Lakers vs. Magic, Game 2: Something for you to watch while my wife tunes to "In Plain Sight"
She's just not a big hoops fan. Anyway...
Given the every-other-day pace of the playoffs to this point, the extra day between Games 1 and 2 seemed a little weird. At the very least, it gave us enough time to run out and grab another tripod to replace the one we broke a few weeks ago. (You should see a vastly improved production value going forward... haha.) Now it's back to business in tonight's Game 2 (5 pm, ABC). There are questions a'plenty that still require answers, starting with Kobe's personality and mood (not smiling does not equal no fun, he says), and then the team's (seriously now, have they truly learned their lessons?). There are other big picture questions, too. What about Lamar Odom? His second crack at a title with the Lakers is here, but so is a huge question of impending free agency. Odom has expressed his desire to stay, and spoke yesterday about what a championship would mean to him.
For now, Odom is keeping his eye on what's directly in front of him, even while getting reminders of his past.
And, of course, there are issues on the court, as the Magic look to avoid a perilous 0-2 hole. Start with Dwight Howard. While the Lakers are pleased with the work they did on him in Game 1, they fully expect a better showing from Orlando's center tonight. LA figures the Magic will shoot better, too. The law of averages nearly dictates Orlando will improve on their 30% mark from Thursday. Where they shoot from might depend on how much Jameer Nelson plays. (Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel thinks he should start. Increased playing time wouldn't surprise the Lakers.)
For the Magic to score, they'll need to penetrate an increasingly stingy Lakers defense, writes John Hollinger (Insider subscription required):
The Lakers were tied 2-2 after four games against a Denver team that appeared healthier and more energized, and the general consensus was that an L.A. team worn out from a seven-game second-round series against Houston might lack the stamina to finish the Nuggets out. That hypothesis seemed further validated when the Nuggets scored 56 points in the first half of Game 5 in Staples Center, raced out to a seven-point lead early in the third and seemed en route to stealing home-court advantage from their weary opponents.
However, from that point, the Lakers found a reserve of energy that few thought existed, and they've kept it up for 10 straight quarters. And it has all started at the defensive end. In their past 10 quarters, the Lakers have allowed a total of 205 points, which averages out to a meager 82.0 points per game. In seven of those 10 quarters, the opponent has scored 20 points or less; in none did the opponent get more than 27. Let's break it down some more: They've held opponents to a miserable 35.2 percent shooting mark in that stretch, and amazingly they've stymied shots inside the arc nearly as well as those outside it -- just 35.6 percent on 2-point shots compared to 34.5 percent on 3s.
One of the things I was going to do this afternoon is go back and run some of those numbers... and now I don't have to! Thanks, JH! The point, though, is a good one. The Lakers are playing very well on their own end. Combine that with a very slick O, and it's fair to say they look as good now as they have for a while.
To put the ball in the bucket, Orlando will have to adjust to LA's length, something the Magic didn't see against Cleveland.
Scouts Inc. comes to a split decision on tonight's result.
Roland Lazenby notes how well the Lakers are operating offensively right now.
BK
(Photo: Gary Green, Orlando Sentinel)
STRANGEST COMMENTS FROM GAME 1
ABC INTERVIEWER: What did you think of Kobe's incredible run here in the third quarter?
PHIL JACKSON: I thought we went to him too much
ABC INTERVIEWER: HUH?
PHIL JACKSON: Yeah, I was telling the other guys to get more involved.....we were going to Kobe too much. But that run was incredible wasn't it?
ABC INTERVIEWER: HUH?
MARK JACKSON: Is Phil serious? Don't get Kobe the ball? I say get the ball to Kobe and watch me be a great coach
JEFF VAN GUNDY: Yeah, I think BOTH coaches would agree with Phil......Don't give the ball to Kobe.....Let's get Luke Walton more involved. LOL
Posted by: pfunk36 | June 07, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Let's go lake show!
Time to get ready to make this a 2-0 series. Play with heart tonight!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | June 07, 2009 at 10:58 AM
The Mamba Look
1 Eclipses all talking points.
2 Serves as a model for blog behavior.
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I'm ready.
You ready?
Posted by: VMan | June 07, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Go Lakers!
Same gameplan. Do it!
Energy, effort, execution, and hustle for 48 minutes!
