Live from Staples - Lakers vs. Jazz, Game 5
Like Clint Eastwood at the end of "Unforgiven," the Lakers are seeking closure. But without the guns and killing, of course, because that's at least a one-game suspension.
The jabber box is below.
AK
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sTU LANZT SUCKS
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | April 27, 2009 at 10:13 PM
AK/BK: Please please please ask PJ what he was thinking when he took Kobe out in the fourth quarter.
And when he says, "I thought he needed a little blow," please please please follow up with, "Phil, now you know no one is gonna believe that. Were you trying to show Kobe up? What does Kobe think about that?"
Please please please!!!
Posted by: jimjoyce | April 27, 2009 at 10:15 PM
The Jazz are a great team. Hopefully we can trade Farmar for Deron Williams.
Posted by: never | April 27, 2009 at 10:17 PM
p.s.
Was Joel announcing today? I was watching the TNT feed and I noticed Stu Lantz was sitting next to somebody else.
Kobe:
"Well we brought in that second unit. Stopped playing defense. Stopped hustling. Stopped getting back in transition Gave up too many layups. Got [them] back in the game"
It's a call-out now.
Posted by: never | April 27, 2009 at 10:21 PM
I, AM NOT A DOCTOR BUT IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE BYNUM INJURY SO IF THE KNEE IS HEALTHY PLAESE TAKE THIS BRACE OFF BECAUSE IT IS ALL THAT FFFF BRACE MAKE HIM PUT A SLEEV OR SOMETHING
Posted by: Ron | April 27, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I will say this.
All you people wanting to blame Farmar and/or Luke for blowing
leads, you better look for someone else to point the finger at.
Powell, Bynum, Sasha, and Brown were so bad in the 4th that
not even Kobe could carry them.
My conjecture earlier in the season was that the problem is
putting too many bench players in at once. If you play any one
of those guys with 4 starters, no problem. But if you put one
starter and any four of the bench mob out there, you're taking
a big risk.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | April 27, 2009 at 10:22 PM
On one hand, a 22 point lead cut to 6 is UNACCEPTABLE. Sasha & Drew were kept on the court for too long. The definition of Killer Instinct is to leave the KILLERS on the court for as long as possible. Had Phil left Kobe/LO/Pau/Trevor on the court from the start of the 4th through 5:00 minutes left, this would have been a 35 point win. Sasha & Drew didn't have it...tonight. Tomorrow is another day...
...which leads me to the other hand...
Drew WILL have it again. Sasha WILL have it again. The Bench Mob WILL have it again. And when they do, the same folks who talked all that noise during the 4th quarter will be riding them harder than a jockey on a horse at Santa Anita.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | April 27, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Lakers are bored. They want taco for the fans. Bye bye Utah, see you next season. MOVE ON TO THE 2ND ROUND.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 27, 2009 at 10:32 PM
The Lakers losing leads doesn't seem to bother the team. From what I see this will ALWAYS happen. Is it Phil and his silly rotations? Or the players who get paid MILLIONS of dollars to relax and lose the lead.
Posted by: Drew | April 27, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I think I've figured this out...
Kobe/LO/Pau/Trevor lowers the boom on our opponents. We take a 15-20 point lead into the end of the quarter. PJ starts the quarter with the bench. LEAD GONE!
Perhaps he should switch to a unit with 3 starters/2 Bench Mobbers on the floor to start the 4th. Because it is OBVIOUS(!!!) that with 3 Bench Mobbers on the floor, any leads, any momentum we build could potentially be washed away. The 5 of them, on their own, cannot be trusted to maintain momentum. I ain't saying TRADE EM...I'm saying DON'T START 'EM! If we're up 15 and up with 3-5 minutes left, THEN you play all 5 Bench Mobbers. Is it a crime to let Kobe/Pau/LO/Trevor to play for only 35 minutes or so?
Just my $0.02.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | April 27, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Pj won't take any responsibility for losing leads. He just blames the team. Well he is the damn coach - coach these guys so they play with fire and determinations to close things out.
