Page 3 Lakers stuck with them the whole game. They just couldn't get a good look at any baskets the final 5 minutes of the game. Kobe seemed to try everything he could. Shaq was TERRIBLE at the line again. If he would have sanked the freethrows then Lakers probably would have had won the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr_Infante:</div><div class="quote_post"> If he would have sanked the freethrows then Lakers probably would have had won the game.</div>Come on man. The same thing could be said of the Spurs. If the Spurs shot above 20% from the foul line they would have blown the Lakers out. The Spurs executed and played great defense in the fourth quarter, the Lakers didn't. Games are won and lost in the fourth quarter, its as simple as that.
Not finding an excuse for the Lakers at all. Just making an asumption that Shaq's freethrow % is a HUGE reason why Lakers lose games. Sure would have went both ways I agree, but I was speaking upon LA's behalf.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr_Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">Not finding an excuse for the Lakers at all. Just making an asumption that Shaq's freethrow % is a HUGE reason why Lakers lose games. Sure would have went both ways I agree, but I was speaking upon LA's behalf.</div>Ok...I see what you were getting at. Shaq's free throw shooting is definately a big concern for the Lakers now. It is literally a turnover when he gets fouled. And about his comment: "I make them when they count."
This is the NBA Finals right here. L.A. Just fell apart down teh clutch, and Shaq should be locked in a gym, and he must make 10 FTs in a row before someone lets him out. He was horrendous and I think he cost us that game. This series will be a great one, but I still have faith in L.A.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the NBA Finals right here. </div>This is what everyone has been saying, including myself but IF the Spurs were to sweep the Lakers, the next round might be thought of the same way.
There are no excuses...the Spurs just plain beat the Lakers... I'm terribly disappointed in Payton and Malone...we might as well have had A.C. Green and Tyronn Lue out there. Game 2 on Wednesday !!
Whichever team is good enough to beat the other in this series deserves to be the champion. The Kings/Wolves series won't be nearly as competitive.
All this talk about Malone being a great defender and he wasn't even contesting Duncan's shots from the post. God. And I jumped up and screamed "HELL YEAH" with a huge <font color="Red">EDIT</font>-eating smile on my face when I saw Shaq make his first free-throws. No joke. <font color="Blue">Cursing is not allowed.--Rudeezy</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Undertakernv:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Kings/Wolves series won't be nearly as competitive.</div>I think that series can and will suprise a lot of people. The Kings aren't just going to roll over and die. But I agree, this is the series everyone has been waiting for.
Boy was this game ridiculously irritating if you were a Lakers Fan. Spur's D was amazing. Spurs are 11-0 when winning their first game of a playoff series but if anyone could break that, it would be the Lakers. We really need to step up now. GP and Karl came to win a ring but they sure aren't playing like it.
uhhh, Turkoglu and Horry need to step up for Spurs to win Game 2. And TD better abandon that pigeon toe....watching TD shooting FT makes my heart stop...uhhh
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">There are no excuses...the Spurs just plain beat the Lakers... I'm terribly disappointed in Payton and Malone...we might as well have had A.C. Green and Tyronn Lue out there. Game 2 on Wednesday !!</div> Man especially GP. When is this man gonna show up? He really is the Mit now instead of the glove. BTW nMg miss the Chappelle sig but the Bruce Lee is tight too though.
