Originally posted by DanZeke25
I don't know who to root for. I've never liked the Lakers, I don't want the Spurs to repeat, I don't want the Pistons to win another title, and I don't want the Celtics to win because everybody was already giving them the title before the season started.
That's kinda the way I feel right now.
Yeah we do make some confusing decisions when it comes to double teaming, i think that a combination of Gasol, Turiaf and Mbenga should make Duncan work for his points. On offense i'd like to see Pau face up on Duncan and take him off the dribble, Pau is very quick for a 7footer and i reckon he could get Duncan in foul trouble by doing this. Also by facing up he can see the whole floor and hit the cutters. Of course if Duncan goes to the bench then Thomas comes in and he is a solid post defender but Gasol is quick enough to drive on him to.
Originally posted by BruceSkywalker
Who are the Blazers looking at?
Many Blazer fans (including myself) are hoping that Westbrook falls to #13. Other than that, most of the talk is trade talks. We really don't need another young guy, so the best option really is to package the #13 with a current player to make an upgrade.
Kobe was great in this game. I bet no one is complaining about him taking all those shots in the 2nd half because they were going in. Whereas on other days when they don't, you will see a lot more people complaining than people giving who give him props when he does have a good game. Odom was off, missing all those layups, whatever happened to him being agressive and dunking the ball? I don't expect him to have a bad game 2, but he needs to stay aggressive on his finishes.
Wow, what a heartstoper. We just seemed to have too much nervous energy in the first and the Spurs picked us apart like the wily old vets they are.
Lamar had a poor game but what i did like is that he didnt hang his head like he has in the past and he stayed aggressive and didnt start settling for jumpers. He would be much better off gathering himself when he gets into the paint and going up strong using his full extension, only Duncan can block his shot if he does that. Seemed like too often Lamar was rushing in trying to get the call instead of finishing the play. If he doesnt miss those few easy layups we have a ten point lead, he needs to compose himself for the next game and especially on the road.
Alot of the announcers didnt like the way Kobe played the first half but i thought it showed great leadership on his part, he gave his teammates every chance to get their confidence and get it going. Then when it was clear the occasion was getting too much for them he cranked it up and gave them the boost they needed. It wasnt just the points he scored it was how he was looking to set up his guys when he was going to the hoop. Some of those lobs to Gasol where just beautiful, he didnt force anything. He knows he can get by Bowen but he also knows he cant do it alone (especially against the Spurs) and he waited to see what the team needed from him. That was one of the most complete performances from Kobe i have ever seen, i admire his patience last night with his teammates and they will be a better team for it going down the road. It must be said that Sasha has "balls of steel", props to the Machine for his clutch shooting and defense on Parker and Manu.
You could also see the defensive energy pick up as the Kobe carried our offense, thats the kind of defensive team we seem to be. We have the players to be a solid defensive team but not the mentality to have that fuel our offense (like the Spurs or Pistons). Thats where we miss Bynum because he covers up so many mistakes with his shot blocking, no way Parker gets in the lane like that next year with a front line of Bynum, Gasol and Lamar.
The Spurs must be kicking themselves after that collapse, but they are well known for going on scoring draughts. They did play very well on both ends for over half the game though and the Lakers now know for sure that this will be a dogfight.