Last night’s loss still stings and will for some time, I imagine. When the team you root for collapses down the stretch, the ‘what ifs’ and ‘should have dones’ live in the front of your mind and sit there, sourly marinating. But that rotting feeling is really about the final two minutes of turnovers, poor transition defense, and poor half court execution. Durant’s steal, Kobe’s three pointer when the offense broke down, Harden’s baskets against a retreating defense were what lost the game.
What did not lose the game was the last inbounds play where Steve Blake got a good shot off, only to miss it just long. That play was designed to get Kobe a shot flaring to the opposite corner. The Lakers have actually used this play at least once this year, against the Hornets (h/t to Sebastian Pruiti for the clip):
As you can see in this clip, Kobe comes off a double down screen from Pau and Bynum looking to get a shot at the top of the key. However, that action is really a misdirection to force the defense to overplay. When the defense rushes to try and deny that option, Kobe then flares to the weak side off a back screen from Bynum to receive a pass and take the shot. While Kobe missed this shot against the Hornets, this is a well designed play (though with a difficult pass) and falls in line with the type of misdirection screen actions that the Lakers have used before this season to try and get a good shot against a defense that is primed to slow the initial flash to the ball.
Last night, however, the Thunder seemed ready to defend this type of action. When the play initially starts, the Thunder are in the type of defensive position that you’d expect. Because they’re only up by a point and a two pointer beats them, their bigs are in position to protect the rim from the Lakers’ bigs diving hard. Kobe’s man is on his inside shoulder to try and stay in between him and the ball. But, once the action starts, everyone clamps down even harder. Perkins bodies Bynum so he doesn’t get a clean pick on Sefalosha who also does a good job of fighting through the screen. Kobe then releases just a hair early in flaring to the corner and Ibaka does a good job of being below the screen so he can cover Kobe as he peels off Pau’s back pick. When you add this to Durant’s long arms disrupting Ron’s view, it’s easy to see why this action got bottled up (h/t to DJ ReMark for the video clip):
Ultimately, Blake got a good shot. Out of all the options coming out of that play – Kobe’s jumper from the deep corner, Pau making a catch at the top of the key and then working to get his own shot, or Blake shooting a wide open corner three – I’m perfectly happy with the look the Lakers’ got. Ron made the right read by passing to Blake, Blake got his feet set and took a shot he’s very capable of hitting, and the Lakers still had a chance to get an offensive rebound because the shot was taken immediately.
I do understand that we can criticize the play design (as Tim Legler did in the clip) as it’s primary option is running to the opposite corner some 45+ feet from the inbounder. That’s a risky pass in any scenario and with the athletes OKC had on the floor plus the recovery time that type of a pass allows, a lot of bad things could have happened had Ron made that pass (including Ibaka shadowing Kobe as Legler implied). Also, the play is seemingly setting up a very difficult shot from Kobe – one where he’d be fading from the basket and likely very close to the three point line and the baseline out of bounds.
All that said, the real criticism still lies in the Lakers’ play down the stretch and how the play preceding the inbound play by Ron unfolded. In that set Kobe started with 18 seconds on the shot clock but dribbled down the clock even though the Thunder had a foul to give. Watching it live, I was wondering when Kobe was going to initiate his move but it was obvious he was eying the right short corner for his final shot. That’s a jumper he’s hit countless times before and is the epitome of a muscle memory play for him. The fact that he’d want to take that shot isn’t a shock but the way the play unfolded certainly could have been handled better.
In the end, though, none of it went right. And today we all must live with it. Tomorrow offers another chance, one I can only hope offers as good an opportunity to get a win.
Kevin_ says
The play Ron made was the right one. I would’ve preferred to just give Kobe the ball and live with the results. Blake has been hot this postseason it was a good shot.
chownoir says
Agree that the final play didn’t lose the game for them. A lot of things went wrong that last two minutes.
Blake was scrapping hard and got two key boards in that last couple of minutes too.
Man, it’s a brutal loss. I’m still reeling this morning.
Snoopy2006 says
The 3rd to last paragraph is dead on, IMO. I like the misdirection, but I don’t like the play not only for the long, vulnerable pass, but because the resulting shot is going to be an off-balance fadeaway with likely 1 or 2 guys chasing him down and rushing the shot. Off the dribble, it seems like a higher percentage shot. But running to the opposite corner, catching and shooting quickly with 2 guys bearing down on you, just seems like a low percentage shot. You’re not going to get more of an open shot than Blake got. Artest made the perfect read, and Westbrook got completely stuck ball-watching. As good as we could have hoped for.
You can’t really harp on 1 play. While I appreciate slowing the game down, I did think (towards the end) the incredible slowness with which Gasol and Bynum were walking up the floor hurt us. I understand they must have been fatigued after playing so hard and physical. But I counted several plays where Blake barely got over the half-court line in time, and Bynum and Gasol were still trudging along behind him. Yes, we want to slow the game down enough to establish our bigs. But when our bigs aren’t posting up until there’s 13 or 14 seconds left on the shot clock, then you better hope your first option nets you a good shot. Most of the time it didn’t, and we ran out of time and were forced into low-percentage shots. We got into our offense far too late. It’s a balancing act.
And not to beat a dead horse – I think Kenny Smith hit on this perfectly last night – but when you know the team has a foul to give, dribbling down the clock was a crucial mistake.
Even if we had won, it could have well been like the 2004 Finals, squeezing out a Game 2 against a superior opponent. But we’ll never know now. I thought they did a phenomenal job of sticking to the gameplan, but how many times they can repeat this feat (and the Thunder miss some open shots) remains to be seen.
Kevin_ says
Is kobe clutch? Total disrespect.
west coast ram says
While this is just one game I think it does leave us with some questions going forward. At what point does the team really need to start thinking about multiple options during the last two minutes of close games. It can’t always be Kobe ISOs because they don’t produce quality scoring opportunities as frequently as in the past. Even when he does score it appears that the shots are very difficult (something that I think Kobe craves). While there is no dispute that the media overhypes how effective Kobe is in crunch time, the one thing that you can’t dispute is his willingness to take the critical shot (not everyone steps up when the pressure is on).
