When Dallas looked like they were comfortably ahead, the Lakers stormed back to take the lead and hold on for the win.
The first quarter was pretty much even between both teams, as it was square at 31 points after 1. Kobe Bryant hit two 3 pointers and Pau Gasol posted 10 points in the first quarter. Both teams were money from the field shooting well over 50%, but Dallas was uncharacteristically missing their free throws. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry carried the load for Dallas.
The second quarter was particularly scary for the Lakers because Dallas scored sixteen straight points and went up by as much as 14. Half way through the second quarter, the Lakers had only posted 2 points. With a barrage of free throws, the Lakers traded baskets and ended the quarter down 10 points, 64-54.
In the third quarter, Kobe Bryant hit a driving layup to cut the Dallas advantage to 8. After a Bryant three pointer, the Laker deficit was 6. But the Lakers team defense was sub par as they failed to make stops on the defensive end. They allowed Dallas to shoot 56%. At the end of the quarter, Lakers 80 - Dallas 87.
The fourth quarter was exciting for Laker fans, because they got to see someone take over other than Kobe, showing how much potential this team has for the playoffs after Bynum gets back. Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic both buried three pointers and Lamar Odom hit a jump hook in the lane to cut the Dallas lead to one. After a big three pointer by Jason Terry to push the lead to 4, the Lakers went on a 7-0 run to gain the lead. A beautiful give and go between Gasol and Odom resulted in a Gasol three point play. Kobe Bryant sunk 2 free throws as MVP chants resounded throughout the Staples Center. Vujacic hit the 2 to put the Lakers up for good and the Lakers walked away with the victory 112-108.
Kobe Bryant finished with a double double, 25 points, 10 rebounds, and also added 6 assists. Gasol also had 25 points. The MVP of the game was Lamar Odom, posting 31 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, blocking 2 shots, and dishing out 5 assists. Right now, the Lakers are currently 3rd in the Western Conference and are 1 game up on Phoenix in the Pacific division.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Shootout for the 7th and 8th place in the West
The playoff race in the Western conference is heating up. No, actually its been on fire since December with 9th place 6 games out of first place. No team in the West has clinched a playoff spot, Spurs and Hornets are tied for first in the west and the Lakers and Phoenix are both 1 game out of the top spot. But the recent focus has been at the bottom of the playoff race in the 7th and 8th spots. A few days ago, the Mavericks, Warriors and Nuggets were tied for 7th place. Now its: Team GB(7th spot)
7. Mavericks _
8. Warriors .5
9. Nuggets 1
Looking at the schedules of the respective teams, Warriors could potentially fall behind due to a four game road trip starting today because in terms of tough teams, they have San Antonio, Dallas, and New Orleans in 3 out of the 4 games. After that, they have Phoenix and a potentially huge game against Denver on April 10. The other games on their schedule are against sub par teams, but are definetly must win games.
Denver has Phoenix today, after getting thrashed by them yesterday 132-117. Denver's schedule is fairly easy from there, until the first 2 of the last 3 games of the season where they face Utah and Houston which will test them well.
Dallas has the toughest schedule out of the three teams since they face the Lakers, Suns, Jazz, Trailblazers and New Orleans in their remaining games. Looking at how they how they have done against teams with winning records, how they only won by 7 against the Clippers, and that Nowitzki will only be coming up later from an ankle and knee injury, I believe Dallas will have the toughest time staying in the race.
My prediction is:
7. Warriors
8. Mavericks
9. Nuggets
7. Mavericks _
8. Warriors .5
9. Nuggets 1
Looking at the schedules of the respective teams, Warriors could potentially fall behind due to a four game road trip starting today because in terms of tough teams, they have San Antonio, Dallas, and New Orleans in 3 out of the 4 games. After that, they have Phoenix and a potentially huge game against Denver on April 10. The other games on their schedule are against sub par teams, but are definetly must win games.
Denver has Phoenix today, after getting thrashed by them yesterday 132-117. Denver's schedule is fairly easy from there, until the first 2 of the last 3 games of the season where they face Utah and Houston which will test them well.
