The Cavs have all their losses on the road; they're not the same team (19-0 in Cleveland compared to 11-6 out of there). Their situation reminds me (although a better version; macrocosm) of Drew Brees this season. :]
Seems like defensively the Lakers double team everybody. That's why so many players are freed up and open all the time. They're always doubling up on somebody. It seems to me like the Lakers always start out games thinking they can win just by shooting. Then as the game goes on, they finally realize they have to step up on defense, and do it. Unfortunately some times it's too late. I don't know how these guys don't learn that they have to play with defensive effort throughout. Maybe this game will teach them something, but I honestly doubt it. They can play good D when they want to, but it's not perfect. In order to get better, you have to practice. If we only try on D the last 5 minutes of the game, there's no way we're going to improve unless Phil preaches defense in practice, which we all know he doesn't. Anyways, it's just one loss I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it. Pretty frustrating yes, but in the big picture, if it takes THIS much help for the Spurs (refs, bad play, injuries, back to back, etc) just to beat us by 1, I'm not worried. They still aren't going to beat us in a 7 game series and that's all that matters. As for the refs, yes, fuck them. But it's not all on them. We played like shit for the majority of the game and didn't even bother to play any defense what-so-ever. Players shouldn't be blaming the refs, instead blame themselves. This has been an ongoing problem throughout the year and it still hasn't been fixed. At some point, it's time to look in the mirror. Refs were horrible, but the players are to blame for putting themselves in such a position. The defense in the first half was absolutely horrible. The defensive scheme of "double everybody and leave someone open" isn't going to win us anything. Learn and improve.
In fairness there's potential to lose any night. I think this game means more to the Cavs than the Lakers at this point. The Cavs are going to use this game as a measuring stick and the Lakers will have their fourth tough game in a row. (Who the hell made the schedule this year anyways? Does any other team in the league have this rough stretch of games?) The key to beating Cleveland is shutting down Mo Williams and not allowing LeBron to draw fouls. If he gets into the paint you need to let him continue to the rim or if you plan to foul you better drop him on his ass and wrap him up. I don't want to see any cheap half-assed reach in fouls when he comes thundering down the lane. The Cavs also run a lot of cross picks under the basket to free up cutters. Lakers have to communicate on the defensive end and the big men need to be in position to contest those baskets. LeBron is an amazing passer from the perimeter and he creates a lot of easy baskets off this play. I'm more concerned about the Magic game though. We don't matchup well against them at all.
Yeah it's been a constant theme this year and the Lakers are developing the reputation of a team who will allow you back in games because they don't defend well. Sort of like Phoenix when D'Antoni was coaching. I was actually thinking about this the other day. At what point do we put this on the assistant coaches? Kurt Rambis has gone on the record saying he's the defensive coordinator for us, and if we are seeing the same problems game after game then maybe he's not doing his job properly. Clearly the players aren't buying into his coaching style. Having a defensive guru makes all the difference. Just look at Boston last year. They brought in Tom Thibodeaux and he taught these guys how to defend, make stops, and dominate the paint. The unit with Ariza on Parker with Kobe-Odom-Powell-Bynum got us back in the game. PJax should have stuck with that down the stretch and forced the Spurs to figure it out before he started subbing guys in the game.
Phil is a demented old circus monkey. Apparently Derek Fisher pulled his groin. Dunno how long he's going to be out. If he really was injured, then why did Phil play him in the CLOSING minutes anyways? Oh yeah I forgot, we don't have another point guard on the roster. Can we get one NOW???
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!?!?! ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS !?!?! A 3 FUCKING GAME LOSING STREAK !?!?! JESUS CHRIST!!! FIRE PHIL! BENCH KOBE! TRADE BYNUM! CUT LAMAR! KILL FISHER! OFF WITH MITCH'S HEAD! I THOUGHT THE FUCKING LAKERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT! NOT A THREE GAME LOSING STREAK !?!?! HOLY SHIT!!! I'M SO SCARED. HOLD ME LET'S BLOW THIS TEAM UP! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE COULD LOSE THREE GAMES IN A ROW!!! Get the fuck outta here with your bullshit.
Haven't you figured it out yet Kobe23 is the master of reverse psychology. By rooting against his favorite team he is actually jinxing the other team.
Oh yeah I remember that Anyways, I got more important things to worry about. "Eagles just used their last timeout, 18-14, Eagles need a touchdown here" "Yep, doesn't look good. 8 seconds left of the game, backed up on their own 10. Arizona fans are on their feet. McNabb just threw up. Yuck." "McNabb lines up in the shotgun. Hope he's okay. He bobbles the snap! No he's got it under control. He looks left, right, scrambling, OH!!! Near sack by the Cardinals!!! WOW!!! McNabb alludes another one!! He's still alive. OH!!! HUGE hit by the Cardinals, McNabb releases in time, the ball is going... WIDE OPEN Brian Westbrook!!! How can you miss that!!! He's running!!! The 40, the 30, the 20, oh no Wilson is catching up! The 10, and oh devastating hit by Wilson!!! Westbrook is down on the 4, oh wait, it's a fumble!!! It's Wilson and Desean Jackson scrambling for the ball!!! The ball is in the endzone!!! Wilson gets his hands on... oh wait he bobbles it!!! Jackson dives he secures the ball touchdown!!! EAGLES WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - that's what's gonna happen on Sunday. Andy Reid motherfuckers.
Nah he's had the knee injury the entire playoffs. He'll be fine. It's not as serious as LT, stop trying to scare me
Brian I don't think Philly fans are happy unless their teams are losing and they can get hot for potential offseason moves.
No question who the MVP should be this season. Kobe is determined this year. I don't think the Celtics would last 6 games if they met in the post season. I don't want to see the Cavs in the finals even though last year the finals were not as good as advertised. A Celtics-Lakers finals this year would be a lot more intense. Kobe has the desire to win.
