Don't ask me where my sources come from. I have telepathy, thought transference, E.S.P., a sixth sense. Just kidding. I simply like starting rumors because I believe I should be a GM in this league. Just kidding again. But I'm sure the Clippers could use me.
With Donnie Walsh all but promising that Zach Randolph will be moved, it makes logical sense to think that the new Knicks GM will send him to his former team, the Indiana Pacers.
Especially with Jermaine O'Neal being traded to Toronto, it makes even more sense for the Pacers to go after a decent power forward.
Meanwhile the New York Knicks, who decided to go with Danilo Gallinari in the draft, never got the point guard they were seeking although they still have Stephon Marbury and recently added Chris Duhon. Marbury isn't going anywhere because of his contract and diminishing skills. Duhon can play both guard spots, which means Nate Robinson is major trade bait.
Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised to see the following trade happen:
New York receives: F Troy Murphy, PG Jamaal Tinsley
There have been headlines coming out of Atlanta reporting that SF Josh Smith and the team are far from agreeing on a long term contract. Smith, who had a breakout year both on offense and defense, was heavily coveted by Philadelphia and the L.A. Clippers, among others, but we all know what happened with those two teams.
With Mike Bibby's ridiculous $15 million contract due to come off the books after next season, Hawks management is taking their time and completely weighing their options. Are they going to resign both Bibby and Smith to lucrative long term deals or do they believe that the future of their franchise is better off heading in another direction? Atlanta's recent history suggests the latter.
This is the same team that failed to keep Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Doc Rivers together for many years and the same team that broke up Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Smith, and Mookie Blaylock after they couldn't get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the nineties.
So what's the deal in Atlanta? Here's a potential sign-and-trade deal that can be consummated in the next couple of months if the Hawks are indeed only looking to build for the short term.
Atlanta gets: F Lamar Odom
Lakers get: F Josh Smith
For several years now, the Chicago Bulls' roster has been out of balance. And that's why the Bulls never seem to make any progress. By picking up Derrick Rose in the draft, they basically sent the message that they were no longer happy with Kirk Hinrich and the $10 million they owe him each year for the next five years. Moreover, with Duhon bolting for The Big Apple, the Bulls no longer have a reliable back up point guard. And best believe Ben Gordon is not going to be playing the point guard position either.
By trading away Ben Wallace for Drew Gooden (and his expiring contract) last season, they made it known they weren't satisfied with the progress of Tyrus Thomas and his lack of low post offensive production. It was clear they needed a player who could operate down low and make plays. Chicago is definitely going in another direction and most importantly, they want to go young and rebuild all over again.
For several months now, the L.A. Lakers have made it clear they no longer believe Lamar Odom is their man at the small forward position. Though he shows flashes of brilliance, his lack of consistency in playing at a high level just doesn't cut it for a championship contender like the Lakers. In fact, they even offered Odom to the Bulls last year in an attempt to acquire the relentless Argentinian Andres Nocioni. It might happen now.
Lakers receive: F Andres Nocioni and PG Kirk Hinrich
Bulls receive: F Lamar Odom and PG Jordan Farmar
And finally, wouldn't it be nice if the Sacramento Kings could get a former player back? The Kings' freewheeling offense, led by Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih, seems to be the perfect fit for outside shooter deluxe Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo would return to his former team, but this time around he's a better and more complete player.
The much talked about Ron Artest, therefore, moves east to Orlando to play alongside Dwight Howard to form one of the most imposing defensive tandems in the NBA. On paper, this looks like a quality and reasonable trade for both teams. Artest is given the chance to show his worth by playing for a legitimate playoff contender in Orlando. Meanwhile the Maloofs get a low-risk player in Hedo at slightly under $7 million per year for only two more years, and most importantly they are familiar with him.
Kings get: F Hedo Turkoglu
Magic get: F Ron Artest
Other significant players who could quite possibly change zip codes before next season are the Hawks' Josh Childress, the Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, the Mavericks' Josh Howard, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, and Miami's Shawn Marion.
The wheeling and dealing isn't done, folks. In fact it's only just begun.
Joe Dumars said the other day that he is doing his best to improve his aging team and there's "a 50-50 chance" something might happen in the coming months.
Aside from the Tracy McGrady rumor, nothine else significant has surfaced.
Personally, I don't believe T-Mac would be a wise long term investment for the Detroit Pistons because if you look at the Pistons' magic formula over the years, it has never been about a one-man show. And T-Mac is certainly a one-man show.
He averages about 25 per game while the Pistons' current leading scorer doesn't even top 20 per. Deeeetroit Basketball is all about spreading the wealth and team ball, and I'm not so sure T-Mac has the type of personality to stand up to guys like the vocal and enigmatic Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton because throughout his career McGrady has always been the number one option.
In addition, the Detroit organization prides itself on having players that play excellent team defense and nowhere in McGrady's resume does it state that he's a superb defender. He's an average defender, but certainly not one to lock anyone down. And with T-Mac's propensity to go one-on-one and score in bunches, I don't think Wallace and Hamilton would be too happy. Considering Detroit's system on offense, wherein they set constant picks to free up Hamilton and allow Rasheed to operate in the low post as well as the top of the key, McGrady would only be frustrated by the lack of touches and isolations he would get as a Piston. Therefore, I don't see this trade happening unless a third team is involved.
If the Pistons are going to ship some players, they will want a reliable scorer, a top rebounder, and a big man in return who is adequate on defense and is a team player who fits the Detroit mold. One of the main reasons they lost to Boston in the ECF is because the aging Antonio McDyess was simply too inconsistent and he was often beat on the boards by Kendrick Perkins. And although Jason Maxiell was game, he just didn't have enough big game experience to make a resounding impact. Finally, Theo Ratliff is a free agent so there's no telling who the Pistons' backup center will be next year. It's plainly obvious Dumars needs some ammunition inside.
Detroit would probably also want a back up point guard since Lindsey Hunter is thiscloser to receiving AARP benefits. With Rodney Stuckey ready to blossom and Juan Dixon continuing to possess a shooting guard mentality, nothing is clear at point guard for Detroit. The same can be said at the small forward position, with Jarvis Hayes gone and Walter Hermann unsure about returning.
Enter the Los Angeles Lakers. With all the focus on Ron Artest coming to L.A., one thing is clear. No significant progress has been made. Yet.
And with Lakers' management doing a great job of keeping things under wrap like they always do, one would only assume that they're continuing to talk to other teams about potential trades.
