Lakers Blog

Somebody's got money on this game...and the refs are calling it for them...somebody's got to say it...we can't get a call...Kobe can't...Fish can't...it's ridiculous...

http://tinyurl.com/5br7qj

Posted by: christopher blake | January 06, 2009 at 09:45 PM

THESE REFS TONIGHT WERE TERRIBLE

Posted by: socalife | January 06, 2009 at 10:00 PM

It's hard to win when we have a crappy PG, our starting all-star caliber PF goes MIA and we have to face mr. Joey Crawford when he has money on the other team...

Posted by: Brazilian Laker | January 06, 2009 at 10:01 PM

At least we didn't lose to the lowly Bobcats. Have a good one y'all. Peace, two fingers.

-bozz-

Posted by: bozz | January 06, 2009 at 10:01 PM

Lets just say this lost in on Luke WAlton Lakers winning 99-95 before his interview 21-10 run for Hornets after. Literally, WAlton sucks on and off the court.

I'm sorry to say but Bynum is playing like Kwame Brown. I'm sorry he is. Gasol's soft play is rubbing off on Andrew. Gasol was a no show. Shooting weak jumpers and not attacking.

Posted by: Tom | January 06, 2009 at 10:01 PM

Dangit. I hate losing.

That fourth quarter really killed us. I wanted them to run their offense.

Thanks to all the people on the blog during the game. Lots of fun to watch it with you all.

Loved the "Crawford Sucks" chant!!!

I still LOVE LA!
WE LOVE IT!!!!!

Posted by: longtimelakerlover | January 06, 2009 at 10:02 PM

as soon as luke got the problem, i was thinking about the "injury"bug. LO?!!!!!

and never was right. this team looks like does not have the maturity to go beyond a 7 game winning streak.

so why was kobe on the bench?!

we really need a point guard. fish is obsolete.

Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | January 06, 2009 at 10:02 PM

Christopher Blake - yes, we were all screaming on the blog about the sucky calls and how they were just handing Paul the game, basically.

And yes, he is a punk. And man - why the heck were Joel and Stu showering him with love? It stunk! It sucked! I hated it! Bad form, those two.

Man. Kinda takes the sweetness out of cloverleafs losing. ...........nah......

Posted by: longtimelakerlover | January 06, 2009 at 10:04 PM

West completely took apart Gasol tonight. Gasol kept giving him space for the jumper. I don't understand why he would do that. ... SO DUMB. Players in the NBA who win championships find ways to contribute other than scoring the basketball when they have off shooting nights. VLAD BYNUM GASOL nothing.

Posted by: Tom | January 06, 2009 at 10:04 PM

pau really sucked tonight

Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | January 06, 2009 at 10:05 PM

and AB is a total joke

Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | January 06, 2009 at 10:06 PM

I have to say I lost a lot of respect for Chris Paul tonight. He's a talker.

Waaaaaaaaay to many threes tonight, TA shot 7?? 7!!!

Where was the D on Paul and West tonight?
Was anyone else screeming at their tv screens? I was.

LOVED THE CRAWFORD SUCKS CHANTS!

CRAWFORD SUCKS! CRAWFORD SUCKS! F CRAWFORD.

There were a lot of questionable calls tonight, but I don't think that's why we lost the game (maybe a little).

All this being said, the celtics lost to the bobcats tonight and we were without farmar, walton and odom in the second half.

Let's not go crazy here, this is a very good team on pace to win a LOT of games.

go lakers. so angry right now, SO angry!

Posted by: LG | January 06, 2009 at 10:06 PM

Well the end of that game was about the biggest travesty in basketball history. It's only a regular season game, and I know why Phil pulled Kobe at the beginning of the fourth, but seriously. Was it necessary?

The officiating in this game was about the worst I think I've seen in a long time. Joey Crawford called 90% of the fouls and the game absolutely 0 flow to it. It didn't help that Pau had such a terrible night.

The Lakers defense was pretty much terrible all night long, although David West made basically every shot he took, even with Pau's hand in his face most of the time.

The Lakers lost for a lot of reasons. The officiating hurt us a lot. Whatever.

On to GS.

Posted by: "Pig" Miller | January 06, 2009 at 10:06 PM

hmmm i wonder why we lost?? oh ya!! joey crawford! wait a minute? isn't that the guy that got suspended by the nba for being a horrible ref? oh ya he was! mhm y would they let him ref these games then? bs!!!! oh ya and dick bavetta the old guy who by the way was also under investigation by the fbi. 37/22 ft attempts for them on our homecourt?? no love for kobe? wtf all they did was shoot jumpshots and get fouled. this is bs hornets suck they have a two man team. F***** the nba with its bs and cheating referrees.

