There is one thing about Bob Horry we all know: He knows how to win a big ball game. Whether it be by hitting a game winner or changing the course of a series in his favor by making a dirty foul, he’s the go to guy. I remember when he was a Laker, I didn’t see him as a dirty player. He was just known for hitting clutch 3 point baskets going back to his days in Houston. Well, here we go again: The LA Lakers Vs. The defending Champion San Antonio Spurs. Wow. I can’t believe this is where we are. Lets forget for a second about the way the year started for the lakers and where they are now and lets focus on the fact that the Spurs found a way to make it to the Western conference finals despite being blown out and and beaten badly by the both teams it played in the playoffs this year. Wow… I was almost sure they would be eliminated by now. But those Spurs are tough man. They are scrappy, and with a guy like Bob Horry on your team, you have a weapon that few teams have. I don’t much appreciate that weapon any more. Gone are the days when I admired Horry for his seven Championship rings and his uncanny ability to hit the big shot when it mattered most. Welcome now the era of Bob Horry the Jerk. This guy is really looking like an a-hole to me at this point. I know most of you have seen the highlights of his most recent hard foul against David West of the Charlotte Hornets: Its been replayed over and over again but I can’t watch it without wondering how the league can overlook that kind of dirty play and not take action against him. Last year was even worse. Horry takes out Steve Nash in one of the most dirty plays I’ve ever seen and because the Phoenix bench jumps in the protect their guy they lost their top guys for a crucial game seven. David Stern penalizes both teams instead of seeing more clearly that that was a premeditated attack by Robert Horry that did exactly what he planned for it to do: Set the Spurs up to win the series and ultimately the championship. What a joke. The rules are the rules but sometimes a situation needs to be looked at as a singular event that has to be handled in as special way. The league and David Stern have no problem handing down stiff penalties and consequences to players, coaches and refs who violate it’s rules but when the rule book helps out one team while destroying another (see Mike D’Antoni’s subsequent firing) I think things need to be more thought out. I respect the Spurs very much and I am very scared of the prospect of them facing the Lakers this year. But on the other hand, if the Lakers are really the best then they should beat the Spurs this year…this is if Robert Horry doesn’t find a way to take a cheap shot at Bryant, Gasol or Odom and cripple the lakers chances with some ridiculously hard foul that should get him suspended indefinitely (but won’t). I mean hey, you have to respect his rings but lets play basketball here, not ice hockey. I see the Lakers taking it in seven with a Sasha Vujacic head butting Horry on his final last second 3 pointer that rims out… Getting both knocked out of the game: Sasha with the tech and Horry with a concussion. Go Lakers.

Sean Douglas
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watching him in game 3, it frustrated me to no end, couldn’t hit the open jumpers, couldn’t finish a layup, couldn’t guard the ball. but really, i think it also has to do with the utah’s fans that created all those as well. i’m sure farmar isn’t sitting in his room thinking, dang, i gave my best… what i’m saying is it is a good experience that farmar is experiencing these playoff intensity farily early in his career. i’m more interested in how he rebounds from these slump he’s in.

having said that… i think there is a conspiracy somewhere to keep the series a tad bit longer… which translates to… $$$ (for the league to run the commercials, home teams to coup some of the costs through extra ticket sales…)

Detroit is the farthest along, and they won the first visitor victory in this round of the playoffs (by one point), so maybe we get a chance to follow suit?

Do we know who is doing the refereeing?

Just watched the practice report and don’t like what I see from Pau. He admitted that he lost confidence during the game. I hope Phil has set-up plays to begin the game to get Pau going.

Just a couple of comments in response to what I have been reading here. First off in response to Boozer being at his best in game 3, this was not the best I have seen him play and he is capable of that type of game on any given night. I would love to seem him go off like this again tonight.

Despite the obvious improvement from games one and two, I still feel like the Jazz are not playing at their best and am waiting for that game they will play to their full potential. After watching the Jazz all season I can say they are capable of much more then they showed in game 3. Hopefully this game will come tonight, because I don’t see the Lakers turning the ball over 18 times again. It was frustrating watching them let you guys back in the game with those three straight turnovers in the fourth and we need to do a better job of closing out games This has been a fun series to watch thus far and a true test for my Jazz on their quest to become a championship caliber team.

May the best team win. Good Luck!

I’ve also been thinking about the team’s freakish offensive efficiency with Gasol (blocking out the last game). Since 1980, the team with the highest offensive efficiency was the 1987 Lakers at 115.6. The Jazz led the league this year at 113.8 (using Basketball Reference’s numbers). While I don’t have stats for the team since the Gasol trade, with him on the floor, the Lakers have a 119.4 rating. I imagine that in the 30+ games he’s played, the team’s rating probably threatens the 87 Lakers all time mark.

I throw this out as an open question: why is the team offensively dominant on such a historical level with Gasol?

Factors that come to mind:

*Shooting. Every player in the rotation (going 9 deep) can shoot consistently out to 20 feet. All but Turiaf and Gasol can shoot the 3 reasonably well. How many other teams can we say that about? There are no weak links offensively that teams can sag off of. This creates perfect spacing for cutters, penetration, and Kobe — leading to high % shots on most possessions.

*Continuity. Besides Gasol, the team has been together for a few years. They know each other’s games inside and out. They know where everyone likes to receive the ball and where they aren’t effective. Gasol has such a high IQ that he fit into this seamlessly. Also, it’s one of the few teams where players don’t (usually) try to do more than they are capable of (I think Phil should get credit for this — defining positive roles and enforcing accountability).

*Versatility. Kobe can play the perimeter or post up; he can attack or pass. Pau can post up, shoot the midrange jumper, and pass from the high post. Odom can penetrate, cut, and pass. Fisher, Walton, Turiaf, and Radmanovic are skilled, natural passers (not sure about Farmar and Sasha). The personnel is Tex Winter’s dream with players able to fill all five spots in the triangle interchangeably.

*Kobe. When things break down, he’s better at making a high % shot out of nothing than anyone.

He needs to react faster while in possession of the ball.

Kobe was saying how they need to give Pau the ball when it’s easier for him to just grab and shoot.