timschochet
Footballguy
Great game, but the last 30 seconds was a comedy of errors.
Martin and two firsts for Anthony.

It feels like the Houston trades just get more and more absurd.Martin and two firsts for Anthony.![]()
Is one of them the Bobcats pick?Martin and two firsts for Anthony.![]()
When he went up to shoot it, it was like one of those slow motion noooooooooooooooos. I couldn't believe it as I was watching it, and I'm not even a Hawks fan.I just want to take this moment to thank Josh Smith for allowing me to witness one of the all-time dumbest shots in NBA history.I'm 95% sure Charles Barkley could design a better game-ending play by eating a bunch of dry erase markers and pooping them on a whiteboard.
They're not good enough.Be open to the possibility of LAL tanking Games 5 and 6 to cash in an extra home game's worth of revenue, as well as getting Artest out of the penalty box before the OKC series started.Well Andrew, if you thought close out games were easy, how do you feel about game 7s?What a debacle. The Lakers have a very good chance now of not advancing.
I wouldn't be surprised at this point.OKC-DEN is going to be a lot of fun.
It happens. I'm 27 and I've got quite a few grays, I definitely had some at 24 or however old he is.How does Bynum have grey hair?
Kobe was sick tonight but still played very well. He wasn't the problem.Andrew Bynum was 4 for 11 for 11 points.Pau Gasol was 1 for 10 for 3 points.As good as Denver has shot tonight (and all credit to the Nuggets; they've been awesome from the start) the Lakers can't beat the worst team in the NBA with that kind of production from their bigs.Time for Kobe doin' work and making history...![]()
Fairly certain 5 backups from the Lakers would beat the Bobcats.Kobe was sick tonight but still played very well. He wasn't the problem.Andrew Bynum was 4 for 11 for 11 points.Pau Gasol was 1 for 10 for 3 points.As good as Denver has shot tonight (and all credit to the Nuggets; they've been awesome from the start) the Lakers can't beat the worst team in the NBA with that kind of production from their bigs.Time for Kobe doin' work and making history...![]()
If they lose on Saturday then maybe Brown should be fired. He's got to take some of the responsibility for this.Can we FF to Saturday already? What a ####### debacle.
How many coaches actually could manage that roster? Jackson, Pop, Thib, ???We all know Bryant is running that team.If they lose on Saturday then maybe Brown should be fired. He's got to take some of the responsibility for this.Can we FF to Saturday already? What a ####### debacle.
So you're saying Kobe is 4-1 in Game 7s and each win led to an NBA title. Thanks for your usual great analysis.Kobe in Game 7s:2010 Finals (BOS): 6-for-24 from floor; bailed out by Artest hitting the big shot down the stretch as LAL won title2009 WCS (HOU): 4-for-12 from floor; but finally sat back and let Pau Gasol dominate after finally learning Yao Ming suffered a season-ending injury during Game 3, LAL won game and went on to win NBA title2006 first round (PHX): 8-for-16 from floor; seemed to quit on team during halftime and spent second half disengaged from the action, kind of like what the ending of Top Gun would have been like if Maverick and Merlin had flown back to the aircraft carrier instead of getting over the fear and knocking some MiGs out of the sky, LAL lost game and blew a 3-1 lead in the series to get knocked out of the playoffs2002 WCF (SAC): 10-for-26 from floor; with 8.2 left in regulation and LAL up by two, Kobe fouled Mike Bibby, allowing Bibby to tie game at the line, then Kobe missed potential game-winning shot with 2.7 left and game went to OT; Kobe took zero shots from floor in OT (he hit two free throws in the final seconds with the game already out of reach) but Shaq came through in the clutch, scoring on back-to-back possessions in last 2 minutes to put LAL ahead for good, LAL won game and went on to win NBA title2000 WCF (POR) 9-for-19 from floor; Kobe hit two free throws to put LAL up by two with 1:34 to go capping a furious fourth-quarter comeback by the Lakers, led team in points, rebounds, and assists, but missed two free throws with 25 seconds left to keep the door open for PORKobe career shooting in Game 7s: 37-for-97 (.381)His best shooting performance in a Game 7, the only time he made half of the shots he took in a Game 7, came in a game his team lost by 31.
