Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 6:16 am Post subject: *** LAKERS vs NUGGETS 5/8/2012, GAME 5 THREAD ***
Time: 7:30 PM Pacific Time
TV: TNT, FSW
Bynum said something that has been sparking the debate whether he should control his mouth or not.
Regardless, Lakers have the chance to close it out 2nite.
The only caveat is that Ron will miss the opening second round at OKC where he is totally and vitally needed.
Kobe also talked about the misconception that he didn't have the desire to share big shots with teammate (like Black's dagger at game 4).
Quote:
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Kobe Bryant isn't eager to correct a long-standing misconception about his career.
People always assume he's determined to take the Los Angeles Lakers' biggest late-game shots. He's actually just as comfortable setting up his teammates to be heroes by drawing a double-team.
He did it to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, and he'd be happy to do it again when the Lakers go for the clinching victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 6:25 am Post subject: ***Game Thread - Lakers vs Nuggets Game(5) - 5/8/12***
Game #: 5
Time: 7:30PM PT/10:30PM ET
Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA.
Date: 5/8/2012
Main Broadcast channel: TNT
Online Live Stream:CLICK HERE
Team Records
Denver Nuggets (38-28) at LA Lakers (41-25)
(3rd seed) Lakers' leading 3-1 against Nuggets (6th seed).
Injuries Report
Lakers: Metta World Peace (a.k.a. Ron Artest) will be out for Game(5) due to 7-games suspension.
Status: 2 more suspensions
Nuggets: Al Harrington suffered a broken nose during Game 3 of the 1st-round playoff series.
Status: day-to-day
Thoughts & Comments about upcoming Game(5)
Kobe Bryant: LINK
Andrew Bynum: LINK
Nuggets-Lakers Preview [also on drunk woman that walked on the court during game 4]
Quote:
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Kobe Bryant isn't eager to correct a long-standing misconception about his career.
People always assume he's determined to take the Los Angeles Lakers' biggest late-game shots. He's actually just as comfortable setting up his teammates to be heroes by drawing a double-team.
He did it to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, and he'd be happy to do it again when the Lakers go for the clinching victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Although he's pretty sure it's an open secret in NBA coaching circles, Bryant acknowledges he's been a decoy and a facilitator for years when Derek Fisher and Robert Horry were his sharpshooting teammates on the perimeter.
Fisher has been replaced by Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake this season, but the Lakers' late-game poise and strategy haven't changed, as evidenced late in the toughest game of their first-round series. In the final minute of Game 4, Pau Gasol set up Sessions' tiebreaking 3-pointer before Bryant fed Blake for the back-breaking 3-pointer and a 3-1 series lead.
"It's great to see them make those big shots," Bryant said after the Lakers' practice at their training complex Monday. "(Other teams) will continue to sit in there and force me to kick the ball out to shooters, as evidenced by Derek knocking big shot after big shot. No matter how many big shots he made, teams still left him."
The Nuggets were paying attention, and the final minute of Game 4 drew attention to what's considered a problem for Denver's balanced roster: There's no obvious leader to take a key late-game shot. But that's not what the Nuggets need, according to Bryant.
"It's not really about having one guy," Bryant said. "It's about having somebody that's going to command double-teams and free everybody up. That's really what it's about."
The Lakers have done it impressively in the last few weeks, particularly while Bryant rested his bruised shin for eight late-season games. They can book a second-round date with Oklahoma City by eliminating Denver for the third time in five postseasons.
"Hopefully we finish them off," center Andrew Bynum said. "I don't want to go back to Denver. ... Closeout games are actually kind of easy. Teams will fold if you come out and play hard."
Bryant scored 69 points in the series' two games at Staples Center, but just 44 in two games in Denver. Instead, he doubled his assists total and encouraged his teammates to step up.
"It's as exciting to see Kobe make a pass at the right time and trust his guys," coach Mike Brown said. "In the past a lot, it's been Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, but we've gone to Pau a lot, to Sessions. The guys have seen me trust second-unit guys down the stretch."
