The Lakers series is going 7 games

[Giuseppe]

Ask Kobe how much he enjoys his 2006 "Took Em to 7 Games When Series Was Supposed To Be Done in 5" participation medal.

Exactly.

We're not doing that here. You either win the last game this June, or, you're in last place with the 28 other teams.

We're all grown men. The same standard of measure applies to us all.

[Pelicans78]

Y'all remember what was said in the Spurs-Hornets series in 08. The Spurs were ed because they had to go to New Orleans for game 7... Remind me which team pulled that out again?

Different. Hornets didn't win a road game so it came down to just one game. Hornets blasted the Spurs in 3 of the games so going 3-1 is no fluke. Injuries aren't an excuse, but having Chandler and West injured late in Game 5 made a big difference. They were useless in Game 7. CP3 had to carry the team and he wasn't good enough to do it.

Losing Game 2 would be a huge blow to the Lakers. That means they would have to win more than one game in New Orleans. The Spurs only had to one road game in that series. Big difference.

[Pelicans78]

Ask Kobe how much he enjoys his 2006 "Took Em to 7 Games When Series Was Supposed To Be Done in 5" participation medal.

We also have to be realistic as well.

[Pelicans78]

I think the Lakers will eventually take this, but they have nobody to guard Paul. Reminds me of the Houston series from two years ago when Fisher couldn't guard Brooks. You're supposed to stay home on everybody else and force him to carry the scoring load. 33 points and 14 assists is not doing that.

What hurt the Lakers in Game 1 was everyone for the Hornets were attacking the paint, especially once Gray put Bynum in foul trouble. Hornets aren't a perimeter shooting team. They have to drive to the basket to score and that's not going to change. Honestly, making Paul shoot perimeter jumpers like he did in the 4th should be the game plan. He hasn't been consistent in making them this season.

[21_Blessings]

Bynum couldn't get anywhere near the rim and was forced to take a jumpshot(made it), but I rarely ever see that.

He wasn't "forced" to take a jumpshot you imbecile. He was wide open at the top of the key with the shot clock winding down. Mandrew has always had a nice touch on his jumper.

[Booharv]

You're supposed to stay home on everybody else and force him to carry the scoring load. 33 points and 14 assists is not doing that.

That would work if Paul was just isolating and going for his points that way, but they are running a lot of pnr and when Fisher gets velcroed to some of these screens it throws their whole defense out of whack. Either Paul gets a free lane to the basket causing players to either leave their man and rotate to him or give up a free layup or Paul ends up on Pau. Tbh they should just double Paul as soon as he tries to set up a pnr next game.

[Pelicans78]

He wasn't "forced" to take a jumpshot you imbecile. He was wide open at the top of the key with the shot clock winding down. Mandrew has always had a nice touch on his jumper.

He does, but the Lakers want him and Gasol to control the paint. They didn't do that in Game 1. Hornets aren't going to double team Bynum or Kobe. They will keep Ariza on Kobe one-on-one. If Gray is out, Bynum has to dominate Okafor and Mbenga. That will change the game completely. Bynum won't be be able to control Gray in the paint. He's too big and I don't think Bynum has his mobility back to go around him. Hornets aren't going to let Gasol dominate. Other guys are going to have to step up besides Kobe.

[21_Blessings]

He does, but the Lakers want him and Gasol to control the paint. They didn't do that in Game 1. Hornets aren't going to double team Bynum or Kobe. They will keep Ariza on Kobe one-on-one. If Gray is out, Bynum has to dominate Okafor and Mbenga. That will change the game completely. Bynum won't be be able to control Gray in the paint. He's too big and I don't think Bynum has his mobility back to go around him. Hornets aren't going to let Gasol dominate. Other guys are going to have to step up besides Kobe.

Bynum played 25 minutes while Pau logged 37 minutes and closed the 4th quarter. Switch those minutes around and the Lakers win that game.

Phil is just toying with Bees right now.

[z0sa]

I think the Lakers will eventually take this, but they have nobody to guard Paul. Reminds me of the Houston series from two years ago when Fisher couldn't guard Brooks. You're supposed to stay home on everybody else and force him to carry the scoring load. 33 points and 14 assists is not doing that.

A great point. The Lakers' biggest weakness is at the 1 position - both their lack of talent there, and their inability to guard anyone with talent 1 on 1 there.

And if they think the Aaron Brooks treatment will work on CP3 .. they already know what could happen. Besides, CP3 has good motivation to dominate after his heart's been doubted all season.