R says
While this is just one game I think it does leave us with some questions going forward. At what point does the team really need to start thinking about multiple options during the last two minutes of close games.
———
Actually they need to think about multiple options for next season and beyond. Unfortunately they were just good enought this year to make the playoffs and fail early. They over achieved and fought off Denver. Now the wheels are falling off.
Joe Atlanta says
Here is the truth. As difficult as last nights loss was, the real reason we are all in a funk is we really cant count on our Bigs to bring the same level of intensity on games 3 and 4. That to me is why I am really mad. If Pau and Bynum brought it night in night out like they r supposed to, we would simply be going home to take care of business and saying to ourselves, “its ok, we we try and steal home court again in game 5 or 7”. The front office’ rush to be cheap immediately even though the harsh cap doesn’t kick in until 2 years from now continues to bite us. Pau, Bynum and LO despite their inconsistencies won championships, and even an out of shape LO would have helped this year. Our only prayer is for Mike brown to go deeper into his bench at home and play McRoberts and Murphy more and let session loose with the back ups. The Bench energy is they only way I see to get Bynum and Pau motivated to play energized. Lastly, hopefully the fans that try and disrespect Kobe can see better now that Kobe leading this cast of misfits to 2 championships was a mighty feat. Bynum-Pau-LO = 2 All-star Big men. Take away LO and you are left with 1 and a 1/3 allstar.
T. Rogers says
Joe Atlanta,
Compare LA’s big men to OKC’s big men. They mostly wash out. Now, compare their perimeter players to LA’s. It’s not even close. Harden and Thabo’s defense combined with Westbrook and Durant’s offense puts them way ahead of the Lakers.
OKC’s trump on the Lakers is their wings. Should they win this series, they will do it with their perimeter players.
Cdog says
The reason I don’t like the Blake corner 3 when the lead is slipping away is its too much pressure on the role player to save a flailing team. There are a handful of role players in NBA history that hit that shot when the team has lost momentum and is reeling. Robert Horry’s backbreaking 3 against Sacramento. Derek Fisher’s .4, and so on. Blake isn’t that type of player, so its unfair that we expect him to knock down the biggest play of the season.
The Blake open three at the end of game 4 in Denver is the type of 3 a role player takes and makes. The team had momentum, Kobe had control of the game, and all Blake had to do was put it up without the fear that missing the shot would cost the Lakers the game.
Last night, the Lakers lost control of the game. So the play shouldn’t have been for Kobe. He should have been the decoy, so that Gasol could get the ball and take it to the wrack. There was 6 seconds left, plenty of time to dive to the basket. Its also easier for bigs to get an offensive rebound to a close shot than a 3.
Snoopy2006 says
T. Rogers – I think that’s the issue. OKC’s big men should not wash out with Bynum and Gasol.
Also, I know some people are thinking Fisher would have made the shot Blake missed. Let’s be honest – if that had been Fisher in the corner, it’s very unlikely he would have been forgotten about like that. With his history, teams would have him marked in the corner, unlike with Blake.
wilzuvsteel says
Reality is that OKC can get a shot anytime they wanted in a 2:00 min span and LAL played like their coach “scared”. They wasted timeouts IMO one crucial one when Blake couldn’t inbound the ball. Even though we know Kobe is the goto they don’t seem to have a goto play besides the predictable ISO. Other teams always seem to expose our guards and bigs on PNR but we can’t even pass it to a big in crunch time our supposed (advantage) over the league. Kobe does not have the 1-2 punch that used to be enough to beat the proverbial 3 headed monster. And more importantly he doesn’t have the coach that commands attention to detail. As old as the Spurs are they still play with that precision and attention to detail. MB does not know how to incorporate speed (Sessions) and control tempo. So he’s sacrificed one for the other. This is not a winning recipe. We need big guards that play defense if he wants the slow pace style of play and he also needs to be a playmaker aka.(Deron Williams). But Sessions can help I believe, but they do nothing to get him going. But watching this squad they just seem to be tired. So in a sense, yes…we are seeing the last of the Kobe era…unlesss they get a Deron or CP3 prototype that can be playmakers and another player who is lights out from the outside. I’m amazed at how many clutch 3pt shooters the Spurs have. But they wouldn’t be clutch unless they had someone who could draw the double to kick it out to those guys. Parker & Ginobli comes to mind. I guess my point is this series is pretty much over. My heart wants to believe but my head says don’t bet on it. The coach just leaves my gut feeling with overwhelming pessimism. I just don’t believe we can overcome such a liability. I know… what a downer feeling… but when the game comes on tomorrow my heart will be rooting for them and hopefully this loss wears off.
Joe Atlanta says
Snoopy2006 thanks for pointing that out to T.Rodgers. OKC’s offense is perimeter oriented, LA is an inside out team and with the size of Pau and Bynum LA should be dominant inside. Instead they play inconsistent. T.Rodgers did u watch the Denver Series??? Does it make any sense in the world that Ken Farried and Javale McGee should dominate Pau and Bynum??? Do you realize we were one horrible Bynum half (1st half of game 3) away from sweeping the Nuggets?? A road game Bynum showed up late to shoot around. Do you know how crazy it is to show up late for shoot around on the road?? The entire team rides on the same bus. SMH. Look, the Laker perimeter players will hang with OKC’s if the Bigs show up. Our entire game plan (offense and defense) is anchored by the Bigs. That is the system Mike Brown has instituted. If the Bigs fail, we (LA) fail. Its that simple. Back to your Perimeter quote, If not for the 2 Bigs clogging the Lane, Kobe would put the entire OKC perimeter in foul trouble by simply posting anyone of them up. The so called defense of Kevin Durant (height) would be neutralized by the post up. (Unless some dreamer wants to tell me a guy who cant bench press 180 can hold Kobe in the block). These are the kinds of sacrifices Kobe has made this year to allow the Bigs (Bynum especially) to thrive.
