Kobe says he'll be good to go
I figure I'd just put that out there in the header, since it's the most important piece of information learned today at practice. No surprise, given that even if he'd been wheeled into the building on a gurney and encased in a body cast, Kobe would say he'd be ready by Wednesday. That's how he rolls. Fortunately, he was fully vertical in his media session today, though he admitted to being pretty damn uncomfortable. Now it's a matter of getting himself through some round the clock treatment and back on the floor for Wednesday, with the added benefit of an extra day off. Every bit of recovery time will help, hopefully getting him just a little more whole. If not, he could again be limited in what is a ludicrously important Game 5. But feel comfortable hitting the pillow tonight in the belief that Bryant will be in uniform two nights from now. "I'll play. I can't imagine it being worse than it was last night," Bryant said.
Sunday, the back clearly affected his play, especially late. "I just couldn't elevate," he said, "and get enough space to knock down a jump shot here and there. What I tried to do is not re-injure it, so I tried to play and make drives to the basket where I could withstand the pain without the back completely spasming, which put the next game really in jeopardy."
Kobe has suffered through a few big injuries, but his back has been relatively clean, so to speak, over the course of his career. "I really don't hurt my back too much. I remember having (trouble) when I was 21 or something like that. I rarely hurt my back." He must be getting old. The good news is the problem appears to be muscular, rather than something disc or nerve related. No x-rays necessary.
Regarding TooManyShotsInOvertimeGate, Kobe had the following to say: "I got some pretty good looks that didn't fall down for me. Some nights they go, some nights they don't. The pull-up jumpers that I had in front of Andrei (Kirilenko), I should have knocked those down."
The consensus seemed to be that execution got away from the Lakers, whether it was shot selection by Kobe or the things his teammates needed to do in an effort to make themselves more available. As he's often able to do, Derek Fisher broke it down in a way that very diplomatically suggested everyone had a role to play in what went wrong. "During the game, things are happening so fast you're not always able to calculate everything that you want to do, and then even when you think about it it's not always easy to get to it. There are times where you're trying your best to win, and sometimes you get caught up in the moment, and may try to make a play yourself, or somebody else on the time might feel comfortable trying to make a play, as opposed to just settling in and executing our offense. Those are things that you live with on a team, and you just hope that guys are able to recognize it so that going into the next game, when you find yourself in that same spot, instead of getting so full of fire and competitive juices, you're able to step back and say, "Okay, let's just rely on what got us here."
"We worked ourselves back into that game real easily just doing simple things, and that's what we're going to have to try and do Wednesday night."
I talked to Ronny Turiaf, who again expressed regret both that Ronnie Price went down hard, and that he put his team in a position to be short-handed. He was, though, adamant there was no intent to harm. "I was trying to block his shot," he said. He's received no word from the league as to if he'll be suspended (I'd be shocked if the NBA came down on him), which is a good thing. "I don't want to hear from them," he said. The officials may have punished Turiaf for hitting Price hard on a play that came after the whistle, but on the other hand, Price went to finish the play, too. "To be honest with you, I was caught by surprise when I saw him come to me. So when he did, I thought there was no whistle. That's why I went for the blocked shot. I was like, so you're going to keep playing, then I'm going to keep playing."
Back to the back...
Pau Gasol seemed confident that the supporting cast can step up in support of 24 on Wednesday. "We're all talented enough to play good games," he said. "It's a game that we need to win no matter what." Gasol knows what it's like to play with back pain. "It's limiting, and it's tough because you don't feel as quick and explosive. But you play through it." It'll be interesting to see how Game 5 opens. Will Kobe come out and try to show he's okay from the get go? Will he be more deferential? Will Utah attack him to try and assess his condition? I'd be shocked if they didn't try to play a very physical brand of ball with him from the tip. What will L.A. do to try to protect him, if he needs it?
Just one of the issues we can kick around over the next two days.
AUDIO (with video coming shortly):
- Kobe Bryant: Download kobe_bryant_5.12.mp3
- Ronny Turiaf: Download ronny_turiaf_5.12.mp3
- Derek Fisher: Download derek_fisher_5.12.mp3
BK
Kobe sure does like to publically discuss his injuries. Why release all of his strategies. Doesn't this only aide the Utah Jazz?
