West + Paul = End of win streak
As we noted in last night's postgame report, there were a lot of negatives stacked up against the Lakers in their 116-105 loss to the Hornets Tuesday night at Staples. The Lakers, thin already with injuries to Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar, lost Lamar Odom to a hyperextended knee in the second quarter, forcing to play the second half without him. He'll undergo an MRI exam today, but very well could miss tonight's tilt in Oakland against the Warriors. So that kinda sucked. So did Vlad Radmanovic's return to the starting lineup, and their inability to sustain an inside attack. But the biggest suck factor, at least for Lakers fans, was enduring two huge performances from New Orleans' All Star duo of Chris Paul and David West. The two combined for 72 points, with West popping for 40 and 10 boards, and CP3 adding 32 and 15 of his team's 17 dimes.
Kobe Bryant, who carried the Lakers with a 20 point third quarter en route to 39 points overall, was impressed, particularly by Paul. (Rather unimpressed by the New Orleans PG was Sasha Vujacic, who was extremely critical of the officiating after the game.)
Similar to when the Lakers knocked off Boston on Christmas Day, most of the commentary this morning points to the importance of the result for the Hornets, who have struggled against LA for a little while now:
"...It's a group, Hornets coach Bryon Scott said after his team beat the Lakers 116-105, that has "a lot of character. We've still got a lot of guts."
They've been confusing for much of the season. It never seemed like they were playing that well, but until a loss at Denver on Saturday night the Hornets were in the select group of teams with a single digit in the L column, a circle currently inhabited only by the Lakers, Celtics, Cavaliers and Magic. Then a closer look revealed the Hornets were only 9-8 against teams with winning records, and two of those eight came at home against the Lakers.
"I thought we had to prove a point not only to them but to ourselves that we can beat this team," Scott said. "Tonight we came out and we played a lot harder. We were a lot more aggressive on both ends and we got a W..."
"...Bryant gave the Hornets ample reason to fold on Tuesday, sticking one deep 3-pointer after another in a 20-point third-quarter barrage that had Paul still shaking his head 30 minutes after the game.
“It was crazy,” he said. “It was cray-zee. I was like a fan in the third quarter.”
Paul shrugged. What could the Hornets do? They waited out the attack, with West keeping them as close as possible. When Bryant went to the bench a little less than four minutes into the fourth quarter with the Lakers up five, the Hornets hit back harder, scoring 15 consecutive points. The Lakers never answered..."
"...Of course, after losing the first two games of the season series, both in New Orleans, the Hornets came into this one determined to show everyone they could still play with the Lakers, starting with themselves.
For our psyche, we've got to play one of those games where we know we can beat them," Coach Byron Scott said before the game.
"I don't think right now they think we can, although I know in my heart I think we can."
Scott knows all about Lakers psych jobs, having been part of the Showtime teams that prided themselves on being able to strike fear into opponents' hearts. In warmups.
In the '80s, the Lakers ran onto the floor in the Forum with Magic Johnson in the lead, wearing a look that expressed as much disdain as confidence.
"We just followed right behind Earvin," Scott said. "Everybody swaggers a little different. Some people had rhythm, some people didn't. . . .
"My wife used to always tell me she stood right by the tunnel to watch us come out. I never saw her..."
Subscribe to this Blog What is RSS?
First of all...Lakers Nation...let us try to keep a sense of perspective.
Getting 'stung' and dropping a game to The Hornets is NOT on the same level as getting 'mauled' by the Charlotte Bobcats. Big LOL @ The Slumping Green Weenies. It was obvious how desperately New Orleans wanted last night's game. Yet another miserable defeat, after losing both their home games to L.A., would have seriously dented their psyche and furthered talk that the Lakers 'own' the Hornets.
Last night's game just saw a weird confluence of events: Paul and (especially) West played out of their minds, Odom left with an injury in the 2nd quarter, both the Lakers starting Bigs played ineffectual and passive games, and (as Sasha hinted at) the refs seemed to have it in for the home team. Very strange game overall.
What hurts the most is that the Lakers couldn't capitalize on the C's losing yesterday to gain some ground in the loss column. Oh well. Just when I was primed to crow about the C's overtime loss to the Bobcats, the Lakers drop the game to the Hornets, and I end up eating crow instead. Haha...
