Any LAKER Fans Here??

[Yeagermeister]

Things have changed a lot.

36 pts, 16rbs, 8 assists, 3 blocks on 14/20 shooting from the field, and 8/8 from the line.

Yeah I saw shocked. I'm happy for him.

 

[Goldenrichards83]

what? i didnt realize the lakers were a game from being out of the playoffs at any point this year! can you refresh my memory as to what game that was? didnt think so

Pressure isn't just about being a game out of the playoffs. How about the pressure of coming into a franchise and expecting to win a championship. The Lakers have been in a dogfight in the west all season and took the #1 seed. Its been a playoff atmosphere the last 2 months. Are you serious?

 

[MC KAos]

Pressure isn't just about being a game out of the playoffs. How about the pressure of coming into a franchise and expecting to win a championship. The Lakers have been in a dogfight in the west all season and took the #1 seed. Its been a playoff atmosphere the last 2 months. Are you serious?

ya, what are you talking about, in no way, shape, or form is a regular season game even close to the same pressure as being in an elimination game, on the road, having to win or your season is ending, get real. All i said is im not sold on him not being a choke artist, its still up in the air, dirk has had good game 1s too you know.

 

[Goldenrichards83]

ya, what are you talking about, in no way, shape, or form is a regular season game even close to the same pressure as being in an elimination game, on the road, having to win or your season is ending, get real. All i said is I'm not sold on him not being a choke artist, its still up in the air, dirk has had good game 1s too you know.

Sounds like your hating. Who said that a elimination game isn't pressure. I didn't. I said that it isn't the only pressure that consists. The west has been playing playoff basketball for 2 months now if you can't understand that I am sorry. You were talking about pressure, you didn't state what kind of pressure. Now you won't to throw a certain type of pressure into this and I am telling you that's not the only kind of pressure. Pressure or no pressure Gasol is doing his thing and he has been doing it since he has been here helping the lakers secure the #1 seed in one of the toughest conferences in BB.

the lakers have been powning the suns this year, but they will not get past the first round of the playoffs. But at least they are showing lots of improvement, maybe next year

You want to fix that?

 

[MC KAos]

Sounds like your hating. Who said that a elimination game isn't pressure. I didn't. I said that it isn't the only pressure that consists. The west has been playing playoff basketball for 2 months now if you can't understand that I am sorry. You were talking about pressure, you didn't state what kind of pressure. Now you won't to throw a certain type of pressure into this and I am telling you that's not the only kind of pressure. Pressure or no pressure Gasol is doing his thing and he has been doing it since he has been here helping the lakers secure the #1 seed in one of the toughest conferences in BB.


You want to fix that?

well, too bad i said that while kwame brown was the starting center, i still think that was a good statement, i didnt know the lakers would trade for gasol.

as for "pressure" playing in a regular season game for the bucks in november is pressure for anyone, your argument is stupid, when people talk about players being clutch or choke artists they mean in tough games in the playoffs (like duncan) not in the regular season or in the playoffs against teams that are a) inferior and b) play absolutely no defense. Id like to see how he does when he is play against duncan or amare, or even sooner, carlos boozer, my money is on them abusing him like a redheaded stepchild.

 

[Goldenrichards83]

well, too bad i said that while kwame brown was the starting center, i still think that was a good statement, i didnt know the lakers would trade for gasol.

as for "pressure" playing in a regular season game for the bucks in november is pressure for anyone, your argument is stupid, when people talk about players being clutch or choke artists they mean in tough games in the playoffs (like duncan) not in the regular season or in the playoffs against teams that are a) inferior and b) play absolutely no defense. Id like to see how he does when he is play against duncan or amare, or even sooner, carlos boozer, my money is on them abusing him like a redheaded stepchild.

He played against Duncan 2 weeks ago, and slap that crap right jump hook back in his face. he totally contained him and we won the game. You must have forgot. Thats why were the #1 seed and you have to struggle with Shaq and throw up a 3 pointer to even stay in the game. Don't blame the Lakers because they played well enough to play who there playing. You better start worrying about Shaq and Nash instead ofr hating on Gasol who had the game of his life in what THE PLAYOFFS! lol

 

[Goldenrichards83]

Just in case you forgot:
Lakers jump to No. 1 spot after limiting Spurs to 32 2nd-half points





LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers took sole possession of the Western Conference lead Sunday. One more win and they're assured of keeping it.
MVP candidate Kobe Bryant had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Lakers routed the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 106-85 for their seventh win in eight games.


