Big D Defeated
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Don't forget about Purple, Gold, and Blue today at 11 am. Our guest (hopefully) will be John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, beat writer for the Hornets. Watch on the window at the side of the page, or join the chat by clicking here.
With the Lakers off to a hot start, there have been a lot of "what/when's" tossed about, as in "What happens when _______?" One popular version ends with, "when the Lakers are forced to grind out a game down the stretch?" Well, the answer Tuesday night in LA's 106-99 victory over the Mavericks in Big D was the same as the other five games the Lakers had played coming in: They win. After shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers and breakdowns for much of the game, the Lakers turned up the intensity on both ends to pull and stay ahead. No surprise that the metaphorical rally caps (basketball being a hatless endeavor) were supplied by a Lakers bench that has helped key the team's hot start. The key play late was Trevor Ariza's block on a Jerry Stackhouse three that, had it dropped, would have given the Mavs a one-point lead.
But thanks to Ariza, who continues to flash an ever growing array of skills that (writes Kevin Ding) makes LO expendable next season, unless they moved the rim to the fifth row, that wasn't going to happen. Yet again, the fourth quarter is a cold and forbidding place for the Mavs.
The box shows strong games from Kobe and Pau Gasol, who did impressive work on Dirk Nowitzki down the stretch. For that matter, LA executed as a group, where the Mavs did not.
Phil Jackson hedged on Jerry Buss' proclamation that the Zen Master would coach until he's a "very old" man. He's still going season to season, and next season is no guarantee.
You'll never guess who heads Ball Don't Lie's first Power Ranking of the season.
TONIGHT'S GAME: The Lakers play the back end of their first road back-to-back in New Orleans Wednesday. The Hornets could be without guard Mo Peterson, who is battling a knee injury. For a groovetastic preview, check out this one at Hornets247.com.
Expect James Posey to spend a lot of time marking 24 tonight.
In other news:
- Starbury in San Antonio?
- Mike Dunleavy denies reports that the Clippers are trying to move Chris Kaman. In fact, they're not likely to do much until they really see what they have around Baron Davis.
- Another look at KG vs. Calderon.
"the real chicken little" is a fake!! Chicken Little is the guy that bashes Butler everytime B shows his face in here. He completely and utterly owns that guy!!!
Posted by: SNORT OINK | November 12, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Am I the only one looking for someone to lay out CP3 in the paint when he drives for a layup? I mean not maliciously of course but enough to make him think about it?
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | November 12, 2008 at 12:24 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign me up for some of this....I'm always hoping some one on the Lakers isn't afraid to dish out a hard foul (nothing dirty just a hard foul) and send the message that says "You must be this tall to step in the paint."
Posted by: The Infamous El Guapo | November 12, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Blog Patriarch Laker Tom:
Due to an increasingly busy life, I have decided to reserve Game Day Prayers for the BIG games (like tonight's). But we all gotta keep praying that the injury bug eases past us this season. I want us to be full strength & no excuses when we have our Day of Vengeance against Boston next June.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | November 12, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I think the lakers should start the games the same way they end them. We still win, thats is very impresive and more impresive is that some comebacks have ended in blowouts except for the one last night and in Denver. I hope we win tonight at NOH for a 7-0 start and I hope Kobe begins to increase his assist and three point %.
Posted by: oscar | November 12, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Puddle,
So is your kitty named Sasha, or Machine?
Posted by: Eric M. | November 12, 2008 at 02:30 PM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
:)
Posted by: generic_one | November 12, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Long Time Laker Fan and LakerTom,
"celebrating on the parquet floor while there are still 4 minutes left in the game as Mihm and Walton and MBenga and Farmar and Vujacic are running up the 20 point lead to 30 points in the decisive game 4."
Oh, you can do better than that. Sasha hits a three-point shot as time expires, so that the Lakers win by 33 points (Kareem's number) instead of just thirty. And as he is running off the court, he does the Dikembe finger-wave at Kevin Garnett.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | November 12, 2008 at 02:39 PM
EastCoastJessie-
You know we can't put that language through, though TinyURL was appreciated...
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 12, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Thanks Charles!
