To Darryll:

Excellent observations on your post and I agree with them entirely. Why VLAD wasn't traded or benched last year after LYING about his snowboarding injury is beyond me. It demonstrated his complete lack of focus type attitude and the mindset that he only needs to make 3 pointers and not improve any other aspect of his game that he SORELY needs. I was never thrilled at his signing and his still widly incosistent and ineffective play continues to validate my thinking that he's not good for this team or its future.

jhnlannery1: at least try and post something backing up your claim

in overtime, the pushoff by kobe on AK that they called on AK, even a blind man could see that; Fish runs into Dwill and gets the call; the whistle on Kobe's 3.. ball hit the ground before that whistle was blown lol.. I could go on, and on...

You can call it FTs, bad calls, Kobe being selfish, or whatever... the fact remains that the Jazz executed their plan and the Lakers could not. And I don't see why being on the road will stop the Jazz from executing their plan in Game 5, as it's quite a simple plan (get Fisher to foul, bully Gasol, and rebound)....

They should've traded Farmar instead of Crittenton. Lakers could use a flashier PG right about now....

Oh and I'm not a Jazz troll either! .... I've been a Lakers fan since 1988 and was fortunate enough to watch Magic.

Posted by: GtownJJ | May 11, 2008 at 04:27 PM

What a game plan:
Grab.
Hold.
Throw elbows.
Complain about being fouled when you are the home team doing all of the fouling.
What a game plan.
Here's a game plan:
Play basketball instead of football.

AK

The only reason we got back in the game with Fisher and Odom hitting big shots was because Kobe on the pick and roll and in the post created shots for them.

In overtime the Jazz stayed home on Kobe and he attempted to close the game out and was a true warrior in the process. Nobody else could create a shot for themselves off the dribble..........so what else could Kobe do?

To question Kobe's judgement only sets a negative tone on this blog that sometimes you appear to thrive on.

Why don't you give an opinion about Luke's wide open shot that was blocked by a midget.............that was a turning point in this game.

Smell it, Smell it............ Now Take it!

AK -

Your analysis is spot on regarding Kobe and the blame game. Not entirely his fault, but he contributed.

Personally, though, his incredible will to play through pain and, until the very end, play brilliantly, far outweighs his contribution to the loss in this particular game.

As one who has suffered back pain since a wrestling incident 30+ years ago, I know how difficult it must have been for Kobe just to play. As one noted earlier in the thread, back pain comes and goes in sharp jolts, but is often accompanied by a general throbbing pain.

Many, if not most, of todays athletes, would have sat the rest of the game out.
For that matter, many would have elected surgery on the digits when he had the green light by both the team and the medical staff.
Kobe couldn't even conceive of not playing unless he lost a limb.

It was interesting to hear Phil blame Kobe's teammates for putting him into difficult spots. Not that that relieves Kobe's responsibility for some of the poor shot selection, but it does weigh heavily in favor of placing in this game in the pantheon of Warrior performances. In spite of his obvious pain, his teammates were still deferring to him and he fought 'til the bitter end.

It use to be the refs would call early fouls so that a game would not get out of control as far as the physicality

these refs were intimidated today, there should be an investigation. Throwing out Turiaf is a sign that the game is fixed. We all saw on the replay that Turiaf just gave a hard foul. Granted the whistle had blown but Price continued to the basket and Ronny did what any defensive player would have done.

Also, the refs reviewed the play, how can anyone in good conscience call it a flagrant 2

They will use the "after the whistle was blown excuse" to cover up the conspiracy and ignore the fact that Price continued to the basket.

THE NBA.... WHERE THE REFS ARE STILL ON THE TAKE AND NO ONE MAKES THEM ACCOUNTABLE

BOO HOO Lakers fans

Ask ANY objective fan....the Lakers were given far more "calls" than the Jazz. Frankly, that's how the game went to overtime in the first place. The Okur technical was a joke.

Take a look at the composite #s. The Lakers have SHOT 32 more free throws than the Jazz.

STOP CRYING, it's just a game. And it's Mother's Day

Don't call in sick tomorrow 'cause you're so depressed.

See ya Wednesday!!!!!!

Jazz in 6!!!!!!!

Darryll-

Excellent points.

AK-

good point.

Jazz troll's worst nighmare: Kobe "I'll be fine on Wdnesday". Like I said after game 2, this series is over, the Jazz are only delaying the inevitable. I picked the Lakers in 6 before it started and that's what it will be.

And any so called Laker fan that gets on this blog and complains about Kobe, PJ, rotation don't show your face on Wednesday after the win.

Well, it will be nice to return to LA where they use the regular NBA rules again, Lakers will be all over the free throw line and Boozer will be back on the bench.