Posted by: troy | May 12, 2008 at 05:35 PM
From today's online LA Times article by Steve Springer:
"Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom did not scrimmage today."
Looks like another Lamar Odom double-double . ^_^
Posted by: Johnson | May 12, 2008 at 05:36 PM
"Several members of the Jazz said they weren't aware Bryant was hurting until after the game, and expect him to be at full strength in Game 5."
Kobe layed down on the floor right in front of their bench for several minutes in obvious pain. How could they not be aware of that? The Jazz are just dumb as rocks if they expect us to believe they didn't know.
Posted by: WWJWWD | May 12, 2008 at 05:45 PM
I wonder if we're now at a point when we're not seeing "Selfish Kobe", but "MVP Kobe", and putting aside everything he is that's led him to long-awaited recognition is just not possible. It may not be so much about him, but about what he knows are his responsibilities.
Was he really about getting the glory last night, or was he trying to carry the heavy weight of a weak bench?
Was he dismissing his teammates or trying to get them to a point where they didn't need him? (For the sake of his back, if nothing else.)
Even with all the accolades about "Selfless Kobe", "Good Teammate Kobe", and "Leadership Kobe", I suspect it's just too hard for a leopard to change its spots in the middle of a hunt. Allowing another game get away against Utah, when the Lakers are so close to the WC finals, with everyone projecting them as Finals contenders, might prove too much for Kobe to let someone else handle it.
The whispers of him "giving up in Phoenix" in that fateful game two years ago during the first round of the playoffs probably echo louder than the ever-present criticisms of him being a ball hog.
Posted by: Chris | May 12, 2008 at 05:51 PM
The problem in the playoffs is that a team grows accustomed to the players and their tendecies including the offensive scheme.
It looks like Utah has figured things out and the Lakers have not learned quite as quickly.
If the Lakers can't adjust they are in big trouble.
Okur, Korver are killing us
Vlade and Farmar are Killing us.
Luke has not been crucified enough for that layup.
He had a million years to put it in the basket but he decided to take a million and one years.
A play like that could be the turning point of the series eerily similar to Taushaun Princes's block of Reggie Miller's layup in Detroits championship year.
Posted by: YOU EVER NOTICE | May 12, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Can I vent?
I watched ESPN's Sports Reporters as they were discussing Kobe's MVP. They mentioned that there was no way Kobe was MVP material until Gasol got here, showing that Kobe needs another superstar in order to flourish.
Excuse me? "Superstar"? Hey, I love Gasol, but there are maybe 10 superstars in the league, and he ain't one of them. A star, sure. An all-star? Marginally. But to dismiss Kobe's MVP as the product of being with a superstar is like saying Nash got his 2 MVPs because he had four other superstars.
They finally did concede that Kobe is the best in the league and plays more defense than the others vying for the award. But there's a lot of hate out there.
They also spent a lot of time talking about "image building" in the face of Colorado, with the "Kodak moment" of his wife and kids being at Staples when he received the award as the pinnacle, as though his whole persona was orchestrated through a PR firm.
Reporters annoy me. AK & BK excepted, of course...
Posted by: Marty | May 12, 2008 at 06:10 PM
what is the word with Ariza, he can play some D on Williams...
Posted by: aman | May 12, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Why would the 'Jazz ownership' let someone bring something into the arena that was purchased at a porn shop? Obviously they are condoning and encouraging this behavior.
If you don't think this wrong, try bringing that into the Lakers game next time you visit Staples Center and see what security has to say about it.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj46/laker49/fishfancopy1.jpg
Posted by: Stop the Censoring | May 12, 2008 at 06:15 PM
We may be interpreting too much on what Kobe was saying with all these Kobe talks.
What he said....
He will play on Wednesday, the pain can't be worst than yesterday.
He tried those shots because he thought they were going in, they usually do based on his standard. But based on normal viewers like us, those shots are impossible.
Whether you think he's a hero or a ballhog, it really does not matter, we still need Kobe if we want to march on to the Finals. At this point in time, all players in the playoffs are hurting, the players who could resist the pain will be rewarded in the end. The frail and the weak will stay on the sideline and may plan for next season. Even fans like us posting on the blog, watching games and reading poisonous posts or post with depression syndrome, I think we are also hurting. We need theraphy as well. Therefore, I hope you don't hurt others with your posts. lol! just kidding ok to break the ice of boredom of endless wishful thinking!
