Dispatches from Lisa Leslie Court
I'm not going to look it up, but this might be the first time media availability for the NBA Finals has ever taken place on WNBA hardwood. But with the Sparks ready to crank it up tonight against the (hold on while I look this up...) Detroit Shock, the Lakers floor had been replaced with the confetti sprinkled sidelines of the LLC. Good for her, by the way, for having her own court. Not even Magic has that. Anyway, there were a few basic themes repeated by players from both teams over the course of the confab.
- Both teams felt they could have played much better, making it hard to take away too many lessons from the evening.
- Both teams suffered from a lack of production from members of their respective Big Threes.
- Both teams know the series is far from over. The Lakers weren't overly proud of themselves, while the Celtics weren't exactly the picture of panic. Each team had reason to believe better things were ahead.
- The Lakers were more aggressive and ramped up their intensity.
- Fatigue might have been an issue for the Celtics, and contributed to the raggedy play overall. PJ said last night he believed KG ran out of juice, Pierce admitted he might have burned through energy faster than normal, given all the hype surrounding playing in front of his home town fans, and a cross-country flight without an extra off day hurt, too. Doc Rivers burned more TOs than normal, to try and combat fatigue. Thursday should be a sharper effort all around.
Having had a chance to reflect, Walden Pond style, on Tuesday's L.A. win, I'm starting to find more encouraging signs for the Lakers. On my List of Important Things for the purple and gold to figure out heading into Game 3, I'd have said (more with the lists?) 1) Find a way to get Kobe going. 2) Shore up the defense. 3) Get Lamar Odom going. Well, as that great poet Meatloaf once said, two out of three ain't bad. Kobe had 19 points and 12 free throws by the end of the first half. The Lakers held the Celtics to 35% from the floor, limited Paul Pierce to six points, and clamped down on KG to the tune of 6-21 from the floor. That's pretty good.
Some of LA's defensive adjustments made a difference. Kobe's time on Rajon Rondo helped limit the water bug's ability to roam free in the lane, and PJ was pleased with the work he did on Pierce down the stretch. Pau Gasol was able to keep KG off the post (or Doc wasn't able to get him there), Ronny Turiaf was effective against him as well. As a team, the Lakers were able to play a cohesive defensive game. It was on that end that the Lakers made their greatest improvement. Granted, it'll be tough to hold Pierce to another 2-14 night, but if the Lakers can continue to do what they did Tuesday night for the rest of the series, they'll find some success.
The third issue, Odom, remains a problem. For his part, LO is clearly frustrated but isn't going to give up. "You have to persevere. Right now it's about the L.A. Lakers, not about Lamar Odom. If I could just stay on the court to help the team, whether it's rebounding or making plays. I just have to stay on the court," he said. "I wouldn't call them careless (fouls). I think I'm just trying to protect the rim as much as possible, if there's penetration, stepping up, trying to wall up, but getting called for the foul. So maybe I need to get more aggressive and try to make a play on the ball, instead of just trying to wall up."
"You just keep playing basketball. Once you give enough hustle, things go your way."
Odom felt he was still able to be aggressive when he was on the floor, going at the hole late, but having trouble finishing. No question, though, his inability to avoid personals has hurt him in the series. (And as an aside, I think LO's biggest problem isn't the foul calls contesting shots, but on loose balls and charges. He's drawn too many whistles being on the wrong end of contested layups. Discretion is often the better part of valor, and LO needs to find that balance, and make sure all his fouls count.) Finding some rhythm would help.
-Download lamar_odom_6.11.mp3
"It's tough when you're in foul trouble, or you can't get those regular minutes where you can get yourself in a groove," Luke Walton said. "Lamar is definitely a rhythm player. There's some guys who can step on a court and make jumpers all day. Lamar has to get in the flow of the game and get going. He wasn't able to do it, a lot of it having to do with the foul trouble he was in all game."
