Thanks Mark, greatly appreciated! I think this is the beginning of a Dynasty for the Lakers… this team is built to win championships every year for the next five years at least.

But, obviously as a new dynasty begins, the death of a current dynasty must occur. The Spurs have been really dominant for years, but they have become too old to compete for the upcoming years. The GM RC Buford is brilliant and will work with Pop to create a strong team in the offseasons.

Of course, these Lakers have learned how to play well together. JA Adande wrote a great article about team camradery today and discussed the European aspect of the team. The different backgrounds of the players really brings them all close together. When the guys have a close bond, they mesh better together on the court and play better defense as a result. The Spurs play great defense but don’t move as fast as the Lakers. The other aspect of the Lakers defense is that it will only improve in the years to come as the guys continue to mesh and especially with the return of the other seven footer, Andrew Bynum.

You make a good point regarding the defense of Vujacic and Ariza. The problem is that you can’t really play both guys at once. I think the defensive strategy is quite simple; we start Derek Fisher on Parker, than see what Farmar can do on the defensive end against him, and then if need be, we can throw Vujacic and Ariza at him. One step at a time though. We’ve one two games without Ariza (only garbage minutes in game 2) and we should continue going with what’s worked. What Parker has done in the previous series has nothing to do with this one. These Lakers are far better than the other teams the Spurs have faced.

The keys to the game are the same as they have been for games 1 & 2. Lamar Odom is the key to the Lakers offense. The Spurs have nobody that can match up with Odom and he should be able to operate at will. Also, as long as Pau Gasol plays solid defense and isn’t lazy, as in continues to rotate and box out for rebounds, these Lakers should be perfectly fine. I don’t think the road really makes all that big of a difference for this Lakers team. They won game 6 in Utah, they can win anywhere.

No, I definitely agree with that. I think the perspective of better has been judged from different points of view. The Spurs are a better meshed team in terms of filled at every position. They can defend anyone (except Lamar Odom). Utah has a few holes in it’s defense but the dynamic duo of Williams and Boozer together with the other guys is deadly. They are young, quick, and able to adjust quickly. They are all about runs and will be a threat for years to come.

To be honest, the Lakers home court advantage is not one of the best. The Staples Center isn’t nearly as loud as it has been in the past, such as the three peat years, but the team seems to play better, which is to be expected. The AT&T Arena just gives the Spurs a chance to have the crowd on their side in general.

The game is underway, let’s get some more thoughts on what’s to come today…

Ginobli isn’t exactly a bench player, bench players usually play les minutes that starters!

Sounds good

I’m fine with not scoring as long as the Spurs don’t score either! After all, we’ve got Kobe on our side!

Nice aggresive drive from Vlade, thats what we need from him!

Welcome back FLUX, I was wondering where you were, where’s the rest of the gang today?? Running a bit late I’m assuming.

Man! That was a bummer pass! But sweet – Spurs couldn’t capitalize

Hey Daniel.. I dunno.. everyone has been MIA.

Ginobli should retire

At least for this series…he hasn’t done much

Thanks for having me.. going to msg them!

Did you hear the Spurs get jinxed just now? They said they are 6-0 at home in the playoffs…kiss of death!

if anyone should retire it’s Horry, no?

This game is extremely slow and in general a slow pace has been in favor of the Spurs, but the lakers have really learned to mix it up well.

Ooh – sweet basket by Gasol!

Thanks.

Yeah – poor Horry – I can’t hate him since he has a history with LA – look at Gasol! Sweet!

Odom is exploiting Horry’s defense, the problem is he’s not shooting.

11-8 Lakers.

No doubt

I love seeing Gasol take that outside shot, you think Kwame could’ve made a jumper to save his life?

You think?

Haven’t seen that from Gasol for a long time.

I think Kwame would just take a bullet and not even waste the time shooting!

Gasol looks great so far!

Kwame just has small/bad hands I think. Not his fault he got drafted so high. He does play decent D.

I would like to see more of the Lakers ’80s on this one. You know what I mean, in a game where they would be up by 20 or 30 and they’ll try to beat you by 40. I’d like to see that kind of aggressiveness in the Lakers. They play the whole 48 minutes of the game.

I really like the way the Lakers are focused. I wonder if everyone else notices it or not, but there is just this look on the player’s faces that says, we are here to win, and we aren’t going home without a victory.

Even the Spurs’ athletic trainer is old.

Yeah D, they def look and are playing that way. This is a sweep for sure, I think.

LOL… I’d still trade Gary Vitti for him!