On February 2007, I suggested that the Lakers go after Pau Gasol since he would be a perfect complement to the triangle offense with his all-around game. For over a year there were no significant rumors of the Lakers being even remotely interested in dealing for Pau, although they were probably keeping a close eye on him from a distance. All everyone talked about was that the Bulls were heavily interested in the Spaniard but nothing ever came of it. One year later the Lakers swiped Gasol as quickly as a debit card, withdrawing the Spaniard from the Grizzlies with no one expecting it.
With everyone talking about Artest, how do we know Mitch Kupchak and Magic Johnson aren't quietly making calls and sending text messages to Dumars in the morning and late at night? Every time I catch a glimpse of Dumars at the summer league in Las Vegas, he's always on his phone messing with his texts. Could it be possible the Lakers are saying Lamar Odom isn't available to Sacramento because he would be a better fit in Detroit playing alongside Wallace and Hamilton as the third option and number one rebounder on the team? Is L.A. native Tayshaun Prince secretly speaking with Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant behind closed doors after practice and being the undercover liaison between both teams?
Whatever happens in the coming months will be interesting and intriguing all at the same time. The trade that nobody has mentioned thus far is the one involving 2004 Finals combatants Detroit and Los Angeles. Both teams have recent history as trade partners when the Lakers acquired Maurice Evans from Detroit a few years ago for a couple of picks.
Prince and Chauncey Billups (approx. $20 million combined annual salaries) for Odom, Jordan Farmar, Chris Mihm, and second round pick Joe Crawford (approx. $19-20 million combined annual salaries).
The Pistons get two expiring contracts, a highly sought after point guard, they address needs, and most importantly they get younger while still being able to compete in the East and clear much needed cap space for the future by relieving themselves of their long term obligations to Tayshaun and Chauncey.
Meanwhile the Lakers create a veteran-laden starting lineup of Billups, Bryant, Prince, Gasol, and Bynum and move the aging yet dependable Derek Fisher to the bench to create a stable lineup that will probably remain the same for the next three years minimum.
A Pistons' team source recently downplayed a rumor that T-Mac was close to being acquired, noting instead that Houston was "just one of many teams to whom the club has spoken about potential trades." Is one of those teams the Lakers?
Many people want to put the blame on Elton Brand and claim that he wasn't upfront with his loyalties to the Clippers and that his deceitful ways have changed their perception of him.
Many people want to point their fingers at agent David Falk, saying he's just another greedy superagent who wanted revenge on the Clippers for not signing his client Mike Bibby many years ago and trading him away only to pick a bust by the name of Michael Olowokandi at number one. But frankly, neither Brand nor Falk was at fault here.
The bottom line is the Clippers upper management, namely owner Donald "Don't call me Tommy Lee Jones" Sterling and Elgin Baylor, had a complete lack of open communcation with their so-called franchise player throughout the entire process and this led to Brand's exit out of Los Angeles.
When Falk openly stated that this deal "could have been done in 10 minutes," what does that tell you?
When Mike Dunleavy says that Sterling had given him complete authority on the negotiations, what does this imply?
And when the primary mode of communication between player and organization is text messaging, it only reveals one thing: the separation between the two entities. The impending result is what we have now, another lackluster Clippers team. But I hope you prove me wrong, Baron Davis.
All in all, Sterling and Baylor seemed like they were never committed to keeping Brand here for the long term. They saw his achilles injury as a complete liability to their financial outlook for the future. They thought Brand would inevitably fizzle out (after all, he is an undersized power forward at 6-8) in a couple of years, and therefore it wouldn't be worth it to keep Brand as their franchise player. This helps to explain why the Clippers originally offered only $70 million, which insulted Falk, who adamantly responded, "My job is to look out for my client, Elton Brand."
Falk wanted max money. The Clippers said no way. Brand wanted a guaranteed six-year deal with an opt-out clause in the final year. The Clippers weren't willing. In reality, Sterling never believed that Brand would be the man to take his team to the promised land. Once again, the Clippers remain the Clippers. End of story.
The difference between the two Los Angeles franchises is, without a doubt, one of commitment to excellence. While the Clippers aren't willing to do whatever it takes to put together a team that could have potentially generated three All-Stars in Brand, Davis, and Chris Kaman, the Lakers continue to be the mark of excellence around here.
Jerry Buss will continue to meet with Kobe Bryant in Spain to discuss important team matters, and Mitch Kupchak will continue to oversee the roster with every intention of building a championship team while taking complete ownership of his duties.
Meanwhile, former Lakers great Elgin Baylor remains incredibly quiet and subdued as the Clippers' VP of Basketball Operations, making me wonder if he is actually content on keeping the Clippers in the basement by never doing anything worthwhile with his personnel. Come to think of it, the ex-Laker may even be indirectly helping his former team in the process because the things he does and the things he doesn't do never pose a challenge to the crosstown rivals.
Speaking of the Lakers, isn't it great to be a fan of the purple-and-gold these days? With Ron Artest and Kenny Thomas coming and Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf going, the NBA will once again feel the tremors of another Lakers' juggernaut in 2008-'09.
And after this deal is completed, kudos will have to be given once again to Buss, Kupchak, and the rest of the Lakers' organization for maintaining their commitment to tradition and improving another championship dynasty.
Year after year, slowly and slowly, this particular Lakers' group continues to make improvements after being patient and analyzing the results, then modifying their strategic plan, and ultimately getting rid of weak links.
First it was the uninspired Smush Parker. Next it was the lazy Brian Cook. And then came the human brick, Kwame Brown. Now, the Lakers are about to exchange their inconsistent and unassertive small forward Odom in order to address their most glaring need - defensive toughness at the three position - by bringing in arguably the most intense lockdown forward in the game today.
And by taking on Thomas and the last two years of his $18 million contract, L.A. basically replaces the expensive Turiaf with another tough minded veteran who will be an asset to the Bench Mob.
Thomas, who may not bring the same type of enthusiasm, energy, and dancing skills as Ronny, is an otherwise more polished offensive player than Turiaf. He's a hustler on the boards and is an adequate defender at both forward positions as well, sort of like a poor man's A.C. Green if you will.
All I'm saying is this: the defending champion Boston Celtics better do all it can to resign James Posey and keep their roster intact because this Lakers team is only going to get better from here on out. The Celtics know that the Lakers never had the full services of two of their best defenders during the Finals (Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza), and yet L.A. still managed to win two games.
