Game 3 Thoughts - The Laker Side

[2Cleva]

Rain or shine - I'm here for this series.

1 - SA came out with that fire the Lakers expected. However besides Kobe, no of the other Laker starters brought it. Gasol was sad trying to finish inside. Lamar was shying away from contact when he attacked or bricking FTs when he did get to the line. And Fisher was MIA.

2 - LA didn't take the 3 point shot. Besides Kobe, they were trigger shy from outside. Props to SA for rushing the shooters and discouraging LA from taking the opportunities.

3 - The scoring of the Big 3 for SA didn't beat LA. It was the physical play of the Spurs that took Odom and Gasol out of the game.

4 - Positive sign was bench production for the Lakers. They brought what they do on the road. Sasha will keep shooting but Farmar showing the shot is a good sign for LA for Game 4.

5 - Kobe is Kobe. He needed to attack the basket more to try and get Odom and Gasol going but no complaints besides that.

LA knew the Spurs would come out blasting. Now they have to adjust - especially Odom and Gasol. Odom/Gasol/Fisher - like I said from the start - if 2 of the 3 show up, LA wins the games. If its just Kobe - no chance.

LA's goal obviously was the split. Hopefully they bring their A game in Game 4.

[ducks]

thanks
lakers have to wonder why odom and fisher show up only one out of three games
odom and fisher are a big key for lakers

[DazedAndConfused]

thanks
lakers have to wonder why odom and fisher show up only one out of three games
odom and fisher are a big key for lakers

It's all about matchups. Both of those guys were very consistent coming into this series.

Fisher I can understand, he is a catch-shoot player that relies on others to get him open looks. Odom is a complete mystery, there is no reason old ass Horry and Oberto should be shutting him down. I think the Spurs are doing a good job of crowding the paint and drawing charges which makes Odom hesitant to take it to the hoop.

[aka_USAPA]

Odom didn't show up and Pau was soft as usual. Game 4 will be different.

[BruceLeeBowen]

Odom, fish and pau all better step up!!!

[Brutalis]

Gasol has always been dominated by Duncan. It's just how it always has been, and why Gasol said what he said before the series- he knows it. It's just I don't like how Duncan slacks off on him sometimes.

Odom is a career mystery player. Never know what the hell that ugly bald man is going to do. Oberto is the same way, defensively. Tonight he decided to do good instead of harm I suppose.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I liked what I saw from Odom and Gasol today... hope they keep it up.. :tu

Kobe needs to take a step back a little, he was okay when he was hogging the ball, but he made some crazy shots... I'd like to see him BOTH miss and hog the ball for next game.

Radmanovic needs to get more minutes on the defensive end. We need him.

[Brutalis]

Rain or shine - I'm here for this series.

1 - SA came out with that fire the Lakers expected. However besides Kobe, no of the other Laker starters brought it. Gasol was sad trying to finish inside. Lamar was shying away from contact when he attacked or bricking FTs when he did get to the line. And Fisher was MIA.

No we didn't. It took Manu coming into the game with 7 left in the first to get anything going offensively. And then it took another quarter to stop trading buckets.

2 - LA didn't take the 3 point shot. Besides Kobe, they were trigger shy from outside. Props to SA for rushing the shooters and discouraging LA from taking the opportunities.

LA didn't have the 3 point shot anyhow so how could they take it?

3 - The scoring of the Big 3 for SA didn't beat LA. It was the physical play of the Spurs that took Odom and Gasol out of the game.

It was that AND the Big 4 coming up huge. Bowen got those ticky tack calls at home was my only beef.

4 - Positive sign was bench production for the Lakers. They brought what they do on the road. Sasha will keep shooting but Farmar showing the shot is a good sign for LA for Game 4.

I hope Sasha keeps shooting. He is inconsistent and not experienced this deep in the playoffs.

5 - Kobe is Kobe. He needed to attack the basket more to try and get Odom and Gasol going but no complaints besides that.

LA knew the Spurs would come out blasting. Now they have to adjust - especially Odom and Gasol. Odom/Gasol/Fisher - like I said from the start - if 2 of the 3 show up, LA wins the games. If its just Kobe - no chance.

LA's goal obviously was the split. Hopefully they bring their A game in Game 4.

[Lakers Dynasty]

Odom and Gasol underperformed.

