Like I said before....sweep!
We killed this team with Bynum. We killed this team without him. I don't remember if we played them with Gasol, but if we beat them without him and Bynum, I don't see them winning a game in this series. We're just too loaded on offense, and they wont be able to consistently score with us. I don't mean to sound like a jackass, but get out your broom sticks and "get ya popcorn ready".
Impressive win for the Lakers against the Jazz. I fully expect them to win this series, but I wouldn't call for a sweep after game 1. Remember that no one is tougher at home than Utah. They have destroyed the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs, and Celtics at home. When they did it to the Lakers, L.A. for course didn't have Pau but they did have the more defensive Bynum and still allowed the Jazz to score 120.
I like the fact that we didnt play our best and still came out with a win, the Jazz are not gonna be push overs like the Nuggets and they will make it tough for us especially at home.
We got killed on the boards yesterday, we need all five guys making an effort to rebound to swing that battle back in our favor. I was surprised with how well Fish played Williams, i know they used to be teammates but once you get to Fishers age the body isnt always willing to cooperate with the mind at an NBA level - so mad props to Fish.
The Jazz proved again that they have nobody to guard Kobe, i loved how he took them to the basket and a) got them in foul trouble and b) got easy points at the line. Very smart strategy by #24.
Game 2 is very important, we cant afford to give them any momentum for when they get back home. I think the Jazz will definitely shoot better so we are gonna have to make sure we make sure they get one shot and gang rebound like the 80's Lakers used to do. I dont mind sacrificing our transition game if it means we dont get owned on the glass again.
Im also curious to see how the Spurs bounce back tonight, they finally looked their age in game 1 and they dont have the advantage at the PG spot like they are used to. I dont expect to see Duncan play that badly again but the Hornets are no joke and this could be a long series.
Finally props to Atlanta, they showed some real pride against Boston and also gave the remaining of the teams a blueprint to beat Celtics in the later rounds. Ball movement is key against the Celtics, in the Hawks victories they continually made the extra pass and it lead to wide open shots. The Celtics play great defense but like all teams are vulnerable to movement and cuts, this gives me hope if we meet them in the finals.
Great to see Kobe receive his MVP award today, even after all the hype this year of him being in front of the pack i still thought they might come up with a reason to go with someone else.
He has met the "criteria" this year when in previous years he had great numbers but not enough wins and still you have "experts" coming up with all kinds of reasons to deny him. Im glad that only some of them have votes and when it was all said and done it was pretty lopsided.
The MVP should never be about the person, it should be about the player and given what Kobe has had to play with for the last few years he should have been in the hunt every year. You give him scrubs like Smush, Cook and Kwame and he takes them to the playoffs, you give him talent like Gasol, (a new and improved) Bynum and Lamar (who is finally in the 3rd option role) and he gives you the best record in the west and a shot at the title. He has always done what it takes to win and even though i have disagreed with his methods at times i have never doubted his will to win or his heart.
Congrats #24 MVP !!!
I enjoyed the Celtics/Cavs game, Pierce and Allen were off, but thats not going to last, and Lebron was off, and you know that is not going to last, but that was still an entertaining game. The 1st 5 minutes of the 1st were bad though, that was the worse start of a pro game I have seen in a long time.