Are the Lakers tanking this game for Metta?

[DrHouse]

Just a thought. I mean this is abysmal, even for the Lakers. Matt Barnes shooting airballs left and right, something seems awry...especially after their excellent performance in Game 4.

The only thing I can think of at this point, besides the Lakers just plain sucking is that they are intentionally tanking this game so they can get Metta for the entire OKC series.

It sounds farfetched and even a little crazy, but I'm starting to wonder what's going on here. They're playing just uncharacteristically bad, for a team that's literally 12-1 in closeout games.

[Will Hunting]

Sup koolaid man

[MavDynasty]

Sup koolaid man

[TE]

Looks like it

[Spurs9]

They are just that shitty tbh TOSBs

[Technique]

Lakers big 3 on their way to 40 minutes tonight, plus traveling back to Colorado after this if they lose. I don't see how tanking is plausible.

They're just sucking major donkey dick

[HarlemHo 37]

:lmao kobe going into hero complex mode.

[DrHouse]

Well it's not like they can make it obvious they are tanking.

Something just seems fishy. The Lakers have put up stinkers before, but never in a closeout game like this. You don't go 12-1 in closeout games to this without a very specific reason IMHO. I think they're tanking this one to get Metta for the entire OKC series.

[Jacob1983]

http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/7/4/128912157009907196.jpg

[Reck]

Every Laker loss is a tank job according to you eh Kool?

[Spurs9]

Well it's not like they can make it obvious they are tanking.

Something just seems fishy. The Lakers have put up stinkers before, but never in a closeout game like this. You don't go 12-1 in closeout games to this without a very specific reason IMHO. I think they're tanking this one to get Metta for the entire OKC series.

They aren't trying to tank, they are playing shity. That's stupid reasoning for this performance

[DrHouse]

There's no way they can play this bad in a closeout game.

I don't buy it. They are tanking purposefully for Metta.

They know they need Metta the full series against OKC and are taking their chances now with Denver. Just look at the lack of effort, there's no motivation or alertness at all. This is a pure tank, plain and simple.

[DJB]

I think JeVale McGee just figured out how to play basketball tonight, tbh.

[HarlemHo 37]

There's no way they can play this bad in a closeout game.

I don't buy it. They are tanking purposefully for Metta.

They know they need Metta the full series against OKC and are taking their chances now with Denver. Just look at the lack of effort, there's no motivation or alertness at all. This is a pure tank, plain and simple.

Nah, they're just coasting. They're the Heat of the western conference.

[Spurs9]

Lakers need meta to take out frogger and durrant with elbow to have a chance in next series

[DontStopBelieving]

Very entertaining tank job tbh :lol

[Technique]

They definitely tanked this. Bryant doesn't miss game tying 3s like that. So obvious

[21_Dickings]

Hell yeah we're tanking! We're so superior to the Thuggets that we can afford to play with them like a lion plays around with a Gazelle before he rips its throat out.

It makes no sense to close out the series as quickly as possible and increase Denver's chances. We're so good, Kobe is so transcendent, we give away playoff games on purpose like it ain't no thang.

[Frenzy]

So kirby had how many shot attempts?

[IronMaxipad]

coasting

[InRareForm]

the switch

[spursfan1000]

It's looking like spurs clippers series will start before thunder nuggets series, so good for spurs so we won't be rusty ;)

[blah blah blah]

Just a thought. I mean this is abysmal, even for the Lakers. Matt Barnes shooting airballs left and right, something seems awry...especially after their excellent performance in Game 4.

The only thing I can think of at this point, besides the Lakers just plain sucking is that they are intentionally tanking this game so they can get Metta for the entire OKC series.

It sounds farfetched and even a little crazy, but I'm starting to wonder what's going on here. They're playing just uncharacteristically bad, for a team that's literally 12-1 in closeout games.

I don't think so. If it was game 4 I'd say quite possibly, but you never want to intentionally lose home games. That gives the other team quite a boost of confidence

[ElNono]

Game 4 was won with some fluke 3s from Blake and Sessions... today was back to normal, tbh

[tediousj]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/dhamal/lakersplayoffs.jpg

[Latarian Milton]

just a possibility imho lakers gonna need MWP to cope with durant, and if nigga gets suspended AGAIN with a flagrant foul against durant, durant will stay out for even more games with a broken neck or leg

[Josepatches_]

Lol

I guess they were tanking games in the regular season too because they played this bad.

And I'm pretty sure Kobe wants to add more missed shots to his cluth legacy

[Mr. Body]

Bynum's pregame comments - "closeout games are easy, the other team just folds" - showed where the team's head was at and why they started getting bombed by a more determined team.

[cheguevara]

nobody tanks playoff games. never did, never will

[m>s]

teams do it quite often especially in the finals teams may tank a game or two so they can end up winning the series & ring on their homeground, not meaning they were losing them games purposely though. if/when you're not putting out your full strength in a playoff game, you're tankin' da game tbh

[ambchang]

I think they are tanking on purpose, but not because they want to wait for MWP, but because Kobe wants to go back to Colorado for some good times.

Kobe says, Lakers do.