What a horrific game displayed by our Lakers yesterday afternoon. My goodness, I am ready to VENT so all Laker fans here that read this post, please feel my pain: If you're the first player to get slammed by me, then there is seriously a major problem developing here. Has anybody heard of Gary Payton?? Since the playoffs actually began this year?? All he's done for this team is run his mouth and complain rather than play for 48 minutes and shut down people. Let me show you his stats: 1/8 4 pts. And he doesn't feel like he should be on the bench with that kind of performance?? The only people that put up ridiculous numbers like that are rookies that have never experienced playoff atmospheres before. Not a guy like Gary Payton. Anybody see how Tony Parker breezed past him and how Payton was trying to fight through screens to stay with him? SEEMED LIKE TORTURE DIDN'T IT GP??? What a washup. What a has-been. And another thing....Phil Jackson should just give him one more shot in Game 2. Allow him to play 30 minutes for a single half, and if he still puts up absurd numbers, then put him on the bench and allow Fisher to start at the point. Heck, he's been our point guard in our last three championship seasons, what else would be different? Shaq still may be the most dominant center on the planet, but he sure as hell doesn't live up to his nickname "The Diesel" tattooed on his arm. Aren't diesels supposed to run over people?? Aren't diesels supposed to be gigantic and whoever gets in it's way will definitely be crushed on?? Well Shaq definitely didn't live up to that nickname. Why couldn't Shaq take advantage of Rasho Nesterovic?? This isn't David Robinson that Shaq is looking over his shoulder at, this is RASHO NESTEROVIC!!!! Geez, Laker fans, do you see his appearance and size for crying out loud?? How much of a weight difference is Shaq and Rasho that Shaq can't have his way with him everytime?? I would seriously think if I were a beast that weighed that much, I would scream for that basketball, and score 40 pts on any given night on Rasho Nesterovic. I know he scored a double double and had some key blocks early in the game, but to only score so dismally against an opponent like that is pathetic. And yes, I can't get past the fact about Shaq's horrendous free throw shooting. I don't even want to check the boxscores to how many he clanked off the rim yesterday afternoon. This problem is getting so ridiculous that it's starting to become a huge liability. Memo to Shaq: BEND YOUR GORILLA KNEES AND PUT SOME ROTATION ON THE BALL!! You get paid millions of dollars, and you can't even do the basic fundamentals of shooting a simple free throw?? Heck, the Lakers were fortunate enough to even lose by 10 pts. Who knows what the score would've looked like if the Spurs kept hitting shots consistently from the field after every Shaq miss from the charity stripe? I'll come out right now and say this. If the Lakers lose Game 2, we are definitely in tremendous trouble. I don't care if we play our next two games at Staples Center down 2-0 in this series. The Spurs have shown us last year and in years past before our championship runs that they don't care where they play us whether it be at San Antonio or at Staples, they go out there as a team, they don't talk trash, and they handle their business for 48 minutes. Good thing the Lakers are in Los Angeles sleeping in their own beds tonight. Perhaps that will relax their minds as they prepare for Game 2 Wednesday night.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">What a horrific game displayed by our Lakers yesterday afternoon. My goodness, I am ready to VENT so all Laker fans here that read this post, please feel my pain: Everything you said about Shaq is true, he should come out and dominate from begining to end in Game 2.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">Not that many minutes in a half there buddy. ... I think everyone expected Parker to blow right by him, no secret that Parker is much younger and quicker, but GP could of contributed more on the offensive side...I expect a big game out of him in Game 2 Everything you said about Shaq is true, he should come out and dominate from begining to end in Game 2.</div> My fault QRich, it should be 24 minutes. But you know where I'm coming from on that man. What else is new about Parker against Payton? Parker eats that guy for lunch everytime they face each other. I agree that Payton should've contributed more on the offensive side, and do you wanna know what he has to stop doing? He has to stop doing those horrific looking turnaround jumpshots when he penetrates in the key. He shoots those shots too strong off the rim, and he easily loses confidence when he comes down the floor for another FG opportunity. His advantage is in the low post. That way he can spin to his left and shoot an easy layup that wouldn't be contested. If you ask me, GP is better off passing, because he is clearly a non-factor in this playoffs and I'm getting fed up with his antics.
Dear Shaq, I'm sorry but you are not the most dominant center in the world any more I've been waiting for the whole season for this to happen and, with the exception of a couple of games, it has NOT happen. The thing that's so irritating is that you talk like you're still the most unstoppable force on this planet. Wake the hell up you big loaf!!! You're not!!! Duncan is schooling you!!!! Did you not see the two jumpers he nailed in your face? Fortunately, I have a solution. Pretend for a moment that you're a <strike>fucking</strike> lion and that the Spurs and every other team in this leagure are hyenas. Now you're the king of the jungle, you know that. But you haven't been asserting yourself lately and now the hyenas are sensing weakness on your part and is encroaching on your territory. Day by day the hyenas get braver and closer till one day you wake up and realize what is happening. You let a loud roar and tear these stinking hyenas to shreds. Be the <strike>fucking</strike> lion Shaq be the <strike>fucking</strike> lion.... Watch your language. Consider yourself warned!-- Laker_Fever_834
