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Lakers/Jazz Game 5 Chat

April 27, 2009 by Kurt


Jazz vs. Lakers
The toughest win to get is the last one. Doesn’t matter where the game is played, what happened before, teams pick it up a notch when their season is on the line.

No Luke Walton tonight (and maybe through the first couple games of the next round), which means more minutes and a bigger game is needed from Ariza.

Kobe was on fire early last game pulling up for the midrange jumper — the Jazz never really adjusted to that. They were willing to let him beat them that way so he did. I expect some kind of adjustment to that this game, Utah can’t risk the same outcome, but whether it is the early double team or ball denial defense, that should open things up for the ball to get inside. The Jazz still don’t have an answer for everything Gasol can do. And they don’t seem to care when Odom drives to the left, although they should.

On defense the Lakers probably had their best half in the second half of game four. They were much better and smarter at doubling Boozer before he started his move, and they did a much better job being aware of the cutters when help came on D-Will, Those things need to continue.

But by this point in the series, there are not a lot of secrets. Everyone knows what is supposed to happen, it’s a matter of exaction.

I know a lot of people want to see more Andrew Bynum tonight, to see him get in a rhythm before he gets a boost in responsibility next series (either Houston or Portland). The problem is, the Jazz have tried to counter the Lakers size advantage by going small at times. Putting Bynum out there in that situation — with his knee not 100% — could lead to bad outings and confidence issues. He needs to be in when he is in a place where he can succeed. Also, closing it out tonight means more rest for him (not likely the next round starts before the weekend).

For us fans, it’s hard not to look forward a little to the next series — and if you want to win tickets to game one of the next round check out the Lakers Nation Twitter contest. But we are going to hold off on that in the formal posts.

Hopefully for just one day.


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Comments

  1. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    Interesting take on the Blazers:

    http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/04/27/blazers-not-built-for-the-playoffs/

  2. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Also, for those that haven’t seen it: Luke Walton had an MRI on his ankle that revealed a partial tear of the deltoid ligament. He will be re-evaluated in about a 1 week.

  3. Lewis says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    Luke can’t catch a break huh Kirk? Damn!!!

  4. Gerrit says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    If Luke won’t be playing does that mean that Adam Morrison will be getting some minutes? Or should we expect Kobe at the small forward?

  5. T34 says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    Man, that’s a tough break for Luke/us. I think we will be seeing a bit more of ShanWOW, Sasha, Kobe, L.O., Gasol type lineup if Luke is out for an extended amount of time.

    We ought to be able to close this one out, but I expect a game similar to game 3 in Utah, only I think we’ll come out as the victors tonight.

    If Houston beats Portland in their next game will that make Rd. 2 game 1 this weekend?

  6. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    No Luke means more Kobe/ShanWow and Ariza. Morrison is not ready yet, from what I hear. He is a long term reclamation project.

  7. Gerrit says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Kurt,

    Any chance that you can clean up the links? You’ve got DraftExpress as Pacific Division, you don’t have ClipperBlog in the Pacific Division, APBR board isn’t under NBA stats. It seems out of whack.

  8. PalaNi says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    If it is confirmed that he had a partial tear of the deltoid ligament, is he going to be available during the payoff?

  9. Darius says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    I hope Sasha gets more run as he seems to play better in extended minutes. As for Luke, tough break for sure. The one bright side is that Utah seems to throw tough matchups at him with AK and Harpring. They have the size/strength/length combination that give him fits on offense and defense. I do hope he recovers quickly, though.

    Also, I didn’t bring this up yesterday but my best wishes go out to Tex and his family. I thought Gatinho’s thoughts on Tex were both well said and poigniant.

  10. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Too bad about Luke. I know he has a lot of critics, but I enjoy his game and believe he brings a nice, steadying influence to the second unit.

  11. @Lakersnation says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    Luke played great in the last game. He was getting his hands on a lot of passes and pretty much disrupting the Jazz offense. I would like for him to get his rest for the next series and know the rest of the lakers can pick up the slack for his absence. We’re at home, we should be good!

    Who’s ready for the Rockets in Round 2? I kind of wish we got the blazers though!

  12. Chris J says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    I can already hear the annoucers saying something like,

    “Bad timing for the Lakers with Luke Walton’s injury. It’s too bad he’s not as tough as Matt Harpring, whose family played football. That, of course, means he’s super-duper tough, the kind of tough Jerry Sloan enjoys…”

    Put Utah to bed and let’s move on to the next pre-packaged storyline about the Rockets’ great “moneyball” approach and how Battier supposedly owns Kobe. Except for when he doesn’t.

    “The NBA… Where bad announcing happens.”

  13. Bryan says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    This puts the SF depth chart as Ariza/Kobe. Meaning more minutes for Sasha at the 2. If Bynum were healthy, we might have seen more Odom at the 3, but that is not the case at this time.

  14. Rich says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    That sucks about Luke I hope he’ll be alright come the 2nd round. Also according to PJ himself as he told espn 710 this morning he is going to activate Morrison for tonight’s game. Not sure if that’s such a great idea being that he hasn’t had much playing time, let alone in a very meaningful game.

  15. VI Guy says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    I am sorry about Luke. But if that gives some minutes to Josh Powell to bang and mix it up, that may be a good thing. I am a total Luke fan, but we’re playing light w/ Pau at center, Lamaar and Trevor starting. We may lose some smart passing from Luke (uh, OK, that ridiculous inbound pass at the end of game 4 exempted), but Josh will give us some of the muscle and hustle we’ve been missing in the series…I see Shannon hustling and muscling, his sweet shooting aside. Josh can hustle and muscle, too…things that our team needs to be reintroduced to…

  16. MannyP13 says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Well, I guess we are going to see some, gulp, Farmar action tonight.

    I hope the kid plays with a level head and takes advantage of the opportunity.

  17. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    That’s a shame. Goodness knows I will never be Luke Walton’s biggest fan, but he does add spacing and ball movement to the game, and he can occasionally shoot nice threes. For as long as he has been with the Lakers, he deserved to be able to play in a post-season when we actually have a chance of winning the title.

    Get better soon Luke.

  18. kwame a. says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    The fact that Tex isn’t in the Hall of Fame really bothers me and the fact that it will take a near-death experience for him to get the recognition he deserves is even more bothersome. I too wish him a speedy recovery.

  19. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    Sasha, Sasha, and more Sasha! If he can just get some more PT and get into a groove that will carry him through a few series….we need that spacing from him. ShanWOW and Ariza are doing great hitting open shots, but when Sasha is on he can hit fairly contested 3’s in a hurry, absolutely blowing close games open when Kobe goes to the bench. I am chomping at the bit to see more of Sasha (alongside Ariza).

  20. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    That’s an interesting article on the Blazers. Solid points, but I’m not too sure about the phrase “not built for the playoffs.” That implies that there’s something structurally wrong with the team, with the personnel, that will keep them from advancing. (That may be true in the case of a weak jumpshooter like Outlaw, but not overall). However the criticisms in that article seemed to be mainly directed at the coaching staff’s inability to draw up better offensive sets (ironic, because Portland was one of the better offensive teams in the league during the regular season).