Dallas has the toughest schedule out of the three teams since they face the Lakers, Suns, Jazz, Trailblazers and New Orleans in their remaining games. Looking at how they how they have done against teams with winning records, how they only won by 7 against the Clippers, and that Nowitzki will only be coming up later from an ankle and knee injury, I believe Dallas will have the toughest time staying in the race.
My prediction is:
7. Warriors
8. Mavericks
9. Nuggets
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Lakers notch 50th win of the season in OT against Wizards
The game wasn't superb on the Lakers part since they were up eleven at halftime and seventeen points 2 minutes into the 3rd. During the 1st half, the Lakers were doing good even with Kobe scoring a dismal 5 points by half time, but he did dish out 5 assists in the 1st half. Sasha, after a poor performance at the end of the Memphis game, scored 12 points in 8 minutes of playing time in the first half en route to 20 points and 6-8 on 3 pointers. Though I was pretty angry at Sasha after last game, this game doesn't change my judgment that he has bad decision making. Until he shows more conscience at the end of games instead of trying to be the hero, I won't have much respect for him. Anyways, the bench carried the team for the first half, since Fisher, Radmonovic, and Vujacic were the first players to get into double figures.
Second half was a little different since the Wizards started making shots. Nick Young is going to be a great player in years to come, scoring a career high 27 points 3 big three pointers to keep the Wizards in the game. The Wizards chipped away at the lead and actually led by one inside of 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Deshawn Stevenson played huge in the period nailing 5 3 pointers. The game was square at 86 going into the 4th quarter. For the first portion of the 4th quarter, the Lakers and Wizards traded buckets, but the Lakers built a 9 point lead,94-103 with 5:26 remaining in the period. But Nick Young drained 3 huge three pointers to have the Wizards face a one point deficit. Free throws by Bryant pushed the lead to 3, but Caron nailed a 3 pointer to tie it with 10 seconds left and the game went to overtime.
LA was down for most of overtime, trailing by 4 with 1:39, but 2 big Derek Fisher jumpers kept LA within 1. A Nick Young turn over and missed shot resulted in 4 Kobe Bryant free throws 3 of which were made. Luke chased down the miss and tipped it to Sasha who was fouled and nailed 2 free throws to put the game away.
Kobe finished with an MVP stat line with 26 points and 13 assists if you overlook his disgusting field goal percentage. Ronny Turiaf had 4 blocks, and Lamar Odom grabbed 13 rebounds.
P.S. Luke, just run out the clock next time and be respectful next time.
Second half was a little different since the Wizards started making shots. Nick Young is going to be a great player in years to come, scoring a career high 27 points 3 big three pointers to keep the Wizards in the game. The Wizards chipped away at the lead and actually led by one inside of 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Deshawn Stevenson played huge in the period nailing 5 3 pointers. The game was square at 86 going into the 4th quarter. For the first portion of the 4th quarter, the Lakers and Wizards traded buckets, but the Lakers built a 9 point lead,94-103 with 5:26 remaining in the period. But Nick Young drained 3 huge three pointers to have the Wizards face a one point deficit. Free throws by Bryant pushed the lead to 3, but Caron nailed a 3 pointer to tie it with 10 seconds left and the game went to overtime.
LA was down for most of overtime, trailing by 4 with 1:39, but 2 big Derek Fisher jumpers kept LA within 1. A Nick Young turn over and missed shot resulted in 4 Kobe Bryant free throws 3 of which were made. Luke chased down the miss and tipped it to Sasha who was fouled and nailed 2 free throws to put the game away.
Kobe finished with an MVP stat line with 26 points and 13 assists if you overlook his disgusting field goal percentage. Ronny Turiaf had 4 blocks, and Lamar Odom grabbed 13 rebounds.
P.S. Luke, just run out the clock next time and be respectful next time.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Memphis 114 - Lakers 111
I would like to say from the beginning that Sasha, your jersey number is not #24, and don't take your nickname too seriously.