This thing is ours.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | June 07, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Great article by Roland Lazenby. His insights always increase my knowledge and understanding of Laker basketball. He is a great writer and reporter.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | June 07, 2009 at 11:55 AM
the Lakers must and will win game 2 tonight! bet on it!
wow, i didn't know that the lakers defense has been so stingy. thanks Hollinger. (for the breakdown)
gee, where are all the Magic fans that have been saying that their team has the best defense? gee, i'd like to beg to differ. i think the Lakers are the team in the playoffs with the best defense. what do you say to that?! quoting the words of Will from Good Will Hunting, "How do you like THEM apples?"
Posted by: leonardbast | June 07, 2009 at 12:08 PM
What is the dumber question is:
Why do people think just because if Howard wins a title he's better than Shaq??
Sure 68% of people say of course not but 32%??
Howard may have won a DPOY but he's still second-rate behind Shaq
Posted by: KB Blitz | June 07, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Is it just me or is Heisler's article today about Kobe's legacy the dumbest piece of literary trash ever written? Where is Jim Murray when we need him? I'm chompin at the bit for the game to start...Go Lakers!
Posted by: hawaii D | June 07, 2009 at 12:15 PM
If Kobe dominates the ball, the other players don't get involved. And when Kobe cools off, as he inevitably will, or is substituted for, the rest of the players are not in rhythm. So yes, continuously going to hot hand does have a down side. Apparently too subtle for people like Van Gundy and Mark Jackson to understand, though.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 07, 2009 at 12:26 PM
LAKERS PLAYING ON “AUTOMATIC”…
From Roland Lazenby’s great column for HoopsHype:
If you love basketball X’s and O’s, the you MUST read this just terrific article from Roland to understand how important Tex Winter has been to the Lakers and why in the back of every Lakers player there is a desire to win this ‘ship for Tex. Here are some great excerpts to get you through the next few hours. Thanks, Roland.
>>>
Sure Jackson had won an NBA championship as a sub for the 1973 New York Knicks and a Continental Basketball Association title as a coach of the Albany Patroons. But his coaching contemporaries in the CBA liked to joke behind his back that Jackson had trouble understanding a simple flex offense.
Together, though, Winter and Jackson would make for a masterful team. Even then, in his late sixties, Winter was a revolutionary, so fiery that Bulls head coach Doug Collins had to ban him from practice. The Bulls, however, soon fired Collins, promoted Jackson, and the triangle conspiracy was off and running.
Jackson was the student, with Winter teaching him over the years during film sessions, organizing his practices, explaining all the details. Jackson soaked it all up, and then provided that special touch of genius that Winter lacked — a masterful ability at team dynamics and group building.
Winter often said the triangle would never have gone far in the NBA without Jackson’s ability to elevate it to relevance and sell it to the players, especially superstars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Within two years, they helped guide Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Bulls to their first title. They would win five more over the course of the 1990s and would eventually come close to Winter’s ideal of the perfect offensive state.
That would be what Winter called “the automatics,” a state where the coaches didn’t have to call plays because the players were so well versed in the triangle offense they could simply read the defense and make the cuts and passes to counteract it.
With Jordan, Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper and a host of smart role players, the Bulls came to inhabit that rare state for their last three championships, from 1996-98. They spread the floor, ran their “automatics,” and left the rest of the league dazed and confused.
>>>
It made great sense, especially against a young team that couldn’t use all of the “automatics” of the triangle offense. But as Walton explained, this Lakers team has been growing in its relationship with the complicated offense, and now they’re able to make the many reads the offense required. They’re now able to employ all of the automatics.
“It’s been a constant change,” Walton explained, “but toward the end of that Denver series, that’s when we really took a step to the next level.”
The players, he said, have come “to know that pretty much every time, if we make the right reads, we’re gonna get a good shot.”
Being on the floor in those Zen moments makes for a rare and wonderful level of basketball, Walton observed. “If you have the ball, you’re looking around and seeing people move and cut. It’s a great way to play basketball.”
It’s a matter the Lakers going to their first option and waiting for the defense to counter it, then turning to their automatics, Walton explained. “The thing about our automatics, we’re running them because the defense is taking something away from us. There’s no way you can take away our first option and our automatics at the same time. The automatics are pressure-release situations. So if you’re gonna take away something, we read it and go to something else. We normally have the court spread out and people cutting all the time.
“This offense is meant to not even call any plays, just move the ball, and depending on how the defense is guarding you, you make the appropriate pass. Off of every pass, there’s another five options to go from,” Walton added. “We got a group of guys out there right now where it’s starting to click for us. We’re constantly moving and getting open shots.”
