Caught in the Web: Reactions to Lakers' 110-82 victory over Dallas Mavericks
Game stories
--The Times' Mike Bresnahan details all the feistiness in the Lakers' 110-82 victory Thursday over the Dallas Mavericks.
--The Riverside Press-Enterprise's David Lassen credits the Lakers' domination over the Mavericks.
--The Daily News' Elliott Teaford also focuses on the fight.
Notebooks
--The Times' Bresnahan details Mark Cuban's comments about Ron Artest.
--The Riverside Press-Enterprise's Lassen and the Daily News' Teaford also highlight Cuban's comments about Artest.
Sidebars
--The Times' Broderick Turner praises Lamar Odom's performance.
--ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon highlights Jason Terry's comments that the emotions got the best of him during the Mavericks' loss.
Artest discusses in the video below what it means to be nominated for the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award for his efforts with raising over $600,000 for mental health charities.
Columns
--The Times' Mark Heisler likes all the tension between the Lakers and Mavericks, but he doesn't consider them a rivalry just yet.
--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding details the value Matt Barnes brings to the lineup.
--Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins believes the dislike between the Lakers and Mavericks is real.
--Yahoo! Sports' Johnny Ludden credits the Lakers for standing tall.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin wants to see the Lakers and Mavericks square off in the playoffs.
--The Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko believes the Mavericks' loss of composure is a bad sign.
--Fox Sports' Billy Witz argues the Lakers sent a message with their physical play.
Blogs
--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers' victory.
--NBA.com's Sekou Smith argues the Lakers are making a playoff push.
--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell breaks down the Lakers' win through a running diary.
--Forum Blue and Gold's Darius Soriano believes the Lakers outclass the Mavericks.
--Silver Screen and Roll's Dexter Fishmore sums it up best in the headline: "Hell Breaks Loose."
Tweet of the Day:"SO MUCH FOR LAKES-MAVS RUMBLE: What rumble? As Kobe told Cheryl Miller, 'If this was the '80s, they'd take the ball out and keep going.'" -- MHeislerLATimes (Times NBA columnist Mark Heisler)
Reader Comment of the Day: "Mavs got TKO'ed on the basketball so they lost their cool by initiating a rumble. Too bad the small millionaires among the Lakers will shed a couple of thousand to Stern treasury chest. Kobe was right, this is nothing in the 80's today there is too much attention on the fight including that half naked lady who attack the Mavs. Was she looking for the billionaire?
Again, it is just half body covered, we're used to streakers running around in the sixties which adds more flavor to the show. Lake Show was superb, it's like the Showtime group aiming for 0 losses in the playoffs. There's really something to be scared about the Lakers. Should we be over confident and be euphoric with success. Not yet, it does count because the season is winding up. The best thing is to be tactically alert by avoiding injuries, spreading the playing time and a little rest on the veterans like Kobe, Fisher, Gasol who have been playing longer minutes during the year. We don't need to pour more points but just enough for victory, reserve that energy in the playoffs" -- Edwin Gueco
--Mark Medina
email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Do we know when the suspensions are handed out? I would rather have somebody sit out against the Jazz then the streaking Nuggets.
Posted by: rage777 | April 01, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Haha watch at 3:48 Artest is sitting back just kicking back, not even looking at whats going on. Artest know players really ain't gonna throw. If Terry really wanted Barnes he could of got to him, but watch at 3:22 Terry has an opening, but waits for refs to stop him.
Posted by: Magia32 | April 01, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Brendan Hayward and Shannon Brown should have their ejections rescinded.
Posted by: Todd | April 01, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Todd - you mean like a "get out of jail free" card next time they do something?
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 01, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Theo Ratliff missed two foul shots!
Here is my tribute to the Lakers players:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmJjD33eKDU
Posted by: LakerPeace | April 01, 2011 at 01:01 PM
Of all people, why did Theo get to take those free throws?
Posted by: Art | April 01, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Yes. Shannon Brown didn't get his $$ worth for ejection.
>>Todd - you mean like a "get out of jail free" card next time they do something?