Posted by: ben | January 06, 2009 at 10:07 PM

Pissed about the loss, but David West had the game of his life. He was on fire from the outside. It took that combined with a slightly off game from us for them to beat us. Disappointing, but it happens.

Posted by: JHB | January 06, 2009 at 10:08 PM

Bynum is close to worthless! We really need that opposite help for Kobe. Why didn't he shoot all our shots?! I hope we make some kind of deal. Could we get Starbury perhaps? Trade for Artest (Houston's going nowhere)? Finally get LO playing well and he gets hurt! Other than Kobe, Pau, Fish and Ariza (I know, he stunk tonight, but he's fine), we are pretty weak!

Posted by: DJ | January 06, 2009 at 10:09 PM

when chicago had 72-10, the team was mature.

i really believe that phil considers that the lakers r not ready yet so he does not want the team to have many expectations. he enjoys this loses so he can keep the team in check

also, from the commentators point of view, i felt that i listen to the hornets radio/tv crew. they r all in love with Cpiss3.

i can't believe in LA, the lakers did not get any call.

Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Greetings Fellow Lakeshow Fans,

INTERESTING game to say the least. The BOTTOM line is that our Lakers front line did practically ZILCH the entire game. NO consistent D and INTENSITY from that group on both ends. The team energy was sporadic to say the least throughout the game, especially in the 4th quarter. Hmmm...Especially shocking was Gasol's OVERALL play. He normally does well against West who was absolutely on fire, scoring 40 points compared to his 10. THERE IS THE DIFFERENCE in the ballgame. WAY TOO MANY THREES TAKEN AS WELL. Should have pounded the ball more with more patience inside just to get ANY reaction...

Here's what I mean:

Hornets: West (40 points), Chandler and Peja 19-35 FG and 26 rebounds

Lakers: Gasol (10 points), Vladimir, and Bynum 6-22 FG and 20 rebounds

CRYSTAL CLEAR!

Most of all, our Lakers allowed CP3 to become WAY TOO COMFORTABLE all over the court...His aggressive play REALLY set the tone for the officiating. Our Lakers lack of D on him REALLY was the culprit from the start. Once again, it didn't help that our front line was a NO SHOW throughout! Kobe played great considering the circumstances. Ariza should have started the game just based on the matchups and game flow..I didn't feel he really had that spark as usual...He was really great on Peja...CP3 a PROBLEM though. Even stout defenders have somewhat mixed days.

BTW, is LO injured AGAIN as reported? Oh well, that's basketball for you...hard luck at times.

The key to beating NO is to STOP CP3! Plain and SIMPLE!

Overall, just a bad game TEAMWISE...These things happen in January...LONG WAY TO GO. Just my thoughts...

Laker pride through ADVERSITY!

Posted by: Let's go L's! | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

well, here's some adversity, it had to come.

let's hope they handle it well.
let's pray Lamar's injury is mild.

Posted by: mud | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

I sensed the loss tonight based of probabilities and players motivations. Home team seemed to be comfortable with sloppy D and their shots were circling the rim while Hornets can't do anything wrong. Peja was cold but Cp3 & West were super hot. They really prepared for this game. Well, the season is long and there is parity in this league, you can't just win them all. With regards to the injuries: Farmar, Luke and LO are these not the guys being the subject of trades? If they are injured does it mean lakers will lose all other games? That's preposterous, the reason why there are 14 players b/c of injuries Powell, Mihm, Mbenga and Yue, this is their chance to shine and show what they have got. What about the 15th slot for a PG? There is no room for comfort for a team vying for Championship, all players must be part of the team.

Tomorrow's game is dangerous b/c it is b2b and a road game.

Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

socalife,

>>>THESE REFS TONIGHT WERE TERRIBLE

STFU. It ain't like that. The refs didn't force Ariza to jack up
7 three pointers and miss 5 of them. The refs didn't didn't make
Rad shoot 1 for 7 including bricking a DUNK. The refs didn't
make Fish shoot 6 for 18. The refs didn't pass the ball in to the
post so few times that Bynum and Gasol only took 7 and 8 shots.

If you want to be a whiner, go cheer for Boston.

The Hornets played with a lot of heart tonight. In the past two
games, they tried to post up David West and Gasol shut him down.
Tonight, BScott changed it up and had West initiate offense
from about 20 feet out and facing the basket, and Pau didn't
adjust well.

For three quarters, the teams battled back and forth, but at the
end of the game, New Orleans hit their shots and the Lakers
missed theirs.

