Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 22 2007, 03:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>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.</div>Well Farmar was...11-0 now in games against the Lakers when Amare is starting and/or KT is healthy.

 

Kobe couldnt get anything going in the end of the game....He was forcing shots and they werent falling. He played amazing in the first half and without his performance then, they wouldnt have had a lead like that to blow...They just need to find a more balanced attack at the end of the game 2. Nobody else was hitting either in Kobe's defense.

 

Game 1 Recap - Suns 95 - Lakers 86Leandro Barbosa, leading 6th Man of the Year candidate, led the way for the Suns while in the 2nd-half Kobe Bryant struggled from the field. Kobe started off hot in the first half, scoring 28 points, as the Lakers controlled the game and made the shots they needed to make while the Suns struggled from the field. The Lakers led 48 - 39 at the half. Leandro Barbosa scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half, including 15 consecutive points for Phoenix at one point, tying his career high in the playoffs. Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his first time in the postseason since the 2004/2005 season. As usual, the reigning MVP, Steve Nash had a good game, scoring 20 points and dishing out 10 assists. Bryant scored 39, but only 11 in the second half. The NBA's scoring champ was 1-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter, when Phoenix pulled away. The key to Phoenix's victory was containing Kobe and making him take bad shots, a trap that he fell into. The Suns outscored the Lakers 21 to 10 in the 4th quarter and really controlled the tempo of the game in the 2nd half. Good win by the Suns. I expect both teams to come out strong in the next game, with Phoenix looking to take a 2-0 advantage and the Lakers looking to take home court advantage away from the Suns.I just wanted to be brief :yes1:

 

What lost that game for the Lakers was not Kobe, it was Farmar getting into foul trouble. When he picked up that 4th foul. Smush had to come in. It took Barbosa one play to get started on his 15 consecutive points once Smush came in.

 

Well I wasn't going to go into detail about stuff like that..Kobe in the 4th quarter was taking bad shots and the Suns were able to secure the victory..what you said though was completely true..Smush ugh he's such a liability on defense and really hurts the team..that 4th foul on Farmar was COMPLETE bullsh** though

 

Eh I'm secretly rooting for the Lakers but to be real, it's not happening. I think this game tells a lot of why Suns will move on to the next round. Suns have a more balanced attack on offense and Lakers don't. In a 7 game format, Lakers ain't moving on.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Apr 22 2007, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'> An assist from the MVP, and guess who's underneath...</div>I like this a lot better

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brando @ Apr 22 2007, 06:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like this a lot better </div>It's okay with me too since it means Nash won and Kobe didn't.

 

Guys, Nash is 6'3. Can we get over the fact he was dunked on?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Early on, Odom looked as if he would be the face of the Lakers, in a very real way. He took an elbow from Steve Nash while chasing a rebound and went to the bench for treatment on a two-inch laceration over his left eyebrow. He needed five stitches after the game.</div>-LA TimesDam..

 

Yeah that was the first quarter when Lamar dove into Nash as he was going for the ball. Lamar realized that if kobe thought he wasn't trying, kobe would have him traded. Ugly stuff.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Apr 23 2007, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah that was the first quarter when Lamar dove into Nash as he was going for the ball. Lamar realized that if kobe thought he wasn't trying, kobe would have him traded. Ugly stuff.</div>

 

I saw probably 2/5 of the game....Man, Kobe was simply unbelievable in the first half....He was taking some really bad shots in the 1st half, but he was sinking the vast majority of them....He had a stretch where he made 3 straight threes...Simply amazing...He killed the Lakers late in the game when he decided that it was Kobe time again,...He refused to pass the ball to his teammates, even when he was being doubled, and this time he wasn't hitting those shots, and it cost LA a W.But you've got to give credit to Barbosa...How many layups did he get in the early 4th...He was just a complete blur of energy, wow....He beat his defenders to the rim so effortlessly....Nash had a pretty decent passing game, but his shot was on and off....Marion looked good...He was getting a shitload of rebounds, he was scoring inside, finishing on breaks, he made some shots...Very solid game...Amare was also great...

