Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
We WANT TACOS & DEFENSE & OFFENSE & BENCH PRODUCTION & COACHING,....
Game 5 aka the most important game yet!
It’s game-time at the Staples Center tonight as my Lakers take on the lowly Nuggets of Denver, CO. I’m predicting a convincing win for the Lakers. They should be rested, motivated and pushed over the top by Pau Gasol who should see a lot more touches after his dominant performance on Monday. Looks like taco time for staples fans who should enjoy a double digit win.
If you don’t know what the title of the blog is and you call yourself a laker fan; shame on you. basically Jack in the Box does a promotional giveaway through which fans get coupons redeemable for two free tacos whenever the Lakers win and hold their opponent to under 100 points. Or at least thats what I think it is. Basically every time you go to staples expect tacos and expect the fans to ask the players for them.
Listen for the “We want tacos?!?!” chant at the end of tonight’s blowout. One of the commentators covering the game will be forced to comment on it and then attempt to convince you that LA fans are the worst around. The reality is the chant is an LA classic as far as chants go and a hell of a marketing ploy by Jack in the Box.
As much fun as hollering for 99 cent tacos is from seats that cost a weeks salary if you’re a true Laker fan you’ve probably been yelling for more than tacos lately while watching the “Birdman” put on a dunking display for all his weird Denvey fans. Denver it's like Salt Lake City on meth!
Sure “WE WANT TACOS”
but
“We also want defense and ball movement and coaching and leadership and bench production and our role players to play their role.” ANNDD then “TACCCOOOSSS” to wash it all down after the game.
To this point the Lakers have been able to survive on their pure talent alone. The Show has been getting hustled every night by the hungry Nugs however still retain home court advantage and the ability to win games in the fourth with Kobe and a lil sense of urgency. The Denver thug squad (minus Chauncey who I respect) like the rockets before them won’t be able to beat the Lakers by out hustling them or steal a win with an amazing performance from either Melo, Chancey or Smith. They need to play ridiculous defense, get out to an early lead, out-rebound The Show, and do something about Kobe & Gasol to have a chance at winning or at least escape without the LA taco hecklers having their way with them.
The question is who will step up for the Lakers besides Pau and Kobe. Bynum is my guess for a breakout performance in Game 5. With Pau Gasol getting more touches inside and drawing extra defenders things should open up nicely for Andrew. A number? I’d guess 17 points in 20 minutes for number 17. Bynum (aka the future) and some good ball movement, like actually passing the basketball around, and the Lakers cut out Denver's heart and lay waste to the little fantasy world they are living in where they "are the better team"! HA. We'll see about that thuggies.
For Denver watch
(1) Chauncey put the G back in PG,
(2) Carmello score a bunch
(3) Kenyon Martin act like the Nnati streetballer he is
(4) Coach Karl getting outcoached by a man that doesn’t coach!
(5) J.R. Smith get a string of 3’s in the 3rd quarter.
It’s game-time at the Staples Center tonight as my Lakers take on the lowly Nuggets of Denver, CO. I’m predicting a convincing win for the Lakers. They should be rested, motivated and pushed over the top by Pau Gasol who should see a lot more touches after his dominant performance on Monday. Looks like taco time for staples fans who should enjoy a double digit win.
If you don’t know what the title of the blog is and you call yourself a laker fan; shame on you. basically Jack in the Box does a promotional giveaway through which fans get coupons redeemable for two free tacos whenever the Lakers win and hold their opponent to under 100 points. Or at least thats what I think it is. Basically every time you go to staples expect tacos and expect the fans to ask the players for them.
Listen for the “We want tacos?!?!” chant at the end of tonight’s blowout. One of the commentators covering the game will be forced to comment on it and then attempt to convince you that LA fans are the worst around. The reality is the chant is an LA classic as far as chants go and a hell of a marketing ploy by Jack in the Box.
As much fun as hollering for 99 cent tacos is from seats that cost a weeks salary if you’re a true Laker fan you’ve probably been yelling for more than tacos lately while watching the “Birdman” put on a dunking display for all his weird Denvey fans. Denver it's like Salt Lake City on meth!
