Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns

Leandro Barbosa is putting on a show! He's finishing beautifully in transition and that recovery pass to Amare was outstanding.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrBigShot_23 @ Apr 22 2007, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But Howard wasnt even doing good last night. He was missing almost all of his free throws and getting shut down by the Detroit defense.</div>
Dwight didn't dominate offensively, he didn't throw down 7-8 dunks, and he missed all his free throws. However, his presence on the court with his tenacity, size, athleticism, and physical intrigue, you can't help but talk about him.

 

That let possession is a perfect example to all you Laker fans. Kobe is double teamed right in his face, and he settles for a one footed fadeaway. I dont understand why he keeps shooting. He keeps missing. Just sickening.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrBigShot_23 @ Apr 22 2007, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That let possession is a perfect example to all you Laker fans. Kobe is double teamed right in his face, and he settles for a one footed fadeaway. Just sickening.</div>And who else has made shots? No one. I'd rather Kobe taking a contested shot than someone like Jordan Farmar.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 22 2007, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Leandro Barbosa is putting on a show! He's finishing beautifully in transition and that recovery pass to Amare was outstanding.Dwight didn't dominate offensively, he didn't throw down 7-8 dunks, and he missed all his free throws. However, his presence on the court with his tenacity, size, athleticism, and physical intrigue, you can't help but talk about him.</div>So basically your going back to what I originally accused you of. Saying that superstars should be raved on about even when they're not doing anything. I dont give a f*ck about his physical intrigue, athleticism, size and all that other bull sh*t, that can be talked about in a Dwight Howard special. I want to hear about what is happening in the game actually.

 

Kobe is trying to do way too much and he's forcing it every possession down. I know he's Kobe Bryant and I know he has willed his team to victory like this on plenty of occassions, but he's not getting anything down right now. On one possession, he had Farmar WIDE OPEN under the basket, and Kobe decided to wave him off and dribble around the horn. He scored, but it took more time off the clock and he should have hit the open man.

Phoenix has this.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrBigShot_23 @ Apr 22 2007, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So basically your going back to what I originally accused you of. Saying that superstars should be raved on about even when they're not doing anything. I dont give a f*ck about his physical intrigue, athleticism, size and all that other bull sh*t, that can be talked about in a Dwight Howard special. I want to hear about what is happening in the game actually.</div>
And what happened in that game? Dwight was very aggressive, ripping down rebounds, blocking some shots, and he threw down two loud slams.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 22 2007, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And who else has made shots? No one. I'd rather Kobe taking a contested shot than someone like Jordan Farmar.</div>When your double teamed someone else has to be open.Jordan Farmar with a wide open jumper > Kobe Bryant with a double teamed fadeaway when he hasnt sank s*it today.

 

95-87 GGGood game by Marion rebounding wise.

 

God this was like deja vu of the last Suns-Lakers matchup...

 

Great 2nd half for Phoenix. And an overall good game.Barbosa > Kobe.

 

That game was a prime example of what can kill you. Bad coaching, bad leadership from your leaders, and complacency.The Lakers did not lose this game because of Kobe Bryant, so if you're thinking that, don't.In the final minute, Kobe Bryant did not touch the ball for 16 seconds. Lamar had the ball, Farmar, and all they did was wait and stand around so that Kobe could shoot, and Kobe could take the blame. It is equally their fault for basically saying, "Kobe. Shoot, and shoot, and shoot!"Then again, Kobe does deserve some blame. There was a period where Kobe took something like 5 shots in a row, and missed all of them. The one possession he shot a 15 foot fadeaway over a double team. It should have been up to him to tell his teammates to move and to be confident. I don't care if you're the spawning of MJ, Kobe, and Larry Bird, I'd rather have an open shot that a contested fadeaway one hander. The blame also goes for Phil Jackson for seemingly abandoning his offense in the second half. In the first half, Kobe was moving within the offense and getting good catch and shoot opportunities. Lamar was getting the ball in the post. In the second half, the team watched and basically forced Kobe to shoot.Blame goes to every single Lakers player, the coaching staff, and the organization's lack of effort today.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 22 2007, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'> because of one playoff series in 2006 they think there's a rivalry for the last few decades</div>No it made the Lakers think that they are actually equals currently. And there was those few years with Barkley, and some other little sections when they were competitive, but no one's arguing which franchise has been better.

