Aren't they out yet?

 

No!

 

50 Lakers' free throws tonight compared to Warriors' 16 ... Even by NBA standards this is a joke ...

 

How about team effort, Howard, gasol, Kobe, all over 25 points, gasol I think had a triple double

 

Then if only Howard would practice and put the money he gets paid towards working on free throws, they'd win a lot of games, he shoots tons of free throws

 

Wow!!! Unbelievable game!!!

LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSS SSSSSSSSSS!!!!

 

Not even Steve Blake knew where game winning free throws came from ...

 

You know it's a good win when Zoran is whining.

Review up in 30. Hopefully the Mamba is alright

 

Maybe David Stern should explore expanding the number of playoff teams from 8 to 10 ... That way he can be sure that the Lakers will make the playoffs, since its obvious they can't make it on their own.

 

Hahahaha loser mentality

 

I seem to recall their in the playoffs as of tonight, so yea enough said. Hahaha

 

I'm really gonna enjoy the 1st round sweep of the almighty Lakers.

 

This!!!

That's fine. We've enjoyed 16 of these

 

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant suffered what the team called a probable torn Achilles tendon during Friday night's 118-116 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Bryant said he knows the injury is likely to end his season.
"I can't walk," Bryant said. "I tried to maybe put pressure on my heel, but there was nothing there."

 

"M-V-P!!! M-V-P!!! M-V-P!!!" The chants arose from Staples center as Kobe Bryant approached the free throw line. He had just hyper extended his left knee. Refusing to be taken out of the game, he took his shots. Later in the game he took another spill, coming up gimpy. He got up and walked around gingerly with a strain on his face. Again he approached the line and shot his free throws. Later still, with 3 minutes left in the game, Kobe went to attack from the 3 point line. As he planted his foot, he fell and a whistle was blown. He had injured his Achilles tendon (believed to be torn, an MRI is scheduled for tomorrow). Again, Kobe Bryant approached the free throw line. He tied the game with his 2 free throws. The regular season MVP this year may go to a guy down in South Beach, but there is no question who has been the MVP of this team. Every game he gives everything he has. His team returned the favor. They fought hard and pulled out the 118-116 win over the Warriors in one of the craziest games I've ever seen.

This game was immensely important for both teams. The Warriors were trying to move up in the seeding to avoid San Antonio, and the Lakers were fighting off Utah to just make it in the post season. Both teams started off red hot shooting 75% from the field. From the Lakers end, they were dominating inside with Pau and Dwight. Post isolations for Pau, and high-low lobs for Dwight led to a lot of high percentage looks. From the Warriors end Stephen Curry was on another level. He was shooting 3s, floaters, and mid range shot like it was practice. Not a scrimmage either, I mean like a shooting drill. Dude had 22 points in the first quarter alone and torched the Lakers mercilessly. Any time the Lakers went under a screen he pulled up and drained the jumper. It really was incredible.

Not to be outdone, Kobe got cooking in the second quarter. He scored 7 straight to keep the Lakers within reach. At half time the score was even at 57 all. To start the 3rd the Warriors started using a lethal combo of high screen/rolls with their two sharp shooters Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. This is incredibly difficult to guard because both players can shoot at a high clip, and they can handle the ball well. If the Lakers switched on the screen the Warriors milked Thompson (6'6") shooting over Blake (6'2"), if they went over or under the screen the Curry went to work. The Warriors milked this combo to death. And when they finally went away from it, David Lee went to work and scored 6 points in a row. Meanwhile the Lakers kept pounding it in to Dwight and Pau leaving the Warriors no choice but to foul away. As mentioned earlier Kobe was playing through injury the entire time. He hit jumpers, got fouled going to the basket, and set up his teammates. Yet the Lakers found themselves down by 9 with 6 minutes to go. They got a triple from Blake and then consecutive triples from Kobe to tie the game. After a Jarrett Jack layup, Kobe tried to drive and that's when the Achilles injury happened. The Lakers had to intentionally foul so that Kobe could leave the game. It was a heart breaking sight for Lakers and basketball fans everywhere.

Offensively the Spaniard took over for the Lakers with Bryant unable to play. He got a lefty hook to fall on one possession, and then Blake found Howard for a dunk on another. The Lakers held on for the win despite a full court heave that nearly went in for Stephen Curry.

Notables:

The Good:
- Dwight Howard's free throw shooting was excellent tonight. He really punished the Warriors for all the fouling they do
- Pau stepped up big time. This was 2008-2010 Pau. This was Spanish National team Pau. This was the Spanish Wonder! He had a triple double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 Assists.
- The Mamba. Nothing much needs to be said. Unbelievable.

The Bad:
- The Lakers were unable to cool off Curry for 90% of this game
- Too many offensive rebounds given up (15 for GSW, only 3 for LAL)
- It is very likely that Kobe is out for the season :'(


The Lakers got the win to keep their playoff hopes alive. It appears they've lost their best player in the process. After the game Dwight was asked how the Lakers would have to adjust without Kobe. He responded by saying, "Defense." It's so true. The Lakers are going to have to play as one unit without the Mamba on the floor. Their margin for error got a lot smaller, just when you thought it couldn't. If they ever needed a rallying point this would be it. They have 2 games to go before they end the season. If they play together, with effort and intensity they can do it. They can shock the world.

Get better Mamba. Our prayers are definitely out to you. We know you'll be back...GO LAKERS!!!

 

Kobe is a true die hard in love with the game! He has all my respect, he knew how important this win was.
Yea who's the guy in south beach......? Lol.. There are far more value players than him.

I'd still take Allen iverson right now back in season when he was playing with all those injuries. Over mr. dramatic down in south beach!

 

That's the truth. There's no doubting LBJ's game anymore. But does he really leave it all on the court like Bryant, Iverson, and Jordan before him? I don't know. So far he's sat out due to a pinky injury. In his defense his team had a great record at that time. Maybe one day his back will be against the wall and we'll see what he's really made of

 

And understand this Zoran. When I said "loser mentality" I am not calling you a loser, but rather accusing you of approaching the issue from a losing perspective. Why? Because you're only defense is to blame the refs.

What's the number 1 thing you can't control in sports? The officiating. Teams can only control their play and not the officiating.

You honestly think the league is conspiring that well so as to not get caught all this time? If so, why veto the CP3 trade? Would have made the Lakers much better and been far less suspicious. Why even let the Lakers get down to 8th in the first place? Rig the games sooner and give them a little cushion.

You're not taking into account the Warriors' strategy. Remember when Howard set a free throw record against GSW last year? That's because they're strategy to defend him is to purposely foul him. They would rather he go to the line then get dunks. Once again it failed, and Howard made them pay.

All those intentional fouls get them in the penalty early. Which then means any other foul whether shooting or non-shooting results in free throws. It's not hard to see how we shot so many.

So if you're going to complain, then complain how GSW only got Curry and Thompson involved on offense. Complain about how they couldn't defend the Lakers' bigs. Or complain about how they should have run a high screen and roll with Curry and Thompson on that last play. Blaming the refs is a theory that doesn't hold water.

And I know you already know all of this. That's why it annoys me to see you use a cheap cop out like the refs

 

Nicely said!!

I think we did see what he's made of, when he gave up on his team in Cleveland,

He's has game, not doubting that at all. But like you said, he doesn't leave it all on the court,
Then when he takes a little tumble, he puts his pouting face on and just walks it off like he's doing everyone a favor, Jordan's flu game, iversons tailbone, finger, ankle, Bryant's knee, finger, ankle, and now what happen last night.

True die hard "for the love of the game" players,

And not show boating, red carpet, out for most money players.
It's gonna be sad day when the old style players leave.





Can't forget this!! Haha

 

No worries, I knew you were not calling me personally a loser.

You didn't see me complain over Lakers' last few wins (Portland, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas ...) because Lakers were clearly a better team.
I had big complains over the win at Sacramento, because there were so many bad calls in the closing minutes in Lakers' favor (see video below), but I didn't wanna say anything because you would accuse me of blaming refs every time Lakers beat the Kings.

But last night was a joke. Even at that Orlando game, where Magic was intentionally fouling Howard every time he got the ball, Lakers didn't shoot as many free throws as the last night.
Last night in the 4th quarter alone Lakers had the same amount of free throws (16) as the Warriors had in the entire game. Even Steve Blake was surprised when he got those game winning free throws.

Lakers have to make the playoffs because nobody wants to watch a bunch of unknowns from Utah instead of superstars like Kobe, Howard, Nash, Gasol and Artest.