Speaking of muscles, did you see the Mbenga's muscles during half time show about him? He could be Mr. Universe out there, however in the 3rd Q, he played like a big muscular mouse crying among the men on the court. I still dream of Mbenga slamming Okur without a foul. Lmao
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 12, 2008 at 06:17 PM
I like that picture of Kobe with his kids. That cracks me up. Kobe seems a little bit more himself with his daughters close by.
I say ‘little himself’ because I still don't see the real Kobe in any interview he gives. Am I the only one who notices this, that every time Kobe says something it seems rehearsed? Don’t you just wanna scream “be yourself Kobe!”? I do. Because I want the best for the man. This isn't a criticism of Kobe. I like him as a player and as a guy too. He seems A-OK in my book. As a Laker favorite he's probably only rivaled by Magic to me.
But I don't like hearing him talk. It kind of bothers me. I feel like he's trying to convince me of something he thinks I don’t know. Kobe is starting to remind me of Bob Dylan a bit, who also has this odd way of performing when he gets in front of a camera.
A useless rant, really.
Wes
Posted by: | May 12, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Sorry the blank poster was me, I erased the cookies of AK/BK which also deleted my name.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 12, 2008 at 06:20 PM
YOU EVER NOTICE,
I thought the very same thing when it happened, and then the game ended tied.
Do you think the term "Fools Gold" is appropriate for Luke? After a terrible season, I am/was very leery of the "Turnaround" Luke made over the course of 5 or 6 games where he played fair to very good. When he has played 60 bad games, and 20 good ones, I sure hate to depend on Luke coming through in the clutch.
The upside is we won both games at home by 10, and could of won both games in utah. I think we'll be OK.
Posted by: Eric M. | May 12, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Kobe is like a double edge sword. Play fantastic in the 4th quarter only to jack up bad shot after bad shot in OT.
Reminds me of the 2004 finals when Kobe shot us out of a 4th championship.
Posted by: Ballhog Kobe | May 12, 2008 at 06:35 PM
It's do or die time.
I believe we can pull it out, and that we will pull it out. The Lakers have played brilliantly this whole post season and right before it. They know how important this is, and they know they can do this. There is no reason to think they won't pull it out at home. There's a comfort factor, a home court advantage that the Jazz certainly enjoy. We've been close the past two games, and that's with playing poorly. It won't continue.
Believe, Laker Fans.
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | May 12, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Wrong me. My name appeared so the blank was not me, sorry for all the confusion.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 12, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Sup Laker Nation? Your boy (who arguably has been one of the best players in the NBA in recent years) finally won the MVP Award and probably deserved it. I would argue however, that Lamar is the MVP of your team. Speaking of which; the Lakers are playing like contenders and Laker fans should be proud that they have made it as far as they have. But you know how it is. The curtain must fall. Harpring and crew will be all over Kobe at Staples. Don't take it too hard.
Sonnybelfast
Posted by: sonnybelfast | May 12, 2008 at 06:48 PM
I thought that the real killer of that game was the eleven missed free throws. And I too also thought that the second unit needed to step up.
I hope Luke has learned a lesson and is more awake next time. When a similar easy-basket pass is tossed to Pau Gasol he usually delivers or dunks the ball immediately and then quickly gets back down to the other end of the court. Luke was going into some kind of pitcher's wind-up under the basket. LOL !
Posted by: Johnson | May 12, 2008 at 06:56 PM
To Chris:
Honest questions here with no malice intended. Do you really believe Kobe "quit" in that game against Phoenix? Do you really think this guy doesn't want to win another Championship unless he gets all the accolades, attention, credit, etc...?
I am going to write a question here that I've yet to get a satisfactory answer for during Kobe's entire Laker career:
Why are Kobe's motives STILL so widely questioned, reviewed, judged, scrutinized etc.. like no other NBA Superstars before him or currently in the NBA?
