The Official LA LAKERS thread!!

Here are some Highlights for those who havnt seen them....

pennysdaman said:

Jim it is a bad result for the Rockets coz they lost by 14 or so....So im not sure what your getting at there...I just saw the Fisher hit on Scola...HE must have just thought bugger this im going through this screen....No really sure what he was thinking tho...

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Sorry have you seen how dominant the Lakers are?

Kobe goes for 40 today, Gasol goes for 22/14. Artest gets ejected and Yao goes for 12 points?

If I read that stat-line without knowing about the game I would've predicted a 20+ point blowout champ.

i was hoping to see kobe and artest go at it... seriously though, it was mature of both of them to just mouth of and not get hugely physical...

real testy game overall though with the fisher hip and shoulder / elbow

gotta love the playoffs !!!

jimboiitmac said:

Sorry have you seen how dominant the Lakers are?

Kobe goes for 40 today, Gasol goes for 22/14. Artest gets ejected and Yao goes for 12 points?

If I read that stat-line without knowing about the game I would've predicted a 20+ point blowout champ.

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Wow, a whole 7 points from that blowout, I'd expect that from someone that didn't see the game and I guess you missed the part where 5 Rockets were in double figures, as opposed to 3 Lakers...

I watched the Lakers/Rockets game from the reg season last night, the one where Ron wigged out a little, just to see what we did right and if we'd adjust accordingly in Game 2. We had our running game on, Yao can't keep up. We got him in foul trouble, Pau took it to him and dominated in the high and low post. Kobe lit it up. We didn't have Bynum but that was no problem cause the bench stepped up the hustle and we had huge imput from Powell. Last but not least we beat them with no Odom and no Bynum.

Anyway, I just got to watch game 2 tonight (after staying away from scores) and what did we do in game 2? We ran - Check. Yao couldn't keep up with the pace - Check. Yao got into foul trouble - Check. Pau showed up - Check. Kobe was on fire - Absoloutely. Limited minutes for Powell? No problem, we got Odom this time. And last but not least, we only used Bynum when we needed to. It's not necessary to have him starting and it can actually effect Gasols efforts so we got it right.

Was shattering to see after all that work in the first our second team got outscored 14 points, Artest and Landry were huge. But closing out the third and fourth we simply outplayed the Rockets. Battier needs to scrap the Kobe files and start from scratch. Hell, if I was dropping 40 on him after all that research and work he's put in off the court I'd be constantly reminding him he can't gaurd me aswell...

The whole Scola/Odom and Walton, Scola/Fish thing. Dumb move by Fish. He shouldered off his pick 30 seconds after Scola had words with Walton as retaliation. It's good to see the refs get it right when the offending player isn't in a Green jersey. That said, after the soft calls on Rondo I expect that to end there. If Fish get's suspended it's just a joke of a league and an even bigger joke with the consistency of their decisions regarding these matters. :fist:

As for Ron Ron, he made his own Bed, he lies in it. He had his elbow all in the back of Kobes neck, absoloutely raping him and when there's retaliation he wigs out again. KB said it best - 'He wants to get physical he has to expect it back'.

Time to show everyone why we are the best road team in the NBA. We can't walk away from the next two games with anything less than a win, 2 would be ideal.

And mark these words; Ron Artest will be the death of the Rockets in this series... Right now he doesn't know if he's Kobe's biggest fan or worst enemy. Better work it out soon Ron.

Interesting too, and just a side note, Adelman sends Von Wafer to the lockerroom in the third after words are exchanged. Wonder what that's all about...

Bring on game 3 - Live on ESPN this saturday, I'll be watchin'...

Update on the ejections/hard fouls situation;

Fish to miss one game. Deservedly so is my unbiased opinion, but the leagues consistency on these calls is still all over the place.

Kobe's got upgraded to a flagrant 1 and for anyone still doubting check the link below with the reverse angle and the elbow is below the throat and clearly on the chest and within the play. They're both going at it hard, it's as simple as that.

