Game Chat- Lakers at Cleveland
The Lakers have already turned in a great road trip. Beat the Cavs today at the Q, and it becomes somewhat otherworldly. Kobe vs. LBJ will deservedly get the attention, but for me the most interesting things to watch will be closer to the basket. LA crushed the Z-less Clevelanders down low when the teams met in LA, but now Andrew Bynum is out and Ilgauskas is back.
I'm very interested to see if/how that changes the dynamic between the two teams.
Chat box below.
BK
You have got to love that the Celtics lost to the Spurs on their home court! By 6 points!
The Celtics set moving picks at least like 30 times a game! And it might get called once!
Awesome game, now let's get a win!
GOOOOOOO LAKERS!
LG
Posted by: LG | February 08, 2009 at 12:34 PM
The greenie-weenie thugs got their butt beat AGAIN and also on their home coourt!!
It's Cav-Bron's turn next!!!
GOOOOOOOOOLAKERS!!!
Posted by: Carlos DeeP | February 08, 2009 at 12:37 PM
LeLuke Jalton:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m89/photosofjesus/LeLuke_Jalton.jpg
Posted by: ajax | February 08, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Attention Everybody
MISSING
The lethargic Lamar Odom
FOUND
Lamar Odom ver 2.0 -- Lamar gone wild
OMG LAMAR IS AWESOME TODAY
Posted by: David Whang | February 08, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Wow! Now that's what I call some great crab legs! I'm stuffed! How about you?
Posted by: Laker Larry | February 08, 2009 at 03:01 PM
Can you say victory?!
Can you say defense?!
Can you say full on effort!
yes! I loves it!
a little something for you all: http://tinyurl.com/d6fovr
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | February 08, 2009 at 03:03 PM
the team played very well. it was an incredible trip with a huge dot on the I
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Probably best regular season performance by Lamar in his career given the significance of the game.
Go LO!!!!
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 08, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Winner winner - King Crab dinner!!!!!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | February 08, 2009 at 03:04 PM
and no triple cheese for brick Le
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:05 PM
now that's what i'm talking about!
thank you, Lord.
here's hoping that Kobe gets some rest and feels better for tuesday.
Posted by: mud | February 08, 2009 at 03:06 PM
i love lamar odom since day one. i truly believe in his talent.
subtle and focus lamar makes us one heck of a team. this game is a statement that we are the best. the crab lost some of its feet. for awhile, z was killing us with his long shots. well, we won. we have two more games before the break let's continue the streak.
i am so happy now. i'd be happier when we get the trophy.
Posted by: isang | February 08, 2009 at 03:12 PM
that shot by kobe-huge rainbow- with 4 or 6 points down and 2 min. to go was huge
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:13 PM
justanothermambafan
u were right-kobe plays well when he is sick
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:14 PM
Odom as a giant and Gasol as a general play manager were the keys of this great winning. All team very good on defense for the best year game.
Go LAKERS !!!!
From Europe with love for the Laker's Nation.
Posted by: karmaniac | February 08, 2009 at 03:15 PM
I think it's the microphone. We need to wire LO for every game...
Posted by: The Snake | February 08, 2009 at 03:15 PM
It's going to be awesome to watch the NBA do a bunch of freak-out reactionary trades now. It should be interesting.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 08, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Faith,
I miss Chick.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 08, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Faith,
Gota love you baby. You're the best with the Chick memories. He'd have been so proud today.
Thanks for the memories!
Posted by: Laker Larry | February 08, 2009 at 03:19 PM
I love the picture on ESPN's NBA home page...
BOOT TO THE HEAD!!!!!
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 08, 2009 at 03:20 PM
kobe got sick because he had too much sea food in the past 4 days: new england lobsters and crabs
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:20 PM
Seriously, someone needs to follow Lamar's steps today and figure out what was different and then repeat it.
WHATEVER the reason, Lamar was awesome today. If he can play like that consistently, we'll be unstoppable.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 08, 2009 at 03:21 PM
WOW!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | February 08, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Great Great Win, Great road trip Hey Andrew Bynum get well soon.
Go Go Go Lakers!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Frankie | February 08, 2009 at 03:22 PM
I'm so happy right now! It's raining in So.Cal. but I am walking on sunshine!!!
Now we need Kobe to get some rest & feel better.