[Booharv]

A great point. The Lakers' biggest weakness is at the 1 position - both their lack of talent there, and their inability to guard anyone with talent 1 on 1 there.

And if they think the Aaron Brooks treatment will work on CP3 .. they already know what could happen. Besides, CP3 has good motivation to dominate after his heart's been doubted all season.

Paul is not scoring 1 on 1. For the most part he is operating via the pnr.

[Pelicans78]

Bynum played 25 minutes while Pau logged 37 minutes and closed the 4th quarter. Switch those minutes around and the Lakers win that game.

Phil is just toying with Bees right now.

Bynum had good numbers in game one, but he got in foul trouble early and had a -15 overall. Gray had a +25. That's a huge difference. Alot of it came when Bynum was playing with the 2nd unit. Those guys got torched by the Hornets bench.

[z0sa]

Paul is not scoring 1 on 1. For the most part he is operating via the pnr.

They're switchign the pick and rolls and he's getting all his scores 1 on 1. If they choose to double or hedge screens harder so the defender can recover or trap or stuff like that, then no, he is no longer scoring 1 on 1. I assume they will do a large mixture of all that in G2.

[Giuseppe]

Besides, CP3 has good motivation to dominate after his heart's been doubted all season.

He quit. He's nobody to blame but hisself.

We're just unfortunate to be standing there when he got done check cashing for 82 games.

[ohmwrecker]

Phil is just toying with Bees right now.

So, Phil wanted to lose that game? That makes sense.

[21_Blessings]

and had a -15 overall. Gray had a +25. That's a huge difference. Alot of it came [B]when Bynum was playing with the 2nd unit..

No . Which makes posting +/- re ed. Bynum was doing a standup job contesting shots despite some questionable foul calls.

The point is Bynum and his defensive effort should have been playing with the first unit in the 4th. Pau and Odom gave a shameful display out there.

[Giuseppe]

Pau and Odom gave a shameful display out there.

Again:::with Pau it is expected, but, to witness Odom backslide like that was mind numbing.

"shameful" is accurate.

[Killakobe81]

LOL Spurs might not even get to a 7 games series ..and yal talking ... LOL

All jokes aside I expect the Lakers and Spurs to both win with teh Spurs maybe wiining by a larger margin than the Lakers TBH ...

But spurs have more worries than we do at the moment Grizz are tough and I think after Game 1 they will go to Battier more especially on the road. Allen is a better option but you cant play Sam young in a big road game just yet ...

[ohmwrecker]

But spurs have more worries than we do at the moment

::cough:: Bynum's knee ::cough::

[Pelicans78]

No . Which makes posting +/- re ed. Bynum was doing a standup job contesting shots despite some questionable foul calls.

The point is Bynum and his defensive effort should have been playing with the first unit in the 4th. Pau and Odom gave a shameful display out there.

Wouldn't have mattered. Lakers perimeter had no answer for Paul or Jack. That's why Hornets scored so many easy baskets in the paint. Gray was in the paint waiting for easy passes. Hornets penetration but Bynum in foul trouble.

[Giuseppe]

^As Manu sits there lookin' pisser in his Ship & Shore ensemble.

He was adorable!!!

[Killakobe81]

::cough:: Bynum's knee ::cough::

Concern yes, but he played through his injury. Came up big last year with one too ...helped us win #16 too

[Booharv]

They're switchign the pick and rolls and he's getting all his scores 1 on 1. If they choose to double or hedge screens harder so the defender can recover or trap or stuff like that, then no, he is no longer scoring 1 on 1. I assume they will do a large mixture of all that in G2.

The only time he went 1 on 1 is when he had Pau or some other big on him and that came via pnr. I think he isolated on Fisher 2-3 times. Most of the time he broke the D down off the pnr. He got into the paint off of screens for the most part.

[Giuseppe]

Wouldn't have mattered. Lakers perimeter had no answer for Paul or Jack. That's why Hornets scored so many easy baskets in the paint. Gray was in the paint waiting for easy passes. Hornets penetration but Bynum in foul trouble.

78:::"every chamber filled!"

You're like Mono, Manu & Burke=adorable.

[Isitjustme?]

Itss funny how with all this advanced study of basketball the pick and roll is something that still kills team and is unguardable in certain scenarios. Its like the oldest, simplest play in the book and it still works.

[Pelicans78]

The biggest thing that surprised me was Paul making his jumpshots. I didn't expect that, especially in the 4th. That's why the Hornets pulled it out. Usually he has trouble shooting over tall defenders. I'm still skeptical of him making those. Hasn't been consistent all season. I would still switch the bigs on him and make him shoot over them or drive to the basket.