    I’m no expert and I haven’t watched Nate McMillan closely enough, but I wonder if he’s the best choice to lead these Blazers Personally I think he’s done a very good job overall, especially at building a rapport with his star players (similar to Doc), but I haven’t watched closely enough to tell if his schemes are limiting the team’s potential rather than bringing it out (my hunch says no, and that he is one of the better coaches in the league, but I could be wrong).

  21. enochemery says

    April 27, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    When we traded away Radman, I worried that either Walton or Ariza would go down in the playoffs, and we would really miss having that insurance. I wouldn’t say that the trade is “haunting” us just yet, though, given Shannon Brown’s recent play.

  22. wondahbap says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    This game can be won in the 1st half.

    If the Lakers can start out like they did in the 3rd Q last game. The Jazz might pack it up in the 2nd half. If this game goes how game 4 went. it just may end up like that. I don’t see the Jazz fighting nearly hard in LA.

    No generous non-calls for them.

  23. flip says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    That’s too bad about Luke. I’m not his biggest fan, but he is an asset, especially during the playoffs. Sounds like he’s done for at least 2-3 weeks. And let’s hope Tex recovers quickly…

  24. Don W says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    I have a great deal of respect for Houston. They are highly disciplined, play impeccable defense both inside and out, and are playing better basketball than they ever have without McGrady. Part of the reason I think is that Yao has become a very dominant player. We don’t tend to notice this because his improvement has been so gradual. But now, unlike in his earlier years, he is rarely out of position both offensively and defensively, and he almost always makes the right plays.
    I believe we may have better matchups, but I don’t think it will be dominant. Yao plays a lot more minutes in the playoffs. When he is out, they can slide scola to center to defend ours and he has become a pretty good post defender. Hayes and Landry always play solid, and along with the their team defensive schemes could give us real problems.

    I also don’t think Aaron Brooks will be intimidated by our bigs. In fact I think he’ll blow by Fish on a regular basis and set up his teammates for easy looks or take it himself. We really need to amp up the defensive intensity and play the angles.

    When it comes down to it, we will win the series, but it won’t be easy by any means. What Mcgrady lacked in focus he did always make up for it with a ball handling presence who could get off his own shot. They will miss that since Brooks is still inexperienced to take that role late in games, and Artest is simply not a great one on one player who can take you off the dribble. They are very fortunate to have had role players like Battier and Wafer and Brooks to step up and hit big shots against Portland, but that shouldn’t be counted on to continue. Whereas we have Kobe. So.

  25. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Wait, whoa… Trevor sprained his ankle too? The Yahoo! Sports game preview mentions he has a sprained ankle, but there’s nothing on the injury list, or on his NBA profile. I’m confused…

  26. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Reggie Miller apparently has all the answers:

    http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/nba_adspaces/1.0/creatives/2009/4/15/22511203_Reggies_Mailbag_160X600.jpg

    …to the questions no one’s sending in.

  27. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Mimsy – yeah, Trevor sprained his ankle stepping on Powell’s foot during warmups last game, then reaggravated it during the game, but then came back. It sounds like he’s fine.

  28. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    For all the crap we give Houston about their smart statistics and such, you do have to pay tribute to the defensive job that Shane Battier is doing on Travis Outlaw. Through the 4 games, Travis Outlaw is shooting an abysmal 15-44, and much of that is due to Shane Battier. Particularly in Game 3, I saw numerous plays in the 2nd half where Travis Outlaw would rise and fire, only to have Battier’s trademark “Hand In Your Eyes” move appear out of nowhere and Outlaw would miss horrible. Outlaw is a jump-shooter; he makes those shots. But when Battier was on him, he was shooting terrible bricks, some barely glancing the rim.

    As for tonight’s game, I expect the Lakers to come out firing, going for the jugular. No one, I repeat, no one, will want to ride on the plane with Kobe if they have to go back to Utah.

    If Morrison plays tonight, I will lose all faith in Phil Jackson as a coach. It’s not his offense that scares me; it’s his utter lack of lateral mobility that makes him a singular defensive liability. That being said, I don’t want to see Sasha on Harpring; that will be a bad matchup. Hopefully Drew can stay on the floor so Odom will get a full 35-40 minutes against Harpring, as their matchup has become really testy in the past few games. It won’t really matter if Harpring comes in at the PF for Utah, but if he comes in at SF, I either want Trevor in the game or Odom on him with Josh Powell in along with one of the seven footers.

  29. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    poop, messed up on my html, I’m hoping Kurt can fix it?

  30. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    wiseolgoat,
    I know there was an issue with his ankle during the game, and I’ve been looking at the injury reports off and on during the day but he was never listed on them, that’s why I was so surprised to see Yahoo talking about his ankle in a way that implied he’s a game-time decision… hopefully I misunderstood that last part!

    Thanks for the clarification. 🙂

  31. Craig W. says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    We still have a weakness at the 3.

    Remember Luke (and his dad) have a history of foot problems. There seems to just be a structural weakness there.

    Ariza was known for foot problems before he came here – then he had a foot problem last year.

    We need to keep an extra body at the 3 position, if only as insurance. I suspect that is why Phil is activating Morrison for this game.

  32. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    I love what Matt did over at Hardwood Paroxysm:

    http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/04/26/a-polite-request/

  33. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    Here’s some pretty cogent analysis by John Hollinger about the use of fouling and timeouts at the end of games.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-090427

  34. wondahbap says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    With Luke out, I’d like to see more Sasha and more Powell. I’m getting tired of Carlos Boozer doing his best to earn another contract, getting all these rebounds.

  35. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    32. Matt sent that as a personal email/text to every NBA blogger he knew, as well. Not sure what the response of Celtics bloggers was.

  36. E-ROC says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    I wonder if the Lakers would go to a big line up such as Gasol, Odom, Powell, Kobe, Vujacic/Brown.

  37. E-ROC says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Kurt, do have any info on how Ammo is progressing in practice?

  38. Don W says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    I don’t understand this talk about Morrison and Powell, especially with the ‘matchup’ for Harpring. Harpring is not a significant player to be worried about him as a matchup problem. Just put a hand in his face on d, and sit back and enjoy the easy free throws on offense.
    Also, Powell still makes some very bad plays. He is not a ‘banger’ because he gives up rebounds easily. I would lose all respect for Jackson if Morrison got in the game. I don’t expect to see neither, only more vujacic, ariza, and shanwow

  39. Big J says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    Sorry but I’ll never lose respect for a man that has 9 going on 10 championships.

  40. wondahbap says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    Kurt,

    Probably that there really IS and NBA wide conspiracy against the Celtics.

    That Tommy Heinsohn said so. It’s impossible that they are NOT the best team. Can’t be. It’s 8 against 5.