Said assistant coach Jim Cleamons, "He hasn't had a lot of success, but at the same point of time, we ask Lamar to do a lot of different things. Lamar's kind of our jack of all trades. He hasn't quite found the rhythm to do what we need him to do to lessen the burden of both Pau and Kobe. Last night Pau didn't have a good game, but the good thing about it was they both kept playing and got rebounds for us... We're asking LO to come off of Perkins- and Perkins is a moose in there- all these things we're asking them to do, and adjustments, the best thing you can do as a basketball player is just react. So we're asking them maybe to do too much thinking and not enough reacting. But I don't think our assignments will differ, we'll just ask (Odom) to continue to do it better, and hopefully (Odom and Gasol) will feel more comfortable with what we're asking them to do.
-Download jim_cleamons_6.11.mp3
-Download jim_cleamons_6.11 II.mp3
Other news and notes:
- Rajon Rondo said he's sore, but should be able to play despite a bum ankle. "It hurts a lot, but it's not too painful. I have 24 hours and hopefully with the treatment I'm getting, I'll be fine." Nothing a little extra tape can't fix, he hopes. Right now, he put himself at about 70%, for whatever that's worth.
Okay, maybe I should have left it at "note."
Anyway, more interviews and whatnot to come later.
BK
It's nice that both teams believe they can take positive things away from game 3.
But, if I were Phil Jackson, my message to our players would be this:
Were there things we could have done better in game 3? Sure. Does that mean we should be happy with the fact that we won despite having a poor game? No. Feeling good about yourself is not what we need right now. We need to be bloodthirsty, aggressive, and unapologetic. Boston feels good about the way they lost in that game. Well, let them. Let them feel good all they way back home when we take this series in six. This is no time for moral victories. If you win by 1 or by 30, it makes no difference. If you lose by 1 or by 30, it makes no difference. It's first to 4, and Larry O'Brien doesn't give a crap about how you feel about it.
Posted by: cs | June 11, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Can someone PLEASE get kobee a Steve GNASH "How To Improve Your Guard Skills" DVD? The kid needs to learn how to shoot FT's, no matter how good Boston's FT defense is!
If I have to see Ga-Shawl shy away from the paint any more, I'd think he was Dirk Nowitzki! kobee might wish to have SHACK back, but SHACK is now with the SUNS where He has a better guard to work with.
The Celts are reportedly mad as hornets that they played so poorly and yet only lost by a few, so close to a victory. The next game means LA goes down 1-3!
Paul Pierce, we in Laker Nation want to see you play your best tomorrow night!
Posted by: BUTLER | June 11, 2008 at 03:06 PM
How cool is it that Marc Gasol was at practice, helping Pau out? Good practice for Pau against Garnett.
Posted by: PeanutButterSpread | June 11, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Lamar is the complete package, he will bounce back.. at least we need him to in order to win.
Posted by: DS | June 11, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Morning all....Welcome to Lakers drive through sir.
May i take your order?
Ummmmmm. Yes ....Could i please have a Power forward and center that can finish layups and put backs and not get brain cramp..?
Ummmm....A small forward that can play a complete game.?
Ummmm...A back up forward/center named Ronny who can get at least 1 rebound a game..Just 1 rebound a game.?
Would you like that up sized today sir.?
Yes Please.........
Go Lakers
Posted by: Thirty2 | June 11, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Kobe's just got to keep being aggressive scoring Kobe until the Celtics decide to make major adjustments.
Only then will things open up for Pau and Lamar.
And it's entirely possible (although improbable) the Celtics won't make any major adjustments, in which case Kobe will just take it to them for the next three games and win the series.
16...15...14...13...12...11...10...9...8...7...6...5...4...
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | June 11, 2008 at 03:21 PM
What's the WNBA?
Posted by: Charles | June 11, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Is Donaghy's assertion that they fixed the 2002 WCF so that the Lakers would win the series or that they just were ensuring it would go 7 games?
Posted by: lakers_sth | June 11, 2008 at 03:25 PM
The signs point to the Lakers becoming better. It does seem that LO and Pau will figure out what they are being asked to do at game pace eventually as Cleamons said. It's one thing to get instructions from the coaches, then try to implement them in the flow of a high pressure game. It may take a couple of games.
I think the Lakers do need to try to play more offensive possessions at a faster tempo to get LO and Pau, especially LO, into an offensive rhythmn. When the tempo slows down, Boston's size down low becomes an advantage for the Celtics. When the tempo is quicker, Odom and Gasol's quickness and running ability with and without the ball become advantages for the Lakers.