Yesterday's game was probably a warning from the Basketball gods against hubris. After all, pride goes before the fall, right?
P & G R
Posted by: Purple & Gold Reign | January 07, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Please Please Plleaeseeee lamar be ok! Sasha needs to keep his emotions in check. He made me laugh out loud during his locker room interview where he said he was gonna have a talk with his agent and the NBA about the atrocities committed on the court. Cmon kid, let it go. Yeah there were plenty of bad calls all around, but sasha needs to move on. Warriors will not be easy task after last night. It would benefit the Lakers to slow it down and pound the inside so the bigs can make up for their poor showing last ngiht. On the other hand, we all know how enticing it is for the 'show to start running and gunnin.
Posted by: golakeshow | January 07, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Wow. So CP3 was calling The Machine a female dog? He's just jealous because The Machine gets all the chicks.
I think I just lost a lot of respect for Chris Paul. I hope the next match Josh Powell comes out and punks him.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 07, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Wow, the Hornets are taking that much away from a win against the Lakers who were missing a starter and 2 of their best bench players? Not to mention the refs who apparently had serious man-crushes for Chris Paul all night because they gave him more presents than a married couple on their first anniversary!
I guess you have to manufacture confidence from somewhere when you're not really a good enough team to generate it from your play on the basketball floor though. Good luck with that Hornets, you're still 2-3 players away from being a contender, that's not going to change until it actually changes.
Posted by: Mayor of Kobe Town | January 07, 2009 at 11:06 AM
PGR, you said it. Last night's loss hurt, but not as much as the other losses, because the way it went down was so extrreme. West had a twice in a lifetime performance, Paul was in peak shape, while we were missing key role players, and everyone other than Kobe played abysmal ball. And that 4th quarter... they were on fire while we went stone cold.
Let's see them replicate all these factors in a 7 game series. If we meet in the playoffs, Lakers in 6, MAX.
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | January 07, 2009 at 11:10 AM
To be fair, folks, if I was playing against Sasha, I can totally see myself wanting to call him names and punch him in the face as well
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | January 07, 2009 at 11:11 AM
REPOST
Lefty & others,
If you want to get technical, Bynum hasn't gotten "paid" yet... His pay doesn't start until next year.
However, like I said before, Bynum is afraid to be aggressive because of his knee. I don't think physically it's giving him trouble, it's all mental. When the lane is congested, he is not being aggressive to the ball. Last year when he was aggressive with others in the lane, he landed on Odoms foot. I think he is worried about coming down on it again.. He needs to get over the mental block, which may be a slow process.
Amare Studamire got over his "mental" and "physical" issues, but it took him a while. It took Amare playing for almost a year to get over the mental part.
Posted by: zen | January 07, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Last nights loss is NOT A BIG DEAL; stuff happens. Every year the BEST team loses 10-20 games...Season is just TOO long to play great every night.
The bigger worry is now we have 2 key players out; 3 if your part of the Luke fan club. It's nice we have depth cause I think we can ride it out and still win the west.
I think the 3 quick fouls on machine last night was a key. He never got involved in the game, and Fish and Kobe had to play too many minutes.
Posted by: Eric M. | January 07, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Hey, if we can go 6-1 basketball from here on out(meaning, we lose approximately every 7th game), I'd take it in a heartbeat!!!!!!!!!!!
That's what? 7 more losses!
I think 68-14 should get us home-court through out the postseason!!!!!!!!
Posted by: the canibus hog | January 07, 2009 at 11:22 AM
RE-POST:
Too much CP 3, too much David West. They came in determined to put it to our boys and I would say that, in the 4th quarter we obliged.
Can someone please explain why Derek Fisher jacked up 13...13?!...friggin' 3s? Anyone? Follow up question: Is Ariza trying to get a spot in the All-Star 3-Point Shooting Competition? His accuracy needs improving if that is his ardent desire.