    You know, that bias that kept them from winning the Championship last year. The anti-Celtics, Pro-Lakers bias that suspended Kobe before for “non basketball related” actions.

    Oh wait. They all believe it LBJ and the Cavs who are the biased team.

  41. PeanutButterSpread says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    lol Wow. That photo you used Kurt pretty much sums up this entire series and the Jazz defense.

  42. MannyP13 says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    Speaking of fouling at end of games, I like what Doc Rivers and Del Negro did at the end of the quarters in question: they trusted their player’s defense to make the stop. this is the exact same move Phil and other coaches who are more player-oriented would have played this out (i.e. Byron Scott, Riles, etc.).

    Other coaches who are more about their “method” rather than the players would have probably fouled rather than try and defend the three (i.e., The Van Gundy bros, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown).

    Hindsight is always 20/20, but I tend to agree that games are won on the floor playing defense and offense, and not at the charity stripe due to a “strategic move.”

  43. chris h says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    kurt, you caused me to go to the dictionary-
    exaction: http://dictionary.reference.com/dic?q=exaction&search=search
    (or did you mean execution?)
    either way I guess, eh?
    but cool word anyway.

  44. kwame a. says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    How many minutes has LO played at the 3 this year? I just don’t see Phil using him there. Like a lotta folks, I think the mins go to Kobe/ShanWOW/Sasha.

  45. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    42. Manny, Doc was ticked his team didn’t foul, that is what they have done all season and he asked them to, but the Celts didn’t execute. Personally, I’m in the foul category, unless the team I was facing can’t hit threes, I foul.

  46. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    38, Don W, you have to remember back to Game 3. Early in the 4th Quarter, when Deron Williams was sitting on the bench, who kept the Jazz in the game and even took a lead for them? Matt Harpring, with two key jumpers and a steal/breakaway dunk. Both jumpers he took over Walton after he beat Walton to a spot and took a quick fadeaway jumper from 12-15 feet. So while you may wish to dismiss Harpring, he can still beat us if he doesn’t foul out. Honestly, if Harpring doesn’t make those jumpers and Korver doesn’t hit his three in the 4th, we win Game 3 and this series is already over.

  47. Gr8 Scott says

    April 27, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    I don’t want to get ahead of things, but the matchup with Houston (assuming we win and the H-town wins) would be very taxing on several players. Houston is the rare team that can put 2 very solid defenders on Kobe and make him work more (notice I did not say stop him). A LA/Hou matchup is one where Pau and Lamar would have to truly carry some of the half court sets because there is no one in the 713 that can match the height, speed and passing game that these two offer. Brooks would require Fisher to tap into his inner youth for some stops. Yao is playing well, but this would be negated if Drew plays him well and just keeps him off the boards. Let’s take care of tonight and get ready for round 2.

  48. Coffee is For Closers says

    April 27, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    I’m calling the above photo, “the passion of the gasol”

  49. Coffee is For Closers says

    April 27, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    I think its important the Lakers finish off this series tonight. It will give them at least 4-5 days off before the next series starts. It will be less wear and tear on fisher and kobe. The next two series in the west figure to be very physical if its houston and denver. Denver has been dishing out some particularly hard fouls in the hornet series. I’m sure they’d resort to a similar tactic in a laker series.

  50. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    To add to Kurt’s point at 45, if the Celtics had fouled Salmons in the 2 pt area, the Celtics would have won that game. Bulls were down 3 and with the way they were shooting free throws and the little time left, it would have been over. That play was executed horribly and it was a fairly simple thing to do. I couldn’t believe that they let Gordon get that shot off.

  51. exhelodrvr says

    April 27, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    “The toughest win to get is the last one.”

    Is that true, or is the toughest win “the first win on the road”?

  52. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    Man, this draft scares me. No Greg Monroe, Willie Warren, Cole Aldrich, Donatas Motiejunas, Al-Faroq Aminu, and a ton of other players that went back to school. I was hoping we could get a half-decent role player or prospect like Nick Calathes or Wayne Ellington around our pick, but a lot of guys originally on the first round bubble are looking like mid-first round or even borderline lottery picks. Look to see a lot of teams trying to sell or trade their picks in this economic climate. If teams in the lottery aren’t getting the game-changer they’re looking for, they might not be opposed to trading down to relieve themselves of the economic costs of a lottery pick. Aggressive GMs (*cough* Pritchard *cough*) could take advantage this summer. Granted, no one is going to trade a top seven or so pick, but don’t count out owners looking to cut costs.

  53. R says

    April 27, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    12 – “The NBA… Where bad announcing happens.”

    Early in the Cavs/Pistons series, one of the announcers posed the question, “How do this year’s Cavs compare to (one of the 80’s Cleveland teams with Brad Daugherty, et al) ?. At that moment, Le Bron practically ripped the rim off with a dunk. Question answered!

  54. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    The Nuggets are beating the Hornets like a drum… again.

    Most people seemed to think the first round in the West (outside of the Lakers-Jazz series) would be a lot more competitive than in the East, but the exact opposite is what’s playing out.

  55. Anonymous says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    gasol needs to make a statement tonight to boozer. hes been getting pushed around in the whole series and tonight is the night he really needs to come out and get aggressive. he needs to make it a personal goal to out-play, out-hustle, out rebound boozer

    with luke out the subsitutions will be interesting. will we see a line-up of odom bynum and pau all on at the same time? phil probably wouldnt do it…… just because he wants the same lineups out there, but i would LOVE to see that.

    and we need to come out and step on their necks to let them know THERE IS NO WAY WE’RE GOING BACK TO UTAH. i hope we dont get complacent with this game and if kobe’s shot isnt falling i hope he does pass the ball inside / to his teammates.

  56. Anonymous says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    two 4-point plays occurred for james jone in the heat hawks game WOW

  57. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Charles Barkley just said he didn’t see a killer instinct from any of the Lakers in any of the 4 games played so far. It’s Barkley, so I don’t suppose that needs elaboration…but I thought that now that the playoffs started, Sir Charles would at least start watching some bball while in the studio.

    Wait, was Game 4 on ESPN instead of TNT? If so, that explains why Barkley has no idea what went on.

  58. Don W says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    @ Zephid, I do remember Harpring on those plays. I’m saying that switching odom onto him or whoever for the matchup won’t make it any easier for them to get through the screens like Walton failed to do on him. I don’t believe him to be a one on one threat or a consistent jumpshooter, so the best we can do is put a hand in his face, whether it’s vujacic or whoever. I think we should go with whoever is better for us on the offensive end, rather than cater to the matchup with harpring.

    @ gr8 Scott I also want us to win tonight for the reasons you gave. It may be a bit of a psychological edge too, given the Cavs went for the sweep, despite Utah being a much better team than detroit.

  59. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    I stopped watching TNT’s studio show a good while ago. None of them add anything to my knowledge of the NBA, and I think Barkley probably takes some of it away somehow.

  60. ozlaker says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Thinking of dunking, next years dunk contest should be fun. KryptoNate, Superman and MVP. If you could add a 24 y/o Bryant in there to, that would make for one awesome dunk contest.