It makes basketball very Zen and very fun, agreed teammate Sasha Vujacic. “When we were still learning about the offense, we didn’t know what to do with pressure.”
Winter devised the triangle to take a defense’s pressure and use it against them, which is what the Lakers are now doing to their opponents. In Jackson, the perfectionist Winter found a tremendously patient and wonderful teacher to explain the offense over long periods of time to those pro players willing and eager to learn it.
“The triangle is a two-guard front, so it’s a little bit different and difficult to learn,” Vujacic explained. “But the coaching staff has explained it step by step, and it has become easier. To learn triangle takes a while. Once you finally learn it, it goes smoothly. There are just so many options.”
It takes special players to fit the system, Walton suggested. “They’ve done a great job of putting this team together.”
No player in the world understands the offense better than Bryant, a Winter disciple who joins the coaching staff in teaching it to the team. “It helps everybody else,” Vujacic explained. “When we play as a team we are very hard to beat. That’s when Kobe takes over. He knows when to take shots and when to pass. He’s just the best there is in the game.”
Bryant’s uncommon work ethic has been a big factor in driving this learning experience with the automatics, as assistant coach Brian Shaw, himself a veteran of the offense, explained. “He’s done a good job of balancing when to be aggressive and when to be a facilitator.”
>>>
“When we’re willing to accept to what’s open, it works well,” Walton explained. “If they jam cutters, we kick it to the other side and counter back in, and now they’re playing at a deficit.”
That’s the brilliance of Winter’s triangle offense, that it creates an imbalance, then swings the ball to the weak side, where a Bryant or Jordan can play behind the defense and then take advantage.
As they work to win Jackson’s tenth title, the Lakers are quite mindful of Winter’s condition, and that may factor into their determination to reach that special level with the automatics. As you might expect, they don’t articulate such notions. They’re better left unsaid.
Jackson, though, has been hurt deeply by Winter’s condition, according to close associates. It’s not something the coach is going to talk about publicly, and he addresses it only subtly with his team. “He’s constantly teaching us and telling us things his teacher has told him,” Walton said of Jackson. “We’re all thinking about Tex, and we miss him.”
>>>
WIN IT FOR TEX, LAKERS.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 07, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Ugh...finally game day folks and I can't wait. Looking for a repeat of game 1.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | June 07, 2009 at 12:29 PM
The media are really starting too bug me. They'll have the lakers believe that this thing is already over--exactly the way we're going to lose this thing.
To quote the great rock band The Carperders, It's only just begun.
We'd better be ready.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | June 07, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Lakers need to punch the Magic in the face again tonight (figuratively speaking). Magic will get more calls & make more shots in Orlando - so I expect Laker bigs foul trouble and the games to be brutal there.
Also, I think Kobe's demeanor is meant mostly for his teammates. It says "no goofing around, no losing focus, don't frickin' miss your assignments and above all NO MERCY!"
Can't wait for tip.
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: lazNirv | June 07, 2009 at 12:41 PM
BK
Excellent post from Roland Lazenby, I just finished reading it
One question I would love for Roland to answer is......With all the "success" Tex, Phil , and the triangle have had.........Why is there little if any attempt to duplicate this offense among other teams in the league?
Another question I would ask him is......Where are the Tex Winter and Phil Jackson disciples in coaching? When you look at all the great coaches there is usually a spinoff of coaches that come from that one great coach.
Mike Brown came from the Popovich influence, or the Van Gundys came from Pat Riley and so on and so on.
Every coach that has come from Phil Jackson has done miserably (of course they didn't have Micheal Jordan or Kobe Bryant......but I digress) Wheher it was Bill Cartwright in Chicago or Jim Cleamons in Dallas these coaches attempt to implement the "triangle" have failed and failed terribly.
When you look across the league today in coaching there is very little Tex Winter and Phil Jackson influence in terms of coaching philosophy.
What will happen to the triangle offense once Phil retires?
Kurt Rambis if you want a head coaching job I think you should heed these facts.........I'm just saying
Posted by: pfunk36 | June 07, 2009 at 12:46 PM
FROM PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
HELLO GUYS,
I ALREADY FEEL THE HEAT OF THE STAPLES CENTER BECAUSE OUR NEXT WIN TONIGHT IS ALREADY SEALED...