>>Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 01, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Posted by: Todd | April 01, 2011 at 01:08 PM
Great big game performance by TheShow....just like Diana Ross, they showed the Mavs who was "The Boss"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snR3zv1uHMs&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 01, 2011 at 01:09 PM
@Chic - Hah no they weren't there. But they talked about the possibility they would be there for the OK City game on April 10
Posted by: Mark Medina | April 01, 2011 at 01:10 PM
Congratulations, Mr. Edwin G......Great insights as always!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 01, 2011 at 01:15 PM
@ROCKY... Nice to hear you’re enjoying your crow. It’s definitely an underrated dish when it’s seasoned with another Lakers NBA championship. And Mitch Kupchak and I both agree with you that there is no player in the NBA for whom we would trade Andrew Bynum at this point in time.
.................................................
@EDWIN.... You’re on roll, my friend. Congrats on ANOTHER Friedman. Excellent points. The Mavs once again showed their true color, which was definitely a puke shad of yellow.
.................................................
TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | April 01, 2011 at 01:20 PM
BE BE BE
BlakeEjected
Barnes Ejected
Brown Ejected
Way to show the Dull-ass Mavericks that you won't let your teammates get punked.
And Lamar may have shown who the REAL 6th man of the year is. Can Jason Terry guard C, PF, and PG? Lamar did. And Lamar hit his 3's more consistently than Jet in this game as well
I'm proud of our bench
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | April 01, 2011 at 01:22 PM
I scream, you scream...we all scream for ICE CREAM!
GO RoN!!!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 01, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Good comments Edwin.
Hey, where's the video of the girl who went after the Mavs?????
Posted by: Art | April 01, 2011 at 01:23 PM
To quote our former coach, Pat Riley, 'I've seen more pushing in the men's room'. Terry who has shamelessly promoted his award of the 6th man of the year, probably thought that he could win some votes on national TV. Of course our pick is Lamar, who basically took over the game. Terry must have become frustrated that the game likely pushed Lamar into the leading candidate. Wonder if the Celtics are still calling us 'soft'?
Posted by: gil | April 01, 2011 at 01:27 PM
One O'Neal isn't enough.
If the C's want to make it to the finals, then just one O'neal will not be enough. Shaquille O'neal will not be enough. Jermaine O'neal will not be enough...
They need Jerquille O'neal
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | April 01, 2011 at 01:32 PM
"Of all people, why did Theo get to take those free throws?
Posted by: Art | April 01, 2011 at 01:06 PM "
By rule, when a player who is supposed to shoot free throws is ejected, the opposing team gets to choose a player to fill in and shoot the free throws. This is to prevent poor shooting players from faking injuries or getting ejected just so a better shooter can fill in for them.
I'm surprised Dallas knew Theo Ratliff was on the team!
Posted by: Bay to LA | April 01, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Our manchild Drew is starting to look like the monster we all hoped he'd become. Big surprises ahead for Shaq, if his team makes it to the finals. Glad to see that the idiots who wanted to break up this championship team have disappeared. Like many predicted at the start of the season, this might become the best Laker team ever. They will just have to prove it on the court on the way to another 3peat! Dust off your chicken little panic state and climb back on the bandwagon-most real fans don't really care, either way.
Posted by: gil | April 01, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Thanks Bay. Guess Theo was a last resort then.
Posted by: Art | April 01, 2011 at 01:37 PM
That was a crazy game last, but that showed how united the Lakers are. Teammates sticking up for each other is always a good sign right before the playoffs. This game also put some distance between second and third in the West, so the Lakers still have a shot at catching the Spurs after losing last night to the Celtics.
Posted by: Jon L. | April 01, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Edwin Gueco
Mazel Tov on the Friedman! I concur with your thoughts.
Last night's minutes: Bynum, 37, Pau, 31, Kobe, 30, LO, 26, Artest, 26, Fish 24. Bynum can use more minutes getting ready for the playoffs, plus he's only 23. Superb allocation of minutes by Coach Eleven Rings.
If this team plays at this level and we stay healthy, #17 will be served up on a platter! The scary part? The Lakers have another gear.
Posted by: KobeMVP888 | April 01, 2011 at 01:48 PM
As to last night's game, I think it's all been said.
As to Cuban buying the Dodgers:
As much of a tool as we all think M. Cuban is, he isn't afraid to spend money on players or facilities. It is always possible that the guy would let his organization spend the money they need to win and even more important: make the stadium ticket prices make sense again. He could even possibly stave off any attempts to rename Dodger Stadium after some corporate sponsor (Rotor Rooter Stadium at Chavez Ravine...)