Does Lebron James get put under the magnifying glass like this when he ballhogs at the end of a game and the Cavs lose? Did Michael Jordan or Larry Bird or Isaih Thomas or Dominique Wilkins or Patrick Ewing or Olajuwan? Does Gilbert Arenas? Does Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili? In my view, Kobe had to be egomaniacal and selfish when Mgt blew up the dynasty trading shaq (who by FAR is much more egomaniacal and selfish than Kobe is in my mind but that's another blog entirely)and dumping the veterans that offseason when Detroit embarrassed us in thoseFinals. In fact if it wasn't for Kobe's game 1 sensational play the Lakers might have gotten swept that year. Yes he's a bit egomaniacal but I never have believed all the B.S. no basis in facts "stories" like the one that went "Yeah Kobe would purposely miss shots if his high school team had a big lead in the 4th quarter so he could allow the opponents to come back and maybe tie or take a small lead so he could take control the last couple of minutes and "win" and end up being the "star" of the game. Completely ludicrous. I'm not saying you believe this Chris but really, don't you think he's about winning in the end?
Posted by: jhnlannery | May 12, 2008 at 07:05 PM
The whispers of him "giving up in Phoenix" in that fateful game two years ago during the first round of the playoffs probably echo louder than the ever-present criticisms of him being a ball hog.
Posted by: Chris | May 12, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Kobe is like a double edge sword. Play fantastic in the 4th quarter only to jack up bad shot after bad shot in OT.
Reminds me of the 2004 finals when Kobe shot us out of a 4th championship.
Posted by: Ballhog Kobe | May 12, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Were you watching a completely different game? Did you not see Kobe orchestrate the quick comeback by drawing two defenders and getting the rock to Fisher who had by far been his most dependable teammate in this series? Or when he told Lamar that he will look to get it to him to tie the game with the 3?
From what I gather, smells like bandwagon frontrunners right there. Now quit the hate and show some support, this team did win 54 games for a reason *cough REFS cough*. I bet all of a sudden to peoples like you, the Gasol deal doesn't look so great after all.
Posted by: eevee | May 12, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Stop the Censoring,
I guess they don't care how rude or cruel they are.
When I attended game 4 of round 1, they made me throw away one of my signs because on the back of it (which would have faced the media area when I held it up), the sign said TJ Simers You're Fired... the ticket people told me it was "negative" and that I had to discard of the sign.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 12, 2008 at 07:28 PM
KOBE,
"I just couldn't elevate," he said, "and get enough space to knock down a jump shot here and there. "
YES, KOBE, I KNOW YOU COULDN'T ELEVATE. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHY YOU CONTINUE TO SHOOT SO MANY BRICKS WHEN YOU KNEW IT WAS NOT GOING FOR YOU. HOW ABOUT DRIVING AND DISHING TO PLAYERS LIKE FISHER AND VUJACIC IN OVERTIME? THAT'S WHAT A SMART PLAYER WOULD REALIZE.
I KNOW YOU HAD 33 POINTS, 10 ASSISTS. BUT THAT'S OFF OF 13 FOR 33 SHOOTING.
AS BARKLEY SAID 33 ATTEMPTS IS ALOT OF SHOTS.
UTZWORLD AND OTHERS WHEN KOBE PLAYS GOOD THIS YEAR, I HAVE GIVEN HIM HIS PROPS BUT YESTERDAY WAS NO EXCUSE AND PJ IS MAKING EXCUSES FOR KOBE WHEN HE PUTS BLAME ON THE OTHER PLAYERS. ANYONE AND I MEAN ANYONE JACKING UP 33 ATTEMPTS AND JUST GETTING 33 POINTS IS DEFINITELY HURTING THEIR TEAM.
33 ATTEMPTS SHOULD AT LEAST GOT KOBE 50 POINTS MINIMUM. ANYTHING LESS IS A POOR SHOOTING PERFORMANCE.
WHAT UPSET ME IS HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS EMULATING HIS 2004 NBA FINALS PERFORMANCES.
Posted by: Gunner | May 12, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Come on Lakers! Don't give this to Utah. Remember what TMac said? "We hate [Jazz] fans"
Posted by: never | May 12, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Just got this "Stern Talking To..." over at ESPN...
CLEVELAND -- David Stern's senses have been assaulted, and the commissioner feels it's time to turn down the noise and scale back the pyrotechnics at NBA games.
Stern went on a rant Monday night prior to Game 4 of the Celtics-Cavaliers series when asked if the trend toward loud, fiery in-arena entertainment gimmicks had gotten out of hand.
"I'm going to get in trouble for this, but I think they're ridiculous. I think the noise, the fire, the smoke is a kind of assault that we should seriously consider reviewing in whether it's really necessary given the quality of our game," Stern said.
