I feel like such a tool for titling this post "The Wild Wild West." The phrase has been linked to the 2008 Western Conference playoff race more times than bearable, yet still, I find it most fitting.
It's been a crazy few weeks in the west... And I would be a fool not to say the same for the next few weeks. We're coming down the stretch, and it seems like things are only going to get crazier. The Lakers currently have the #1 spot if the playoffs were to start right now. The funny thing is not that the Spurs are a half-game back, but the fact that the #5 Hornets only are only 1.5 games back. What's even funnier is that everything I wrote is almost guaranteed to be inaccurate by the time you read this.
The insanity in the west has been beaten into the ground by writers, bloggers, and analysts alike... so, why not continue the beatdown? This is likely the closest race we'll see in quite some time -- let us bask.
In my opinion, the most impressive thing to come out of it all is the Rockets' now 19-game win streak. The Rockets are hot; there's no denying it, but when will it stop? Will it ever stop?
The absence of Yao has done nothing to sway the Rockets from their fervent winning ways. With both the Lakers and the Spurs losing ground yesterday, is it only a matter of time before the Rockets to seize the west? Also, will the Suns even make the playoffs? Will the Mavs even make the playoffs?
The race for position in the Western Conference has officially erased the annual post-All Star Break lull that leaves the casual fan bored of the final weeks of the regular season. With so many open ended questions and possibilities, there's no doubt that this race will come down to the last minute... Buckle up.
All of this brings up an argument for another day - The Nets currently have the 8th spot in the east with a .413 percentage. Ah, the injustice.
Lately, I've been trying to shy away from the post-game posts. It seems like some of them just lack the substance that the Fox community deserves. Well, tonight, I couldn't resist.
The Lakers just walked out of one of the most hyped games of the season with a win. Twas not a huge win numerically, but it solidified 3-1 season series win over their division rival.
Win. Win. Win.
Kobe and Pau combined for 70 points (41 and 29, respectively). Kobe's finger didn't seem to get in the way of a 41 point outing, and, yet again, Mr. Gasol impressed me with his Spaniard flair and finesse. I know, I've prefaced just about everything Gasol does with the word 'Spaniard,' but there's no denying that Pau's game is elegant... and frankly, I find Spain elegant.
You saw that hook shot.
That aside, Lamar came out with a good showing, and despite missing 25 layups, he managed to score 22 and pull down 11.
Oh yeah, we almost forgot. Shaq made his Phoenix debut today (stache-less). I'll never be one to hate on The Diesel, but he looked very sluggish coming into the game... He almost looked confused walking out to center court before the opening tip. Nevertheless, Shaq did what he does best, and provided a huge presence physically down low. Despite getting off to a slow start, he managed for 15 and nine; just in the neighborhood of his season averages.
If we want to look past the Kobe-Shaq hype, Amare Stoudemire stole the show on the Phoenix side of things. 37 points and 15 rebounds really showcased Amare's abilities at the four. Steve Nash also chimed in with 22 points and eight assists.
The bottom line is that this was a fun game to watch. I was standing in front of the TV for the entire fourth quarter. That's how I judge the overall aesthetics o####ame... the 'stand-factor.'
Lastly, The Lakers' win boosted them into a tie with the Suns atop the Pacific Division. Upcoming games anyone?
Lakers: Suns:
Food for thought...
[edit: 1:53am] Check out Tom7's ####t on the game if you haven't already. It's like 400x more comprehensive.
Halftime thoughts There was part of me that had hope that the Lakers' two practice days after that almost-infamous Sonics game would have knocked some sense into these guys. Nope. Tonight is the night that all of the doubters finally grasp the worth of Andrew Bynum. The Lakers, without Bynum, are being taken advantage of on both ends of the court. Not having that second option available s allowing the Suns to put more pressure on Kobe, allowing him to only 13 points on 12 shots through the half. Kwame still hasn't waken up, and I would love to see if any of the people who have backed him in the past few days are still around. From missing lay-ups that Andrew would have muscled down, to simply playing in his usual lackadaisical demeanor, it is now clear that the Lakers need to follow through with some type of move to bring a defining presence down low. I'll take C-Webb.
Third Quarter
12:00 - I'm really agitated for some reason.
11:40 - The Lakers had more turn overs than field goals in the second quarter..
11:22 - Kwame dropping the ball YET AGAIN. This is great.
11:01 - Borris Diaw is on fire; 4-4 FG
10:40 - Make that 5-5.
10:32 - Kwame makes a free-throw! Misses the second. 44% on the season.
10:22 - Lamar looks so off.
10:04 - Kwame travels!
9:36 - KWAME MISSES A DUNK!!! this is awesome.
9:09 - Kwame loses the ball. BOOS RAIN ON STAPLES!