The Boston Three Party also knows that the Lakers are about to field a team that will have four potential All-Stars next year - Bryant, Pau Gasol, Bynum, and Artest.
The actor Paul Pierce, sooner than later, will see the difference between Ron-Ron face guarding him the entire game as opposed to Odom or the space cadet, Vladimir Radmanovic. By the way, whatever happened to that MRI he said he was going to take after the season ended?
Leon Powe will notice that Thomas will muscle him up a lot more than Ronny ever did and Kenny will make Leon work a lot more on the defensive end because he once averaged 15 points per game.
And K.G. and K.P. will finally feel the wrath that is Bynum and Gasol on the frontline.
And I haven't even talked about the MVP yet.
The Lakers are already so deep with another year of vital playoff experience and they still have their midlevel exception of $6 million to utilize on someone like Posey. Perhaps they could even split up their midlevel in order to add two more big men like Kurt Thomas and Dikembe Mutombo to bring in even more defense off the bench.
However it turns out, one thing is for sure: The Lakers' Assault definitely continues.
And the Clippers? They've been getting clipped ever since they left Buffalo.
The dazed, confused, and overweight spectacle that is Shaquille O'Neal was hoping to revive his sordid and rundown rapping career by mocking Kobe Bryant, the Lakers, Patrick Ewing, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his freestyle performance at a NYC nightclub this past weekend, adding another chapter to the ultra-famous Kobe-Shaq feud of yesteryear.
For Shaquille, this was great for entertainment. It was even more impressive for attention. For bloggers, this is grand.
Strikingly reminiscent of Tupac Shakur's Hit 'Em Up, wherein the late poetical lyricist trashed his ultimate rival Biggie Smallz, Diddy, and the rest of his east coast counterparts, O'Neal is becoming more g-h-e-t-t-o fabulous by the minute. Some will call it gangsta. I call it a desperation act.
So today, after having lunch with Mamba, I asked him if he was going to let this slip by the wayside. I asked him if he was going to allow O'Neal to mock him and Kareem just like that. Kobe was hesitant, reiterating how much this is being blown out of proportion.
Plus, "I'm not a rapper," he said. "I do real music. I play instruments. All Shaq does is recite poems."
So I told Kobe, "Here brother, have another drink."
Thirty minutes later, we arrived at my music studio. An hour after that, we drank "20 shots" just as Kobe had wanted. And 15 minutes after that, I put on an instrumental version of Hit 'Em Up.
"Remember when 2Pac did this?" I asked Mamba.
"Yeah," he replied. "This was the s-h-!-t back in the day "
"It's your turn now," I said resoundingly. "You're the MVP. Don't ever let a chump talk to you like you're his b-!-t-c-h."
At that point, it seemed as if I had ignited a fire under Kobe. He had this look of ferocity I had never seen before. Not even in the NBA Finals did Kobe look this vicious and intense.
"Okay, one more shot," Kobe demanded.
Here are the unedited lyrics that Bryant fired off. While he was on the mic, I was busy throwing elbows and roundhouses at the life-size picture of Shaq in a Suns uniform which I pinned on the punching bag inside my garage.
Enjoy, and tell 'em all what it tastes like.
I get off when I want
so I tell you how it be
you can't even stay wit a woman
let alone be like me
you're all about the cash
can't win without Flash
callin' me a clown and a joke
ha ha ha
wannabe Tone Loc
Big Bustin' wit Steel
never get anotha movie deal
Big Floppin' wit Kazaam
took the money like thank you ma'am
Blue Chips was weak
yo' future is bleak
hopeless and miserable
better go fix yo' knee
you ain't even top ten
yet you mock Pat and Cap
talk smack, spit c-r-a-p
20 kids on yo' lap
divorced wit no woman
and u still can't rap
Your badge just got copped
like Shaunie got popped
Train her with a trainer
She'd leave you for Desagana Diop
so if it sounds like s-h-!-t
then you know he ain't legit
like against the Spurs
when Fatburger quit
Get outrebounded by Oberto
got stats like Mihm
get outhustled by Kurt Thomas
No longer grabbin' rim
HOOK
so I tell you how it be
Shaq got exiled from Miami
so I tell you how it be
you got dumped by Pat Riley
let me tell you how it be
Shaq gotta hate on me
to get on tv
and rap fo' free
End HOOK
Spit at me
I spit at you
Pretendin' to be cool
Yet you the fool
can't jump
can't move
can't shoot a lick
better inbound tha rock
before you put up anotha brick
I'll give you a mil
to pay off the rest
cuz you need it dawg
your broke with no bulletproof vest
yo' time is up
you tastin' last place
I get off whenever I want
now tell me how my nut tastes!
Repeat HOOK 2x to fade
Afterwards as Kobe got in his Aston Martin, he talked about how he couldn't wait to face the Suns next year.
In fact, he promised to dunk over O'Neal as well as give Andrew Bynum plenty of opportunities and shot attempts to humiliate the Big Hater. And once Bryant gets that one perfect opening in the middle of the lane to throw one down on the sumo wrestler, he's literally going to make him taste his ####. It'll be the hottest selling poster ever made.
It's obvious FATBURGER hasn't gotten over it. No matter how much he says it was all in fun, it's clear that BURGER KING continues to harbor ill feelings towards Kobe and the Lakers organization.
He never liked PATRICK EWING so he trashed him. He was never fond of KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR so he put him down too. Jabbar, who was trained by BRUCE LEE, told me THE BIG YOSHINOYA wouldn't dare say it to his face unless he wanted to get a beatdown.
No matter how sarcastic HOMETOWN BUFFET sounded when he rapped the night away in New York the other night, best believe he meant most of what he said. I don't believe it when SHACK-IN-THE-BOX mentions that he and Kobe are all good. NACHO BELL GRANDE isa hater by nature. Just like a lot of bloggers who can't stand it that the LAKERS are back on top. Get off our nuts.
So it's on once again. The KOBE HATERS are out in full force. So THELAKERS EMPIRE must strike back.
For your enjoyment I will re-release a blog called A Xmas Poem for Shaq which I wrote in December 2006, when we all knew PANDA EXPRESS was all but done.
Tell me what it tastes like. Enjoy.
'Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house,
Shaq begins to wonder how this all came about;
The championship banner hanging high up in the air,
Another ring for the Diesel, but who really cares?