    49. I’m with you, no need for talk about Houston or anyone else. Lets get through tonights game unscathed and see what lies ahead after that!

  61. ozlaker says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    And why is it a 10.30 ET start (1.30pm EST in Oz)? Pain in the a$$, means I’ll miss half the game while on my way home from work..damn scheduling.

  62. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    Unrelated to tonight’s game, but this is another great post from Henry Abbott, who could not resist:

    http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

    Interesting that Page Six did a better job of reporting the “fuller” story than Abbott did, who conveniently left out the part where, “A spokesman for Lee claimed he retained creative control and called the story of the dispute “completely baseless.”

  63. Darius says

    April 27, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I’m with Kurt – this is the toughest win to get. It becomes easier that we’re at home, but it’s still a tough game. I’d like to see us get out early and force the Jazz to play from behind the entire game, but if that doesn’t happen we’ll need sharper execution and not a reliance on Kobe heroics (though those are always welcome).

    Some things I’d like to see tonight are what we seemingly did well the last game: Better recognition of cutters when Williams is in attack mode, fighting through screens, contesting of all shots, and closing down angles in a manner that force the Jazz to shoot more jumpers.

    On offense, one thing that has been bugging me is the type shot Gasol is taking. I don’t mind the position he’s getting, but I think he’s relying too much on his jumpshot. In both his face up and post up moves, he’s shooting the jumpshot. I’d really like to see him go back to the jumphook that he’s used throughout the season. If he’s going to try and bang on Boozer, why not shoot the jump hook instead? When he goes into the triple-threat, I’d like to see him dribble hard to the middle and use his hook with both hands. I’d also like to see him use counter moves like a one dribble then drop step to shoot his jumphook. He can get his shot off against any player that guards him so why not go to the hook which happens to be a very effective shot for him?

  64. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    I’m in a gambling mood tonight. I say that with 6:12 left in the third quarter that Denver is going to win this one.

  65. ozlaker says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    Yeah, but Kirk, I’ve seen Stojakovic wine games from 25 pts down on his own back…..in NBA Live. That’s close to reality isn’t it? He can hit 10/10 3’s in the last??

  66. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    am not so concerned about walton being out (save for his anchoring and steadying presence) if this means more minutes for sasha, shanwow and trevor (esp trevor). i think he has the legs to keep pushing and taking it to the jazz. i have no doubts about this series ending tonight but i hope it doesn’t have to take a kobe heroic beating to do so.

    about the next series, if it be portland then i have concerns but a disciplined houston D exposed them (and i think keeping them a jump shooting team is the way to go). i think the lakers can do better than a houston d with the personnel we have though that would require more pt for shanwow at point. amazing how shannon has impressed us to the point that we forget that when the trade was set it was ammo we were concerned about. i still believe ammo can make a comeback. i imagine him as a kukoc guy off the bench and i know i am not asking a lot. are we willing to pay the price? that i don’t know.

    as for houston, bring it on! lakers have to stop relying on kobe on this one though if kobe is ticked, then let him rip at artest and battier. we are a confident road team and we could have easily swept the jazz if not for poor individual games in game 3. i like bynum to be a double-double guy here and for pau to demonstrate better D on a guy like scola. it’s the other guys being battier, the fast brooks, landry etc that bother me. i think ariza, shanwow, josh, sasha and even jordan must step up. and oh, they don’t have lamar. he is, as always, is the definition of X-factor for us. GO LAKERS!

  67. ozlaker says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    Damn my spelling while eating pizza for lunch…..sorry Kurt!

  68. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    although kukoc had some D. but can that be learned over time?

  69. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    It’s almost sad to see the Hornets reduced to a shadow of their former, intimidating selves . . . almost.

  70. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    Chris Paul – 4 points, 6 assists, 6 turnovers.

    Pretty much sums up how this series has gone for the Hornets.

  71. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    Ugh, Reggie Miller again.

  72. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    I could just take notes and go “Fire Joe Morgan” on Reggie tomorrow…..

  73. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    Great first possession with rotations on the cutters when D-Will drove.

    And Gasol has great hands.

  74. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    really? ariza injured on a chest bump???

    that’s unfortunate

  75. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    Ariza can’t pass up those threes.

  76. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:55 pm

    Kobe great recognition of the Boozer mismatch, which they got because Odom rebounded and pushed the ball up. The Lakers kill the Jazz on the early in the clock points, on drags and mismatches.

  77. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    We are getting away with a lot of contact on the perimeter tonight.

  78. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Kobe’s shot is off in the early going.

  79. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    Whoa, did I just see Farmar with a shaved head?

  80. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    i love the guy, but the less shots fisher takes, the better.

  81. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    as i say that, he drains a 3. like i said, i love the guy.

  82. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    Wow Ariza is hobbled. He’s really limping on the defensive end. Get Sasha in there.

  83. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    kobe needs to realize that ak47 isn’t ronnie brewer – he can actually shoot jumpshots…

  84. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    I swear, one of these days we’re going to read a report in the newspapers that Marv Albert has killed Reggie Miller. All Miller does the whole time they’re in the booth is spout nonsense or dig on Marv for being informed about anything. “Whoa, way to know your football, Marvelous,” or “Whoa, way to know your stats, Marvelous,” come to mind. Props to Marv for not verbally killing Reggie Miller multiple times per broadcast.

  85. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    @Zephid
    Yeah, he shaved his head. Weird stuff

  86. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    As I say that, Ariza with the swat. Keep Ariza in there.

  87. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    Awesome block by Ariza.

  88. sT says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    Trevor has a bad ankle, I don’t think so.

  89. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    I don’t think Ariza’s ankle is bothering him.

  90. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    Wow. I don’t know when Sasha thought he had added a running leaner to his arsenal…but he didn’t.

  91. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    what a save by pau leading to the sasha 3!

  92. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    So, on average, this 1st Quarter was… okay.

  93. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    Yeesh. The turnovers.

  94. james says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    if we start concentrating we’ll win win easily

  95. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    Denver wins 121-63. Did this set some sort of record?

  96. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    Jazz have 0 first quarter offensive rebounds. That is a nice change of pace.

  97. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    Brown guarded Williams about as well as anyone could on those last 2 shots – and he made them anyway.

    84

    Halfway through my first game with Reggie I would probably have beaten him half to death with my laptop. If he’s this annoying to listen to on TV, imagine having to spend 3 hours in the broadcast booth with him.

  98. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    Ariza got the crowd in the game. It was dead before his block on Williams.

  99. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    That’s an awful, awful thrashing for the Hornets, especially for being at home.

  100. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    What happened to Chris Paul? 4 pts, 6 ast, 2 rbs, 6 to. Kinda sad.

  101. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    #BCR, 95,
    Wow. That is… quite humiliating. 63 points in four quarters?

  102. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    Looking at Al Horford and Millsap’s bodies, I find it even more remarkable that Lamar can be that huge, have that much muscle mass, and still be so quick and fluid.