Sorting Out the Matchups

The playoffs are quickly approaching, but it has yet to be fully determined who will face whom. Need help sorting out the madness? We've got you covered. Matchups



"It was a big game for us," Bryant said. "It was another step in the right direction. Going into the playoffs is all about momentum. Now, we just have to take it up another notch once the playoffs start."

The Lakers (56-25), who clinched their first Pacific Division championship in four years and at least the No. 3 seed in the West on Friday night, will win the conference title if they beat the visiting Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

The Lakers went home after Sunday's game uncertain of their status because the Houston Rockets had a chance to overtake them for the conference title by winning their final three games because they hold the tie-breaker should the teams finish in a tie. But the Rockets (54-26) lost to Denver 111-94 Sunday night.

So if the Lakers beat the Kings, they're assured of finishing ahead of everybody in the West except New Orleans, which could only tie them. And Los Angeles wins the tie-breaker over the Hornets by virtue of a better conference record.

That would mean home-court advantage in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

"It's still our responsibility to finish this the right way," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "And that was our message in the locker room after the game. Fortunately for us, we got some rest, got some guys who had a little bit of time to recover before Tuesday night."

Lamar Odom, the only Los Angeles starter to play in the final period, added 17 points and 14 rebounds before coming out for good with 4:26 remaining. Pau Gasol had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Derek Fisher also scored 14, Jordan Farmar added 11 points and Ronny Turiaf scored 10 for the Lakers, who outscored the Spurs 53-32 in the second half.

"They're the best in the West at this point," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Their rhythm is good, everybody knows their roles, they are playing confidently, defense looks very good. Heck of a team."

The Lakers outrebounded San Antonio 51-36, including 31-16 after halftime, and the Spurs shot just 11-of-37 after halftime after going 22-of-42 in the opening 24 minutes.

"What a half. We came out and played an exceptional second half," Jackson said. "We were on our heels at the end of the first half, [Tony] Parker was jamming the ball down our throat and we couldn't seem to find a way to stop him. I thought the second half we came out and made a good defensive stand and stopped penetration."

Bryant said he believes the Lakers have found their defensive identity.

"It's just like offense," he said. "You have to find out what your identity is. I think we have found that defensively. We are very aggressive. We have a tremendous amount of versatility -- wings and bigs who are fast and athletic and long. We can get after guys."

Parker had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but was held to two points after halftime. Tim Duncan added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Ime Udoka scored 14 for the Spurs (54-26), who lost for just the third time in 13 games.

The Spurs played without leading scorer Manu Ginobili, who missed his second game because of a strained left groin. Robert Horry hasn't played since March 21 because of a bruised left knee.

"Come playoff time, we'll have as good a chance as anybody to do well," Popovich said.

The game was tied at 53 at halftime. Fisher scored 10 points during a 17-6 run to start the third period, giving the Lakers a 70-59 lead, and the Spurs weren't closer than seven after that.

Bryant scored seven points in the last 2 1/2 minutes of the quarter, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to make it 79-67 entering the final period. The Spurs missed their first seven field-goal attempts of the third quarter and wound up going 3-for-17 in the period.

The Lakers put the game away by outscoring the Spurs 19-5 to start the fourth quarter for a 98-72 lead.

"We haven't played well in about three, four, five games now," Duncan said. "We've just have got to find a way to make some shots."

Game notes
The teams split the season series 2-2. ... Popovich said he's counting on Ginobili being available when the playoffs begin, but he's not sure about the final two regular-season games -- Monday night at Sacramento and Wednesday night at home against Utah. "We're better off to be a lower seed with a healthy Manu than a higher seed without a healthy Manu," Popovich said. ... Asked about a potential Lakers-Celtics matchup in the NBA finals, Jackson said: "Maybe some people would roll over in their graves and reappear. It is a nostalgia thing, of course." The Celtics have an 8-2 record when the teams have met in the finals. It hasn't happened since 1987. ... Bryant's two young daughters, with an assist from his wife, held up a sign saying: "Daddy for MVP."




Let me stop you before you start. I know Manu missed the game but what does that have to do with Tim Duncan only getting 16 points. Or the Spurs being outrebounded 51-36.