'Cause the Heat keeps losing all but left for dead,
While visions of Kobe winning continue to haunt O'Neal's head;
And the Lakers are ready to be put on the map,
While Shaq plays Santa with his 20 kids on his lap;
When out in the East there arose such a chatter,
Shaq is out of shape again he's getting fatter;
So away he went to leave it all up to Flash,
You're on your own kid while I collect my cash.
The Suns are shining in the West and there's a new Jazz show,
but we all know that there's still San Antonio;
Then all of a sudden in Denver, the Answer appears
Just in time for Garnett to say the end is near;
And just like that Buss calls McHale quick,
He thought for a moment it must be a trick.
Buss asks if he liked last night's game
"I don't know" McHale replied. "Ask what's-his-name."
"Now, Blount! now, Davis! now, Hudson and Griffin!
On, Jaric! on, Foye! on, James and Madsen!
To the bottom of the Northwest! to one last call!
Now go away Garnett! I'll take the fall!
As the speculation continues and the rumors fly,
Isiah Thomas insists he's a nice guy;
So up to Stern's office Thomas flew
to request more players 'cause he was down to two;
I'll cut this short so I can shop at the mall,
Maybe it's on sale... that is, the new ball;
Shaq don't like it so he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to O'Neal's career - good night."
Great job, Los Angeles. The fans came through and the players did what they were supposed to do. It's now time to take the pride and passion to another level. Let's show the Celtics what it's like to fight back. The entire city of Boston and Jon Barry has been making preparations for a parade since last Thursday. Let's prove to the naysayers that 1969 can happen all over again. But this time, it will be in purple-n-gold.
Go ahead, Boston. Get the party favors ready. Sweep the city streets. Put up the green and white balloons. Unload the champagne. Take the cigar out of the humidor. Los Angeles is watching you. Patiently. One game at a time.
While we prepare for battle, you're sitting there satisfied. You should be relieved. Looking back, I don't see why the Celtics should be all that confident. After all, it's the Lakers that have themselves to blame for their deficit. It's the Lakers who made this series as interesting as it's been.
The 2008 L.A. Lakers know how to draw up a dramatic script. As I sit on the edge of my seat watching the Lakers blow yet another huge lead in Game Five, I can't help but contemplate what brought them here.
In Game One, they lost fair and square.
In Game Two, they came back from 24 down showing the Celtics they are resilient even when their opponents have a +28 free-throw advantage. They learned they could score in spurts against the Celtics and that they could overcome the refereeing, or lack thereof.
In Game Three, they won by six when they should have won by 16 (missed free throws). They came out strong and didn't allow the Celtics to be physical. Kobe finally found his stroke for the first time. It took Bryant three games to go on an offensive outburst against the Celtics, which means Kobe will get his turn once again in Game Six.
In Game Four, they had a 24 point lead and dominated the first half before forgetting what got them there. The Young Guns learned a valuable lesson about maintaining composure and poise in dire situations. They learned that "without struggle there is no progress." What they took away from this game will prove instrumental in the team's future development.
In Game Five, they had a 19-point lead before relaxing again but this time they held on. I wonder if it's because of something they did and didn't do in Game Four. I'm sure when the players were watching film of Thursday night's contest, they found out that the things they did and the things they didn't do all sent a message.
The lessons learned? Play 48 minutes of basketball with energy and passion. That's all it is. No secret formula, no special recipe, just flat-out relentless basketball with relentless effort. Stuff that made Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Lakers legends. Stuff that made Kurt Rambis, A.C. Green, Mychal Thompson, Byron Scott, Mitch Kupchak, Bob McAdoo, Jamaal Wilkes, and Michael Cooper indispensable assets. Stuff that makes you proud to put on that Lakers jersey.
The Lakers know they are a better team than the Celtics when they play with fire and hunger. When they execute with precision, they are by far a more explosive unit than the Celtics. But so far the ball has bounced in the Celtics' direction because the Lakers have defeated themselves more than the Celtics' defense has stopped them.
It wasn't the Celtics' defense that took Game Four and thus prevented the Lakers from being up 3-2. It was the Lakers' lack of focus and concentration on the task at hand. They simply had Attention Deficit Disorder in the second half of Game Four. The best retaliation for a stifling and suffocating defense is poise and composure, and the Lakers had very little of it and this is why they are facing an uphill battle in the series. But when the players are playing with focus and determination, it culminates in energy and passion, which breed victories over the toughest of opponents. It's a simple solution and I can't wait to see how the players respond in a hostile environment. I will say this now... if the Lakers win Game Six they are going to take home the trophy.
What the Celtics cannot overlook heading into Game Six is the fact this Lakers team is young and resilient. They know they should be up 3-2 right now. In fact, if the Lakers were more aggressive and got to the line more in Game Two, they might have won the series 4 games to 1.
So it's one game at a time. Take care of business. Ride the momentum. Ride the wave. Bring the confidence. Have some patience. And tommorrow, the Lakers will play the game simple and come out victorious.
Coach Phil Jackson and staff already know exactly what to do in order to prepare the team for the battle of their lives. No more analysis from me because at this point, it's all out and ball up. No holds barred. You know the cliches. Throw it all on the line. Win or go home. Do or die. Lakers or Celtics. There can only be one.
The NBA FINALS.... where the balance of the Force will be restored.
If you want to win Game Five, this is what you must do: play Trevor Ariza at least 25 minutes. This is the prescription for the Lakers to get back in this thing.
Remember when Boston kept penetrating your defense and spreading the floor so their shooters could spot up and knock down open threes? Remember how Farmar's and Vujacic's on-the-ball defense was completely exposed by a much tougher Celtics lineup? Didn't it seem like Jordan, Sasha, and Vladimir were late in rotations on defense in the second half?
I know you're thinking that if we had Andrew Bynum in the middle to protect the paint, these players wouldn't be struggling as they have been. But the fact of the matter is, Bynum's not coming back until October. So how can you counter Doc Rivers' brilliant move using Eddie House at the point, Ray Allen at the two, Paul Pierce at the three, James Posey at the four, and Kevin Garnett at center? It was this particular lineup that changed the whole momentum of the series.
I'm wondering... why play Derek Fisher only two minutes in that all-crucial fourth quarter when Fish is going four-for-five shooting from the floor? And you know he would play tough defense on House all day every day.
Why keep Sasha Vujacic in the game, when he'd been struggling all night, and you know Trevor Ariza is playing exceptional on defense and offense?