I hope LO stays this nasty!
The Crabs were cooked tonight, my friends. Let's see if they go on a skid now along with the green weeeeeeners!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | February 08, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Awesome! Great game, I can not believe this! 6-0 on a super hard road trip, a trip in which we lost our big man on the first game.
Damn. I don't even know what to say! So happy right now. This is going to send the league into a frenzy.
That rainbow shot from Kobe over Lebron was absolutely amazing. Kobe Bryant is the MVP, no doubt.
Our defense against Lebron and the Cavs is great. King Crab shot 5-20! That's 25%!
2008-2009 Champions = LOS ANGELES LAKERS!
LG
Posted by: LG | February 08, 2009 at 03:25 PM
Pau & Lamar stepping up and dominating the key has been more instrumental to victory than Kobe in HUGE road wins over Boston and Cleveland.
This is a team game and Kobe's presence clearly makes things easier for Gasol/Odom, but my hats off to the Laker front court making up for Bynum's absence and a less than MVP-level Kobe.
Way to step up boys!
Posted by: 805LakerLove | February 08, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Wow! What a road trip. This team has just demonstrated incredible mental toughness....winning all 6, 4 (5 really) of them after Bynum went down, capped with beating Cleveland on their home court while Kobe was sick.
They have served notice and what can we say about LO ? Absolutely tremendous today.
Posted by: OhioVic | February 08, 2009 at 03:26 PM
And this was without Morrison and Brown!!!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 08, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Lamar is a great palyer and everyboy shall know that.
When Drew was out last seasson LO, KB and Gasol put the team to the finals to beat SAS, Denver and Utah...
But Pau and Lobe needs some relax because htey re tired.
Posted by: Great | February 08, 2009 at 03:28 PM
This is now officially otherworldly. I really don't know what to say, I am in awe.
Posted by: MCC | February 08, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Lamar and Pau were the big heroes of this game, with Kobe
ailing, but there were so many other people who pitched in.
Farmar and Ariza with blocks of 3 point shots in the 4th. Fisher with 3 steals, including picking the ball from LeCrab in
the 4th quarter. Farmar and Luke with 4 assists each. Kobe's
big rainbow three over LeBron. Sasha and Josh Powell each
hit a couple of shots.
And the biggest key was the team defense in the second
half. Holding the Cavs under 20 points each in the 3rd and
4th was awesome.
And all you people wishing they'd trade Lamar or Odom can
just stop it. Right now. Seriously.
Odom CARRIED the team with Kobe feeling bad.
And in that third quarter, the Lakers started out 10 points
down and ended up 5 points ahead. Luke was on the floor
the whole quarter and chipped in 3 assists and 5 points.
I've got nothing against Rad, but I for one will not miss him.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 08, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Good Afternoon Charles....Good Afternoon Everyone...
SIX AND OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!
WHAT A GAME, WHAT A ROAD TRIP, WHAT A TEAM !!!
can we PLEASE have this Lamar EVERY GAME????
some observations, as it were, seemingly:
the media and the entire announcing crew wanted the Cavs to win and the Crab to out play Kobe---even sick Kobe out played the Crab--yeah !!
the Cav's coach still looks like Wesley Snipes, but Wesley Snipes on a burrito binge...
I keep looking for Kris Kristoferson to be sitting next to him on the bench..
and it seems like that Sasha Petro- whatever -ovich and Igaulskas are two vampires that they need to kill...
even with (and maybe especially with) the highly complementary face mask, Wally Zsczzscszzscszcerbiac looks like Ben Stiller...
I saw Mr. Walton's eyes light up when he saw he had Wally Z etc. guarding him---finally, he thought, another white guy that can't jump that I may have a chance not to get my shot blocked by (or some such mouthful)..
Ben Wallace needs to go back to his Buckwheat hairdo--it definitely made him taller and he could rebound and block shots better...
the Cav's have a guy named Booby??? do they need someone named Dinky too?
Biggest Non Foul of the Century Department (BNFOTCD):
Kobe touches the Crab's shorts (!) after the Crab shoots an air ball...that was an em-bare-ass-ment for the entire referee squad of the league and beyond...
I know they didn't wanted the Crab to look bad shooting a 6 or 4 foot air ball--but that was some serious bail out juice..