The problem with playing at a faster pace through transition offense and early offense before the defense sets up is a possibility of more turnovers. And turnovers then hurt the Lakers on defense bec. it allows Celts to play a transition game too. However, I would take my chances that the Lakers' transition game is better than Boston's.
Posted by: LakerinBC | June 11, 2008 at 03:31 PM
TO OUR LAKERS TEAM,
NO MATTER HOW YOU DO IT!!! DO NOT!!! I MEAN DO NOT!!! LET THESE BUNCH OF GREENIE WEENIES CELEBRATE ON YOUR HOME FLOOR!!!
ONE WIN DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING, IT ONLY GUARANTEES A GAME FIVE, AND THAT'S ALL!!!
KEEP PUSHING!!! WE ALL BELIEVE!!! WE CAN DO THIS!!!
NOW, LETS BRING THE REAL FANS FOR GAME 4 AND ROCK THE HOUSE!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: GameFaceON | June 11, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Never in a million years did I think I'd say this .... but I'd like to see Sasha and Vlad on the floor together, with Pau, Kobe and Fish.
Spread the floor with three shooters, make KG commit to either helping on Kobe in the lane or covering Vlad at the 3pt line. KG could make Vlad pay at the other end, but, in the end, he'll settle for jumpshots like he always does. Rebounding could be a problem, but we're not exactly killing there anyway...
Posted by: SG | June 11, 2008 at 03:42 PM
BK,
"Okay, maybe I should have left it at "note." "
And "new"
This is interesting:
'It hurts a lot, but it's not too painful".
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 11, 2008 at 03:45 PM
The NBA should showcase DJ Mbenga for game 4 as featured player in half-time. Definitely will generate a lot of good story lines, then DJ will score 40 pts and 20 rebounds after the game. DJ will definitely crash the board and fans will go crazy! Once again a marketing genius for the NBA!
Posted by: GameFaceON | June 11, 2008 at 03:45 PM
I imagine PJ used today to solidify the defensive adjustments they tried to make for game 3 but coudn't fully b/c of the travel day. I hope he also threw some new wrinkles offensively to try and counteract Boston's defense and start to help players (besides Kobe) find success against it.
When Kobe faces the same defense game after game, he's going to have it figured out by game 4 or 5. Other players need to rely on guidance from the coaches and the play calling within the triangle to help them find their way.
Posted by: lakers_sth | June 11, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Speaking of Rondo - How about when he tried to do that fake behind-the-back pass one too many times last night and fell on his face?
Posted by: lakers_sth | June 11, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Why not start Ronny instead of Vlad. Put him on Perkins and LO on Pierce? Ronny can bang with Perkins and maybe help on interior D. LO can give Pierce problems with his length. He'll just have to be careful with reaching in. Plus, Ronny's activity at the outset could help set the pace.
More PT for Farmar too. Him not backing down on PJ says a lot. His and Sasha's confidence is sorely needed.
Just play. Best is yet to come. Take all this stuff with a grain of salt when the sportwriters though it would be a cakewalk for the Lakers pre-Finals and they now say the Lakers are doomed when we are only 3 games into it. No one knows until the final buzzer sounds.
Best is yet to come.
Posted by: jq | June 11, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Boston.com is censoring Laker fans. Any post by a Laker fan is now DELETED!
Join me in both protesting this to Boston.com and, if they do not reverse their position, in demanding then that the Laker Blog block all Celtic fans from posting and delete all of their posts!
Posted by: Laker_Unstoppable | June 11, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Sung to the tune from "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell
Tainted League
Sometimes I feel I've got to
Fix a game
The league needs
Seven games
For the cash you drive into the heart of me
The rev we share
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost what’s right
We’ll screw the Kings, then I’ll sleep tight
Once I ran with you
Now I'll scam for you
This tainted league you've driven
I make the calls lackeys will give you
Pay air fare, now that's not living - oh
Tainted league – ohh oh tainted league
Now I know I've got to
Sing away
I've got so
Much to say
You don't really want any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to do oversight!