On that note, I would like to say that the game was pathetic on behalf of the Lakers. If you have been watching the Lakers games, you have noticed the trend that they have given up the lead early and are always trying to play catch up. For the Warriors.............maybe, I mean they are among the league leaders in points scored and do play a run and gun style offense, but come on, the Bobcats?! The Grizzlies!? Even though they are shorthanded, somebody needs to not let their guy fly into the paint at will. I mean Kyle Lowry was looking like Chris Paul and Rudy Gay was looking like Tracy McGrady. Ridiculously bad defense from the Lakers tonight. The only two people playing for the Lakers tonight seemed to be Kobe Bryant and Luke Walton. Farmar, not really. 1st 3 quarters, it was all Kobe and that was good and bad, because if you have the best player in the world on a roll, he can carry the team single handedly, but other guys weren't stepping up and making shots. 4th quarter, Lakers persistently fought and eventually cut the lead to 3. But then, Sasha Vujacic came and said "Hi, I shoot when ever i catch the ball!" 4-14 on 3 pointers. Yes, Sasha took 14 3 pointers. Who does he think he is? Thinking he's wearing number 24, he was one of the main reasons they lost. Reasons they lost are in order, 1. Team Defense 2. Team Offense(Sasha) 3. Kobe. What suprised me was that Kobe suddenly decided to be an idiot and start over passing. They were down two and he kicks out to Lamar, who was extremely out of it due to the flu, for a 3 pointer. Kobe, shoot the ball! Nobody cares if you pass or not, no one is ever going to give you credit for passing, just shoot the damn ball! Anyways after a house of bricks was laid by Sasha Vujacic, it put the Lakers in a tough situation. But Rudy gave us a chance by "making" the second freethrow when he wanted to intentionally miss it. Lakers had a timeout, but Luke Walton pulled a rookie move, forcing the inbounds pass instead of calling a time out. Game over.
Next up for the Lakers: Sunday 3/30/08 vs the Wizards. Going to be a tough game with a depleted Laker squad.
P.S. Nice to see Chris Mihm back on the court.
P.S.S If Kobe doesnt step up in the next few games with 30-40 points and Laker victories I might have to start campaigning cp3 for mvp. get it together Kobe.
On that note, I would like to say that the game was pathetic on behalf of the Lakers. If you have been watching the Lakers games, you have noticed the trend that they have given up the lead early and are always trying to play catch up. For the Warriors.............maybe, I mean they are among the league leaders in points scored and do play a run and gun style offense, but come on, the Bobcats?! The Grizzlies!? Even though they are shorthanded, somebody needs to not let their guy fly into the paint at will. I mean Kyle Lowry was looking like Chris Paul and Rudy Gay was looking like Tracy McGrady. Ridiculously bad defense from the Lakers tonight. The only two people playing for the Lakers tonight seemed to be Kobe Bryant and Luke Walton. Farmar, not really. 1st 3 quarters, it was all Kobe and that was good and bad, because if you have the best player in the world on a roll, he can carry the team single handedly, but other guys weren't stepping up and making shots. 4th quarter, Lakers persistently fought and eventually cut the lead to 3. But then, Sasha Vujacic came and said "Hi, I shoot when ever i catch the ball!" 4-14 on 3 pointers. Yes, Sasha took 14 3 pointers. Who does he think he is? Thinking he's wearing number 24, he was one of the main reasons they lost. Reasons they lost are in order, 1. Team Defense 2. Team Offense(Sasha) 3. Kobe. What suprised me was that Kobe suddenly decided to be an idiot and start over passing. They were down two and he kicks out to Lamar, who was extremely out of it due to the flu, for a 3 pointer. Kobe, shoot the ball! Nobody cares if you pass or not, no one is ever going to give you credit for passing, just shoot the damn ball! Anyways after a house of bricks was laid by Sasha Vujacic, it put the Lakers in a tough situation. But Rudy gave us a chance by "making" the second freethrow when he wanted to intentionally miss it. Lakers had a timeout, but Luke Walton pulled a rookie move, forcing the inbounds pass instead of calling a time out. Game over.
Next up for the Lakers: Sunday 3/30/08 vs the Wizards. Going to be a tough game with a depleted Laker squad.
P.S. Nice to see Chris Mihm back on the court.
P.S.S If Kobe doesnt step up in the next few games with 30-40 points and Laker victories I might have to start campaigning cp3 for mvp. get it together Kobe.
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