way, Plashke's article is, as usual, a total hack job. It goes way beyond blaming Gasol completely for the loss tonight and continues into wishing Bynum was back and saying that he will now be the target of every Laker opponent in the playoffs.
I guess that nice Fisher article was just an example of a blind squirrel finding nuts.
Posted by: Luke | May 10, 2008 at 01:18 AM
i just have one word for this game:
damn
GO LAKERS!! get em next game!
Posted by: David Whang | May 10, 2008 at 04:02 AM
AK-
Nice post. I think I missed it, when did you become a Laker fan?
Posted by: C.S. | May 10, 2008 at 04:27 AM
Wow...
Could Pau have been any less effective?
Could Fisher have gotten into any quicker foul trouble? Why go for the reach on the Boozer layup in the 1st quarter with 8 minutes left when you know you already have a foul and that you are the only serviceable D against DWill?
What happened to Farmar? This guy never passes anymore and his J is about as effective as mine.
Sasha gets a pass on this one. Not because he wasn't equally as ineffective, just because he was bound to have a stinker I felt.
Luke? That last turnover hurt.
Did that Kobe 3 pointer miss off the backboard (not the sick backboard/pass dunk, the 3 pointer) in the last 3 minutes remind anyone of the air balls in Utah 10 years ago? No Biggie.
With all of that,...there seemed to be some inevitability to it and a few silver linings as well. I'm not a moral victory guy, but in game planning for the next game, there are obvious and easy areas for improvement and that is encouraging. There is never anything good about losing, unless within a loss there are obvious signs of what it takes to win,..and there are. We'll make the easy adjustments and play better in Game 4 and that should be enough. This series isn't about what the Jazz do, it is about what we do. Our best game vs their best game is a lopsided blowout win for us. Let's get it done. No prob.
Go Lakers
Kobesbaaaad(and he is)
Posted by: Kobesbad | May 10, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Jazzers----YeeeeeeHawwwwww?
That's the weak a$$ sh1t you bring to our blog. Much like your team's game of the decade that yielded only a 5 point victory, you are weak. I've had a great time breaking down the morons in your blog with their limited basketball knowledge and their polygamous ways, so you are more than welcome. Bring your sister...errr wife too.
Kobesbad
Posted by: Kobesbad | May 10, 2008 at 06:03 AM
Let me introduce myself people. I am the Mandingo-Tension out of Africa. I follow this blog everywhere i am on ths planet. Even though I reside in Africa, Lakers is my number 1 Team. Please allow me to digress and go straight to the point without beating around the swamp like you guys say.
Gasol is a soft player. She plays and run like my Nana. People lets call a spade a spade. I hope he reads this maybe it will infuse some will power in him or something. I spent too much money watching my team via Satelite to be bum rushed by Utah because Nana refused to play the game and to add insult upon injury had the audacity to fumble and turn the ball over everytime the opponent coughs. I feel like going out there and help the team. If I can't even play basketball you better believe I know how to break folks leg so they will think billion times again before they come in the paint. There is an adage here in Soccer games...'If you miss the ball, do not miss the leg' Period. You have to put something on your opponents mind. PERIOD.
PJ shoud'a put my hommie (Mbenga) in the game at that time to put something on some of those Utah boys mind. What's up with PJ's rotations anyway? Why does it take him two long to yank stiffs out of the game if they are not producing and are becoming liability to the team? e.g the "Space Cadet" fellow?
I think they will bounce back on Sunday but I will have to read the results from here because i have no more dinnero to watch on the Satelite.
GO LAKERS!!!!
RESPECT. I'M OUT LIKE PAU GASOFT.
Posted by: Mandingo-Tension | May 10, 2008 at 06:04 AM
I might be able to see the "possitive" in this loss, if it weren't for the fact that, to a great extent, the loss was because Pau sucked last night... :-(
Don't get me wrong, not even a weak effort like this one will shake my faith in what Pau can do --even in a tough, physical game--, but it still stings... and it's very disappointing.