I understand his frustration, but the correct answer to this line of questioning is "no comment".When Bryant was asked whether his teammates matched his heart in Thursday's game, he replied, "No. Of course they didn't."Bryant said he spoke with Gasol after the game and planned to speak with Bynum to ensure they have the proper focus heading into a winner-take-all Game 7."It's one of those things where psychologically you have to put yourself in a predicament, in a position where you have no other option but to perform," Bryant said. "You have to emotionally put yourself with your back against the wall and kind of trick yourself, so to speak, to feel that there's no other option but to perform and to battle. When you have that, when you put yourself in that mind state, then your performance shines through. Your talent shines through, and it doesn't matter what the defense does, it doesn't matter if you get fouled. It doesn't matter because you're emotionally at a level that's above that. That's the mind state that they have to put themselves in."On the positive side, the Lakers will have Metta World Peace back in the lineup Saturday, as Game 6 marked the last game of World Peace's seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City's James Harden in the head."I expect him to come out and play with the tenacity that he's known for," Bryant said. "He's the one guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and play with no fear. So, I'm looking forward to having that by my side again."

I have no problem admitting Fisher has been a clutch player in his career. Of course, what you fail to mention is that Kobe scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, had 15 rebounds, and made the play to get Artest wide open for the 3-pointer, doing all the little things to make sure the Lakers beat Boston in 2010 despite his off shooting. Or how Kobe only played a minute in the fourth quarter against Houston in 2009 because the Lakers were up by 19 entering the quarter, so he didn't need to put on his usual game-closing performance. Then there's how Kobe had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists while hitting 3 free throws in the final 46 seconds of regulation in 2002 against Sacramento. And you somehow focus on two irrelevant missed free throws in the 2000 Portland game in which Kobe had 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks as well as setting up the biggest play of the comeback with his lob to Shaq. You see, Kobe is a winner while you are just a guy who wastes his time trying to manipulate statistics to support your petty Internet rants.Derek Fisher is 5-0 in Game 7s and four of those wins led to an NBA title.So by your logic it's clear Derek Fisher is more clutch than Kobe Bryant. As usual we're all flattered to know you read this thread and it's a joy to read all the insight and thoughtfulness permeating in your posts in this thread and every other thread that has the privilege of your participation.So you're saying Kobe is 4-1 in Game 7s and each win led to an NBA title. Thanks for your usual great analysis.
Really? I rarely jump into this Kobe rape thing because I think its usually in poor taste, but are you complaining that Nuggets fans are mean to Kobe because he raped a girl? I find it incredibly unlikely that any Nuggets fans will defend Birdman if there is any evidence that he was into kiddie porn like some Lakers fans have defended Kobe.So...we know how Thugget fans talk about Kobe ever since he was accused of rape. Will we see the same reaction?Sad. I thought he seemed like a good dude.Hope it's not as it seems.Sounds like Chris Andersen got busted for child porn. Seems like that dude has had a lot of demons in his life.![]()
None of them are shooting well, if they were taking all the open shots that have you would be even more frustrated with all the shots they were missing. The Nuggets have made the Lakers into a jump shooting team and its killing them.I'm getting really frustrated watching Sessions, Barnes, and Blake pass up WIDE OPEN shots. I don't have a great feeling about Saturday. I do know that MWP won't pass up those shots. Here's hoping he's on.
They arent making the shots anyways. That extra pass into the post or to someone else just keeps resulting in a contested shot and a miss. You can't keep passing up those wide open jump shots.None of them are shooting well, if they were taking all the open shots that have you would be even more frustrated with all the shots they were missing. The Nuggets have made the Lakers into a jump shooting team and its killing them.I'm getting really frustrated watching Sessions, Barnes, and Blake pass up WIDE OPEN shots. I don't have a great feeling about Saturday. I do know that MWP won't pass up those shots. Here's hoping he's on.