While Denver doesn't have the Lakers' star power, Los Angeles doesn't have the Nuggets' depth. The Lakers are trying to develop their supporting cast during a transitional season from Phil Jackson's strategies to Brown's innovations.
Although the bit players hit several big shots in Game 4, the Lakers' bench has been largely ineffective in recent weeks outside of Jordan Hill, who has developed abruptly into a dynamic rebounder and energy player. Most notably, Matt Barnes is a dismal 1 for 14 on 3-pointers against Denver, failing to step into an increased role during Metta World Peace's suspension.
But the Nuggets' superior bench hasn't translated into success, largely because Denver still can't impose its speedy tempo on the bulky, disciplined Lakers. JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried have gathered a wealth of knowledge during the first playoff series of their careers, but they're already facing elimination for the first time.
"It's not over, and it's a series that we can win Game 5," Denver coach George Karl said. "We should have won (Game 4) in a lot of ways. We gave a lot of good effort and had a lot of good results, but we got beat by a good team."
Veteran Al Harrington is happy his young teammates still believe they have a chance to shock the Lakers, who never trailed at home at any point in the first two games of the series.
"They're so naive, they definitely do," Harrington said jokingly. "I definitely believe we have a chance. If we can get Game 5, I definitely don't think the Lakers want to come back here to play a Game 6. If we can get Game 5, I think 6 can maybe take care of itself, and hopefully make it a seven-game series."
Of his first playoff experience, Faried said he has learned "it's hard, that it's intense. You've got to bring it every night. You can't have the little mix-ups that you had in March or February. You've got to stay focused. You've got to bring it every night."
The Nuggets hadn't lost perspective on their dire situation, taking a moment during practice in Colorado to chuckle at the memory of the 20-year-old woman who wandered onto the court during Game 4. Faried thanked the woman for giving him a breather while she apparently called for former Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin.
"I gave her his number," Harrington said. "Hopefully they can contact."
Boston at Atlanta (3-1)
Pacers vs. Orlando (3-1)
Sixers at Bulls (3-1)
I don't know if there had been a playoffs night where all teams played at 3-1 record since the 7-game series was done.
Maybe we will witness all the losing teams sent fishing at the same night.
That may become a playoffs history itself if 4 teams are sent packing at the same night.
It's doable, Celtics are on a roll, Orlando is a hopeless team without Howard so they have no point going on further either way, Sixers want to close the Bulls out while they're still mourning Rose.
And of course Lakers want to get some rest and not worry about Nugs any more, it could happen easily that all team would win, but we'll see.
Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 2763 Location: Puerto Rico
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:33 am Post subject:
IT'S WINNING TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What worries me about finishing tonight is not having Metta to guard Durant. At least it's just the first game but watching the way Denver played us the last two games I say finish them tonight.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LAKERS!!!!!!!! _________________
Cant stop looking at your profile picture Loston Ceptics, its hilarious. Lakers close out tonight..lets do it! _________________ “Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man how to fish, you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.”
Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 1164 Location: Tyler , Texas
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject:
LOSTON CEPTICS wrote:
Kb24goldenChild where is you game thread preview???? I'm getting used to it, you do a great job. Give us your take. Thanks.
Thank you Loston C.
I would give " My Take " But I do not want to be rude and take over this thread , Because once I start to give my take I have to go " Full Force " And I won't be able to stop until I give all of the information and it will be just like adding another Game Thread in here
Kb24goldenChild where is you game thread preview???? I'm getting used to it, you do a great job. Give us your take. Thanks.
Thank you Loston C.
I would give " My Take " But I do not want to be rude and take over this thread , Because once I start to give my take I have to go " Full Force " And I won't be able to stop until I give all of the information and it will be just like adding another Game Thread in here
I think you guys need to get a room!
_________________ You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.
Joined: 29 Apr 2012 Posts: 37 Location: Los Alamitos, CA
Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 3:46 pm Post subject: Keys to the Game
IMO, the keys for a Lakers W tonight are:
1) Control the paint
2) Control the glass
Lakers have shown that if they do that, Denver simply does not have enough to beat them. _________________ "Don't argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level then beat you with experience" - Mark Twain
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