Lakers - The Evil Empire (2006-07 Season)

[HonorGlow]

Introduction

Besides, I am more interested in taking this Dynasty quickly to the future (Year 5 and up) than following the real schedule. 9-min quarters because my defense is so bad that it leaks triple figures if I go higher (not to mention the dreaded laptop lag-blitz).

You're just the right guy in regards to what we're looking for (in terms of wanting to go way in the future with your dynasty), we'd love to analyze your stats and give you the 'birdie breakdown' at Livedynasty.com

Where in L.A. do you live? I lived in Westwood for 5 years...so I'm just curious...

[selwyth]

Raptors 108
Lakers 110

The Lakers’ New Dynamic Duo

2/21/2004 – Lamar Odom had a stunning night against the Toronto Raptors, scoring a career-high 42 points and grabbing 10 boards. The last of his baskets came with 1.8 seconds left on the clock, and proved to be the game-winner.

Odom ripped into the Raptors the entire game, shooting a lethal 63% from the field and making 9 trips to the free-throw line. He got opposing match-up Donyell Marshall in foul trouble all game long, and scored from everywhere: inside the paint, from the baseline and from beyond the arc. He scored the first points of the game for the Lakers off a 3-point play and scored the last points off a potential 3-point play.

“I really felt it today,” Odom was visibly breathless in a post-game interview. “I made quite a few shots in a row, and before long, Kobe and TJ really started force-feeding me the ball, and I simply couldn’t miss.”

The only other Laker who scored in double figures was Kobe Bryant with 25. His clutch play in the 4th quarter significantly helped the Lakers to the win. With slightly more than 2 minutes left, Raptors guard Rafer Alston hit a crucial 3-pointer to tie the game at 100 apiece. On the ensuing two possessions, Bryant shot over double-teams, but the game was still undecided at 104-104. As the Raptors defense started clamping down on him, he dished the ball to Chris Mihm for an easy dunk (106) and Odom for an open 12-foot look at the basket (108), but the Raptors refused to give in.

The score was still tied, 108-108, as the Raptors in-bounded the ball at the 32-second mark. They used up most of the shot clock, but Rose was unable to find the basket. The ball was rebounded by Vlade Divac, and the Lakers did not call a time-out. Instead Divac passed to a running TJ Ford, who sought to find an easy transition basket.

“We opted to take a risk,” coach Rudy Tomjanovich spoke of the crucial game-winning play. “I instructed our backcourt to push the ball if it did not go in and look for an opening to find the go-ahead basket. Toronto had had problems with our running game, so I felt that was a legitimate gamble.”

It paid off. Ford was stopped on the break by Alston and passed to Bryant. The Raptors’ inside defense was slow to set up after getting back, and Bryant saw it. He passed to Odom on the low post.

“We made eye contact,” Odom explained. “And I knew Bryant was looking for the open man. My eyes lit up when I caught the pass.”

Odom span around to face the basket and went up for the lay-up. He drew contact from Marshall, who picked up his 5th personal foul, and kept his concentration to make the shot, to the delight of the fans in the stands.

“More of these neck-to-neck finishes, and I am going to die early from a heart attack,” Jack Nicholson, who was in the stands, was quoted after the game. “And people say the Lakers aren’t good anymore this year? Watching a Lakers game is better than listening to Vanessa [Bryant] moan!”

On the and-1 conversion from the charity stripe, Odom deliberately missed his free throw, and the ball bounced off the rim as time expired, capping a breathtaking finish for the young forward.

The Raptors were sorely disappointed to lose such a close game, especially after rallying from a 15-point deficit late in the 3rd quarter. They outscored the Lakers 31-22 in the final period, but fell an agonizing basket short. Jalen Rose had 25 points and Vince Carter had 21.

The promised confrontation between Carter and Bryant never truly materialized. The two barely stepped within five feet of each other, except when Bryant forced shots over Rose-Carter double-teams, and when Carter lost Bryant in a pick to make a highlight dunk in the 2nd quarter.

