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"It was a huge deal," Gasol said. "We didn't want to come out of this game with another loss on our home court. It was important for us to bounce back tonight. This is a significant victory for us. The defensive effort was outstanding."
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"It was a huge deal," Gasol said. "We didn't want to come out of this game with another loss on our home court. It was important for us to bounce back tonight. This is a significant victory for us. The defensive effort was outstanding."
Why is it so hard for Lakers fans to admit the Cavs were missing alot more than they were.
Z is a 15-8 Center. Probably the second best C in the East. Delonte has proven to be a pretty crucial part to what they do. You cant argue that Jordan Farmer, a 15 MPG guy and Luke Walton, who has started less than a quarter of the games because the guy ahead of him sux, equate to or are even close to those two guys.
Im not saying the Cavs win in LA with a full strength team, but you simply cant argue against the fact the Cavs were missing their 3rd and 4th best player, while the Lakers were missing there 7th and 8th best players, and that it didnt effect the outcome of the game.
Probably for the same reason that when Laker fans last year said it would have been a different finals if we had Bynum and Ariza all the Celtic, Spurs, and other Laker hating fans cried "excuses excuses".
I agree the absence of Z was a larger loss. But don't discredit the loss of Walton so easily either. Maybe hes not a superstar, but the loss of him means we have to start spaceballs which is a double whammy. And not having Farmar hurts not so much cause Farmar is good but cause it makes Fish have to play too many minutes.
We can go back and forth on every game where players are out... doesn't matter. It didn't last year because regardless, the celts have the trophy just as the Lakers have the win last night. All else is conjecture.
Time to move on....
Im puzzled as to how Walton gets minutes. Rad is a dead-eye shooter and spaces the floor well for Kobe. Im not sure what Luke does, hes a good passer but given that theres Kobe and Pau and sometimes Odom on the floor, all excellent passers - i dont see the need for him at anytime.
Maybe i dont watch enough Laker games.
Walton gets the team playing the triangle. While Rad may spread the floor, he also is the weakest link on defense and starts a snowball effect of switches because he either lost sight of his man or simply decided to triple team the opposing PG. The wholr Rad spreading the floor concept is a tad weak in my opinion too because Fish isnt really a penetrating PG. Fish hangs at the 3 pt line enough to spread the D and Gasol is also adept enough at the midrange to bring his defender out. No Laker fan will tell you Walton is a great player. He just knows the offense and gets the team involved. Rad is purely one deminsional.... and a bonifide idiot.
Without Walton, there are too many shooters and not enough playmakers.
Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Rad, Fish...every single one of them wants to shoot. It's a bad combination from what I've seen. Either Luke or Odom have to start with that 4 or else the offense stagnates, too much dribbling not enough touches, etc.
His 2 threes did give the Lakers momentum. Can Walton hit that 3 ball?
Yes. Two years ago prior to his injury he was amoungst the league leaders but Rad is the better 3pt shooter no doubt. Again, Rad may get 2-4 3's in a game but his defensive liabilities diminish his worthiness. Especially against 3pt shooting teams because he tends to wander and leave the line wide open.
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