 

KMart please. Don't be stupid. It's just as much the Suns won this as the lakers losing it. The Suns fired up and did their thing later on and once they got in the groove, it was over.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart? @ Apr 22 2007, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That game was a prime example of what can kill you. Bad coaching, bad leadership from your leaders, and complacency.The Lakers did not lose this game because of Kobe Bryant, so if you're thinking that, don't.In the final minute, Kobe Bryant did not touch the ball for 16 seconds. Lamar had the ball, Farmar, and all they did was wait and stand around so that Kobe could shoot, and Kobe could take the blame. It is equally their fault for basically saying, "Kobe. Shoot, and shoot, and shoot!"Then again, Kobe does deserve some blame. There was a period where Kobe took something like 5 shots in a row, and missed all of them. The one possession he shot a 15 foot fadeaway over a double team. It should have been up to him to tell his teammates to move and to be confident. I don't care if you're the spawning of MJ, Kobe, and Larry Bird, I'd rather have an open shot that a contested fadeaway one hander. The blame also goes for Phil Jackson for seemingly abandoning his offense in the second half. In the first half, Kobe was moving within the offense and getting good catch and shoot opportunities. Lamar was getting the ball in the post. In the second half, the team watched and basically forced Kobe to shoot.Blame goes to every single Lakers player, the coaching staff, and the organization's lack of effort today.</div>Real Talk. Kobe might have taken a few shots he shouldn't have but they didn't lose this game because of him. They lost because of collective mistakes as a team.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Apr 22 2007, 05:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>KMart please. Don't be stupid. It's just as much the Suns won this as the lakers losing it. The Suns fired up and did their thing later on and once they got in the groove, it was over.</div>When I say "The Lakers lost the game because..." it implies that I am about to explain what the Lakers did to hurt themselves. That doesn't mean they beat themselves. I was simply examining what the Lakers did to hurt themselves, and not implying that their loss had nothing to do with the Suns.0-5.

 

During wins it's just so fun to read these threads from the start. The Lakers played really well most of the time, but in the end Kobe was shooting too much. I don't blame him since he was the one giving them the lead early, but the Lakers won't win more than 1 game if he doesn't find the open man on double teams.The Suns just weren't shooting well. They really need to start making their threes. If they have games like this regularly I'd be very worried. Barbosa was amazing though. He was the reason that we won this game. If only he was a better passer I could see him as the PG of this team when Nash leaves, but I'm not complaining now.

 

It's hilarious to watch fools like KMart talk about how bad the lakers are not because of kobe, but because of his teammates like lamar. Well let me ask you: Why is Lamar there? Oh yeah, because kobe made shaq get traded.kobe literally made this team. So it really is his fault. Run your teammates out of town and this is what happens.That's the difference between KG and kobe, assuming kobe has the heart of a champ like you laker fans make him appear to have. KG knows that he hasn't done anything wrong(other than sign the big deal that anyone would've) and so he's frustrated and emotional and cries about how f*cking bad the team is. kobe realizes that it's his fault this team is so bad so he is indifferent, he doesn't show much emotion other than smugness.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Apr 22 2007, 06:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's hilarious to watch fools like KMart talk about how bad the lakers are not because of kobe, but because of his teammates like lamar. Well let me ask you: Why is Lamar there? Oh yeah, because kobe made shaq get traded.kobe literally made this team. So it really is his fault. Run your teammates out of town and this is what happens.That's the difference between KG and kobe, assuming kobe has the heart of a champ like you laker fans make him appear to have. KG knows that he hasn't done anything wrong(other than sign the big deal that anyone would've) and so he's frustrated and emotional and cries about how f*cking bad the team is. kobe realizes that it's his fault this team is so bad so he is indifferent, he doesn't show much emotion other than smugness.</div>I said it was everyone's fault. I did not say it was Kobe's teammate's fault.Not only do you fail miserably at trying to look smart, but you twist other people's words while you're at it.0-6

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrBigShot_23 @ Apr 22 2007, 04:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When your double teamed someone else has to be open.Jordan Farmar with a wide open jumper > Kobe Bryant with a double teamed fadeaway when he hasnt sank s*it today.</div>He went 11-17 in 1st half, and he had a very similar game vs the Rockets when he started off hot, went very cold, then it last 3min exploded and eventually sent game into OT. And those wide open jumpers were very rare for the Lakers, and they weren't hitting them either.