Stephanie Stafford's Los Angeles Lakers fan blog

Game four started off great for the Lakers who came out firing, showing that this was going to be nothing like game three.  The Lakers combined crisp passing with hitting the open jumpers to crashing the offensive glass to playing some tough Defense to amass a 14-point lead.  This was shaping up to be a blow out but this is the playoffs and the Spurs were at home and they weren’t having it.  As was expected, the Spurs made a run to tie it up just before the half but the Lakers went on a six point run, leaving the Spurs down by six at the break.

 

In the second half the Lakers extended the lead to nine but the Spurs would come back.  No matter how close the Spurs got to the Lakers, they were unable to take the lead.  And the Spurs had plenty of tries.  It reminded me of a dog chasing his tail, suspenseful but it kept them running in circles.

Continue reading "Well, well, well, another controversial finish"

I guess everyone is finally seeing Shaq for what he is…a Manipulator. He is playing for his fourth team and out of those four teams, he has left three on bad terms. If he would have left just one team on bad terms we could probably say, HEY THAT SUCKS FOR HIM. HE DESERVES TO GET OUT. ANFERNEE “PENNY” HARDAWAY IS A BAD MAN. POOR SHAQ. We would listen to his sob stories of how Penny was such a bad teammate. After he left, he talked smack about everyone he could in the Lakers organization. But three teams are in disarray after his departure. Is this a coincidence? I’m beginning to think not.

Soon after arriving in the City of Angels, there was friction. Who was at fault? Some say Kobe, some say Shaq. Shaq likes to come off as a big ol’ kid all the while acting like one literally. Pouting and sniveling behind the scenes. We all know what Kobe is like. He has pretty much been the same since his arrival in LA. He’s the man and ain’t no one else better. Whether you are 7’ tall or 5’8, Kobe will not back down from anyone. Both characters are known for saying what is on their minds…Shaq is more colorful and Kobe is more matter of fact, no beating around the bush, looking for laughs.

Continue reading "Shaq...I apologize Kobe"

The Lakers are a finesse team.  The Lakers don’t like to mix it up.  This is what was being said before the series and after game 1.  Yes, the Lakers were out rebounded significantly in game one but now the Lakers had to prove they could hang with the so called big boys on the boards in game 2.  The prognosticators, nay sayers and even some of the Lakers were calling Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol soft.  Really?  So what happens?  Lamar (19 points, 16 rebounds) and Pau (20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks) had monster games.  So much for them being soft.

 

Sure the Lakers were out rebounded, had 15 turnovers compared to 10 for the Jazz, and shot 27 more free throws but the Lakers shot 57% from the field, while the Jazz shot 44%.  You do the math.  The Lakers offense was doing what it wanted to do offensively.  The Jazz defense was being carved up by the Lakers precision passing.  Again, the Jazz physical style of play got them into foul trouble.  Let’s not forget that they tend to foul more than any other team in the league.  I am still trying to figure out why time and time again, Carlos Boozer will push in the back right front of the ref.  He said that he has played this way all season but why is it that he can’t adjust.  He must know that basketball is a game of adjustments, so instead of pushing someone out of the way to get a rebound, maybe he should actually get himself in actual position to get the rebound.  It’s just a thought. 

Continue reading "The Lakers Rebound in Game 2"

Finally, these so called experts are recognizing the Lakers defense.  The defense that exposed and discombobulated the Nuggets offense.  The defense that was a huge contributing factor in allowing the Lakers to “sweep”.  During the Lakers/Nuggets series we had to listen to how the Nuggets imploded, how it was all on them, but hello did anyone take a look at the shooting percentages of AI and Carmelo.  The Lakers went into that series on an obvious mission and that was not to let AI and Carmelo have great offensive games.  Mission Accomplished.

 

Coming into this series some people actually have the Utah Jazz favored.  Yes, the same team that went 17-24 on the road.  Some prognosticators don’t think the Lakers can bang with the Jazz.  Apparently they have a physical style of play and the Lakers won’t be able to bang for seven games.  Who even said the series was going to go seven games? 

Continue reading "Finally..."

I’m not normally one to jump ahead of myself and call a series over after only three games, but stick a fork in Denver, this team is done.

There was no sense of urgency from Denver.  It seemed to be just an ordinary game from Denver’s aspect that is.  The Lakers played some great defense on Carmelo and AI.  Throughout the game Denver’s players continued to miss easy shots around the basket.  For a quarter and a half, Denver kept the game close.

But the start of the third quarter was different.  Denver came out and hit a few shots but the Lakers broke the game open in the third quarter.  Kobe came out aggressive, hitting multiple shots from the outside.  Derek Fisher joined in with a couple of threes, scoring 11 points to basically put an end to the Nuggets season.

Continue reading "It’s official…This series is over."

Hey, did you hear that? What you ask. That. The sound of the Denver Nuggets imploding. The sound of time passing by because it is only a matter of time before they are out of the playoffs. Heck, there is the chance that they will be swept out of the playoffs. That’s right, I said it.

Sure the Nuggets have all of the talent in the world but they are a team filled with “head cases”. Example, Carmelo Anthony has all of the talent in the world but something is missing. What is missing? I think it is a level of maturity. He doesn’t handle himself well in high pressure situations and he tends to pout. This funky kind of attitude seems to be infectious because now AI is losing his cool. AI has been the one constant for the Nuggets in this serious thus far. Anthony Carter…I can’t believe he is still in the league. He complained that Kobe elbowed him in the face but wouldn’t acknowledge that he is to blame. The first step is accepting responsibility. What about JR Smith? He has tons of talent but too much attitude and well, I just think he is plain stupid. Let’s breatk it down. Why in the world would you want to jaw with someone who could totally go off offensively and deliver facials on each and every play? JR Smith doesn’t/didn’t seem to care. Look at what happened to Kenyon Martin. He jawed and jawed and what happened. Kobe still scored 32 points. And last night Kobe scored 49 points all the while dishing out ten dimes. When will the Nuggets learn?

Continue reading "Lakers/Nuggets Game 2"