Posted by: Jim | April 27, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Can I strangle phil Jackson? Hey phil, calling timeouts is for free in the nba. It won't cost you benjamins to call a freaking timeout., please call a timeout you may get laid more with buss"s daughter. Stop f"ing around with that philosophy that you don"t call timeouts and make the players figure it out for themselves. With this group you have to be hands on because they always blow leads. Haven't you noticed, 5 blown leads, man you got to learn to adjust as a coach. If we don"t win it this year, you have to leave. I almost hate you now. Were all on a mission here, so shape up or get your ass shipped out. Anyway a win is a win. Bring on artest and battier.
Posted by: Jc garcia | April 27, 2009 at 10:42 PM
LOL I saw AK on the NBA press conference feed.
Posted by: Drew | April 27, 2009 at 10:43 PM
You guys had to have seen what I did. Phil did it again. He just does not see that his bench is not as talented as he seems to think it is. He really does not see it. I keep hoping he is just testing them but now I know he isn't. He really believes the shooter who can't shoot - Sasha - is a good player. He really believes that the first half of every 4th quarter should have Sasha, Walton, Farmar, Powell and 1 starter on the floor. He sees no problem with that lineup. I heard his interview and he said we stopped playing defense and Milsap got going. What did you expect?
He falls asleep on the bench for half the quarter, the lead evaporates - AGAIN!!! - and then he brings back the starters. They are cold and stiff and come back going 50mph while Utah is going 100mph and is totally pumped.
AK/BK - You guys are closer to this situation. They are up 19 to start the 4th. Does he just not have any confidence that 4 starters and 1 reserve could not have stretched it to 30 in the first 4-5 minutes, ending it right there? After that Utah plays with no energy and just mails it in, but Phil just seems intent on having something left at the end no matter what.
Of course, this makes sense when it's a close game but we keep seeing this same scenario. Moderately big lead to start the 4th, bench lineup in followed by turnovers, bricks, fouls etc. and suddenly opponent is rolling, forcing Phil to put in his starters. They are cold and now its a dogfight. Repeat next game.
Somebody please go to a game go down to Phil and scream out at him, "Wake up. You don't have the bench you imagine you have. Cut your rotation - its the playoffs remember!!"
Posted by: BobK | April 27, 2009 at 11:12 PM
I blame Luke for our blown lead. He wasn't playing any defense out there tonight.
Seriously, the Lakers do like to make things interesting.
Posted by: EJK | April 27, 2009 at 11:20 PM
jimjoyce,
"AK/BK: Please please please ask PJ what he was thinking when he took Kobe out in the fourth quarter.
And when he says, "I thought he needed a little blow," please please please follow up with, "Phil, now you know no one is gonna believe that. Were you trying to show Kobe up? What does Kobe think about that?" "
I actually thought it was a good move to take out Kobe when he did. Kobe, for some reason, did a lot of iso for about a 2 minute stretch and there was no ball movement. He had about 2-3 TOs and missed 2-3 shots off of no ball movement, just one on one w/his man.
Look, I'm probably one of those "Kobe fans" that the K bros talk about, so I'm as a big a fan as the next guy. But, just because it's Kobe doesn't mean PJ is showing him up. As a coach, you have to be able to sit anyone down at anytime, including your superstar. You really think Kob' is going to lose sleep over that?
Posted by: Rob | April 27, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Nice job AK. Was ugly but you did the right thing there. Good job with that action.
Bench Mob without LO and Walton (go knock yourself in the heads STANS):
Vujacic: 2-10
Bynum: 0-3
Powell: 1-2
Brown: 1-5 though a few of them did bounce in an out so 1-3 which is kinda better.
Again Vujacic just after hitting 2 good shots chokes yet again with that circus shots of trying to take it to the lane and missing predictably. Bynum while getting 3 offensive rebounds (5 overall) was so inactive on the defensive end in the 4th.
Lineup in the 4th: Poor passers besides Kobe and to a smaller degree Brown. Without Luke (again challenge it if you dare STANLIES) less ball movement more isolation and just taking bad shots. Kobe himself said about the intangibles. Luke with Bynum: Bynum gets more dunks.