And why keep using the obviously confused Vladimir Radmanovic on hot-as-a-hot-pocket James Posey, when you know you can create a mismatch by having either Lamar Odom or Ariza guarding him?
What needs to be done to immediately counter the Celtics' small shooting lineup is to use a big, quick lineup. Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Ariza, Odom, and Gasol the entire fourth quarter. When you look at this lineup, you think defense first and foremost. And failing to get stops when you needed them most was the Lakers ultimate downfall in Game Four.
Think about it coach. Doc Rivers is probably going to use that same lineup again since Kendrick Perkins is all baanged up and Rajon Rondo has practically been out of it since game two. By the way, great job of limiting Rondo's production in L.A.
Therefore you use Fisher to get all up in House's face so he can't get wide open looks. I'd stick Kobe on Allen so you immediately put an end to all of those Ray-Ray special penetrations from all angles. You're good to go guarding Pierce with either Ariza or Odom because they have the length and foot speed and either of these two players can also guard the slow-footed Posey. Gasol on Garnett is not going to change.
The great thing about this Lakers lineup is that the players are interchangeable at three different positions. And L.A. won't be sacrificing offense. A huge matchup problem is created for Boston, with Odom being guarded by Posey (since Allen is guarding Ariza and Pierce is on Kobe). Odom can post him up and make plays and force the Cetlics to scramble on defense. So it's a safe bet you'll generate spacing, you'll be able to spread the floor, and most importantly you don't become a jumpshooting team because you know Ariza will cut through the open lanes and find ways to be active around the basket.
What if Boston decides to go big and replace Posey with Leon Powe? That's when you bring in Ronny Turiaf and stick Lamar at the three to guard Pierce. So on defense, you have both Kobe on Allen and Fish on House on a permanent basis. You match muscle-for-muscle with Boston's interior players by using defensive players, and you match Boston's shooters with your two best defensive guards.
Because Ariza is playing so well, you want to use that to your advantage since Trevor affords you the flexibility when it comes to matchups between the many different looks Boston likes to throw at you. Simply put, I can't believe Ariza only played eight minutes, when he's giving you 6 points, 5 rebounds, a blocked shot, a couple of batted balls, and he disrupts the passing lanes better than anyone on the team.
Had you utilized him more throughout the series, the Lakers certainly wouldn't be down 1-3. It'd be tied, for sure. Who knows, maybe they'd even be up 3-1. But instead, we have to look at what's in front of us.
A lot of people are now saying that you're being outcoached by Doc Rivers, but I don't believe that. After all, a coach can't control the amount of effort and energy the players are giving when they already know the game plan.
But it's up to you, Zenmaster, to counter the Celtics with your best combination - Fish, Kobe, Trevor, Lamar, and Pau. Defense. Balance. Length. And only one European player.
Vujacic, Radmanovic, and Turiaf can sit and learn while watching from the pine. But make sure to give Sasha a good 20 minutes if he's got the stroke.
Time to get tough, Lakers. This is Los Angeles USA, not freakin' Western Europe. Coach Jackson, make sure the Lakers' assault continues on their opponents and not on themselves.
Backs against the wall. Game Face is On. What up to all Dads. Wutz crackin' fellas!
FORTITUDE. That is the difference in this series between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. It hasn't been Ray Allen's shooting or Paul Pierce's all-around play. It's not Kevin Garnett's defense either. It's fortitude. It's resiliency and determination. It's courage and internal strength. Guts and grit. Veteran endurance. Boston has it, and Los Angeles doesn't. My hats off to the Celtics, who are playing the way I expected my Lakers to play like.
The Boston Celtics deserve everything they've accomplished in this series so far, while the Lakers have sat around and let a special opportunity get away from them. Because they were waiting for something to happen in the second half instead of grabbing their opponents by the horns and pummeling them down to the ground. They didn't have the staying power. In four Finals games, the Lakers have not played a complete 48-minute game. I don't know about you, but this means a lot. Not that the Celtics have played a complete game either. They've had their share of bumps in the road. But this Celtics team has fortitude, which breeds staying power. That's the difference. It was never the talent level - both teams are evenly matched as far as skill is concerned - but rather the mental toughness. The Celtics' veterans did not panic while the Lakers relaxed and they took complete advantage by annihilating the confused Lakers, outscoring them by 30 points after the Lakers took a 45-21 lead in the second quarter.
Aside from the fact the Lakers didn't have their heads in place in the second half, here are some other notable Lakers failures that cost them the game and perhaps the series.
1)Coach Phil Jackson did not come to coach: After watching his team build an 18-point lead at halftime, his most effective lineup turned out to be the lineup that had Fisher or Farmar at PG, Kobe at SG, Trevor Ariza at SF, Lamar Odom at PF, and Pau Gasol at C. And then Jackson fell asleep. Instead of using Ariza in the second half to counter James Posey, Jackson relied on the space cadet. And later in the fourth when it was evident the Lakers had lost their luster and the Celtics had complete momentum, what did Phil counter with? He stuck with Farmar and Vujacic way too long instead of allowing Ariza and Fisher, two expert defenders, the opportunity to bother and counter Posey and Eddie House. Simply put, the coaching staff fukcked up big time.
2) Kobe Bryant: The MVP has a long way to go despite my blowing him up all the time like he's the second coming of Michael Jordan. Not only did Kobe shoot poorly, he failed to recognize game situations in the most crucial of games. Why did Kobe only shoot the ball four times in the first half and defer to his teammates instead of taking an active part in their offensive outburst? The fact that Kobe was not assertive prevented him from developing a rhythm as he did in Game Three, and by the time Pierce started defending him Kobe was already out of the game. Kobe's mental breakdown and lack of awareness cost his team the game.
Jordan would have recognized that Boston was playing better and better as the game progressed, and MJ would have turned it on at the right time knowing that his team was slipping. Jordan would have gotten to the foul line in order to stop the momentum from the Celtics' many runs. Jordan would have gathered his teammates in a huddle and talked about what they needed to do. Jordan would have helped on Sasha when it was apparent Allen was going to take him to the rack with 16 seconds left in the game. Kobe did none of these things.
As a Lakers fan, I'm extremely bothered by it. As a Kobe hater, you are saying, " I told you so." And as an NBA fan, I believe Kobe is still not there yet. If you were to pinpoint the player who was responsible for this loss, all fingers should point to Kobe. He did not know how to take advantage of and react to what the Celtics were doing in the second half. Championship leaders and MVPs don't let this sort of thing happen to his team, especially when they're playing at home. The Lakers have a lot of growing up to do, and it all starts with Bryant.