*sigh*
Other times when I've felt Pau wasn't up to speed, AK and/or BK put a different light on the performance that showed that it wasn't _that_ bad... can you guys do that again today? No? Didn't think so...
Posted by: David in Spain | May 10, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Faith,
We will get them tomorrow, it is the game where Mehmet couldn't make any miss and Boozer had a holiday on fouls. Tomorrow, it will be more focus game. The Catalan told himself: Tonto!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 10, 2008 at 06:16 AM
There is no reason to panic until the Lakers lose one at home. And even then, history tells us that the Lakers can win on the opponents floor as well.
Utah is a good team. They had the best home record in the NBA. If the Lakers win one game in Utah, the series is over in six, if it is the next game the series will be over in five. When the Lakers finish off the Jazz, this loss will be forgotten.
And, most importantly, for a young team, success can lead to complacency. Getting knocked down by a very physical team is good for this Laker team. The Celtics and San Antonio will be just as physical if not more so. So, the Lakers must learn to deal with the physicality or else failure. I am guessing that they are pretty motivated to find a way right now to fix their softness.
Lakers in 5.
Mark
Posted by: MarkytheArky | May 10, 2008 at 06:28 AM
Sorry, but i have put a grade on their performance
Kobe--- A- MVP
Fisher-- B Solid
Odom-- B+ Solid
Radmanovic-- C Below Average
Gasol-- C- Too soft
Turiaf-- A Solid
Farmar-- D still a rookie?
Vujacic-- D struggling
Walton-- B good overall except the last TO
Mihm--- DP
Mbenga--- DP
Newble----DP
Comments:
Pau Gasol(some says its Pau Gasoft) should exert more effort in the rebounding department. He's been outplayed by the more SLOWER Okur in these series.
Radmanovic-- Out of context.
Posted by: Botsoy | May 10, 2008 at 06:50 AM
AK
Yous hit it on the head. Exactly how I felt. We (Kobe, Fisher, Lamar,,,) fought hard and almost kept the ship afloat. Best of Jazz, Worst ofLlakers and we're still in it.
Pau has to grow up and play ball.
Baywood
Posted by: Baywood | May 10, 2008 at 06:52 AM
Someone needs to say it, so I'll step up here...
Good Morning, Everybody!
Welcome to The Hammer!
AK, you hit on exactly what I was feeling. I'm not happy that the Lakers lost, but that was as bad a game as we've seen from them in a while, playing against the best we've seen from the Jazz, and they still had a chance to win down the stretch. Another bucket or two here or there, and this series is in sweepy-land.
Get it together today, tomorrow play the way they've been playing, and we'll be going back to LA to finish the series in 5.
Posted by: lakersmr | May 10, 2008 at 07:01 AM
Jazzers,
"It will unfold in your eyes."
That's beautiful writing, man. Beautiful. I wonder if we'll see you here on Sunday? Probably not, because you'll be at the bar nursing your fourteenth 3.2 beer, trying to drown your sorrows in an establishment that won't let you have two beers in front of you at the same time, desperately clinging to your Puritanical sense of total depravity, wondering if you're one of the chosen ones or if your being a Jazzercize fan has ruined your chances at redemption.
Hopefully, the truth will "unfold in your eyes," whatever the hell that means.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | May 10, 2008 at 07:07 AM
Good Morning Everyone!
Good morning to the Hammer - I must tell you that my old roomie and I definitely put your CD's to use. For the purposes of keeping this blog about (mostly) basketball, I'll just say that the music helped out immensely at house parties.
Well, it's time to have a gut-check: I think everyone here on the blog knew that Utah wouldn't lie down, and it's now time to see if we have that killer instinct. On Sunday, we should come out like great white sharks; a win on Sunday means that we get the opportunity to close out the game at home.
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | May 10, 2008 at 07:26 AM