BISOUS TO ALL
SHEKOBE FOREVER
Posted by: SHEKOBE | June 07, 2009 at 12:49 PM
..........also this "scowl" of Kobe's that has inundated this 24/7 media is really comical. This look of determination is pretty common among players after they hit a big shot
case in point.....go to the 15 and 16 second mark after Carmelo hit the game winner over Dallas
http://tinyurl.com/mfg69o
Is it me? It's the media......right?
Posted by: pfunk36 | June 07, 2009 at 01:01 PM
Posted by: KB Blitz | June 07, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Absolutely agree. Shaq, Wilt, Kareem, Russell, Hakeem, etc, etc. I'm not even willing to put Howard on David Robinson's level yet. No moves and a weak conference for centers.
Opinions on Shaq may vary, but there's no doubt he was the most dominating center in the NBA from his rookie year to 2005.
Posted by: #4 | June 07, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I am NOT a big fan of Shaq, however comparing Dwight Howard with Shaq is a bit too much.
Shaq is much greater and better player than Howard. Howard has very limited moves and shots compared to what Shaq had in his arsenal.
And all those Magic fans who curse that Shaq bolted for LA and ditched Orlando - that is why it is called professional basketball. He came to LA, because he was given more money and thought he has a better chance to win.
The Orlando folks who drool over "Superman" and his so-called love for Orlando - ask him would he still stay in Orlando for fans love, but he has to take a pay cut! If Lakers give Howard a 20-mil per year contract, he also would bolt - playing in a bigger market, more money!!
Posted by: Kobefan in Cupertino | June 07, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Good afternoon Laker fans!
Great article on Trevor.
http://tinyurl.com/nkudnf
Go Lakers. Get er' done!!!
Posted by: LakerFox | June 07, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Quality Writers: Roland Lazenby, Kevin Ding.
Useless Hacks: Mark Heisler, Bill Plaschke, T. J. Simers.
Win It For Tex!!!
WE ARE THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS AND WE RISE!!!!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 07, 2009 at 01:31 PM
"If Kobe dominates the ball, the other players don't get involved. And when Kobe cools off, as he inevitably will, or is substituted for, the rest of the players are not in rhythm. So yes, continuously going to hot hand does have a down side. Apparently too subtle for people like Van Gundy and Mark Jackson to understand, though."
Of course. Mark Jackson is and ALWAYS will be an idiot and Jeff Van Gundy is a loser coach who cannot even get a job after that CHOKE job he did in 2007 losing AT HOME to the Jazz in Game 7. And that time both McGrady and Yao were healthy against an up and coming Utah Jazz team that wasn't as good as they would be the year before.
If course one has to be a fool to even use Mark Jackson's and/or Jeff Van Gundy's words to back up their arguments. That's why even true Laker fans dislike Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy commentating (however hilarious they may be) because Van Gundy is a Rockets homer and Mark Jackson is an *IDIOT*.
Hubie Brown and Mike Tirico are WAY better announcers than Van Gundy or Mark Jackson are. Seriously ESPN must have something wrong in their heads because if they really were to be more realistic they would have had Hubie and Tirico commentating rather than the two idiots and Breen doing the play by play commentating.
Example of Mark Jackson's stupidity:
"Allen Iverson is the best pound for pound player ever".
He must forget how good isiah Thomas (the player not the GM/coach) or John Stockton were....
And Kobe's hand did cool down in the 4th quarter when he could only hit a few shots against JJ Redick........not exactly a lock down defender. That's why in Game 6 Denver series was I think his best performance when he scored 35 in only 20 shots and got 10 assists.
Posted by: KB Blitz | June 07, 2009 at 01:34 PM
pfunk36,
"With all the "success" Tex, Phil , and the triangle have had.........Why is there little if any attempt to duplicate this offense among other teams in the league?"
This has already been explained. Because it takes too long in the modern NBA to master the Triangle and coaches are put under tremendous pressure to immediately win. Most teams aren't willing to wait three years for their team to "get it."
By the way, Mike Brown sucks as an offensive coach. So much for Popovich's mentorship.
WE ARE THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS AND WE RISE!!!!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 07, 2009 at 01:35 PM
Wes,
I know the media is annoying, but I'm not worried about this team believing their own hype.
I think they are honestly mentally ready for this series. Even the media can't screw this up.
WE ARE THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS AND WE RISE!!!!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 07, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Game 2 is finally here. Game 1 doesn’t matter anymore. Two losses to Orlando in the regular season don’t matter. It’s a new game. Part of what makes the postseason great.