3)European style of play doesn't win NBA titles: First of all, the Lakers have way too many European players on their team. I don't like it because it makes the Lakers too much of a jumpshooting team. And when you appear lax, lenient, and tender on the defensive end, teams are going to take full advantage. Gasol played with heart, produced a respectable 17 and 10, and tried his best. He plays hard and he's a keeper on this team. He's the type of power forward who would shine with a defensive center. That's why we've got Andrew Bynum.
The Machine is also a keeper. He has a tremendous work ethic, he's determined, he's the best shooter on the team, he was game last night, but like I said, it's very rare that Sasha puts up two consecutive games in which he has a high scoring output. This is because he's a young player who's learning the intricacies of utilizing one's talent to the fullest extent. He's maturing and you can't blame him for his effort.
Ronny Turiaf is game, but it's clear he doesn't yet possess the veteran moxie of a PJ Brown or James Posey. He'll get there, whether or not it's in a Lakers uniform. He's a free agent this year.
Radmanovic is the biggest disappointment of them all. Remember that play in which Ray Allen took the ball to the rim on a fast break with Vladimir running with him step-for-step? And then the space cadet stepped aside and let him score easily on a lay-up instead of fouling him hard and knocking him to the ground? I said before the playoffs that even Luke Walton was tougher than Radmanovic. How much heart and pride does VladRad really have? Will he give up and mail it in? Or will he come out and score 20 and play aggressively on defense? If he has another bad game on Sunday, I say it's time to part ways.
My point is this: If one-third of your twelve-man active roster is European, you will have the reputation of being "soft". The Lakers are sure playing that way right now, and the only solution may be to trim the fat a little bit, replace the fat with muscle (Ron Artest perhaps?), and come into next season with a renewed focus on defense because Bynum will be back and Ariza will have his health.
At the end of the day, MVP Kobe Bryant sounded optimistic but you could see it in his teammates' body language that they were deflated. But you never know. History was made last night and history can be made once again. I don't give up after nine rounds in a 12-round fight. And neither should the Lakers. Especially after all they've been through.
L.A. has to forget about the last three games and treat the series like it's game one. The players have to avoid reading the newspapers and stay away from the internet. The coaches have to throw away any game plan and just let them play. Jackson needs to start Ariza at SF so the Lakers will be quicker on defense and in transition. All Lamar Odom has to do is give us one good half since that's all we expect. Gasol needs to control the boards since that's all we expect too. But Kobe is the one who has to take it to another level if the Lakers even want to make this thing interesting. Which means he has to produce a triple-double. L.A. has to come out on fire and not play with complacency. The players have to show passion in game five. They have to show a ton of heart and most importantly, pride. This is what I expect from players who have the word "Lakers" etched on the front of their jerseys.
Karma is a b**** isn't it? First Paul Pierce fakes the funk and tries to show up and mock Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, next thing you know Kendrick Perkins sprains his ankle minutes later and then Rajon Rondo twists his foot two days later. Talk about coming back to bite you where it hurts. See Boston, this is what you get when you try to fukck with the City of Angels. No good graces will come your way.
And it's not over. Believe me. There's more of this karma thing on its way, special delivery directly to every Boston fan's doorstep. Air mail special with Kobe's you-know-what tea-bagging on all of your green and white faces.
Go ahead Boston Celtics fans. Believe you've won. Believe the L.A. Lakers are done. Believe your team is better. I dare you. The Lakers' defense swarmed Boston every which way but loose and the Celtics buckled under pressure like they did when they blew a 24-point lead just one quarter earlier. Finals rookie Doc Rivers was lost as well, unable to come up with an answer for the Lakers' adjustments on defense.
And through all the commotion over the last five periods between these two teams, the MVP has been carefully choosing his spots on the floor while studying what the Celtics are trying to do (Lakers come back from 24 down). And he is getting ready for the kill (Kobe D's up Rondo, Pierce, Allen, and the entire Celtics offense). Translation: Boston doesn't stand a chance.
Like the venomous slithering snake, the MVP is slowly but surely shedding his skin, moving ever so cleverly, and allowing his poison to do its thing and inflict its power. Such is the Celtics' predicament over the next two games. Rivers is thinking, "How on earth are we going to prevent ourselves from being down 3-2?"
While the entire eastern seaboard continues to think the Lakers are all about Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers fans remain patient. It's all about Kobe, huh? If it were, then who grabbed 12 rebounds and helped limit Kevin Garnett to 6-21 shooting? Who came off the bench to knock down big shot after big shot, score 20 points, and basically matched Ray Allen in production? Who made the adjustment of the series by putting Kobe on Rondo (thanks for taking my recommendation, Phil) immediately as the game started, not only taking Rondo out of his game but the entire Celtics' offense as well, which culminated in the actor Paul Newman, er Pierce, blowing his first Finals audition in L.A.?
Celtics fans want to taunt and call the Lakers soft? Go ahead. We double dare you. We'll see who's in foul trouble the next game.
You want to underestimate a team that put the defending champions out of their misery? Go ahead. Think like you're tough. Your team name is symbolized by a 3-foot leprechaun yet you employ a 6-ft tall mascot to look like a leprechaun at your home games. Talk about not staying true to the game and being what you are not. All of a sudden you want to say your team is tough just because KG throws down a couple dunks and Perkins throws a couple of staredowns after he scores? Who are you kidding Celtics fans?
I've watched KG since he was in high school and he's never been among the strongest or toughest big men in the NBA. He was always a finesse 7-footer who had handles for a big man and is really a small forward playing the four. When Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Shaq, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Horace Grant, Brian Grant, Arvydas Sabonis, and David Robinson were all in the Western Conference, Garnett was being pushed around so much he decided to settle for jumpshots. That's why his game is that way today. Boston tries to intimidate you by setting moving picks, grabbing your arm while refs aren't looking, and veteran trashtalking. The only reason guys like Sam Cassell, James Posey, and PJ Brown look as good as they do is because the media is giving them all kinds of credit for having been there before. So it makes the young Lakers role players that much more disadvantaged. Let's see if Brown tries his silly staredown and grin when Kobe or Fish runs into him.