If it is open on the first pass, it will be open on the 5th or 6th pass. What they need to do is incorporate more ball movement and at least make the defense reposition to open up offensive rebounding opportunities before settling.They arent making the shots anyways. That extra pass into the post or to someone else just keeps resulting in a contested shot and a miss. You can't keep passing up those wide open jump shots.None of them are shooting well, if they were taking all the open shots that have you would be even more frustrated with all the shots they were missing. The Nuggets have made the Lakers into a jump shooting team and its killing them.I'm getting really frustrated watching Sessions, Barnes, and Blake pass up WIDE OPEN shots. I don't have a great feeling about Saturday. I do know that MWP won't pass up those shots. Here's hoping he's on.
this is the important thing to remember. he's not afraid of the moment or kobe.I'm getting really frustrated watching Sessions, Barnes, and Blake pass up WIDE OPEN shots. I don't have a great feeling about Saturday. I do know that MWP won't pass up those shots. Here's hoping he's on.
He doesn't appear to have lost skills, but maybe he has.
Jesus dude, make an opinion already. The f'n waffling you do.Yup. While I agree with Kobe here (and we'll leave aside the question of whether his style of play contributes to his teammates' detachment), this seems pretty harsh. Maybe Bynum and Pau are the kind of guys that respond well to being called out, though. I guess we'll see in game 7.I understand his frustration, but the correct answer to this line of questioning is "no comment".When Bryant was asked whether his teammates matched his heart in Thursday's game, he replied, "No. Of course they didn't."Bryant said he spoke with Gasol after the game and planned to speak with Bynum to ensure they have the proper focus heading into a winner-take-all Game 7."It's one of those things where psychologically you have to put yourself in a predicament, in a position where you have no other option but to perform," Bryant said. "You have to emotionally put yourself with your back against the wall and kind of trick yourself, so to speak, to feel that there's no other option but to perform and to battle. When you have that, when you put yourself in that mind state, then your performance shines through. Your talent shines through, and it doesn't matter what the defense does, it doesn't matter if you get fouled. It doesn't matter because you're emotionally at a level that's above that. That's the mind state that they have to put themselves in."On the positive side, the Lakers will have Metta World Peace back in the lineup Saturday, as Game 6 marked the last game of World Peace's seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City's James Harden in the head."I expect him to come out and play with the tenacity that he's known for," Bryant said. "He's the one guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and play with no fear. So, I'm looking forward to having that by my side again."![]()
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I don't know enough about basketball to make an intelligent opinion. Whatever I wrote would be a guess.One thing I'm pretty sure about though: he played with NO PASSION last night. Inexscusable.He doesn't appear to have lost skills, but maybe he has.Jesus dude, make an opinion already. The f'n waffling you do.
You've always been the most negative of Lakers fans around here, and right now it's hard to argue with you. But I'm not convinced you're right. Every game in the playoffs, and every series, is a reset. If the Lakers can win on Saturday, and if Bynum returns to the form we saw in the first two games of this series, then they could beat Oklahoma City.Regardless of what happens Saturday, the Lakers aren't getting out of the second round if they make it there. They'll be lucky to win a game from OKC in that case. At that point I think you need to break these guys up. Send Bynum out for Howard (sorry Cappy), send Gasol out for whatever. This isn't a championship quality squad (like I've been saying all year), the problems are deep seeded and involve the main 3 guys's heads. Brown is getting steamrolled by egos he doesn't know how to work with, just like in Cleveland, they've tuned him out.
If the Lakers lose, is Kobe losing to the 6 seed going to define his legacy?Can we FF to Saturday already? What a ####### debacle.
You mean the same Mike Brown that was coaching Lebron during most of his "choking"?If they lose on Saturday then maybe Brown should be fired. He's got to take some of the responsibility for this.Can we FF to Saturday already? What a ####### debacle.