Sure “WE WANT TACOS”
but
“We also want defense and ball movement and coaching and leadership and bench production and our role players to play their role.” ANNDD then “TACCCOOOSSS” to wash it all down after the game.
To this point the Lakers have been able to survive on their pure talent alone. The Show has been getting hustled every night by the hungry Nugs however still retain home court advantage and the ability to win games in the fourth with Kobe and a lil sense of urgency. The Denver thug squad (minus Chauncey who I respect) like the rockets before them won’t be able to beat the Lakers by out hustling them or steal a win with an amazing performance from either Melo, Chancey or Smith. They need to play ridiculous defense, get out to an early lead, out-rebound The Show, and do something about Kobe & Gasol to have a chance at winning or at least escape without the LA taco hecklers having their way with them.
The question is who will step up for the Lakers besides Pau and Kobe. Bynum is my guess for a breakout performance in Game 5. With Pau Gasol getting more touches inside and drawing extra defenders things should open up nicely for Andrew. A number? I’d guess 17 points in 20 minutes for number 17. Bynum (aka the future) and some good ball movement, like actually passing the basketball around, and the Lakers cut out Denver's heart and lay waste to the little fantasy world they are living in where they "are the better team"! HA. We'll see about that thuggies.
For Denver watch
(1) Chauncey put the G back in PG,
(2) Carmello score a bunch
(3) Kenyon Martin act like the Nnati streetballer he is
(4) Coach Karl getting outcoached by a man that doesn’t coach!
(5) J.R. Smith get a string of 3’s in the 3rd quarter.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Lakers vs. Nuggets: Game 2 Recap
10:06:37 AM Yutai: nah, they aren't pathetic. the nuggets just played better last night
10:07:01 AM Yutai: it was a good game. an extra bounce our way and we would have won. the lakers competed and played well.
10:07:05 AM Alex Rochestie: pathetic man. we've got nothing besides talent
10:07:07 AM Yutai: i have no complaints
10:07:30 AM Yutai: the nuggest have talent too. carmelo is incredible
10:07:37 AM Yutai: i am officially sold on chauncy
10:08:11 AM Alex Rochestie: yeah man. they also have heart, coaching, a sense of urgency, an offense, a defense, etc.
10:08:21 AM Alex Rochestie: lakers, just talent. thats it
10:08:50 AM Yutai: nah, i thought the lakers played a fine game last night
10:09:04 AM Alex Rochestie: never made a run last night. no ball movement. easy points inside. nothing from the bigs.
10:09:05 AM Yutai: these conference playoffs are incredible
10:09:53 AM Yutai: yeah, well phil never adjusted much to kleiza at the 4
10:10:07 AM Yutai: should have killed them on offense there.
10:10:45 AM Yutai: but i don't feel as bad about this loss as the rockets one. where i felt we beat ourselves. this time, i just thought the nuggets played great
10:11:07 AM Alex Rochestie: i'm sorry but phil was an absolute joke last night. its as if he isn't even watching the game
10:11:36 AM Yutai: bynum never got back in the game after 5min in the 3rd
10:11:37 AM Alex Rochestie: farmar needs more minutes
10:11:39 AM Yutai: which was weird
10:11:45 AM Yutai: he was playing well, so was jordan
10:12:05 AM Alex Rochestie: yeah man. bynum is in for the first 8 mins of each half and thats it
10:12:21 AM Yutai: i am looking very forward to game 3
10:12:32 AM Yutai: i will put my money on kobe taking that game
10:12:33 AM Alex Rochestie: at the end of the game walton and shannon brown were in the game way too late
10:12:57 AM Yutai: and fish has to stop driving in the lane
10:13:00 AM Yutai: into traffic
10:13:05 AM Yutai: please. he's not tony parker
10:13:42 AM Yutai: that's about as low percentage of a shot as anything from sasha's hands
10:14:05 AM Yutai: carmelo played amazing ball denial defense on kobe last night
10:14:09 AM Alex Rochestie: how though. he isn't getting shit done on D and the "offense" now is strolling the ball up the court, a bad pass to a player posting up and then a one on one matchup at the end of the shot-clock. MOVE THE BALL
10:15:06 AM Yutai: the lakers don't respond well to energetic, physical defense that denies the passing lanes
10:15:32 AM Yutai: rockets, celtics, and now nuggets
10:16:30 AM Alex Rochestie: check out the post game interviews on lakers.com. nobody gives a fuck or seems to care about loosing or have any answer as to what they are going to do next time
10:17:48 AM Yutai: that's always the laker's M.O. though
10:18:09 AM Alex Rochestie: i hear that but it is unacceptable with the players that we have for us not to have an offense strategy that gets players open shots.