Chris says
T. Rogers, I don’t think the OKC bigs and the LA bigs are a wash… the LA bigs have easily been better, but their advantage hasn’t been nearly as big as the OKC perimeter/wing players have over LA perimeter/wing players. OKC has a big advantage in the 1 and 3 spots, and their advantage has proven to be far more important than LA’s 2, 4 and 5 spots when it matters (like with 2 minutes to go in game 2).
Edwin Gueco says
The first game, Lakers were scorched to submission and the second game was a crucifixion to Laker fans who wished and prayed for this victory, yet their favorites could not finish. Kobe’s blunder was like the Showtime Finals where Worthy’s pass was stolen by Gerald Henderson. Why are you guys putting the Laker fans in this kind of dilemma?..the height of st……. never mind!
If there’s any juice left, we’re exhausted in cheering at the edge of our seat, just want to see it happen in Game 3 & 4 no more sloppy passing or the sissy defense of Pau and Drew on that last play on Durantula.
I don’t think we could blame Blake on that last shot because it was a difficult shot. Prior to Blake’s shot why did they waste13 seconds dribbling around?
Chris says
Not to join in on the chorus with all the Kobe-haters, I’m so tired of them relishing in this loss, but with his 3 critical mistakes last night you have to wonder if he still has the mental edge he used to. First he throws it to Durant – he has to be aware of Durant’s length and ability in that situation. Then he misjudges the pass from Blake and loses it out of bounds, expecting it to be deflected – you’d expect him to be focused on catching that pass more than anything in the world after he just threw it away the play before. And then he dribbles precious seconds off the clock on an isolation play knowing that they had a foul to give… three huge mistakes by the guy who should know better in crunch time. He let me down big time last night. I want him to be great, to make the big plays, to prove all the doubters wrong… It’s not like he missed a shot, it’s the mistakes he made that he shouldn’t have that kill me.
I’m still in shock and so very disappointed. This one will take a long time to get over. It’s probably going to be be similar to the blowout we let slip away against Boston when they eventually beat us for the title. It’s games like this that make a champion or kill a season. Seems the writing is on the wall for us now, though it would make a great miracle story if the Lakers were to somehow win this series.
T. Rogers says
Snoopy,
Perkins in one of the league’s best post defenders. Ibaka is as well. Not to mention Ibaka is more mobile than both Pau and Bynum. Saying they should not be as effective as Pau and Drew is not giving them the credit they deserve. They are not as refined offensively. However, Perk’s grit and Serge’s athleticism make up for it. Plus, with wing players like Durant, Westbrook, and Harden they don’t have to be big time scorers. They don’t have to match Gasol and Bynum’s output to be effective for their team.
JA,
The Denver series is over. This is a different team with a different set of strengths and weaknesses. I just think it is pointless to harp on the bigs when you are staring across the line at Westbrook, Durant, and Harden.
rr says
The bigs aren’t a “wash” but having four guys with size to run at Pau and Bynum allows OKC to control them enough to win the games on the perimeter, where the Lakers are badly outgunned.
Edwin Gueco says
Another point, nobody in the Thunder could block those running hook shot of Pau, why not harp on that advantage? Secondly, Peace should concentrate on inside game than being a perimeter “lotto-shooter”. The same criticism with another lotto-shooter, Barnes, where’s the player who was moving without the ball? Go inside man, that’s where you excel. The 3rd guy Ramon Sessions, where is your heart, Ramon? Courage man, courage you are now a Laker!@*&#.
Muddywood says
This series is not over. One win at a time.
The hard one is going to be Game 4 on the 2nd night of a back 2 back.
Is Mike Brown going to have to play some of these bench guys to give Kobe and Pau some rest and hope the bench produces?
Or does he play Kobe and Pau the big minutes they have to play because Game 3 and Game 4 will both be Must Win games?
Edwin Gueco says
16,
I respectfully disagree with you that Thunder are better than our Lakers. We lost because our players’ mindset was hallowed and complacent with the lead. We don’t have a good ball handler like Rondo or the young Kobe who refuse to lose. Thunders athleticism was also flawed. A good team would not allow the slow oldies to dominate the game. The name of the team is appropriate description of their athleticism pure Thunder and there’s really nothing to fear of their talents.
DJ says
Mike Brown had bad strategy, you play against OKC 3 times a year, you can’t say you don’t know their P@R offense. In second round, you know you got to face them, so Lakers have to play tough defense in first round so players get used to it. You don’t wait after the blow out of 29 points and make adjustments.
Lakers was behind 1 point why did Blake shoot 3pts? Gasol should be second option, he is tall, can shoot mid-range jumper. Last season, Kobe’s mistake cost Lakers game 1 against Dallas.
Aaron says
Yea. I just can’t see OKC as better. The Lakers have more match up advantages and the size advantages. They outplayed the Thunder on the road and it took a historic Kobe Bryant final two minute choke job on both sides of the ball for the Lakers to blow a comfortable lead and the game. If they both played on a neutral court and had the same days off before game one at worst this series is one-one… At worst. If the Lakers aren’t too heart broken this series is going back to OKC all tied up.
Robert says
A few of you have already acknowledged this, however, please join me in rooting against the Celtics. The Green Sea is parting + the Celtics could walk into the Finals. They are a heavy fav against Philly, + then they will play a potentially hobbled Heat or an upstart Indy. The year could be a lot worse than it is now.