From my myopic corner, he should just admit that what happens in the WWE stays in the NBA...both before and during the game.
REMEMBER PHOENIX (R.I.P.), THE ALAMO, FAT TUESDAY AND THE DONNER PARTY!
C'MON KOBE, LIGHT OUR FIRE...IT'S TIME TO SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE!!
WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER!!
TAKE NO PRISONERS!!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Herb Stempel | May 12, 2008 at 07:33 PM
stop the censoring,
I know the guy on the right was kicked out by Delaney, but he was later allowed back into the game by the Utah organization. Those two "fans" are one of the major reasons why I want the Lakers to beat Utah.
Posted by: never | May 12, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Well Chris you didn't really answer any of the questions I raised (and there were too many I'll admit, lol) So let's just suppose that he did "quit" in the Phoenix game that, in your view contend that the whispers are now echoing loudly. What would you have done as General Manager in the that offseason? Traded him? And if you did, what would the team look like today? It's been proven time and time again that you never get equal value when you trade one of the top 5 players in the NBA in his prime. IF you don't think so, look back on the Kareem trade as a prime example. The Laker mgt was laughed at for giving up so many starters and one marginal star to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kareem. Well you know who got the better of that one don't you?
Posted by: jhnlannery | May 12, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Evee:
Great post there. Just wondering to whom you were addressing it to?
Posted by: jhnlannery | May 12, 2008 at 07:37 PM
longtimelakerlover
"It's do or die time."
Its ONLY game 5 and its tied at 2-2. Its NOT an elimination game.
Its no time to panic and certainly premature to go into a 'OMG, I believe we can do it" emotional statement.
Get a hold of yourselves people.
Posted by: Don't panic | May 12, 2008 at 07:40 PM
So, Benjamin, what's the verdict?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | May 12, 2008 at 07:47 PM
BLOG CRUE
What happened to the days when good teams would get ROAD wins? This home court only win thing sucks.
Colorado loves the Lakers!
Posted by: Hugo Boss | May 12, 2008 at 07:51 PM
EMERGENCY PRAYER TIME!
Dear God, I humbly submit this prayer on behalf of Kobe Bryant and his sore back. He has endured much suffering to get to this point of his career. Yes, he brought some of the suffering upon himself, but You are a Forgiver and a Redeemer. You have redeemed Kobe by allowing him to get this year's MVP award. We thank You for the honor.
We ask you God to heal his back and give him the strength to lead his team on Wednesday night. In spite of the naysayers and playa-haters, we ask you to infuse his body with Your strength and Your healing touch. Grant his body rest and relaxation and send him back onto the battlefield of the hardwood basketball court that he may lead the Purple & Gold into victory.
We also pray for our Bench Mob. You have made them the toast of the league this season. You have allowed the Bench Mob into the field of adversity in this series. Allow them to regain their composure and to find the spark that enabled them to support our starting 5. Let Jordan Farmar prove the naysayers wrong. Grant him confidence in himself and his abilities. Continue to bless Luke with his regained confidence in his game. Avenge Ronny Turiaf's unfair and unjustified ejection in Sunday's game. Give the Purple & Gold the strength and power to overcome their opponents. Let them roll on to victory both on Wednesday and Friday and grant them rest for the Western Conference Finals.
We thank You in advance for answering our prayers...AMEN!
Posted by: utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER | May 12, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Celtics and Lakers both 2-2 in second round. Regular season and post-season are two different animals. I'm staying positive. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | May 12, 2008 at 08:12 PM
To the people that are calling Pau soft, and wishing we wasn't here or whatever other nonsense:
Remember if we did not have Gasol, we would have, as Steven A. Smith says, KWAAAMEE BROWWWNN. Gasol is a finesse player by nature, so if you want him to be Shaq, well it's not gonna happen. Thirdly, if Gasol is so bad, why is it that our record when he plays is something like 28-6? He obviously has something to do with it. I'm tired of hearing the Jazz are a great physical team, they're a dirty team. I didn't want to say it, but from what I saw on Sunday, it's obvious. That's why all the Lakers (especially Pau, who is not very physical), is frustrated. So, please just enjoy having Pau, pleeeeease.