Don't even bring that "blame it on the refs" stuff in here, cuz
I'll block that like Bynum blocking a Luke Walton layup in practice.

Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

are people seriously hating on d fish??? how soon we forget the smush parker era!!! Fish isnt perfect by any means, but the old timer has really sacked up since Jfarm's injury and his D has been decent, if not spectacular. Remember the dude is 33 and even though the Pau trade put us over the top in terms of contending, getting back Fish gave us the initial stability and respectability again as a solid team in the league. Like Rick Fox, I'll take D. Fish as my PG any day.

Posted by: golakeshow | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

losing another player due to injury concerns me more than the game loss itself...

Posted by: kobelovesjuan | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

CP3 was unstoppable, and the laker bigs played soft. kobey couldn't break the Hornet D.

D-West dominated gasal. And you have to hand it to Posey for making big threes.

At least you get to watch some games. Suns have only 4 games for 2 weeks now.

Posted by: BUTLER | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

and on the same note

they will loose tomorrow at GSW

Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

I blame Walton on this one. The run started after his interview. lol

Phil should have not pulled out Kobe when he was still hot.
It would really help us if we have LO. He is a good defender against West.

AND AB!!!!!! IS he scared or something???? he is on a decline!!!!

Posted by: TinidorS | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

And THAT is why the Lakers need Luke (and Farmar and Odom,
for that matter).

Rad is a streaky shooter. If he's hitting his shots, fine. But if
he's laying bricks, like tonight, then he brings nothing to the team.

And Ariza's defense is great, but he shouldn't be jacking up
seven 3-pointers EVER.

And in the first quarter of this game (and most of the game for
that matter), Bynum and Gasol got very few touches. There should
never EVER be a game where Trevor Ariza shoots seven 3's
while Bynum and Gasol take 7 and 8 shots respectively.

Luke, on the other hand, knows how to get the ball in to those
two in the post. That leads to easier shots for Gasol and Bynum,
passes to cutters, and kick outs to outside shooters.

And Luke and Farmar and Odom are all capable of creating
shots either for themselves or for their teammates. In the fourth
quarter tonight, Kobe sat down for a rest with the Lakers leading
by 5 points. But with nobody able to create shots, and nobody
good at passing in to the post, they gave up 7 straight points
and PJ had to put Kobe back in before they got in a deep hole.

And another thing. Kobe and Fish played 42 minutes each.
And late in the fourth, they were MISSING ALL THEIR SHOTS.
That's because they're OLD... and TIRED. If you have Farmar
and Luke playing 15 to 20 minutes each, then Kobe and Fish and
Ariza get more rest in the game and are all fresh for the end of
the game.

So stop wishing for the Lakers to get rid of Farmar and Odom
and Walton and start wishing for them to get back soon, because
without those three, there are other teams than the Hornets who
are capable of beating the Lakers... including Golden State
tomorrow
night. Remember, they just beat Boston a couple of weeks ago.

Let's hope the Lakers can re-group and maybe get a few
minutes for Powell and Yue tomorrow night so that the key
players are still fresh in the fourth.

Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Yep, the Lakers deserved to lose this one. Our bigs did not show up, wasting another efficient game from Kobe.

Posted by: grail | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Well this loss is the first time I predicted the Lakers to lose and they actually did. I did say, however, that the Lakers tend to drop a game for every six or seven they win. I'm not bummed about this loss itself. We didn't have Farmar, Luke, and Lamar. These guys were all present when we beat the Hornets. New Orleans is a really good team and I was reminding everyone prior to the game that they overcame a third quarter deficit against Portland and went on to storm for a victory. Chris Paul and West are sick. Tyson should still have been suspended.

I'm more concerned about the future. The Lakers are in a real danger of going into a Celtic slump. I hate to say but we actually do need Farmar, Lamar, and Luke on the floor. The offense and defense are just so different when they're not there.

Farmar will be gone until the all star break.
Luke is out for at least two weeks and I think Lamar will be gone for at least a month. That hyperextension looked serious.

Posted by: never | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Well, that was a prime example of two things...

First:

Elmer Fudd should never, ever be allowed to ref a game again...anywhere...in any league...look at the FT stats for the second half...almost a 5 to 1 difference...5 to 1...we weren't allowed to be anywhere near CP, and Kobe got hit, on the shooting arm, on three straight three pointers...not one call...the game was still up for grabs when fish drives to the hole...gets fouled by CP...no call...5 to 1...it looked like the championship series...pathetic...Tyson Chandler took as many FTs (6) as Kobe...davis West? 13 CP? 9 Those two players took as many FTs as our entire team...and the technicals were a joke...