Aaron says
Also… For those who bash Ramon… Just stop. You’re asking a PnR PG to play the part of a spot up shooter. It’s just rediculous. And that’s the difference between Phil Jackson and Mike Brown. When Kobe, Artest, and Pau went up to their head coach and complained Ramon was playing too up tempo one coach would concede and one coach wouldn’t. The truth probably is Ramon wasn’t playing too up tempo… He was in fact just playing with the ball too much for the Lakers two highest paid veterans who wanted the ball in their hands (Pau & Kobe). Rmember when Ramon was inserted into the starting lineup? The Lakers had the best offensive efficiency in the league. They were the best scoring team for around three weeks straight. Unfortunaltey there is a pecking order. Some on the team didn’t like the young , new, athletic PG was dominating the ball. Forget about the fact the offensive was as good as we have seen since showtime. The former Lakers PA announcer called up on 710 to say as much. He said there was a pecking order that was upset as soon as Ramon came in and was asked by Mike Brown to be his PG in his offense. So it shouldn’t have been a suprise that as the offense spiked the defense tanked. Some Lakers weren’t playing hard on that side of the ball as they weren’t touching the ball enough on the other. Some Lakers were used to playing the Pg role as players like Fisher and Blake could not. The last time there was a mutiny was 2004. Trailing in Detroit to a up and coming Piston team Kobe, Fisher, and Fox walked into Phil Jackson’s office and demanded that the old core was reinserted into the starting lineup. Phil Jackson said thanks for your concern but no thanks. He had the clout to say no. Of course the Lakers lost anyways… But Phil was going to do what he thought was the best way for the Lakers to win. Mike Brown knows the best way for the Lakers to win. It’s with Kobe Bryant off the ball… You know… Playing SG and not PG and SG. Unfortunaltey when it matters most he couldn’t stand up to his veteran players. Unfortunately that is for himself, his veterans, and the fans who support this team all over the world. Kobe is no longer athletic enough to play PG. he can’t breakdown defenses and get his teammates involved. He can barley create space against good defemders to get off his own shot. The Lakers have a player that can do that from the perimeter. Maybe they should let him play PG… Since ya know… He is a PG. For most of the year Mike Brown had a spot up SG (Blake) running the point. Now he has a PnR PG playing SG. When will it end?
Robert says
Aaron: “If they both played on a neutral court”
We are about to see that in Games 3 + 4 : )
PS: Sorry but it is true. The Thunder crowd has a huge edge on us. In fact almost everyone’s does. There is a sea of gold on the TV tonight (last night was blue and white). Staples will be a sea of I-Phones
Aaron says
TRogers,
You do realize Perkins hasn’t been a good defender since he blew out his knee right? Perkins has not been able to guard Drew one on one. They started doubling him in game two as soon as Drew put the ball on the floor. Unfortunaltey Bynum was selish and tried to get his shot off before Ibaka got to him. That’s hard to o given the length and speed of Serge. He ended up blocking at least six of Bynum’s shots from the weak side. It’s becoming apparent now that Bynum has become such a force where he demands double teams against every defender outside of Dwight Howard… That the Lakers need shooters around him. That most likley means Pau is traded in the offseason and a better shooting SF is brought in as well. I would love to keep Artest as well. He is such a rediculous difference maker on the defensive end of the floor. He changes games. If the Lakers can afford to keep him as a sixth man that would be preferable. But it’s clear with how teams are swarming Bynum down low the Lakers need to change their persenell.
Kevin_ says
24Aaron: You make some good points. But I saw Kobe get the ball so many times after nothing materialized with 6 seconds left. That happened on the rushed 3 late. And so many times Sessions is just dribbling clock doing absolutely nothing. It’s hard for a PG to get 0 assists and he did yesterday.There was a time Sessions was running the offense Kobe was off ball and was efficient that time has gone and Sessions has to find a way to be effective same way Pau does.
P. Ami says
Notice that Bynum was set up on the weak side in position to receive the ball if it got to Kobe. While I have a hard time seeing that ball getting through to Kobe cleanly, with how the defense played it, there was enough time for Kobe to get the ball to Bynum for a shot in the Bigfella’s wheel-house.
Game 3 is the most important game of the season, then it’s game 4… then game 5, 6 and 7. I have a hard time believing the Lakers can beat OKC and SAS but, whoever comes out of the west should be heavily favored, and I still have hope we’ll have our shot against Duncan and the rest. It was a great game and tough loss but time to get ready for OKC’s adjustments and hope coming home gives us the edge the Lakers will need to beat this very good, very tough Thunder team.
Chearn says
Wow, I guess everyone believes that Kobe is from another planet, huh? One week ago in game 6 against the Nuggets Kobe had gastroenteritis and had two IV bags of fluid pumped into him before the game and two more IV bags pumped into him at half time. Yet he Played! And, played well it was the Other Lakers that didn’t show up ready to play.
On ESPN Max and Marcellus, Marcellus said, he’s been in a lot of locker rooms and that he has NEVER seen a player get four IV bags and play. That says something, it’s not that easy. His body is not bouncing back like it might have when he was 26 years old.
Let’s go back further shall we…Kobe played with a broken nose and a concussion after the All-Star game and had he not played those games, the Lakers wouldn’t have made the playoffs. (Counter that with Harden needing to take 3 games off with an alleged concussion.)
Even further back shall we…Kobe played with a banged up knee, a torn ligament in his shooting hand and mangled fingers that prevent him from shooting with his normal trajectory. Yet he has adjusted and played.
Yes, Kobe lost the ball and important turnovers in the game last night. Yes, Kobe went 0-5 in the 4th quarter. But, on that pass from Blake that went out of bounds, why did Blake pass that ball to Kobe that close to Westbrook and the second defender the line? No one was on Blake all he had to do was get the ball across half court and set up. But, no he passed the ball to Kobe so he could save them. No one was moving on offense, they merely passed the ball to Kobe and watched. Not even bothering to attempt to get position for an offensive rebound. That’s why Jordan Hill should have been in the game; at least he GOES after rebounds and not just waits for them to drop in his hands.
If the pg’s are only going to dribble the ball across half court and then pass the ball to Kobe then the Lakers might as well give Kobe rest for a minute or two in the middle of the 4th, so he can come back in and play pg to close the games. That way you can play MWP at the 2 guard, Jordan at small forward, Pau at power forward and Bynum at center. Kobe can shoot the ball or set up the half court offense; MWP will be responsible for getting back on defense with Hill, Bynum and Gasol crashing the boards. If they are not successful getting the offensive board then Hill and Kobe can sprint back on defense and wait for Bynum and Gasol to eventually join them.
Kobe’s been in the league for 16 years and is required to be the focal point on offense, the defensive stopper, the leader, the only person capable of creating his own shot and the facilitator. While on the other side, Durant need do nothing but score, at age 24!
The Lakers are offensively challenged, emotionally challenged, competitiveness challenged, defensively challenged, shooting challenged, dribble driving challenged, pg challenged, help off the bench challenged and athletically challenged.
