Lakers vs Jazz

[GHoward]

LA looked to be in control for the first 3/4,shooting 70+ %, but Utah clawed back. Their bench closed the gap and gave them the lead in the early 4th. Should be a good last 3 minutes. Kobe doing the face.

 

[GHoward]

Kobe's back.

 

[salonghorn-70]

I hope this series goes 7 so LA doesn't get any rest.

GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!

 

[naphan]

LA's bench did what they've been doing all year - give up the lead. Utah prob wins one at home, but that's it. The lakers are too long and the Jazz are too depleted.

It's only fitting that we'll (prob) have the Spurs and Lakers in the conf finals again to start a new decade.

 

[Horns11]

I find it hard to fathom that no semi-decent PG would go play for the Lakers, even with a pay cut. This would put them well over the top, especially in games like Sunday's when the guards all got tired out from dumb passes and turnovers. There's only so many times you can watch Shannon Brown give it up at the top of the key, or Fisher get abused on the defensive side of the ball.

The Gary Payton experiment from 2004 failed miserably because he was getting old and the egos of everyone clashed. But now? Kobe has worked on other parts of his game and there's no Shaq. Even someone like Miller or Calderon in there would make LA unbeatable, and that's saying something.

 

[GHoward]

Fisher is there because Phil trusts him with the "triangle" offense. Phil hasn't run his offense with an All star PG ever. I don't think he even needs one, plus Kobe is essentially their PG. You're right about the backups though;weak. They have a nice 4 man rotation at posts with Gasol, Bynum, Odom, and Walton.

 

[naphan]

Yeah, everyone was hoping we'd find a way to trade for Hinrich this year. LA needs defense and 3 point shooting from that position.

I love Fish, but he's been atrocious on defense - he's just not quick enough anymore. And it doesn't help when your backup pg's play the way shannon and farmar are playing. On the bright side, Fish has been playing his best ball in the playoffs the past few years, and this year is no different. Shooting % up from 38%/35% reg season to 45%/45% in the playoffs....but, yeah, good point guards will continue to blow right by him at will.

 

[GHoward]

They were putting Artest on Deron for stretches, but Fish was on him in the final minutes.

 

[naphan]

Jazz tried to muck things up early because they don't have an answer for the Lakers' size. I know it's still the first half of game 2, but this series looks like its over. They need Okur on the court in order to compete in this series.

 

[hornpharmd]

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[GHoward]

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[naphan]

Schedules are about TV and $ - not about helping teams advance.