Lakers Report 4 Tuesday: Lakers Play Spurs in Western Conference Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers come into the Western Conference Playoffs ranked the #1 seed, and have won two consecutive series. The Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 4-0 in a classic sweep in the first round best of seven series. The Lakers advance to the second round to play against the Utah Jazz whom beat the Houston Rockets in that first round series. For the Lakers, the Jazz were a worthy opponent, a much stronger and physical team than people think and the Lakers fight off the Jazz in 6 games winning game 6 at Utah to win 4-2.
The Lakers were not challenged in the first round of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers humiliated, beat, and destroyed the Nuggets where all faces were down after the game 3 second half performance of the 2008 Showtime Lakers. The Lakers defend their home court in both series and that has been a very important part of the teams success in the playoffs where the team is able to get off to the good start. "It's all Lakers Basketball", and even the games the team didn't win versus the Jazz, the Lakers team players gave good team effort. After the Lakers loss in game 4 against the Jazz, like all Lakers fans, the Coach of the Lakers a bit upset, and did mention to the press that the team will win the next two games, and that is what occurred.
Kobe, Lamar, Pau and Co. have excelled during the playoffs making the other players better around them. The team concept, team passing has been superb at times. Derek Fischer has been a huge addition to the Lakers. The Lakers bench have also been providing the minutes needed, points production, rebound production, and doing a tremendous job assisting the team win. The Coaching Staff has also been awesome, and the Upper Management bringing in Gasol has been vital for the teams wins especially in the playoffs. Having a strong Center opens up the rest of the game for the other players. I think Gasol is better than O'Neil in that Gasol runs up and down the floor better, passes well to his teammates, is able to rebound offensively, make outside shots, and make free throws.
Kobe Bryant has been magnificent all season, the leagues Most Valuable Player, and has been playing incredible basketball in the playoffs. Kobe Bryant in the Nuggets series scores 36, 49, 22, and 31 points to lead the Lakers to the first round sweep. Some of Kobe Bryant's Hoops and baskets were facial in that fourth game.
Which Basket did you like the most? Which Hoop did the Nuggets players like more in your face? Was it the tap to himself for the dunk? Was it the drive through the lane kissing it off the glass from the left hand? Was the fall away three pointer made at the end of the 24 second shot clock all net? I liked the baseline hoop? Kobe put on a show, and in game four, the MVP matched his own hoops facials on Nuggets defenders. Kobe was strong on the dunks at Denver on the breakaway baskets created off turnovers and good passes by teammates.
ref http://www.nba.com/games/20080420/DENLAL/boxscore.ht ml Lakers/Nuggets game 1 box score
http://www.nba.com/games/20080423/DENLAL/boxsco re.html game 2
http://www.nba.com/games/20080426/LALDEN/boxscore.h tml game 3
http://www.nba.com/games/20080428/LALDEN/boxscore.h tml game 4
http://www.nba.com/games/20080504/UTALAL/boxscore.h tml Lakers/Jazz game 1
http://www.nba.com/games/20080507/UTALAL/boxscore.h tml game 2
http://www.nba.com/games/20080509/LALUTA/boxscore.h tml game 3
http://www.nba.com/games/20080511/LALUTA/boxscore.h tml game 4
http://www.nba.com/games/20080514/UTALAL/boxscore.h tml game 5
http://www.nba.com/games/20080516/LALUTA/boxscore.h tml game 6 box scores ref nba.com
The Utah Jazz played a lot more physical on Kobe and the Lakers than the Nuggets after the team was down 2-0 going back to Utah. Game 3 could have gone either way as the Lakers made a game of it, but Utah wins the game to keep the series competitive. Utahs defenders at times looked like they were tripping up the Lakers superstar, and the constant cheap fouls by some of the Jazz defenders hurt Kobe's back in the second series. The Lakers in game 4 get beat, and Lakers fans were a bit upset.
Lakers win game 5 and game 6 to advance to play the winner of the Spurs/Hornets series and the Spurs win game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals to play the Lakers.
Gm. 1: LAL 128, DEN 114
Gm. 2: LAL 122, DEN 107
Gm. 3: LAL 102, DEN 84
Gm. 4: LAL 107, DEN 101
Gm. 1: LAL 109, UTA 98
Gm. 2: LAL 120, UTA 110
Gm. 3: UTA 104, LAL 99
Gm. 4: UTA 123, LAL 115
Gm. 5: LAL 111, UTA 104
Gm. 6: LAL 108, UTA 105
Since 1999, the Lakers and Spurs now will have met 6 times in the playoffs where the Lakers have 3-2. All of the prior series are irrelevant in this series although the Lakers and Spurs players are very familiar with each other. The last time the teams played the Lakers won at Staples Center during the regular season. It's On. Spurs the 3 seed versus Lakers the 1 seed for the Western Conference Championship game 1 Wednesday at Los Angeles. The Lakers go into the series winning 8 of 10. You had to have known it was going to come down to these two teams? Lakers fans have a problem with the Spurs and there is no love lost between these two teams players, organizations, and most of all the fans. The Lakers have their work cut out for them, and the pressure is on the Lakers as the Spurs go in the defending NBA Champions and the Lakers have to defeat last years Champions in order to get that bid in the NBA Finals to play either the Pistons or Celtics.
Spurs/Lakers Wednesday May 21 6pm, Friday 23 6pm, Sunday May 25 at SAS 5:30pm, Tuesday May 27 at SAS 6pm, Thursday May 29 6pm, Saturday May 31 at SAS 5:30 if necessary, Monday June 2 6pm if Necessary. The Two Best Teams in the Western Conference are playing each other this season for that spot in the finals, and it comes down to the Spurs and Lakers.
"It's gotta hurt" teams that didn't reach the Western Finals, teams that had good season, but were beat. "It's gotta hurt the Golden St.Warriors not making the playoffs after being in the playoff spot pretty much all season. "It's gotta hurt" the Denver Nuggets the fashion the Lakers beat them like that. "It's gotta hurt the Houston Rockets going on that 22 game winning streak, and beating the Lakers for that 22nd, and not to advance to the second round getting beat by the Jazz. "It's gotta hurt" the Utah Jazz getting that 2nd win against the Lakers making it 2-2, then to get beat the next two games where the Lakers advance not the Jazz. "It's gotta hurt D Williams, Okur, Boozer, Coach Sloan getting beat by the Lakers at home game 6 after having such a good season having the Lakers win that series in front of the Jazz home fans. The Jazz matched up good against the Lakers, and some players like Kirelinko were fouling Lakers hard I though trying to trip Kobe on loose balls. "It's gotta hurt" Shaq and the Phoenix Suns unable to advance to the 2nd round getting beat by the Spurs in the first round after spending all that money on O'Neil coming in mid season. "It's gotta hurt" Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets having an opportunity at home to win game 7 instead having the Spurs win the series Monday Night to defend their title. "It's gotta hurt" teams not in the Western Conference Finals and it is going to hurt the team that doesn't win this series. Spurs/Lakers is more than a Basketball series between the players, organization and fans, it's personal. The Lakers fans await the Spurs this time around with a lot more fire power than in previous series. I have a problem with the San Antonio Spurs, and other than the Golden St. Warriors and Detriot Pistons, the Spurs are my most disliked team in the NBA, and I enjoy it every time the Spurs lose. Lakers need to defend their home court to be successful in this series, and most of all will have to win on the road. It's time for Lakers Basketball, Showtime.
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