But they have Kobe, MWP and two very good 7-footers! And, it aint’ ova till it’s ova!
Let’s go Lakers!
Kevin_ says
Watching this heat game Wade is getting old losing athleticism and his game is suffering. Him and Kobe comparisons come with 1 series. He’s not in Kobe’s class. Very evident now.
Altemawa says
i am not sure where those Kobe-haters are coming from after all the wins and rings he gave us. not only those championships but elegant plays. he may have loss some steps but we know he can still do it.
some losses are really hard to swallow, and most of the time, it will come to a point when you will be really pissed as to why we have to lose, when the game seems to be ours. this loss is one of those. and we all should not live with this loss.
for as long as Kobe plays, he will be our main man of this team, and i believe that we should live and die with Kobe, through tough win and tougher loss. he’s the greatest Laker IMO.
the one thing that makes me sad last night was the last shot, i really wish it was Kobes to take so he could have a chance to save this team, and make up for his 2minutes disaster. however, ron made a good read and Blake open shot. game should have been ours.
Buzz Lightyear says
Just a side note:
ESPN is reporting that Steve Blake and his wife are receiving death threat’s via Twitter
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7943732/steve-blake-los-angeles-lakers-wife-receive-threats-twitter
I’m as disappointed in the Lakers as anyone after Game 2, and wish them all the on-court karmic payback for their failures that can happen.
But it’s sports, people. It doesn’t really matter at the end of the day whether the Lakers or the Thunder won.
I hope no one is dumb enough to translate the threats into real-life action, and I hope Steve Blake and his family suffer no actual harm from this stupidity.
Cdog says
Sad and despicable to hear death threats to Steve Blake.
I’m as passionate as any fan – but that is way too far past the line.
The Lakers now know they have a good enough defense to beat OKC (again at home, OKC had 77 points). These next two days has to be about their offense – as they play better defense anyways when their offense gets going.. OKC is a middling defensive team and every shot the Lakers are taking is laborious.
Jayz says
If you haven’t noticed most of the big game superstars have been coming up short in the playoffs outside of Kobe. Does Lebron James & D.Wade ring bell? Maybe its the condensed schedule taking it’s toll on the players? Too many games cramped up? For Kobe to pull a Lebron in the 4th(insert Lebron joke here), and him not coming thru in the clutch, never in a thousand years would I expect that to ever happen to him.
Treylake says
Lakers have back 2 back while Heat are off until Sunday. How does that work?
Network television was unkind to Lakers. Doubtful Barkley will say how ridiculous this ESPN/TNT determined playoff schedule is to game play and player health.
Edwin Gueco says
There are no Kobe-haters or Sessions-haters here, it is what it is, call a spade a spade, a blunder as a blunder that cost the game. I, for one is No. 1 cheerleader of Kobe from day one. However, his passing T/O was hard to stomach. We have to voice that rant and move on….
Aaron, what is being said about Ramon is actually very accurate. There was one thread which was specially dedicated to him. Nobody expect him to be a spot shooter or a specialist pnr PG, what is expected from him is to have the heart and HELP the line up. The mission is to score via facilitating or his penetration as a decoy. Among the Laker players playing, he is the fastest out there with young legs but often caught in stagnancy, wasting precious second for so many games now including the previous series. It is about courage, plain and simple. It is really difficult to be a Laker because you are expected to carry on a tradition of excellence. Jaundice eyes expect you to perform like Norm, Magic, Nick, Fish when he was young, after all these are the playoffs, Laker players are evaluated during playoffs. Got to keep that Laker standard in mind. Our posts are stirring but they are wake up calls, once he gets intimidated in the playoffs, he’s done as a journeyman PG.
paul h says
#23 Maybe as you say OKC is not better than the Lakers. Using not hope and pride but only the results of the games played this season does not suport your opinion. OKC won 4 games and was in control of the fifth game when one of their key players was removed from the game by Ron Artest.
Chearn says
If the reports of threats against Steve Blake are true then the Laker Nation has sunk to a new low.
Avidon says
1) Threats to Steve and his family are unlawful and I hope the authorities take appropriate action.
2) There is a way to come back to win this. Loop this in the Lakers locker room, practice gym, on the plane, and pretty much anywhere else any of the players go for the next few days. http://t.co/7n5ehazJ
Ko says
Not mad at the turnovers or missed shots. Stuff happens. Really ticked at Kobe bouncing the ball for 12 seconds with 17 to go. That was either Kobe being hero or another bad call by a really bad coaching staff.
If you go to the bucket they have to give up their foul. Even if you miss the next shot or get fouled you have 10 seconds to play foul the young team game.
Kobe being Super Hero or brown being Super Lame?
TC says
Very tough loss but the Lakers were right there. Kobe made some mistakes down the stretch but the man is human. How much has he done for this team for so long and yet at the least provocation, the haters come out of the woodwork? The Lakers are right there – that game could easily have been ours – we really had the upper hand for much of it and so I think we need to get over a tough loss and focus laser-like on games three and four.
Simonoid says
What is happening to Blake and his wife is despicable.
Robert says
As a huge Kobe supporter I can certainly live with the type of “rant” that Edwin describes in 37. Where the comments are bothersome is when someone takes the bad game and tries to draw some cosmic conslusion that he no longer has it, or that he had a sinister plan for self promotion above the team. With regard to the later – he has always felt that by him taking the shot, he is giving us the best chance to win.
Robert says
While the last 2 minutes was hard to bear + certainly lost us the game, there were also some usual suspects that were also a cause:
3 Point shooting: 13% (2-15) vs 6-17 for OKC
Bench Outscored 24-11
We did win the TO battle 13-12, however OKC is a team that turns the ball over frequently.
Edwin Gueco says
Threat on Blake’s family, even if it is a joke, it is the height of craziness of demented fanaticism. This is just a game, an entertainment of all sorts. Yes, there is passion in it but one has to distinguish where his head is, and where passion ends.
Secondly, Blake’s shot was a difficult one, it is a mercy shot from heaven. If he did not make it, at least he tried. We have to move on…..