Ginobili overperformed.

Good game.

For all the pre-game whining and angst about refs by Spurs fans, there didn't seem to be too much to whine about.

Spurs retain their dignity by avoiding a sweep.

Congratulations.

[Guajalote]

When Kobe tries to beat us, we win every time. We need to stay at home on three point shooters, channel him away from the three point line and force him into one of those awkward 10-12 footers. If he gets 25-30 shots a game (23 tonight), we're in good shape.

[LakersMark]

We stunk up the joint. From the starters to the bench and they kicked our butts. We will give a better effort Tuesday.

[SPARKY]

Kobe is good enough to shoot 25 foot 3s over the top of the Spurs' D. That's what we learned tonight.

[PumpUpTheJam]

Game thoughts just aren't the same when they're not from Timvp :/

[tmtcsc]

After a win like that, all I have to say is:

http://a547.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/72/l_f5b765c4787976fafc31e514771bd90a.jpg

[DazedAndConfused]

Odom and Gasol underperformed.

Ginobili overperformed.

Good game.

For all the pre-game whining and angst about refs by Spurs fans, there didn't seem to be too much to whine about.

Spurs retain their dignity by avoiding a sweep.

Congratulations.

The Spurs did what the Suns failed to do in Game 3.

[SPARKY]

Spurs won Game 3, that's all. This isn't the first round, BTW.

[DazedAndConfused]

When Kobe tries to beat us, we win every time. We need to stay at home on three point shooters, channel him away from the three point line and force him into one of those awkward 10-12 footers. If he gets 25-30 shots a game (23 tonight), we're in good shape.

Kobe and Duncan are the constants. What they do is largely irrelevant IMHO.

It's all about the variables.....

Pau/Lamar/Gino/Parker/bench

Tonight Gino+Parker stepped up in a big way, Pau/Lamar did not. Spurs win.

[IronMexican]

LO has already said he needs to step up, now it's time for fish and pau should say the same too.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Those aren't deserving of the title "Game Thoughts".

There's only one guy around here who gets to use that title, and that's timvp. Wanna use it, do a proper job of it!

:ihit

[gilmor]

Those aren't deserving of the title "Game Thoughts".

There's only one guy around here who gets to use that title, and that's timvp. Wanna use it, do a proper job of it!

:ihit

well said.. These clowns are constantly embarrassing themselves by trying in the realm of 'greatness'.. but fuck.. they aren't even 1% there yet..

[Indazone]

Ginobili is just getting cranked up. I watched this game and it's a repeat of game 1 only this time the Spurs didn't let up. The Lakers are not that good. Pop has adjusted with more motion, more cutters, and more uncontested shots. First two games had the Spurs standing around more with the pick and rolls but this time, there's a lot more ball movement.

Lakers have no answer!

[DazedAndConfused]

Ginobili is just getting cranked up. I watched this game and it's a repeat of game 1 only this time the Spurs didn't let up. The Lakers are not that good. Pop has adjusted with more motion, more cutters, and more uncontested shots. First two games had the Spurs standing around more with the pick and rolls but this time, there's a lot more ball movement.

Lakers have no answer!

Damn let's call it a series then! :lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[pawe]

I was more worried about the NO than LA coz we really match up pretty well with them with the exception of Odom. Well, we proved it for 3 games now that if the Spurs can only hit their shots and not have those infamous 3rd q breakdowns then I think fans would be looking at a possible sweep.

[DazedAndConfused]

I was more worried about the NO than LA coz we really match up pretty well with them with the exception of Odom. Well, we proved it for 3 games now that if the Spurs can only hit their shots and not have those infamous 3rd q breakdowns then I think fans would be looking at a possible sweep.

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

John Madden is that you?

You know if the Spurs hit more shots than the Lakers they will win the next game too!!!!

[pawe]

Are you watching the games or busy jacking off off your father scratching his balls? The only reason the Spurs lost games 1 & 2 is because of their offense sputtering and not because the Lakers are outplaying them. Sometimes a team losses even if they shoot %50+ fgs because the other team outplayed them..but you already know that right?

[DazedAndConfused]

Are you watching the games or busy jacking off off your father scratching his balls? The only reason the Spurs lost games 1 & 2 is because of their offense sputtering and not because the Lakers are outplaying them. Sometimes a team losses even if they shoot %50+ fgs because the other team outplayed them..but you already know that right?