Josh Powell played well--he does need to dunk on those put backs though...
Ariza needs to forget the three ball and just develop that mid range jumper game (which he is better at), that will open up his drives to the basket just as well as if he became better at the three's...
Pau passes were nothing short of masterpieces---Lamar needs to keep looking to go hard to the basket with aggression and Pau will find him with spot on passes..
A SERIOUS MESSAGE WAS SENT TO THE LEAGUE THIS LAST WEEK OR SO..
Icing on the old cake?....wait for it...the frickin' Celtics lost, oh yeah...
"Nothing's gonna change my world"
""do you want to go to my house bouncy bouncy?"
more than ever, if possible,
AS ALWAYS. AS EVER, YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY (AND SEASON) TO BE A LAKER FAN !!!
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | February 08, 2009 at 03:30 PM
The rest of the league better hope Drew doesn't come back...
...but we've already prayed against that, didn't we?
:o)
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | February 08, 2009 at 03:31 PM
ex
i forgot.lol. Picasso was a Cubs fan?!
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:32 PM
>>>And this was without Morrison and Brown!!!
The NBA world is quaking in their collective boots for the day
the Lakers add them.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 08, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Speaking of prayer, y'all see this story on Sports Zone about the high school kid and how his family/team/community is praying him through his health issues?
Like I always say, NEVER UNDERSTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER!
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | February 08, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Floyd
and they were pretty good at FT
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:35 PM
When a prediction goes right there's a tendency to gloat obnoxiously about having "called it". That said, I did.
The Celtic game flipped a switch in LO, the kind of switch that a little bit o' success can flip.
With LO playin' with that kind of confidence, the Lakers are unbeatable by anyone in the currently configured 09 NBA.
Posted by: VMan | February 08, 2009 at 03:39 PM
LISTEN TO THIS! After hearing what coach said about King Crab getting way too many calls,
"Me get calls?" he said in a disbelieving tone. "You guys know Phil. He always makes a comment before a big game or rivalry game. He always says something to throw people's focus off. But you guys know that I don't get as many calls as I should get. We're not going to go there."
"but you guys no I don't get as many calls as I should get"?!?!? WHAT? This guy is so DELLUSIONAL!
Somebody please to explain to him what a foul is, and while your at it explain to him what travelling means!
This guy can be really freaking annoying sometimes.
LG
Posted by: LG | February 08, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Picasso was a barcelona fan...Pau's from somewhere round there so technically that makes him a lakers fan...like everyone else in the world after that monster win.... yeah boi !!!!!!
So theres a few folk around with ALOT of egg on their face yeah we know who you are.Lamars already got your email addresses off the K Bros and you can be expecting a photograph of his butt to come your way very soon.
...
Posted by: Kiwi | February 08, 2009 at 03:43 PM
more thoughts or so:
the Cavs (and those other teams that also wear them) should not be allowed to wear yellow at home---I don't care if they are retro (which I usually like , being a semi old dude) or not..
only one team wears yellow / gold at home---all the others are just bandwagoners trying desperately to get some of our mojo...
there could have been a lot more fouls called against the Cavs today, and some, but not as many,called agianst us...
I dig the crap out of this team...
can we clone Chick Hearn or develop a Chick robot or something please---ABC / ESPN / TNT announcers arean absolute joke--they make me want to disembowel myself with a dull plastic spoon...
Lamar "I don't want to be traded" Odom needs to work on his interview skills a little, especially if he continues to play thusly..
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | February 08, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Did anyone else notice in the start of the game lebron wasn't guarding Kobe, but as soon as they probably figured out that Kobe was playing with the flu they put lebron on Kobe? Lebron prolly thought to himself I can guard Kobe now and look good in the process and say I stopped Kobe.
Posted by: Magia32 | February 08, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Was it only me that LeBron is intimidated by Kobe?
LeCrab is out of the flow when Kobe is on the floor. This make Dwade better. He is not intimidated whoever is guarding him.
Big props to LO.