10:18:20 AM Yutai: it comes from phil. i think he's just too zen now. you never see an ounce of emotion out of him
10:18:29 AM Alex Rochestie: i know man the same MO that lost us a title last year
10:18:42 AM Yutai: he looks as sleepy after a win as a loss
10:18:49 AM Alex Rochestie: just does not give a fuck
10:19:09 AM Yutai: i think this is the laker team we have. i have already come to accept that after the rockets series.
10:19:24 AM Alex Rochestie: i loved it when he just called a time out with seconds to go! what a joke
10:19:27 AM Yutai: they still have a shot at the title, but not a very good one
10:19:37 AM Alex Rochestie: drawing up a play! HA
10:19:53 AM Yutai: the last play was weird
10:20:05 AM Yutai: kobe was near the top of the circle when the ball went out
10:20:20 AM Yutai: shouldn't the play be a single or double screen for kobe to get free?
10:20:45 AM Yutai: kind of like the webber screen for bibby in the sacramento series?
10:20:53 AM Alex Rochestie: just pathetic man.
10:21:00 AM Yutai: but we were right there
10:21:27 AM Yutai: i still don't think last night was that bad. the nuggets played great. that's all. bring on game 3
10:23:37 AM Alex Rochestie: god game three. another 48 minutes of getting scored on, stupid turnovers/fouls, and home team that wants to win and probably will. can't wait!
10:33:20 AM Yutai: or who knows! the incredible dominating offense and stiffling strong side zone can decide to show up!
10:33:38 AM Yutai: you never know with the lakers! its like a magic 8 ball!
10:07:01 AM Yutai: it was a good game. an extra bounce our way and we would have won. the lakers competed and played well.
10:07:05 AM Alex Rochestie: pathetic man. we've got nothing besides talent
10:07:07 AM Yutai: i have no complaints
10:07:30 AM Yutai: the nuggest have talent too. carmelo is incredible
10:07:37 AM Yutai: i am officially sold on chauncy
10:08:11 AM Alex Rochestie: yeah man. they also have heart, coaching, a sense of urgency, an offense, a defense, etc.
10:08:21 AM Alex Rochestie: lakers, just talent. thats it
10:08:50 AM Yutai: nah, i thought the lakers played a fine game last night
10:09:04 AM Alex Rochestie: never made a run last night. no ball movement. easy points inside. nothing from the bigs.
10:09:05 AM Yutai: these conference playoffs are incredible
10:09:53 AM Yutai: yeah, well phil never adjusted much to kleiza at the 4
10:10:07 AM Yutai: should have killed them on offense there.
