<div class="quote_poster">Quoting K8B:</div><div class="quote_post">Two things: The Suns won't be able to beat the Lakers if Kobe Bryant is more effective from here on out. The post presence of the Lakers is too much. The Suns also won't have another game like that from Tim Thomas. I'll get working on the Game 2 preview.</div> I don't know, man. Tim Thomas is capable of averaging numbers close to that, but he only plays when he wants to. Considering that this is a contract year Tim Thomas will probably step it up in the playoffs and revert back to his bum-like ways after he gets paid (whoever pays him). About the game, I was shocked about the no-call. Even if he didn't get hit, I thought the refs would award him a "superstar" call. That was some knot on his head afterwards, huh?
I don't know how you don't call a foul on that. He was hit hard enough to where he couldn't even elevate.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Oh so all of a sudden Tim Thomas is Tracy McGrady? Give me a break. He had a good game congrats to that but I doubt that he will do what he did today as the series goes on. </div> Once again, let me remind you that this is a guy who is capable of scoring 20+ points on a given night, playing in a contract year (as aforementioned), in a HIGH SCORING system, with the league's best point guard and reigning MVP at the reigns providing him easy scoring oppurtunities. If you noticed most of Thomas' points, they were off easy looks created by his teammates and all he had to do was spot up and shoot. Kobe created those exact same shots for Smush and Cook throughout the game but unfortunetly, they couldn't capitalize down the stretch, thus the loss. I expect the Suns to adjust in game 1, but due to the momentum being moreso towards the Lakers (atleast in my eyes), I expect L.A to continue thier inside dominance and win game 2 in a down-to-wire situation. However, I do not have the least bit of faith in many of the Lakers role players when it comes down to the 4th quarter because they often screw up. So, if a fan can't trust them, I find it surprising that Kobe does. Case in point; the role players have to step it up when it comes down to the wire. Furthermore, did anyone notice the ridiculous amounts of horrible post passes the Lakers threw??? Phil needs to teach these guys how to pass better in the post cause some of those passes were just flat out stupid.
I touched on the post passes. I think the G2 thread. It was disgusting, I've seen JV teams with crisper, smarter passes than that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">Once again, let me remind you that this is a guy who is capable of scoring 20+ points on a given night, playing in a contract year (as aforementioned), in a HIGH SCORING system, with the league's best point guard and reigning MVP at the reigns providing him easy scoring oppurtunities. If you noticed most of Thomas' points, they were off easy looks created by his teammates and all he had to do was spot up and shoot. Kobe created those exact same shots for Smush and Cook throughout the game but unfortunetly, they couldn't capitalize down the stretch, thus the loss. I expect the Suns to adjust in game 1, but due to the momentum being moreso towards the Lakers (atleast in my eyes), I expect L.A to continue thier inside dominance and win game 2 in a down-to-wire situation. However, I do not have the least bit of faith in many of the Lakers role players when it comes down to the 4th quarter because they often screw up. So, if a fan can't trust them, I find it surprising that Kobe does. Case in point; the role players have to step it up when it comes down to the wire. Furthermore, did anyone notice the ridiculous amounts of horrible post passes the Lakers threw??? Phil needs to teach these guys how to pass better in the post cause some of those passes were just flat out stupid.</div> Excellent post, you are right on. They were forcing those post passes SO BAD, it was ridiculous. And I completely agree about the role players not coming through. And you're right, If we can't trust them, how can Kobe. Game 2 will be much different in my opinion.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Case in point; the role players have to step it up when it comes down to the wire.</div> Asking the Lakers role players to step up is like asking gods to appear right in your eyes. Game 1 - we giving it away again. How many times is this going to happen? Seriously, we ain't going to beat the Suns like this, missing so many easy shot down the 4th quarter. I"m tired of it, I hope we'll be at least competitive these last 6 games, otherwise it's going to be a short serie for sure.
Rule Book states that a shot to the head is an auto-flagrant .... I would've been happy with just a regular shooting foul ... I got neither ... nonetheless, we let this one slip away .... wednesday is an eternity to wait for game 2
Kobe wasn't contained, he never went out to score 50 points, he went out to get the other players involved early in the series. The refs screwed us over again. What about the Kwame Brown foul when The Suns should have been called for the charge but instead they got the and-1? Although we sucked and didn't deserve to win, we were extremely close. This shows that even when we play bad we just about get beaten and if it wasn't for the refs, who knows what would have happened.
