Lakers vs Spurs

[Fresh8]

Well- it seems that Jax got his point across to the Lakers...HIS Team!

and Payton talked the talk and then walked the walk...good on him!

[Steve04]

This is quite a rare site, all 4 starters sitting on the bench after putting away a team. The Lakers should take a page out of the Bulls dynasty days and do this more often. However, the funniest part of this picture is the look on G.P.'s face. He looks miserable while the other three guys are laughing it up. Hate to Gary go to a shit team next year. Now we know though why he's never won a ring. The guy talks too much and isn't a team guy. GARY SHUT THE HELL UP FOR ONCE, PLAY BALL AND STEAL A COUPLE MORE RINGS WHILE GRAVY TRAINING OFF SHAQ AND KOBE!!

Actually, Payton isn't pouting, if you look closely he has a half smile/sort of relaxed look on his face. Just because everyone doesn't LOL like you do to express their happiness doesn't mean they are a wet blanket.

[RedTorro]

This is quite a rare site, all 4 starters sitting on the bench after putting away a team. The Lakers should take a page out of the Bulls dynasty days and do this more often. However, the funniest part of this picture is the look on G.P.'s face. He looks miserable while the other three guys are laughing it up. Hate to Gary go to a shit team next year. Now we know though why he's never won a ring. The guy talks too much and isn't a team guy. GARY SHUT THE HELL UP FOR ONCE, PLAY BALL AND STEAL A COUPLE MORE RINGS WHILE GRAVY TRAINING OFF SHAQ AND KOBE!!

Actually, Payton isn't pouting, if you look closely he has a half smile/sort of relaxed look on his face. Just because everyone doesn't LOL like you do to express their happiness doesn't mean they are a wet blanket.

Half smile? wtf are you smoking? I see no sign of one. Besides Payton has been bitching about the offense all season. He needs to relax and stop expressing his anger through the press and do it on the court by letting it out on Parker.


<= G.P.

[RedTorro]

<= this is more like it

[Ben-le-ouf]

This is quite a rare site, all 4 starters sitting on the bench after putting away a team. The Lakers should take a page out of the Bulls dynasty days and do this more often. However, the funniest part of this picture is the look on G.P.'s face. He looks miserable while the other three guys are laughing it up. Hate to Gary go to a shit team next year. Now we know though why he's never won a ring. The guy talks too much and isn't a team guy. GARY SHUT THE HELL UP FOR ONCE, PLAY BALL AND STEAL A COUPLE MORE RINGS WHILE GRAVY TRAINING OFF SHAQ AND KOBE!!

Actually, Payton isn't pouting, if you look closely he has a half smile/sort of relaxed look on his face. Just because everyone doesn't LOL like you do to express their happiness doesn't mean they are a wet blanket.

Half smile? wtf are you smoking? I see no sign of one. Besides Payton has been bitching about the offense all season. He needs to relax and stop expressing his anger through the press and do it on the court by letting it out on Parker.


<= G.P.

Actually you can't judge just with a picture Payton's state of mind..But it's true, in this photo, Payton seems very distant.

Hey, the topic should be renamed "GARY PAYTON' SMILE"

[.]

Does it really matter how his facial expresion was the second that the cameraman took the picture? I mean, during games I sometimes close my eyes for like 5/10 secs while Im on the bench, and if someone would take a picture of that, would that mean I fell asleep? lol

[Jackal]

Well, that was a great game.

The Lakers did a stellar job on defense..I was impressed. These old folks still have some gas left in the tank, now let's just pray it's enough to last them the playoffs.

This is how they should play, Shaq should still be the focal point of the game. Sure, he has off nights, but which player doesnt? It was great seeing the teamwork and getting everyone involved.

They played the way they played the first game against Dallas, crisp passing, good defense, quick to the ball...hellow, when you have Shaq tackling Hedo, you know it's the playoffs.

Don't expect game 4 to come as easily though, Duncan & Parker were not much of a factor in game three, thus look for them to come back with a vengance. Anyways, if the Lakers can keep applying the pressure they applied yesterday, I'm pretty sure they can manage a few more wins.

I feel bad for Parker though, they've got it in for him. They beat him up.

Anyways, this was a game worth watching. On to game five.

Oh, like we took one step to the edge, here's one for those who bet against LA, yeah yeah...it's one game...but it's also one step closer.

P.s.

O'Neal, stop shooting bricks man!!

[air gordon]

Anyways, this was a game worth watching. On to game five.

how was game 4?

[Jeffx]

You're right, Jackal, that was the BEST defense I've seen from the Lakers all season. Like said, SA will come back strong in game 4. Lakers can't let up. Keep the heat up on Parker. Make him pay for driving in the paint.

[Drex]

any team who wins game 5 will win the series...

Unless we lose game five LOL

I knew the key to winning was a balanced attack...defense (props to Payton) and home court advantage!

Of course, balanced attack (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili), defense (one of the best teams in the league) and home court advantage (4 of 7 in San Antonio)!

[Jackal]

Lol, my mistake. On to game 4.

[Micchy_boy]

lakers won!!!! kobe always has a great game if he came from colorado to staples!!!

[Andrew]

The team that wins Game 5 probably will take the series. If LA can win in San Antonio, they should be able to wrap up the series at home (where they were 34-7 during the regular season, and so far undefeated during the playoffs). If the Spurs take Game 5, they have home court advantage in Game 7 (if they can't win at Staples).

I won't gamble anything on it, but I'll predict the winner of Game 5 will advance.

[Matt]

damn, Shaq tookover in the 3rd. He was 4-9 at one point and then he made his next 4 shots to go to 8-13. He also made his FT's (8-11) and some key blocks. Kobe played real well too. He dominated whoever guarded him

[Jackal]

while the laker fans' glass gets a drop of optimism, LA still has to win 3 out of the next 4 games to advance...