Posted by: Eric M. | November 12, 2008 at 02:45 PM
I'm all for that Faith...a nice hard foul on CP3 that'll make him think twice about getting in the paint. Maybe Pau gets a knee to the groin from him early which pisses him off enough to take him out on the next play. Woooo that would be lovely.
How violent are the ladies huh? Nah, we just like some action out there on the floor.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | November 12, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Sorry BK, but really? All I said was BS.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | November 12, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Two Best Highlights of the Season So Far:
1. Sasha looking befuddled upon receiving Lamar Odom's pass while standing out of bounds near the bench.
2. Sasha being leveled to the floor by Trevor "Stealth" Ariza's chest bump.
Ah, Sasha! You little scamp!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 12, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Ok family, I've been oficially reprimanded for my foul mouth so I'm going to place my tail between my legs and go home and prepare for tonight's game.
Much love,
ECJ
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | November 12, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Eric M, hehe
It's perfectly fine to disagree with people even if it is with KB24. Just like we both disagree with Jordan/Ariza should start or not kind of thing or my and hobbit's debates.
Nothing wrong with disagreeing ;).
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | November 12, 2008 at 02:50 PM
"the real chicken little" is a fake!! Chicken Little is the guy that bashes Butler everytime B shows his face in here. He completely and utterly owns that guy!!!
Posted by: SNORT OINK | November 12, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Wow we are seeing the gambit of Pig's user names today.
Cluck Cluck
Posted by: Chicken Big | November 12, 2008 at 02:53 PM
East Coast Jessie,
It's a Times blog. You know we can't let that fly
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | November 12, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Mel,
Can you put those links in Tiny URL form? Go to tinyurl.com if you have any questions.
Thanks,
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | November 12, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Otis,
>>>>>You aren't crazy, you're just enthusiastically over-the-top.
>>>>>Remember that when you slam your fellow bloggers.
LOL. Sorry, I didn’t realize that Chicken Little was a blogger. I thought he was a troll.
Actually, when it comes to chicken, I am crazy.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 12, 2008 at 03:14 PM
ex,
>>>>>Oh, you can do better than that. Sasha hits a three-point shot as time expires,
>>>>>so that the Lakers win by 33 points (Kareem's number) instead of just thirty.
>>>>>And as he is running off the court, he does the Dikembe finger-wave at
>>>>>Kevin Garnett.
LOL. And let’s not forget Jerry Buss taking his chair to center court to light up a stogie. That would be the frosting on the cake.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 12, 2008 at 03:18 PM
utz,
>>>>>Due to an increasingly busy life, I have decided to reserve Game Day Prayers
>>>>>for the BIG games (like tonight's). But we all gotta keep praying that the injury
>>>>>bug eases past us this season. I want us to be full strength & no excuses when
>>>>>we have our Day of Vengeance against Boston next June.
It’s a bitch when work and life interfere with our love of the Lakers but I understand. My job has picked up the pace and I often have to wait until I get home at night to post. Except on Game Day, when I furiously type incognito while holding a dead phone up to my ear.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 12, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Eric M. -
It's named Sasha, but when it's aggressively chasing down toy mice half its size, I call it The Machine.
I seriously contemplated the name Riza after Trevor Ariza, but my wife liked Sasha better.
Posted by: puddle | November 12, 2008 at 03:25 PM
In the atl vs celts game, I kind of feel like we win either way. We either get to be happy that the greenies got beat, or the Lakers will be the ONLY undefeated team left.
Kind of a win/win.
Posted by: Eric M. | November 12, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Truer words have never been spoken, my friend!
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | November 12, 2008 at 03:26 PM
OK,
I must admit I'm wrong. I was not one of the many on this blog who have been so high on Ariza since we got him. Each of you who tried to beat it into the rest of our dull heads are freakin' geniuses!
To a person, each of you stated that even though we all love Turiaf, we couldn't afford to keep him, but that Ariza would fill his on-court void just nicely.
You were correct.
Truth be told, though. There is no human alive that can fill Turiaf's off-court void.
I will take whatever punishment that this blogosphere deems appropriate for such short-sidedness.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | November 12, 2008 at 03:31 PM
LakerTom,
Absolutely - I forgot about the cigar.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | November 12, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Pau is the man.
