Lakers/Cavs Game Thread
The battle for the NBA's best record...again!
The Lakers try to stop the Cavaliers, who have won all 23 games on their home court so far this season, in a battle between the two players who will finish 1-2 in the MVP voting this year.
Henry Abbott of ESPN's True Hoop had a nice comparison between Kobe and Lebron the other day, highlighting each player's unique skills.
Tip-off is roughly 12:30pm PST.
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Adam Morrison
Since Gonzaga is my favorite hoops school, Adam Morrison was my favorite college player the last three years he played for Gonzaga so this deal means I just may become a fan again.
I’ve got two Laker tickets left. March 6th, Friday against the Timberwolves or April 14th, Tuesday against the Jazz. Which game can you make?
The Friday game
I can make March 6 if that’s cool. Thanks!
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:24 PM PST up reply actions
Bad Luck for Ray Allen
The ball just slipped out of his hands on that inbounds pass, but credit Ginobli for somehow inducing a breakaway foul.
Man, I hate rooting for San Antonio, but it had to be done today.
When are we moving
onto the fireman role. Looks like Gagne squashed Smiling Sammy but I want a crack at Sherry, Perry, Regan, Howe, and Brewer. I could see votes for all five of those guys. I assume Iron Man Mike is not eligible with only two seasons?.
Working on it
If I remember correctly, Mike Marshall I qualifies based on games finished.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:27 PM PST up reply actions
Teams with Legit Title Chances
I think there are only 5 teams that can win the title:
Lakers
Cavs
Celtics
Spurs
Magic
I could probably be talked into Portland, but it might depend on what they do at the trade deadline.
Zach Randolf
has the softest shot I’ve ever seen in basketball. The ball always just seems to float through the net. Did you catch any of us act the last two nights?
I don't always get Clipper broadcasts here
Sometimes one of the SD channels carries the games, but I haven’t really seen them. I’m moving next weekend so I’ll have access to LA stations after that.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
Big Z
I have always been fond of Ilgauskas. I forget…did he play with Terrell Brandon for a year or two?
Anyone remember the SI cover with Brandon with something ridiculous like “Best PG ever?” on the cover?
Not "ever"
Just “”http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9572/index.htm" >The best point guard in the NBA." In 1997.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
Try again
Here’s the link to the cover.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions
Brandon - Big Z
Brandon and Big Z never played together. Brandon left after 96-97, and Big Z started the next year.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
You guys are gonna hate me for this, but go Cavs!
by Linix129 on Feb 8, 2009 12:49 PM PST reply actions
I don't hate you
I’m just wishing I’ll will against you. :)
Spurs fan, huh? Well I rooted for them this morning, so come on! Western Conference pride! :)
by Eric Stephen on Feb 8, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Even with my roots here, I just can’t do it hah
by Linix129 on Feb 8, 2009 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
Jeff Van Gundy
I didn’t really have an opinion of him as a coach, but I love him as an announcer. He makes great observations, has a great sense of humor, and has good rapport with Mark Jackson.
I kind of laugh that he almost always says “Bryant” or “James” instead of Kobe/Lebron, the more common and generally accepted names.
Its a good thing that the Knicks aren’t ever on national tv cause there would be triple bias there.
by Linix129 on Feb 8, 2009 1:04 PM PST reply actions
I love Phil Jackson
Basically just said it’s cool ig Big Z keeps getting shots, he’ll miss them eventually.
It was kind of a complimentary insult, if there is such a thing.
Again, hopefully not a jinx...
Best Laker Road Trips, 5 Games or Longer (sorted by wins)
2008: 7-2
2000: 6-0
2009: 5-0 (today is 6th and final game)
1991: 5-0
1986: 5-1
2006: 5-1
1977: 5-2
1990: 5-3
1979: 5-3
Someone's Going to Turn an Ankle
eventually this season because of the weird sunken in bench areas below the court.
As a sophmore
he had a crew cut. I was interesting to watch the hair grow each year along with the talent. I could see him taking more minutes away from Walton, all depends how he blends in with Phil’s system. Triangle might be perfect for his skills. Unlike Rad who strictly a shooter, Morrison is a scorer who can put it in the hoop in a number of ways. No doubt he will struggle on defense but again that is the same as Rad.
