SUNS -at- LAKERS - 4/28 - Thoughts and :-)) ratings

Texas_Pete · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:19 am Post subject:

From LA Times on Kwame:

Then in the third quarter, Brown threw an elbow that knocked Boris Diaw to the floor, a technical foul. Brown stood over him in a taunting fashion. Brown's teammates yelled at him to cut it out.

"They had been pushing and shoving me, and I wanted it to stop," Brown said.

^^Got damn, Kwame is getting aggressive and showing off those muscles

This may be my new sig

teej · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 222

Yeah Kwame looked so intimidating when he was pissed.

The lady has officially became a MAN!

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47580

Smush Parker has been tremendous in this series. After a shaky 1st qtr defensively in Game 1, the guy has been nails and is giving Nash all he wants.

The two post-ups in a row on Nash last night were excellent!
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LakersSpirit · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:55 am Post subject:

One big factor, that bothers me, is the stamina of Odom. Lamar has been playing some big minutes, and taking a big brunt of the load. There was a stretch, where Lamar was losing his grip on the ball; passes were slipping through his hands. The stress has to be getting to Lamar; he was also missing his free throws.

I was dissatisfied with our focus on the basket. There were many "chippies", and layups, that should have gone in. I continue to be happy with the newfound team play of Kwame, Smush, and Luke. Paul Westphal gave the team some big compliments. We've come a long way, as a team. We just have to eliminate some of those "jitters", make good decisions, and maintain our composure and focus.

I believe Kobe has to be aggressive, early in the game, and get the team into a rhythm. Once the team gets into a rhythm, Kobe can become more of a facilitator, and let the ball come to him. Kobe has to be ready to be the aggressor, and start the whole process again, if the team starts to sputter. We have to keep penetrating, and attacking their soft center.

I think we've been having good luck, with Kobe drawing the defenders, and then, kicking out to the open man.
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mr_yogabear · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:09 am Post subject:

I like what we are doing.. the ball movement, our great defense.. i like the way how we control the tempo.. but, kobe should start making shots especially when needed or in the 4th quarter or else we'll be in trouble.. im not saying he should take all the shots, but if he should make it when he take them.. we had a little bit of luck in the end on the 2 wins that we had, its hard to have them on 3rd straight time.. but nevertheless, good job lakers.. just protect our home court, just listen to our coach, the we'll see u on 2nd round..

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wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58336

Thanks, DB.

Thought the passing from within the post was very good. Kwame especially was impressive.

A little worried about LO's passing/handling against doubles. Maybe it was fatigue - but I think he panics a bit with the doubles in the post. He must be more decisive and not rush the pass. He seems to want to just get rid of the ball as soon as the double comes.

The rebounding is spectacular. Nothing more to say on that.

Kobe's shooting under 40% and averaging 22.5 points through 3 games. Yet, the Lakers are up 2-1. You know Kobe is just going to explode in one of these games and have a great shooting night.

This next game is the series clincher for us IMO. Words can't describe how eager I am for them to win this next game on Sunday.

I hope JD's right and it's easier than the last 2 wins. With us missing the playoffs last season, I forgot what these playoff series did to my blood pressure

jeremysnow · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 7079

great work DB!

we were fortunate to ward off the courageous onslaught of the phx suns. the suns were able to work their offense in the third quarter.

however, kobe working his all around game, contributed to infirmity of the suns.

no longer can the suns just triple team kobe and expect clankers from smush, sasha and luke.

the lakers are schooled in attacking the spaces of the triangle, especially when it's close to the basket.

the suns know that steve nash cannot handle smush down low at the post, nor can boris diaw and shawn marion handle the physical barrage at the block of both kwame and LO. 19 rebound laker advantage; nearly 20 point in the paint difference?

the suns scored more on the fast breaks and three pointers. more power to them.

in the final two minutes, when LO's tongue was hanging out

. kobe decided to step it up.

as tired as LO was, the suns were WORSE OFF!!!, their legs could barely get under them.

now that TT*** is back to earth and once again injured, the suns will have to do emergency measures, i.e. small ball.

targetman · Star Player Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 5503

D'Antoni seemed to think the knee injury was not serious.
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jeremysnow · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 7079

eniq 0x00 · Star Player Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 2724

jeremysnow · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 7079

Mr. EiGhTy-OnE · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:37 am Post subject:

LOOK OUT, PLAYOFF BASKETBALL IS BACK IN L.A. THE STAPLES CENTER WAS ROCKING LAST NIGHT.
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Klone_dd · Star Player Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 7330

NKPOG = Rest Of Team

Solid team effort from all. Smushie with the scoring and the entire starting front court each had 2x2's. Hold home court and we're into the next round!

Phx did a better job of getting the tempo their way last night, winning the fastbreak points 20-0

Phx shot from 3-land better 10/23.

Phx even did a better defensive job, holding the Lakers to 41% shooting.