Second:

Phil has proven, once again, to be the worst coach in the league at in-game adjustments...Pau could NOT guard West toniight...period. You either have to double him and take the ball out of his hands, or try someone else...you had Mihm and Mbenga on the bench...could they really have done any worse?

He thankfully doesn't rest Kobe to start the 4th...but...with a lead, and Kobe super hot, he takes him out at the 7 plus mark...what happened in that minute or so he was out? & straight points for NO and the tide is changed...then, does he set down picks to free Kobe? Off side screens? Double down screens?...No...Kobe, to his credit, passed the ball out to wide open team mates...and nobody could hit a shot...

I know we're short handed...even more so with LO going out...and he was having a good game...hope he's all right...but Phil is either incapable, or unwilling to make in-game adjustments...at least until it's too late...

I'm proud of the guys...they fought hard...Kobe single-handedly carried us for three and a half quarters...nobody else but Fish could really hit a shot...but they hung in there...

Now, back to my old school ways...someone needs to lay CP's little punk a** out on the floor...he gets away with throw too many elbows and sticking his big a** into people and still gets the calls...lay him out once...good and hard...he won't be driving like he did...make him look over his shoulder...if you're getting called for the ticky-tack stuff...make one worth it...that's where I'll give Sasha credit...he doesn't, and didn't, back down...

http://tinyurl.com/5br7qj

Posted by: christopher blake | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Here is the problem with Fisher,

1) He can't make any lay-up and he keeps driving into the lane.

2) However, the biggest problem with him is his sense of entitlement. He thinks he's entitled to shoot quick pull-up jumper, or drive into the lane and throw a prayer, or worse intentionally move the ball away from Kobe. Just because he won 3 rings with Kobe doesn't mean he gets a free pass for those stupid things he does.

It is quite obvious that in tonight's game, Kobe was hot and we need Kobe to score to win. But in 4th quarter, more than a few occasions, Fisher doesn't even try to get the ball to Kobe.

I hope somebody on the team should tell Fisher at least try to limit those stupid stuff.

Posted by: H Chen | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

ALL I’M GOING TO SAY…

If it takes a spectacular career game by David West, Hornets poster boy Chris Paul being gifted with the full Dwayne Wade touch-me-and-it’s-a-foul treatment, an unfair 17-point differential at the charity stripe for the visiting team, and Phil Jackson stupidly benching a scorching-hot Kobe Bryant at the critical point in the 4th quarter for the Hornets to beat us, then I am not really worried at all. It will be the last time New Orleans beats us this year, including the playoffs – if they are unfortunate enough to play us.

If Kobe got the same treatment that Wade and Paul get, he would have shot 15 free-throws tonight instead of just 6. And that bump foul not called on Fisher against CP3 was an exact replay of every foul call Paul received all night long. You know, basketball is supposed to be fun but I did not see Paul smile once all night long. I know he is a great player and I should root for him being a former point guard, but the little crapper just sets my teeth gritting with his cheap fouls and scowling demeanor. And falling down on every single play to try and draw a foul should have gotten the little creep a technical foul.

Won’t happen again, so enjoy the win, Hornets. You did and did not deserve it.

JMNSHB and mad opinion.

Tom

Posted by: LakerTom | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Thanks longtimelakerlover...hard for me to try and keep up with my little live blog, blog here, and watch the game...I don't have a laptop...drag my crippled a** back and forth from my little office to the family room where the wife and I watch the games...

She had to put up with a lot tonight...my curse-o-meter was at about 50 on a scale of 1-10...just hope I didn't ruin it for her...the kids put on their headphones tonight, I was sooooo bad...

I know all of you have my back on the blog when I can't get here,,,I don't get Joel and Stu either...it's not being a homer to point out the FT disparity...or what CP gets away with...or how awful Elmer Fudd is...

Posted by: christopher blake | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

What was up with the refs tonight? Quite an obvious vendetta against our guys.

Oh well, the injuries worry me more than this loss. On to GS.

Posted by: #4 | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Posted by: DJ | January 06, 2009 at 11:24 PM

For some reason I felt this loss coming before the game. Oddly, I don't feel too upset about it like I did the sac/indy losses. NO is a very very good team and CP3 and West gave the games I thought we would see the first two times we played at their place. It is very hard to beat an elite team three games in a row. I felt like it was one of those games where Paul just couldnt be denied, and West was on fire too and when they both go off like that, its like when Kobe goes off for us, just nothing you can do. It was a fun game to watch, and I also feel that LO's injury dramatically affected the face of the game. Say what you will about the guy, but he was having his best offensive game in the first half and the man is a beast on the boards and defensively for us. I'm getting more concerned by the second just thinking about it...To those of you calling for Pau's head - cmon! Everyone, even Pau, has an off night. We should have gone inside more to him and drew throughout the game. But the way Kobe shot in the third, it kind of got us into the three happy mode. This loss is disappointing, but not devastating by any means. What hurts ten times worse is losing another guy to injury. INjury bug hits LA in January again...get well soon LO