An amazing 3rd quarter was steam rolled by a horrendous 4th quarter. The Lakers seem to be the only team that doesn't guard the inbound the ball Full Court to a streaking opponent for an easy score. Were the ref's bad? Yes, Joey Crawford is a Laker Hater Extraordinaire. But every guy, except Sun Yue, should know that by now. Button it up and play. Too many stupid Technical fouls, especially the one near the end of the game.
If you are going to go to the trouble and the cost of getting a tech for complaining calls to the refs, don't minimalize it's impact on the officiating by jacking up 3s. Drive to the hoop, after you complain to refs and they T you up, it often results in a make-up call or two...but not if you're jacking up 3s.
In regards to "cooling Kobe off", I don't know if that was the case last night. I thought Fisher consistently started going away from Kobe in the 4th. Fisher and Ariza took waaaaaaaaaaaay too many early shot clock corner 3s in the 4th. Josh Powell took a questionable fade-away 15 footer, Vladdi missed a dunk. That was when we went from up 5 to down 8. Dribble penetration was the difference in the 4th, not the personnel on the court, CP 3 made it happen, noone on our team did. I also think Byron Scott lulled us into those 3s with his switch to a Zone in the 4th, a Zone that focused on doubling Kobe whenever he touched the ball.
Overall, as big a bummer as this was (tied for best record with the Cavs), I'd say this was as big a game and win for the Hornets as beating Boston X-mas was for us. They needed to feel like they could win. However, if we lose to them again on our home court, that will be really bad. Why? Chances are we will have home court advantage throughout the WC playoffs, and the Hornets will feel very confident coming into our building and thinking they can win. the next game is key for us to keep our edge over them, I should say our mental edge because these teams stack up well against each other physically, except at the PG position, they have the edge there.
Get it back tonight, get healthy Lamar and keep on rockin'.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | January 07, 2009 at 11:23 AM
any info for LO?
Posted by: lakerslovedude | January 07, 2009 at 11:26 AM
I'm extremely bummed about Odom. He was playing really well last night on pace for a 20 something point game. He was attacking and attacking well (no charges). I really hope this isn't too serious. Kobe hyperexnteded his knee in the preseason and missed a couple of games. Lets see how tough Odom is, hopefully he isn't out for two months.
Bynum was also intriguing last night. He showed some great flashes and some good effort at times however he still vanished for most of the game. He has the skills, he just needs to give 100% every minute he's on the floor. It also hurts that there aren't a million touches for him. I'm not worried at all about Bynum, he's still a kid.
The reason we lost last night is because the Hornets had two guys against our one (Kobe). Pau didn't show up, Ariza couldn't hit a three, Bynum was inconsistent, Vlad was on Mars, Fish was ok. Odom was playing great and could have possibly (just maybe) been our second big guy last night but he got hurt. I'm not too worried about this loss because we have so many weapons (when everybody is healthy) that there won't be too many nights like last night where no one else helps Kobe.
At least the Celtics are sucking big time
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | January 07, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I wish Sasha would complain less after a foul is called against him. The dude complains after EVERY call. Someone please tell Sasha that it gets old and the refs will start ignorning him.
Other than that, he's become a decent player.
I'd like to see the Lakers and Hornets in a series this playoff. I can already see a Sasha-Paul fight.
Posted by: KL | January 07, 2009 at 11:41 AM
I think it's time to make a move for Caron Butler.
Posted by: never | January 07, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Also what happened to the flopping fines? I remember David West falling back after Bynum had tapped him with his shoulder??
Posted by: never | January 07, 2009 at 11:45 AM
With LO, Luke and Farmar out, the Lakers are no longer a deep team.
Some players need to step up big time with the upcoming challenging schedule.
That means Josh Powell who will be taking some of LOs minutes at PF. Powell, you have moved up from garbage time to critical second unit bench reserve. Now is your chance to prove to the entire NBA that you are a playah.
That means Vlad Rad who will no longer have to fight for PT w/Luke. That means no more space cadet moments, play the team game on both ends of the floor. Use your height, you are 6'10" darn it.
That means Sasha who will have to play more PG minutes with Farmar out and LO, the point forward out. Keep your emotions in check and run the plays first instead of looking for your shot first.
That means Bynum, who needs to start dominating and justifying his big contract especially now that the Lakers are short handed and w/our 3rd big man LO out.