“That [dunk] was my gift to Bryant, my way of shoving that baloney excuse down his throat,” Carter was interviewed during half-time. Everybody knows that I am the sickest dunker in the NBA right now, not a big-mouth who can’t even complete his cheap pea-easy dunks on consecutive attempts.”

Bryant was unfazed by the comments. “He never dared to face me one-on-one. I took him [and] Jalen Rose on, and made crucial shots over them. There is no question as to who is the better player.”

Petty squabbles aside, Odom came into his own, and was the star of the show.

[selwyth]

Odom Injured

2/24/2005 - Laker forward Lamar Odom followed the biggest night of his NBA career with another laudatory performance. In the Lakers' 113-77 blowout victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, Odom led all scorers with 26 points during the 3rd quarter.

Then he got injured and was helped off the court. Team doctors have since officially diagnosed his injury as a hyper-extended right knee, and estimate that he will be out for at least 2 weeks.

Schedule-wise, he is expected to miss only 2 games: against the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics, but this injury, nevertheless, comes at a particularly inopportune time.

"Odom had just started to come into his own," a crestfallen Rudy Tomjanovich said after the game. "He gave us two consecutive big games, and was virtually unstoppable. Even Pau Gasol, one of the best big men in the league, was outplayed tonight. Odom was ready tonight to break out and share the scoring load with Kobe, only to be hampered by this setback. Hopefully, this injury will not slow him down by the time he comes back, and he will continue to improve."

Against the Grizzlies, many more plays were called for Odom than usual, and he stepped up to the plate, shooting over 60% from the field. He also pulled down 9 rebounds. Laker guards Kobe Bryant and TJ Ford benefitted from Odom's blistering form, netting 8 and 12 assists apiece.

With Odom out, the starting power forward spot is expected to be a toss-up between Brian Grant and Brian Cook. Grant has been the back-up for most of the season, but Cook has performed well off the bench in the Lakers' last two games, averaging 6 points in limited minutes and demonstrating a good stroke with his outside shooting.

[selwyth]

HonorGlow: I lived in Arcadia, and I'll send you the pstats at the end of the season (I overshot at 21 games when I saved the first file).

[selwyth]

Blazers 81
Lakers 92

Celtics 90
Lakers 115

Bryant Steps Up
3/3/2004 - With Lamar Odom out injured, the pressure was on for somebody on the Los Angeles Lakers to step up and take over as the 2nd scoring option for the team. That man was Kobe Bryant, the Lakers' number 1 option.

Kobe Bryant scored 15 of his 34 points in the 4th quarter on Saturday to lead the Lakers to a 92-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers last Saturday at Staples Center. Yesterday, he went one step further, matching up against Celtics guard Paul Pierce and outscoring the fellow MVP candidate 45-32. The Lakers won that contest against the Boston Celtics 115-90.

"The pressure was on for Kobe to deliver," coach Rudy Tomjanovich assessed. "And I'm sure it's evident to everyone that he did."

Bryant's excellent performances virtually guarantee the Lakers of a playoff spot. With just 4 games to go, the Lakers are 17-8, sitting securely behind the Sacramento Kings in the Pacific Division and heading for a fourth-seed finish.

"Kobe deserves to be season MVP," General Manager Selwyth announcd in a press conference earlier today, referring to Bryant's heroics in the two games. "Nobody in the NBA has as much a self-defined team as Kobe has with us, and he has been absolutely wonderful. This all confirms what I have been saying since the start of the season: that Kobe is better than Shaq, Malone and Payton all put together. He is the best player on the planet right now, and we're going to f***ing rape the Spurs and Kings in a couple of weeks and show them that we never ever 'broke up'."

[selwyth]

Lakers' Draft Prospects

3/15/2004 - The postseason is fast approaching, and the Lakers figure to be a big part of it once more, but there is no harm in looking beyond that. Here are the upcoming rookies which the Lakers have reportedly expressed interest in.

Nicodemus Abraham
6'8" PG
Potential: Good
Projected: Top 20
A 6'8 point guard, 'nuff said. His top 20 projection makes it unlikely that he will suit up for the Lakers next season, however.