GAMES LIKE THIS IS THE *BIGGEST* REASON *WHY* YOU DON'T GO AND "OH HE PLAYED ONLY 7 MINUTES HE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED MORE! IT WAS A BLOWOUT SO BYNUM SHOULD HAVE PLAYED MORE!!" BECAUSE NO LEAD IS SAFE UNLESS IT IS 1 SECOND LEFT WITH A 6+ LEAD! SO FOR THOSE BYNUM CRYBABIES QUIT CRYING ABOUT THIS 11 MINUTES BECAUSE IN THOSE 11 MINUTES BYNUM AFTER GETTING 3 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS DID ZIP! WHEN BYNUM PRODUCES IN *LIMITED* MINUTES THEN HE WILL GET MORE MINUTES!! IT SHOULD *NEVER* BE "GET MORE MINUTES I WILL PRODUCE MORE" IT SHOULD BE "I DO WELL IN LIMITED MINUTES TO GET MORE MINUTES AND IN TURN WILL DO EVEN MORE GOOD IN THOSE TO EARN MORE MINUTES!!" NOW QUIT YOUR CRYING, STOP BLAMING KOBE, LAMAR, PAU OR COACH OR EVEN MITCH BECAUSE ONLY *ONE* PERSON WHO WILL MAKE BYNUM BE BETTER AND THAT IS ANDREW BYNUM!! JEEZ BYNUM COULDN'T PLAY WELL IN LIMITED MINUTES AND ONLY POINTS HE GOT WAS 2 FREE THROWS...THE REVISIONIST HISTORY OF THE STANS...
Now all the negativity is done this is still a WIN regardless of what happened. Against a team like Utah who is no regular 8th seed (48 wins in spite of injuries to D-Will and Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur) and while Okur was injured the Jazz still fought in all 5 games. Last year it was 6 games and unlike this year Boozer was contained in that series. This year Boozer was on fire 4 out of the 5 games yet the Lakers pulled through in 5 games.
Now Bynum has at least 3 days to get back confidence. Regardless I think he will start so Odom will go back to the bench and help restart the ball movement that POWELL and BYNUM and VUJACIC cannot do on their own.
And for those who think Bryon Scott would be a good choice for a coach after Jackson:
121-63 AT HOME.
I love Byron for the Showtime days but he is such an overrated coach.
Anyways time for rest and for the Lakers to recover (Ariza and Walton).
Posted by: Kobeblitz | April 27, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Jc garcia:
Sure glad you're around to show Phil the 'light'. Keep the brilliance coming. And sometime I'd like to see all your rings, too!
Wax on, wax off...
Posted by: watching from home | April 27, 2009 at 11:26 PM
"Hey phil....If we don"t win it this year, you have to leave. I almost hate you now. Were all on a mission here, so shape up or get your ass shipped out. Anyway a win is a win."
Hey, jc garcia, smoke another doob, sniff another begonia and stop contradicting yourself, dude.
We did, indeed, win.
Even now, people think they know more than Phil Jackson about coaching an NBA team?
Posted by: Jesterguru | April 27, 2009 at 11:30 PM
I'm happy with the win...but I should be happier...
This team will not develope a killer instinct until its coach does...
It cost us last year...
I'm praying it won't this year...
Kobe called it in the post game, about the lack of hustle from the bench players...many here have already stated the correct course...you don't need to platoon them 4 or five at a time...
When you have your opponent down, you don't let them up...heel strike to the windpipe...and twist...
Kobe was Kobe...
LO was great
Trevor also...
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: christopher blake | April 27, 2009 at 11:34 PM
you bunch of whining ninnies!
the Lakers won!
they are moving on. there are no style points, no trophies for being impressive.
here's a clue. the Jazz are not a team to lie down and die.
Posted by: mud | April 27, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Congratulations to the Lake Show. Good win over a tough, physical team.
Lamar played out of his damn head tonight. Well done, LO.
Onward, Lakers Faithful.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | April 27, 2009 at 11:44 PM
"With this group you have to be hands on because they always blow leads."
Just an EXAMPLE of how how the players are CHOKERS and always have to rely on timeouts. Those Guys could not handle the Jazz SECOND TEAM. While I certainly thought that 4 reserves was a bit much....BYNUM IS NO DAMN RESERVE. But then again he's playing terrible so that is on him for sitting on the bench. So Bynum/Kobe and 3 three reserves technically.
"coach these guys so they play with fire and determinations to close things out."