Kevin_ says
Bynum’s been solid. 20 pts 11.5 reb 1.3 ast 1.5 blk 48%
Kevin_ says
2nd round PF’s
Kevin Garnett 23 pts 12 reb 2 ast 1 blk 1 stl 63%
Tim Duncan 22 pts 7 reb 2 ast 1 blk 2 stl 62%
Pau Gasol 12 pts 9 reb 2 ast 50%
KenOak says
Wow Dwade in the 5/5/5 club tonight. Crazy.
Robert says
Please start rooting against the continued parting of the Green Sea. Another couple days and they will be favored to win it all.
Kevin_ says
2nd round PG’s
Rondo 14 pts 8 reb 14 ast 2 stl 44%
Paul 8 pts 3 reb 7 ast 3 stl 33%
Chalmers 15 pts 4 reb 2 ast 43%
Westbrook 21 pts 6 reb 6 ast 1 stl 46%
Holiday 13 pts 4 reb 5 ast 1 stl 39%
Hill 17 pts 3 reb 3 ast 1 stl 59%
Parker 14 pts 3 reb 8 ast 2 stl 26%
Sessions 2 pts 2 reb 1 ast 20%
Cdog says
Robert
Celtics aren’t beating the Pacers or the Heat. Stop being so concerned. The Celtics have no center – KG is at center – and LeBron only plays like the way he’s playing now when the other team has a real center in the middle. Pierce is playing on a bum knee. Allen on a bum ankle, and their team is barely able to get the ball through the hoop. The may not even beat the Sixers. Either games 1 & 2 were the outliers, or game 3 was. My bet is its game 3.
And they aren’t beating whoever comes out of the West unless its the Clippers (because Rondo can make Paul’s life terrible, and Paul is their engine).
SAS/OKC and LAL would all be favored against the green.
The strange thing is – the Pacers have a legitimate shot to make the finals. Now thats just mind-blowing.
Ko says
The thought of Spurs and Pacers in the finals could be really interesting. Instead of models and stars in the seats it would look like 14,000 people there for a Jenny Craig commercial.
Yea I am becoming a bitter Laker fan!
Ko says
By the way. A Spurs–Pacers final should be called the Karma Finals. It would serve Stern right. Instead of the high ratings the Lakers and Heat would get Stern will get Lacrosse or bowling ratings with Spurs-Pacers. Really who outside of Indiana and Dirty River Walk gives a hoot?
How’s that Paul veto shaping up now. Have to change his name to Burn not Stern.
Mess with the Karma and it could cost the league mega millions.
Warren Wee Lim says
I can’t believe the pessimism on this board.
Remember how you complained about game 1s 79-pt loss? Well thats what you get. You get a 1-pt loss 2 nights later.
Paul says
Bottom line, the Spurs are still relevant and the Lakers are fading for one simple reason. Popovich risks losing games in the regular season to rest his starters. And he has been doing this for years. Kobe and Gasol have been playing 40 plus day in and day out for years and frankly are burnt out, physically and mentally. I have seen Kobe make some overly aggressive plays over the years, but I have seen the kinda of mental lapses from him in crunch time that I saw Thursday night.
Robert says
Cdog: The only issue I have is that had I stated this at the beginning of the playoffs, everyone would have said the “C’s” would not make it out of round 1 or round 2. Now ECF is highly likely + the Heat are damaged goods. The Celts are like the 7th best team in the league, but like I said, the Green Sea is parting : )
lakermagicshowtime says
Our Big 3 did their job, the problem here is been the total lack of production of everybody else. Sessions is been a huge BUST there i said it, i dont blame the FO the trade was good its that he looks terrified to be out there. MWP chucked an unbeliavable number of dumb stupid shots Barnes cant buy a bucket, Blakes shot was actually good it just didn’t went in i, can live with that. Kobe gave 4 free points to the thunder. But if those role players if at least ONE of them contributed offensively the Lakers would had won by double digits. Our defense was stellar but our offense was horrible. If we are going to make this a series Sessions need to stop being such a hesitant nervous wreck and start producing, i mean the guy shoot over freaking 40% from beyond the arc, i don’t expect him to score 20 but he cant even produce 10 freaking points? if he did the Lakers would had cruised. We need the roles at least one!!! to step up TONIGHT. cant blame the coach when the role players cant buy a damm bucket.
Robert says
Paul: The Spurs, Celtics, and Lakers are all similar. They have core Big 3’s, who are older. The difference is that the Celtics and Spurs (especially the later) have a superior bench to ours. You can also credit Pop for that, but do not blame MB. You can blame – well – you know : )
lakermagicshowtime says
I wouldnt mind throwing Goudelock out there, i mean what the hell, he might become an x factor and he certainly cant do worse than Blake and Barnes or Sessions
lakermagicshowtime says
2 points and 1 damm assist, Sessions needs to wake the hell up, if they lose tonight and he dont step up he wont come back and he will became a 4th string pg on whatever team he end up. This golden opportunity is one in a lifetime deal.
lakermagicshowtime says
@ Robert it shows how weak the east really is, first of if Rose didnt went down the Bulls would had sweep that 76rs team, they are in the second round because of basically an act of God thing. Second Atl is a proven pushover. Would love to the see the Celts dealing with what the Lakers have dealt these 2 rounds. If they go to the finals and i believe they wont, as soon as they face a REALLY good team is all over for them. They would be obliterated by whoever comes out of the west. I compared it to the LAkers getting the Jazz on the second round
Ko says
LakerMagic
And that’s why the bench was 30th(last) in the entire NBA. also why Metta was shooting 32% the first 45 games and shooting 31% in the playoffs. He lacks the common sense to understand that nights like Weds with 4 air balls and going 2 for 10 hurts the team.
Worst bench in the NBA, worst point guards in the NBA and worst offensive small forward for the year in the NBA. And people think they can beat OKC and the Spurs? And I didn’t even mention coaching!
We can’t argue the facts,
Ko says
One last thought and it’s a sobering one!
First off the bench OKC
Harding
First off the bench Spurs
Ginobili
First off the bench Lakers
Blake
The Jim Buss era is here and not going away!
Anonymous says
91% of teams that lose the 1st two games on tbe toad lose in rbe playoffs.
