Real Deal

Ron was 1-8 before the put-back to win the game. Some will say it makes up for his pathetic offense, but if he pulls back on that incoherent jumper he took with 21 on the shot clock, we get the ball to Kobe and have a chance to go up five or six. Richardson's three was just as lucky as Ron's layup. The ball bounced off the rim twice, perfectly, for Phoenix to run Richardson back up to the line and drill the three with under four to go. Kobe's shot (which looked like a Hill foul, but you don't call that all the time) fell extremely short, into the hands of a hard-working Ron Artest. Offensive awareness (well, lack of) usually puts teams in trouble when the clock is down. Richardson wasn't aware of what happened, nor was he aware of where his man was, and he gave up the o-glass and it lost the Suns the game. Talking about how close that game was, and how open the Lakers are to defeat, is probably what some of you did when they went seven against Houston last season, six against Denver (and closed them out in their building), and six against the Thunder in the first round this year (closing them out in their building). Kobe won't play this good again? He's had his last three games a couple of assists or boards away from a triple double, scoring 30+ in nine of his last 10 games. Why would that suddenly stop? People say things like that when they want the Lakers to lose. Then, when Lakers fans go hard at them for it, they say how much they hate the entire fanbase. Please...get over it.

Haha, Nash never travels. Two so far tonight. Lakers' frontcourt needs to step up, now. Rotations suck.

Either way, the key isn't getting him into foul trouble, it's shutting him down, or forcing him into long shots...something that the Lakers did well even without Kobe.

Rondo will have to guard Kobe a little bit, especially if we did what we did the last game against them, and stick Ron in the post a few times. Pierce will be forced on him, and Doc Rivers won't let Ray Allen defend Bryant (unless he's stupid). Kobe will immediately take the post on Rondo, Gasol and Odom will back away, and it's foul city. But okay, again, I guess I'm the only one that realizes the mismatch possibility. Phil Jackson is an idiot and won't dig into it with Kobe playing as good as he has in the playoffs.

Not enough information...that's the correct answer.

So, tonight... 1) Rondo put up the most shots for Boston, and ended up with single-digit assists (just six), four fouls, and went to the line to shoot 5-11 free throws. 2) Jameer Nelson was the leading scorer for the Magic, playing very physical basketball. What happened? Nelson attacked Rondo, making him work defensively, and then he did everything he possibly could to make Rondo work hard on offense. Result? Nate Robinson got his nine minutes on the floor, Pierce was forced into creating again, and the Celtics lost by 21.

TIME: 9:00 PM EST TV: TNT

The 2006 Kobe Bryant also had the 2006 team, shot 33% in two of the first three games, didn't throw double-digit assists in any of those games (has done it three times in the four games already). He also scored over 30 just once against them in 2006. He has already hit 30+ three times. Guess I don't see the significance.

Damn, hate to hear about the break. Doesn't sound too good. Heal up ASAP, man.

GM3 vs. Phoenix: 36 PTS on 13-24 FG, 9 REB, 11 AST GM4 vs. Phoenix: 38 PTS on 15-22 FG, 7 REB, 10 AST By the way, Kobe's playoff averages so far... 28.9 PPG on .486 FG, 4.6 RPG, 6.3 APG, .409 3PT FG

I'm not sure if it's Gentry coaching him, or Nash. I think he's learning a LOT from Nash, and there are a few things from his game that he's "adopting" in a way (and he's also using screens well). Plus, he's doing some of the stuff Nash used to do in Dallas, when he had younger legs and a healthier back.

I'm not putting the blame anywhere, just posting the numbers. I'll let everyone else make the assumptions, haha. As for three-point attempts on the road vs. the Thunder (because the Suns were playing zone in Games 3 and 4): GM1 vs. OKC: 22 GM2 vs. OKC: 22 GM3 @ OKC: 31 GM4 @ OKC: 22 GM5 vs. OKC: 14 GM6 @ OKC: 24 Not really that big of a difference. Plus, when the Lakers are losing and not getting calls (or, they assume they aren't), they start shooting threes to catch up.

