Tough loss last night but we deserved it with the way we played. This is the reason i kept finding fault with our defense all season long. Yes our record was good but we simply dont put enough pride into our D, we have the "oh well we'll just get it back on the other end" attitude. That wont work in the playoffs especially when you meet a good defensive team (see last years finals). When we put defense first then we can control the tempo and create easy scores, our half court offense will not look as smooth against this team.
That being said if we hit anywhere near a normal percentage from 3 and from the line we take this game, even playing as bad as we did.
Pau needs to be the feature of our offense, he can score at will against Scola and he also makes good passes from the post to cutters. This would make Kobe's job a lot easier because he can work off the ball, Battier does a good job of keeping Kobe in front of him but doesnt have the footspeed to keep up if Kobe is working off screens and making cuts. Bynum played well on offense (too many jumpers though) but he needs to control the glass and challenge some shots. Phil also needs to play him more, i cant understand Phil's rotations last night. This is the perfect series to use the big lineup of Brown or Ariza/Kobe/Lamar/Gasol/Bynum, let either Ariza or Brown use their size and quickness against Brooks and let Lamar check Crazy Ron (negating his strength advantage against Ariza). Also running the triangle wouldnt hurt, i could count on one hand the times we ran it last night.
This is a game of adjustments and we our greatest asset is our versatility. Hopefully game 1 wakes our guys up, we need losses like this to build character (just make sure there arent 3 more).
Andrew made three jumpers in the 3rd and didn't play anymore. Jordan played two minutes, hit a three and sat. He was the only one who Brooks didn't score on
The Lakers need to get the game in the 100s and play better defense. It starts at the guards. Fish has to contain Brooks or play Farmar. When Shannon was in, he wasn't involved and he's been hitting 3s
A few adjustments and the Lakers be fine
Originally posted by cloud102
Not surprised, Lakers are a good team, but not unbeatable. They're not a great team...yet.
The only thing that might not solidify the argument that the Lakers are not "great" is a lack of a title win with the current roster. Getting to the playoffs consistently, getting to the finals last and most likely this year, as well having arguably, the best player and coach are the other side of that coin.
Originally posted by cloud102
I think the Lakers will choke against the Cavs this year. But it will be a good matchup.
I resent that statement sir... or mam.
If the Lakers and/or Cavs even make it, in which case I'd have to say that the Lakers would overwhelm the Cavs with a better overall team performance.
Personally, I see it as Lakers v Magic.
People are always sleeping on the Magic, even though they have a winning record against elite teams and the Cavs have a losing one. Moreover, the Magic are a disaster for the Cavs to play against. The Magic are to the Cavs as what the Pistons are for the Magic.
The only factor I worry about concerning the Cavs is the officiating and perhaps a hand from upstairs. Given that so many people watch the Cavs because of Lebron, who just won the MVP title, I suspect that foul play might come up in the future. Whether it be in the series now, or later on. Call it a bold statement.
I think the Magic have a good a chance as any to advance to the conference finals. I may be a little biased, but I'm a realist as well. The Celtics could win this series however, fatigue is a factor and the fact that Orlando has home court advantage is big.
People keep talking about how Orlando should worry about game 2 (and the rest of the series for that matter) because of the second half collapse, well, exsqueeze me, but who won game 1 on the other teams court? Moreover, the Magic's performance in the first half was more dominating and obviously enough to make a foundation to stave off the comeback in the second. The Magic played stupid in the second and got some sketchy calls against them, which I've already covered in an earlier post.
Thusly, with the lesson learned from game one's second half performance, I expect to see a more focused Orlando coming into game 2. They'll adjust. I predict some stupid ball from the Magic, but I don't expect a repeat of game one.
Just sayin. 😎
I just saw the All NBA Defense team and it had Paul, Garnett, James, Bryant and Howard. All superstars.
I know a bit about basketball players but not complete like I do for football, but are those guys the best defensive players in the league, or is it just a superstar handjob award?
Coming from a country that plays hockey, most offensive superstars are decent at defensive, but there is some players in the league that are defensive specialists, or two way players which are much better than a guy like Crosby, or Ovechkin. Could this be the same as basketball?
Originally posted by Smasandian
I just saw the All NBA Defense team and it had Paul, Garnett, James, Bryant and Howard. All superstars.I know a bit about basketball players but not complete like I do for football, but are those guys the best defensive players in the league, or is it just a superstar handjob award?
Coming from a country that plays hockey, most offensive superstars are decent at defensive, but there is some players in the league that are defensive specialists, or two way players which are much better than a guy like Crosby, or Ovechkin. Could this be the same as basketball?
I know Howard will always be there cause he is gonna lead the league in blocks and boards by a mile.
Originally posted by SmasandianWell it may be superstar treatment, but I'm surprised Bryant outdid Wade for the spot. I don't like Garnett being up there with the amount of games he's missed this season.
I just saw the All NBA Defense team and it had Paul, Garnett, James, Bryant and Howard. All superstars.I know a bit about basketball players but not complete like I do for football, but are those guys the best defensive players in the league, or is it just a superstar handjob award?
Coming from a country that plays hockey, most offensive superstars are decent at defensive, but there is some players in the league that are defensive specialists, or two way players which are much better than a guy like Crosby, or Ovechkin. Could this be the same as basketball?
Originally posted by forumcrew
I know Howard will always be there cause he is gonna lead the league in blocks and boards by a mile.
Probably, but I remember reading something from Bill Simmons, or some other basketball journalist saying that Howard does get alot of blocks, but alot of them go out of bounds instead of going towards a teammate.
I'm not totally sure though.
Well I personally feel we'd have alot more difficulty with Orlando then Cleveland. Seeing as how Orlando swept us, Howard would murder Pau as how Bynum would get quick fouls. I just don't see Cleveland as bein g as big of a threat as people are making them out to be. Detroit? Atlanta? As opposed to Utah and Houston?
And defensively Wade>Bryant this year. 500 blocks, 500 steals in one season for a 6'4 guard is insane!
Well, it's not over, but what's the point in waiting to see just how much Orlando lost by?
Just an awful performance. Absolutely nothing was going for them.
Orlando learned nothing about settling for jumpers. Every time they throw up the jumper it ends with a *CLANK*. Couldn't rebound anything. No intensity whatsoever. They couldn't even hit the free-throws. Just horrible.
Dwight, Lewis and Turk were all no shows and Alston lost his cool getting ejected, leaving AJ to run the position, which is never a comfort.
Boston on the other hand came out firing. Superb defense and great shooting all around, esp. House. He really killed the Magic.
I hate the mentality that the Magic have. Being content with splitting the first two games. It makes me sick.
Originally posted by celestialdemon
This was actually my pick for the Finals at the beginning of the playoffs. I still stand by that, although I'll be rooting for the Rockets.
I'm pulling for the Rockets as well. Not that I dislike the Lakers, I just like the Rockets more, but I just don't see an upset.