Boston wants to believe that Game Three was in their hands. They want to believe that they were in the game the entire time and if Pierce and Garnett hadn't missed all those shots, they'd have won. Obviously, that's to be expected when you're up 2-0 and your opponents' second and third best players have been mediocre at best.
But what Boston fans don't realize (or are choosing to avoid) is that the Lakers are figuring them out with each passing quarter. They're just taking a little longer to figure out the Celtics' schemes because they are such a balanced team. No team has given the Lakers matchup problems like Boston has. But it doesn't mean the Lakers are done. All this entails is that the Lakers now have to outsmart, outexecute, outthink their opponent. It just means the Lakers have to work harder. And there's no team in the NBA this year that's worked as hard as the Lakers to get where they're at considering all of the expectations, or lack thereof, that were placed on this team.
This is where great thinkers Phil Jackson, Tex Winters, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Cleamons, KurtRambis,Frank Hamblen, and Brian Shaw come into the picture. Now this is an ensemble of toughness, if there ever is one. These guys have so many rings collectively you'd use up your fingers and toes. This coaching staff has so much pride, expertise, and mental toughness it will rub off on the players. And it started to happen in Game Three and will continue tomorrow night.
Go ahead Boston fans. Talk your smack. I triple dare you. Some of you will give justa little credit to the Lakers defense and how they stepped up their intensity. But ALL of you will say Boston lost because two out of their Big Three had awful games. That's fine with me. I just hope you're not trying to psyche yourself out.
The bottom line is the Celtics lost because they couldn't stop the Lakers when it counted. Yes, it was because of Kobe. And yes, Kobe is the featured player on the team. But don't be mistaken Laker adversaries. This is a TEAM. You heard me. Team. T-E-A-M. The Lakers win as a team. They lose as a team. And they even miss free throws as a team.
Lakers fans will say that L.A. would have blown out the Celtics had they converted on their free throws. Possibly so and most likely. And Celtics fans have already affirmed their belief - the Celtics are "clearly the better team" according to Lisa H. And to only lose by six even when the Lakers had all of those free throw attempts? I can already feel it. The overconfidence of Celtics' fans has got them believing that the Lakers missed their free throws because they were nervous. I'll tell you what... if a team doesn't go to the free throw line for two games, you're going to miss some foul shots. The Lakers had no practice at the free throw line, plain and simple. I bet they come out and shoot 80% in Game Four.
Don't even worry, Lakers fans. We got them right where we want them. It's the Celtics fans who are uptight, and that's why they have to go out and talk down on the Lakers after every game they win instead of talking about the positive things their team did to win. It's an inferiority complex issue. Trust me on that one. Even after a loss, the Celtics faithful will still talk their trash and put to light all the bad things that happened to the Lakers. And for them to think three games prove that the Celtics are clearly the better team is complete disillusionment. How can you seriously believe, after losing a 24-point lead in less than 8 minutes at your house in a crucial fourth quarter and come out the following game and put up so many bricks you could revive the Berlin Wall, that your team is far superior to the Lakers? I don't really want to bring up the past but had the Lakers received their fair share of calls in games one and two, this series could easily be 2-1 Lakers or even 3-0.
If Lakers fans "refuse to see the light" and are being blinded by the "glare of Hollywood". then Boston fans must be in denial about the reality television show called "Kobe Does Boston." The biggest mistake the Celtics will make is to believe the Lakers are a one-man team. A greater mistake they will make is to disregard the two players who have been cold all series long. But the greatest mistake they will make is to underestimate the character of this squad and believe their "confidence is not very high", as LISA H says, reassuring herself in the process.
I will say this: if this series is so one-sided, then how come Boston is not up 3-0? And don't even say the refs gave the Lakers calls because you deserve to get smacked upside the head if you do.
But knowing the Celtics, they will be feeling good about the way they lost. Even Doc Rivers' comments after the game implied this, mentioning how Boston could have won the game and failing to give credit to how the Lakers took them off their rhythm. Big mistake, because if you are saying you feel good about a loss, it's the first sign you're making an excuse for a bad performance and the first symptoms of weakness for the Boston Celtics in this series. How can a coach and a team feel good or confident about a loss in which the entire team plays one of the ugliest games in the biggest series of their lives? My point is, no person playing in the NBA Finals should feel good after losing.
The Lakers are playing mind games with the Celtics' overconfident demeanor. They are figuring them out slowly but surely. The Lakers have unleashed the rabid killer that is Kobe Bryant after keeping him tame in the first two games. The Celtics felt the wrath of his fire and anger for the first time on Tuesday. They will adjust by reimplementing their original gameplan for games one and two and attempt to respond to Kobe's sudden offensive onslaught.
But Boston has a major problem. Now that Kobe's on fire, his teammates will soon follow. We all know THE MVP leads by example and we all know his energy and passion rubs off on his teammates. We've seen it all year and we're going to see it again. As the Lakers coaching staff methodically dissects the Celtics using their years of experience and expertise, guys like Sasha, Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Radmanovic, Ariza, Walton, and Turiaf are meditating again and starting to believe.
The brash Celtics faithful wants to think less of Kobe's teammates and call them "dwarfs", although L.A.'s frontline is 7-0, 6-11, and 6-10 respectively. Boston wants to believe it's over. They're hoping and praying for the Lakers and their fans to collapse on the floor like a certain player who wears number 34 in green. The Truth is (no pun intended), Celtics fans are as uneasy and tense on their couch as their own team is on the Staples Center floor.
Celtics fans want to say the Lakers have no chance to win this series because the Lakers are all about Kobe. They want to taunt us and say the team in purple-and-gold has very little hope. Go ahead and underestimate Kobe and his ability to make others better players. Now that he's figured out a way to penetrate that defense, it automatically makes the other players better. You watch and listen to what I'm saying. Go ahead and overlook the Bench Mob.
Lakers Nation dares you.
THE ASSAULT CONTINUES...
Game Four Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers 104, Boston Celtics 88
10. The Celtics' bus will catch on fire on the 405.
9. Celtics' bus driver will then exit off Manchester and Prairie and head to the Forum
8. Law prohibiting indoor smoking is making ghost of Red Auerbach irate.
7. The Celtics will lose focus and be seen partying at Paul Pierce's mom's cousin's nephew's best friend's house, the Sunset Strip, Downtown Disney, Melrose, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and Hawaiian Gardens Casino.
6. Kevin Garnett will visit his property in Malibu and find out Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers lives there.