Lamar's free throw observation:
a) he will make 1 out of 2 from the stripe as a routine.
b) If the basket is counted, he will make the addtional freethrow
Posted by: Davao's Finest | February 08, 2009 at 03:47 PM
That's right, ouchhhh. The first real Cubist.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 08, 2009 at 03:47 PM
I have been a Laker fan all my life, and would like to thank the Lakers for giving me a great day too enjoy I am very sick for the last 4 months and looking at the way Kobe played through the sickness and the way all the other guys stepped up just makes me proud to be fan and gives me hope that i can also fight through my sickness
Posted by: shneurson | February 08, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Excellent game tonight. LO was amazing tonight...just wish he'd play like that every game. Call us the streak-killers now. 6-0 on a tough road trip with wins over the Celtics and the Cavaliers AGAIN!
Wait, what happened? I thought we were done for the season without Bynum. Our championship hopes were dead...yada yada yada. I GUESS NOT.
Bring it on! GO LAKERS!
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | February 08, 2009 at 03:49 PM
I didn't see the game but efn outstanding!!!!!! And I hope this is the new LO. I've wanted him traded since last years finals but if he plays like this I will be his biggest fan!!! I mean maybe the light did go on for him - that just makes us sooooo dangerous....but if the light goes out again (especially in the playoffs) then he has to go.
With Drew back and the new boys coming on board - if Morrison can get his stroke - yikes!!!!
Go Lakers!!!
I absolutely HATE the celtics!!!!!
Posted by: SgtRoss | February 08, 2009 at 03:52 PM
ouccccchhhh,
" kobe got sick because he had too much sea food in the past 4 days: new england lobsters and crabs"
Like I always say, "Don't eat the chowder. It'll give you runs something terrible."
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow.,.. Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 08, 2009 at 03:52 PM
King James, the unimagined has happened...deal with it...how do you like this commercial?
Posted by: coachD | February 08, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Greetings Lakeshow Fans,
Let's see, possible Lakers six game road trip SWEEP...
CHECKMATE!
STREAKBUSTER status....
Ending 23 game Cavalier home winning streak in Cleveland...
SNAP, CRACKLE, CHECK!
TOUGHNESS meter against Cavs...
CHECK! (Great team D in the 2nd half- 30 pts ALLOWED)
LO and Gasol FACTOR in the INTERIOR...
CHECK! CHECK! (LO with 28 and 17...YES! Pau with 18 and 12...YES!...D on Wallace, Verejao and Ilgauskas at stretches...YES!)
Role players led by Fish and benchmob contribution...
CHECK! (nice team D and energy, especially on LJ)
Finally, MVP24's leadership and clutch personality...
PRICELESS! (not even the FLU could stop his WILL to win and at times, shadow LJ while making a high arching CLUTCH shot to keep the Lakers on TOP)
I must say, Odom is one HECK of a player when he DECIDES to BE! Seriously! I feel that no one in the league can match up with him when he is FOCUSED! He has got the physical tools and, believe it or not, MENTAL TOOLS...
Once he learns how to channel his emotions and thoughts a bit more, he will do just FINE...Remember folks, this man lost a child a couple of years ago. As a parent, how can you NOT be affected in ANYTHING you do...God bless him and his family...
When it comes to his play on the court, he quite often has been criticized for his LAID BACK style by not only fans, but also outsiders such as the press and others...
The REALITY is that he IS who he IS...a human being who is also a VERY TALENTED baller!
Lately, however, he has been the AGGRESSIVE beast EVERYONE thought and imagined...The man has SIZE (freakish at that), STRENGTH (YES he does) and TALENT (ALWAYS HAD IT)! No doubt!
Furthermore, now that he has RECOGNIZED the fact that the Lakers WANT to RESIGN and KEEP him in LA purple and gold based on the latest trade (including his teammate Ariza), LO should be ALL GAME from here on out...No more EXCUSES! Like I said earlier, he is that TALENTED!
It's TIME to WIN it ALL! Our Lakers are READY!
In the meantime, they must take care of BUSINESS of the WINNING kind! It's still a long ways till June...
Laker pride through ALL and ANY ADVERSITY!
Posted by: Let's go L's! | February 08, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Most of the Lakers who played tonight can now officially ask Crabbron how their ass tastes.
Posted by: justanothermambafan | February 08, 2009 at 03:55 PM
after this trip, i'm still surprised how the LGL lost some of the games this season.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | February 08, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Vman
Odom just need his confidence...the guys had people misunderstanding his game,not appreciating him,wanting him to be something he isnt and ultimately wanting to trade his a%% for years.You could see how thrilled he was about those two free throws in Boston when he wasn't even asked about them by the reporter and he just launched in to tell his story ...dude was chuffed - he knows he's supposed to be a choker.Massive monkey off his back...lets help keep the thing away by being nice about him.Mamba24 if you are reading this please start a only say positive things about Odom bandwagon....I hearby pledge not to criticise Odom until the end of the season.
Posted by: Kiwi | February 08, 2009 at 03:57 PM
In 2 games against Kobe's defense Lebron has shot 14-45, a cool 31%. Lebron fans, you still think Lebron is better then Kobe? In the first game Kobe outplayed Lebron despite dislocating his finger early in the game. In the second game Kobe outplayed Lebron despite playing with the flu. Lebron may be the best player someday, but he is clearly not better then Kobe yet.
Even sick he did his thing
Posted by: Paul Lee | February 08, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Floyd,
"can we clone Chick Hearn or develop a Chick robot or something please---ABC / ESPN / TNT announcers arean absolute joke--they make me want to disembowel myself with a dull plastic spoon..."
Actually, I think you're onto something. This should be the highest priority of the Obama Administration: Cloning Chick Hearn or creating a Chickbot. Not only will it create jobs, but it will save lives.
All across the United States there are probably hundreds of thousands of people who have disemboweled themselves with a plastic spork due to the direct action of ABC's commentators.
It's got to stop and it stops with the creation of a Robot Chick and not before that!
Gentlemen! To the laboratory!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 08, 2009 at 04:02 PM
additional worthless thoughts or so:
Got Streak?
Got Lakers?
Got Loss?
Is the reason Mr. Walton is trying to tap out rebounds (and quite ineffectively I hate to add) so much lately due to the fact he (and the white race in general, or so it is stereotyped) can't jump for sour owl crap or that he thinks it looks so cool when Pau does it (quite effectively I am glad to add) that he wants to emulate the smart play of the Spaniard?
processed ham, processed ham, processed ham, processed ham...
where are floating Vikings when you need them?
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | February 08, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Great win for the Lakers to cap a great week (sans Bynum's Injury)
Kobe's 61 on Monday.
Lakers beat the Celtics in a scrappy statement win on Thursday.
And now this gem of a game today. This not only proves that the Lakers are playing the best basketball in the league, but also that we can win w/o Socks. It was also awesome to see our defense neutralize Lebron while Kobe was still efficient (regardless of his flu).
Posted by: miker | February 08, 2009 at 04:03 PM
shneurson,
get well soon dude. Hope lakers bring you a championship, us too lol.
Posted by: Faith | February 08, 2009 at 04:07 PM
LO always plays well when he knows he's not gonna get traded. Last trade/day was a statement to him.
I'm not saying he didn't wake up with that Boston game, frankly I think that last christmas game cemented his status...but that this isn't exactly unheard of from LO. There's a reason he plays better after the all-star break imo.
I love LO. I hope he keeps it up!
GO Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | February 08, 2009 at 04:11 PM
Kiwi,
"the guys had people misunderstanding his game,not appreciating him,wanting him to be something he isnt and ultimately wanting to trade his a%% for years"
I disagree with that. Lamar's problem has been focus and intensity, not people misunderstanding his game.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 08, 2009 at 04:14 PM
EVERYONE HAS SAID IT ALL AND WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE!!!
THE NBA IS GOING BERSERK AFTER THESE STATEMENT GAMES BY THE LAKERS:
A) TWICE BREAKING THE C's (NBA CHUMPS) WINNING STREAK 19 & 12 AND
B) BREAKING THE CAV-BRON'S 23 @ HOME GAME WINNING STREAK!!!
C) BEST NBA RECORD
D) ANDREW IS @ HOME WATCHING @ THE MAMBA WAS A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER!!!
HOW SWEET IS THAT??
GOOOOOOOLAKERS!!!
Posted by: Carlos DeeP | February 08, 2009 at 04:14 PM
who needs R's at the end of words department (WNRATEOWD):
as Mark Jackson so elequently says, " the Lakas need to get theia passas to get the ball to theia shootas, so they can make theia jumpas so theia defendas don't have to work so hard to be winnas. As a playa and a balla in this league I know the impotance of good team effot."
believe it or not Mark there is 26 (count 'em) lettas in the English Alphabet..