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao :lmao

The Spurs were just shooting some shots man. Did you know the team that shoots the most shots into the basket wins the game?

[dav4463]

From the Laker side: If I'm a Laker fan......start getting worried. You were down by 20+ points twice in three games. You were lucky that the Spurs ran out of gas in game one. (thanks to NBA scheduling and an airport fiasco) Kobe is the only guy you have that is consistent. Everybody else is hit or miss. Ginobili appears to have his game back. Duncan is flat out better than Gasol and without Bynum, the LA inside defense is a bit weak. Anybody can win this series, but don't expect the Spurs to be as flat as they were at the end of game one and all of game two.

[pawe]

So if I shoot 10 2 pointers and you shoot 9 3 pointers then I win the game? Great logic Einstein. All I'm saying is if only the Spurs would hit their shots then they could sweep the Lakers. Sometimes, just be reasonable for the sake of argument, no team can hit 100% of their shots like what you are trying to dick about.

[Indazone]

I think what we will see is a repeat of the Hornets trend. Lose first two games figuring out the other team and then Pop making the necessary adjustments and the Spurs blowing out their opponent in their following games. Spurs in 7 cause the Lakers will win one more at home and that's it. All this motion the Lakers cannot defend. Pop has opened up the offense to let Parker and Ginobili take full advantage of it. Duncan is now a finisher and cleanup guy but what a cleanup guy he is!

[pawe]

I think what we will see is a repeat of the Hornets trend.

This is what I'm actually hoping for. 7 game series between the Lakers and the Spurs FTW!

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

From the Laker side: If I'm a Laker fan......start getting worried. You were down by 20+ points twice in three games. You were lucky that the Spurs ran out of gas in game one. (thanks to NBA scheduling and an airport fiasco) Kobe is the only guy you have that is consistent. Everybody else is hit or miss. Ginobili appears to have his game back. Duncan is flat out better than Gasol and without Bynum, the LA inside defense is a bit weak. Anybody can win this series, but don't expect the Spurs to be as flat as they were at the end of game one and all of game two.

I don't know if we can include the 20 point game of game 1. Because it doesn't mean shit, since we lost. Laker fans have the advantage, so I wouldn't be worried about the loss in game 3.

But I would be worried if Manu DOES have his game back and it continues in game 4.
The difference between the New Orleans series, and the threes he was hitting today was that he was hitting his old fashioned contested threes and step backs. So maybe he is feeling better, like he said pre-game 3.

The dude's averaged 35 in a string of 10 games before on 55 percent. I hope he does it again for the next three games this series. :hungry: :rollin

Also Timmy is really winning the PF matchup...And Tony's going to do his thing with Manu taking the pressure of Tony to score.
If Barry continues to back up our bench, run the offense, and Pop repeats the lineups of today's game for game 4. He really helped address our offense issue.

[Man of Steel]

This is what I'm actually hoping for. 7 game series between the Lakers and the Spurs FTW!

I know I am a homer--but when the Spurs take game four, there will be a shitload of pressure on LA to win game 5 back at Staples--and the Lakers will lose the game and their HCA.

Spurs in 6.

:flag:

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

:lmao:lmao:lmao
The Spurs were just shooting some shots man. Did you know the team that shoots the most shots into the basket wins the game?

Aren't you Spursdynasty, anyway?

[foodie2]

Is it just me, or is Pau Gasol vastly overrated? Marv Albert and Doug Collins, when they can stop slavering over Kobe long enough, call out Odom and Fisher for not playing as well as they could, but nobody mentions how Gasol absolutely SUCKS. What is with all the hype over him anyway? I don't watch Laker games, true--is it just against the Spurs that he looks like a terrible, weak player?

And by the way, are any of you old enough to remember Beaker from the Muppets? That's who he reminds me of. As he runs down the court mumbling I hear Beaker in my head.

[mystargtr34]

Gasol is a really skilled player... but he cant defend Tim... hes too narrow... Tim bangs him around and gets exactly where he wants near the basket in about 2 or 3 dribbled. If Gasol overplays the middle then Duncan can just muscle his way around him and go to the layup.

I almost feel sorry for Pau he looks helpless... they should really send a few more doubles teams his way..