No more rebounding minutes to share w/LO, we are expecting at least 10 rebounds a night and at least an average of 12 from you. No more wondering if PJ is going to play you or LO in the ending minutes of the game. Prove that you are the next great Laker center by making those key stops and high percentage dunks at the end of games when the opposing team is keyed in on Kobe. Use those new muscles. You're no longer a boy. Be a man.
Posted by: LakerinBC | January 07, 2009 at 11:47 AM
some more thoughtless thoughts:
new thread AAARRRGGG!!!
Kobe had two highlights of the year last night---that buzzer beater at the end of the half and that two handed block / grab in the WANING (!) minutes of the game--as someone else said, that was Kobe's compettitve fire in a nutshell...
Posey finally was T'd for fouling after the whistle---he acted real surprised---hopefully the word is out and the refs are looking at his play after he fouls the first time--he needs to be T'd everytime he does that chicken sheet...
after the third quad and Kobe shooting from distance so effectively, I was screaming at my TV for him (and everyone else in a yaller jersey for that matter) to drive to the ever lovin' basket the entire 4th quad...but jump shots stayed on the menu unfortunately and my screams went unabated...on the humanity....
still think we are a team in our toddler stage...we have a loooong way to go but we will get there and man oh man what a ride...
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | January 07, 2009 at 11:47 AM
bone bruise for Lamar. day to day
Posted by: zen | January 07, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Hey it could be worse. we could have lost to the bobcats
Posted by: richtown | January 07, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Give the credit to Chris Paul and David West rather than hate them. Our team lost because they are not matured yet to hold leadership in the league and dominate every team just like the Showtime era. Every game is a new lesson for them. The same is expected from its fans. You can't brag that we own the Hornets just because our record was great and won twice in their home court. You win some, you lose some from there you move on that's how the ebb and flow of the season. Remember the objective here is home court advantage at the end of 82 games. The next round of competition will be the playoffs, the objective there is to win them all to get to the O'Brien trophy. If you make excuses that because of the absence of Farmar, LO and Walton, the reason why we lost is just absurd. We lost because they failed in putting up a good defense. From there Lakers should move on and prepare for the next game.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 07, 2009 at 12:30 PM
cool quote department:
I really dig this quote from Clark Kent:
"I loved to compete, I loved to play hard and I loved to see the faces of the players that we played against, and see the frustration, the bewilderment, the lack of confidence," Rambis said. "We didn't believe in showing any team any mercy. I don't know how you could ever get bored just playing."
This is what this current team needs to adopt as their mantra...
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | January 07, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Worst loss of the year - no argument for this, it just felt that like to this spectator. To see Kobe disappear in the 4th as the team kept taking 3's was depressing.
Just one game but I hate see Kobe back off when he's hot.
C'mon Bynum... figure this thing out and show us what u got!
Posted by: East Nyboer | January 07, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Floyd
love your last 2 posts: the quote from rambis and mentioning the 2 huge plays by kobe. thanks for the reminder.
the buzzer beat was great but the block was humo.....
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | January 07, 2009 at 01:17 PM
As a Bynum supporter (not because of Bynum himself, but because I see what he can do and what it would mean to this team), I have to say so far, I'm very disappointed in his play. So many times, I see him making good post moves and getting in the proper positions, but clunking the shots. Maybe the timing just isn't there yet (although it is January now), or for whatever reason he's rushing things a bit.
Is he still working with Cap? Anyone know? K-brothers?
Posted by: Jason F | January 07, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Anyone forget AB is still walkin around with bone loose in his foot? So give him a little slack, but the bench needs to step up big time now, the silver lining is, we know how to play hurt, so expect a better all round performance tonight.
Posted by: RIZZO | January 07, 2009 at 01:32 PM
CP might be a great guy off the court but on the court he is tough, yet he knows how to flop with the best of them[ take a bow Derek] so i hate him and respect him as the best pg in the game right now, but they have no chance when we play our game.
Posted by: RIZZO | January 07, 2009 at 01:43 PM
The lakers have a opportunity right now to show the league how deep we are, LO bone bruise is cool cause it could have been worse, Powell needs to step up, Sasha needs to not argue every call, it makes him look stupid, Ariza needs to shoot the 3 only if the shot clock is running out, Fish need to just bring it like he usually does, The bigs need to grow a few pairs and take it hard to the hole, when we struggle they have an advantage over everyone they play so they need to play like it, Pau and Andrew should have a contest to see who can have the most dunks each game, see how that works out!
Posted by: RIZZO | January 07, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Basketball is still a business and Vegas called last night." Yo, bruno, go down to la-la land and tell them we mean business."
Posted by: stanley | January 07, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Sux. But, we still maintain the best overall record in the league. So, I'm cool with it.
Also, before anyone bemoans the Lakers defense (I had to turn off the talking heads in the postgame because of this), notice carefully that though the Hornets got a lot of open looks, they actually missed most of those shots. The shots they were hitting were the contested shots. I lost count of the number of times when the Lakers successfully got the ball out of CP3's hands and recovered back to the open guy only to have him drain the long ball anyway.
When a dude or team is that hot, all you can do is fight fire with fire. However, the Hornets were able to successfully get the ball out of Kobe's hands late in the game.
West was hitting shots with hands in his face all night. Gasol was draped on him (and fouled him on numerous occasions), and they were simply going in. He was hitting fade-away-off-the-wrong-foot prayers and that were being constantly answered.
He must have sold his soul to shoot that well. I wanna see him do that again...
CP3 was CP3. I don't know what everyone expects. He isn't considered maybe the best PG in the league because he can't break-down a defense...
Posted by: Fearless | January 07, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Rizzo, Jason F, LakerTom and LTLF:
This is a repost from other thread but I have to continue this because I am tired of letting AB17 get away with all the various excuses.
LTLF and LakerTom: agreed if the bigs get touches, they tend to be more active. However - the #2 Laker option (and this season's most consistent player) was clearly having an off night.
I would argue that AB needs to be a little more demanding in that type of situation and when he does get the touches - score. He was 2/7. And he certainly hasn't shown the ability to make good decisions with consistently high foul counts.
I think you are being too nice/lenient on AB. Yes, he's young, so I will discount the poor decision making w/r/t fouls. However, he certainly has played enough basketball over his entire life to have built up some bball IQ. Maybe not NBA IQ but after 3+ years in NBA come on - no more excuses.
I think he is not mentally limited because of his injury - I am beginning to believe he just doesn't have the bball IQ to be an elite (lakers) center. Every night he can look up to the rafters and see the jersey's of the greatest big men in the "history" of the NBA (ode to Bill Walton). That should be motivation enough.
Additionally, AB's had PRIVATE lessons from arguably the greatest center of all-time who has these stats:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left the game in 1989 at age 42, no NBA player had ever scored more points, blocked more shots, won more MVP awards, played in more All-Star Games, or logged more seasons. His list of personal and team accomplishments is perhaps the most awesome in league history: Rookie of the Year, member of six NBA championship teams, six-time NBA MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time All-Star, two-time scoring champ, and a member of the NBA 35th and 50th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
AB's been able to sit though many games and study the moves of EVERY current NBA center during his various injuries. Granted his new extension doesn't kick in until next year - but why should he be given a pass until next year to overcome his mental injury limitations? He should be investing everything he can into making the Lakers a better/championship team now (hire a shrink for gosh sakes) since he was supposedly the "missing link".
I am getting a little agitated by all this because clearly Trevor read all the criticism, expectations and IMHO - has stepped up to the plate from his injury (which if I recall) was from D-Fish landing on him in the paint. That certainly hasn't stopped or impeded TA's ability to take it to the hoop (ex. last night) or go the extra step to take on additional floor responsibilities.
I don't see the same mentality in AB17 and this is of great concern! Yes, he has a job this year (rebound and defend the post) but even last night's game was WAY below average in both respects in addition to scoring.
The Lakers have invested in him in multiple ways and "given his family financial security", yet there has been little ROI.
GO LAKERS!
We are all hard workers in our various endeavors and few if any of us have a guaranteed contract one year from now for $57mm. Come on guys - the expectations are no different than any other players with the same $ contracts. Just because Pau and KB are getting more doesn't mean he is to be pitied? The Lakers retained him to become a superstar and that should be incentive enough NOW.