Moved Temporarily

I guess Ron's claims of an elbow to the throat are about as realistic as his tale about a guy on his local playground having had a table leg thrown through his heart...

*Oz said:

Update on the ejections/hard fouls situation;

Fish to miss one game. Deservedly so is my unbiased opinion, but the leagues consistency on these calls is still all over the place.

Kobe's got upgraded to a flagrant 1 and for anyone still doubting check the link below with the reverse angle and the elbow is below the throat and clearly on the chest and within the play. They're both going at it hard, it's as simple as that.

Will Kobe Bryant be suspended for elbow? - ESPN Video - ESPN

I guess Ron's claims of an elbow to the throat are about as realistic as his tale about a guy on his local playground having had a table leg thrown through his heart...

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Ron is just a drama queen lol, no surprieses about Fisher's 1 game suspension. At least we might have a chance to see Farmar or Brown start at the point!

pennysdaman said:

Jim it is a bad result for the Rockets coz they lost by 14 or so....So im not sure what your getting at there...

Not really sure how you figure they are a Dirty Team mate??Did you not see Artest have his forearm on the back of Kobe's neck??
How blame the Ref's all you want ..Rockets got out played today and probably get 1 more game in this series...

Simple fact is that the Rockets didnt play well and Yao needs to stop committing stupid fouls

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Not the lakers entirely mainly Kobe (Unless we are talking over there history, thats a different story), I would expect better from Fisher,(still shocked he did that!!!) Kobe has been dirty over the last few year, just ask (Raja, Bibby, Battier(take game 1 for example) Battier is like the most professional humble person and kobe is in his face trying to get him to bite (not to mention the elbowing/kneeing). He's constantly whinging to the refs these days (acting like a spoilt brat),not to mention yelling in the face of Battier/TV announcers etc. who does that if your the face of the NBA?

The point I trying to get at with the Refs is, Javie (the worst at it), Violet and Joey Crawford are the only ref's that call what you call "stupid fouls" on Yao. It's a hoax and it happens every time they Ref. Now that I've pointed it out you might even notice it!

I agree with that Jimbo is saying.
The Rockets took HCA off the Lakers, the Rockets are a better Home team this season then past seasons.
They get no production out of Yao and Artest gets Tossed at the start of the 4th and we are still in the game until the two TO's in a row with just over 3 mins left. If they didn't have those TO's after those forced misses and scored off them the pressure on the Lakers would have been HUGE!! (and the crickets would have been heard in the staples centre again like game 1)

Landry ate them up
Wafer only played 9mins cause he spat the dummy (WTF VON!!)
The rockets are right there with the Lakers abd if you can see that your kidding yourself.
The players even admitted they were scared to lose coming into game 2.

But none of this matter unless the Rockets get Game 3 and then Game 4
........

*Oz said:

Was shattering to see after all that work in the first our second team got outscored 14 points, Artest and Landry were huge. But closing out the third and fourth we simply outplayed the Rockets. Battier needs to scrap the Kobe files and start from scratch. Hell, if I was dropping 40 on him after all that research and work he's put in off the court I'd be constantly reminding him he can't gaurd me aswell...

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Kobe had the perfect game yeah? I think I'm right in saying that!
Can he do it every night? How often do you think Kobe can do that?
1-2 in the series? I think Kobe has play outstanding against Battier 2 in his career vs Houston. (Game 2 and a regular season game last season I think? Correct me if I'm worong-after he read the NY times article)

Kobe hardly has been to the foul line vs Battier, and has made some shots that know one on earth could make (that what makes him the best!!!!) but over a 7 game series so far he's been forced into long contested jumpers and has had 1 good game and 1 bad. The Rocket realise that when Kobe shoots high volume the laker generally lose. That's what they are doing and I wouldn't be surprised if it pays off for them, cause it affect everyone else on the Lakers.

