NBA Play Offs - Page 23

Quicksilver · #**221** 06-10-2009, 01:24 PM

Interesting game analysis.

"Kobe blew it and choked last night?
still, he kept the Lakers from getting blown out?
I'm not sure both statements support each other.

Did kobe have a bad game in some critical areas?
you bet he did. Everybody should score 31 points
and have a bad night, but I would seriously doubt he will
as you say "keep up this kind of play" or as
you would describe it keep up "kobe ball".

Since Kobe scored just 10 points in the second half,
went only 4 of 15 from the field after the first quarter
somebody had to be keeping the Lakers in the game.
That would be the rest of the team. So this idea
that Kobe is keeping the lakers from playing team ball
is IMO inaccurate.

I will agree "Orlando shot lights out.
No doubt that and bad defense is why they won the game.
As one articled described it For a while, it
appeared the Magic couldn’t or wouldn’t miss.
From 20 feet, swish. From 10 feet, nothing but net.
Lay ups, runners, banks, pull-ups, didn’t matter.
You name it, if it went up, more times than not it went in.

What will be interesting is to see weather the Magic can
sustain that kind of game. My guess is no. But it will be
an interesting game 4.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaba

Kobe blew it and choked last night, still, he kept the Lakers from getting blown out. Lakers had a chance to steal a game in Orlando, at least the effort was there. Kobe gets a free pass but if he keeps this up this kind of play while having the team play "kobe ball" instead of team ball, Lakers are in trouble.

Orlando shot lights out. They set a finals record I believe in FG% made. Game 4 should be exciting. I'm predicting Lakers to win game 4, lose game 5 and then win in game 6...Unless of course the Magic pull out with a major upset.

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x5GuyInLA · #**222** 06-10-2009, 04:16 PM

Where Kobe choked was at the free throw line. He was 5 for 10 when he would normally be 9 for 10 or 10 for 10. Had he made those, the game would have either gone into overtime or Lakers would have won. Lakers didn't have a bad game (they shot over 50% from the field); Orlando just had the game of their lives.

asawadude · #**223** 06-10-2009, 04:30 PM

Orlando played an excellent game, but just like they won't repeat their 29.9% shooting of game 1, they won't repeat their 62.5% shooting of game 3. Considering the Lakers couldn't collect any rebounds because the Magic weren't missing, I actually thought the Lakers played an excellent game to lose by only 4 points.

I thought Kobe looked tired. Kobe's shot was off. He's a text book example of a rhythm shooter who uses his legs as much as his arms in his shot motion. His first step looked slow and it looked like he couldn't power his way up to the hoop like he normally can on his missed layup attempts. But Kobe knows how to make the physical adjustments necessary to be game ready. He will have a better Game 4. He'll get his 30+ on Thursday.

Jackson rarely makes in game adjustments because he considers basketball to be a game of will; making an adjustment is conceding that your opponents will is greater than the will of your team. He'd rather have his teams play their way out of deficits using the original game plan.

In game 3, Jackson continued to use Kobe as the decoy, just as he did in games 5 and 6 of the Denver series, and games 1 and 2 of the Finals. Give Kobe the ball for the shot if he's open or let him draw the double team, where he can pass to an open team mate. When the Lakers play this type of offense, Kobe's line is typically 30+ shot attempts along with 8 to 10 assists. It worked out well in the early games, but Van Gundy made the adjustment to counter it in game 3.

SVG instead went more to single coverage on Kobe, but had Lee and Petrius body up on Kobe rather than playing Kobe a step off. Instead of double teaming, he had the weakside defenders trailing in the passing lanes, then coming up to double team Kobe late if he put the ball on the floor. Kobe's had 11 turnovers in the past 2 games - mostly on picked off passes and trying to split doubleteams. SVG's defense, for the most part, is working, so now it's time for Jackson to make the adjustment.

Although poor at making in game adjustments, Phil Jackson is the best at making game to game adjustments.

If it were me, I would to go back to running the Triangle and start running the ball through Gasol on the high post and I'd let Kobe work off the screens - without the ball.

I would start Lamar over Bynum which forces Howard on to Gasol at the high post, as opposed to camping out on the low block guarding Bynum. I believe Gasol has a better chance of getting Howard in foul trouble. Having Bynum come in off the bench for Gasol will keep Pau fresher at the end of the game.

There's a couple of other things that need to get done, like making an adjustment on Turkoglu so he can't go left, and knocking Rafer Alston to the floor a few times.

Lakers in 5 or 6.

NOVAX5 · #**224** 06-10-2009, 05:02 PM

Last night game was a mistake from the coach, at least partially, then Kobe's getting cold. First he ran Kobe as main threat and thought he would return with the same momentum. He took Kobe out for a long time, the guy got cold. Then the coach ran Kobe as a decoy, that was how they tie the game late, double team collapsed on Kobe that made a lot of guys open and they didn't miss 7 in a row that tied the game up. But in any basketball game when one team couldn't miss and other team just play their normal games, that will result in a blow out which didn't happen because ORL is not that good at defense either. If you expect ORL would come out and shoot %62.9 again, that unlikely to happen. I think Lakers brought their game, but ORL brought their A++ game because ORL wanted more, 0-3 hole is impossible to climb out. Anyway, if Vegas think ORL could cover -4.5 spread then they expect ORL to win outright. The game is 80% expected to fall within the spread range by the analysis which will make public split 50, 50. Then ORL winning the game outright is predictable.

jaba · #**225** 06-11-2009, 10:09 PM

what an awesome first half!

NOVAX5 · #**226** 06-12-2009, 12:19 AM

I know I was right about Fisher being in the Finals.

NOVAX5 · #**227** 06-12-2009, 12:21 AM

Lebron is probably saying "Darn Kobe, you still draw a 14million rating without me".

Hit Redline · #**228** 06-12-2009, 12:25 AM

Fisher is a come through player for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOVAX5

I know I was right about Fisher being in the Finals.

jaba · #**229** 06-12-2009, 12:28 AM

And i thought the Magic were gonna win from the free throw in overtime. BTW, that was the worst and most atrocious officiating I've seen in the NBA. Call a game fairly and consistently and you can clearly see who the superior team is. Foster and Salvatore shouldn't be referees any more. They are an embarrassment to the league and so blatantly have an agenda against the Lakers. Yes, I'm venting. Yes I'm pissed, but at the same time I'm glad the Lakers pulled out with a W which they so rightfully deserved.

Peace out. See you Sunday.

chilliwilli · #**230** 06-12-2009, 12:00 PM

I absolutely agree...one of the many reasons why i stopped supporting the NBA for some time was the terrible officiating. I can understand that bad calls will be made from time to time...but recent officiating, in particular during the playoffs and now, finals, have been far too sensitive and inconsistent towards both teams.

No matter how much they try to dress it up, basketball started in the streets and majority of players will always play with that mentality. Players are going to get extra physical in the post-season...they've earned the right and i believe should be allowed to a certain measure...[/rant]

Anybody got any good jabs for refs when at a game? Couple of my favs:
- HEY REF, GET OFF YOUR KNEES, YOU'RE BLOWING THE GAME!
- HEY REF, WHY DON'T YOU BEND OVER AND USE YOUR GOOD EYE!

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