Bashiri Long
7'5" C
Potential: Average
Projected: Late 1st round
The monster of the upcoming draft, Long does not have much skills, but nobody seems to care. The possibility of acquiring a super-huge man to just stick in the paint and scare opposing penetrators away sounds too good to pass up. To a Shaq-less Lakers team, it is an even sweeter deal. Besides, Long is only 18 and still has time to develop his game.

Mitch Dickerson
7'2" PF
Potential: Good
Projected: Late 1st round
In a draft that comprises heavily of talented power forwards, the Lakers will do well to zero in on Dickerson. He does not have the scoring ability of the other potential draftees, but his timing in blocking shots is top notch. The catch: the Lakers already have 4 usable power forwards. The suggestion: dump Medvedenko, who has a similar but inferior game to that of Cook's and Odom's, and snap Dickerson up to add some spice to the rotation.

Katashiko Yeung
6'2" SG
Potential: Good
Projected: Early 2nd round
The Lakers are in need of a true shooting guard to back Kobe Bryant up, following Kareem Rush's fallout with management. Yeung will likely be the best shooting guard available with the Lakers' late 1st-round pick.

Cordell Bowie
6'6" PG
Potential: Excellent
Projected: Late 2nd round
A pass-first playmaker who would have been a shoo-in a couple of months ago, but the Lakers' need for a point guard has declined with the recent acquisition of TJ Ford.


Damian Beranek
6' PG
Potential: Excellent
Projected: Undrafted
Beranek is not expected to be a major player in the draft, but a Laker scout was reportedly sighted at Beranek's college basketball game last week.

[Jing]

ah.. a text based dynasty, you don't see to many of those.
i commend you on a good job done so far with the limited resources. my computer barely handle 2003, like hell it will ever take 2005
great job so far

[selwyth]

Heat 111
Lakers 107

Shaq Hammers Final Nail in Coffin

4/4/2005 - In the end, A game hyped as a showdown between Heat center Shaquille O'Neal and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was not just about the two players. Neither was the leading scorer on his team.

Lamar Odom led all scorers with 35 points, and Bryant had 33, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Their combined efforts were not enough to supplant Miami, who ended the Lakers' six-game winning streak dating from the All-Star Break. Dwayne Wade paced the Heat with 27 points and 7 assists, and Rusual Butler had 22 points. O'Neal added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

O'Neal did not have his usual dominant game, but he sealed the win for Miami. With 8 seconds to go and the Heat up 109-107, Heat veteran and former Laker Eddie Jones missed a long-range jumper. O'Neal grabbed the offensive rebound and slammed the ball in for the four-point differential with 6.7 seconds left. The last basket of the game capped an amazing comeback by Miami, in which it outscored the Lakers 34-22 in the final quarter to steal the win.

"Little Pee-whee can say all he likes about getting to the Finals," O'Neal was interviewed after the game. "But it's all crapped up like his wife's behind. We hit some rough spots early in the season, but we have recovered, and are ready to dominate the East. Do I see the Lakers dominating the West? They are full of s*** without me."

Bryant was more philosophical in the aftermath of the defeat.

"I got more points than him [O'Neal], so I'm better. At the end of the day, it is a personal battle between me and him, and I won. Besides, we are already in the playoffs. Shaq is the one with the f***-ed up team who is struggling to get into the post-season with a losing record, nonetheless. I understand why Shaq wanted to hop onto a franchise with lesser competition."

Both players never made much contact during the game, preferring to do their own thing. Bryant settled for outside shots, or drove into the paint when Laker center Vlade Divac led O'Neal away. O'Neal would draw double or triple teams, and kick the ball out. On a crucial possession late in the 4th quarter, Bryant handled the ball and shot over a lunging O'Neal to tie the score at 105.

As Bryant headed down the court, he flipped O'Neal off.

"All I've got to say to that skinny punk," O'Neal, who ignored the gesture, warned during the post-game interview, "is that next time he wants to do that, he'd better make sure his wife is safe."