Can wait for game 3, this is such a great series!!!

Dream34 said:

Not the lakers entirely mainly Kobe (Unless we are talking over there history, thats a different story), I would expect better from Fisher,(still shocked he did that!!!) Kobe has been dirty over the last few year, just ask (Raja, Bibby, Battier(take game 1 for example) Battier is like the most professional humble person and kobe is in his face trying to get him to bite (not to mention the elbowing/kneeing). He's constantly whinging to the refs these days (acting like a spoilt brat),not to mention yelling in the face of Battier/TV announcers etc. who does that if your the face of the NBA?

The point I trying to get at with the Refs is, Javie (the worst at it), Violet and Joey Crawford are the only ref's that call what you call "stupid fouls" on Yao. It's a hoax and it happens every time they Ref. Now that I've pointed it out you might even notice it!

I agree with that Jimbo is saying.
The Rockets took HCA off the Lakers, the Rockets are a better Home team this season then past seasons.
They get no production out of Yao and Artest gets Tossed at the start of the 4th and we are still in the game until the two TO's in a row with just over 3 mins left. If they didn't have those TO's after those forced misses and scored off them the pressure on the Lakers would have been HUGE!! (and the crickets would have been heard in the staples centre again like game 1)

Landry ate them up
Wafer only played 9mins cause he spat the dummy (WTF VON!!)
The rockets are right there with the Lakers abd if you can see that your kidding yourself.
The players even admitted they were scared to lose coming into game 2.

But none of this matter unless the Rockets get Game 3 and then Game 4
........

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Fair enough points.....but do u think the Lakers are playing at their best? Are Houston playing there best?

I have to say that the Lakers so far in this post season have been up and down at best and they need to steady if they r going to make a real run at it all.

The Rockets have played pretty close to their best i'd say, with a hard fought series with portland and 2 physical game with the lakers i think its really taking affect on Yao. Can the Rockets ride thru on Artests back?? Not likely.

Dream34 said:

Not the lakers entirely mainly Kobe (Unless we are talking over there history, thats a different story), I would expect better from Fisher,(still shocked he did that!!!) Kobe has been dirty over the last few year, just ask (Raja, Bibby, Battier(take game 1 for example) Battier is like the most professional humble person and kobe is in his face trying to get him to bite (not to mention the elbowing/kneeing). He's constantly whinging to the refs these days (acting like a spoilt brat),not to mention yelling in the face of Battier/TV announcers etc. who does that if your the face of the NBA?

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Kobe's not the face of the NBA, LeBron is.

They get no production out of Yao

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You got No production out of Yao because we took him out of the game. He can't keep up with our running game, he got into foul trouble and Pau was simply outplaying him. He can't gaurd Pau and I hope Gasol has this firmly planted in his long term memory. Last but not least, when Yao was in the game your smalls simply didn't go to him. Perhaps they'll readjust for game 3 and look to control the pace more in Houston.

and Artest gets Tossed at the start of the 4th and we are still in the game until the two TO's in a row with just over 3 mins left. If they didn't have those TO's after those forced misses and scored off them the pressure on the Lakers would have been HUGE!! (and the crickets would have been heard in the staples centre again like game 1)

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Artest got tossed at the 6:57 mark in the fourth quarter in a 10 point ball game, it's safe to say this game was already about to be potentially blown out. Rockets could have come back but we'll never know because Ron lost his cool again.

Landry ate them up
Wafer only played 9mins cause he spat the dummy (WTF VON!!)
The rockets are right there with the Lakers abd if you can see that your kidding yourself.
The players even admitted they were scared to lose coming into game 2.

But none of this matter unless the Rockets get Game 3 and then Game 4
........

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No one's saying we'll win this easily and game 2 didn't fall into our lap. If anything you guys took game 1 alot easier than you should have. Like I said, don't rely on such bad shooting to win games, it doesn't happen often with the Lakers. And of course they'd be scared to lose game 2, wouldn't any team? Fact of the matter is they went out and got the job done any which way you look at it.