I think Lakers will win next game. I have my money on them. I think they played a really solid game but kobe wasn't his usual self. He was wayyyy too passive. passed it off too much. The refs were not giving us the calls. I was so mad when tim thomas pushed off on luke walton and he just runs over odom. Are the refs blind!! Man what must be done for lakers to win the next game? I think the low post strategy was pretty good but they took some bad shots in the 3rd quarter. If they were more consistent with it then we would have won. Smush gotta make his layups and 3s. Can't be talking smack and not back it up. Someone gotta stop nash from penetrating that is the main key and keep sasha on the bench please. Luke walton should be playing more.. he had a really nice game. Man Phil Jackson didn't utilize the bench too much. I hope next game kobe drives more and is more aggressive than he was today. He needs at least 35points for lakers to win. Lakers gotta stop letting phoenix get to the freethrow line because they are first in the NBA at that. Stop them from shooting 3s
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting illmatic:</div><div class="quote_post">How many open 3's are you going to miss Smush? god damn. Tim Thomas will NOT have that kind of a game again, that was the only reason we lost. We will win with the series, no sweat. Suns did not CONTAIN Kobe, he just wasn't as aggressive quarters 1-3 as he usually is, do not get it twisted Bobcats. Hats off to Lamar on a hell of a game.</div> Was Kobe as agressive as usual? No. Still, your struggling when you shoot 7-21. Give SOME props to the Suns defense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Was Kobe as agressive as usual? No. Still, your struggling when you shoot 7-21. Give SOME props to the Suns defense.</div> Realistically, he was 7-16 if you don't count the ridiculous shots he had to throw up at the end and the shots that weren't called for fouls when clearly they were. I actually think The Suns done a bad job on D. We played really bad and we didn't deserve to win but we nearly came away with the victory. It's crazy when The Suns plan was to let Kobe shoot all he wants and prevent the other players getting into rhythm.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Was Kobe as agressive as usual? No. Still, your struggling when you shoot 7-21. Give SOME props to the Suns defense. </div> Actually, I'm more so disappointed in Kobe not playing up to his level, despite how difficult it must be to 'turn it on' and get into a rhythm when you haven't really shot for 3 quarters. However, with Raja Bell often sitting with foul trouble and Kobe having a much smaller Barbosa on him at often times, Kobe should have been more agressive as well. I remember him taking some jumpshots that he usually would have made but didn't in this case, and those, along with Smush's horrible misses down the stretch, cost them them game. I thought the Lakers defense was excellent though. More so then the Suns containing Kobe, the Lakers actually stuck it out and somewhat contained the Suns, which I think is just as, if not more difficult then contanining Kobe. By the way, I am pretty sure he hears all these whispers but honestly, none of it matters as long as the Lakers win the next game. I really hope he wills them to victory next time while somehow sticking to the game plan but something has got to give, but let's hope I'm wrong. Suns will take Game 2 though in my prediction, although I hope they wont, but I really cannot trust Kobe's teammtes, aside from Lamar (actually he missed a wide open crucial 3 pointer as well).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know, man. Tim Thomas is capable of averaging numbers close to that, but he only plays when he wants to. Considering that this is a contract year Tim Thomas will probably step it up in the playoffs and revert back to his bum-like ways after he gets paid (whoever pays him). About the game, I was shocked about the no-call. Even if he didn't get hit, I thought the refs would award him a "superstar" call. That was some knot on his head afterwards, huh?</div> Sure he'll turn it up but I doubt he'll shoot something like 8-9 the rest of the way and grab 12 boards a game. In the end, his shooting along with other things is what ruined us. As far as Kobe's concerned, he should continue being aggressive and play his natural game instead of playing as a roleplayer (which was how he played). The main reason we are where we are is because of the way he's been playing, why stop now and change the plan when we have moderate success?