    Unrelated, but I LOVE watching Udonis Haslem play.

  103. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Oh, Josh Powell. He actually dunked that time, but he forgot the ball.

  104. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Powell needs to work on his rebound timing and put back.

  105. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    95

    I don’t know about a record, but over the 4 games so far Denver has outscored NO by 100 points – and that includes the Game 3 win for the Hornets. That is just savage.

  106. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    Confirmed: Denver ties the record for the biggest playoffs blowout in NBA history. This team is getting blown up during the offseason.

  107. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    The Jazz offense is completely out of sorts with Williams on the bench. I credit his rest for our run to start the 2nd.

  108. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    New Orleans getting blown up I mean.

  109. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    According to Yahoo it’s a tie for the record of biggest playoff blow-out in history…

  110. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    OK guys I know the Lakers game is in progress but I can’t get over the Denver-NO score. Anyone watch the game? What the hell happened? Is DEN that good a defensive team? CP3’s line is mind-boggling.

  111. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    Machine will not stop taking shots. Machine will make them eventually.

  112. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    Holy crap that was odd and amazing. Shannon Brown clasped his hands behind his back and rode Knight all the way to the basket. Not sure if it served any purpose other than to ensure he didn’t foul, but it ure looked interesting.

  113. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    I didn’t watch the game, but the box score can be found here. Pay special attention to the technicals…

  114. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    Bynum doesn’t look very involve. He’s not even trying very hard to get into position.

  115. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    95

    According to ESPN, that game is the Nuggets’ biggest ever playoff win and the Hornets’ worst ever playoff loss.

  116. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    110, yeah I caught that too. Good tactic, pretty much guarantees that you won’t get called for a hand-check.

  117. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    Okay, Sloan, seriously… a purple tie? How did that get past the “let’s not jinx our team”-legal department?

  118. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Kobe just jostled for post position harder than any frontcourt player on our team has all series.

  119. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Terminator Salvation looks unbelievably sick.

  120. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    108

    I watched the first half and it was the same old story for NO – they can’t guard Melo or Billups, they rely too much on Paul to create offense, they got nothing from Peja, Chandler, or the bench, and their team defense was atrocious.

  121. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    BCR I enjoyed watching that too. I think Angry Mamba is going to handle business today.

    Sasha looks very focused today. Getting his hands in passing lanes, scrapping a little bit (without the trademark fouls), and knocked down a couple threes.

  122. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Love, love Bryant taking it to the hole.

  123. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    I enjoy Reggie Miller finally getting a question, and really not answering it. He basically said both the Rockets and the Blazers are really, really good.

  124. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Snoopy,
    i could not agree more. I drool every time I see that commercial.

  125. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Also, I think Trevor’s ankle is not as bad as I thought earlier today.

  126. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Does anybody believe Reggie is getting questions from actual viewers?

  127. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    Did not know that bit about Ariza learning Japanese. That’s pretty cool to do it for his son.

  128. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    @magic,
    Above cool… speaking as a non-US native, that in and of itself is reason to stay married, no matter what else comes up.

  129. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    AK47 is the only Jazz playing showing some pride. The rest look ready for vacation.

  130. Drunken5yearold says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    I rarely comment during games, but that foul on Ariza was amazing. He was knocked back into Kirilenko by whoever was driving with the ball, and they call the foul on Trevor?

  131. JAC says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    ARIZA IS MARRIED?

  132. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    Great pass and fast break by Ariza.

  133. Ryan says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    Odom is dominating. I think the Jazz are just a good match up for him.

  134. Bernie says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Did Reggie MIller just say that Lamar Odom can finish with either hand????

  135. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    JAC,
    i take no responsibility for random rumors :-p

  136. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Kobe. Bean. Bryant.

  137. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    Oh wow! KOOOBE!

  138. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    Great execution on that end-of-quarter play, just like Phil drew it up. 🙂

  139. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Didn’t Kirilenko get some flack last season for booking his vacation early or something? Or am I thinking of someone else…

  140. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    It was just me or LO sounded a lot more focussed in the interview than his usual?

  141. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    emma – yep, that was ak.

  142. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    Lets see what b.s. Chuck comes up with.

  143. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    Love Odom. Pau is just having a bad series. He will bounce back though.

  144. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    Missed the thing on Ariza. What was it? Why did he learn Japanese?

  145. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Emma, sounds like Chris Paul this year.

  146. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Snoopy,

    To talk to his one-year old son.

  147. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Snoopy,
    His child’s mother is Japanese. He’s learning the language for his child.

  148. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Maybe they’ll talk about the Hornet’s lack of toughness that got them humiliated?

  149. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    I had no idea Ariza’s wife was Japanese! I’ve seen pics of his kid, he doesn’t look like he has any Asian in him 😛 But, cool!

  150. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    We SO need a live-chat on this blog….

  151. TracerBullet says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    Did anyone manage to count how many times Rick Fox called the Lakers long on that microphone posession?

  152. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    I don’t think it’s confirmed that he’s married, is he? He has a half Japanese kid, but married?

  153. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    Ha, Emma is old-fashioned!

  154. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    You can knock this crew for their silly and inaccurate comments, but their photoshop pics always crack me up. I’m easy on them because they’re so much better than the Chinese commentators I have here (who wouldn’t show excitement if the whole arena spontaneously combusted).

    Lots of turnovers, but we’re making up for it on the glass – 29 boards versus 15 for the Utes!

    As great as Kobe’s offense is, I’d like to see him give AK’s jumper some more respect. Sometimes it looks like he’s in help defense mode without really considering who/why he’s helping.

  155. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    Who would have thought the Eastern Conference playoff series would be more competitive than the West?

  156. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    inwit – ha, I should know better, right?

  157. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    These days ….

  158. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    Have I ever mentioned how much I love TNT’s music selection? Hip hop or rock, Fort Minor or Three Days Grace, whatever it is, it’s infinitely better than ABC’s Pussycat Dolls, Rob Thomas, and whatever other garbage they’ve thrown out over the years. TNT’s montages get me pumped up. I can’t wait for the WCF, last year the thing they did with the Spurs (some guy named T Brandon narrating?) was awe-inspiring.

    TNT just puts together a quality production, a quality broadcast, and even Miller/Barkley can’t change that.

  159. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    inwit – i dunno, i see the cavs’ path to the finals being a piece of cake. especially if wade kills himself trying to beat the hawks.

  160. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    BCR, Mimsy – thanks. That’s pretty awesome, I wonder if he’s still with the child’s mother or if he’s doing it solely for his kid. I’ve tried learning some Japanese, and it’s one of the harder languages out there.

  161. sT says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    We need to take them out now, no messing around tonight.

  162. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    Snoopy,
    Whether for her or for the kid, it’s admirable. Japanese is a difficult language to learn.

    And did you just call U2 garbage?!?!?

  163. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    eh, if you watch a ton of anime it’s not so hard. And I for one think anything made by U2 after 1995 is garbage.