Bryant downplayed the gesture, citing that it was blown out of proportion. "I raised my index fingers at the fans as a shout-out for their support of me, not only during this game, but during this entire experimental season. I thought I'd show my appreciation to O'Neal too for leaving us and letting me take charge, so I raised a finger at him too. I merely figured I'd use my middle finger as an allegory of how fat he is, and just so he can see it, because I don't think he can see too far out of those little beady eyes."

Penultimately, the true losers of the game were Lamar Odom and Dwayne Wade, former teammates at Miami. Both were neglected during post-game interviews despite noteworthy performances.

[scj]

Quick question, are you a Laker fan? I can't tell from reading this dynasty whether you are or not (no offense).

This dynasty is freaking hilarious though.

[Donatello]

Quick question, are you a Laker fan? I can't tell from reading this dynasty whether you are or not (no offense).

I hope this Dynasty will depict the Lakers as how I see them, being a Laker-hater who lives in L.A, and thus can’t help but follow them (Clippers suck). Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no ignoring ‘em.

[scj]

Quick question, are you a Laker fan? I can't tell from reading this dynasty whether you are or not (no offense).

I hope this Dynasty will depict the Lakers as how I see them, being a Laker-hater who lives in L.A, and thus can’t help but follow them (Clippers suck). Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no ignoring ‘em.

Woops.. My fault. Thanks for pointing that out for me.

[selwyth]

I'm not a Lakers fan, but I only get to watch Lakers and Clippers games, so I choose the lesser of two evils.

[selwyth]

Spurs 99
Lakers 118

Victory Bought at What Cost?

The San Antonio Spurs knew it was going to be a long night, when they picked up 2 quick fouls in the first 10 seconds of the game. They would concede 15 free throws in the 1st quarter alone and fall behind 19-39 at the quarter break, a deficit which they never came close to overcoming.

Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 37 points in the 1st-quarter rout to lead the Lakers. Guard Tony Parker paced the Spurs with 26 points.

The Lakers' championship hopes dangled in the air, however, when forward Lamar Odom was injured on a drive to the basket early in the second quarter with a sore foot. He did not return to the game, and replacement Brian Grant stepped up, recording 16 points and 10 rebounds after Odom's departure.

"We talked to the medical trainer," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said earlier today. "Odom should be able to play through the pain in the next game."

GM Selwyth was optimistic about the Lakers' fate in the postseason in spite of Odom's niggling injury concerns. "We blew out the Spurs for the second time this season," he stated in a press conference. "It shows you how good we are compared to last year's team. We don't need some half-arsed lucky shot with 0.4 seconds left by a bandwagon fair-weather player, just some impressive numbers from Kobe. That's how you win NBA championships. You know you suck when the length of your playoff run depends on Derek Fisher instead of Kobe."

He was equally critical of the Spurs.

"Oh, and Spurs suck too. Or maybe it's just because we're so good, we make them suck. There is only one Kobe in the world, and we have him. The other teams all suck because they don't have him."

[trubucksfan]

damn,those are some harsh words,sadly thats probably how kobe feels in real life!

[selwyth]

Lakers 97
Spurs 105

Spurs Tie Playoff Series 1-1

Spurs center Tim Duncan, who had a lackluster performance three days ago against the Lakers, fed off the energy of the San Antonio home fans as he turned in a monstrous performance to lead the Spurs past the Lakers in Game 2. He scored 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker also added 25 and 17 points respectively to help the Spurs.

With Lamar Odom getting limited minutes because of his foot injury, the Lakers failed to stage the dominance they exhibited in Tuesday's blowout victory. The score was tied at 29 at the end of the 1st quarter, tied at 53 at the half, and the Lakers were only down 74-75 at the start of the 4th quarter, before the Spurs pulled away down the stretch. Laker guard Kobe Bryant had 27 points to lead the Lakers, but was held to only 2 points in the 4th quarter.

The penultimate Game 3 will be played in Staples Center, with the winner facing the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference semi-finals.

