<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Undertakernv:</div><div class="quote_post">We were a few calls and rebounds from winning it. ****!</div> What game did you see? Kobe got all the calls. I can say the same thing too. "If we would have made a few shot in the 4th quarter this would have been a blowout" The Lakers are going to get better when Divac and the mailman come back. This team won't look like this when they come back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Oneinpower:</div><div class="quote_post">What game did you see? Kobe got all the calls. I can say the same thing too. "If we would have made a few shot in the 4th quarter this would have been a blowout" The Lakers are going to get better when Divac and the mailman come back. This team won't look like this when they come back.</div> The team won't look like what? I think we looked pretty good after a while, unless you're trying to assume that the Spurs were playing bad at the end. Personally, I think the Spurs played a great game, but couldn't do anything with Kobe, and Odom played well. The rest of the Lakers just came to the stadium, that's it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">The team won't look like what? I think we looked pretty good after a while, unless you're trying to assume that the Spurs were playing bad at the end. Personally, I think the Spurs played a great game, but couldn't do anything with Kobe, and Odom played well. The rest of the Lakers just came to the stadium, that's it.</div> Like i said When the mailman and Vidac come back this team will not look like what it did today. the lakers always play hard but they didn't have no one in the middle. I think the team will be alot better which Vidac and the mailman. right now there is no one in the middle to patrol the paint and that is what hurt the Lakers today. To tell you the truth i was hoping that the laker would come back. It was getting alittle boring just seeing the Spurs doing what ever they wanted.
Kobe would not have dunked the ball if the refs didn't call the timeout or the foul that he commited when swipping at the ball because the ball rolled to Duncan and Duncan in the slow mo replay was scooping the ball up when just as Kobe was turning into the direction of the ball and then the whistle was blown. The Spurs went cold towards the end. The forced it too much and didn't pass enough. And a few Manu and Barry shots just popped out. Lakers went hot and Spurs went cold but we still pulled it out. The Spurs are two games into but man, when March rolls around and we have Linton Johnson back from injury (he'll be ready in about a week) and our team has gelled together, we are going to be scary.
Hey, can we get some credit? We were in the game, we caught up pretty much...when everyone thought we'd be blown away. The Spurs kept hitting shots, but our defense got better at the end, and Kobe was leading our team to a comeback. I believe the Spurs will win a ring this season...where's the love? The Lakers played well, also...didn't they? That's what I saw, anyways.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey, can we get some credit? We were in the game, we caught up pretty much...when everyone thought we'd be blown away. The Spurs kept hitting shots, but our defense got better at the end, and Kobe was leading our team to a comeback. I believe the Spurs will win a ring this season...where's the love? The Lakers played well, also...didn't they? That's what I saw, anyways.</div> As long as you have Kobe and the Lakers are at home. they will always been in the game. but alot has to do Tim going to the bench with about four or six min left in the 3rd quarter due to foul trouble and he didn't come back til there was about 8 to 9 min left in the 4th I believe thats why they came back. The lakers are going to get better before the year is over and after seeing them play i do believe they will make the playoff.
By the way...I just want everyone to know that the key to the loss (like I said earlier) was our inability to defend the penetration. For those who say we need a big man to rebound...surprise surprise...we outrebounded San Antonio tonight. I think it's time we turn up our defense and start hitting shots...not just sitting around watching Kobe and now Odom do everything.
Although the Lakers lost, I'm satisfied with this game. After getting crushed by the Jazz, I was expecting more of the same tonite versus a very good Spurs team (especially when they were down 15+). However, that wasn't the case. I watched only the second half, and with no sound (because it was at a bar), but it seemed to me that the refs really let these guys play. Bowen was riding Kobe the whole half, and everytime the Spurs got to the hole, the lakers were seemed to be hacking away. Ultimately, this game was lost by poor play early on, and the comeback was short circuited by the Lakers inability to grab defensive rebounds when they counted most.
To bad Chris Mihm can't use is height for rebounding cause that's what really breaks down the Lakers. Oh and the Spurs did play very well. Those back door cuts and gotta give Manu's dunk some serious props. That was sick. Anyways the Lakers didn't die and I too like the effort they put out there. I feel that they will even there record up their next game.
The Lakers at Staples , with Vlade and all their other players back...can hang with just about anyone.Theyre a completely different team then on the road--they might be the Bulls of the last few years (great at home , horrible on the road) , but of course not as bad. Seriously though LA fans are exxagerating about last night's game...it wasnt all that close.It's really irritating when so many LA fans say that they were in it all game long , when they really never had a shot at winning it.Most of the game for LA was just a fight to not get blown out , it was a double-digit lead up until the last 2-3 minutes.They made a little run and cut it to like 8 but did any of u guys think they would make up that deficit with the amount of time left?I know I wasnt scared or nervous... There was a small problem closing out the game just like there was with Sac (yea it was even worse then the score indicates) , but that wont happen in a couple of months.The SPURS will dominate this year , 60+ wins easily...the Lakers with that horrible D will be lucky to make it to the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 9SA21SPURS20:</div><div class="quote_post">There was a small problem closing out the game just like there was with Sac (yea it was even worse then the score indicates) , but that wont happen in a couple of months.</div> I agree, that the Spurs will fix things...but it's the same for the Lakers, also. They got rid of more than half of their lineup from last year...the only returning starter is Kobe. For the game, the Spurs have been playing together now for how many years...five? The Lakers have been together for 3 games total. In a few months, like you say about the Spurs, the Lakers should be developing chemistry and will indeed make the playoffs.