10:10:45 AM Yutai: but i don't feel as bad about this loss as the rockets one. where i felt we beat ourselves. this time, i just thought the nuggets played great
10:11:07 AM Alex Rochestie: i'm sorry but phil was an absolute joke last night. its as if he isn't even watching the game
10:11:36 AM Yutai: bynum never got back in the game after 5min in the 3rd
10:11:37 AM Alex Rochestie: farmar needs more minutes
10:11:39 AM Yutai: which was weird
10:11:45 AM Yutai: he was playing well, so was jordan
10:12:05 AM Alex Rochestie: yeah man. bynum is in for the first 8 mins of each half and thats it
10:12:21 AM Yutai: i am looking very forward to game 3
10:12:32 AM Yutai: i will put my money on kobe taking that game
10:12:33 AM Alex Rochestie: at the end of the game walton and shannon brown were in the game way too late
10:12:57 AM Yutai: and fish has to stop driving in the lane
10:13:00 AM Yutai: into traffic
10:13:05 AM Yutai: please. he's not tony parker
10:13:42 AM Yutai: that's about as low percentage of a shot as anything from sasha's hands
10:14:05 AM Yutai: carmelo played amazing ball denial defense on kobe last night
10:14:09 AM Alex Rochestie: how though. he isn't getting shit done on D and the "offense" now is strolling the ball up the court, a bad pass to a player posting up and then a one on one matchup at the end of the shot-clock. MOVE THE BALL
10:15:06 AM Yutai: the lakers don't respond well to energetic, physical defense that denies the passing lanes
10:15:32 AM Yutai: rockets, celtics, and now nuggets
10:16:30 AM Alex Rochestie: check out the post game interviews on lakers.com. nobody gives a fuck or seems to care about loosing or have any answer as to what they are going to do next time
10:17:48 AM Yutai: that's always the laker's M.O. though
10:18:09 AM Alex Rochestie: i hear that but it is unacceptable with the players that we have for us not to have an offense strategy that gets players open shots.
10:18:20 AM Yutai: it comes from phil. i think he's just too zen now. you never see an ounce of emotion out of him
10:18:29 AM Alex Rochestie: i know man the same MO that lost us a title last year
10:18:42 AM Yutai: he looks as sleepy after a win as a loss
10:18:49 AM Alex Rochestie: just does not give a fuck
10:19:09 AM Yutai: i think this is the laker team we have. i have already come to accept that after the rockets series.
10:19:24 AM Alex Rochestie: i loved it when he just called a time out with seconds to go! what a joke
10:19:27 AM Yutai: they still have a shot at the title, but not a very good one
10:19:37 AM Alex Rochestie: drawing up a play! HA
10:19:53 AM Yutai: the last play was weird
10:20:05 AM Yutai: kobe was near the top of the circle when the ball went out
10:20:20 AM Yutai: shouldn't the play be a single or double screen for kobe to get free?
10:20:45 AM Yutai: kind of like the webber screen for bibby in the sacramento series?
10:20:53 AM Alex Rochestie: just pathetic man.
10:21:00 AM Yutai: but we were right there
10:21:27 AM Yutai: i still don't think last night was that bad. the nuggets played great. that's all. bring on game 3
10:23:37 AM Alex Rochestie: god game three. another 48 minutes of getting scored on, stupid turnovers/fouls, and home team that wants to win and probably will. can't wait!
10:33:20 AM Yutai: or who knows! the incredible dominating offense and stiffling strong side zone can decide to show up!
10:33:38 AM Yutai: you never know with the lakers! its like a magic 8 ball!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What To Make of the Bizarre Game 1's
Hallelujah! The Lakers are back! After two great days of basketball the Lakers and the Magic win two very close games and lead their respective opponents 1-0. Make no mistake about it, these decisions were huge and speak volumes about where things go from here.
For the Lakers loosing game one against Houston at Staples resulted in a confident Rockets team and a long hard faught series that many did not expect, especially with Yao, Tracy and Mutumbo sitting on the bench. The Lakers would advance of course but throughout the series revealed some blantant weaknesses. Volatile play from the big men who despite their size and talent allowed Louey Scola, Hayes, and whoever else offered to play big. To me the Lakers even when dominant didn't display a hunger and sense of urgency while the Cavs were demonstrating to the world why they were the team to beat this year.
Until Game 1 against the Magic the Cavs were on fire and seemed almost invincible even if they were playing the hawks and pistons. Although strong in my conviction that the Lakers will win the championship this year I started to fear playing Lebron & Co. in a 2-3-2 Finals format that demands the visitors win one out of the first two to have a chance. The Lakers indiffernce to getting embarrassed by Houston and poor production from it's bigs and bench I began to think could again sabatoge another season. "Thank god we don't have to play Dwight" I said to myself.