[selwyth]

Spurs 110
Lakers 114 (overtime)

Another Classic Lakers-Spurs Series in Show-stopping Fashion

What would a Lakers-Spurs playoff fixture be without an astonishing basket at the buzzer which defies the law of physics? In what is becoming almost a post-season tradition between the two fierce rivals, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the score at 97-97 and force overtime. The Lakers eventually prevailed 114-110, dumping the Spurs out of a post-season run once again, as they did last year with Derek Fisher's series-turning jumper.

"1.7 is the new 0.4!" General Manager Selwyth could not contain his excitement after the game. "DID YOU SEE THAT?! DID YOU F***ING SEE IT?! I KNEW he was going to make it from the moment the ball left his hand!"

At the start of the 4th quarter, the Lakers led by the slimmest of margins, 76-75. The game was still close at the 1-minute mark, when Bryant blew a dunk in traffic with a 94-93 Lakers lead.

On the ensuing possession, Spurs forward Brent Barry made a mid-range jumper. After the Lakers called a timeout, he then stole the inbound pass to make a breakaway lay-up with 33 seconds left on the clock.

The Lakers elected not to use their remaining timeout, and Bryant quickly dribbled up the court and made a hasty jumper that did not connect. The Spurs came back with a 2-second differential, and killed time before Barry tried to seal the win with a jumper. It was off the mark and in the melee of hands trying to grab the rebounds, Lakers forward Lamar Odom came down with the ball and called a timeout with 1.7 seconds left on the clock.

"I already knew what to do when I was approaching the huddle," Kobe Bryant described the moment in a post-game interview. "Derek [Fisher] stole my moment of glory last year, but this time, with my team, I knew it was my time."

Devean George threw an accurate inbound pass this time to Bryant. The latter went into his shooting motion immediately and shot over a lunging Manu Ginobili, reminscent of Fisher's own desperate heave a year ago. Unlike that heave a year ago, the Staples Center crowd, erupted when the ball found the basket.

"All I've got to say to Manu is: YOU SUCK," GM Selwyth rubbed salt into the Argentinian's wounds. "Every year you are with the Spurs, we'll pass it to the guy you are defending for those clutch shots. Who cares if you have a gold medal? You can't perform when the pressure's on."

Ginobili, to his credit, did not let the miracle shot faze him during overtime. He scored the first six points for the Spurs in overtime off a three-point play and three-pointer, giving the Spurs a 103-100 lead. Indeed, Bryant's valiant effort looked increasingly like it had merely postponed the inevitable when the Lakers were still down 107-108 with 1:30 left in the game.

Enter Bryant once more. He scored the Lakers' next 6 points, including a fast-break dunk that put the Lakers up 113-110 with 34 seconds left in the game. And Bryant fades out. After Tony Parker missed a 3-point attempt, Bryant was intentionally fouled and in an uncharacteristic shooting display, missed both free throws.

"I, well, figured that with the fans on the edge of their seats, this would make their trip even more worthwhile," Bryant explained during the post-game interview. "I knew San Antonio would not be able to make a 3-point shot at the buzzer, like I had."

San Antonio had gone 9 for 17 from beyond the arc.

Parker missed another 3-pointer, Lakers center Vlade Divac pulled down the rebound with 6 seconds left in the game. He was sent to the charity stripe and made 1 of 2, sealing the win for the Lakers.

"I don't understand," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced during the post-game mortem, before losing his temper. "F*** THE LAKERS! WHY DO THEY ALWAYS GET LUCKY AGAINST US! F*** 'EM! IT WAS OUR VICTORY! WE SHOULD BE IN THE SEMI-FINALS! I HATE THE LAKERS!"

Unsurprisingly, Popovich filed an appeal to NBA officials to review the footage of Bryant making his last-gasp 3-pointer.

"I feel sorry for ol' Pop," Selwyth commented, "in the "poor victim of the Lakers' awesomeness" sense. Bryant, as I have always said, is the real deal, and he proved it tonight. And to think I was just saying how Fisher sucked the other day. Hey Fisher, DID YOU SEE THAT? Huh? The Lakers don't f***ing need you! Go on getting laid by your bottom-dwelling Warrior cousins. 1.7 is the new 0.4!"