The game was okay, the Lakers put up a good fight, and kept it fairly close. Odom finally had a good game, go Odom! Kobe was taking some bad shot though, he was holding the ball too long sometimes, I remember a time Chucky was open for a three and Kobe drove instead and got blocked by Ginobili, and on some plays it seemed like the only time he wasn't touching the ball was when it was leaving his hand on a shot, or on it's way down while he was dribbling. Allowing dribble drive penetration opens up a lot for the other teams drive and dish game, especially for the PG and SG, and that will always hurt you... This was against San Antonio though, so I wasn't expecting an easy game for them.
It's funny I'm actually saying this, but I was satisfied with the loss. To a team that was the absolute favor to destroy us last night really was a competitive game in the final quarter of action. It was good to see that we didn't tank the game once San Antonio led by as many as 18 points in one stretch during the game. We rallied, cut it down to single digits, but for our scratching and crawling came consistencies from the Spurs. But the main concern I have with this team is scoring paints in the paint and yes once again, frontcourt complaints. There was a big differential in the boxscore determining how many points we scored in the paint. Whenever we attempted to put points on the board in the low post, our guys would either get aggressive and use their strength to get to the basket, and once they get to the basket, they'd hesitate to finish strong. We are simply a frontcourt squad that looks like sticks with no meat whatsoever. I especially saw this coming from Chris Mihm. With himself being very close to the basket, he'd look like somebody that doesn't have confidence in himself to just put the two in the hoop. Another problem was our defensive tactics. Geez, who saw how many assists San Antonio gave out and constantly made our players look like collegiates, with the way they'd cut and finish at the basket? Their penetrations, their shots from the perimeter? Very horrific to watch. Everytime we needed a huge defensive stop, it was San Antonio's playmaking abilities that just tanked the game for us unfortunately. And whoever was huge open for a game turning basket, nobody failed on their golden opportunities. Lamar Odom and Kobe had decent games, but if we can't get anything else from our supporting cast in the process, we're nothing but an average team in the Western Conference. Although it's still very early in the season, I hope our Lakers can look themselves in the mirrior, and find a way to quickly identify themselves.
I Watched Bits & Pieces of the Game.It wasn't that bad of a game between the Lakers & Spurs.Kobe Looked good and you have to respect his comeback effort.it showed me,that the Lakers will not go quietly. Duncan looked great out there,and this could be a MVP Year for him. 106-95 Spurs...A Good game despite the loss.The Lakers should be commended for a great game,and the Spurs are one of the elite teams this year in the NBA.
Rudy T's comments I just saw Rudy T's comments to the media after the game on FoxSports.com. I felt kinda bad for him. The media kept grilling him about what happened in the game (as they always do) and he pretty much said everything short of "Well we're new together and we're young. Of course we're going to suck for a bit!" I didn't get a chance to watch the game (no cable, live in UT) but ESPN Motion showed some clips. They showed a SICK 4-on-1 reverse layup by Kobe. WOW! Seems like a lot you who saw the game took a moral victory out of it. Can't say I blame you (though I'm not a big fan of moral victories), as it was against the Spurs, and the Lakers didn't get blown out. I am a little bit concerned about getting into such large holes, but it is still VERY early in the season.... Brad
The Spurs put on a clinic in the first half of this game. There were a few plays when the ball never touched the ground, amazing execution by the team. Brent Barry was a great addition to the Spurs and has already mastered what the team likes to run. A few of those pick and roll plays with Duncan, it looked liked they've been playing for over 10 years together. Lamar Odom finally showed up in this game on offense, but he still looks lost on the defensive end. I was disppointed in the way Brian Grant played, 4 fouls in 13 minutes. He needs to be a defensive stopper for us off the bench, but he's slow to the ball and reaches, too much. I'm not sure how much basketball he has left in him ... Karl Malone where are you? The main concern for me is the Lakers getting off to slow starts both the losses. I think it's crucial for them to establish a lead because they are playing better in the second half of games. Last year they were the opposite, but still the Lakers are still only playing one good half of basketball. Even though the game was close in score, the Spurs rolled us last night. After back to back losses, the Hawks will be a welcome site for the Lakers on Sunday.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree, that the Spurs will fix things...but it's the same for the Lakers, also. They got rid of more than half of their lineup from last year...the only returning starter is Kobe. For the game, the Spurs have been playing together now for how many years...five? The Lakers have been together for 3 games total. In a few months, like you say about the Spurs, the Lakers should be developing chemistry and will indeed make the playoffs.</div> What are u talking about?The only players that have been on the Spurs 5 yrs are Malik and Timmy...the rest are fairly new. Quit making excuses...the Spurs are just better , your Lakers had no shot.They kept it from getting out of hand but thats about it , the Spurs were never really in danger of losing the lead.But leave it to LA fans to make such a big deal of such a small thing...
Actually that Spurs fan was 100% correct, but I'll let that go. On another note, I'm sure you guys remember how the Lakers used to play with teams right? Being up by 20 at the half, and then "letting them get back into the game". Then "turning it on" in the 4th quarter. What's makes you guys think that this isn't what the Spurs were doing? After all, Pop let Timmy sit on the bench while the Lakers went on a run. I don't actually believe that the Spurs were playing very hard. Did TP have 16 points? That was the quietest 16 points that I have ever seen. I believe that the Spurs did this intentionally to insult the Lakers, after all the years of watching the Lakers do it to teams. Sending a message that LA can't contend. No I'm not trying to insult your team so don't make this personal. It's just a theory that you can take or leave.