  164. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    lamar is earning that contract this series…hopefully it continues!

  165. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    So many deflections, really active Laker hands in this 2nd half.

  166. luubi says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    man it’s been a long season. even Phil looks limpy.

    I hope he comes back at least another year.

  167. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    wiseolgoat – I should have qualified the 1st round, with 3 series at 2-2.

    I agree as to the Cavs, almost makes me wish the Celtics were a threat – almost, LOL.

  168. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    Mimsy – lol sorry, I won’t say U2’s garbage, only that they’re old. The Beatles are amazing, but I can’t get pumped up to a vicious dunking montage with “Straweberry Fields Forever” playing in the background. Certain types of music are better for basketball highlights. U2 will always have their place though.

    Zephid – I’m actually a pretty big anime watcher. I think learning the written language is more difficult than the spoken one, but both are fairly challenging, at least for me.

  169. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    Japanese is really difficult, but you guys should try portuguese =]

    Kobe has what? 4 steals? That’s why he disrespects Brewer.

    And U2 is a very good band.

  170. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    Sasha needs to stop thinking he’s Kobe.

    And AK47 is the only Jazz player playing with heart now.

  171. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    Has anyone noticed that Williams’ threes are rarely clean? He almost always hits the rim, clanks or rattles them in. Of course he’s still a great shooter, but I’ve never seen a shooter hit that many 3’s with that few swishes. Maybe just perception.

  172. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    I am learning Japanese, too. I find it relatively easy, but maybe that’s because I already know Chinese, so the writing is a breeze.

  173. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    I love that Okur is taking minutes away from Millsap. Thanks sloan!

  174. Cayucos surfer says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    U2 is garbage. And I don’t see much of a difference between three days grace and rob Thomas. It’s just another way for them to help sell the music.

  175. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    Snoopy,
    Now that I agree with. Though U2 have aged well they are still old… and yes, there are a lot of other bands that would fit the mood and mentality of the NBA a lot better.

  176. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    Javie trips up Kobe and he still makes the fast break bucket.

  177. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    I don’t like this “Utah sucks” chant. We’re already beating them… seems like rubbing it in.

  178. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    No difference between 3 Days Grace and Rob Thomas? I’m not a huge fan of either one, but as a fan of music in general, I have to say…really? They’re completely different styles. Three Days Grace’ are harder and darker, and they fit better with a basketball montage.

    Sasha…the Slovenian Magic?

  179. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    That was a sick fast break. Great pass by Kobe.

    And then we run a sloppy one and Odom cleans up.

  180. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    I actually do like the “Utah sucks!” chant. Every time the crowd in Staples Center gets into the game it makes me all happy and stuff. i love that… when the real fans take over and the celebrities don’t matter anymore.

  181. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    yeah, i agree. to the victors go the spoils and the right to mock the opponent.

  182. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Magic Machine

  183. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    Most of the celebrities give the Staples crowd a bad rap, but I have to give props to DeCaprio and Timberlake. JT is always jumping around and screaming like a little kid, and DeCaprio braved the Garden in hostile territory last year in the Finals. Gotta count for something.

  184. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    Mimsy/wiseolgoat – to each his/her own I guess 🙂 I do like Staples getting fired up, but the chant seems a little classless to me. It often rubs me the wrong way when other teams’ fans do it.

  185. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    They yell “Beat LA” before they even play us. Think they’d show mercy if they were winning the series?

  186. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    Jack in the box has the weirdest commercials.

  187. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    Ha, ha. I like the Magic Machine.

  188. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    wiseolgoat,
    I quoted that to my husband, and he replied, “That reminds me! I need a phone!”

    his dad is a Jazz fan… 🙂

  189. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    According to Craig Sager, Mitch actually thought about drafting Shannon in 2006 and always kept an eye on him. Gives more credence to the idea that the trade was more for Shannon than Morrison (discounting the salary dump part of it).

  190. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Anyone remember when we getting out of the 1st round was a nearly impossible struggle?

  191. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Mimsy – I wish your husband a happy taunting then!

  192. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    #183,
    Good point, some of them not only care but really do care. I will NEVER forget the sight of Jack Nicholson charging the court and yelling at the refs for their bad calls…

  193. chibi says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Shannon was taken right after Farmar.

  194. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Yeah, two years ago.

  195. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Sasha needs to take lessons from Fish on how to finish around the basket. Ahem.

  196. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    Wasn’t Rondo the pick before Farmar? (too lazy to Google it)

  197. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    194

    Actually, Shannon Brown was the pick before Farmar.

  198. Cayucos surfer says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:40 pm

    I mean I could find small cosmetic differences in the music, but it’s the same prepackaged generic crap that takes no talent. You’re right that they’re not quite the same, but I still think it’s a terrible choice. Then again if they played what I wanted them to it would probably turn a few people off! Not sure why, I think an NBA death metal montage would be amazing..

  199. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    For anyone buying the Wolverine hype – don’t get your hopes up. I’ve got the pirated DVD and it’s pretty awful. Enjoyable at times if you’re an X-Men fan, but really, it feels like every standard superhero movie ever made, nothing new.

  200. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Is Phil Jackson the longest tenured coach in Lakers history?

    It’s strange, for some reason I still identify him with the Bulls. Maybe his legacy with the Lakers will solidify after he retires, or after another title. Or maybe I just think in a weird way.

  201. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Reggie is obsessed with talking about Kobe as if he has multiple-personality disorder.

  202. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Reggie is obsessed with a lot of things…

  203. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    WTF is this ‘Triple Ocho’ garbage? Kobe doesn’t even need a nickname, his name is unique enough.

  204. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    Rondo still went pretty late.

  205. chibi says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    oops. my mistake. brown was drafted before farmar.

  206. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    why has sloan buried price on the bench? I refuse to believe he brings less to the table than Brevin Knight.

  207. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    Reggie Miller is an embarrassment to sports broadcasting.

  208. Jaybird says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    Is anyone hearing Marv? He sounds like he’s slowly falling asleep! That bodes well for our Lakers, they haven’t let this game get too interesting.

  209. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    We’re getting a little too close for comfort. We need to clamp down a bit.

  210. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:52 pm

    Lakers are getting a little sloppy and kinda letting the Jazz back into this.

  211. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:52 pm

    No kidding. This is ugly.

  212. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    wow. we’re losing the lead again…

  213. Adrian says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    substitution please..

  214. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    Let’s not blow another lead up. Please.

  215. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    Sheesh. Can’t the Lakers not let it get close just one game. Is that too much to ask?

  216. sT says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    The Jazz are back into this now, unbelievable.

  217. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    This is the kind of play that scares me – if they really are angry about game 6 in Boston last year, like they always say, they would be more ruthless closing out games.

  218. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Lakers don’t like to humiliate teams like Denver does. We just make sure we beat them, but not too bad, not in any way that makes them look bad.

  219. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    here we go again

  220. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    Amazing.

  221. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    No team is going to lay down for us if we keep building this rep of blowing leads.