100% of teams who have starting SF and OG shooting under 25% lose.
Aaron says
Starting Center for the Spurs… The 6-7 incredibly limited Boris Diaw
Starting Center for the Thunder… The 6-9 incredibly limited Kendrick Perkins
If the Lakers wanted to bring Gasol, Kobe, or Bynum off the bench and start the incredibly limited Steve Blake they can do that to. Let’s all try to not be completley void of intelligence on here. It’s really hurting the credibility of the site.
Aaron says
Kevin,
Maybe that’s why Phil Jackson said he didn’t like little PGs? Haha. Look at the PGs on that list that Are playing well… the biggest and most athletic. Rusell Westbrook and Goerge Hill. The guys people thought were SGs out of college because of their size. In the playoffs defenses are more intense and more physical. Big guards are a “giant” advantage. Hello Darius Morris ?
Aaron says
Edwin Gueco,
As Darius outlined in the previous thread… It’s very hard for Sessions to okay well if he isn’t allowed to play PG. if he isn’t allowed to run PnR’s. That’s his game. How would Bynum play if he was asked to play SG?
Kevin_ says
What gives me hope is I know Thunder are a better team. I always knew Lakers could beat them but it would be a combination of OKC missing shots and Lakers getting on a hot streak.
BUt we saw game 2 LAkers controlled the whole game. I can’t remember the last time a LAkers team controlled a game like that on defense in the playoffs against a better team. OKC did what Lakers wanted them to do. If that can continue which from hearing the players interviews they are confident it can. We are in for a fun ride.
lakermagicshowtime says
@aaron your right but how many times Sessions passed on good shots from beyond the line him shooting 42% from 3 and all, why he dont try to use his speed to attack the rim and at least draw fouls the Thunder are giving him all the space in the world to do that because they dont see him as a threat he is not allowing himself to be a pg . What he needs to do is make them pay he dont need to score a lot he just need to hurt them so they realize they cant leave him alone and double our bigs nobody have accused Westbrook of being a lock down defender. He needs to grow a damn pair like i wrote earlier, this is the golden opportunity of his life, if he blows it he will become a 4th string pg on a lottery bound team after this season. HE NEEDS TO STEP UP
lakermagicshowtime says
Coach Brown said it himself,”he got ultra green light to shoot” its on him
Trianglefan says
Kobe should have boxed out sefalosha on blake’s shot. He could have got the rebound and scored. Not sure if he knew that blake took the shot until it was too late to get good position.
Either way, an incredible failure by kobe. But it doesn’t really change my perspective of him as one of the greatest ever.
Muddywood says
@ #68
Darius Morris doesn’t have one tenth of the game that those two have.
He doesn’t have a jumper and he doesn’t finish at the rim.
Sessions is the one that needs to step up and make some plays for others and make some baskets.
lakermagicshowtime says
Darius morris plays out of control, i would give some burn to Gaudelock aand see what happens he cant do worse
lakermagicshowtime says
@73 the greatest failure of Kobe on that game was giving away 4 points for free in the clutch he is one of the greatest true but at the same token he should know better than treating the ball so carelessly the Lakers were a basket or 2 possessions or a couple of ft’s away to tie the series. His greatness makes him that much more acountable.
rr says
Let’s all try to not be completley void of intelligence on here. It’s really hurting the credibility of the site.
—
LOL
lakermagicshowtime says
Im still steaming from that self inflicted defeat i can stomach the blowout but not choking away sure wins, INEXCUSABLE. On the other hand they have the defensive blueprint to beat the Thunder but we need more than 3 people to step up. I expect a big win tonight
lakermagicshowtime says
if you want no credibilty sites go to so called ” world wide leader of sports”boards those are the gran daddies of haters and trolling we are talking basketball here.
Tra says
” … which from hearing the players interviews they are confident it can.”
——————————-
There lays the problem.
Keeping n mind that we LOST, judging from several of the player’s comments, they seem a lil’ over-confident in their ability to defend the Thunder.
lakermagicshowtime says
@81 i think the Lakers proven they CAN defend the Thunder.The problem is been the lack of production from anybody not called Kobe, Pau or Andrew. You have a scrub like Collison dunking, making 3’s and hustling, where are our role players?
rr says
The difference is that the Celtics
__
The Celtics aren’t any better than the Lakers are, whatever is going on with the benches. If they were playing a full-strength Chicago team, or if Durant and Ibaka had gotten hurt and the Lakers were playing Dallas, we would be a having a very different conversation. Not everything that happens to the Lakers is about Jim Buss and the bench.
Also, Garnett, statistically, has probably been the best big man in the playoffs, along with Duncan:
Garnett
PER 25.5 WS/48 .262
Bynum
PER 25.2 WS/48 .194
Duncan
PER 25.4 WS/49 .260
Garnett and Duncan have higher TS and EFG numbers than Bynum does as well.
Playoffs are small sample size, and there is noise in those numbers, but it is being aware of. Front-line talent generally decides playoff series. Ginobili are Harden are All-Star type players who happen to be 6th men–like Odom was last year. They are not really bench players.
And, no Robert, WADR, I don’t want to hear about Odom again. The guy played badly enough that Dallas released him. I think the Lakers should have kept him, too, but it both a moot point and an open question at this time.
lakermagicshowtime says
And to people complaining about Jim Buss, he did tried to trade for Beasley to replace Odom’s role and the Wolves balked at the last minute and they did brought Hill if Odom were still on this team the team would had been in a season long drama, its not like LAmar have been exactly lights out on the playoffs either during his career . This season front the get go its been a mess since the NBA screw the Lakers with the Paul trade(which i wasnt sold to in the first place, you dont trade to bigs for a pg i dont care how good he is) that threw the team and FO in disarray front the beginning. I think the FO have done a damm good job considering all the changes and turmoil we seen this season. They could had just let the team be and call this season a wash they didnt.
lakermagicshowtime says
And the LAkers grand plan was to get Paul and get Howard(Thank God it didn’t happened in Howard’s case) but thats the kind of thinking we are used here in Lakerland. So yeah im in the minority that think the Lakers will be fine regardless of what happens this season.