In Game 2, Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and did not record a single assist in a Lakers loss. Tonight, he scored 33 points and passed for 8 assists. Devean George had 19 points, including 2 crucial 3-pointers during overtime. Ginobili led the Spurs with 31 points, Parker had 26 and Barry had 20. Spurs center Tim Duncan had another off-night under the watchful attention of Laker double-teams and only recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds.

[selwyth]

Editor's Note: that game was exciting!. I really thought the game was gone after the inbound pass got stolen (and was cursing the computer, no less). I just did a last-minute heave at the top of the arc, and whoa! I didn't even manage to get a screenshot because it immediately cut to a scene of the Lakers bench erupting.

A look back at the most exciting games of the season:

Denver 125
Lakers 117 (double OT)
Bryant was injured and Odom fouled out in the 4th quarter, but the Nuggets still required 2 overtime periods to overcome the Lakers.

New York 92
Lakers 89
Jamal Crawford hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer with Bryant all over him (COMPUTER CHEATS!)

Toronto 108
Lakers 110
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the last 1:30. With 1.8 seconds left, Odom goes up for the game-winner, is fouled, and makes the basket anyway.

Miami 111
Lakers 107
With 6 seconds left in the game. Shaquille O'Neal grabs an offensive rebound and dunks the ball home, sealing the win for the Heat.

Spurs 110
Lakers 114 (OT)
Bryant takes an inbound pass with 1.7 seconds left and makes the tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. The Lakers prevailed in overtime after trailing for most of the period.

[scj]

The player/coach/GM comments after the game always kill me.
Must've been a great game.

[AdamBa17]

LMAO. Nice post game comments.

[selwyth]

End-of-season Player Awards Announced

Most Valuable Player - Shaquille O'Neal, MIA (23.3 PPG, .546 FG%, .156 3P%, .490 FT%, 13.6 RPG, 2.90 BPG, 1.03 SPG, 2.6 APG)

Most Improved Player - Alonzo Mourning, NJ (13.8 PPG, .509 FG%, .125 3P%, .674 FT%, 9.3 RPG, 1.72 BPG, 0.79 SPG, 1.3 APG)

Defensive Player of the Year - Kevin Garnett, MIN (20.7 PPG, .483 FG%, .375 3P%, .799 FT%, 11.3 RPG, 1.93 BPG, 2.07 SPG, 3.8 APG)

Rookie of the Year - Andre Iguodala, PHI (17.2 PPG, .430 FG%, .250 3P%, .830 FT%, 8.6 RPG, 1.14 BPG, 1.38 SPG, 4.4 APG)

Sixth Man - Steve Smith, CHA (12.5 PPG, 22.6 MPG, .516 FG%, .417 3P%, .938 FT%, 2.0 RPG, 0.24 BPG, 0.62 SPG, 2.4 APG)

Lakers General Manager Selwyth did not agree with the naming of O'Neal as season MVP.

"Kobe showed last night who is the franchise player who comes up with the clutch shots. We all saw Kobe hit the buzzer-beater to force overtime in a deciding Game 3. Shaq would simply miss every single free throw in a situation like that and cause his team to lose by a single point."

[selwyth]

NBA Team and Coach of the Year Awards Announced

Rick Adelman of the Sacramento Kings has been named 2005 Coach of the Year. He led his team to a 24-5 record, good enough for the best record in the league and the Pacific Division title.

The All-NBA Team line-ups were also announced.