What would you say about his play if he got the max extension deal?? Thank goodness the Lakers didn't cave to his Agent's demands....
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | January 07, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Zen,
Preach it Brother! Everyone who's ever been injured knows that the mind heals much slower than the body. His thing is psychological and only time will truely heal him. We've just got to be patient.
One day, for no particular reason, Drew will just let go and he'll be all the way back. You can totally tell this is his first major injury.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | January 07, 2009 at 03:34 PM
PsychedLakerGirl,
Wow! You are tough. Drew is going to be all right. He only played a little High School ball and skipped college. He's still learning who he is as a person right now. All that personaly discovery stuff we all went through in college when mistakes could be hidden, he's doing in the public domain.
He is still a year off because of his injury.
I know that you are frustrated, but DANG he is sooo young. Give him a break, OK?
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | January 07, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Fearless: everyone is lead to BELIEVE this was AB's first major injury.
However, let's not forget he flew back East on several occasions to see his "world renowned" NYC leg/knee/foot specialist whom he had been a patient of and "seen" for MANY years before. How many 17-20 year olds retain the services of this type of orthapedic specialist if they haven't ever had a major injury? His family must have had an awesome insurance plan to afford that level of service for merely "routine" orthapedic specialists.
Call me crazy and harping on my opinion but enough with letting this "kid" slide by with excuses - if he can see an expert NYC ortho - he can surely retain the services of Dr. Phil or whomever is the world renowned expert sport psychologist!!! Or is he waiting for the Lakers organization to foot that bill too?
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | January 07, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Okay everyone - I am done ranting about AB now and will go back to my normal spirited self.....
I hope I am eating my words come June when the Beast takes over his defensive responsibilities and shoulders this Lakerr team to a ring.... just saying TBD.
GO LAKERS!!! Please take out any frustration on the lowly GSW tonight.
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | January 07, 2009 at 04:12 PM
HERE'S WHAT WENT WRONG IN A NUTSELL --BUT GOOD FOR THE FUTURE!
PHIL JACKSON: WRONG: OUT COACHED AGAIN--BAD SUB PATTERN AT WRONG TIME AND NOT USING TIME-OUTS IN RIGHT MANNER. HE REALLY THINKS HIS RINGS CAN COACH FOR HIM: BUT TRUTH IS WITH MICHAEL JORDAN AND KOBE SHAQ COMBO MY LITTLE SISTER CLD COACH THEM TO RINGS. RIGHT: HE DOES LET THE BENCE GET CRITICAL PLAYING TIME.
FISHER: PROMISE IT SEEMS LIKE HE HATES ON KOBE SOMETIMES: HE WENT AWAY FROM KOBE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FOURTH TO GIVE IT TO WHO? TREVOR, SASHA AND HIS TIRED LEFT ARM? RIGHT: HE REALLY TRYS TO DEFEND CP3 WITHOUT CRYING...
TREVOR: WRONG: TOO MANY 3'RS MY BOY. RIGTH: HE ALWYAS GIVES 100%
SASHA: WRONG: WHINES; RIGHT: TRYS HARD
VLAD: WRONG: TEAM NEEDS TO FILE A MISSING PERSON REPORT ON HIM. RIGHT: HE SITS FAR AWAY FROM PHIL ON THE BENCH.
BYNUM: WRONG: I THINK HE AND VLAD GO TO THE "SPECIAL PLACE" IN THIER MINDS DURING THE GAME AND FORGET TO PLAY BALL! RIGHT: HE PASSES THE BALL DURING CRITICAL TIMES TO KOBE!
PAU G. WRONG: NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH AND PLAYED BAD DEFENSE ALL NIGHT! RIGHT: PASS THE BALL TO KOBE IN CRITICAL TIMES!
Posted by: moneydez | January 07, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Bravo Psychedlakergirl - that is the fan I'm talking about. These players are being paid that everyone of us could only dream of in our careers, yet we don't see that brand of professionalism in reciprocating with total efforts and dedication to the game. Are we being duped by AB?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 07, 2009 at 05:06 PM