<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq had a good game...not dominated....but good. i think they should have used him more.</div> Their wasn't much more using the Heat could've done with Shaq. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I actually can laugh at that play, really...because it was the first time that Kobe actually did that to someone else, rather than the numerous times that they do it to him. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't happy about it. In fact, I wasn't happy about anything once Shaq left the game. Too bad we couldn't use him just a little more before he fouled out.</div> I don't know about that, Kobe normally dribbles the clock down then gives someone the ball with little time left, and then sometimes they hand it back to him which causes a bad shot for him. Their's hardly any other player on the Lakers that will dribble the clock down on a regular basis. Kobe on many possesions will have the ball for 15-18 seconds, and sometimes just dribble around trying to find and opening but getting nowhere. It's like an attempt, reset, attempt, reset, and sometimes he get's the reset with little time left, but that really isn't going to be the setter's fault, maybe he doesn't want to hurt his percentage by taking those shots. Kobe is trying to create but takes too long to get it going, he get's to clock down to 7 seconds, then hands it off to Chucky, who proceeds to hand it back to Kobe for a jumper, so is it then Chucky's fault that they had to take a late shot? She didn't seem to pleased to be part of the breakup list...
og15...haha...that never happens. Kobe tries to pass after the screen, and then, instead of the shot, his teammate (whoever it is) usually stands there with the ball over his head and waits for Kobe to free himself up AGAIN to get it back. I have yet to see a teammate (other than Odom) create his own shot. It's really pathetic. I think 90% of Kobe's assists come from threes anyways...because typically, a Kobe pass to anywhere else will lead to 1) a Mihm blown layup or 2) the ball back into Kobe's hands. Yet another reason why we need a PG right now.
Amazing game. And boy was I wrong about doubting this game to live up to the hype. I for think it was better than advertised. But first let me say, this game was evidence that the Lakers will NOT make the Playoff's, if Kobe doesn?t start relying on his teammate some more. Shaq said it best, when he said something to the likes of "We're not trying to outplay the opponent and try scoring 50, 60 Points, we just wanted to play team ball". I understand that Kobe was on fire, and he had the right to keep shooting, but at the same time he took a tad too many unnecessary shots, and the 9 turnovers speak for itself as in he tried to do a little too much. A 34 point and 10 assist night from Kobe could have got the job done for the Lakers IMO. But nonetheless, great effort from Kobe and the Lakers and unfortunetly for them it didn?t end with the fairly tale ending with a buzzer beater in OT. As for Wade he?s just simply amazing but he really needs to work on his shot. If it wasn?t for the zone defense busters such as D. Jones and E. Jones, the Lakers could have easily play the zone and stop Wade dead in his tracks. Wade needs to work on that shot, because the ?Jones?s? might eventually get injured down the road, and thus the opposing teams can start playing the zone which will take Wade out of his groove.
"Kobe's big show falls far short" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES - In the latest of his serial attempts to rehab his guyness for Christmas, the six-cylindered Kobe Bryant spun a few fancy doughnuts in the paint, at times careening into the belly of Shaquille O'Neal.</div> http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/12/...olumn.1226.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Amazing game. And boy was I wrong about doubting this game to live up to the hype. I for think it was better than advertised. But first let me say, this game was evidence that the Lakers will NOT make the Playoff's, if Kobe doesn?t start relying on his teammate some more. Shaq said it best, when he said something to the likes of "We're not trying to outplay the opponent and try scoring 50, 60 Points, we just wanted to play team ball". I understand that Kobe was on fire, and he had the right to keep shooting, but at the same time he took a tad too many unnecessary shots, and the 9 turnovers speak for itself as in he tried to do a little too much. A 34 point and 10 assist night from Kobe could have got the job done for the Lakers IMO. </div> Though I agree that Kobe should not dribble for 18 seconds then pass it off, get it abck and shoot again or just do an iso on the right side while everyone watches, I also noticed that during the crucial points of the game when Kobe DID pass *when he shouldn't have), the other Lakers did not come through for him. The 3 dagger points for this game, IMO were these (and these are pretty basic and straight forward): 1-> The offense. I don't know if this is the "normal" Lakers offense or not but did Rudy T even call any plays? The only I saw was iso on the left or right for Kobe and the 4 other players (as well as 100 million people) watch as he tries to score and not even move an inch. Kobe's at fault in this as well. Not once after the first quarter did I see any crisp ball movement. It was either give it to Kobe and watch or Kobe drives and dishes and his teammates miss or jack up ill advised 3 pointers. One thing the Lakers MUST improve on if they want to excel: stop taking so damn long to set up the offense and tell Kobe that he is NOT the point guard. Lakers need a true point guard ASAP, not a shooting point guard like Chucky, he's suited for the bench. 2=> Execution down the stretch. That was just HORRID. Not only did they blow an 8 point lead, the Lakers would have had it sealed after Shaq went to the bench. Kobe should have driven more to the basket but for some odd reason, he stopped dribbling. And the key miss IMO was the Juamine Jones three pointer. Kobe drove and dished it to a wide open Jumaine who missed the 3, made it a long rebound and the Miami Heat went streaking down the floor. The Lakers defense, in one word, is absolutely horrible. Jumaine Jones got burned by Wade so many times I lost count. Not only that, they had a sem-comfy 4 point lead with 2 or so minutes left to go in regulation when they let Michael Doleac of all people, get two "gimme" shots and baskets. One on play, he got a wide open shot from the top of the key which he drained and then there was an easy layup after 4 Lakers went after Wade and left Doleac and other Heat players open for a rebound and a lay in. Abosultely horrible defense. The Lakers need to elevate, both offesnively and defensively if they want to be a legitimate threat. Or else they won't be making the playoffs (or getting far) playing this way. An offense of "watch Kobe or jack up 3 pointers" and a unorganized defense scheme isn't going anywhere. The Lakers GM need to pull some threads and get a solid point guard (perhaps Darell Armstrong?) by the All Star break or else this team is going to lose to a lot of elite teams with the style they play.
I Watched bits & pieces of the game,and it was a good as i thought it was going to be. Overall it was a great exhbition of Basketball by it's finest,but the game showed me that Miami is a force to be reckoned with in the NBA,but also that the Lakers are going to have a great year. I Saw a lot of postives for the Lakers in this game,like team work,performances by all of the Lakers besides Kobe,plus there hungry right now for some key wins against some great teams.i do forsee better things for the future for the Lakers here. I Actually rooted for the Lakers for the game,as a favor to the lovely Jesseca 328.sorry you didn't get what you wished for X-Mas. Anyways,Great effort Lakers!