All-NBA Team 1
C Shaquille O'Neal, MIA (23.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 13.6 RPG, 2.90 BPG, 1.03 SPG)
PF Antoine Walker, ATL (23.7 PPG, 4.3 APG, 11.6 RPG, 1.52 BPG, 1.34 SPG)
SF Peja Stojakovic, SAC (24.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, 8.7 RPG, 0.66 BPG, 1.21 SPG)
SG Kobe Bryant, LAL (26.0 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.4 RPG, 0.93 BPG, 3.00 SPG)
PG Jason Kidd, NJ (21.3 PPG, 7.9 APG, 5.6 RPG, 0.55 BPG, 2.62 SPG)

All-NBA Team 2
C Brad Miller, SAC (17.7 PPG, 3.2 APG, 9.1 RPG, 1.52 BPG, 1.00 SPG)
PF Kevin Garnett, MIN (21.7 PPG, 3.8 APG, 11.3 RPG, 1.93 BPG, 2.07 SPG)
SF Ron Artest, IND (20.3 PPG, 3.9 APG, 7.4 RPG, 1.21 BPG, 2.24 SPG)
SG Paul Pierce, BOS (24.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.1 RPG, 0.41 BPG, 1.83 SPG)
PG Stephon Marbury, NY (20.6 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.2 RPG, 0.38 BPG, 1.90 SPG)

All-Defensive Team 1
C Shaquille O'Neal, MIA (23.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 13.6 RPG, 2.90 BPG, 1.03 SPG)
PF Kevin Garnett, MIN (21.7 PPG, 3.8 APG, 11.3 RPG, 1.93 BPG, 2.07 SPG)
SF Ron Artest, IND (20.3 PPG, 3.9 APG, 7.4 RPG, 1.21 BPG, 2.24 SPG)
SG Kobe Bryant, LAL (26.0 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.4 RPG, 0.93 BPG, 3.00 SPG)
PG Jason Kidd, NJ (21.3 PPG, 7.9 APG, 5.6 RPG, 0.55 BPG, 2.62 SPG)

All-Defensive Team 2
C Marcus Camby, DEN (9.0 PPG, 1.5 APG, 10.6 RPG, 2.00 BPG, 1.62 SPG)
PF Carlos Boozer, UTA (19.5 PPG, 2.2 APG, 10.8 RPG, 1.17 BPG, 2.00 SPG)
SF Andrei Kirilenko, UTA (18.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 10.2 RPG, 2.15 BPG, 1.81 SPG)
SG Doug Christie, SAC (11.8 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.9 RPG, 0.34 BPG, 2.21 SPG)
PG Allen Iverson, PHI (20.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.9 RPG, 0.45 BPG, 2.69 SPG)

All-Rookie Team 1
C Emeka Okafor, CHA (15.4 PPG, 2.6 APG, 12.0 RPG, 1.59 BPG, 1.07 SPG)
PF Dwight Howard, ORL (15.7 PPG, 2.3 APG, 8.5 RPG, 1.46 BPG, 0.50 SPG)
SF Andre Iguodala, PHI (17.2 PPG, 4.4 APG, 8.6 RPG, 1.14 BPG, 1.38 SPG)
SG Ben Gordon, CHI (18.1 PPG, 3.8 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.52 BPG, 1.03 SPG)
PG Devin Harris, DAL (11.0 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 0.38 BPG, 1.76 SPG)

All-Rookie Team 2
C Rafael Araujo, TOR (5.5 PPG, 0.7 APG, 4.0 RPG, 0.44 BPG, 0.22 SPG)
PF Robert Swift, SEA (5.1 PPG, 0.9 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.11 BPG, 0.61 SPG)
SF Andres Nocioni, CHI (8.9 PPG, 1.8 APG, 6.6 RPG, 0.45 BPG, 0.55 SPG)
SG Luol Deng, CHI (8.9 PPG, 2.2 APG, 6.1 RPG, 1.21 BPG, 0.83 SPG)
PG Jameer Nelson, ORL (6.7 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.9 RPG, 0.10 BPG, 0.66 SPG)

[selwyth]

Lakers 107
Kings 77

Defensive Lockdown Gives Lakers 1-0 Series Lead

Arco Arena was silenced last night as the Kings were handed one of the most lopsided playoff losses ever and one of their biggest losses at Arco Arena in recent years in a 107-77 reversal against the Lakers. The Kings only shot 37.5% from the field, and never got into the game.

"Our defense was outstanding," Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich commented after the game. "We stifled one of the best offences in the league through sheer hustle."