Nice!

KO-BE!

I’d do anything to get rid of Vitti…. I think he’s outdated and unaware of new medical advancements.

They are playing great defense so far, this is great to keep the crowd quiet and not let them push the team. We have to make sure to avoid easy baskets and open shots for them.

Just me or was his foot on the line?

Back-to-back.

Dang – I shouldn’t have said mean things bout Ginobli

His foot was on the line!!! I was right, Lakers should be up by 2

Nice – NBA refs at their finest

Great passing…

That late dive by either Odom or Radmanovic has become a great play for this team.

What a crossover on Bowen, I didn’t notice that as it played out live.

LAL 15 – SA 14 and they just reminded us who the MVP was!

Gotta get another call on the line! be back in 5!

This is awesome Daniel, thanks for hosting it! It’s my first time!

Pleasure to have you aborad either way Don!

NINJA!!! Nice. Welcome back Sir

It’s only the first half of the first quarter, let’s wait and see a bit more from Ginobli before we say he’s playing great.

No doubt!

How’s that!!

Nice! LAL 16- SA 14 Odom makes the free throw

MUCH better! Aaaand my ‘gut’ (which has been pretty reliable throughout the playoffs) says LA take this one… in a nailbiter

I believe Don is a Ninja living in Japan posing as a teacher. Unless he teaches at a dojo.

I like your gut

*wave out to the folks*

Hey Apryl – thanks for the visits/commments

Is that to say you are holding a Laker broom, Don?

You too Don!

Thanks for the early link today Don, hopefully it brings some good input from your readers.

i called Lakers in 5 before this series. Mainly because I think either Game 3 or 4 is easier to win Game 6

Very nice, Gasol’s version of pulling the chair!

I like your prediction Jack – I don’t like that crazy bird’s eye view they just had

WOW, Gasol is currently unstoppable with that hook.

Gasol is on FIRE

nope – no broom – Lakers to win ONE of games 3/4

back soon – math class

aaand it still went in!

Denied!

I would keep feeding Gasol.

Jordan is finally playing with confidence, that is going to be important for us!

Farmar form Downtown

Gasol is fouled

On cue!

The Lakers are doing well to attack and draw fouls on these guys. Bowen is already on the bench and now Udoku got a foul, Kobe didn’t even have to do anything to get those!

Yeah – good suff!

LAL 22 – SA 19 Gasol made one of his FT

Wide open and couldn’t do it

Cute clap Pau

Actually… music first, so will be here a bit…

That was a great pass… a bit too low for a 7 footer though

Come back soon Don, schoolwork is overrated!

Farmar is the MAN

sheesh Daniel – tell that to my class!

Parker is DENIED!

Jordan with 5, great job so far subbing in for Fisher

Gladly, put them on! LOL

He is doing an excellent job!

Bench is key – need quality minutes to beat the Spurs

I really am lovin’ the bench!

Oh! Zen master when we come back.. hope he has a gem for us. That guy is funny.

Hey I saw Zenmaster at lunch the other day in El Segundo

Quick update from around the league: Joakim Noah has been charged with possession of Marijuana in Gainesville, Florida!! I knew there was something keeping that crazy hair up!!

OUCH!

I am jealous Apryl, Phil Jackson is probably one of the top 5 people i would love to meet and talk to because he seems so knowledgeable about life.

I had to be reserved since I was with a bunch of people but I managed a wave

Hey Bobby, Lakers lead after the 1st quarter and are playing great defense. The crowd has really been ineffecitve for the Spurs so far.

No surprise here! And yeah Apryl that’s pretty cool! Agree with Daniel

I see them quite a bit since I live near practice facility

Cwoboys?

HAHHA! Phil comes thru!!!

He’s the MAN

Phil’s inteview are like no other. Reporters must get so frustrated with him cuz he never answers the question without a smart ass remark!

Totally!

The turnovers arne’t a big deal if they are on good plays, none of them have been in stupid situations.

Odom has taken two deep jump shots already, I consider those more of turnovers than the bad passes.

yeah Daniel the opposite of Pop

Great

spurs shooting 38%… Lakers about 50…Same storyline from last game

Kobe is out of the game, if the bench can keep the game close while Pau and Kobe rest we’ll be okay!

Turiaf is the man and a heck of a dancer

Ronny’s shooting has really become impressive. That was a great jump into the shot.

nice from turiaf

I’m Back.

Gosh that was ugly – Ginobl scores

Man o man, that last video was amazing of Ronny dancing and singing!