Let's make that the next 2 out 3.

Like Andrew said, whoever takes game 5...will advance.

I didnt watch the game, it was way too late for me...I'll watch it today at 7 pm and write what I thought.

*sigh* 2 more wins for either team and people will be bidding their farewells.

[hmm]

i hope SA wins.and we get rid of you Jackal...... just kidding.any 1 who plays better wins.And as it looks first 2 matches SA deserves but last 2 matches LA.yes game 5 will be vital.

[Jackal]

i hope SA wins.and we get rid of you Jackal...... just kidding.

Yeah, I hope SA wins too, if every new member at the NLSC is going to turn out to be like you, I would be glad to leave...... just kidding.

[hmm]

okey then.

[Boyk]

That was a beauty!
Shaq played Great! Kobe played Better!

Bruce didn't stop Kobe once, he got what he wanted, when he wanted, also made some great passes, and actually played some great D.

Shaquille controlled the middle, and grabbed some big Boards, and actually shot decent from FT line(For Shaq anyway)

For the Spurs, prolly the only real good thing was(even though i cant stand the guy) Manu Ginobili.
He had 21pnts 8rebs 5asts and kept attacking Shaq all night, even though in the end he couldnt get anything past Big Daddy

Wahoooo! Lets go Lakers!
2-2.

[RedTorro]

This one is going to 7 games where it will be a complete toss up.

[air gordon]

For the Spurs, prolly the only real good thing was(even though i cant stand the guy) Manu Ginobili.
He had 21pnts 8rebs 5asts and kept attacking Shaq all night, even though in the end he couldnt get anything past Big Daddy

i thought this was a good game for LAL. i do remember manu driving, scoring on and drawing a foul on o'neal.

spurs will enjoy the homecooking- they are undefeated @sbc against the lakers in the playoffs.

[Jackal]

they are undefeated @sbc against the lakers in the playoffs.

There's a first for everything.

My thoughts on the game.

LA allowed way too many offensive rebounds in the first half. Second chance points could cost them alot.

Trying to shutdown Parker & Duncan has worked so far and Shaq's not doing a bad job on Duncan. (Whenever he is guarding him.) They double Duncan as soon as he touches the ball. As soon as he starts dribbling, the player starts poking at the ball and it will either result in a turnover or a too quickly taken shot. Which 60% of the time is a miss. Anyways, I like the strategy, make the rest of the Spurs win the game, shutdown Parker & Duncan as much as possible. Manu is doing a great job though, playing some wonderfull basketball. He truely is the Argentinian version of Kobe Bryant.

It's great to see that the Lakers' two focal points, have put aside their differences...for the time being atleast. I like the Lakers as "their" team instead of "his" team. Thus...better their team (together) than a one man led team.

What they are doing is what have won them those three rings:

Penetrating into the paint, sucking in the defense & allowing the open player to know down the shot. A good example of this is when Kobe drove against the Trail Blazers in a playoff game. He was being defended by Patterson, I think. He drove, Pippen fell for it and went to help, Kobe passed to Horry and he knocked down the three. Yay!

This game, Kobe made it a point not only to drive (which he's best at in my humble opinion and his driving is which gets wins.)
What do you expect, it's a higher fieldgoal percentage. It's great to see him drive, draw the defence towards him and ofcourse, when you've got 155 KG of mass, you pass it onto him for a higher fieldgoal percentage, a dunk.

Shaq & Kobe duo = Batman & Robin, just dont get the roles mixed up.

Malone & Payton have taken on the role that was once filled by a better playing Horry & Fisher.

Alot of people would want Fisher to start and see Payton move to the 2, I dont think this would be a good idea. This way, they atleast have some bench production opposed to zilch. Oh, Fisher, enough with the flopping man. You taking lessons from Divac?

What else?

Oh yeah, I'm just praying to God, that Kobe doesnt feel he's on fire now...and decides to hoist up 30 something shots making a measly 10-11 of those. Sure, his acrobatic shots went in in this game, doesnt mean it will happen in every game. Kobe should know when to get a grip of his shannanigins. But, he's matured as a player over the years and I suspect he can tell when he's hot and/or when he's cold. I hope that is...

This is turning out to be quite a series, on to game five.

Let's go to San Antonio.

[RedTorro]

Here's a theory, mabey each time Kobe goes to court he is reminded that his career could be coming to an end so then he decides to play his ass off like there's no tommorow that night. My friends and I always joke about it when Kobe puts up big numbers after coming back from court. We lookat it as a sign of guilt above all else.

[GloveGuy]

Alot of people would want Fisher to start and see Payton move to the 2, I dont think this would be a good idea. This way, they atleast have some bench production opposed to zilch. Oh, Fisher, enough with the flopping man. You taking lessons from Divac?

I don't see the point of that. Even Doc River pointed out that if Phil Jackson puts the ball in GP's hands, giving him more free reign, the Lakers are a better team.

Having Fisher bring it up court eliminates any possible fast break and limits Payton and Malone's effectiveness.

Even though Shaq and Kobe are the two focal points, it's necessary to often let Payton and Malone play with each other on the offensive end. With Fisher as the point, that doesn't happen.

[Jackal]

*sigh* I wish I had english commentry, but no...they go dub it in dutch. They call Malone, Shaq and Shaq they call Malone, silly commentators.

On topic:

Yeah, what I like about Paytons addition is his ability to push the ball up the court, if there is no one to pass to, he lays it up himself. I love the way he lays it up, the way he shields the ball.

Speaking of nice layups, that was a nice layup by Fisher in game 3...the one where he goes up against Duncan.