And you'll think ball is to play but I'm sorry the NBA don't play that way
Once I ran with you
Then I scammed for you
This tainted league you've driven
I give you calls lackeys can give you
Pay air fare, now that's not living - oh
Tainted league – ohh oh tainted league
Don't touch Kobe please
I"ll call a flagrant if you sneeze
Tainted league – ohh oh tainted league
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I got no whistle to blow
Tainted league, tainted league
Posted by: Jesterguru | June 11, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Last post: As performed by Tim Donaghy
Posted by: Jesterguru | June 11, 2008 at 04:21 PM
A win is a win and I'm happy for it. First in five tries this season. But I didn't see a lot in game 3 that gives me a ton of confidence going forward.
Yep, the Lakers gutted this one out, despite LO still being MIA, despite Pau getting bounce around in the post by anyone wearing green, despite DFish having an off night. Kobe and Sasha scored enough. Kobe, Sasha, Farmar and Turiaf defended enough.
What concerns me is that both Garnet and Pierce, while defended better than they had been in games 1-2, simply missed a ton of open looks. I don't know how much the Laker defense really mattered to them. And still it was much closer than it should have been. (Lakers should have won by 20+ with both Garnet and Pierce having off nights.)
Not sure what's up with Lamar. He simply looks like he has no legs under him. Always off balance and hurried - not the smoothly athletic, quick and long player he usually is. Pau is simply getting beaten up.
If the front line doesn't show up by game 4, the series could end in LA. On the other hand, there's a lot to be said for gutting it out.
Posted by: Zingaro | June 11, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Laker_Unstoppable - I suspect the only reason why a website would do that is b/c people are trolling. I can't think of one reason why I'd want to go there. I hate trolls, regardless of what team they're fans of.
Posted by: lakers_sth | June 11, 2008 at 04:31 PM
PeanutButterSpread,
"How cool is it that Marc Gasol was at practice, helping Pau out? Good practice for Pau against Garnett."
Where did you get that info?
Regards,
Posted by: Charles | June 11, 2008 at 04:33 PM
"Boston.com is censoring Laker fans. Any post by a Laker fan is now DELETED!"
They scrrred. Just like BUTT-LER.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | June 11, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Brother Charles,
YOU asked:
What's the WNBA?
AND I say this is the league that Butler and Engineero are used to watching and get their insight from, it stands for Womens National Basketball Association. How cute is that?
President Obama
Posted by: President Obama | June 11, 2008 at 04:42 PM
I don't care about Boston.com.
They're nothing.
We're open to anyone here, the supporters, and the dissenters. Let them all come and be fair with their words.
Posted by: Teej | June 11, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I still say the Lakers will win this series.
The way I look at it, the Lakers need to win 3 games, with 2 of those games at home. Which means, the Lakers have home court advantage. Am I right?
Also, the Lakers still haven't played a complete game. I'm thinking we'll finally get our front line playing well. Kobe is back in form, and Pau did play game 2 pretty good. Lamar can't play any worse. I predict a blowout tomorrow night.
Lakers should win this thing 4-2. I really believe that now.
Posted by: troy | June 11, 2008 at 04:48 PM
why even bother?
We got the best blog in the league (haha) here, pretty much lol.
GO Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | June 11, 2008 at 04:49 PM
This whole scandal thing really sucks. The NBA and the Lakers are by far and away my favorite league and team. This whole thing just kind of leaves a bad feeling in my stomach. While I'm pretty positive some aspects of past games are "fixed"" I don't think its totally true.
I mean, if it were in such need of more games how come the Lakers finals during the 3 peat where all 5 games or under? and why was the Finals last year a sweep? There are a lot of things that make me believe things are fixed however there is more that just doen't amount to it being fixed. Whatever the outcome is I will still root for my beloved Lakers. I just hope that the better team wins this series with out any help from the powers that be.
On to basketball. I'm positive that LO will bounce back tomorrow. I think instead of him coming out with aggression (he will have it, just not be solely focusing on it) he will be focusing on not picking up cheap fouls. He will make a point to play smart and assertive and he will do so. He may not have 30 points but I'm expecting heavy minutes with a stat line or 20-12-4. Hopefully he can get it done.
And I'm still pumped on Farmar. He has been one of my favorite Lakers all year long and I'm glad he is having a pretty good series. I also thought it was awesome that he didn't even think about backing down from PJ Brown. Hope he keeps up the intensity and the good play.