Ah but playoff basketball happened and the tables have turned. The unstoppable Cavs were beaten AT HOME despite controlling the game early on and Lebron running train on various "defenders" that looked like guards from an Austin Powers movie. Stan van the Man never gave up though and outcoached his opposite and took away the Cavs home court advantage and a piece of their swagger and confidence.
The Lakers began game one flat, uninspired and down early but this series would be different than the humiliation they allowed days earlier. Lingering frontcourt shortcomings didn't matter in this one and with NO answer for Kobe Bryant and a couple of big plays from the likes of Fish and Trevor the Lakers displayed a bit of a Laker pride. They didn't let Denver blow them out early, got control of the game, kept it close and let Kobe do his thing in the 4th. They retained home court and took a little wind out of the Nuggets sails who had a brilliant performance from Melo (at least offensively) go to waste.
So the Cavs are now looking at a long series or at least their longest on of this post-season and Laker fans although happy to be in the drivers seat against Denver are now faced with evidence that there are two very talented and capable teams to be scared of should we squeeze out another series in the west. Don't know who I want to face.
Cavs are still tough at home and have the 3-2-3 advantage which is huge even with the Laker win in Cleveland this year. They also are hungry as hell if able to hold the first two home games the Lakers would face a challenging road they didn't do so well with last year. Then there is the Magic who we had all written off until now. Stan Vans team has had success against the lakers, can obviously win a big game on the road and have a weapon the Lake Show wants no part of in Dwight Howard. So pick your poisen, either way it's going to be a great few weeks of basketball.
For the Lakers loosing game one against Houston at Staples resulted in a confident Rockets team and a long hard faught series that many did not expect, especially with Yao, Tracy and Mutumbo sitting on the bench. The Lakers would advance of course but throughout the series revealed some blantant weaknesses. Volatile play from the big men who despite their size and talent allowed Louey Scola, Hayes, and whoever else offered to play big. To me the Lakers even when dominant didn't display a hunger and sense of urgency while the Cavs were demonstrating to the world why they were the team to beat this year.
Until Game 1 against the Magic the Cavs were on fire and seemed almost invincible even if they were playing the hawks and pistons. Although strong in my conviction that the Lakers will win the championship this year I started to fear playing Lebron & Co. in a 2-3-2 Finals format that demands the visitors win one out of the first two to have a chance. The Lakers indiffernce to getting embarrassed by Houston and poor production from it's bigs and bench I began to think could again sabatoge another season. "Thank god we don't have to play Dwight" I said to myself.
Ah but playoff basketball happened and the tables have turned. The unstoppable Cavs were beaten AT HOME despite controlling the game early on and Lebron running train on various "defenders" that looked like guards from an Austin Powers movie. Stan van the Man never gave up though and outcoached his opposite and took away the Cavs home court advantage and a piece of their swagger and confidence.
The Lakers began game one flat, uninspired and down early but this series would be different than the humiliation they allowed days earlier. Lingering frontcourt shortcomings didn't matter in this one and with NO answer for Kobe Bryant and a couple of big plays from the likes of Fish and Trevor the Lakers displayed a bit of a Laker pride. They didn't let Denver blow them out early, got control of the game, kept it close and let Kobe do his thing in the 4th. They retained home court and took a little wind out of the Nuggets sails who had a brilliant performance from Melo (at least offensively) go to waste.
So the Cavs are now looking at a long series or at least their longest on of this post-season and Laker fans although happy to be in the drivers seat against Denver are now faced with evidence that there are two very talented and capable teams to be scared of should we squeeze out another series in the west. Don't know who I want to face.
Cavs are still tough at home and have the 3-2-3 advantage which is huge even with the Laker win in Cleveland this year. They also are hungry as hell if able to hold the first two home games the Lakers would face a challenging road they didn't do so well with last year. Then there is the Magic who we had all written off until now. Stan Vans team has had success against the lakers, can obviously win a big game on the road and have a weapon the Lake Show wants no part of in Dwight Howard. So pick your poisen, either way it's going to be a great few weeks of basketball.
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