PS. After the trade happened, I was wondering how long it would take before people began complaining about Pau. I guess it wasn't that long, and that sad because he's played really well.
Posted by: laker hopeful | May 12, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Of course Kobe is ready to play.
He's the best player in the history of professional basketball.
And I mean that sincerely.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 12, 2008 at 08:32 PM
MARTY,
John Saunders is a Shaq fan! He always try to put Kobe down especially when he was playing with Shaq! He predict the SUNS was going to win the title this year! He always give Shaq the credit for those championships! Calling Gasol a superstar is comical! He's a one time all-star! When I heard them said that Kobe need a superstar they just trying to put him down! But we know who need a superstar to win games. SHAQ! The only person to mention that on T.V. is Jim Rome and the dude that host blind date! Why the media don't mention Shaq need a superstar to win a championship! Scottie Pippen was a one time allstar before the bulls won their 1st championship!
Posted by: JERMAINE THE KOBE FAN | May 12, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Sounds like Kobe needs a good Chiropractor. Hope they contact Bynum's personal trainer if they haven't already. I read somewhere he is one of the best Chiropractors around? We need anything we can do for that back to win Game 5. GO LAKERS!
Posted by: NM | May 12, 2008 at 08:38 PM
all the posters that say nothing when Kobe scores 49 and 10 assists and they win and then criticize Kobe when he nearly has a triple double and the Lakers lose, need to stop watching the lakers and become Celtics fans. What more can he do to help them win? He literally left it all out on the court. He was in obvious discomfort and got the near triple double and they take Utah to overtime and almost win. If he was a Celtic, they would have given him the key to the city of Boston. But selfish Lakers "fans" think that just because the Lakers lose it was all Kobe fault. It takes 12 guys to make a team - not just one. What about all the missed free throws? what about the M.I.A. bench? What about the other Lakers not manning up and deciding to take it to the hole in overtime? What about Gasol playing soft? Blame anything, but Kobe was not the reason the Lakers lost Sunday. How about, the Jazz just wanted it more than the Lakers? Well I will be pulling all the lakers on Wednesday.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: richard | May 12, 2008 at 08:51 PM
A lot of panic on this blog site for nothing.Home court playoff game in the NBA is worth a even 10, with the homer team being the beneficence's on foul calls. This is the way it is,stop the paranoia.Lot of covers have been pulled on supposed "true" knowledgeable fans here. My prediction for the game Lakers 114 Utah Jazz 96.
Posted by: WHITE MAMBA24 | May 12, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Trevor gets a good third opinion. Will the Lakers let him play?
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8659
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | May 12, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Freethrows. Pure and simple.
If the Lakers were able to shoot 60% from the line, the game would have been won in regulation. Is 60% an unreasonable expectation for an NBA team percentage considering Philly had the worst this year at 70.4% and Phoenix was the worst in this year's playoffs with a sparkling 63.8% ?
By the way. The Lakers were 76.9% in the regular season and so far in the playoffs are 74.4%
Freethrows are the only shot where the defender has no chance to (a) block it, (b) deflect it, (c) stick a hand in your sight line, or (d) create a turnover.
One more made freebie and the series is 3-1 Lakers.
No Kobe. No Luke. No Ronny. No weak bench. No Farmar. No bad ref calls.
JUST GIVE US ONE MORE F***ING MADE FREE THROW !
------------------------------------------------
On a much happier note, this afternoon a friend of mine who is a Celtic fan asked me how the Lakers were doing.
I told him flatly that 'in about 5 hours they would have exactly the same record' as his Celtics............
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | May 12, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Lakers should hire Sean Zarzana (Andrew Bynum's personal trainer). If he did what he did with Bynum, imagine what he can do with the rest of the team. Players like Gasol could definitely benefit from the type of training and bulking up that Bynum went through. The Lakers front court will not only be unstoppable, they could become the most dominant force in history of the game. Besides, isn't a Chiropractor? Kobe could use that right now. LAKERS IN 6 BABY!!!
Posted by: NM | May 12, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Pig - awesome news!!! Get ARIZA on the practice/scrimmage floor ASAP!!! Get him some player contact this week!
Let's see what he can do to get game ready in case this round goes 7. It would be another weapon to help bring some life to the bench mob.....which they might need at that point.
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | May 12, 2008 at 10:02 PM
note to Jon K who wrote Kobe Bryant is the Best Player in history of the game: Unless you're considering the history of basketball to start in 2008, that is a very ridiculous statement. Kobe is awesome and one of a kind but he's no (and never will be) a Magic Johnson who along with may be Jordan is THE best player ever played. And let's not forget about the Cap (Kareem) and his 20 years of PURE DOMINANCE! The 80's Laker teams (especially '87 and '88 teams) would have swept this Laker team by an average of 20 points a game. No rookie other than Magic has ever won the championship, get the Finals MVP, and taken his team to an entire new level consistently and for a whole decade!
Posted by: NM | May 12, 2008 at 10:07 PM
WHAT UPSET ME IS HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS EMULATING HIS 2004 NBA FINALS PERFORMANCES.
Posted by: Gunner | May 12, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Gee, can we persuade you to post the statistics for the 400th time, Gummer? Can you do it before Wednesday? I mean, the Lakers are going to win on Wednesday and Friday, and since you are never around when the Lakers win, who knows when we will see you again.
Posted by: Jman449 | May 12, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Amen.
Posted by: thehammer | May 12, 2008 at 10:19 PM
jhnlannery,
My comment was directed to the posters which whom I paraphrased. It just bothers me when some so called "fans" are quick to bash Kobe, Luke and sometimes others after a disappointing loss. They are human and mistakes or bad decisions will always surface, and need to be accepted.
We as fans have become so spoiled with our winning streak. So much the fact that Utah is a tough and overly physical team has been overlooked. Personally, I think they got away with more than what the refs handed to them. Yes, Ronny's foul may have been a bit excessive but that kid paid the price (pun intended) for trying to show him up after a whistle had been blown. If anyone needs a message sent to them, I say it should be Matt shrunken face Harpring or Howdy Doodee-ron Williams for his celebratory clapping when the zebras became whistle happy with Mbenga.
The Lakers will prevail. Kobe's recent injury is a minor setback but the other guys definitely need to step up.
Posted by: eevee | May 12, 2008 at 10:23 PM
I'm glad one journalist (ahem AK/BK?!) has finally seen the light on Kobe.
Thank you Mark Heisler.
"If Lamar Odom had made his three-pointer to put them ahead with :13 left and they'd gone on to win, people would have talked about this game as long as there was an NBA."
Instead, the Lakers lost in overtime . . . and Bryant was critiqued for all the shots he took in overtime?
Calling Kobe selfish last game is assanine. He's trying to win , bottom line. He makes the shots or if Odom makes that last 3 and that's one of the greatest performances in NBA history.
If you call Kobe selfish or your opinion changes of Kobe make or miss you are a sublemenal hater.
Get out of denial. Realize the folly of your ways.
Posted by: Korey | May 12, 2008 at 10:43 PM
20 years ago, this day, we were 2-2 against Utah in the second round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs. Result: we beat Jazz in 7 and went on to beat Dallas and Detroit to win Back to Back. I have a good feeling about this year!
Posted by: NM | May 12, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I'm glad one journalist (ahem AK/BK?!) has finally seen the light on Kobe.
Thank you Mark Heisler.
"If Lamar Odom had made his three-pointer to put them ahead with :13 left and they'd gone on to win, people would have talked about this game as long as there was an NBA."
Instead, the Lakers lost in overtime . . . and Bryant was critiqued for all the shots he took in overtime?
Calling Kobe selfish last game is assanine. He's trying to win , bottom line. He makes the shots or if Odom makes that last 3 and that's one of the greatest performances in NBA history.
If you call Kobe selfish or your opinion changes of Kobe make or miss you are a sublemenal hater.
Get out of denial. Realize the folly of your ways.
Posted by: Korey | May 12, 2008 at 10:48 PM
No worries. The Lakers were right there basically the whole game, and Kobe's a trooper. He will not let his dream season slip away, but with that he truly has to trust his team when he needs them the most (i.e. over time game 4). The Jazz just managed to survive. The Jazz can't win this series by surviving. When the Lakers make that extra push and step up to their test, the Jazz will be done.
Posted by: thethinker | May 12, 2008 at 11:08 PM
utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER ,
Thank you for posting the emergency prayer and leading the charge!
And all God's people who are Lakers fans say, "Amen".
May God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Posted by: Robyn | May 12, 2008 at 11:13 PM