Orlando will have more sense of purpose. They will try to get their offensive sets moving faster, change angles to make double teams and closeouts tougher. They will double Kobe more, make other guys make shots. Hit the boards harder. Probably shoot better. A new night and a new challenge for the Lakers.
I like what Drew has been doing the last few games. In addition to being a defensive presence, I would love to see him get going offensively early tonight and put some pressure on Howard. It feels like Drew is coming around, and if he could stay on the floor he could have a bit of a breakout first quarter.
No predictions of 6 games or sweeps. Just looking forward to tonight, hoping the Lakers are true to their talk, staying in the moment, taking away what Orlando wants to do offensively with team defensive effort and using the triangle to take offensively what Orlando is giving up defensively. Another great team effort on both ends. Another win. Go to Orlando up 2-0.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | June 07, 2009 at 01:41 PM
pfunk36 (not to be confused with Funk 49),
Good comment on the lack of Phil Jackson acolytes in the NBA head coaching ranks. There have been some attempts at the triangle, most notably as you say Chicago post Phil/Michael and Milwuakee under Cleamons. But there does not seem to be a "Phil Jackson school of coaches." In spite of his success, he is not much imitated.
Oddly, the same is true of John Wooden. His style has not been modeled by many in spite of extraordinary success.
Both believe in the omportance of practice and pregame preparation, not a lot of timeouts, letting the players learn for themselves, not overcoaching during games.
Maybe it isn't so popular because coaches want to look more important on the floor than they are. Like baseball managers who bunt and hit and run too much just so they can have an impact on the game.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | June 07, 2009 at 01:49 PM
Wes,
>>> To quote the great rock band The Carperders, It's only just begun.
Amen. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | June 07, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Count me me among those who feel quite comfortable with Jackson's comment that the Game 1 was too Kobe-centric. The comment from "exhelodrvr" was on the mark: Kobe is not always going to shoot well and keeping the other players as active as possible in the offense permits the team game - mentally and physically - to continue to be an option. Mark Jackson's and Jeff Van Gundy's dismissive comments are those of rating hacks, not commentators.
Posted by: Juan | June 07, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Kobe's mood - i don't get what the big fuss is, to me it's just his focus, concentration and his desire/drive to win - i'm sure if he was loose and clowning around with everyone the story would be that he has not respect for the game or some other ludicrous story. Also, I don't recall people criticizing KG last year for his demeanor, which in my opinion falls under the same category as the type of mood Kobe has now.
Anyway - it's a non-story IMO
Posted by: rojaro | June 07, 2009 at 02:11 PM
yo AK/BK
while i know he doesnt need it, do you think jack nicholson gets a discount on his season tickets just because hes been such a loyal fan all these years? or maybe some added perks?..
Posted by: kf824 | June 07, 2009 at 02:19 PM
It´s Game day!
This could be the only game I´ll be able to see live. Because this might be a sweep.
Let´s go Lakers!
Posted by: HugoSpain | June 07, 2009 at 02:23 PM
pfunk36, i've heard writers, coaches, and players have addressed this issue in the past. one major reason why other teams don't run the triangle or another type of complicated offense is that it takes a long time to teach the offense to your players. you have to have a core of players that are willing to buy into the ball movement philosophy, and you have to have management be able to keep those players.
and then there's the cold hard fact that many players have a me-first mentality (esp. stars), and don't want to sacrifice their own shots or points for the greater good of the team. even Shaq made the comment to the press, "if you don't feed your Big Dog, he ain't gonna protect the Big Yard," or something to that effect.
another reason is that you have to have a group of really fundamentally sound players that can pass, cut, and shoot. with many NBA players (american ones) either skipping college or only spending a year or two, don't have the fundamental skills. just look at how much more polished Gasol looks (even when he was younger) compared to Bynum. it took Bynum years to learn the offense, defense, and mature his post-up game. meanwhile, Gasol, comes right to the Lakers, in mid-season no less, and picks up the Lakers offense with no problems. i attribute this not only to Gasol's intelligence, but also because he's a skilled player from Europe, where they teach fundamentals.
another reason is that other teams and coaches have tried to run the triangle. but it didn't equate wins. it was tried in Dallas. the Nets used to run the Princeton Offense, which was also complicated, with cuts, back-screens, player movement, ball movement. then they got Vince Carter, and they stopped running it. they went to isolations and pick and rolls involving Carter and Kidd. we all know how well that worked out for them, lol! Carter probably told the coach, we don't need this big playbook, just give me the ball, and clear out!