5. Kobe Bryant slept in his own bed with Vanessa.
4. Lack of wheelchair accessibility in visitors' locker room at Staples
3. The Celtics don't realize they're about to cross paths with the ghost of Chick Hearn.
2. Randy Newman's "I love L.A." will inspire referees.
1. Pierce won't know how to act with so many movie stars around him.
For those who believe the series is over, get your TIVOs ready. The fun and games are about to begin, with the series shifting to the circus known as Hollywood.
Just when you think you've already seen your share of drama, wait 'til you see what's in store for the next three games.
THE LAKERS' ASSAULT may have stalled, but it continues tonight with a vengeance....
It's crystal clear who the favorites are in this series. It's so clear it would put ProActiv out of business. 38-10 free throw disparity! What?! Unbelievable!! Ludicrous!!! No f'n way!!!! There are so many adjectives to explain the refereeing in last night's game I had to pull out a thesaurus just to count how many there actually were. But wait Boston fans and Laker haters.... just before you even think that I am going to blame the zebras for this one, you should already know me better. No excuses, baby. The Lakers are getting roughed up like a Mexican fighter going heads up with Manny Pacquiao.
Put simply, the Lakers' mentals are not into this series.... yet, and this is why they dropped the first two games. Boston has played with a purpose to win at all costs, while L.A. is standing around waiting for something to happen. This better change. The Lakers need to forget about the refs and limit Vladimir Radmanovic to about 15 minutes a game and use him stirctly for game situations in which you desperately need threes. Like only when they're down 20 points. As far as I'm concerned, Coach Phil Jackson needs to insert Trevor Ariza into the starting lineup (he did during the regular season so why not now?) immediately for the Lakers to have a chance to gain any semblance of momentun in this series.
The Celtics have a great mix of players. But it's they're toughness, both mentally and physically, and their resolve is what allows them to be dominant. It doesn't surprise me one bit. In fact, it shouldn't surprise anybody. They've been doing this all season long.
Two of their starters, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo are talented young players who are key components to what they're trying to build. They are playing exceptional in these playoffs and what allows them to play at a higher level than most second-year players is the constant leadership and guidance they are receiving from the Big Three while being out there on the floor. The finished product that we are witnessing now are two sophomores with unbelievable composure. That's why Rondo's held his own against Derek Fisher, and that's why Perkins doesn't seem to be bothered by either Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom.
And when you bring into the game poised veterans like James Posey, Sam Cassell, and P.J. Brown, you better believe that more often than not the team will maintain its execution and level of play. On the other hand, my Lakers' famed Bench Mob has not lived up to the hype, obviously playing in slow motion as they continue to shows signs of being intimidated and their inactivity has caused them to be extremely tentative.
On the other hand, the relentless Leon Powe scored at will and did major damage to the Lakers' interior defense with his wide array of post moves and athletic ability to get out in transition, run the lane and finish. Sam Cassell was, well, Sam. Brown has been stready in two games, hitting the open midrange shot when it's there and constantly positioning himself to get offensive rebounds to help his team get second chances. Posey is playing solid defense on anyone he's assigned to guard, including Bryant, and he's coming through and hitting timely three-pointers. All in all, it's an all-out Celtic demolition.
The combination of athleticism, depth, and versatility that the Celtics have shown in these two games is the same balance the Lakers exhibited all year and allowed them to win the west. The Celtics are giving the Lakers a taste of their own medicine. In fact, one might even speculate and think that the reason Pierce pulled off his acting stunt was to take a shot at Bryant who, in the Utah series, appeared to hurt his back only to recover so quickly. Of course, Bryant and the Lakers lost that game in overtime as Kobe seemed to lose track at the end there a little bit. But with Pierce, Boston won. I don't know... I was just thinkin.'
And in Game Two, with all those highlight reel plays, it almost looked as if Showtime was wearing Celtic green. I never thought I would see it but, the Celtics were running the Lakers to the ground like Magic, Kareem, and Worthy used to do to their opponents. Boston did their job and now the Lakers have to answer back.
Now the Lakers are in trouble. Just kidding. Not even panic time yet. Not even close. For those Celtic fans thinking sweep... if a series were two games long, the Boston Red Sox don't beat the Yankees. And if they stopped after two games, the New England Patriots would have won the Super Bowl. This thing is far from over folks. It's Boston's turn to be on the road and deal with all that hoopla, the hype, and all the possible distractions brought on by what we know as Hollywood.
Although most people in the East Coast are now probably talkin' sweep, it's probably best that they refrain from being too overconfident. The Lakers haven't played their game yet. Whether or not it's the result of the stifling Celtics defense or Kobe Bryant's reluctance to get off to fast starts or the absence of certain role players stepping up, I really can't pinpoint the exact answer. You be the judge. But I do know this, the problem involves all three of those issues. And the only way for the Lakers to get back in the series is for them to bring their heads into the game if you know what I mean.
Time for the Lakers to solve the riddle that is the Celtics' defense
A lot of people are convinced about the supposed eternal greatness of this Celtics' defense and rightfully so. But I'm not. Not yet at least. Yes, they're tough, solid, determined, and confident but it's not like the Lakers are playing the Bad Boys, folks. It's not like it's Bird, Parish, and McHale out there on the floor with DJ and Danny. The Lakers have to assert their will and stop worrying about the officials. They have to play physical man-to-man defense off the ball as Rick Fox mentioned. They have to stop reaching in on defense and move their feet. They need to beat their opponents to the ball on the boards and make the hustle plays. They need to force the contact as opposed to trying to draw the contact. Most of all, they have to develop their identity against Boston and establish themselves. They have to do all of these things in Game Three because it is in their absolute benefit to do so. We all know zebras, er officials, have a way with turning the tide and influencing the dramatic aspect of the series.
For two games the Lakers tried to solve their defense to no avail. And after two games, the Lakers now have a chance to really assess the situation. What will L.A. have to do to penetrate that defense and establish themselves?
Kobe needs to be setting the pace from the getgo. And the only way for him to do this is play like he's the best damn basketball player on the planet period. It's as simple as that. Assert yourself early Mr. Bryant, stop looking at the refs, attack the boards even more, and dunk on some fools. Attack, attack, and attack the teeth of that defense. With absolutely NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE. Seriously. Dunk on all of 'em. Take it to the rack. Jump over people. Fly through the lane. Do what's gotta be done because after all, isn't that what Kobe is supposed to do?