 

Strange, I didn't even see that happen.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Apr 22 2007, 03:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BjhfwVY_p8 :HAHAHA:</div>OMFG, that is hilarious:HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart? @ Apr 22 2007, 06:32 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>Oh come on, these guys play in the NBA. Most of them are obviously competent if they are given the ball when they are open. It's not like they were just standing around, waiting for Kobe to shoot either. If that were the case, they would have been benched by Phil Jackson...Kobe just doesn't know when to stop taking dumb shots. When those off balance, dumb shots aren't falling for you in clutch situations, you've got to change your philosopghy and set up your teammates. If you are being double teamed down the stretch, there's obviously going to be an open man...And that's the difference between Kobe and Lebron and Wade in some situations...Lebron and Wade would probably find the open man, but Kobe refused....And think about it, if Kobe passed it to the open man, they could easily get a better shot off than Kobe, and they'd also have a good chance of driving and getting to the line. They'd also start to get involved offensively, and they'd be confident...It's not 1 vs. 5....You can't just fire off a dumb shot when you are being double teamed down the stretch, I don't care who you are....Kobe....play basketball the way it's supposed to be played.And BTW, I'm not saying Kobe is incompetant of finding the open man...Kobe can obviously do that, and he does in some games or certain situations....But at the end of the game, you've got to give your team a chance to win....

 