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | June 11, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Am I the only one tiring of seeing Bill Simmons articles on espn's main page after every game
Posted by: gary | June 11, 2008 at 04:54 PM
I sure am glad that buttler writes Kobe's and Nash's names the way he does. What I do is look at the post and if I notice the names misspelled, I simply scroll right past it.
I would hate to get half way through the post and realize that the post belong to this fool.
Posted by: Fire32 | June 11, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Actually you have it backwards, Laker fans are boycotting Boston.com because it is the internet equivalent of the Arizona Republic -- only used to line bird cages and wrap fish.
In a related and inspiring story of heroism, Rondo says he WILL play in game 4 -- wow, I don't know if Kobe knows, but break the news gently to avoid over-excitement.
Posted by: HmrHed | June 11, 2008 at 05:01 PM
It's been a while boys and girls. My confidence in the NBA and in the winner of this Finals being the legitimate champion is beyond shaken. The disparity in free throws for home and away teams is beyond ignoring. I've been a champion of the players winning these games, but the more I read and the less the NBA does to affect my concerns, the more I feel like this whole thing has been a sham under David Stern. I will root on my Lakers, even though I'm officially disillusioned by all of what's happened in the last 24 hours. I don't think this is the Lakers' year however, an have been saying that for a while. Next year will the time for the Lakers to truly shine, but it might not matter.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | June 11, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Lakers in 6!
Posted by: Lakerfaninphx | June 11, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Jon K
You mentioned Sasha monikers
You forgot the best one the last time we had this discussion. Back when Sasha for the first time put the Lakers on his back and carried them on to victory.
He was no longer practice Sasha, but became............
The Sashanator
http://tinyurl.com/4pb6br
**Sorry for the chezzie promo of another site K's. It came with the picture
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | June 11, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Pig,
It's hard to think it matters to keep faith in our team when the league is close to being exposed as a sham, no?
But it does. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Jesterguru | June 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM
People need to stop talking about the referee conspiracy!!! Don't you see? That is just going to make the NBA hide it and make the Celtics WIN instead of the Lakers... If the NBA was fixing the series, they would want the Lakers to WIN.
Now with all this talk, the NBA is going to want Boston to win to make everyone shut up.
Posted by: zen | June 11, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Seems very odd that everyone is hopeful to see LO and P.G. ready to step up these next two games. It just plain and simply may never happen. Celtics big three, are truely a big three. We need to move the ball around like we always do and not settle for those 3's. Penetrate and we work it around if necessary. To many times I saw lakers settle for jump shots with over 12 seconds on the shot clock. Settle in and let the ball rotate. When the ball rotates, the rebounds come...if the rebounds come the 2nd shot chances start. When that happens, it's easier to defend on defense because your big men can now get back after a bucket. GO LAKERS... and don't stop moving the ball
Posted by: Stump | June 11, 2008 at 05:31 PM
We're starting to see the value of coaching experience (praise GOD!)
Phil and his rebel forces have finally downloaded the plans to the Celtics' death-star - and there it is, that vulnerable little central reactor exhaust port...
Celtics' defense begins with transition. The Lakers are quicker endline-to-endline, so the Celtics must simplify their assignments to match-up: guard the man that is guarding you. Kobe on Gollum (oops, Rondo) means Rondo on Kobe. This is a win-win for the Lakers: a clear, game-changing advantage at both ends of the floor. Rondo is a pint-sized version of Jason Kidd - flaky jumpshot, but otherwise, the engine that makes them go. He is their best perimeter help-defender, but if he has to mark THE MAN, that part of his game is neutralized. On offense, they need him to run their sets: notice that Pierce's action comes on pin-down curls that result in wing isolation. He NEEDS someone to get him the ball on time, so that his limited arsenal is effective. Did anyone else see how Sasha disrupted Pierce's moves in the 1st half? A direct result of Kobe shading away from Rondo and forcing the pin about three feet further out from the lane...and less room to drive. Sasha crowded the shot while "opening up" his stance to discourage the baseline drive, and that was that. PP ends up with off balanced misses, TO's (thanks to roaming center-fielder) and most importantly, INDECISION!!