His D on Dirk was simply amazing. If Dirk hadn't hit on not one, not two, but THREE impossible shots, Pau would have held him to 2 of 15.
Never mind the fact that Dirk always sinks a few of those circus shots against us. Usually over LO, who also plays him pretty tough. But, Pau is another level good when it comes to the German.
It seems there is a limit to just how far you can fade away...
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | November 12, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Tom,
I think much as you do. But, alas, there is no longer a parquet floor. And I hate that.
The happiest sports moment of my life was the Lakers winning their first on the parquet floor, in Boston. I dig the fact that Buss pulled up a chair to mid-court after that one and lit up a big fat one.
Happiest sports day (as a fan) ever. Followed closely by Kirk Gibson's home run, of course. Which I still rate as my number one overall (American) sports moment of the past century.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | November 12, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Fearless,
>>>>>I think much as you do. But, alas, there is no longer a parquet floor. And I hate that.
What? Are you sure of that. I thought that the Celtics took the floor from the Boston Garden and put in the new arena (but without the dead spots). Maybe I’m having a senior moment but I swear I saw a parquet floor when we played Boston. Maybe I am crazy. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 12, 2008 at 03:55 PM
>>>LOL. And let’s not forget Jerry Buss taking his chair to
>>>center court to light up a stogie. That would be the
>>>frosting on the cake.
Did I forget to mention that Luke & MBenga & the others were running
up the score while KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce were still on the floor at
the end of game 4? That part's important. And Doc Rivers screaming
apopleptically at the refs until they throw him out.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | November 12, 2008 at 03:56 PM
VMan,
"Coach said Kobe will be remembered as the best to ever play the game."
Coach said that? Really?
Wow.
I had the pleasure of meeting John Wooden at Springbok in Lake Balboa. I found him to be kind, gracious, patient, and friendly.
GO BRUINS!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 12, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Fearless,
>>>I will take whatever punishment that this blogosphere
>>>deems appropriate for such short-sidedness.
Okay, tonight for your punishment, you must suffer as the Lakers
only beat their opponent by 12, instead of the normal 20. That might
border on cruel and unusual punishment, but I think you can handle
it.
By the way... wait until Sun Yue gets his feet under him.
He should be rounding into a real NBA baller about the
time Fish is announcing his retirement.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | November 12, 2008 at 04:00 PM
How does poor EastCoastJessie not get away with saying BS but LakerTom say witch with a b with no problem?
Posted by: LakerFanatic | November 12, 2008 at 04:11 PM
hey mamba24 pls put me in ur roll call and beat the celtics bandwagon!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!
Posted by: darkhangelsk | November 12, 2008 at 05:12 PM
We're already scary good, but Bynum being as good as Gasol would make us dominant.
Posted by: JohnnyP | November 12, 2008 at 10:13 AM
SAY IT AGAIN JOHNNY P.!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 12, 2008 at 10:21 AM
==========================
I think AB is better than Pau. Look at last season to see how dominant AB was.
This year he is asked to block and rebound and any points would be luxury.
I think this is a mistake. I think he shold be saked to do the defense as asked of him but need to integrate him into offense more. This will make it harder for defenses to key on one or the other (Pau or AB).
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | November 14, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Also, while 95% of Blacks voted for the President-elect, only 75% of black
soldiers supported him. Wonder why that is? Posted by: Eric M. |
November 12, 2008 at 10:57 AM
My Bad Eric and I do indeed respecfully apologize my brother. Sorry again. Peace!
Posted by: MAMBA | November 12, 2008 at 11:48 AM
========================
Where did you find these stats?
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | November 14, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Am I the only one looking for someone to lay out CP3 in the paint when he drives for a layup? I mean not maliciously of course but enough to make him think about it?
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | November 12, 2008 at 12:24 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign me up for some of this....I'm always hoping some one on the Lakers isn't afraid to dish out a hard foul (nothing dirty just a hard foul) and send the message that says "You must be this tall to step in the paint."
Posted by: The Infamous El Guapo | November 12, 2008 at 02:25 PM
====================
Been saying that a long time. Very hard but clean fouls for those penetrating guards.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | November 14, 2008 at 06:54 PM