  222. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    Wow…and the Jazz starters aren’t even in there. This is bad.

  223. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    do championship caliber teams do this?

  224. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    I am going to have a heart attack.

  225. james says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    cannot believe this is happening

  226. Cayucos surfer says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    Haha this is funny. Lakers messing with us.

  227. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Joit…no they don’t. If they lose this game I will be pissed!

  228. sT says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Were playing the Jazz bench and not making any ground. As I type here comes their starters now.

    Anybody’s game…

  229. Joel says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Get ready for another round of ‘Are they tough enough?’ articles tomorrow…

  230. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Our bench just doesn’t play hard. It’s really discouraging. Bynum and Josh Powell came in and gave us nothing, so we had to bring in Gasol and Odom back off the bench while they were frigid cold.

  231. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    wow, can they just give us the satisfaction of at least a guaranteed W here. i mean, isn’t it too hard to see what kyle korver is there for enough to leave him open? sheesh.

    i agree, teams are gonna keep creeping back if we play this way. anyhow, maybe we’ll all forget this after 4 days of rest. that is.. if we get this game. GO LAKERS! staples crowd, go help out!

    kobe, we need you…again.

  232. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    its a mental thing now… i believe most of the lakers with the exception of kobe and fisher have this fear of losing leads and it shows.

  233. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    Bynum doesn’t seem to care or try very hard when he was out there. If he wants pt he needs to play for it, not just expect it.

  234. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    Maybe if they can get some rebounds we can get into this thing.

  235. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    I don’t know if this is indicative of our championship chances necessarily. The Celtics struggled through two rounds last year and our Lakers did through three rounds in 2000.

  236. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    Didn’t think there was a foul there on Price. What do you guys think?

  237. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    I didn’t see a foul either.

  238. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    stop, it’s LO time!

  239. james says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    really rebounding like girls

  240. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    @emh: well… considering its a trademark of this laker team the WHOLE season… i would say it has some bearing on their championship qualities. i hope i’m wrong.

  241. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Man, I’m afraid for Jerry Sloan’s health. He’s screaming and jumping on the sidelines. Not good for a man his age.

  242. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    that looseball sequence made me laugh…at our inability to get boards and the jazz’ inability to get the ball.

  243. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    The Jazz are playing like a desperate team, the Lakers are playing like a team trying not to lose.

  244. J-man says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    My entire family (my mom, uncle, aunt, and myself) literally laughed for the past 2 minutes. This has been too hilarious. Can’t even be scripted?

  245. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    Sloan had a legit gripe. Price got annihilated.

  246. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    Oh boy. Make your free throws.

  247. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    Yuck. Bad way to close the game.

    Well, at least the crowd gets tacos.

  248. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    Should be an interesting post game press conference with Sloan.

  249. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    the lakers look tired… they desperately want this game to be over.

  250. sT says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    Who says the West does not have great playoff games.

  251. Mimsy says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    Um, so… if you can’t make your free throws now, then when will you?

  252. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    I agree with Kurt, the Jazz are really giving it everything they have. The Lakers are just trying to get out of here without anyone getting hurt. You can tell because everyone is tentative when going after loose balls and rebounds. Frankly, it’s disgusting to see Bynum and Powell get outrebounded by Millsap and half of Okur.

  253. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    I can hear Charles already, “the Lakers lack that killer instinct of championship teams…blah blah”.

    Ugh, Lakers turned an enjoyable game into another typical mental lapse.

  254. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Looking at the Jazz, you start to realize just how tough a GM’s job is. Connor has done a phenomenal job. It’s just so hard to find star complementary pieces.

  255. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    Look – they were bound to have a run in them at some point, it just happened to coincide with our bench being in. We just got a bit lazy on both sides of the ball and turned it over, didn’t box out, and let Millsap and Price get some confidence. By the time our starters got in, they were a bit rusty and needed some time to feel the game back out again.

    The NBA is a league of runs. what did we expect, Utah to just let us lose by 20?

  256. chibi says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    Gotta love Sloan standing up the refs for his team.

  257. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    after seeing that graphic about the lakers potential 2nd round opponent… we should all be rooting for the rockets on their next game.

    i remember a few months ago saying that if the lakers played portland in the playoffs it would go 7 and someone was laughing at me… uh… i think their regular season performance in portland proves my point.

    please lakers… make your damn freethrows! even fisher is missing… wtf?

  258. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    Oh man… we want tacos!

  259. Zephid says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    Oh man, Odom with the ultimate F-You dunk

  260. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    Lamar Odom is the one NBA player I want to chill with more than any other.

  261. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    It must be the tacos. Utah trying to deny the fans tacos over the “Utah sucks” chants.

  262. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    on a lighter note, did anyone catch what Sloan said to Javie to get tossed? It looked to me like “you’re a f***ing failure!”

    wow, Price talking some crap huh? check out the scoreboard…

  263. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    The Trailblazers are a very good team, but I don’t fear them anymore than any other team still left in the Western Conference.

  264. Kurt says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    Snoop, I will say that in my limited time getting to hang out in the Lakers locker room, your instincts are correct. When the cameras are on, Odom is a cliche machine, but when the tape recorders are off and he’s not on the record, he is very funny, very fun guy to hang with.

  265. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    I wonder if Phil will seek out Sloan in the back to say goodbye, since he was ejected.

  266. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:18 pm

    its all about matchups… how the blazers do against other teams is irrelevant to when it comes to the lakers against the blazers. maybe you shouldn’t fear them and you’re correct on that part, but the lakers need to respect the blazers and what they’ve done to them this season.

  267. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:19 pm

    wow. the bench totally sucked the joy out of that “blowout” win.

    I can forgive them missing so many shots, but come on! Box out! Rebound! Energy! A 22 point lead does not mean snooze time, Drew.

    I can not forgive though, lazy rebounding, no energy.

    The starters played superbly but the garbage time bench really sucked.

    I give credit to the Utah Bench for being so spirited.

    Still, I blame Phil for the 2-16 run. I don’t care if you’re up by 22.

    DON’T REST THE STARTERS!!! YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN GAME SIX LAST SERIES. PLAY THE STARTERS. KILL ANY HOPES. NONE OF THIS GARBAGE TIME THING.

    THERE IS NO GARBAGE TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS!

  268. phineas says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    Kobe’s interview: calling out the second unit. Love it.

  269. BCR says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    joits,

    At this point the possibility we’re facing Portland is very slim. Houston is a much better matchup for us, and we’ve talked extensively about their problems against us, namely generating offense. Kobe has also taken the “Moneyball” article from the New York Times to heart and wants to torch Artest and Battier.

  270. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    What was the croud chanting? Some kinda of “music”…
    What was that?

  271. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    I was impressed with the way Price fought to the end.

  272. laughing hard says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    It was great to see the players giving respect to Hot Rod.

  273. Cayucos surfer says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    It’s just cause you know Lamar has that chronic, son! Ha kidding.