But all that was negated by the Lakers 16-3 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to a massive 58-30 points in the paint discrepancy. They should've known they were in trouble when Cookie starts pounding the boards. He alone had 6 of the 16 o-boards.

"No rebounds, no rings" - still resonates.

KobeButler · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 10179

We gotta be careful. I felt the pace was picking up this game. We were tasking alot of quick 3 pointers and rushing our shot. Not good against the Suns. We kind of went out of our gameplan in a few stretches especially in the second quarter and 4th. And Phoenix in turn took advanatge.

I remeber reading a stat of how suns had 28 fast break points compared to Lakers 0 fast break points.

Slow it down guys!! No good will come out of playing at their pace.
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jeremysnow · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 7079

Klone_dd · Star Player Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 7330

jeremysnow · Star Player Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 7079

klone

good point!

CorkyTomjanovich · Star Player Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 3486

SV_18 · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 269

Gotta love the way the team is playing. Kobe is setting others up making them as the media would like to say "better", LO is just being a complete beast. At times you have to forget that The Matrix is even out there. Luke, what can i say about Luke, he has been a great compliment to Kobe and Lamar. Luke has been scoring, rebounding, creating, and opverall playing some good help D. Smush, as lazy as he played during the season, he's making up for it now by beating Nash up all game long. Taking it to the Suns quite hard offensively.

During the season we had one of the thinnest bench's in the league, but this bench seems to be pulling it together. Sasha is out there fearlessly taking it to the MVP draining three after three after three, playing tenacious D, and all around good team ball. Sasha is taking the momentum away from the Suns about EVERY time he comes in and the Suns have mad a run. Its a completely different game when his shots are falling. Cook, still having soft D but having a couple of games where hes been able to provide a nice scring punch off the bench. Even pulling down 7 boards in 11 minutes. George is the one player standing out as he just seems to not be able to get it like he used to. Hopefully DG can get it together in the next game or so.

lakersdynasty999 · Star Player Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 1893

***UP WITH THE LAKERS CAR FLAGS!!! DOWN WITH THE SUNS!!!***
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BigRedApple13 · Star Player Joined: 22 May 2002 Posts: 2275

Phoenix: It's a different world playing the Lakers when they have fresh legs isn't it lol? Also, when you don't have an early 15 pt. cushion like in the earlier meetings.

The defensive rotations in the halfcourt definitely wasn't as sharp as in Game 2 and cost the Lakers a chance to bury them early but the Laker dominance on the glass killed any chance for the Suns to gain momentum throughout the game. Sure in the 2nd and 4th quarters, the Suns strung up a few points in transition but after a Laker timeout, the Lakers went back to work with either Luke/Odom/Brown in the post and calmed things down.

The funny thing, is that despite the Lakers poor shooting (total, from 3 and at the line), they still dominated most of the game. Shows the importance of defensive rebounds, finishing plays in the paint and good team defense. It was heartwarming to see the Lakers beat a semi-elite team without shooting lights out for a change. That's the formula for the Lakers to becoming a championship elite team once again in the near future.

I applaud all of the starting five for their performances last night.

Luke-For his work on the glass, taking it to his man in the post and sending a message very early in the game
Smush-For his energy, hustle and finishing ability
Lamar-For his ownage on the def. glass and punishing the Suns forwards once again in the post
Kwame-For being the beast in the paint, anchoring the D and laying out Diaw
Kobe-For his 46 minutes of intensity on both ends of the floor

DB: Have you started to think about how the Lakers can defend the Clips in the post and the rebounding edge the LAC would have coming into the series if both teams held on to win their series?

LakersSpirit · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:38 pm Post subject:

b_b_belmont · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject:

Friday was a great, great win. The atmosphere at Staples was electric!

Lakers have got to come ready tomorrow. Just that simple. We've dictated tempo for the better part of 11 quarters but did have some lapses on Friday that I think were due to the emotion of us coming back home. I expect Phoenix to come out firing and aggressive, perhaps more so than at any other time this series.
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A Mad Chinaman · Star Player Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 6142

LakersSpirit · Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject:

The Mad Chinaman asked about the signs/barometers that will indicate we're in trouble... We don't like to think of it, but one of the trouble signs will be when we let them establish their tempo, and Nash is just penetrating, at will. In itself, however, that will not be the entire story. We have seen stretches, when Phoenix starts to dictate the pace, and Nash penetrates at will, but we have been coming back from that, and reestablishing our own pace.... The biggest problem will be if we completely lose our composure, and fail to recover. Another bad sign will be, if Kobe gets frustrated, and just starts jacking them up...

Like I say, however, we don't like to think of those things, and I don't think they're going to happen. This team has developed some real cohesiveness, and we've been able to withstand whatever the opponent puts out, and then, make our own comeback...
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"Teamwork is a nebulous thing. It is as ephemeral as love, disappearing at the latest insult.".... Phil Jackson