it just boils down to: are there coaches (besides PJ and his staff) that are willing to commit to teaching the triangle for years before the players finally "get it." (Lamar Odom is finally getting it. and Steve Kerr said it takes at least two years to learn it, as a guard) and is the management and owner willing to go out and get the right players for the triangle, and willing to stick with that coach and players through a couple of losing seasons, before they "get it." i say, it's very unlikely, which is why it's rare to see anyone else use the triangle.
it also helps when you have a few veterans that already know the system, like Lakers with Kobe, Fisher, and Luke, so they can help teach the young guys. there are not many players in the League that already know the triangle.
as for the Lakers, i'd hate to see them without PJ, and run a different offense, but i think they have so much talent, they could still win if they employed a new offense. (but they might never be as dominant w/out the triangle)
Posted by: leonardbast | June 07, 2009 at 02:37 PM
Looking forward to tonight's game. Definitely will be more of a challenge today so we all root and scream our lungs out.
I still feel that the 7-game series against Houston and the 6-game series against Denver worked to Drew's advantage. He has slowly gotten back into rhythm. He is still a young player so we need to recognize he won't always play well but I'm impressed. Was very proud to see he and Pau run back on defense constantly in Game 1. Kobe's game was great but the defensive effort starts the moment the other team gets possesion.
On another note, the comparison between D Howard and Shaq is as silly as comparing LeBron and Kobe. Howard is a beast and he was clearly the focus of our defense in Game 1. Let's respect his game and stop with these petty comparisons. Shaq was a great player (actually still is in many respects). His biggest negative, of course, is his fragile ego. The Most Dominant Ever also seems to the Most Diva Ever sometimes.
Posted by: StillWaitingforRings | June 07, 2009 at 02:51 PM
hawaii D - re: the Heisler article, I am so with you. It was a truly poor, covenient, phone-it-in piece of writing.
As for all the questions about Kobe's personality, no disrespect to anybody else but just personallly speaking, I don't CARE anymore. It's been done to death. I just like watching the dude play. Every game, year in and out, it's such a treat to be able to see this insanely talented and driven guy do the things that he does, live... in our lifetime.
Posted by: dave m | June 07, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Wes,
Did you mean the Carpenters? They rock! yes they do.
This is my favorite carpenters song, and the Lakers are puttin us on top of the world.
http://tinyurl.com/ywngnd
LOCK AND LOAD!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: ChicNstu | June 07, 2009 at 03:07 PM
how many cans of Nati Ice with I go thru for today's game??
Posted by: ajax | June 07, 2009 at 03:10 PM
STRANGEST COMMENTS FROM GAME 1
ABC INTERVIEWER: What did you think of Kobe's incredible run here in the third quarter?
PHIL JACKSON: I thought we went to him too much
ABC INTERVIEWER: HUH?
PHIL JACKSON: Yeah, I was telling the other guys to get more involved.....we were going to Kobe too much. But that run was incredible wasn't it?
ABC INTERVIEWER: HUH?
MARK JACKSON: Is Phil serious? Don't get Kobe the ball? I say get the ball to Kobe and watch me be a great coach
JEFF VAN GUNDY: Yeah, I think BOTH coaches would agree with Phil......Don't give the ball to Kobe.....Let's get Luke Walton more involved. LOL
Posted by: pfunk36 | June 07, 2009 at 10:55 AM
================
LOL Yeah I saw that and noted PJ said Kobe still wanted the ball to go to him so we did that.
Proves my point who really coaches the Lakers as I have said many times!!!
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 07, 2009 at 03:18 PM
i was surprised about the PJ comment regarding kobe as ball hog, BUT, i played the sequence a few times and he wants to be be sarcastic, because she does not understand the offense of TRI, and at the same time he knew that kobe needed to do that. remember the TO at 33-28 for Orlando?
at the same time it did not came out too well? maybe because she asked a stupid question and he forced the joke.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | June 07, 2009 at 03:21 PM
hawaii D & others
last night i did something i never did before after reading something, let's just say bad: i responded to both Heisler and mike bianchi-as reference, in his discussion of playing Ja-smear nelson or skippy, by starting with a reference to the diamond she got, of course after colorado.