Ronnie will have his F2 rescinded down to a F1, and look for Utah to get frustrated by the officiating early as they'll actually call the Boozer and Okur BS that they're allowed to do for some reason when in Utah.

Trade Luke and Rad... weakest link of Lakers

Posted by: Sunny | May 11, 2008 at 03:45 PM

The problem is defense and toughness inside. That's the missing point and tha't why the Lakers missed Bynum and Ariza

Botsoy

Posted by: Botsoy | May 11, 2008 at 04:14 PM

I agree with missing AB and TA but then why isn't using Mbenga enough or Ira at all if especially Mbenga was signed for bulk back up and Ira to fill for TA?

Luke is playing like normal some good and some bad late in the game. It was his fault for not slmming and letting Price get to him, even though price fouled Luke and no whistle. No suprise there so better to hard statement dunk than take all day and alow defense to get back.

Ak,

You just said you wouldn't blame anyone for this lose particularly but your last post just blamed Kobe for the lost. What a contradiction?

I honestly think people dont watch games, and just always look to blame someone. Wouldn't it make sense that Utah would adjust to the lakers after they left Fish and Lamar open for several three point shots. I don't think they would leave those guys open, especially if Kobe cant drive too well either. Its amazing he even drove to get those drives leaving his teammates wide open in the first place

This is the playoff, we as fans should expect this. Strategy wins games, and its going to be tough.

We're all pretty hard on Jordan. It's still year two for this kid.
Sasha is showing up big in this game. He's in year four. It shows.
Fish has some tough calls and the Lakers were definitely on the short end of a few more than just his, but in the end the Lakers have been able to capitalize on opportunities.
The players must win the game. Losses are not the fault of the refs.
Nice first half by Pau. I liked his aggression and muscle around the hoop. He's going to the hole and not letting the mongoloid Jazz players push him around.
Looking for the Lakers to take over in the second half.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | May 11, 2008 at 02:02 PM

Pig

I usually agree with your posts but this I disagree.

Sasha is stepping up but 2nd year kid. So what, he is sucking big time now. He is supposed to be by some the all star future pg of Lakers. He will never be all star as I have said before. He may win 6th man with lot of work as back up someday. Sorry we lost Crit. but it shows now. Even PJ said he has trust in JF and that trust gave us Luke bad playing in the season and in playoffs no time to teach now. Give back up pg task to Sasha and activate Coby as b/u shooting guard.

Fish was given touch fouls while the Jazz had blatant hard fouls not called. Over the back, moving screens, arm grabbing. etc. You can't capitalize when there is disparigy uin the way fouls are called.

Which brings me to the biggest of my disagreements. The BETS do cause losses by bad calls on Fish, limiting his play. Ronny Flagrant foul which was not a flagrant at all and onny out of the game! And of course all the other bogus calls like Sasha's clean block of DW called a foul etc. Bets sure can cause losses!!!

They keep grabbing Pau's wrists and no calls no I don't have bad to say about him. Odom had clean rebound and Boozer banged into him after LO had the ball and the Bets called over the back. When Jazz have been all over the lakers backs with no calls.

Kirilinko reinjures Kobe's back. Watch replay and you will see Kirilinko grab Kobes hand/wrist to make him fall into him so it will look like charge. Twisted Kobes back again and of course no foul called on Kirilinko.

All as I can say is that the Lakers should send video of calls to league and post video on YouTube so all can see.

Gasol said, "The ball got stuck too much."

Odom said, "We just gotta execute, so [we can] get easy shots."

PJ said, "Guys just bailed out on [Kobe]." Then he said "maybe 'bail out' is too harsh a word. But I thought we didn't execute our offense in a way that I'd like to see it at that time... When Kobe's going well, that's obviously a great ploy for us to have that resource, but at that particular time, to me, he looked like he didn't have the kind of energy needed to take over that kind of a game."

Kobe said, "I know what [PJ] means by that. He wants them to come to me, but come to me later in the offense, not right away in the offense and then just stand around."

PJ alluded to two possible reasons Kobe didn't have the necessary energy; a lack of contribution from the Bench Mob required the starters to come back in the Fourth earlier than the team wanted, and Kobe was banged up a bit.

I just hope they get back to that high-assist, smart passes offensive mentality. I don't know if that means that Kobe needs to pass the ball or if it means the rest of the guys got to stop standing around, but I'm pretty sure it can best be settled just saying they need to execute as a team.

One more thing, and I don't care who disagrees with it. Smush Parker would have been a better back up PG than Jordan Farmar. Fish would have helped Smush improve his bad attitude, and we would have had a more consistent, athletic PG and defender. Farmar doesn't hit the open shot, he doesn't finish, and he can't play defense. He's too small, and he seems lost.

Why isn't Jackson playing Ira Newble? We don't have a defensive guard/small forward since the injury to Ariza. Seeing Newble on the bench especially when Farmar can't play a lick of defense drives me CRAZY!

Kobe said, "I know what [PJ] means by that. He wants them to come to me, but come to me later in the offense, not right away in the offense and then just stand around."

HEY KOBE, HOW CAN THE TEAM COME TO YOU WHEN THE BALL IS IN YOUR HANDS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOT CLOCK AND THEN YOU SPEND ANOTHER 10-12 SECONDS TRYING TO SIZE YOUR MAN UP AT THE 3 POINT LINE FOR ANOTHER BAD SHOT.

THE STORY OF THE GAME. THIS IS WHERE PHIL HAS TO TELL KOBE, THIS ONE IS ON YOU!

All season I said Vujacic should be disallowed from driving to the basket. He drove and turned it over.
Posted by: Tom | May 11, 2008 at 03:26 PM

Heck one to on a drive to the basket. I have seen him make lay ups on those cuts.

I don't know but were you one of those saying Odom shold not be allowed to shoot 3's anymore? I really don't know but just asking because when it counted he hit big 3 pointer. Would not have made that 3 to tie game if he was not allowed to shoot 3.

So back to Sasha, yes I hope he cantinues to drive and gets better at it, as he has had success in the past.

Phil made a good point. The 2nd unit let the team down at the beginning of the 4th. And, Ronny's ejection was unwarranted.
Posted by: Janet | May 11, 2008 at 03:54 PM

Well PJ was right about the Ronny ejection but poor play by second unit? Just who put those players in but not PJ himself. If he saw they were not producing then why not adjust? He just refuses to use the bench properly. If the guys on the floor ain't getting the job done, then yank them and play other guys and send message. Either play hard or not at all.

Look guys, it's ok, don't freak out.

You can't win in 6 games if the other team doesn't win 2. Not many predicted this would be over in less than 6 games, but the Lakers are clearly still the better team, even when not 100% healthy, and not to mention getting worked over by the officials like a shammy at a car wash. The free throws and the officiating are byproducts of their homecourt, but lucky for us we play more games at Staples than at EGA, and the Jazz are TERRIBLE on the road.

By the time we're back in Utah on Thursday for game 6 up 3-2, Kobe will hopefully be healthy again and then it's over, even if the refs are a biased then as they were tonight a healthy Kobe wins the closeout game on the road.

Posted by: WWJWWD | May 11, 2008 at 03:43 PM

I agree not to panic but definetly need to stop it with we will be ok. We need to play harder or we will be saying its ok we'll get them next year, don't worry. Give excuses as needed.

Time to end we will be ok and say lets take it now and play like we can and should, no ifs ands or buts. It is not ok.

The fix was in tonight for David Stern's crew of chrony referees. The league obviously benefits more the longer the series goes. What better way to ensure a six or seven game series than to blatanly rip off the Lakers time after time, and make ticky tack after ticky tack call !

The Lakers could not breath on the Jazz tonight without getting a foul called; whereas the Jazz played like they were in a rubgy match.

Only a few minutes after tip-off it was obvious David Stern's crew of chronies were out to screw the Lakers.

I guess that's what happens in the WWF (er I mean NBA).

How can some of you think that Kobe doesn't deserve a share in the responsibility for the loss? Clearly there were a number of times when he forced the issue. And clearly his teammates also made mistakes. But being Kobe doesn't give you a free pass from receiving criticism. Or at least it shouldn't.

I am a Jazz fan. I like them but I do not think they will win. I thought that the games in LA were called in LA's favor (finesse). The two games in UTAH were called in favor of UTAH (Physical)

Remember Laker Fans. Boozer spent a lot of time on the bench in LA. You were not complaining about that.

I want a straight up match with all starters on the court for maximum time. I do not want to see players get hurt/ejected. Not as fun to watch when bench is in there. Utah has too many token white guys.

Kobe gets more free throws than anyone in the league. It is MJ all over again.

Honestly I do think LA will win it all! Take heart Laker fans You are on the rise! I am not a laker/kobe hater and I respect Fishers reason for leaving.

A lot of finger pointing in LA LA land. Refs this, refs that. Not a problem when the calls, or no calls go your way. The fact still remains: the Lakers have ATTEMPTED 32 MORE free throws in the 4 games.

Whoever wins game 5 on WEDNESDAY(not Tues!!!!!!), wins the series

Have fun whining until then. LOL

Wow,

If you reread what I wrote, you'll see I specifically did not blame the loss on Kobe. I went out of my way to say that you couldn't blame it on any one person.

AK