Hmm, I have to give you some credit there, but the proverbial switch, is just a few knobs, that fkn team is full of them. I watched the laker game, they were trying to win, they got physical, they played dirty (like Ron trying to leg lock Wallace) they got some love from the refs, but they became frustrated, got a few calls against them and lost..they just did not keep up with a running team, and that was just the thing that Wallace alluded to.
I 100% agree Lincoln. Anyone that tries to tell us the Lakers didn't want to win that game vs. Portland is just fooling themselves. Kobe even got a T. Phil called more timeouts than I've seen him call all season. This seemed like a game they wanted to win.
Kobe even got a T? WTH does that have to do with anything? He's got 15 on the season. He should have about 20+. Of course we wanted to beat you guys, we wanted to prove a point and sweep the season series from you guys...you're the closest thing to a rival that we have in the western conference.
I don't know about that man. Last season, which was explained above, the Lakers already had the #1 on lock. This season, the wins are needed because they could very well drop to the 4th seed. I think the last 5 games were definitely games they wanted to win.
I think the loss that put us out of reach of catching San Antonio was their switch to cruise mode and just go through the motions. The energy and effort is not there that they spent when they went 17-1 to open up the break. Sure a few players like Artest, Kobe, and Fish might play through it with all their heart because they don't quit, but for the most part, the team kind of changed their play style and cruised, IMO. Our two biggest threats in the WC, IMO, are the Thunder and you guys. I'm not worried about Dallas, SA, or Denver. I feel better this year going into the playoffs than I did last year. This year, Drew is healthy, Kobe is for the most part healthy, and despite this recent stretch of 5 games or so, Artest has been playing solid ball. The game slows down in the playoffs. If teams can force us to run in the playoffs, then I'll be a bit worried, but until we go down two games or so in a playoff series, I'm not too worried.
I would have to agree with you on that. I think the only chance Portland has against L.A. is to win game 1. We MUST BE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT THE SERIES IN 6; if we win that series. If it goes game 7, then it's over.
K*be has 15 technicals? Does the rule extend to the playoffs? Because if it does and K*be gets a 16th, he's suspended for a game. Does anyone know if it's the case? Hell, Dwight had to sit again because he got his 18th.
The counter starts over in the playoffs, and they need 7 T's before a suspension. EDIT: Link here http://mediacentral.nba.com/media/mediacentral/TechStatus.pdf Go to page 8.
