Thought folks might need a laugh after the loss
December 2, 2008 | 10:33
pm
This could work, thanks to the good folks over at The Sports Hernia Blog, who praised the mag's "choice" in funny fashion as well.
I wonder if jealousy will prompt Sasha to grow his hair even longer and more luxurious.
AK
1. WHY CAN WE PLAY LIKE CRAP AND WIN AND EVERYONE HERE IS CONTENT BUT WE PLAY LIKE CRAP AND LOSE THE BLOG TURNS TO CRAP?
- Because winning makes anything ugly look better than it really is. See Miami Heat 2006.
I do know what you mean Lakerholic, these Lakers have the ability to dominate every team, but like others have said, the expectations of this season have been unrealistic especially considering we've played most of our games at home!! Any given day, any team can lose, but that's why there are playoff SERIES, so the better teams come out on top (most of the time). As long as we're healthy, we should be fine come playoff time!!
Posted by: JSNV | December 03, 2008 at 09:52 AM
The best thing about this loss is that it's already another game day.
I know that there are people who say that it's just one loss and the team is playing great, but the character of how they lost speaks to a couple of fundamental flaws with them that go beyond this one game.
Conceding long Js. Whether it be Sheed or Gooden or Rasho, you wonder why the Lakers just dare people to shoot. I get that they'd rather those shots get taken than some other lower percentage looks, but I think the question on most people's minds are, why give any open looks at all? Is it too hard to contest every basket? This is actually a holdover from previous seasons but the lone culprit back then was Kobe. The couple of practices I've been to, he made it a habit of sagging off a guy and daring them to shoot - barking at them "I'll give you that. I'll give you that." and they'd repeatedly drain it in his face. You know who else used to do that? Jordan. And I'll pre-empt anyone who talks about the zone giving up open looks. If Drew and Ariza can run out and get their fingertips on the ball when someone who thought they had an open 3, why can't the rest of the team? Long Js, when missed, also lead to long rebounds and offensive boards for the other team. What I wonder is, if this is just something they'll just stubbornly stick to.
Playing with the lead. Another pet peeve of mine that's a holdover from previous seasons. The Lakers relax when they get big leads too early in the game. It lead to one, probably two, of the most heartbreaking losses in the Finals and the team still hasn't learned. They get all happy with themselves, start playing "prevent" basketball and can't seem to stop GOOD teams from decimating those big leads. Drew gave an honest answer the other day when asked about it. He acknowledged the team does it and doesn't know why they do it or how it can be fixed.
So, if things like last night's win or even those couple of losses in the Finals can't open their eyes up to these fundamental flaws, what's it going to take? I don't think I'm overreacting to just one loss b/c of two factors - it speaks to bigger problems I outlined above and it means the Lakers gave up the lead they had over Boston in the race to the best record. The way both of these teams are playing, who do you think is going to pick up loss #3 first? Indy plays Boston twice this week. My guess is Boston destroys them both times.
That's my rant. Now I'm going to let go of it and focus on tonight's game.
Posted by: lakers_sth | December 03, 2008 at 09:53 AM
justa-
what email?
BK
Posted by: kambrothers | December 03, 2008 at 09:54 AM
What up Charles, you a dumb loss like this will bring me back to the blog!! I hope I don't have to post for a while!!
Posted by: JSNV | December 03, 2008 at 09:33 AM
you *know* a dumb loss like this..... just to clarify... LOL
Posted by: JSNV | December 03, 2008 at 09:56 AM
When this season started things were looking great especially the first 7 games when the Lakers looked like they were going to be a defensive juggernaut of a team. Then they lost to a true defensive minded team the Pistons. Ever since then the Lakers have reverted to last season's style of play, score alot of points and leave the opponens in the dust. They abandoned their defensive scheme they started out with and are now focusing on outscoring the whole league. Did they already forget what the Celtics showed them last season in the finals?? That defense, not offense wins championships. It looked like they learned when the season started and they were number 1 in points allowed and opponents field goal percentage. Now they're number 1 in scoring and they keep slippin' further down the list on defense. Even though the stats indicate the Lakers keeping teams at 42% field goals, it is only that low because of the suffocating defense they played at the beginning of the year. It all starts with and ends with solid defense. If the Lakers could slow the game down and run the triangle offense and play organized basketball, they will beat the Celtics or anyone that comes out of the east. The second unit has to be disciplined and run the triangle and be patient instead of coming in and speeding the game up with heltor skeltor style basketball. Especially Vujacic and Farmar. The Lakers are giving up 95 points per game now, and it should be down to 90 points had the second unit not taken quick shots and turned the ball over in a few of those games giving the other team a chance to run the other way on fast breaks. When the Lakers of Kobe and Shaq were winning titles they did it with solid defense. In those days Sacramento and Dallas were the high scoring teams that couldn't play defense, and they never won anything with that style. A couple of years ago it was Phoenix and Golden State. Although scoring alot of points and speeding the game up is entertaining, it does not win championships. Now the Lakers have become that high scoring team. If the Lakers don't concentrate on running their triangle offense now, and focus more on outscoring opponents, when the playoffs come around and they win a couple of rounds, they'll run into a great defensive team that will shut down their offense and they'll be forced to execute in the half court, and won't have much success. Get back to shutting teams down Lakers, please!
Posted by: Onetime | December 03, 2008 at 10:01 AM
(01) EXHELODRVR – DRIVER
(02) MAMBA24 –CO/DRIVER – I’m driving this crap straight to hell where it belongs
(03) XODUS – RIDING SHOTGUN2
(04) DAVE M. - that's chickenlittleexcellencE
(05) KEIFO – RIDIONG SHOTGUN2
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 03, 2008 at 10:02 AM
lakers_sth,
You're right.