In a nutshell, Phil made an adjustment, and the Celt's scored 81 points. Doc Rivers now stands on the slippery banks of a fast running river - no pun intended. What does he do? What CAN he do? Cassell is a basketball roach motel - it checks in, but it don't check out. House is a micro-Ray Allen, but entirely one dimensional, and does not scare any Laker ballhandler with his defensive ability (I Can't believe I said 'defensive ability' and Eddie House in the same sentence! Finals make people crazy!)
If this were chess, even though Doc captured the first two major pieces (with a little help from his 3 friends), Phil has spotted a weakness, made a move, and I believe I heard him say "Check."
But not "Checkmate." Not yet. He did leave Doc an out, righ? House can shoot. You can't leave House and roam around on D. House helps space the floor. Do it, Doc! Take the ehffing bait, already! Doc, a decent coach, over his head against Phil-Jackson-Bobby-Fischer, takes the bait: Rondo's minutes go down (ah, how convenient, the sprained ankle, "forcing" him to adjust, giving him a face-saving excuse when the dust finally settles...)
And House's minutes go up.
"CHECKMATE!" I think I just heard...or as Cypress Hill would say, "Checkmate, FOOL!"
Phil springs the trap: Kobe-Sasha-Ariza together with two bigs. Three quick guys, each of them a head taller, all with long arms, all just as quick. Can play off and still bother the shot. Can exchange on any off-ball action. Can trap the little bugger, make him give it up, and force the C's to get into their sets with no point guard on the floor. And a big time mismatch at the other end, no matter how you slice it. Chasing Sasha around picks won't be good for poor Eddie, and he doesn't have the length to challenge the shot. He can't guard Kobe (Ha, ha!) Put him on Ariza, and Ariza will move to the mid-post in the triangle, where he can elevate to catch, and make some easy decisions as the C's will have to double from the top of the key. Garnett will have to play 'full square' behind Gasol on the weakside, just so that he can recover to discourage lobs to the rim against defenseless Eddie. So whatever picks Gasol sets will be 100% effective without the hedge. Wide open shots. Break their defense, and break their hearts...
Checkmate, fool...we got game four...and five...for sure.
Posted by: karyanr | June 11, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Is it baseball season or something? I see Schilling is making a jack ass out of himself again -- hey Schilling take you fake bloody sock and stuff it where the sun don't shine -- K tough guy.
Posted by: HmrHed | June 11, 2008 at 05:41 PM
One of the most difficult things to watch about Phil Jackson's teams is that he makes strategic decisions on defense about where he would prefer the other team's scoring to come from. This can make it look like a particular player or two on the other team is torching the Lakers, and we wonder why the Lakers let it keep happening.
For instance, Phil obviously chose Rondo and Allen as the preferred scorers, so the Lakers concentrated on shutting down the interior and the slasher (Pierce). Then when Rondo drops in a couple of wide open jumpers, or Allen sinks a bunch of threes, I get really nervous because it appears as if the Lakers can't stop those plays.
The genius of the strategy, however, is that it makes the Celtics comfortable with relying on those plays for scoring, and they must then live or die with how far that can take them. I think this is exactly what happened to the C's in game 3.
It's hard to watch also because it can mean that Phil is not trying to engineer a blowout, but rather is trying to keep the Celtics close enough to believe that if they just work their present strategy a little harder, they can catch and beat the Lakers. Meanwhile, he knows that Allen and Rondo are not truly clutch end-of-game closers, and the real closers have been taken out of their game because they're not in a good rhythym due to lack of running the offense through Pierce and Garnett.
I may be simply putting my own way of thinking on Phil's game plan, but if that's what he's doing, I think it's genius.
RMA
Posted by: RespectMyAuthoritah | June 11, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Brian K.,
Nice write up. Again.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 11, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Fatty,
How could I have forgotten "The Sashanator?" How? How?
The Machine Knows No Pity. Fear the Machine.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 11, 2008 at 06:11 PM
It's not the WNBA, it's the WWFNBA. Where whatever you want to happen, happens. At least for the Fakers fans.
I like the WNBA! Those women are HOT! I wouldn't dare say anything bad about them, at least not until corruption enters it like it has the WWFNBA.
Posted by: Engineero | June 11, 2008 at 06:11 PM
I haven't posted much lately, still peruse the threads though. Of course, I'm following every game rabidly, like I do all season, always pulling for the Lakers.