JR
Posted by: Jolly Rancher | April 01, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Congrats Edwin!
Just re-watched the footage. Does everyone else notice how AB is the one person the floor that stays as far away from it as possible? Good man! Stepping up and showing maturity. We all know that if HE got involved there would have been at least a 2 game suspension!
Posted by: Diandra | April 01, 2011 at 01:50 PM
Hello
Police here; what a game last night! The PSP sincerely believe that every player/coach/personnel on the Mavs team know that no way in hell or on earth can they beat the Lakers in a 7 game series.
Now the PSP know that as the champs we should be ready to beat down on ANY team that dare stray into our path ... BUT I rather we avoid the Blazers, something about those guys just doesn't seem right.
Now can somebody in the know give us the full details on our friend Mamba24? The PSP hope its not what the PSP is thinking ... :(
Thanks
PSP Intern
Posted by: Practice Season Police | April 01, 2011 at 01:54 PM
Diandra
Great observation. You always come in with something fresh!
Posted by: KobeMVP888 | April 01, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Thanks MM, Bronx, LT and Art:
I don't think it deserves the Friedman award, there are many missing words in it which are trademarks of my posts. Well, u can just supply the missing words to sum up the idea. lol!
If you are Jason Terry and/or Steve Blake, here are what the head coach and asst. coaches tell you: "Don't be soft out there in giving a free past. You are in NBA, just do the slamming not only once but all the time." So from the viewpoint of neophytes like Drew who are constantly abused because they could not reach the tip of their fingers to Terry & Blake who are known to be shooters not fighter put up the masks of being tough so they slammed their opponents or return the shoving in shouting match. Here comes another adult, Joey Crawford: "Nope, nope you can do that on my watch, you are out of here." While the fans on the stand or in front of their TV are all in great joy, yeah, give them hell! says the fans JT is the dirtiest player that I know. (They have not seen Bill Laimbeer or Rick Mahorn played, how'd they know JT was the dirtiest of them all. This was a daily ritual during their time.) Therefore, all these players were carried by emotions to be tough that started from coaches and ended with the referees donating a hefty fine to the delight of David Stearn who is smiling from ear to ear whispering to himself: "It's just amazing."
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 01, 2011 at 02:03 PM
@LRob...
Here's my April Fool's day song for Cuban and the Mavs...a little Luther...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmEHKF99v2
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 01, 2011 at 02:03 PM
man when bynum goes strong to the hoop, you better get out of the way. way stronger than shaq, back in the day. and artest and lamar shooting 3's aint no way they dont win it all again.... great game last nite.
Posted by: boil | April 01, 2011 at 02:04 PM
"man when bynum goes strong to the hoop, you better get out of the way. way stronger than shaq, back in the day. and artest and lamar shooting 3's aint no way they dont win it all again.... great game last nite.
Posted by: boil | April 01, 2011 at 02:04 PM "
Whoa whoa whoa, not stronger than Shaq. Shaq was regularly doing that kind of dunk in traffic with people hanging on him.
Posted by: Bay to LA | April 01, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Breaking my self-imposed Blog retirement/silence to offer my $0.02:
- Why didn't Dirk get a Flagrant 1 for pushing Kobe in the back?
- Dallas is soft. Always has been. Always will be. They lost all their cred when they handed D Wade his one and only ring in that infamous 2-0 series leading up 15 in the 3rd quarter of Game 3 collapse.
- Jason Terry and Mark Cuban need to take a hint from me: SHUT UP AND PLAY. That's why I'm retired. I have little time & use to debate with idiots. Let the game do the talking.
- On that previous note, LRob: fill in the blanks and fire up some JB for me: Like A Dull Knife That Just Ain't Cutting...
Back to my cave. See you in June. Maybe.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | April 01, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Lrob, could not get into ur music, it says malformed video.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 01, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Good to hear from Utz and Justa!
Posted by: D(erek)J(eter) | April 01, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Utz - so love your participation here and I know you say you are retired. But my gut tells me you are gearing up for full-fledge playoff run with us. Admit it, you just can't stay away.
Saw this as added impetus for tonight's game:
A loss to the Lakers (54-20) officially eliminates the Jazz (36-39) from the playoffs and would make them the first team in history to start 15-5 and 27-13 and not qualify for postseason play, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
It would be nice to be the dagger to Utah's season.
