Basketball (NBA, College, etc.)

bmwracer wrote:Lakers beat the Thunder, 101-94.

even if Kobe shot poorly from the free throw line at 6-11 :shakehead:
he really should be knocking down atleast 85% of those at doing 9-11 or better.
He missed 3 at the end, but they still endured and won an above .500 team, which is promising. A Laker win is a win, and we'll take any of them. I think they should get in the playoffs, but with their inconsistency, I am not sure if they can get passed the second round, and homecourt throughout the playoffs.
They really need to win some solid games against worthy opponents, and especially against weaker teams, playing at HOME.

I am more impressed with the Clippers wins recently and how much of an impact the Blake-Gordon combo is leading to the teams recent success. I do think Blake should be strongly considered as rookie of the year, even if this is technically the 2nd year for him, despite him being out all last year with injury. He also should be allowed in the all-star game.

^ It basically comes down to who's hungrier: the Clippers are the hungry team with nothing to lose and the Lakers are sorta fat and stupid: they've been there and done that... Twice.

And they're playing like it. :sweat:

Not surprisingly, the Lakers lose in Dallas, 109-100. :shakehead:

No defense by the Lakers. But after losing 6 straight, I felt Dallas was due for a win, especially playing at home and with Dirk back. I do think the Lakers have been playing well recently with a couple good wins over good teams like New York, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City. They're not up to their full potential yet, but the only team in the West that I think can stop the Lakers come playoff time is San Antonio, who I think is the best team in the NBA right now.

mrsmith10 wrote:No defense by the Lakers.

Old, recurring story, unfortunately. :bleh:

Celts beat Detroit, 86-82. They shouldn't be struggling so much in these types of games. :sweat:

Jav_sol wrote:Celts beat Detroit, 86-82. They shouldn't be struggling so much in these types of games. :sweat:

Struggling mightily on the offense as of late, :sweat: playing good D but sooner or later you gotta start scoring points, actually Pierce has been playing real well, the rest of the team seems to be quite inconsistent on the offensive end. :muack:

From grubstreet.com:

Ron Artest Is a Fan of Cheeseburgers
By Jenny Miller

gI couldfve bought 10,000 In-N-Out Burgers ... I rather wouldfve done that than give it away. I'm going to get 10 burgers [after Monday's game]. I love In-N-Out. Itfs addicting. Itfs the only reason Ifm here in L.A. If it wasnft for In-N-Out Burger, I probably wouldfve gone to Memphis or something.h \Lakers forward Ron Artest on how he's planning to spend the $4,000 fine he won't be charged after the NBA rescinded a technical-foul call from Sunday's game against the Clippers.

^ LOL.

Ron-Ron is a character. :rofl:

Lakers (surprisingly) beat the Nuggets, 107-97.

Celtics lose to Washington, 83-85. They practically gave this game away, shooting like crap the second half. :shakehead:

bmwracer wrote:Lakers (surprisingly) beat the Nuggets, 107-97.

it's quite sad when they are the world champions, and play like this, even if they beat some teams, it just doesn't feel like they deserve to be like champions.

I honestly didn't have a good feeling about this team last year, but somehow they excelled through the playoffs and got even tougher as they progressed in the playoffs. With the way they have been losing, and not playing as strongly as last season, they could end up an early round exit come playoff time, but perhaps they'll get their act together and prove us all wrong with doubting them.

Celtics lost, along with Spurs, but it just seems like Lakers are losing to even worse teams, and at home, more often than not. Clippers are redeeming themselves trying to dig themselves out of the hole they dug themselves in the first place. Fortunately Lakers don't have to do that so much, but only defend their title, which says a lot.

Lakers are trouncing the Jazz at the end of the 3rd, 93-68.

Let's see if the Laker reserves can hold any part of that lead in the 4th or will the starters have to come back into the game.... :sweat: :fingerscrossed:

EDIT: Final score: 120-91.

qilver wrote:

it's quite sad when they are the world champions, and play like this, even if they beat some teams, it just doesn't feel like they deserve to be like champions.

I don't think the Lakers are playing that badly. They've won 10 out of 12 and have been beating the good teams lately. Sure they tend to be a bit inconsistent but how many teams can remain consistent through an 82 game schedule?

mrsmith10 wrote:I don't think the Lakers are playing that badly. They've won 10 out of 12 and have been beating the good teams lately. Sure they tend to be a bit inconsistent but how many teams can remain consistent through an 82 game schedule?

I suppose since they are the current champions, people like myself would expect them to at least put in the effort day in and day out: there are some games (like on Christmas Day) where they barely showed up and played with little enthusiasm.

^I agree the Christmas day game was bad and at the time the Lakers were playing bad. But since then, they've picked it up. They've beaten all the teams they're suppose to and they've beaten some pretty darn good teams as well. I just think that during almost any NBA season, even the best teams will have their lapses for a stretch of games. So far this year, the only team that hasn't had such a lapse in play is San Antonio.

mrsmith10 wrote:^I agree the Christmas day game was bad and at the time the Lakers were playing bad. But since then, they've picked it up. They've beaten all the teams they're suppose to and they've beaten some pretty darn good teams as well. I just think that during almost any NBA season, even the best teams will have their lapses for a stretch of games. So far this year, the only team that hasn't had such a lapse in play is San Antonio.

I suppose you could wonder or speculate that the Spurs could stumble late in the season after such a great start...

And the Nets are the first team this year to surpass last year's win total, :victory: who need to give up 1/2 the team for one player! :naughty:

Celts beat Cleveland, 112-95. Cavs have lost 27 of their last 28 games. :sweat:

mrsmith10 wrote:

I don't think the Lakers are playing that badly. They've won 10 out of 12 and have been beating the good teams lately. Sure they tend to be a bit inconsistent but how many teams can remain consistent through an 82 game schedule?

perhaps, the over-looked Spurs are kinda having that kind of season that the Lakers should be having, but it could pay dividends by not going all out, and going for a very high win record while securing home-court, only to get trounced by some lower seed in the playoffs because of lack of energy that was used up during the season.

I sort of agree with you, that they have won 10 of their last 12, yet I don't think there as strong defensively, and as a team, as last year. Sure even the Spurs and Miami will take a fall in some games, but they try to remain competitive, and play excellent defense. Perhaps what I would like to see from the Lakers, is not just landslide routs like we just saw the other day with the Jazz, but more stronger finishes, better defense, and more competition against premier teams, even if the Lakers take a fall here and there...but the game against Spurs and Miami, and Memphis are really no excuse and not something we would expect from the Championship Lakers.