I've spent a fair amount of time on the east coast over the past couple of years, mainly on the Cape but also venturing into Boston. Say what you will about Bostonians but they love their teams... hardcore fans. I spoke to some locals today about last night's game... nobody was down on Pierce or Garnett. As far as people around here are concerned, every member of the team totally rocks (or, they're effin' wicked).
Also, nobody seems to think that there's anybody on our team except Kobe. That's what they'll say - "aw, all you guys got is Kobe". I'll bring up Odom, Pau, whoever else, and just get blank stares. They're all totally convinced that we have a bunch of nameless, faceless, second-stringers that ultimately don't stand a chance in this series. That's Boston for you - the Celts sucked for years but now they're back and their fans are ready to level everyone in their path. Not a bad way to think as far as I'm concerned.
Every summer, I pore over any tidbit that I can find about the Lakers, whether I'm living in L.A. (where I did for so many years) or elsewhere in the country. Last summer, I didn't believe that Kobe would be traded and said so. I mentioned in a post, around training camp time, that I go into every season fully believing that we'll get another ring. I'm behind all the players, each year... doesn't matter if it's Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Coop, Rambis, A.C. Green, Vlade Divas, Shaq, Fox, Shaw, Kobe, Mike Penberthy, J.R. Rider, Fish, Slava, Rice, Greg Foster, heck I don't care. I even cheered for Samaki Walker and that dude could be annoying. Lue? The crowd used to love that guy. Horace Grant? Awesome. Malone, Payton, here for just one year and we got so close. Mitch Richmond - I wanted him to play more, was sorry he didn't really get the triangle. Remember Pargo? Loved that dude. When Vlad was signed I defended it, always thought the guy had a sweet stroke and I still think he's helped more than hurt. When Sasha was mentioned as a possible draft pick I check out all the euroleague articles I could find. I supported Cook, Evans... still support Walton. Anway, this is a really longwinded rant for me, I usually post a line or two and don't much care if anyone's reading or if they've gone on to read the next bandwagon-jumper who's decided to trash L.O. or Pau.
We've had an amazing season - everyone's contributed in some way - whether they're putting in big minutes or taking the abuse in practice. Think of Sasha - the dude has had to guard Kobe year in and year out in practice and he's worked on his game - he HAD to, you don't guard Kobe Bryant without working on your game. A lot of you have trashed him up, down and sideways on this blog and now he's everybody's hero. Just like Pau was everybody's hero when he came in... Bynum went down - bloggers started blogging about the sky falling - Pau comes in and totally ROCKS our team. Remember all the Kung-pow stuff? Now that he's had some admittedly bad games, the jumpers are jumping off again - "Pau's just a finesse player, Pau's weak, Pau's a sissy." Same goes for L.O. - the guy has been absolutely instrumental in getting us to the finals again... he starts getting into foul trouble and let the trade suggestions BEGIN! Real nice.
I'm always happy to read certain regular bloggers... they tend to be ones that have hung in there during good times and bad. They might have honest criticisms but by and large they support the TEAM. If any of them are reading this, they undoubtedly know who they are. You trashtalking jumpers know who you are too and you can respond if you want, laugh it off, dismiss it, defend yourselves, talk about how this player sucks or that player sucks... I don't care - it's a free country, it's all good. Myself, I'll be at a bar in enemy country tomorrow night... believing in the Lakers, 1-15. Okay, I'll go away now, hahaha... see what happens when Rip Van Winkle gets stirred up?
Posted by: dave m | June 11, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Nice post Dave M. Continue posting some feedbacks on what New Englanders think about the Lakers. I am wondering their views on the sudden rise of the Celtics who used to be bottom dwellers in the league last year. I posted on their blog saying that they are practically buying the Championship rather than developing within the organization and work as a team.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 11, 2008 at 06:34 PM
hey RespectMyAuthoritah , that is a pretty good observation. I have always felt that it easier to defend one player instead of multiple players. I also believe that the Lakers will allow 1 Celtic player to go crazy with points and shut the others down.
Posted by: STEVEN V. | June 11, 2008 at 06:38 PM
dave m,
That's alot of ranting about nothing of substance. LO and Pau have been seriously sucking in the finals. Pau has been sucking since Utah.