Dream34 said:

Kobe had the perfect game yeah? I think I'm right in saying that!
Can he do it every night? How often do you think Kobe can do that?
1-2 in the series? I think Kobe has play outstanding against Battier 2 in his career vs Houston. (Game 2 and a regular season game last season I think? Correct me if I'm worong-after he read the NY times article)

Kobe hardly has been to the foul line vs Battier, and has made some shots that know one on earth could make (that what makes him the best!!!!) but over a 7 game series so far he's been forced into long contested jumpers and has had 1 good game and 1 bad. The Rocket realise that when Kobe shoots high volume the laker generally lose. That's what they are doing and I wouldn't be surprised if it pays off for them, cause it affect everyone else on the Lakers.

Can wait for game 3, this is such a great series!!!

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Well the thing is we don't want him firing 40 for us to get a win. The high scores in game 1 and 2 came from a lack of imput from our bench. As a team we shot pretty bad in game 1. As a team they didn't have as much of a collective imput as they would have liked in game 2, so Bryant and Gasol share the burden.

If our role players and second team step it up and play the way they're capable of, I think you'll soon come to realise what every Laker fan already knows and that is we don't need another 3 40 point games from Kobe to get this series out of the way.

And for the record we swept the 4 game season series vs. The Rockets 4 - 0 with an average winning margin of 13ppg. Kobe averaged 28ppg over those 4 games and in the biggest winning margin of 29 points he only chipped in 23.

Last but not least, I've got heaps of respect for Battier and I know Fish's elbow may have seemed dirty whilst retaliatory, and Kobe and Ron going at it hard heats things up, Kobe talking doesn't seem like good sportsmanship but we're walking a tightrope of a double edged sword here.

We play soft, we get called soft, we lose championships to 'tough' teams. We step up the intencity and toughness, we're thugs.

Also, I think alot of people are a little trigger happy with the 'dirty play' posts. Remeber that guy Rafer Alston? He was a dirty player that not so long ago wore a Rockets jersey. People want to be the one to blow the story out and point the finger when players are fouling hard or bringing the unnecessary play but how many of them man up when a guy from a team they support does it? They'd gladly let it get swept under the rug and that's just convenient isn't it? And some are worse than others as it's hard to keep up with which team they're actually following at the time.

This is the playoffs. There was a time where the intencity was welcomed and expected. I've got no beef with players playing hard for June, my only beef is the leagues actions and how they react differently in similar and sometimes the exact same situations.

Anyway, Game 3 is a little under 9 hours away and the series is tied at 1 a piece. That's all that matters right now. :v:

And we take the series lead! Very solid effort from all the starters, all in double figures, happy with that effort. Pau and Kobe played great, Odom had alot more imput than game 2 and practically sealed the deal with that offensive board and put back.

And how bout my boy J Farm?

12 points 7 assists 5 boards 2 steals and a block. If that ain't rising to the challenge with the absense of Fish then I don't know what is!

We take game 4 and you would think this is over...

And Ron Ron with another incident, wasn't a flagrant 2 but still a hard foul and an F1 at best...

*Oz said:

Ron Artest will be the death of the Rockets in this series...

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Will he be back after 2 consecutive ejections? Not sure how it works and considering they'll probably review it. I think we'll see him in game 4. I see it being downgraded to 1, but still, I can't wait to see what he does in the next game, I hate reality television with a passion but love this kind.

Also Yao come up limping late in the fourth, wonder if he'll be right for game 4.

Way to take care of the business trip, let's get one last W in Houston and then go in for the knockout in game 5.

This is what Im hoping to happen! It could be the end of the road for the Rockets!!! Congrats to Kobe and Co.

Artest should get a suspension if I were the NBA.