YOU THAT IS LIKE SAYING YOU CAN L COACH KWAMAY BROWN TO BECOME A CHRIS BOSH. GET OVER IT BYNUM PLAYED WITH NO ENERGY, SASHA CONTINUED HIS CHOKING ACT, AND POWELL PLAYED TERRIBLE DEFENSE (A KNOCK ON THOSE STANS WHO SAY HE CAN GUARD SF/PF).
Utzworld,
Both Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams were on the bench when we started the 4th. The Jazz had only two starters and that was Okur. The rest were bench players (Millsap, Korver, Price). Kobe was out there and he guarded Brewer as his normal assignment. Sasha guarded Korver that he usually guarded always. Bynum had Okur and STANS FORGET that Bynum is a starter (and will be against Portland/Houston). So 3 backups vs 3 backups.....that matches out. Bynum needed some playing time, Brown too and before the near collapse was playing decent and Odom to the bench because there was no Boozer out otherwise he would have stayed in. Good idea just didn't pan out because 3 of the guys on the floor couldn't play any damn defense (and I'm glad Kobe called them out in the TNT interview).
"Or the players who get paid MILLIONS of dollars to relax and lose the lead."
Bingo. There is your answer.
"I, AM NOT A DOCTOR BUT IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE BYNUM INJURY SO IF THE KNEE IS HEALTHY PLAESE TAKE THIS BRACE OFF BECAUSE IT IS ALL THAT FFFF BRACE MAKE HIM PUT A SLEEV OR SOMETHING"
Same here.
"The Jazz are a great team. Hopefully we can trade Farmar for Deron Williams."
In La-La Land perhaps.
"All you people wanting to blame Farmar and/or Luke for blowing leads, you better look for someone else to point the finger at."
Actually I blame it on part of No Walton. Put Brown-Bryant-Walton at least you have 3 good passers. So in effect I do blame part of it against Sasha for that 2-10 shooting. When his shot isn't there well he isn't a great passer so that takes away options now doesn't it?
Last note before nap time:
Kobe:
"Well we brought in that second unit. Stopped playing defense. Stopped hustling. Stopped getting back in transition Gave up too many layups. Got [them] back in the game"
It's a call-out now. It is. And for Vujacic to stop choking.
Posted by: Kobeblitz | April 27, 2009 at 11:44 PM
4 Down, 12 to Go.
Good effort tonight, especially for the first 3 quarters. Kobe, Lamar, Ariza all played really well. Little concerned with Pau right now. He looks a little run down and is less fluid then he was during the season. Might just be the beating Utah puts on a dude. Glad we're done with these guys, they might be outmanned, but they really play hard. The coach has a lot to do with that, obviously.
The lead that diminished tonight was upsetting but not completely unexpected. The Utah reserves who were in during that run were playing not only for respectability, but were playing for contracts next season. Both Milsap and Price, are free agents next year and man they played like they were showcasing their talents one last time for potential bidders.
All and all, I'm very happy with where we're at right now. A little rest will be nice, then on to an easier series against Houston (hopefully) or a tougher series against Portland. Either way, we're on a mission.
Posted by: mikefloss | April 27, 2009 at 11:53 PM
the game was fun than it made me mad and then it made me hopeless. The lakers give up leads thats what we do best. So from now on i will no longer care about the score as long as we win because im tierd of relaxing watching the game and having fun to getting mad and and getting frustrated. I hope bynum can get something going. I hope we stay healthy. Next round please.
Posted by: omega | April 28, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Way to suck the joy out of victory Lakers.
Fortunately I have a good memory and remember the "close out game" (an oxymoron for Laker fans) against the Jazz last year so I was ready.
Phil does call time outs quickly in the playoffs. Phil left them in because he had the buffer, until it got too close.
It was inexcusable that the subs were playing so lackadasical (et tu Sasha?). Brown? WTF?
I think the one starter sub squad will be gone from the rest of the playoffs. Without Luke, God love him, there is no hope for the bench mob, God help them. Jordan should come out hot next series after seeing what life is like deep on the bench. I'm sure he doesn't want to stay there.
Williams for Farmar, please send me some of what you've been taking, why not Lebron for Ariza?, seems more likely.
It must really, really, really, really, really, really suck if you don't have a guy named Kobe on your team.
On the bright side, the only team that can beat us is the NBA is the LA Lakers.
Posted by: Laker Justice | April 28, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Bring on the Rockets! Go LA!!