Cheers all - PLG
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 01, 2011 at 02:17 PM
Here's another April Fool's bouquet for Marky Mark Cuban...
classic Beatles..."Fool on the Hill"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvSvT8p0igg
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 01, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Breaking my self-imposed Blog retirement/silence to offer my $0.02:
- Why didn't Dirk get a Flagrant 1 for pushing Kobe in the back?
====
That was my IMMEDIATE reaction from my seat where I got as good a look at it as the refs! In fact, THAT was more dangerous than Terry's shove of Blake to the ground and if it wasn't for Kobe's tremendous balance, could have been Beasley-like. I guess that the refs must have thought it was a "soft" push because it was Dirk.
Posted by: KobeMVP888 | April 01, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Utz, be careful of the bats and cobras in that cave.
Why engage in a debate with others when u can choose the topic? Like me for example I chose Jon K banter about cats which according to him are parasites. I enjoy the exchange and my stand is that humans are parasites too when they are born and before they die, they go back being parasites as well to their children. So cats are just copying humans. lol!
Why do you escape from trolls, confront and then scroll? hoho!! especially that kobefan.
Follow what Ernest Henley's poem - Invictus:
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 01, 2011 at 02:32 PM
"- Why didn't Dirk get a Flagrant 1 for pushing Kobe in the back?
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | April 01, 2011 at 02:11 PM "
It's all about reactions and results. Kobe didn't take objection to it or go to the floor so they just played on like it was a normal foul. By rule it should have been a flagrant 1 since there was no play made on the ball. It could have easily turned out like the Stoudemire/Bogut play from last year.
Posted by: Bay to LA | April 01, 2011 at 02:37 PM
I don't know if anyone keeps this stat, but it seems the Lakers are undefeated when Ron kisses the Biceps.
Artestify!
Posted by: Mark G | April 01, 2011 at 02:38 PM
One thing is for certain. Mathematically, the Lakers can finish no worse than the #4 seed.
Posted by: KobeMVP888 | April 01, 2011 at 02:47 PM
Just watched last night's game again on dvr. The Mavs were getting away with a lot of hard fouls for several minutes leading up to the skirmish. I have noticed a marked anti-Laker bias from nba refs, especially when it comes to Kobe. They were indirectly encouraging Terry's punk, cheap-shot by letting the Mavs get away with so much beforehand.
Posted by: Laker Kev | April 01, 2011 at 02:55 PM
"Just watched last night's game again on dvr. The Mavs were getting away with a lot of hard fouls for several minutes leading up to the skirmish. I have noticed a marked anti-Laker bias from nba refs, especially when it comes to Kobe. They were indirectly encouraging Terry's punk, cheap-shot by letting the Mavs get away with so much beforehand.
Posted by: Laker Kev | April 01, 2011 at 02:55 PM "
I haven't really been seeing that. For the first part of the year, the Lakers were being treated like any old team by the refs but ever since they started playing well, they have been getting a lot more respect.
Posted by: Bay to LA | April 01, 2011 at 03:07 PM
Let's try this again...
A little Luther love for Mark Cuban..."Don't Want to be a Fool"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5hEdNHdreg
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 01, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Bay to LA,
I agree that it has gotten better since the Lakers have been playing better; but NOT concerning Kobe; and last night was bad. Of course, I can't say that objectivity is my strong suit when it comes to the LAKERS.
Posted by: Laker Kev | April 01, 2011 at 03:37 PM
Cuban was too close to his bench, looked like he was orchestrating some of the players. Too bad he didn't throw a $100,000 punch.
I bet we don't see them again. Bench is a mess and they're not big enough. Same old Mav's lots of payroll and no fire in the belly. Should play the Cowboys next!
Posted by: hopalong | April 01, 2011 at 03:42 PM
"Haha watch at 3:48 Artest is sitting back just kicking back, not even looking at whats going on. Artest know players really ain't gonna throw. If Terry really wanted Barnes he could of got to him, but watch at 3:22 Terry has an opening, but waits for refs to stop him. "
Artest already had his altercation in 2004 which took him several seasons worth of reputation to shed. He knows the guys aren't going to throw for the most part, but emotions do get out of control and brawls can and do ensue. If Terry really wanted to fight Barnes, Barnes would have obliged and wiped the floor with him. Barnes is a tough guy. A football player in a basketball player's body.
Posted by: John | April 01, 2011 at 06:28 PM