Holy cow…

They finally get ahead SA 27 LAL 26

They need some Bryant right now.

I’m a little unsure about this lack of calls in the game. It’s somewhat physical and the Laker aren’t good when it becomes violent.

Luke needs to find form though

BULL

That … was a flop.

What a horrible flop….

FLOPPER!!!

Like a soccer fall!

Shooting percentage about even now… but Lakers got the rebounding advantage.

Calling Trevor Ariza.

I wanna see Fish throw down some 3s

We’ll try to stay within single digits.

The Lakers are the best 2nd half team in the NBA right now. So, if we stay within single digits (much better if we get the lead), we’ll get the best of them.

Calling derek fisher! Lakers have only 3 AST so far.. not good

MAMBA TIME!

Had a free shot and still missed

Instant 2.

The Spurs are playing with some intensity right now, Kobe will break them down though!

too easy

Kobe is automatic

Let the Spurs take the 3. I’d rather live with that. Trust me.

It seems like the defense really get’s going when Kobe gets in.

Manu time?

Nice to see Manu getting hot.

We need to stop Manu but agree with Mark… they will fade later

The shoot a 3, we ley it up, still tie it up. Manu has already hit 4 from beyond the arch.

nah Kobe shuts them up

IN! YOUR! EYE!

says Kobe

The Spurs will fall in love with that perimeter game. Duncan will get cold.

WTF

asking for hard foul on Manu on next drive!

Manu looks maaaaaad

Manu is determined to get over his shooting slump. Give him credit. As long as the Lakers contain the other guys, they can’t be beaten by Manu alone, we already know that.

Over Duncan. 34-36 Spurs.

No doubt – Manu is too much of a pro to let this totally slip by him

The commentators are really onto the Spurs tonight (or is it just Collins?)

They are on the home team every time

Its a home game, they have to be

OH!

Nice Kiss.

Sweet from Walton! 13 points off the Lakers bench

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke

38-36 Spurs Timeout.

You know Pop didn’t like that! Lakers have a big rebounding adv. but still only 3 ast.

Sorry guys, I just went over to Fanhouse to check out the live blog over there… is it just me or do they talk about nothing of substance there? LOL

Never been there

It’s only 3 assists because Kobe has had to take over at some points really early. He’s created a lot for himself.

Fanhouse is good.

TNT website, lemme find the link

TNT has interesting coverage of the game online, let me grab the link for you, hold on

dave. try JustinTV.

That would be it

yeah but i liike kobe the pg and then the takeover

Good news. TD is 1-of-5.

well Kobe just has to take over when the time is right, in this game the time came a bit earlier than we all expected. The team was struggling a bit and he had to make up for it.

I saw that one coming.

Wow – Parker and Ginobli have 29 of the points so far

How do you miss that!

Bowen is guarding well today

No problem Mike… keep in touch with us on some thoughts.

I don’t think Kobe cares what Bowen does, he will take care of business either way.

STrangely enough we haven’t really seen Vujacic take too many shots.

What’s up with that?

That was a nice put- back from timmy

That should’ve been a travel by the old NBA rules on Duncan. They have changed everything for Lebron and it’s just stupid.

42-36

LAL 36 SA 42

Spurs lead with Odom at the line for 2

Odom makes the FT

Can we get a shooting coach for Odom, he really struggles badly at the line.

Darn – that was just wishful thinking

I hate his footwork at the line

yeah, he shoots offbalance it seems, it’s kind of weird.

That was SICK by Dincan

Duncan

sweetness from Timmy

K spurs playing with energy

The Spurs have really taken over here so far in the 2nd quarter, the Lakers trail by 8 and no one on the Lakers esides Kobe is trying to do anything about it.

ARGH]

They can’t buy a basket right now.

Someone make a shot

3.5 minutes and no score for LA

tWhy does odeom keep bringing it up?

No one besides the Spurs big 3 has scored.

Phil Jackson calls time LAL down by 10

Lamar needs to stop shooting I know that… and fish needs to run the show

Besides those three, no one has more than 2 points for the Spurs.

The funny thing is that the Lakers don’t really have any scoring period. Kobe has 12, two guys have 7, and it’s kinda empty from there. Derek Fisher is the only guy that hasn’t scored but I’m sure he’ll do what needs to be done in the 2nd half.

they are running on empty.. that was that last chug before the pump

The answer is no, these old folks don’t have enough in the tank to match the Lakers. Let’s not forget that the Lakers with energy are a different team as well. They aren’t playing very well so far.