Posted by: golakeshow | January 06, 2009 at 11:25 PM

WHY WE LOST:

1. Refs. I thought Donahey was no longer in the league.

2. Phil got outcoached by Byron. After Kobe got hot, Byron doubl/triple teamed Kobe to make other players beat them. Phil and Pau, on the other hand, played the EXACT FRICKIN D on West for the ENTIRE FRICKIN GAME, no matter how many times he sunk that jumper. It's like slappin some idiot 20 straight times upside the head, and he is too dumb to duck.

Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | January 06, 2009 at 11:28 PM

Wow language.

It was a perfect storm of losing tonight. NO ifs or butts about it.

The Lakers were not the Lakers we know and love, the refs? Well I'm leaving that alone.

There are no excuses, and no need to nitpick tonight. One game, one loss. Onward Lakerville onward!

Go Lakers!

Posted by: Faith | January 06, 2009 at 11:33 PM

Walton can stop CP3 and/or West, that's a very unrealistic observation for a long time laker watcher. If Walton can't perform a decent D in '05. '06, '07 when he was healthy, what makes you think he can do harm to Hornets in 09. Why did fans and bloggers alike called them a bunch of scrubs if they can play defense. Lakers are bound to lose tonight part of the 82 games challenge. You win some, you lose some, c'est la vie.

Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 06, 2009 at 11:46 PM

We got beat by a team that wanted it more tonight.

We've been punking NO something awful the last year. I really think Byron had his boys fired up to a playoff fever pitch. David West was locked in tonight. I don't think Pau really played bad D, it's just West was drilling that 20 footer all night long. You got to take your hat off to dude, it was his night. CP3 was great, he's very tough to defend, but impossible if the refs keep giving him fouls on plays when he's initiating all the contact. There were like 10-12 no calls that Joey and the boys decided to blow their whistles on. Really a shame when the refs decide to be that big a part of the game. One of the most over officiated games I've seen. Ridiculous.

Kobe was spectacular, didn't get the support he needed tonight. LO going out was very unfortunate, especially because he seemed very focused and motivated tonight. Bynum on the other hand looked undecided and confused when he got the ball and lackluster when he didn't have it. (his overall activity level is really becoming an issue.) Gasol just never got in a rhythm, perhaps watching West drill jumper after jumper in his mug effected his offense tonight. Ariza played with hustle, but will someone tell him to stop spotting up for 3's. Dude is not a pure shooter, what the hell is he doing jacking up 7 3's? Sasha can shoot at will but cmon Trevor. BTW a few of those calls on Sasha were horrible. He just looks like a fouler, so refs blow on him at will now. He needs to cut down on his histrionics and play. He's never gonna get a call with all his whining. As a matter of fact, is it me or is the overall whine factor out on the court becoming annoying? Just play ball boys, nobody cares about your sad stories. BTW, Fisher didn't get fouled on that layup. He should start giving those up, he blows to many fastbreaks. We'll bounce back tomorrow. NO wanted it more than us tonight.

Posted by: MikeFloss | January 07, 2009 at 12:09 AM

Man...one loss and all of the haters come out. Can't even take a break for a day or two and enjoy having the best record in the league.

OK so we had a bad game and have some guys hurt. Pau & Fish have been bringing it all year and they may not be on the starting all-star team this year but we're lucky to have them. So shut the ... up.

Tomorrow night might be rough too but it will give us a challenge. The games were starting to get boring anyway (I mean Pacers, Heat, Sacto, Golden State, even Orlando).

Missing LO, Luke & Jordan.

As always...GO LAKERS!!!

Posted by: olf | January 07, 2009 at 12:36 AM

Common you people.... no excuses....

NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!!

WE GOT BEAT BY A HUNGRIER TEAM... PERIOD...

OUR GUYS.. EXCEPT FOR KOBE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THE GAME....

END OF STORY...

LET'S BATTLE AGAIN NEXT GAME...

GO LAKERS!!!!

GO KOBE!!!!

Posted by: dice8up | January 07, 2009 at 02:52 AM

Lakers Blog

Round-the-Clock Purple and Gold written by the Kamenetzky brothers.

Live from the game- Lakers vs. Hornets

More Sports

Round-the-Clock Purple and Gold
written by the Kamenetzky brothers.