---------------
dear mark heist
part of the history and context, u forgot to mention in your article that a few years ago he shot u out of his entourage.
still itching?
and as Le …, u r just poor sport and pathetic reviewer. i won't call this journalism. u deserve a fine from latimes.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | June 07, 2009 at 03:32 PM
pfunk36,
"With all the "success" Tex, Phil , and the triangle have had.........Why is there little if any attempt to duplicate this offense among other teams in the league?"
This has already been explained. Because it takes too long in the modern NBA to master the Triangle and coaches are put under tremendous pressure to immediately win. Most teams aren't willing to wait three years for their team to "get it."
By the way, Mike Brown sucks as an offensive coach. So much for Popovich's mentorship.
WE ARE THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS AND WE RISE!!!!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 07, 2009 at 01:35 PM
====================
I think we will keep a lot of the triangle and hopefully get B. Scott or M. Cooper as head coach or both with either one as head coach.
We can have a lot of triangle and to change things up some motion offense. I have seen some post that B. Scott offense is just CP3 dribbiling until he finds open man so would not be good coach.
That is bs as you play the hand you are dealt. He only has one ace so he plays that ace. In LA he would have several aces in KB, PG, AB, and LO. And kings in TA, SB.
This would make a better better hand than that he was dealt.
With Coops defensive minded approac and showtime play as well as triangle in place can be very efficient also.
I don't know why the triangle is not more used but it is a fact that it is not. Either way we should not lose much when PJ retires.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 07, 2009 at 03:34 PM
re: Mike Bianchi
in his article his conclusion is that the situation with SVG is
Wishy.
Washy, so i used that for my response
---------------
Subject: Wishy??????????
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:
--------
Washy.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Sorry, honey" $4 million purple diamond ring Kobe Bryant bought his wife."
sorry honey, your imagination an references r pretty limited. what has to do kobe's wife with orlando's point guards? i'm guessing, all the players will become their servants in a few days. and she fires them quickly. because they all sux.
fishy?
or
fishin' (in a few days).
till then, watch out for the tornado coming on June 9th. has a steely eye.
Posted by: ouchhhhhhhhh | June 07, 2009 at 03:35 PM
I'm off to the lucky barstool.
Let's win this tonight.
Win it for Tex.
WE ARE THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS AND WE RISE!!!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 07, 2009 at 03:38 PM
GAME ON! THE RETURN TO GLORY CONTINUES!
LET US PRAY:
Dear Lord, we thank You for enabling our Lakers to great success and a spectacular Game 1 win. We ask You for Your strength and mighty power to sweep over Kobe, Pau, LO, Trevor, D Fish, Jordan, Andrew, Shannon, Sasha (PLEASE, LORD, FOR FAITH'S SAKE!!!), Josh, DJ & Luke as they take the court today. May they play an even stronger 48 MINUTES OF COMPLETE, FOCUSED, DETERMINED, DISCIPLINED AND SPIRITED BASKETBALL than they did on Thursday night. May they play in unity and in the spirit of teamwork.
May their strength as a unit combined with Phil & the coaching staff's wisdom continue to confound the Orlando Magic. Keep their focus on the prize: The Fifteenth Banner, as they defeat their opponent today.
May the Orlando Magic uphold the spirit of the game and play with 100% sportsmanship & honor. We rebuke cheap shots, elbows and unsportsmanlike conduct. Ultimately, we ask You to show them mercy...for we have UNFINISHED BUSINESS. THE FIFTEEENTH BANNER awatis us. With Your power, Your strength and a win today, we will be halfway up the mountain. And we will Praise You at every step of the journey.
OUR TIME
OUR TEAM
OUR DESTINY
UNDER YOUR POWER!!!
We thank You for answered prayer...AMEN!
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | June 07, 2009 at 03:44 PM
I did mean the Carpenders, and I was joking. Being ironic, as it were. But it all worked out in the end, because now we all know who the secret Carpenders fans are. Eh, Rick?
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | June 07, 2009 at 03:45 PM
I am expecting the Lakers to win tonight of course. I do not expect another lowsy game from Orlando. I believe they will come out wanting it just as much as KOBE played like he did in the first game. I am waiting for an intense game. We'll see. And as for the Shaq rumors and all that. Shaq who.