The loss did not reflect too well on Sacramento coach Rick Adelman, who two days earlier had just been named Coach of the Year.

"Coach of the Year? He can go suck my d***," Lakers General Manager Selwyth spoke of Adelman. "This just shows you how unfair and misleading the NBA awards are. Kobe not MVP? Shaq being MVP? This league needs an overhaul, and it can start by naming me GM of the Year.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom, back in his first start since his foot injury, got the better of Kings veteran Chris Webber, outscoring him 27-4 and grabbing 11 rebounds for good measure. Kobe Bryant also achieved a double-double, scoring 27 points and dishing for 10 assists, and ex-King Vlade Divac also had a good night with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Peja Stojakovic had 22 points to lead the Kings, and Mike Bibby had 17.

[selwyth]

Kings 87
Lakers 95

Lakers Roll into Western Conference Finals

Lamar Odom had 30 points and Kobe Bryant had 29, as the Lakers overcame the Kings at Staples Center to sweep the Western Conference Semi-finals series 2-0.

The game resembled nothing of last week's blowout loss though, as Sacramento led for most of the game, and only faltered in the crucial 4th-quarter stretch. The Lakers were down 63-69 near the end of the 3rd quarter, but an 8-0 run that spanned the 3rd and 4th quarters got them pressuring the Kings once more.

"We opened the door for them," Lakers forward Devean George noted. "And they wouldn't come in, so we slammed it in their faces."

The Kings were up 85-83 at the 2:30 mark, but were shut down offensively, and did not score again for nearly 2 minutes. The Lakers were up 88-85 with 44 seconds left to play when the Kings decided to foul.

Bryant made 1 of 2, the Kings failed to convert on their next possession, and were forced to send Odom to the line. He made both free throws, sealing the win.

The Kings had earlier come out on fire. Peja Stojakovic shot in blistering form and had 24 points by halftime. More double teams were called on him in the second half, however, and he could only manage another 5 for a team-leading 29 points. Doug Christie and Mike Bibby each had 21 points for the Kings. Kings veteran and star forward Chris Webber was once again outplayed by Odom, scoring only 8 points and shooting 35% from the field. He got into foul trouble trying to keep pace with Odom's bag of tricks, and fouled out with 10 seconds left in the game.

"Odom has been outstanding for us in this series, and so soon after his recovery from injury too," Bryant praised him after the game. "He completely took Webber out and had a great attitude in both games. It is great to see a Laker on the inside who can actually move and create openings, not one who camps there and whines, and gets himself an MVP trophy for all that."

The Lakers will play in the Western Conference Finals against either the 2nd-seeded Denver Nuggets or the 6th-seeded New Orleans Hornets. It will be the 5th time in the last 6 years that the Lakers are appearing in the Western Conference Finals.

"Coach of the Year SUCK MY D***!!"

[selwyth]

Lakers 102
Nuggets 87

Bryant Leads Lakers to 1-0 Conference Finals lead

Kobe Bryant had a monstrous night, scoring a season-high 51 points on 62.9% shooting, including 16 in the last quarter. His play down the stretch proved crucial, as the Lakers overcame a 68-69 deficit at the start of the 4th quarter to blow the game wide open.

"If you look at the Nuggets line-up, their only weakness is Voshon Lenard at shooting guard," explained Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "So I told Kobe to take advantage of the mis-match. And once he started racking up the points, we knew we could go to him for the whole game."

Bryant's contribution was especially vital as Nuggets big men Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin had shut the paint off. Lakers forward Lamar Odom only earned 10 points on 37.5% shooting, and no other Laker finished in double digits.

Bryant, who is now averaging a league-high 34.0 points a game in the post-season, said, "We can almost smell it now, the NBA Finals and Larry O'Brien. The stage is set, and I am going to prove that I can carry my own team to a title run. I don't need all that Hall-of-Fame baggage around me. I only need me."

General Manager Selwyth, in contrast, had shorter-term goals for the Lakers.

"We're gonna break Lenard's ankles."

[selwyth]

Lakers bully Lenard for a 3-pointer