Wine Spectator Online Wine Spectator Forums Travel and Entertainment Lakers in sole possession of 1st place, Western Conference
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Excellent game on Sunday. This is shaping up to be a terrific series. Gasol bounced back. Odom was fantastic. Kobe's back injury was an issue and Williams was terrific. Boozer reverted back to his bad playoff run.
Neil |
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Because I seem to often go against what is almost predictable, I’ve learned to like the taste of crow. Notwithstanding, the Lakers convinced me that they are a championship team. In both games at the Delta Center (or the Energy Solutions Arena) where Utah has a remarkable home record, the LA boys put up a battle. The Jazz cannot claim the likewise at the Staples Center. Boozer will fold again. And of course, the Lakers offense will bust loose. Surely for the next game, eating crow is not in the offing. |
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As a laker fan I feel pretty good about both games in Utah. Utah is tough at home, but we had a chance to win both games despite not playing very well. I’m saying Lakers in 6.
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Sancho- I received a Suite ticket late yesterday morning, so I was able to attend the game. Odom was the best player for the Lakers yesterday and Fisher is $$$ from behind the arc. It was strange watching Kobe yesterday; back problems aside, he didn't seem mentally focused. He certainly should have found Odom more in OT. The Jazz bench was fantastic and they were more aggressive than the previous three games. Williams, Okur, and Kirilenko came through down the stretch and in OT. Boozer was another story.  Wednesday should be a lot fun to watch. "It's easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stockmarket beat, but the man worth-while, is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat." -Judge Smails |
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I wonder if and when the Lakers will start defending Williams like he was Nash or Chris Paul. When the Lakers play the Suns, they try to force Nash to be a scorer and limit his assists. That is similar to what the Spurs did to Chris Paul in Games 3 & 4.
Sure, Williams will score a ton but Boozer, Okur, et. al. will be stuck creating on their own. Neil |
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Now it's all even with the Jazz. I hope Kobe didn't throw out his back!
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Yes, me too. Reports are that it's muscular. He's been using the electronic stim machine since he got out of the shower after Game 4.
Neil |
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Kobe could be hurt to the point that the Lakers lose the series. I've seen it before. 1989 Finals. Magic and B Scott get hurt and are beaten by the Pistons 4 straight after going 11-0 in the playoffs before the finals.
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Lg, Kobe hurt himself very early in that game. (I believe...in the first few minutes of the first quarter.) Yet, he lasted the whole of regulation time and through OT. The trainers will have him ready to go on Wednesday and he will put up 40. He is Kobe. MVP. One caveat though, if he gives up the ball (uses his teammates) as he has the whole season, they will beat Utah by 10. If he pulls the old Kobe (trying to do everything himself), they're toast. |
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I'm sure he will play Wednesday. So did Magic and Byron Scott back in 89. Kobe will have to be the decoy and set the table if he can't jump or drive to the basket. If he can't, watch out!
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It's funny – I used to hate Kobe with a passion. I thought he was a total tool. I thought he was a selfish teammate and an arrogant bastard off of the court. Now, I actually find myself rooting for the guy. I think that the acquisition of Gasol was an impetus in changing the persona of Kobe to an even greater degree. I wouldn't go so far as to call Kobe a role model but I believe that he is setting a good example through positive leadership. I never would have thought this several years ago.
__________________________ Alta is for skiers! |
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I like the guy too and I’m a huge Laker fan, but when it comes to opt out time, he is opting out for sure. He was on local radio the other day and he said when the time comes he is going to make the best business decision for him and his family, i.e. who is going to give me the most money.
With that said, Buss will pay whatever it takes to keep him. |
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I still feel that way. It seems that things might be changing, but can a leopard change his spots? I respect his abilities, but... Then again, that can be said about far, far, far too many athletes..... Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity.... |
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GlennK-
If Kobe opts out, it will purely be financial and not about switching teams. Remember that Shaq wanted the max extention as soon as he was eligible each time. Also, the last few years of Jordan's career with the Bulls, he was on one-year $30 million (and rising) contracts. Neil |
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I totally agree. I do believe he wants to be a Laker, but he is not about to take a home town discount. |
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No team can pay Kobe what the Lakers can and the Lakers will be able to extend his contract longer than any other team. Kobe fills seats and has the number one selling jersey in the NBA. On that note, my prediction is that Lebron comes to LA sooner than later. He wants to be an actor.
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Why can't any other team pay just as much? The NBA has a cap, seems to me there are plenty of other teams, the Knicks can afford him EASY. |
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The cap rules allow the team that currently has the player to pay much more than another team. This encourages players to stay with the team they are on. The bigger payout does go against the cap number.
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On the cap, other teams can only sign Kobe at contracts starting at the veteran max (~$14.5 million) while the Lakers can start at his current level (~$20 million). Teams resigning their free agents can also have slightly higher yearly % increases and add an additional year. Those last two things made Kobe's current contract worth a lot more than the Clippers (for example) alternative.
Whether Kobe opts out to resign and what type of deal he does resign will be based on his assessment of the next round of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. He and his agent are extremely savvy on this. Kobe was the only player to vote against the current CBA because he didn't like the individual player salary cap. Finally, there is a small chance (maybe 10%) that Kobe agrees to a flat rate (i.e. no increases) extention similar to what Shaq and KG did. KG actually took a discount with Boston. [I only see this scenario if he want to make sure guys like Bynum, Ariza, Farmar, Vujacic, et. al. are retained. That would rest on their winning the title next year.] As for LeBron in LA, more improbable things have happened. I just can't think of one now. Neil |
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NeilK, The above is what will prompt Kobe and his agent to work it out with Jerry and Mitch. Kobe likes to win. Why reinvent the wheel: the cap and the winning chemistry are already in his favor. |
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I’m sure he would like to come to LA, but with Kobe it doesn’t make much sense. I think Lebron becoming a Knick is much more likely. |
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Well said! |
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LAKERS WIN
______________________________________ I'm throwin' rocks tonight. Mark it, Dude. |
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