Posted by: Mireya Pizarro | June 07, 2009 at 03:51 PM
THE BOOGYMAN IS THE LAKERS WORST ENEMY NOT THE MAGIC
The lakers had an impressive win in game one that perhaps even made Lebron James scream "Kobeee," as he dropped his buttered popcorn on his marble floors. However, reflecting back on the Laker season, one can easily recall: Lakers tend to play horrible after BIG wins coupled by the fact they are expected to win! This amazing truth assumes that they (Lakers) beat themselves. So questions should not be what the Magic will or won't do, but rather what the OUR BELOVED Lakers intend to do. Somehow the Lakers seem to have a boogman in the their lockerroom informing them of how they should play to LOSE..
HERE'S WHAT THE BOOGYMAN SAYS TO EACH PLAYER.
Kobe: You are the Man.. Shoot 40 times if you must
Gasol: You are not soft.. You have nothing to prove!
Bynum: Howard is beneath you. Score 30 on him
Trevor: You better concentrate on the 3 ball tonight
Odom: Tonight you decide: Which candy is best eating at halftime.
Fish: It doesn't matter what I do fans will never be pleased.
Phil: I like your inconspicuous rotations--the one's nobody expects so you should do as I like..you have ummm 10 rings?
Sasha: tonight you will redeem yourself on the first shot!
Shannon: Get in there and score, score, score defense is not what you're paid for.
Farmer: Don't worry about defense you are a Bruin!
Powell: What team could use your services next year?
Mgbenga: Kobe needs a warm place to sit on this bench.. I should keep this spot properly heated.
Oh, well who said the boogman was real? Lakers tend to believe in some supeficial thing that keeps them from suceeding when they should. After watching every game the Lakers played this year, the Lakers never seemed to "put people away". Back to the point that this boogman must be the Lakers problem, thus their worst enemy.
Tonight I expect the Lakers to defeat the Boogman and thereby whip the Magic!!
No more boogman..
Posted by: moneydez | June 07, 2009 at 04:12 PM
well, the ignorance has been tuned up in both the mainstream media and a few posters on this blog. the k bros are always there to keep the intellectual level high and other of the blog crue are here to keep us straight.
in defense of heisler, et al, some of them are writing for a bunch of people that read anything written about basketball for about a week during the finals and ignore it the rest of the year. in defense of some people on this blog, some of them are new and haven't realized the standards that some people have established. and some of them like pfunk and kbblitz just have their own axes to grind.
phred is mostly the guy at the buffet who samples everything and never sits down and eats, so I don't want to start anything too drastic in risk of upsetting my appetite, but a couple of things. copy these and save them, I seldom make predictions, and I am seldom wrong. hmmm.
1) I called this series in four or five. we are much more experienced than the magic, and we are much bigger. luke walton was a dominant post player in game one. I rest my case.
2) we do not want byron scott as a coach. did you see what happened to the hornets this year?
3) we should probably stay with the triangle for a very long time. and yes, it is much harder for players to learn, but it is worth it. if phil wants to retire, kobe will decide who he wants to listen to, and everyone else will just adjust. if lebron or wade or anyone wants to win, they can come play, but they need to adjust too.
4)rajon rondo? even if he could learn the triangle, the guy can't shoot. get a grip. aaron brooks, on the other hand, i could see
5)let's not get carried away with ariza. he's an energy guy, but he is a huge health risk, and isn't even a proven role players. superstars and role players win championships.
6) lamar is overpaid as a role player, but then again, he might be a superstar in the making. If i'm ever in LA, i will buy tickets to see him play. ariza not so much.
7) IT IS ALL ABOUT THE LOVE. THERE IS NO ARGUMENT THERE.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: phred | June 07, 2009 at 04:26 PM
UNLEASH THE BEAST ON SUPERMAN AND LET THE MAMBA DESTROY THE REST!
BD
Posted by: BD | June 07, 2009 at 04:36 PM
"how many cans of Nati Ice with I go thru for today's game??
Posted by: ajax | June 07, 2009 at 03:10 PM"
If you're good to yourself, you'll have none. If you want beer, go buy something decent. Personally, I'll be drinking Widmer Brothers and New Belgium.
Posted by: dave in hillsboro | June 07, 2009 at 04:39 PM
ANDREW THE HAMMER FLATTENS SUPERMAN!
BD
Posted by: BD | June 07, 2009 at 04:42 PM
um, i left out a sentence there, right after in defense of heisler et al. that aside, some of these guys are obviously paid big bucks to be as controversial as possible, and therefore say the stupidest things they can think of. those two facts probably explain why i don't read them, so nobody should really listen to my opinion of them. or something.
Posted by: phred | June 07, 2009 at 04:42 PM