Lakers very impressive today, Kobe was superb. On today's form the C's have no chance and it's looking more and more like LAkers/Caves. Don't think orlando can win the way they play and the C's might still beat them.
Denver are hot at the moment so looking forward to Lakers Nugs soon.....

Artest being ejected was a dead set joke. Jeff van Gundy said it right, Artest got the ball in a hard playoff foul. I have no idea why he was ejected. Anyone fill me in on that???
As far as I was aware if u went for the ball (and he got a LOT of ball) it couldn't be a flagrant, let alone an ejection.....

ljandkg said:

Lakers very impressive today, Kobe was superb. On today's form the C's have no chance and it's looking more and more like LAkers/Caves. Don't think orlando can win the way they play and the C's might still beat them.
Denver are hot at the moment so looking forward to Lakers Nugs soon.....

Artest being ejected was a dead set joke. Jeff van Gundy said it right, Artest got the ball in a hard playoff foul. I have no idea why he was ejected. Anyone fill me in on that???
As far as I was aware if u went for the ball (and he got a LOT of ball) it couldn't be a flagrant, let alone an ejection.....

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Orlando is pretty good. Dwight is still a monster and if Rashard Lewis can play like he did today and lift his performances overall than that is a scary thought. He's a big-time player who most of the time underachieves due to situation, lack of demanding the ball and going off the dribble instead of always being a shooter. He can get it done though.

I love Denver at the moment. The thought of a LAL vs Denver series is sick in my mind. Chauncey will rip up the Lakers point guards for starters, and the fact that for the first time in his NBA career Carmelo might actually step up to the plate when he has to go against Kobe is an awesome thought. Plus you have Gasol, Bynum and Odom going against K-Mart, Nene and Birdman. And JR Smith coming off the bench. Some sick matchups in that series, could be really good.

jimboiitmac said:

Orlando is pretty good. Dwight is still a monster and if Rashard Lewis can play like he did today and lift his performances overall than that is a scary thought. He's a big-time player who most of the time underachieves due to situation, lack of demanding the ball and going off the dribble instead of always being a shooter. He can get it done though.

I love Denver at the moment. The thought of a LAL vs Denver series is sick in my mind. Chauncey will rip up the Lakers point guards for starters, and the fact that for the first time in his NBA career Carmelo might actually step up to the plate when he has to go against Kobe is an awesome thought. Plus you have Gasol, Bynum and Odom going against K-Mart, Nene and Birdman. And JR Smith coming off the bench. Some sick matchups in that series, could be really good.

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That's like saying your mate's girlfriend is really hot....except for her face, arse, rack and personality

*Oz said:

And we take the series lead! Very solid effort from all the starters, all in double figures, happy with that effort. Pau and Kobe played great, Odom had alot more imput than game 2 and practically sealed the deal with that offensive board and put back.

And how bout my boy J Farm?

12 points 7 assists 5 boards 2 steals and a block. If that ain't rising to the challenge with the absense of Fish then I don't know what is!

We take game 4 and you would think this is over...

And Ron Ron with another incident, wasn't a flagrant 2 but still a hard foul and an F1 at best...



Will he be back after 2 consecutive ejections? Not sure how it works and considering they'll probably review it. I think we'll see him in game 4. I see it being downgraded to 1, but still, I can't wait to see what he does in the next game, I hate reality television with a passion but love this kind.

Also Yao come up limping late in the fourth, wonder if he'll be right for game 4.

Way to take care of the business trip, let's get one last W in Houston and then go in for the knockout in game 5.

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Yeah Jordan stepped up big time!!!Did you see his hustle play in the first or second QTR, cant remember which one....MASSIVE effort

Kobe was absolutley lighting it up from DOWNTOWN!!!

Ron artest i mean what can i say about him??He showed us all how much of a thug he is, in GM2 then in todays game he showed us how much difference here is between his good and bad games....He was a non factor so was Yao and with his injury will he start in GM 4??Von Wafer is like Eddie House and JR Smith VERY VERY Streaky....