Long Live Chick !!!
GO LAKERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | February 08, 2009 at 04:15 PM
Lamar will keep playing at this all-star level because of the Vlad trade. Why? Because the Lakers management sent a clear message that they are willing to keep Lamar/Ariza next year.
Go Lakers! Go Lamar!
*It will be a bonus if AMo and Brown learn the triangle and contribute even in garbage time.
Posted by: Laker Phil | February 08, 2009 at 04:16 PM
FROM PALM BEACH, FL
BONSOIR GUYS,
A*************GAME FROM ODOM, MES COMPLIMENTS DU FOND DE MON COEUR, MON CHER. FINALLY, YOU HAVE SHOWN WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE. CONGRATS AGAIN!
ODOM, ODOM, ODOM, TONIGHT IS YOURS...
LOVE TO ALL AND TO OUR TEAM
SHEKOBE FOREVER
Posted by: SHEKOBE | February 08, 2009 at 04:18 PM
Jom K.,
absolute sublime post concerning the Chick Robot--I now also need a Depends robot cuz you made me urinate profusely (well at least overabundently) in my pants....
Go Lakers !!!
Posted by: Floyd | February 08, 2009 at 04:19 PM
ROAD TRIP SENDS STATEMENT …
The Lakers sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the NBA today that they’re the best team in the league even without 21-year old budding superstar center Andrew Bynum. This is what the rest of the NBA has been secretly worried about the last year – a Lakers team so deep that they can lose the 3rd best center in the NBA and still be the best team.
If a challenging road trip ever tested a team’s mettle, this was it, starting with the tragedy in Memphis where the Lakers lost Drew to injury for 8-12 weeks. Inspired by Kobe dropping 61 on the Knicks, the Lakers slid Gasol to center, inserted Lamar Odom at power forward, and proceeded to sweep the road trip 6-0, including a 110-109 overtime thriller in Boston and today’s 101-91 trouncing of the Cavs in Cleveland. The best team in the NBA!
THANK YOU, LAMAR. This was a game where we saw Lamar at his best, aggressive and active, showing the complete repertoire of his quiver of skills, with season-high 28 points and 17 rebounds, including 7 devastating boards on the offensive glass. Lamar is without a doubt the ultimate mismatch machine in the NBA and the Cavs had no answer for him.
ODOM OR ARIZA. While I believe that the Lakers will re-sign both this summer, I think today’s game was a perfect example of why it will be more important for the Lakers to keep Lamar Odom than Trevor Ariza. With Bynum, Gasol, and Odom, the Lakers have the dominant front court in the NBA and can overpower opponents with their height and length. Lamar is the underrated and unfairly maligned player on this team – i.e., other than Luke.
HOME COURT EDGE. Because the Lakers have swept both the Celtics and Cavaliers 2-0 this year, they hold the tie-breaker for home court advantage should the teams end up tied, which really means that the Lakers now have a 2-game lead in the race for best record. Knowing they would be challenged as soft without Drew, Pau and Lamar stepped up.
GREATEST PLAYER IN THE GAME. Sorry, LeBron. Once again, a Lakers victory showed that you are not the equal of Kobe Bryant. You may be the future but the future is not now. Once again, you showed your weakness – shooting from the field and the line and lack of toughness in the clutch. How many man-dunks tonight, LeBron? Zero!
DEFENSE ON LEBRON. This was a great defensive effort by the Lakers for the simple fact that they protected the rim without Andrew Bynum. There was none of the usual layup drill and every attempt was met with hands at the rim. Great job by Pau and Lamar. As at the end of last game, the Cavaliers offense was exposed as give it to LeBron and pray.
POINTS IN THE PAINT. I didn’t see the final totals for points in the paint but I have to believe the Lakers dominated. Starting with Kobe and peaking with the Pau to Lamar show, the Lakers pounded the ball inside relentlessly, which often takes its toll on a jump shooting team like the Cavaliers in the 2nd half, as it did tonight. Power Basketball!
THE TRIPLE TOWERS. I don’t know about you, but I would still like to see the Lakers play Bynum, Gasol, and Odom together once in a while. With Kobe resting and Fish and Sasha spreading the floor, I think we’d totally dominate the boards and paint. Time to give this lineup a shot, Phil. Lamar is as good as Luke getting the ball to Drew and Pau.