From the Game 4 topic... And my only problem with this is (bold are road games): GM1: Thunder 24, Lakers 22 (OKC +2) GM2: Thunder 33, Lakers 32 (OKC +1) GM3: Thunder 34, Lakers 12 (OKC +22) GM4: Thunder 48, Lakers 28 (OKC +20) GM5: Lakers 31, Thunder 24 (LAL +7) GM6: Thunder 31, Lakers 14 (OKC +17) Granted this didn't happen with the Utah Jazz (Utah was a +12 in one home game, lost the others by single digits though), this is still odd to me. Not going to say it's referee bias, not going to say it's due to the more aggressive opponent when they are at home (or lack of defense on our part), but I'm just posting the numbers for everyone.

From three... Kobe: 6-9 3PT Artest: 1-5 Fisher: 0-2 Odom: 1-3 Walton: 0-1 Brown: 0-4 Farmar: 1-4 ----- Kobe: 6-9 Others: 3-19 Free throw attempts... GM1: Suns 32, Lakers 22 (PHX +10) GM2: Lakers 34, Suns 26 (LAL +8) GM3: Suns 42, Lakers 20 (PHX +22) GM4: Suns 32, Lakers 13 (PHX +19)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CqDk4jAv_Y4/S_thSxvLinI/AAAAAAAADi0/if9HbMwL6fk/s1600/09.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CqDk4jAv_Y4/S_yw7CarEmI/AAAAAAAADk8/q2mt8KcRwy0/s400/07.jpg

TIME: 8:30 PM EST TV: ESPN

I've always been a fan of Xavier Henry, and I don't think he had enough touches to really show his full potential at Kansas...but don't leave out Avery Bradley and Ed Davis. Both could drop to the Bucks. Bradley makes sense, but he may be a little too much like Jennings (but a much, much better defender). He's a two-guard in a point guard's body. I heard them say he's somewhat like Monta Ellis (heard it on NBATV), and it's somewhat true. Davis would be a nice defensive compliment to Bogut, especially since Andrew is improving on that end of the floor. Twin towers. It would allow you to slide Mbah a Moute down to the three again.

Fun... http://thelakersnation.com/forums/index.php?/topic/36538-keep-an-eye-out-for-the-suns/page__view__findpost__p__688068 (that's where the fun starts) http://thelakersnation.com/forums/index.php?/topic/36538-keep-an-eye-out-for-the-suns/page__view__findpost__p__701008 (there's where it gets even better)

Players that came to play... Phoenix Suns Kobe Bryant Players that didn't... everyone else My best analysis. On to Game 5.

You'd think Phil Jackson would have the brains to tell the team to PASS THE BALL TO BRYANT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. It's pretty damn obvious that going into Gasol every [expletive] play isn't going to work.

No idea why we still have a couple of scrubs in the game. I'm also waiting for Bynum's knee to just give out, so Gasol can play the rest of the way (even though he sucks right now, also). Oh well.

I wasn't talking about individual defense, actually. I'm talking team defense. Detroit was just as good of a defensive team as Boston, probably better. Regarding the Celtics letting Howard go off for 30+ points, it's not the first time he did it in the series, and Orlando lost that game. Boston would rather let Howard get his. They don't want Orlando shooting threes, and they don't want Nelson penetrating and kicking it out for threes (or oops to Howard). Smart basketball. Let the worst offensive player on the floor (Howard) get what he can, and focus on the point guard and the three-point shot. Fisher doesn't have to attack Rondo to get him into foul trouble. He's a flopper. He'll find Rondo in the lanes, or he'll post him up at certain points in the game, and Rondo isn't as strong. Tony Allen and Ray Allen aren't playmakers. One is a slashing scorer, one is a shooter. Neither care to make a play, and that showed last night.

By the way, does anyone else think that Channing Frye looks a bit like Obama? http://sportsmedia.ign.com/sports/image/article/655/655749/channing-frye-interview-20051004015802717-000-000.jpg

Hey, cool, Kobe came to play.