 

[MC KAos]

He played against Duncan 2 weeks ago, and slap that crap right jump hook back in his face. he totally contained him and we won the game. You must have forgot. Thats why were the #1 seed and you have to struggle with Shaq and throw up a 3 pointer to even stay in the game. Don't blame the Lakers because they played well enough to play who there playing. You better start worrying about Shaq and Nash instead ofr hating on Gasol who had the game of his life in what THE PLAYOFFS! lol

haha, i guess you must be a bandwagon fan to forget how those lakers teams that won championships didnt beat the spurs in the regular season and then crushed them when it mattered. btw the spurs got swept by the cavs last year, didnt seem to matter in the playoffs. a number one seed hasnt won a championship since the spurs did in 03. You also obviously dont pay much attention to the nba if you think that duncan regular season and duncan postseason is the same player. btw even rasho nesterovic has blocked duncan, doesnt make him a better player. come back to me when the lakers win a championship because of gasol and he wins the finals mvp. until he proves otherwise in a PRESSURE situation i will reserve the right to think of him as a choke artist, just like dirk. btw the celtics played a playoff game yesterday, but the pressure wasnt very high because their opponent was inferior, it happens a lot in the regular season, the spurs/suns series is the exception not the rule.

 

[ajk23az]

Lakers - yes
Hornets - yes
Spurs - yes
Jazz - no
Rockets - no
Suns - yes
Mavs - no
Nuggets - no

 

[MC KAos]

btw i am NOT saying that the lakers cant beat the spurs or win a championship, im just saying that the verdict is still out on gasol being a solid performer when the pressure is on, and that in my opinion he wont take it well. but thats why the lakers have kobe.

 

[MC KAos]

Lakers - yes
Hornets - yes
Spurs - yes
Jazz - no
Rockets - no
Suns - yes
Mavs - no
Nuggets - no

is that for coming out of the west?

 

[ajk23az]

The announcers were talking about that last night, they said he has played in enough pressure situations because of when he played for Spain, and that those are all big pressure games. since some players value playing for their country more than their team (i dont get that).

but gasol will do fine in the playoffs.

it will either be the suns or spurs in the finals vs. the lakers imo.

 

[ajk23az]

is that for coming out of the west?

yeah the teams (in the west) i think that are able to win it all.

 

[gazmc_06]

I don't see any reason for people to doubt Gasol, all this talk about him never having won with Memphis is irrelevant, he was on a pathetic team and was never in a position to win in the playoff's...he has been nothing short of fantastic since touching down in LA.

I still think the West is coming down to San Antonio and LA...I'm leaning towards LA but it's tough. It will be an easier decision if Manu can't stay healthy though.

 

[MC KAos]

its just my personal doubt about him being soft. even in international play spain seemed to do better during the world championships after he got hurt! he couldnt even get one meansly win in the playoffs with the grizzlies, NOT ONE!! and one of those years he got abused by dirk of all people. The change of scenary might have made a huge difference, but im not buying it until i see it. As for the lakers as a whole, i mean of course they are a really good team, they have the best closer in the league, one of the best coaches and a lot of very solid players around him including gasol. He is gonna have a hard time with boozer and then duncan/amare or shaq/chandler though

 

[MC KAos]

yeah the teams (in the west) i think that are able to win it all.

i still think the only teams that cant win it all from the west are the nuggets and rockets, anyone else can win the championship, depending on matchups

 

[MC KAos]

I don't see any reason for people to doubt Gasol, all this talk about him never having won with Memphis is irrelevant, he was on a pathetic team and was never in a position to win in the playoff's...he has been nothing short of fantastic since touching down in LA.

I still think the West is coming down to San Antonio and LA...I'm leaning towards LA but it's tough. It will be an easier decision if Manu can't stay healthy though.

ya, manu's health is a big issue, thats why it sucks that we have to play the suns in the first round, i just hope the mavs and hornets can have a long series too and that we can get a couple of days of rest IF we beat the suns. But im getting way too ahead of myself

 

[Biggems]

Lakers fans can snooze for the next week or so.........Denver has 3 more games this season.

 

[gazmc_06]

ya, manu's health is a big issue, thats why it sucks that we have to play the suns in the first round, i just hope the mavs and hornets can have a long series too and that we can get a couple of days of rest IF we beat the suns. But im getting way too ahead of myself

I don't see Dallas giving the Hornets any problems, in the first half of game one Dallas were teaching New Orleans how to play playoff basketball...since then the Hornets have owned them. Jason Kidd cannot stay with CP3.

Manu was big again last night, he comes on and put's points up every game. I think the Spurs win this series in 5, I said that before hand and I stand by it. Monster games from Amare and a great game from Shaq couldn't get it done - if they can't win with those two playing great I don't think they can win the series.

 

[gazmc_06]

Oh, and back to the Lakers....I don't see Bynum coming back this year in any round. Even if he get's healthy enough I think it would be a risk putting him in with the worry of re-injuring his leg, but most importantly I think the team has great chemistry right now and I wouldn't want to mess with that.

Do what we can this year as we are (I think that is good enough to win the title anyway) and give Bynum the rest of the year to recover and make the Kobe-Gasol-Bynum push next year.