Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

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3/7/04 update: 94-88 Lakers beat the Nets

boy, what a game!!!!

over 20 lead changes as both teams played well (or poorly, depending on your point of view); then, starting in the 3rd quarter, the Nets gathered up a 9-point lead after leading at halftime by 2

then the Lakers promptly woke up, reduced that lead to 3 at the end of the 3rd. Then, with Shaq at the bench to rest for the start of the 4th, the bench helped the Lakers go ahead for good in the early parts of the 4th.

Nets shot horribly in the latter 3rd and all of the 4th, otherwise, they'd have won the game. Lakers played a good game, but this game was determined mostly by the Nets inability to hit their open jumpers.

Shaq had his 2nd FANTASTIC game, with 32 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, 10-14 from free throw line, following up on his 12-18 vs. the Sonics this past friday. Boy, that workout with his shooting coach really helped Shaq. by the way, Shaq went through the season, insisting he'd figured out the foul shooting on his own.....but when you start shooting 30% from the charity stripe for a month, you start looking for help if you're smart

Payton had 18 points, 9 baoards, but only 2 assists, and shot a lousy 1-5 in free throws. Boy, he's pretty bad foul shooter this year for the Lakers!

Devean George finally had 2 consecutive good games, 8 points, 2 boards, 3 assists in about 26 minutes

Rick Fox is useless.....perhaps it's the fact he just came back from a foot injury, but this guy is 2 steps slow, and can't shoot, going 15% from 3-point area (he used to be 32%) and 31% overall from FG %

The rookies Walton and Cook did fairly well, with 6 points each, and contributing boards and assists.

Rush had an OK game, with 8 points

overall...this was a game that the Nets could've won had they made open jumpers (in the NBA,. you are expected to make open jumpers). Jason Kidd sat out the game to rest an injury

Martin had 17 for the Nets
Jefferson had 21
Kittles had 19

but most of the points came before the 4th

With Dallas losing to Houston earlier today, Lakers now 1 full game ahead of Dallas.

But, San Antonio has won 3 of 4 without Duncan (wowowoww!!) and remains 1/2 game ahead of Lakers

[minew_m]

Great game for the Lakers. Shaq showed his dominant side again. I hope he can continue playing like this for a while!!!

[stalking_WOLF_21]

well come on theres 4 people on there team only garnett can conpar to the lakers four and thats kg to shaq/kobe/payton/malone then they have good players off the bench

[minew_m]

What about Cassell? Spree? Wally?

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agree with Minew

But, I will agree with Wolf that it's not comparable.

The Wolves can't stop Shaq and Kobe

The Lakers can't stop KG, but they do have the personnel to shut down Latrell (put Kobe on him), Cassell (Payton) and Wally (Devean George, Rick Fox, and Bryon Russell)

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3/10/04:

this is absolute bull™™™™!!

Lakers are up by 2 with 4 minutes to go in 4th; then on an offensive rebound, Shaq gets it, slam dunks, and on the way down, his massive arm clocks Kirilenkov on the head, and the goddam ref gives Shaq a technical (he got one just a few minutes earlier for face taunting), and kicks Shaq out

you've got to be kidding me>?!?!?!?!

motherfucker!!!!!!

No Karl
No Kobe
and in the crucial moments, with Lakers up by 2, the goddam ™™™™™™™ referee kicks Shaq out b/c his arm smacks Kirilenkov on the way down from a slam dunk?????

after that, the Jazz outscore the Lakers to win the ball game

goddammmmmm it!!

I hate conspiracy theories, but I really do think the refs are out to get the Lakers.

Kobe gets smacked every time he drives to the basket, yet he rarely gets a foul called

But, you've got to give the Jazz credit; they played great the first 3 quarters, as Shaq was in foul trouble the whole game.

Lots of folks say Shaq is one of the most dominating players in the game.

hahahahahhaha.... this ™™™™™™™ piece of ™™™™ has 2 moves:

1. bulldozes his way over smaller players (hell, I could do this if I played against people smaller than me)
2. shot 3 to 5 foot jump shots

when his bulldozing results in fouls being called, or when his shots aren't falling, it's over for the Lakers

And that's what happened in this game, as Shaq got 3 offensive fouls, and was basically useless.

Unlike Kobe, who can shoot mid-range shots, dribble drive penetration, 3-point shots, free throws, and plays defense

Shaq basically does 2 things, and that's about it.

Hell, even Yao Ming can shoot inside, has a smooth outside 15-17 foot shot, and can shoot free throws very reliably.

what a ™™™™™™™ bull™™™™ game, one that Shaq should've controlled.

So far in the 2nd half of the All Star break, Kobe missed the Atlanta game and Utah game, and Lakers lost both.

Shaq talks ™™™™ about how he could win 55-60 games by himself.

well....if you can't beat the bad teams, how do you beat the Sacramento Kings and Timberwolves??

that's like saying your car can't out-race a bicyclist, but it can out-race a Ferrari

as for the game stats, it really is irrelevant.

Gary played like crap
Shaq played like crap
Utah played great

[Bonds_25]

Seems like the Lakers are doomed this year, all the injuries to their star players night in and night out is amazing. Gonna be a tough road to the finals for LA this year, seems like they are cursed or something.

But hey I got no problem with that :), just gives the Kings a better chance but I would love to see a Kings-Lakers Western Conference final, had em beat last time if it weren't for Horry and our missed free throws.

[podstock]

Originally posted by Bonds_25
But hey I got no problem with that :), just gives the Kings a better chance but I would love to see a Kings-Lakers Western Conference final, had em beat last time if it weren't for Horry and our missed free throws.

In that series....the Kings got a gift call in game 5, and Mike Bibby made the free throws to clinch the game 5.

hey, if my Lakers don't win, I'll be pulling for the Kings.

They have paid their dues; they've suffered tough losses, and they deserve to win the title.

I just hate seeing Webber get a ring.

B/c this ™™™™™™ took thousands of dollars from boosters while at Michigan, he helped demolish that program (along with violations from other folks)...

now that Webber has a $100M contract, why isn't he donating several millions back to the university program that he helped bring down??

[Bonds_25]

I know quite a few Kings fans who do not like Webber, including myself. I think he is a very good player and we need him to go all the way but he is the most overpaid player in sports outside of Alex Rodriguez. Webber has not been a great player under pressure, just look at his phantom timeout play at Michigan. Although he has faced some tough injuries the last few years he comes off like a wimp at times. The thing that bugs me most is he cant hit free throws, if only Peja could go to the line for him every time like if Kobe could go to the line for Shaq.

[skyracer3]

Phil,
I know you havent posted tonights game recap, but I want to know your opinion on Shaqs ejection.