They aren’t playing remarkably at all – you’re right

I don’t know if it will FILL the tank

The tank of youth cannot be refilled with a win!

As an old person, I know this to be true

peps… the are on a highway and the next station is after the season

nicely put FLUX

I think we will see a different Laker team after halftime.

no foul on Duncan?? What did Pop tell the refs after that first foul?

No doubt

I think I’m going to be ill

Daniel… something about knowing where they live

wow,

Is it time to test Ariza on Manu to start the 3rd?

remember we have the MVP and M amba V enum P revalis … always

Kobe needs to stop passing

They need to wake up in the 2nd

Yes he has

ARSENALIST!!!!! Got my msg or what?

LAL 39 SA 49 at the half

Only down by 10 considering the Lakers took 3 less shots, made 2 less shots, are shooting 3% worse, and only 3 assists with 0 blocks and 1 steal…. I’d say Phil Jackson will make some key adjustments during halftime that will change this game around. He’s done well finding the problem at halftime so far in the series. Let’s see if Kobe and the gang can quiet the crowd early in the second half.

I don’t know about the shoes, but I’m sure he will do something to start creating for this team. I’m going to guess that Vujacic will change his shoes and start shooting more!!

Good point Rich, the Lakers have proven they are capable of making extraordinary runs to take over games. Let’s hope that run will come sometime soon….

odom should drive to the baskett

When was the last time Odom made 2/2 at the line?? he’s always been shooting 1/2. He’s one of the least clutch shooters.

Hack a Lamar??? Pop’s new strategy. The only problem with doing that is Lamar can make a quick move and create an And 1

10 point lead to SA… is it enough?

i dunno why… but I feel the Lakers are going to lay down the smackdown…San Antonio will slow this down..and if they don’t… they are only killing themselves for the next game.. where they will get killed

No Don… they came back from 20!

Good points FLUX!

Daniel always point out how their recovery time is like 20 days or something …lol.. and he’s right.

Odom already wears the Kobe shoes

Weird… he wore them last game.

Phil will defintely put together some good ideas.

I’m back. Another long call with my girl.

He always does geg… Lakers need to execute however. 3 assists in the 1st half will not cut it

The guys are probably meditating right now as we speak!

oooommmmm

As I’ve said, the Lakers are the best 2nd half team in the NBA. There’s no question about that.

I am one with the great MAMBA… I am one with the great MAMBA

Thats what the lakers should be saying anyway : )

of course geg! are you another noTV guy?

Watching Charles Barkley’s mug right now

predicting 30+ half by kobe

The starting five not named Kobe Bryant combined for 4-for-20 in the field, 4-fo-10 in the FT line, and 5 turnovers.

and LAMAR was the only one with all 3 ast. what is that?

Perhaps we should play the bench.

where is THE MACHINE?

The good thing is the Spurs are known for their scoring drought.

Lamar: “I am one with the FTs!”

The Lakers have averaged 6.5 blocks and 7.5 steals in this series. Tonight, 1 steal and 0 blocks.

Great point Mark… esp. in the 3rd.

It’s because we were afraid of the 3-pt shooting of the Spurs. They are only 5-of-9. Let’s get the zone going.

FISH!

FISH does not play around when they are down

Gasol is soo off-night tonight.

Well we don’t want Finley to get going now… let’s continue laying some tight defense.

Sweet – Odom steals from Duncan

Gasol scores!

That’s Kobe stealing.

Mark? huh? he was great in the 1st

Lol! NBA consists of 4 quarters. haha

Lamar just can’t get the ball to drop through the basket.

56 – 43

Great, Kobe knows it’s time to start drawing fouls on them. Bowen picks up another.

Bowen is acting like he doesn’t foul Kobe everytime he hears the whistle.

No foul calls at all.

YES FISH YES>>> energy baby

Hard to trust these refs after the whole Donaghy thing – I wanna believe that they are mostly honorable

The Lakers are contesting every shot right now. The problem is they are not making theirs.

Great steal

Space Cadet!!!!!!!!!!!

Seet!

Assist #4

OOOOHHHH! MAMA!

oops

Mark.. gasol is ganna bite ya

Gasol with a tough rebound… 1st I’ve seen from him

Now they’re making theirs.

That was sick! Odom to Gasol!

2 assists early in the 2nd half for easy baskets for Gasol

on cue… gasol hears mark…

He probably listens to God.

They have like 3 different teams – I just want the good one to stay playing

lol

the triangle has woken up and placing the Spurs in the Bermuda one

haha, nicely put once again FLUX