Muddywood says
If OKC hits their outside shots, Lakers lose.
It’s really that simple.
They did the first game. Lakers lost.
They didn’t the second game. Lakers SHOULD have won.
Ramon Sessions HAS to step up.
Aaron says
rr,
You’re a smart bb guy. That’s why I’m suprised you can’t look deeper into the PERs and true shooting percentages. Bynum has web swarmed and double teamed the entire postseason while KG and Duncan are left single covered. If we want to look deeper only KG is scoring in one on one offensive sets. Duncan is getting all of his baskets on wide open dunks from feeds by Parker and Manu or wide open shots off of Pick and Pops. Let’s think things through here. That’s like comparing the numbers from Shaq and Kobe in the 2004 Finals. Shaq was single covered the entire series while Detroit zoned up on Kobe sending everyone on his side of the floor over. Stats are only good when used in context.
rr says
Aaron–
That is why I said “there is noise” and used the term “small sample size” in noting the stats. All stats are tools and all in some ways are blunt tools. One thing I agree with Simmons on, and I think you will concur: “Ya gotta watch the games.”
That conceded, I think that both Garnett and Duncan, even at age 35, play better team D than Bynum does and do a better job anchoring the D than Bynum does. YMMV.
Aaron says
rr,
Ha. Yes. But it has nothing to do with sample size. You are comparing apples and oranges. If you want to compare apples to apples compare KG and Duncan to Gasol since they all play the same position and all get single covered.
And no… You can’t say KG and Duncan at this stage in their careers are even close to the defensive presence that Bynum is. Even KG and Duncan won’t agree with that.
rr says
Aaron,
Garnett is playing center in Boston right now and Duncan is in practice a center. The double-teams have probably affected Bynum TS and EFG.
As to defense, I think you’re wrong, and the numbers agree with me more than with you. Also, Zach Lowe has written a couple of articles talking about the issues with Bynum’s defense. You should check them out; you might learn something.
Tra says
lakermagicshowtime,
So all it takes is 1 game, in which we hold them to 77 pts, to PROVE that we can defend them?
Maybe that’s your way of thinking, but it will take a couple more defensive gems like we displayed in gm #2 for me to believe that it’s a PROVEN fact that we can defend this team.
Darius Soriano says
I agree with rr, here. Duncan and Garnett have some of the best defensive instincts of all time. What they’ve lost in athleticism is real but is almost fully made up for in their understanding of angles, timing, and their comprehension and execution of their team’s defensive schemes. KG will likely make the all D team again this season and he’s in his 17th season. (And this isn’t a token acknowledgment like Kobe received last year, KG is still that good.)
Bynum is not at their level in terms of overall impact on D as he can still be exposed in the P&R and in off ball screen actions more frequently due to his slow-ish feet. And while he challenges and alters more shots via his size and length advantage, his defensive impact isn’t as expansive as those other two guys.
That said, Bynum still has time to grow (he’s only 24) and playing back line defense in the NBA is a complicated thing that players can get better at. If Bynum can continue to grow in this area and put forth the effort and commitment on each play, his physical tools can make him one of the better defenders in the entire league.
Aaron says
Saying KG is a Cebter because he is playin Cebter right now for the first time in his career because of massive injuries to the Celtics front line is like calling Gasol a Center because he was playin that spot after Bynum injuries. Duncan is the greatest PF of all time. He is not a Center. That’s actually besides the point. The advanced defensive metrics had Bynum even with Howard for the second half of last year as the best defensive bigs in the NBA. This year nothing has changed. To say instincts can make up for a lack of speed, quickness, and jumping ability is absurd. Greg Popovich said himself the Spurs aren’t a good defensie team anymore because “Duncan isn’t mobile enough to be a defensie presence and have to rely on team defense to keep people out of the paint. Maybe that’s why the Spurs ate no longer one of the top defenses in the NBA the last few years. To pretend KG and Duncan are still elite defensie pkayers is to pretend Kobe is still better than LeBron. Time catches up to everyone… To deny that is to deny the next group of star pkayers. Kobe desserved more respect than he got ten years ago and Bynum desserves more than he is getting now. The numbers and records he has put up speak for themselves. If we want to talk about KG and Duncan in thier primes (ten years ago) than fine. Yes they were historically great pkayers and defenders… But at over 35 years of age it’s just silly to throw out the eye test and the defensive stats just for nostalgic purposes. Just silly.
Aaron says
You will notice that Duncan is almost in the same league as Bynum but not really… while KG isn’t close. Again… we need to live in the present and not the past. People say whats the harm in rewarding former great players by overrating them after they age? The answer is always very simple… life is a comparison. By pretending the old guys are still as good or better than the new great players… we end up underrating the real stars of todays game. I hated when people underrated Kobe when he was in his mid 20’s. I hated when people thought Malone was as good as Duncan when Duncan was in his mid 20’s. And I hate it just the same when people underrate Bynum saying KG and Duncan are just as good or even better while he is in his mid 20’s. You’re basically in your prime when you are between 24 and 28 in todays NBA when players are getting into the league as teenagers. And guess what… when you are in your 17th year and over 35 you are way passed your prime. We should start living in todays and not yesterdays. Here are the advanced defensive stats…
http://hoopdata.com/defrebstats.aspx
Aaron says
whoops… I was wrong… both KG and Duncan are aways a way from Bynum defensively based on the stats. But still… everything from the eye test and the stats all say the same thing… KG and Duncan have both fallen off from their great defensive statistics from years ago. Again… its not their fault… they are really old. Cut them some slack.
1983 says
@aaron….you posted a link for the table showing defensive rebounds. That is not “advanced defensive stats”. Even still, Duncan has a higher defensive rebound rate (DRR) than Bynum.
Kevin_ says
KG has been the best defensive big not named Dwight for some time. What Bynum did in game 1 round 1 and last game KG does every game. Consistency is key.
Aaron says
1983,
Look again. It had def efficiency, bpg, and rebounding rates.
Aaron says
Kevin,
If KG was that consistent this year… He wouldn’t be trailing Bynum by a mile in every defensive category.