I am so damn proud of this team and the way they performed on this road trip. I have to remind some of you that teams like this don’t just happen; they are built. The confidence to lose the #3 center in the league just as he was elevating his game and then pull together and win out the toughest road trip of the season with wins in Boston and Cleveland says miles about this team in my opinion. And the coaching job done by Phil Jackson et al.
Let there by joy in Lakersville. Lets stop looking for trades and scapegoats for we have what we have all hoped and prayed for, which is the best team in basketball on the cusp of another Lakers dynasty. Kobe, Drew, Pau, and Lamar. That is the core going forward.
Fish, Farmar, Trevor, Sasha, and Luke are key components. Lakers will rule the NBA!
As always, JMNSHBO!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | February 08, 2009 at 04:26 PM
Wasn't Kobe's 61 point game supposed to be the beginning of terrible things for Lakerland? Wasn't Kobe supposed to revert to the selfish player all those East coast writers said he was?
What's the word now?
And Phil Jackson needs to start getting some credit for this teams success.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | February 08, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Thing is, these last two games are the ones Lamar usually doesn't show up for. I can't count the times he's wilted beneath the pressure from the East Coast bullies.
Not today and not Thursday.
Very nice to see.
But it needs to be double double Lamar from now on. Do that, don't get crazy with your contract demands and you'll be a Laker for the remainder of your career.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | February 08, 2009 at 04:46 PM
shneurson,
Best wishes to you. Never underestimate the power of faith. Get well, brother Laker fan. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | February 08, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Ex,
If you do your best for a couple and feel you are relatively successful and all you get is criticism becasue what you do isnt suited to being a second option or you adjsut your game and play great on a finals run and everyone forgets because you have a bad series (when everyone else did too)....then you agree to come off the bench in a contract year to help the team and see your stats go down while you do alot to help the team that goes unoticed...in the meantime year in year out all you hear about is that for one reason or another you are being traded or they want to trade you,you are overpaid,not clutch,lazy,stupid...etc
Basically the normal human reaction in such situations is to lose motivation,focus and intensity.Symptoms he has exhibited like you say.It appears to be well documented that lamar is a sensitive individual who would be affected by the outside goings on in a way the the superhuman among us (Jordan,Kobe,Michael Tentiente) are not.Jon K is the one that knows about this stuff - ask him...but my guess is that he needs encouragement,security and his confidence boosted more than anything and would perform much better.
Posted by: Kiwi | February 08, 2009 at 05:02 PM
anyone see odoms eyes getting red and watering when he was being interviewed right after the game?
overcome with emotion, maybe?
Posted by: cinz | February 08, 2009 at 05:07 PM
>>>>>
I don't think Phil needs that because he won what anybodyelse won...he got all the credit 20 years ago.
Posted by: Mike | February 08, 2009 at 05:29 PM
kiwi,
That's not what happens with Lamar. What happens is that he plays really well for a string, and then disappears. And fans (rightfully) ask - why? When he plays great, people rave about him. He has had a number of games like this in the past, with the eventual disappearance - throughout his career.
If he has figured out a way to maintain his intensity, fantastic. He could be a Lebron-type player. But the fault has been his, not the fans.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 08, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Why we trade Radman?
I think we should trade Walton and Farmer.
Seriously, if farmer becomes our starting PG, we are over.
Posted by: dara | February 08, 2009 at 05:48 PM
i ve always thought LO is an All-Star-caliber player; it just happens that he had been inconsistent. God! if this guy plays agressive all the time, the league better watches out. it's rare to see the Lakers losing a game when LO is on point. i never worry about whether LA is gonna win, when i see an early agressive Odom. i hope kobe gets better.
Posted by: junior | February 08, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Ex
Maybe I'm sure all the other stuff plays in...and Ive definitely seen him go into slumps after specific events or having his confidence busted - there may well be more in the way of direct causes then what we know...
As you say though, ultimately the responsibility is his...these guys are professional.In real terms you cant NOT hold him responsible...but practically speaking I think these things that I have mentioned have affected him.hes just not a guy who handles it well...as far as Im concerned I dont care what he should be able to do... I want to give the guy a break and see what happens!
Posted by: Kiwi | February 08, 2009 at 07:37 PM