I missed the game damn it! I heard they got screwed at the end of the game. Hopefully they will come with a venge to kill the Suns in game 2. All we need is to steal one of the games there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, I'm more so disappointed in Kobe not playing up to his level, despite how difficult it must be to 'turn it on' and get into a rhythm when you haven't really shot for 3 quarters. However, with Raja Bell often sitting with foul trouble and Kobe having a much smaller Barbosa on him at often times, Kobe should have been more agressive as well. I remember him taking some jumpshots that he usually would have made but didn't in this case, and those, along with Smush's horrible misses down the stretch, cost them them game. I thought the Lakers defense was excellent though. More so then the Suns containing Kobe, the Lakers actually stuck it out and somewhat contained the Suns, which I think is just as, if not more difficult then contanining Kobe. By the way, I am pretty sure he hears all these whispers but honestly, none of it matters as long as the Lakers win the next game. I really hope he wills them to victory next time while somehow sticking to the game plan but something has got to give, but let's hope I'm wrong. Suns will take Game 2 though in my prediction, although I hope they wont, but I really cannot trust Kobe's teammtes, aside from Lamar (actually he missed a wide open crucial 3 pointer as well).</div> I feel the same way, the Suns didn't contain Kobe, he just didn't make the wide open looks he normally creates for himself. A lot of ths shots he took where just rimming out, and I think it had more to do with Kobe not being able to find his rhythm in this game. I don't think anyone expected Tim Thomas to go 8-8 from the field at one point in the game. Also his efforts on the rebounds and loose balls came out of no where. The Lakers looked great in this game, they executed their gameplan and gave themselves a chance to win. You can't ask for much more from this team, and I'm looking forward to the Game 2 adjustments. The non-call on Kobe at the end really pissed me off. The Lakers still could have lost, but not making the call ended any chance for the Lakers to pull of a victory. The other non-call was the blatant moving screen by Diaw, when Nash hit that dagger 3 pointer. He set the pick on Smush and then ran out acting as a human shield. I was surprised the Lakers didn't use Aaron McKie and Devean George more in this game. Those are two of the better defenders on the team, and when the Lakers needed some defensive stops, they were on the bench. Brian Cook needs to get the quick hook if his shot is dropping. He missed some WIDE open looks and also missed Luke in the corner by not swinging the pass.
Good game to watch overall Lakers played a very good balenced game but they have no chance to win this series unless they get out to the Suns shooters. You guys can go on and on about "well Tim Thomas won't have another game like that as the series goes on" wrong Tim Thomas and many other Suns players may well have nights like that If the Lakers continue to let Nash get into the lane every time he wants to. Most of Tim Thomas's threes aren't that hard for guys who are very good shooters and that is what Tim Thomas is. He can flat out shoot the ball. Lakers can continue to attack inside with the Suns missing their main two big men but defensively they need to have a game plan for Nash otherwise winning 1 game is all that L.A may end up with. Phil Jackson is all about adjustments so one would think he will at least try and think of one to stop Nash.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Good game to watch overall Lakers played a very good balenced game but they have no chance to win this series unless they get out to the Suns shooters. You guys can go on and on about "well Tim Thomas won't have another game like that as the series goes on" wrong Tim Thomas and many other Suns players may well have nights like that If the Lakers continue to let Nash get into the lane every time he wants to. Most of Tim Thomas's threes aren't that hard for guys who are very good shooters and that is what Tim Thomas is. He can flat out shoot the ball. Lakers can continue to attack inside with the Suns missing their main two big men but defensively they need to have a game plan for Nash otherwise winning 1 game is all that L.A may end up with. Phil Jackson is all about adjustments so one would think he will at least try and think of one to stop Nash.</div> The Lakers defense was good after giving up 39 points in the first quarter. I agree with you about Tim Thomas, the Suns are going to have someone shoot the lights out in each game, whether it's TT, House, Barbosa or Jones. What caught me off guard was Tim Thomas grabbing 15 rebounds in this game and diving for loose balls. He usually doesn't make any effort on defense. The Lakers need the bench production to step up in the next game. The bench was only 4-13 (30%) from the field.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Was Kobe as agressive as usual? No. Still, your struggling when you shoot 7-21. Give SOME props to the Suns defense.</div> There's no such thing as Suns defense. kobe shot 7-15 not 7-21. Ill tell you why. Kobe attacked the rim 6 times in the fourth he got hammered and no call. And the lost shot was from half court untyll the end of the game. So kobe didnt struggle, the refs will in game 2.
Some thoughts First,Tim Thomas has been scoring and rebounding like this ever since we acquired him. Second, You guys are missing the point with the Suns, we have a player outside of Nash and Marion that steps up and scores big every night. We score the most points in the NBA, how do you think we do it? Maybe next game House will drop 25 or Jones or Diaw or Barbosa. We don't need Thomas to tear it up every night, we will find the hot hand and abuse it. Third, In the three games Nash played this season Kobe averaged 42.3 pts. He even blew up for 51 in one game. Furthermore Lamar Odom had a double-double in everyone of those games; and each game the Lakers lost. Lastly, the Suns have a million reason why they finished the season playing .500 ball. However, we had the Amare incident and we rested players on multiple nights. We finished 12-8 with all those distractions, you guys finished 13-7 with the team you are playing with right now. I think everyone drank the ESPN kool-aid and began to believe that the 54 wins that the Suns accomplished was just a fluke and this huge upset was predicted. These are just my opinions and I like how active Lakers forums always are, so I would love to see how you guys pick my arguments apart