I liked him just because he could play big time hoop basketball as a diabetic. I was quite surprised he turned into the best college player in the country by the time he left.
Considering Kobe is already 30 and LeBron is 25.
by Linix129 on Feb 8, 2009 1:55 PM PST up reply actions
re:
True, they don’t have the college link which really made it special even if Bird was several years older then Magic.
Yeah and they both started around the same time, and were basically linked through their careers.
by Linix129 on Feb 8, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
Phil's Premonition About Big Z
starting to come true?
A few jumpers missed in !3 plus those two missed FT.
They can win with their current roster
even if Bynum doesn’t come back.
You just want to see Odom back as a Clipper. :)
That seems weird
considering they got to the finals last year with the same roster, and now have a full training camp together. Boston is older, and the Bynum advantage isn’t as needed against Cleveland as it is against Boston.
Lakers are still the best team in the West (sorry, Spurs).
Plus, I think Bynum will be back since no surgery is needed.
re:
Given Bynum’s history I don’t think you can count on him at all. Kobe’s also older, Fisher also older, the same logic applies to both teams. The difference is that Boston has better younger players. This team will need more defense, once Odom and Gasol start seeing hard defensive basketball Kobe has to do more and more. Can he maybe, but he can’t count on Odom having a game like this in a tough playoff series.
I sort of agree
With Bynum, the Lakers are prohibitive favorites to win it all.
Without him, they are in the discussion but clearly not favorites. I think the club has pretty much already said they aren’t trading Odom since they don’t want to bring in anyone else midseason that would have to learn the triangle.
So what we have (plus Morrison and Brown) is what we have, and we just have to hope Bynum comes back. But without him we aren’t dead at all.
re:
No, not dead at all. Very competitive, might happen but I’d be betting on Boston right now with the current rosters available.
I'd take Cleveland in the east
just because they match up better with Boston, or more specifically the Lebron advantage (increased in the playoffs when he’s playing 48 minutes a game).
Just read this
Clips have achieved NBA history
While recapping tonight’s game, ESPN said that with the two wins, the Clips are the first team in NBA history to be 25 games under .500 yet win two consecutive games on the road by more than 20 points… who woulda thunk it?
Did you just see the Sabean quote on the bottom line?
I’ll try to find the quote online, but I don’t remember Colletti ever questioning Manny’s “warts” or “all-around” play in public.
We already knew this but Manny WILL be a Dodger.
Full Sabean quote
“It’s going to take a special set of circumstances. It’s not going to be a long-term contract. It’s not going to be at the dollars being speculated. It’s going to have to make business sense and it’s going to have to make baseball sense with a player who certainly has a tremendous upside in the end and some warts that still leave him on the market because of what his lack of all-around play is and what his past has been in previous organizations.”
I just posted a link to his comments over at DT. I’m very surprised at how candid Brian’s remarks were…
Paul Lo Duca is MLB's Pablo Escobar..
by DodgerBlueBalls on Feb 8, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions
Surprisingly (or not)
Odom has only scored 30 seven times in his career, including 30 in his first game.
Defense doesn't necessarily = points allowed
since pace often determines the score, and points per possession are a better indicator. However, the Lakers gave up 32 in the first 12 minutes, and have given up only 45 points in the 27.5 minutes since.
Amazing Game
Kind of crazy that Kobe went 9 minutes into the 4th quarter without really touching the ball (the first 6 minutes on the bench).
That fall away brought some rain with it!
Kobe's last shot...
Jordan-esque?
Paul Lo Duca is MLB's Pablo Escobar..
by DodgerBlueBalls on Feb 8, 2009 2:52 PM PST up reply actions
Van Gundy & Jackson
have been commenting about how Kobe’s not at 100% this game. Are they referring to his finger or is there something else I’m missing?
Paul Lo Duca is MLB's Pablo Escobar..
That’s all we’ll need, it will be a sweep (knocks on wood)
by Linix129 on Feb 8, 2009 3:27 PM PST reply actions

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