Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

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3/2/04 update: Hawks win, 94-93 on a last second jumper, with 12 seconds left.....

Lakers had the ball, Payton missed the jumper. Shaq rebounded, and missed the tip-in; George missed the tip-in; Shaq again got the rebound, missed the tip-in, and that was that

f*ck!!

how the f*ck do we lose to a team with nobodies?!?!?!?

with Kobe out, Shaq should've dominated, scoring over 35 points.

Shaq claims that he himself could win 50-60 games, but that he needs Kobe to win the title.

I suppose the Hawks game is one of the other games that he could lose

how the f*ck do the Lakers play like this?!?!

and tomorrow, they play a back-to-back at houston, where Steve "I don't play hard, unless it's against the Lakers" Francis and Yao Ming have dominated the Lakers in the first 2 meetings

[skyracer3]

I would of put $10,000 on the Lakers winning last night...

Pathetic performance.

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yep, absolutely PATHETIC

Shaq claims he could win 55-60 games by himself

lololol

he played like sh*t last night.

if you can't dominate the weaklings, how do you dominate the strong teams?

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3/3/04 update: Lakers 96-93

and who hits the winning shot in a tight game near the end of the game?

KOBE BRYANT - a 12-footer over Yao Ming (that's right, over Yao!)

Lakers played like sh*t most of the game...but somehow came alive in the 4th.

Shaq had a sh*tty free throwing game again, going 2-13. holy f*ck - I could do this!

not sure how Rockets lost this game, even with double digit lead throughout 2nd and 3rd quarter.

sure helps to have Kobe - 18 points, 8 boards, and 13 assists!!!!

Shaq had 28 points, and a lousy 7 boards.
Payton had 14
Slava had 13

Fox and George again were useless, as Phil Jackson begins to use Luke Walton more and more in the clutch time

next up is home vs. Seattle Friday

Lakers tied for 4th with Dallas (Dallas plays San Antonio Friday)

Lakers and San Antonio have 21 losses each (Lakers are 3-0 vs. San Antonio)

[minew_m]

Shaq did lead the charge in the 4th quarter though. Shaq only had 7 boards but 5 blocks to go along with that (even one on Yao). It seemed everytime Shaq got the ball he'd put it in the hoop. He only missed 5 shots all night. Yao did most of his damage when Shaq was out. Brian Cook had the task of dealing with him and basically looked like a rookie out there!

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boy, that Yao, if he keeps improving, will take the Rockets to the Finals, a la Akeem Olajuwon

if he consistently hits the hook shots, and the mid-range jumpers, it's over for the other teams

7'6", ability to shoot hook shots and perimeter shots, as well as free throws.......that's a deadly set of combination!!

Yao is a free agent in about 3 years - perhaps he'll want to come to LA to play with Kobe

hheheheheheh

[minew_m]

All I'm wondering about is Steve "Franchise". Looks like he's no longer the "Franchise" player in Houston. He can't be all that happy with him no longer being the go to guy on offense. I'd be surprised if he stays at the end of his contract.

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Francis is another Penny Hardaway / Stephon Marbury

guys with lots of talent, but an even bigger ego.............

just that fact that Francis says "...I play even harder when we meet the Lakers" tells you everything you need to know about him.

The great ones - Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kobe - play hard all the time; it's just that when the spotlight is on (ex: playoffs), they play even harder....but they don't take nights off

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3/5/04 update: Lakers 99-91 over the Sonics

but the more crucial thing is Kobe Bryant

with barely 54 seconds into the game, Evans set a moving pick, Kobe's arm got tangled with Rashard Lewis, and Kobe's shoulder collided with Evans, resulting in immediate pain, and a dangling arm.

Kobe immediately went into the locker room to be examined further, then about 20-25 minutes later, he was taken to Centinela hospital for an MRI - this is NOT good news, as the trainers must be suspecting soft tissue damage (although broken bones can also be visible on MRI)

if you suspect broken bones - you take Xrays (cheaper and faster)

if you suspect muscle / ligament / tendon damage, you go for MRI

I am anxiously awaiting word that Kobe has a sprain, but nothing broken. He's tough, and he can come back quick...but not if the shoulder is subluxed.

meanwhile, the Lakers played great for the game and/or the Sonics didn't play as well. The Sonics are a perfect team for Shaq to do well against - they are like a donut: nothing in the middle.

With no center/big man, the Sonics got eaten alive by Shaq, who got 32 points, and an ASTOUNDING 12-18 from free throw. That's right, 12-18 --- holy f*ck!! Luke Walton was on the court in the 4th quarter -- very rare for Phil Jackson to be playing rookies at all, much less in the 4th, but boy, Luke is really really good (and his shooting will improve)

Lakers lead through 1st-3rd quarters before the Sonics started climbing back to tie the game at 88, with about 4 minutes to go. But clutch shooting by Kareem Rush (at the start of the season, I thought he was a piece of sh*t - unable to pass, defend) in the last several minutes of the ball game helped put the game away.

boy, Rush has improved tremendously!!! Unlike his brother JaRon (who went to UCLA at about the same time I did in mid 1990s), Rush stayed for 3 years and refined his shooting touches.

JaRon left after 2 years for the NBA, never showed a consistent shooting touch, was a defensive liability, and never made an NBA club - he's now living in an apartment, having failed to do well overseas.

Meanwhile, little brother Kareem stayed 3 years (even though he was good enough to leave after 2 years), and was a 1st round draft pick by Toronto, dealt to Lakers in a trade that same draft day. Despite the defensive liabilities, the Lakers knew they had a good, consistent shooter and kept Kareem. Now, in his 3rd year, Rush is making good!!! Unlike his idiot brother, JaRon, Kareem now has millions to retire upon.

ok, sorry for the soap box, but had JaRon stayed to refined his skills, he would've help UCLA get to the Final Four, as well as help himself in the NBA draft. We, the alumni of UCLA, never forget someone who's a mercenary!! JaRon came to UCLA, expected to be treated like royalty, and NEVER improved one damn bit during the 2 years -- couldn't play defense, wouldn't play defense, but was a very athletic player with good range shooting. JaRon thought his athleticism would get him to the NBA

we knew it wouldn't....not after 2 years.

JaRon left for the money, left our basketball team without a star player, and I say good riddance to the f*cker!

[stalking_WOLF_21]

man i hope kobe is all right because he's the only resion i watch the lakers and with him out the lakers won't be fun to watch in the playoffs