The Lakers better start focusing on the defensive end. All this giving up 100+ points stuff will not work against the Celtics.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | December 03, 2008 at 10:53 AM
* MY GOD Headf For The Hills The Lakers Just Loss To Start
* A Road Game The Season Is Over- BANDWAGON
*
(01) EXHELODRVR – DRIVER
(02) MAMBA24 –CO/DRIVER – I’m driving this crap straight to hell where it belongs
(03) XODUS – RIDING SHOTGUN2
(04) DAVE M. - that's chickenlittleexcellencE
(05) KEIFO – RIDIONG SHOTGUN2
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 03, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Posted by: | December 03, 2008 at 11:05 AM
laker_sth,
THere is a fine line between having the appropriate amount of self-confidence (which is absolutely vital for success at both the individual and the team level) and being too cocky (which can absolutely be a killer.)
Self-confidence is knowing when you have a team on the ropes, but that if you let them up for a couple of possessions the momentum might shift. Cockiness leads to thinking they can turn it on whenever they want.
I don't think that this roster has learned yet where that line is; part of that is due to youth, and part of that is due to the personalities involved.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 03, 2008 at 11:08 AM
If the Lakers don't concentrate on running their triangle offense now, and focus
more on outscoring opponents, when the playoffs come around and they win a
couple of rounds, they'll run into a great defensive team that will shut down their
offense and they'll be forced to execute in the half court, and won't have much
success. Get back to shutting teams down Lakers, please!
Posted by: Onetime | December 03, 2008 at 10:01 AM
GREAT POST ONETIME!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 03, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Dude, chicks dig Pau Gasol.
Say what you will, the giant neaderthal look works for a lot of girls. Pau Gasol's got it and he flaunts it.
I'm sure he goes to his 10 foot bed each night with multiple hot chicks. Who are we to make fun?
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 03, 2008 at 11:23 AM
exhelodrvr,
I worry (perhaps illogically) that Kobe is a bit too happy. He seemed more like a viscious assassin when he was dealing with Shaq, the hatred of opposing fans, or the stress of a losing team.
I don't see that bloodthirsty meanspirited assassin's desire on this team yet. It's like they're plaing like they've got nothing to prove.
They've got plenty to prove.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 03, 2008 at 11:27 AM
POST OF THE DAy
I worry (perhaps illogically) that Kobe is a bit too happy. He seemed more like a viscious assassin
when he was dealing with Shaq, the hatred of opposing fans, or the stress of a losing team
. I don't see that bloodthirsty meanspirited assassin's desire on this team yet. It's like they're
plaing like they've got nothing to prove. They've got plenty to prove. What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 03, 2008
Posted by: mamba24 | December 03, 2008 at 11:47 AM
THere is a fine line between having the appropriate amount of self-confidence
(which is absolutely vital for success at both the individual and the team level)
and being too cocky (which can absolutely be a killer.)
Self-confidence is knowing when you have a team on the ropes, but that if
you let them up for a couple of possessions the momentum might shift. Cockiness
leads to thinking they can turn it on whenever they want.
I don't think that this roster has learned yet where that line is; part of that is due to youth
, and part of that is due to the personalities involved.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 03, 2008 at 11:08 AM
I BOW BEFORE A MASTER!
Posted by: mamba24 | December 03, 2008 at 11:55 AM
stomach still hurts after last night's loss but all is not lost. A win will help me recover a lil...Go Lakers!!!!
Mamba24 - please add me to the * TWO LOSSES ONLY MAKE THE LAKERS TWICE AS STRONG Bandwagon
* 80 – 2 STILL IS A RECORD RIGHT*
Posted by: LakerBandit | December 03, 2008 at 12:51 PM
stomach still hurts after last night's loss but all is not lost. A win will help me recover a lil...Go Lakers!!!!
Mamba24 - please add me to the * TWO LOSSES ONLY MAKE THE LAKERS TWICE AS STRONG Bandwagon
* 80 – 2 STILL IS A RECORD RIGHT*
Posted by: LakerBandit | December 03, 2008 at 12:51 PM
stomach still hurts after last night's loss but all is not lost. A win will help me recover a lil...Go Lakers!!!!
Mamba24 - please add me to the * TWO LOSSES ONLY MAKE THE LAKERS TWICE AS STRONG Bandwagon
* 80 – 2 STILL IS A RECORD RIGHT*
Posted by: LakerBandit | December 03, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Jon K,
I think that Kobe is still feeling out what his role is going to be with the team this year.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 03, 2008 at 01:26 PM
"Self-confidence is knowing when you have a team on the ropes, but that if
you let them up for a couple of possessions the momentum might shift. Cockiness
leads to thinking they can turn it on whenever they want."
Lord, remind our guys of THIS TRUTH every night as they suit up...AMEN!
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | December 03, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Ex - I hear you. I don't know if we'll ever see the personality I want out of this team.
I want to see a team that revels in stopping their opponents. That really finds joy in it. I want to see a team that would handily stop you from scoring then roll the ball back to you and dare you to try again.
The reason I think we won't see that is I don't think that's a mindset that PJ would promote. It requires a passion that, I'm not sure PJ would be comfortable with, b/c he might see it as a loss of self-control. His teams have always played with a "controlled" dominance.
Posted by: lakers_sth | December 03, 2008 at 03:22 PM