<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post">Should be a sound Laker win. With or without Kobe since it is at home.</div> I wouldn't underestimate the Nuggets, they are very solid this year.
Finally found the Article: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sounding exasperated, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant expressed uncertainty when asked if he'll return from a pretrial hearing in Colorado in time to play against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know," Bryant said Thursday. "Look, man, I don't know. We'll go through the process tomorrow. We'll see how long it takes. </div> ARTICLE
Clearly Kobe's frustrated and I don't blame him. Too many distractions right now, and I just hope Kobe's defense team can end this bizarre crisis so Kobe can go back and play basketball. This has been going on for too long now and I'm tired of it. Let's get to a solution quickly.
Kobe is likely not playing tonight. My guess is the Lakers will go with Fisher and Payton in the backcourt tonight. The Nuggets are a fast team always looking to push, so the Lakers will need to have a quick lineup on the court. The key will be keeping Voshon Lenard from getting in a rythm from outside. The Lakers perimeter defense has been poor all season long, and Lenard is deadly with open looks. The Lakers must take advantage of the inside. They can clear dominate with Shaq and Malone. Payton has to control the tempo and limit the turnovers, the last thing the Lakers want is a scrappy game with a lot of layups.
Kobe Bryant did not start tonight, but he is in the building and warming up on the stationary bike. It looks like Kobe is determined to get out there and contribute tonight. The Lakers won the 1st quarter 27-19 Laker Stat Leaders --------- PTS - Shaq 11 REB - Shaq 6 AST - Shaq 3
Vintage Lakers, closing out the quarters on a roll. The second unit let the Nuggets back in the game, but once the starters got back on the floor the Lakers went on a streak and are up by 11 with 2 minutes left in the second quarter. The Nuggets are in serious foul trouble and have no answer to Malone or Shaq in the post.
Lakers take the 2nd quarter 30 to 28 and lead at the half 57-47 Laker Stat Leaders PTS - Shaq 17 REB - Shaq 7 AST - Shaq & Kobe 4 Carmelo Anthony has been impressive in this game with 13 points. He has taken it strong to the hoop, even against Shaq. Anthony and Boykins appear to be the only players not intimidated for Denver. On the otherside of the spectrum, Marcus Camby is doing his best impersonation of a ghost, by completely bailing out everytime Shaq gets the ball in the paint. Tskitishvili isn't doing much better against Karl Malone. After watching this game, the Nuggets better consider adding bulk to their lineup if they want any chance of success in the post-season.
Yep, Lakers have a comfortable lead right now. Anyone else smell a triple double on the way from Shaq? Unless they give him rest, 20-10-6 for O'neal right now in the 3rd q. Besides GP, Lakers are having a good shooting night overall, hopefully they won't slack off like they do other games, and allow the Nuggs to get back in this one.
Nuggets outscored the Lakers 18-7 to end the 3rd quarter. They took the quarter, 21-17, but still trail the Lakers 70 to 80 after 3 quarters. Lakers Stat Leaders PTS - Shaq 25 REB - Shaq 10 AST - Payton 10
KOBE!!!! Yeaaaa!!!! I'll have to post my thoughts about the game later, I'm too excited right now. Lakers win, Kobe GW shot!
w00t w00t. What a shot by Kobe to beat Denver at the buzzer. The Lakers let the Nuggets back in this game and almost lost the game tonight despite dominating for a majority of the game by double digits. You have to respect Kobe's nerve and confidence after being in court all day and to comeback and nail a tough shot for the game winner.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">w00t w00t. What a shot by Kobe to beat Denver at the buzzer. The Lakers let the Nuggets back in this game and almost lost the game tonight despite dominating for a majority of the game by double digits. You have to respect Kobe's nerve and confidence after being in court all day and to comeback and nail a tough shot for the game winner.</div> Yep, what a day for Kobe. In court all day, coming into the arena late, then hitting the game winner. That was huge, I was just about to post on how mad I was at the Lakers for letting this game get away, but something told me not to. Kobe came through in the clutch. Final Score: Nuggets 99, Lakers 101 Kobe Bryant sank a jumper as time expired to lift the Lakers to a 101-99 win over the Nuggets on Friday night. Bryant's basket rescued L.A., which saw a nine-point lead evaporate in the final two minutes. Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Box Score
Typical Kobe Shoots bad all game and then he hits the big one when it matters most..after the pump fake I knew he would nail it.Big props to the Nuggets though.That team is heading in the right direction and will be a threat for many years to come.The west is so damn good this year it is un-real
Yea, I honestly thought he was going to dive into Barry on purpose to get the foul, but he had confidence in his shot, and nailed it on Barry's way down.
Great game, I watchin from beginning to end...I thought Lakers had it but the Nuggets found a way to pull back and those clutch free throws by Anthony made me think they were gonna go into overtime. But I was proved wrong, they inbounded it to Kobe and he nailed it. I thought he was gonna get fouled... I believe he could have if he went straight up but he took a fadeaway and made it. Kobe's shot was amazing...I was shocked when he made it and I exploded after. Great game by both teams and Nuggets didn't give up, they had energy throughout the game and Anthony got points to bring the Nuggets back...hes goin to be somethin special. Hopefully we will see more of this and Kobe's trial goes good.
The Nuggets are an amazing team, they played with heart all night, that must of been a heart breaking loss, but once again KOBE!!!! hits the game winner..he could go 0-14 in quarters 1-3, but then the fourth quarter comes and he goes 7-9
What a night at Staples Center as our Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 101-99. Kobe Bryant is one amazing guy. After his hearing at Eagle Colorado, people said he wouldn't be able to go tonight. People even said that he wouldn't be prepared to play. Kareem Rush took his spot as his replacement, and what do you know? #8 appears in the second quarter with his yellow uniform and receives a standing ovation. Very amazing moment, and in the closing seconds of the ballgame, he hits the game winning shot. Spectacular. The Denver Nuggets played a very great game. When they were down by 14 pts in the 4th quarter, they could've just rolled over and given up, but they played with a lot of heart. They are definitely a team to look out for. Record so far: 19-5 and the streak is over. :thumbsup:
