1) The L.A. Lakers became overconfident and are being punked by the much more physical Jazz.
2) They're losing the battle of the boards.
3) Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom can't make wide open free throws. In other words, they're choking. Stop spinning that god damn ball so many times, Lamar, and just go up there and shoot it. You don't get bonus points for trying to make your free throw routine look all nice and artistic.
4) Vladimir Radmanob-!-t-c-h has given this team absolutely NOTHING. He's a bust, plain and simple. The new Slava Medvedenko. Soft as hell and plays with no fire under his belt. Send him to the Alps or Whistler Mountain so he can play the sport he really wants to play. Guaranteed he's gone next year as Ron Artest waits patiently to take his spot. Hurry back, Trevor Ariza, L.A needs you to take him out of the rotation.
5) Jordan Farmar and his nonchalant attitude. It's no surprise why UCLA players can't step up during the big games. In two postseasons, Farmar has not shown me anything to make me believe he's the Lakers' starting point guard of the future.
6) The Utah Jazz are playing with more heart, more grit, and certainly more toughness.
7) The Utah Jazz have figured them out.
8) Matt Harpring, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Ronnie Price have outplayed Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, Ronny Turiaf, and Farmar decisively.
9) Kobe Bryant, the MVP, once again had a lapse in game recognition in overtime, when he kept jacking up shot after shot not realizing Derek Fisher had the hot hand and was solely responsible for bringing his team back in the game late in the fourth quarter. Whether it's due to his bad back forcing his competitve nature to try and take over, I won't let Bryant off the hook on this one. There are no excuses. Kobe did not lead his team in Game 4.
10) The Lakers have allowed the raucous Jazz fans to affect their concentration. ALL momentum is now with Utah, and the young Lakers are rattled, dazed, and confused.
11) Mehmet Okur, the former All-Star, is outgunning Pau Gasol, the former All-Star. Conventional wisdom says it should be the other way around. Then again, it's Okur who has the championship ring and the big game experience and not Gasol.
12) Deron Williams is outsmarting the entire Lakers' defense, including Bryant.
13) Losing this series would teach this young team a lesson or two about defensive execution against a highly cerebral team that is extremely well coached.
14) The Jazz are getting All-Star performances from four All-Stars - Williams, Okur, Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko. And they are taking it to the Lakers, no holds barred. Meanwhile, only three Lakers showed up for the trip to Utah - Bryant, Odom, and Gasol. The rest are still wearing their pajamas.
15) The lackadaisical Lakers are discombobulated on both sides of the ball and are offering very little resistance.
This Lakers supporter is probably as angry and frustrated as Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson combined right now. But I make no excuses. I point out the facts. I point out what I see.
And the reality is, I was wrong about Utah. They are playing high intensity playoff basketball while the Lakers think they're still playing the Denver Nuggets.
Humble down, Lakers fans. The memo is out. We have a series.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!! We wouldn't be the same without you.
The Jazz ain't no joke. I told you no sweep. Kobe's back is hurt. This may be curtains. But then again the Jazz are a lousey road team and the Lakers have to have the message.
Be nice if Jordan Farmar chose to show up for the playoffs even this late.
There's no excuse for Walton getting blocked on that breakaway. None at all. And you're right, Farmar is useless.
Williams 7-9 in the first half? You guys have handled Booze so far.
I don't think all is lost. You guys should still take the series. BUT, you've had your chances to put them away in both Games Three and Four and haven't been able to.
JDIZZLE...You may be a little too harsh on your Lakers right now. The Jazz are OUTSTANDING at home and despite the blown free throws, Gasol disappearing act, and Kobe's injury, they still managed to take the game to overtime. I think its something in the playoff rule book this year that says no 2nd round team will win on the road, unless you're playing the Magic! The Lakers will be fine...
Well i'm not ready to throw in the towel. I think everyone knew that it would be tough to win in Utah. They didnt have the best home record for nothing. The fact that the Lakers battled back and took them to O.T. is in know way indicative of laying down. The Lakers will be fine.
BTW, took my mother to lunch today. Had an awesome time.
ATTITUDE70: I hope so. But I've always given the Lakers tough love. When we're winning, I sound like the most biased homer in this galaxy. But when we're losing, I get on them like a drill sergeant in boot camp. There are no excuses.
The Lakers should have swept Utah had they been on all cylinders, regardless of how well the Jazz play at home.
Those are my expectations and I'm sure those are Kobe's expectations as well. That's the mentality the rest of the team has to have. Urgency at all times because that's what championship teams do.
LAKERSFAN4LIFE: I will give the Lakers credit for battling back.
But if we were truly a championship team ready to take the title, we should have found a way to win. Bottom line.
But I hope you're right. Hopefully, we can wake up as a unit and take the next two.
The last time we played Utah in the playoffs, they swept us. The year before that the Jazz beat us 4-1. We need to hand it to them, and that's why I'm so disappointed right now.
That memory has me seething, furious, incensed, irate, teed off, enraged, livid, just about every word in the book.
JDIZZLE...Hopefully Phil/Kobe are talking to the team about crashing the boards because that's the one area that's keeping the Jazz afloat. I'm not quite sure why that is with the Lakers having the size advantage. Odom and Gasol must crash the boards more. Hopefully the refs will let the players decide the games from here on out too...
Last play of regulation should've been Fish taking a 3. The squad played like trash all game, Phil should've known that they'd get smashed in overtime.
I dont think the Lakers necesarrily deserve to Lose the series, if you really break it down they have played better than the Jazz, they very well look like they might lose the series, this game to me was one they should of won,you dont come all the way back like that just to choke. Your right about the freethrow shooting, this is why Lamar must be traded now that he has some value, he pretty much played his best game as a laker today, but still missed enough freethrows to be the difference in the game. Kobe played absolutely terribly, and I dont want to hear about his injury injurys dont force you to make selfish bone headed decisions when you have three players on the court with you who are performing at a higher level. This series will go seven games, Kobe is making me sick right now, he looks just like last year, but if he really is who we have seen this year he will get it together. I finally do see the need for Bynum, the defensive end Gasol is a tragic mess, if only he could figure out team defense as easy as the triangle. Ariza would be a welcome addition as well, the Lakers overachieved this year that is the bottom line, they should win this series and might, and I think they could hang with the Celtics, I do not see how they can get through the Spurs or Hornets, if this team could stay healthy next year however I would bet the house on them winning the championship.
I agree with you on Farmar not being ready although he excels better as a second unit player with the run and gun, not a first quarter sub. Secondly Radmonivich should be buried on the bench t
Last play of regulation should've been Fish taking a 3. The squad played like trash all game, Phil should've known that they'd get smashed in overtime.
Loved seeing '05 Kobe again, it's been a while.
absolutely one hundered percent right, in a game like that on the road you play for the win. Also, if you shoot early enough you get a chance at a putback, I think Phil Jackson has been less than a top tier coach this series. He has to get away from giving away the first five minutes of every fourth quarter, and sticking to rotations that are ineffective. He has bodies to use he just refuses to, and Ariza should already be suiting up, hes ready to go from what I hear.
This is turning out to be a BAD matchup for the Lakers. If they lose Game 5, they better start getting ready to set up tee times. If they win Game 5, they'll win in seven games. Either way, they can look back on this series to know what they need to do this off season (bring in Artest for defensive toughness).
STOPBEINGDUMB: "[Phil] has to get away from giving away the first five minutes of every fourth quarter, and sticking to rotations that are ineffective."
U make a valid point. Phil is showing too much confidence in Farmar when he has no reason to do so except for the fact Farmar's the only PG we have off the bench.
But if Ariza was in the lineup, you could go with Sasha at the point, Trevor at SG, Walton at SF, Odom playing PF with the second unit to start the fourth, and Ronny at the five.
ion I fail to see how this is a bad match up for the lakers, they played absolutely terrible, for half the game and went to OT the Jazz are trying to give these games to the Lakers, the Lakers should win at home pretty easily unless they lost all their confidence. A bad matchup would be the Spurs or Hornets playing like they did today or on Friday.
LAKERSFAN19: also loved seeing the '97 Kobe again.
There's just something about Kobe airballin' three-pointers in OT whenever he plays at Utah.
NBAISTHEWORST: The question is, can the Lakers get back to playing that same style as in the first two games now that all momentum has shifted to the Jazz?
JON464: I agree with bringin in Artest for some defensive toughness to complement Kobe and Bynum but more importantly send the SPACE CADET Radmanovic to a ski resort of his choice.
On the bright side, we barely lost to the toughest home team...at home.
The calls will go our way in L.A.
Gasol and Odom should be getting the ball down low more often, and Pau needs to stop leaving Okur open on the help situations, the guy is killing us with threes.
Kobe should trust the triangle more in late game situations...especially when he's hurting.
J-DIZZLE,
I agree with you 99% my friend. Especialy about Radmono-####! That #### just throws up shots knowing he has no bussiness doing. he plays no D at all either. Also there is no excuse for Kobe either. Now I do however like the play of Sasha. The dude is a dead eye shooter from beyond the arch. Farmar is...well Farmar. God I hope Ariza suits up and plays come game 5 Wed.
The Jazz are the most heartless team out there.
Deron Williams is pissy
Jazz fans boo derek fisher.
the Jazz's angry foreign players just scowl 24 hours a day
Boozer is also pissy
The Lakers have the truest players out there
Turiaf battled heart surgery
Fisher has his kid's cancer
Odom lost a child last year
Kobe has played the whole season injured
BLEEDPRPL&GLD: I agree with you on defending Okur's three. You'd think that the players would have noticed that by now.
GAMBITXXX: A Salt Lake City doctor a couple days ago told Ariza his foot hasn't healed completely. The Lakers sure need another defensive body out there. Vladimir is not earning his keep. It's sad but he's one of the weak links out there. Chances are he's trade bait next year.
UBERSHORTY: I don't look at it that way. The Lakers were outplayed.
Every time the Jazz would turn the ball over and give the Lakers a chance to trim the deficit, L.A. would either cough up the ball, throw up a brick, miss some free throws, or give the ball right back to the Jazz. In short, they had their chances but couldn't capitalize.
i'll give the Jazz credit for holding down the homecourt...that's really all they did. yes, in doig so, they made it a best of 3 series, but let's not forget how lousy they've been on the road. now, that would be fine if they had the homecourt advantage...and i realize that momentum can swing suddenly and easily, but look at the fouls being called for the home teams. Utah shot 20 more free throws that L.A. in game 4. i agree that they've played an extremely physical game, but that's a huge disparity. the refs in L.A. are not going to allow Utah to play that physical brand of basketball, and so i'm looking for the Lakers to bounce back in game 5.
When Utah ost the first 2 games, no one said they deserve to lose the series. we simply gave credit to L.A. for winning on their own floor. Utah has done the same, and now we shift back to L.A. and we take it from there. I believe what we're seeing is 2 teams that know how to protect their home turf. Utah only lost 4 games there all season (and 1 to Houston in the post-season). No need for Laker fans to worry...i think they still got it.
Ok before anyone calls me a Kobe hater, I already knew the old Kobe would come back. I just had a bad feeling. I just felt that the team was better to being ticked off at Kobe from the summer than Kobe actually trying to trust his teammates. It just felt like any moment he would want to be the man again and force shot after shot. That's what happened in overtime. He went 1-7 during that period while 13-33 for the game. Especially if he strained his back he shouldn't have been taking that much shots. Fisher was hot from the 4th quarter. If anyone should have shooting it should have been him. Kobe needed to be a facilitator. Unlike a pinky, a back can actually affect shooting form. Laker fans better hope he doesn't become a ballhog for the rest of the series or they are screwed.
Wow! Whoever wrote this is an ####! For one Kobe is puttin up .800 on free throws this post season, secondly the Jazz have a really good record at home..it's hard to take them on their home court..if my eyes are correct they have won the last 14 out of 16 at home in the playoffs i believe...your an ####!
I am the biggest Jazz fan and biggest Laker hater this world has ever known. However I am not here to talk trash, the Jazz still have a very tall order to take this series against the best player we have seen since Michael Jordan aka Kobe Bryant.
I have to disagree with some of you Laker fans. You complain about crashing the boards when that is what got you to overtime. Kobe missed a 3, Gasol grabbed the rebound, kicked it out and Fish hit the 3, then there was Odom's follow up to send it to OT. Last game you killed us in 2nd chance points. Also, Boozer has not done anything this series, he is NOT playing like an all-star. With the exception of game 3, his whole playoff run has been below average, but I still got his back, he will turn it around. You just have to give the Jazz credit. They aint no push over and as much as you all might say otherwise they are in a great position to win this series. Now I am not saying hey will. I think L.A. is clearly the favorite still with Bryant and home court advantage but I will not be surprised if Utah takes this series. We have ourselves a series here and I am excited to see the rest. Also Deron Williams is turning into a superstar, and everyone who wants to give CP3 all the love all I have to say is just wait until their careers are over, then tell me who should have been drafted first. That is no dis on Paul though cause he is a stud. So Laker fans we have ourselves a series and GO JAZZ!
man take it easy. I was frustrated that the lakers loss too but to be honest, they are still the better team despite these two losses. The Jazz can't and won't overpower the Lakers. I would have liked to see the lakers intensity pick up besides the last 3 minutes o####ame. but it was uncharateristc of them too miss that many free throws and Kobe was hurt so his explosiveness wasn't there. Once that back heals up a bit they will get back down to business. Especially at home. Nothing has changed. If you thought this was going to be a cakewalk series then really who was the one who needs the humbling. Lakers in 6. I will say Gasol needs to stop having the quiet 18 and get back to getting that impactful 25. Kobe will not be denied of the finals this year. I hope Ronnie doesn't get suspended. I have seen worse. Lake show all day.
Don't take too much stock in these victories by the Jazz. All it says is that they won at home, like they are supossed to do. They haven't won on the road all season! If Kobe is alright, then the Lakers still have the advantage they earned by winning the West.
If they play such great basketball, why did they lose the first two games Mr. Basketball Genius.
At least the Lakers pushed the Jazz to a oftertime game on their home court.
Charles Barkley hit it right on the head Kobe was not hurt on offense jacking up 33 shots. You know I know Kobe was hurting, but the media has not even mentioned that Deron Williams got his shooting wrist x rayed yesterday. That's right, his shooting wrist. Kobe wants to be Jordan so bad but hey Kobe, Jordan did not force the issue. Kobe you went away from a red hot Derek Fisher, you went away from Lamar Odom who played an incredible game and kept jacking up shots with your injured little back. Poor Kobe. Excuses, blah blah blah. Pinky hurts, blah blah blah. Malone did not have trouble sweeping you guys in the playoffs with a broken middle finger on his shooting hand. Most of you probably did not know about that injury cause not everyone whines like Kobe. He is over exaggerating his injury as a scape goat. He wanted to look like a hero if they won by over emphasizing his injury. Sorry Kobe you will never be Jordan. Jordan had a terrible flu and beat us in the finals. Kobe is an arrogant piece of bleep and so is Phil Jack-off. Jazz in 7 mother bleepers.
Jazz out played the lakers and barely won. Lakers had everything go wrong from missing free throws, wide open dunks, and easy break away lay ups. Not to mention being called for every foul. It reminded me of Dwayne Wade in the finals against Dallas. They blew a whistle on every drive. I understand Jazz were at home but its playoffs, let them play. Roni getting kicked out for that foul was weak!! He went for the ball. That's why little 140 lbs guards should stay outside and shoot.
After all that, the jazz needed overtime to win. A win is a win however but I don't put any weight to it in terms of the Jazz having the momentum in the series.
UtahJazzfan8,
I don't remember hearing Kobe whine about his back! I however remember the media over-exposing the injury. Yes D-Will had a wrist X-rayed and it came back negative so what's your point? Also WTF does CP3 have to do with any of this? Why your panties are all in a knot I'm not sure. Nobody said the Jazz was a pushover team. Seems you can't handle the fact that most just think the Lakers are better. Get over yourself already and let go of D-Wills nut sack why don't you.
how do they deserve to lose the series ####...ya they had a garbage game...why do u think utah is 41-5 at home..bcuzz its a crazy atmosphere...people get rattled...its pretty pathetic that kobe was hurt the whole game and still managed to get almost a triple double..this was an eye opener and knowing how jacksons coaches he'll have this fixed..utah doesnt deserve to win if they cant beat a team in regulation with there allstar playing hurt
The Jazz got blown out in LA and barely hung on to win in Utah - so how is it the at the Lakers are in trouble? The final result will be the same as it was for Atlanta in Boston
Now we have a real series. I think this bring back Lakers to become a more respectful and humble team. I predicted the serie before starting to a final 4-2. Lakers going to next round. The fun just started. Please, channel on Wednesday to view a whopping.
too much of this and that, win or loose, in the end it's still LAKERS walking the walk and taking the talk. a LEGEND will rise and ROAR through all them BLEEPS. He waited a long time for his turn and their ain't no way he won't destroy each and every single one of them. so all the lakers humble warriors don't give up. he will not be denied, remember this, all you BLEEPERS and DREAMERS.....that LEGENDS LIVE.
As a Laker fan the only two things I am concerned about is Farmar's sudden lack of confidence and Pao Gasol complaining to refs for non-calls while the plays are still going. Both concerns should be remedied when they return home.
Considering the Jazz still haven't proven themselves on the road, the Lakers still have the upper hand, unless the Lakers have the wavering confidence that this blogger does. Kobe, LO, Fisher, and Sasha will keep the confidence strong.
Dont only person that needs to get over themselves is you! Where did you get CP3? He never mentioned that? And no Kobe didn't complain verbally but he sure as hell did on the court. Charles Barkley's statement regarding Kobe where dead on! D Will played with a must up wrist yet you NEVER saw him complain on the court. Duncan played with 102+ fever twice and you never saw him complain! Ginobili has been playing with a strained ankle and you have not seen him complain! That is all Kobe was doing last night when things weren't going his way. Wednesday Kobe will be back fine because his "injury" isn't as bad as he was exaggerating. I guarantee you we wont see Kobe grabbing his back on Wednesday! That is how you know this who fiasco was just an exaggeration!!!!
Kobe was hurt, the team couldn't hit a freethrow, we were w/o Turiaf, we were playing in the toughest arena in the league, and we STILL got it to overtime. I think the Lakers will be just fine.
Totally agree. Kobe should have make plays the last possesions instead of making tough shots and getting block by AK. Fisher was hot and Odom was on a roll. it's always tough to play in Utah but those games were WIN-ABLE!!! I expect a blow-out when they comeback in Staples.. Lakers in 6 games.
It seemed weird to that all those drives and smacks were just my imagination running away with game 4, the officials and tv are making it more of a series than it is, why do you think the lakers could pull even with the jazz in a couple of minutes, the lakers will be fine, kobe should have let odom take over the game in overtime instead of forcing shots, but man its basketball not karate, all those hacks inside will stop in La. Thats why you hear all the reporters talk about the foul difference but then retract on calling it a good game, and another note no flagarant two on that foul was bull ####, thats why you know there quick to give utah advantage at home, the guy just fell wrong, cause hes a tard!
UC IRVINE graduate and proud to be an ANTEATER. My claim to fame is having played against the likes of Tayshaun and Tommie Prince, Jacque Vaughn, and Charles O'Bannon, plus getting dunked on by Schea Cotton in a CIF second round match in the nineties.
WIDELY KNOWN on FOX as one of the most biased LAKER HOMERS in blog history, highly criticized for hating on the PHOENIX SUNS fan base, and has been told on more than one occasion that LAMAR ODOM isn't worth the suit he's wearing.
Believe that "excellence is not an act but a habit."
Believe that the things you do and the things you don't do, they all send a message.
Believe that in order to know the world one must first know thyself.
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Finally, as the great Bruce Lee once said, "Man - he is constantly growing and when he is bound by a set pattern of ideas or way of doing things, that's when he stops growing."
This is the Way of the Dragon. Embrace it.