    What the he’ll does price think he’s doing? Hello you’ve been riding the bench all series and your team is being eliminated. Shut up and miss your free throws already.

  274. inwit says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Felipe, an old song from the 70’s.

  275. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    I am not disrespecting the Blazers. I just think some Lakers fans have an unnatural fear of them. We struggle at the Rose Garden during the regular season but that is not true during the playoffs. We have played very competitively up there for the last decade during the postseason. Besides, the Blazers blew us out once up there this season and then won a close game against us towards the end of the season. We blew them out twice at Staples. It’s hardly as competitive as people think.

  276. passerby says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    houston will make an interesting matchup. oh but how interesting would it get should mcgrady remained healthy and determined to win something.

    kobe on tmac
    lo on artest (and artest and the whole wing on kobe)

    bynum on yao
    bench on bench

    though we got pau and i don’t think scola cancels them out

    speed of the young brooks vs. the veteran fizz of fisher

  277. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    Can you elaborate a little more?
    I don’t think I know that chant

  278. bruinsfan says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    I think that the second unit lacking a leader is really hurting them, because too often they don’t go 100% and start looking for themselves offensively.

    Also, I think Phil should activate Mbenga and use him in some of Bynum’s minutes. Not that DJ is going to give us much of anything, but Drew needs to realize that if he’s not going to play hard he’s not going to be playing at all.

  279. wiseolgoat says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    Next series, I think we need Bynum to start and Lamar go to back to being the 6th man. Especially with Luke out, Lamar needs to be the veteran, steadying presence who can facilitate the offense and take on more of the scoring burden if necessary. Bynum is nowhere close to that point yet, which could be why our bench got owned by theirs this game.

  280. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    I totally agree with Bruinsfan. What is up with Bynum and his mentally?

  281. emh101 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    Bynum is playing like he did back in December–lazy and listless. Something needs to snap in his head so he plays like he was playing in January. Of course, he’s still recovering from his injury, but I don’t think his energy and hustle is where it should be.

  282. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    I’m not happy with the 22 point lead dwindling, but at the same time, I feel this game’s lead dwindling wasn’t the same as before.

    It was our bench (+ Kobe) vs. their bench (+ Korver/Okur/Millsap?)

    Our bench was trying to get Drew to get an offensive groove and I think that’s what took the bench out of sorts. Plus on top of their lackadaisical effort, Utah was fighting to stop elimination.

    And on cue … Charles is talking about our lack of killer instinct.

    I’ll say this and I’ll repeat this:

    Our starters have killer instinct. Especially in this game.

    But our bench doesn’t.

  283. Snoopy2006 says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:32 pm

    Most likely he’s still adjusting to the brace and getting his timing back. Probably an injury thing.

    But I do agree it seems like a bit more of a focus issue. It’s probably just off-timing, but if it’s a mental issue then that’s concerning. We’ll find out and see if he’s improving with more games.

  284. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    270, Felipe –

    If it’s not “We want Tacos”

    or

    “Utah Sucks”

    then it was

    “Nah nah nah, hey hey hey, good bye.”

  285. Felipe says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    Yeah, I guess it was that third one.
    I like that.

    Thanks.

  286. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    the rockets are notorious for blowing playoff series leads so until i see the rockets win that 4th game… i’m not counting the blazers out. they are better of course now that tmac is out of the picture…

  287. Adam T says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    Funny post game picture w/ Odom & AK47

    http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/photos?photoId=2217481&gameId=290427013

  288. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Ariza’s girlfriend/wife is Japanese?!

    oooh … Dwayne Wade has back spasms. I remember how painful it was for Kobe last year … especially during the playoffs.

    does Zaza Pachulia look thinner compared to last year?

    I’m rooting for the Hornest, but at this point it’s pretty hopeless…

  289. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    That’s a funny picture.

  290. joits says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    hornets are done. we’re meeting up denver in the western conf finals.

  291. magic says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    In one the LA Times articles, Bynum commented about not getting minutes and how that bothers him. Though tonight he wasn’t playing like he wanted those minutes. I’m disappointed in him. I hope he grows up by the next series and realizes that he needs to earn those minutes, because we’ll need him.

  292. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    I disagree with Charles.

    I don’t think the Hornets “quit.”

    I think they were just bogged down with injuries.

    Over relied on Chris Paul.

    And like all the offensive problems they’ve been having over the years, they just have no offense. Everything is run through CP3. If CP3 is out of it, the rest of the team falls with him. Why?! Because everyone just stands around, there is no player movement, they just kinda watch.

    (almost reminds me when our offense gets stagnant)

    But yeah, that was really the Hornets problem. And that the Nuggets kinda sensed the Hornet’s injuries piling on to their tiredness and took advantage of playing rough. I mean, it was ugly what they did to CP3 out there.

  293. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 10:54 pm

    *oops. I meant that the Hornets are having the same offensive problems they have been having all this year (not over the years).

  294. Peanut Butter Spread says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:07 pm

    Also,

    SHOUT OUT TO THE DUCKS!

    For also winning their series.

    Who saw that coming?!

  295. test says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    test

  296. Rodman says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    Forgive my internet ineptness, but does anyone know where I can download a torrent of the game (or maybe even G1 + G2)?

    I’m stuck in Australia and only get access to a handful of games a week.

    Apart from Game 4 I have barely seen a Laker game in the past few months…

  297. lil' pau says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    Request assistance please:

    I’m sure everyone here but me knows the answer to this, so I apologize: Sloan was kicked out but Fish only shot one T– did Sloan have another T earlier in the game that I don’t remember, or can a coach be kicked out of a game somehow without earning two technical fouls?

  298. Emma says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    I use sportbit.org. Let me know if you need an invite.

  299. Craig W. says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:58 pm

    This is another comment about us fans normal inability to have any sense of history or context when talking about players.

    I am referring to Bynum…
    1) He is returning from a long term injury and needs time to get his timing back.
    2) This particular matchup is really not to his advantage. He was going to have to guard either Boozer (very powerful and quicker around the basket) or Milsap (even shorter and also quicker).
    These guys don’t come straight at Andrew and they are constantly going under him. With his lack of conditioning and his rustyness, this is exactly the type of player that his going to get him into foul trouble.

    If we play Houston I expect Bynum to be much more effective against Yao.

  300. Rodman says

    April 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    Thanks so much!

    I’ve never been there before so I’m assuming I do require an invite?

    can I email you?

  301. Kurt says

    April 28, 2009 at 12:06 am

    new post up

  302. Emma says

    April 28, 2009 at 12:10 am

    I’m not sure about the site’s current policy — they have open registration from time to time, but not always. If you find that you need an invitation, e-mail me at ewk0709(at)hotmail(dot)com.

  303. dEDGE says

    April 28, 2009 at 1:07 am

    The Mamba clearly dealt Utah a fatal blow tonight. His 4-pointer over Kirilenko was ridiculous. Lamar was the key to the series. Utah had no answer for him and he picked apart the Jazz defense. Now let’s hope we can get Bynum back into the groove.

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