8:46 - Kwame touches ball, Kwame gets booed. My kind of crowd.
8:20 - KWAME MISSES A LAY-UP!!
7:50 - KWAME WITH THE TURN OVER!
7:17 - I challenge ANYONE to defend Kwame in the comments.
7:17 - "Nobody named Pookie gettin' in my Fave Five"
7:17 - It really is time to replace Kwame Brown. I almost feel sorry for him... Then, I realize he's getting paid $9,000,000.
6:54 - Kwame is still in. It's a big F-you from Phil!
6:28 - Kobe is getting involved... This needs to continue if the Lakers plan on doing anything.
5:43 - The Suns should be up by about 200 right now... Instead, 66-50.
4:23 - Barbosa nails a heavily contested three. 3-4 from the field with 8 points.
3:50 - Turiaf coming off the bench = THANK YOU!
3:35 - There you go, Turiaf nailing a J. Tonight is really legitimizing my "Start Ronny" campaign.
2:22 - Craig Saeger not disappointing in wardrobe.
2:05 - Pete Sampras at the scorer's table?
1:52 - Kobe nailing the three. He's got 21 on the night. This could be something...
Through three Suns 79, Lakers 60
12:00 - Still agitated.
12:00 - "Chilly 43-degree night."
11:35 - Sasha hooking it up.
11:02 - Lamar misses two straight lay-up on a potentially momentum-shifting possession. Lamar for Marion. Now.
6:37 - Farmar nails the three. Nine point game... All of this without Kobe in the game.
6:01 - Time out. Kobe should be coming back in right here, and trust me, if he's hot, this will get dangerous.
4:43 - Raja Bell with a huge three. 94-80
4:23 - Kobe counters with a three.
3:57 - "Dangerous Encounters; Undercover Hippo"
3:28 - Farmar with the three. It's unreal that the Lakers are still in this game.
2:45 - Kobe with a nice three; 99-86.
1:55 - Farmar with the steal and the deuce. Eight point game.
1:34 - Barbosa with a dagger.
1:27 - Kobe counters with a three.
1:03 - 102-94. It's hammer time.
0:46 - Lamar misses a lay-up, gets the rebound, gets fouled. Makes both!
0:24 - Borris Diaw nails the three on a beautifully executed play. The Suns have an eight point lead... It's just about over.
0:19 - Sasha gets the basket. Six point game with Steve Nash heading to the line... Gets the first... Gets the second.
0:00 - That shaped out to be an admissible loss without Andrew.
0:00 - Lol @ Steve Nash "We suck."
Final Score Suns 106, Lakers 98
Post Mortem I'm almost okay with the fact that the Lakers walked out of this game with just an eight point loss. It makes me feel better about some of the upcoming match-ups over the next couple of months. What I'm not okay with is the fact that the Lakers just might have won this game if it weren't for the sloppy play of Kwame Brown ($9,000,000). Kwame is officially a cancer. I never thought I would stoop to that level of 'hating,' but it's basically impossible to produce down low when Kwame is in the game. I say this as Charles bashes him on the post-game.
Let's take a flashback to remind us why we don't like Kwame:
10:04 - Kwame travels!
9:36 - KWAME MISSES A DUNK!!! this is awesome.
9:09 - Kwame loses the ball. BOOS RAIN ON STAPLES!
8:46 - Kwame touches ball, Kwame gets booed. My kind of crowd.
8:20 - KWAME MISSES A LAY-UP!!
7:50 - KWAME WITH THE TURN OVER!
Oh yeah, did I mention the $9,000,000?
Credit to Kobe and Sasha for bringing the deficit to six points at one point in time. I really don't have much more to say. This style of play is draining to watch.
Leaders | Seven Suns saw playing time in this game, six of which finished in double figures. Leandro Barbosa posted 22 off the bench, Shawn Marion scored 20 points and puled down 18, and Borris Diaw scored 19 on 9-13 from the field. Raja Bell scored 16, including a huge three to basically bag up the game, Amare also scored 16 in addition to his seven boards. Steve Nash scored 13, but picked up the slack in the assists column, dishing out 20.
Kobe scored 30 points after being shut down for much of the first half, Lamar put up some good numbers, with 19 and 19, and Jordan Farmar posted 16. Sasha Vujacic pulled some almost-heroics, scoring 10 points, but it wasn't enough to contain the now Pacific Division leading Suns.
[The Lakers are now 2-3 in game live blogged on VHP]
I'm a realistic observer of the vast world that surrounds the Los Angeles Lakers. You can thank Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Elden Campbell, Cedric Ceballos, and Vlade Divac for making that possible. The greatest person of all time is Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn. There's no getting around that. Me? I'm eighteen years old and working my way to a journalism degree.