Posted by: Drew Andrekopoulos | April 28, 2009 at 12:26 AM
I'm sure it has to do with the spread.
Posted by: bangdangvn | April 28, 2009 at 12:35 AM
A trade for Farmar for Deron Williams.....it can be done...first thing that has to be done is to get Memphis involved...then we end up giving up Jordan, 1st round picks in 2014, and 2016, Adam Morrison, check to see if Craig Hodges ever officially retired, if not, throw him in the deal...and see if we can get Marc Gasol back in this deal...we need him to protect his big brother from thugs....
BTW, I'm just KIDDing....
Posted by: humanomaly (aka "The Anti-Crust") | April 28, 2009 at 04:23 AM
For 3 quarters our guys played great.
Lamar Odom was incredible!
But it was obvious to me this is where we missed Luke. We had a new group in the game, not familiar with each other that became stagnant on the offense.
Good Lakers offense leads to good Lakers defense. Otherwise, the Utah transition offense can take control of the game, which it did.
I would have preffered a 20 point coasting to a win. Utah was only 3 missed lay ups away from tying the game.
But the benefit to the Lakers on having to bring back the starters?
It was good practice on how to save a game, and close it out. And they needed it obviously.
Lakers controlled this series, limiting D Will, should have been a sweep. We won by an average of 10-11 pts per game.
This years Lakers team has grown up a lot from last years Lakers team.. Maybe we are getting too spoiled and expecting too much from our boys?
Posted by: Fatty | April 28, 2009 at 07:11 AM
On a more important note.
Mamba24.
Its come to our attention that a certain one amongst us, in a moment of weakness is considering buying Denver's Birdman shirt.
Mamba, this can't happen. If, JESTERGURU, gets the shirt, it could lead to a disturbance in the Force (see Tim-4-Shows comment). Making a rift where possible and allowing Evil Sith like beings to influence the welfare of the Blog.
As we all know, its the Jedi Knight commenters here that are protecting the Lakers Universe. A weakness here, could lead to the end of the Lakers. If you can't read my mind, because you are still clouded with hate from last nights 4th quarter play, I will spell it out for you.
We must prevent JESTERGURU from getting that shirt.
Please Master Mamba. Start a Bandwagon to bring young JESTERGURU Skywalker to his senses.
Master Justanotherfanofthemamba and Master Fatty are aboard.
Mamba24, May the Force be with you!
Posted by: Fatty | April 28, 2009 at 07:31 AM
yeah, i think starting every fourth quarter with like 4 bench players and 1 starter is ridiculous. phil has tried it, but it hasn't worked. i understand he's a great coach; he wants these bench guys to be able to play through adversity. maybe, he knows they gonna blow the lead...then he can go to the press and call them out...so they can play defense next time...he also knows that as long as he puts his starters back in the game with at least 9 pt lead, he will win the game no matter what...that's phil's strategy to improve his bench defensively...but hey, after what happened in game 4 against boston last year, and this 1st round match-up against utah, i would not take anymore risks with these guys...one day, lakers gonna be unlucky, they gonna lose a game just like last year...and the other thing is that lakers is giving any team confidence that they can come back even if they down by 20+...not good...
Posted by: junior | April 28, 2009 at 09:23 AM
If Bynum doesn't find his defensive game during these playoffs..the Lakers will not win the championship. I am absolutely convinced of that. I don't care if he averages 4 pts a game the rest of the way in spot duty. All we need are the rebounds and defensive presence he can bring to a game. Perhaps he'll get his mojo back playing against Yao in the next round. Maybe he just needs that tough one on one matchup to get him going. Right now, he looks lost and rusted over.
We will need every hand on deck and contributing because I don't expect these early blowout leads the rest of the way and certainly not against superior defensive teams like the Cavs.
Posted by: Rob D | April 28, 2009 at 12:59 PM
You guys are all stupid Kobe will average 65pts per game vs the Rockets derek fisher will dunk on Yao, and Sasha might play like a pro-basketball player rather than a whiny arrogant euro who is a shooter who can't shoot, plays some of the worse defense I've ever seen and tries to do these creative plays its cute except they always get stolen or go out of bounds off someone.
I'm sorry but cut Sasha from the NBA, everything else was a joke. CUT SASHA.
Posted by: Neeraj | May 01, 2009 at 08:12 PM