You call them dumb shots but he makes those all the time. They just weren't falling for him yesterday. I hope people don't seriously call him selfish, he facilitated pretty well while scoring as early on but when it was Kobe time he just missed. You can't really blame him, all everyone else did was stand around and wait for him to shoot. There was only one play where I think he should have passed and that was to Farmar for a layup. It was a tough loss to take. All the momentum changed when Farmar got called for those 2 bullsh** calls in a row. Smush came in...and Barbosa had his way with him, as he should, Smush is a horrible defender. This next game tomorrow is HUGE.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Apr 23 2007, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You call them dumb shots but he makes those all the time. They just weren't falling for him yesterday. I hope people don't seriously call him selfish, he facilitated pretty well while scoring as early on but when it was Kobe time he just missed. You can't really blame him, all everyone else did was stand around and wait for him to shoot. There was only one play where I think he should have passed and that was to Farmar for a layup. It was a tough loss to take. All the momentum changed when Farmar got called for those 2 bullsh** calls in a row. Smush came in...and Barbosa had his way with him, as he should, Smush is a horrible defender. This next game tomorrow is HUGE.</div>When you take those kind of shots, they're not going to fall for him consistently...There's just no way...You've got to play the game the right way. In order to win ball games against a great team, you can't just be a one man show...Look at last year when Kobe passed...they came very close to beating the Suns....You've got to get your teammates involved at one point...And Kobe would obviously make easier, good shots more consistently than those terrible shots. They'll fall for you sometimes, but it will bite you in the ass if you keep on taking them, and after I while you just can't make those circus shots any more...that will hurt yor team.And as for Kobe facilitating, I didn't see it....Kobe only finished with like 2 assists (too lazy to go look it up), and I think STS mentioned something about Kobe only getting his first or 2nd assist with 9:50 left to go in the game...So there you go..Like I said before, if they were just standing around, then Phil would have took them out..That's not how an NBA game works...And you can blame Kobe..In crunch time, you've got to take high percentage looks. If you can get a decent shot off, you better take it. You're the best player, that's all good and dandy...But if you keep on taking those dumb shots, they might not fall for you, and it will cost the team. See what I'm saying? Maybe if Kobe is hot, you can try some of those near the middle of the game to build a better lead, but at the end of the game, it's do or die, and those aren't good looks at all.Only one play? Did you see how many dumb shots he took? I saw atleast a handful that he didn't make, and I didn't even watch the entire game.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Apr 23 2007, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When you take those kind of shots, they're not going to fall for him consistently...There's just no way...You've got to play the game the right way. In order to win ball games against a great team, you can't just be a one man show...Look at last year when Kobe passed...they came very close to beating the Suns....You've got to get your teammates involved at one point...And Kobe would obviously make easier, good shots more consistently than those terrible shots. They'll fall for you sometimes, but it will bite you in the ass if you keep on taking them, and after I while you just can't make those circus shots any more...that will hurt yor team.And as for Kobe facilitating, I didn't see it....Kobe only finished with like 2 assists (too lazy to go look it up), and I think STS mentioned something about Kobe only getting his first or 2nd assist with 9:50 left to go in the game...So there you go..Like I said before, if they were just standing around, then Phil would have took them out..That's not how an NBA game works...And you can blame Kobe..In crunch time, you've got to take high percentage looks. If you can get a decent shot off, you better take it. You're the best player, that's all good and dandy...But if you keep on taking those dumb shots, they might not fall for you, and it will cost the team. See what I'm saying? Maybe if Kobe is hot, you can try some of those near the middle of the game to build a better lead, but at the end of the game, it's do or die, and those aren't good looks at all.Only one play? Did you see how many dumb shots he took? I saw atleast a handful that he didn't make, and I didn't even watch the entire game.</div>It seems to me like you completely ignored my points by just answering with what you said before. Kobe facilitated well but whenever he passed they would miss their shots forcing Kobe to hog it up a bit more. I am talking about the 4th quarter, Lakers shot very well through 3 quarters but forgot about the last 12 minutes when nobody else could make a shot and Kobe tried to do his thing. Those 'dumb' shots Kobe took...he can MAKE them..he has all season he was just off last night. Trust me. And Phil would have taken them out if they were standing around? Then why didn't he? Watch the end of the game and all you will see is everyone standing around watching Kobe. (Except Farmar) Kobe trying to carry this team on his back but I agree he has to pass more and know when to attack and be scorer Kobe.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Apr 23 2007, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It seems to me like you completely ignored my points by just answering with what you said before. Kobe facilitated well but whenever he passed they would miss their shots forcing Kobe to hog it up a bit more. I am talking about the 4th quarter, Lakers shot very well through 3 quarters but forgot about the last 12 minutes when nobody else could make a shot and Kobe tried to do his thing. Those 'dumb' shots Kobe took...he can MAKE them..he has all season he was just off last night. Trust me. And Phil would have taken them out if they were standing around? Then why didn't he? Watch the end of the game and all you will see is everyone standing around watching Kobe. (Except Farmar) Kobe trying to carry this team on his back but I agree he has to pass more and know when to attack and be scorer Kobe.</div>I'm not completely buying that. These guys are NBA players, they won't miss every time they get an open look. If Kobe was truly looking to pass, he would have racked up some assists....He hogged for most of the game, man...You can't deny that. Huh? No one else could make a shot in the 4th..? Kobe couldn't even make a shot in the 4th...He went 1 for 10, so they obviously were looking to help their team win...It's not like Kobe was absolutely lights out like he was in the 1st half...In fact, it's the opposite.Like I said before....they would be benched if they were just standing around...Phil Jackson's not an idiot....this is a team game....his players aren't just going to stand there in the final quarter of a playoff game. Kobe just jacked up shots in the 4th that he could not make, and that cost them the game....That's all their is to it..This is getting pretty frustrating...I've gone in depth with my opinion a few times, but you havn't acknowledged any of my points, and you're just saying the same thing over and over again. You shouldn't even take those shots in the first place in the 4th, because you are obviously better off taking a shot where you are relatively open, and when you have your feet set...Kobe was neither when he was taking those shots, and like I said before...Kobe will have hot periods where he will be making those...but it's impossible to make those consistently throughout the whole game...and in the 4th, every possession matters.That's my point...If they were just standing around doing nothing in the 4th, Phil would have taken them out and brought in guys who would work for open shots (BTW, when I'm saying this, I'm trying to make a point that your theory is wrong....just so you know)...yeah, I don't believe you on this one.