Period.
Now go have a drink in your little bar and chilax.
Posted by: troy | June 11, 2008 at 06:44 PM
With regards to the referee scandal case, there should be a full investigation similar to Mitchell Report in baseball. We may ignore the allegation of a referee who was convicted in rigging games, however it is for the good of NBA to remove suspicion and work beyond David Stearns who has been on this job for almost two and half decades. There is a need to overhaul the organization and consider ia young blood to lead the NBA. Nobody is indispensable with his job, every year people suspect of hanky panky in officiating and favoring the owners rather than the fans. There is a need for new direction in this league.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 11, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Laker Tom, Ex
Yeah, I'll buy into the fact that the Celts defense has been a thorn this series thus rendering LO ineffective from an offensive standpoint but here's why I get nutty... During the reg season, I can count the amount of times I watched a Boston Game on one hand ( 2x's) I will only watch certain teams if I HAVE TO and Boston is at the top of the list, so I basically had NO IDEA what type of ball they play. PJ or 9 rings ( I love that nickname, didnt someone here come up with that? ) gets paid BIG BUCKS to know strengths and weakness of opposing teams. I read this earlier from Bill Simmons column and it made me mad at 9 rings.... heres an excerpt...
" Look, I hate to rip the Zen Master because I'm still hoping he will agree to become my grandfather after this series is over. But the Lakers seemed woefully unprepared to start this series. For one thing, anyone who watched the Celtics this season knew their ballhandlers were suspect, they're truly awful on fast breaks (watch how many easy ones they botch from game to game, it's absolutely incredible), and that good things happen to opponents who pressure them -- only the Lakers waited seven quarters to play that card even though they have guys such as Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar who are great baseline-to-baseline agitators. On top of that, it took the Lakers until Game 3 to stick Kobe on Rajon Rondo -- the logical move, since they could dare Rondo to shoot 20-footers and use Kobe to swarm everyone else. Cleveland used this strategy in Round 2 and flustered Boston's offense to the degree the Cavs almost stole the series. Don't the Lakers have scouts? I can't believe I'm writing this, but the Celtics have outwitted the Lakers in this series so far."
See what I mean? Dont WE have a scout team? I didnt know the Celtic guards crack under pressure but now I'll pay closer attention. That type of stuff Phil SHOULD KNOW???? Anyways, one last thought then I gotta get rid of this headache...Unlike most, I'm not getting all twisted over the Donaghy(sp?) story. I mean, how hard would it be for him to pick out the most blatant missed called games and attach "fixed" to it? There's a very good possibility that he got caught and now he's trying to deflect and bring others down with him. I'm not discounting him, but I'm not pretending what he's saying is the gospel either. The dude is a low life scumbag, usually people in his position try to do whatever it takes, to lesson the amount of time behind bars once they get caught. In order for what he's saying to pan out, Other's HAVE to be involved. Until the Feds march out "others" I'm staying neutral and hopeful that it isnt true.
Posted by: complex brotha | June 11, 2008 at 07:00 PM
ex,
You’re right. Boston’s defense has really frustrated all of the Lakers, with the possible exception of Sasha, who is fortunately firing away with his same old total confidence, even after getting the evil eye from Kobe. LOL. You just have to love Sasha’s attitude. Only way you can play the game if you’re a great shooter. Needless to say, I think the Lakers will match ANY offer that Sasha gets as a restricted free agent.
What I find very interesting is that Sasha’s clutch shooting and improved defense may have vaulted him into the competition to start at point guard down the road. I know that sounds as unlikely as Korey wearing an “I Love Sasha” T-shirt, but with all of the great playmakers and ball handlers on this team and the Triangle, it is not out of the question. In fact, we may even see Sasha start before this series is over if Vlade fades.
I was also very happy with how Farmar played last night, too. His 5 points came at key points in the game and he had 5 dimes, 4 boards, 1 block, and 0 turnovers in 20 minutes. More importantly, Jordan played with energy and confidence, showing again his ability to rise to the moment and play well in big games. While Farmar made great strides from his rookie year, I look for 2009 to be his breakout year, ala Deron William.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 11, 2008 at 07:01 PM