But all our starters played well be good to get D-Fish back....This gmae would have done wonders for Jordan...Would like to see him start actually in GM 4..

pennysdaman said:

Yeah Jordan stepped up big time!!!Did you see his hustle play in the first or second QTR, cant remember which one....MASSIVE effort

Kobe was absolutley lighting it up from DOWNTOWN!!!

Ron artest i mean what can i say about him??He showed us all how much of a thug he is, in GM2 then in todays game he showed us how much difference here is between his good and bad games....He was a non factor so was Yao and with his injury will he start in GM 4??Von Wafer is like Eddie House and JR Smith VERY VERY Streaky....
But all our starters played well be good to get D-Fish back....This gmae would have done wonders for Jordan...Would like to see him start actually in GM 4..

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You serious? Have you seen his number for the whole second half of the season let alone the playoffs?

ljandkg said:

That's like saying your mate's girlfriend is really hot....except for her face, arse, rack and personality

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Precisely but he can still get it done. Wouldn't want to sleep on him.

ljandkg said:

Lakers very impressive today, Kobe was superb. On today's form the C's have no chance and it's looking more and more like LAkers/Caves. Don't think orlando can win the way they play and the C's might still beat them.
Denver are hot at the moment so looking forward to Lakers Nugs soon.....

Artest being ejected was a dead set joke. Jeff van Gundy said it right, Artest got the ball in a hard playoff foul. I have no idea why he was ejected. Anyone fill me in on that???
As far as I was aware if u went for the ball (and he got a LOT of ball) it couldn't be a flagrant, let alone an ejection.....

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I'll call a spade a spade there and be honest, it wasn't all that hard and with the momentum the refs are riding from game 2 and Rons antics, I think they got a little whistle happy. No way was it a flagrant 2, just a hard playoff foul out of frustration. I expect to see him in game 4.

pennysdaman said:

Yeah Jordan stepped up big time!!!Did you see his hustle play in the first or second QTR, cant remember which one....MASSIVE effort

Kobe was absolutley lighting it up from DOWNTOWN!!!

Ron artest i mean what can i say about him??He showed us all how much of a thug he is, in GM2 then in todays game he showed us how much difference here is between his good and bad games....He was a non factor so was Yao and with his injury will he start in GM 4??Von Wafer is like Eddie House and JR Smith VERY VERY Streaky....

But all our starters played well be good to get D-Fish back....This gmae would have done wonders for Jordan...Would like to see him start actually in GM 4..

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Yep that hustle play got me out my seat early, I'll take any one on my starting five that's willing to get down on the floor and go that extra step. And it resulted in a transition basket for us.

Really impressed with young Jordy tonight, he took a couple stupid shots, one three where we shoulda been running the clock down late in the fourth but you're gonna get that. At least he's showing promise, we could really use a spark like that for young Drew who still seems a little too quiet. I'm confident it will come back to him like it has Farmar and as for starting him, as much as I want to see it I don't think it will happen. That said he can face gaurd Brooks better than Fish can so who knows what line up Phil will go with at this stage but I think we will see a little more from Farmar in this series either way.

Ariza looks like he's bouncing back aswell. When they bring their A Game no one can beat us and that's what we're going to need in order to advance in any round let alone the second. Well done to the boys today. :v:

Still not too happy with Machine. Looks like he could be offline indefinitely, his shooting is way off, to the point where he's missing open jumpers. New batteries maybe? How about a whole new model. Hopefully he can find his way. Luke has to step it up aswell.

As Jimbo mentioned Nuggets/Lakers would be a killer series and I think we'd be tested there more than Utah or Houston could push us but we gotta take care of Houston first. If we can in game 4 their spirits are broken. A Home court series wrap up would surely be a reality.

Get is done in game 4, another effort mirroring tonights would almost gaurantee a win.