Lakers

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Bottom line, Kobe was on fire last night, and now thinks he can hit those shots every night. I don't think he can, and this will translate into another 11-32 night for the Black Mamba, and a Laker loss in Game 3.

Your thoughts?

When Kobe takes a ton of shots, the Lakers are a .500 team during the regular season. And the fadeaway jumpers with hands in his face aren't always going to be hitting like they did last night. If Odom-Gasol-Bynum don't start either getting more involved or Kobe doesn't get them involved, then the Rockets will win this series. The Rockets have proven in the first two games that they could come in and win Game 5 in LA.

[JohnnyLingo]

Sincerely,

Larry Bird
John Stockton

Ah, but there's a difference here. Larry Bird and John Stockton were not physically gifted players. They were slow white guys who had to rely on craftiness and cheap shots to compete. Kobe is gifted enough that he shouldn't have to do these things to win.

[MarkGrace]

Most of the time, the contact just isn't enough to merit a foul call. Once again, since the offensive player is standing still, at best, Battier's hand might graze Kobe's forehead or something. No big deal.

Really? I don't watch enough of these two to know, but my image of Battier face-guarding Kobe is Battier throwing his hand right in front of Kobe's eyes after Kobe has left the floor in the process of his jumpshot. Like so:
http://slamonline.com/online/wp-cont...obe_bryant.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5fnKXILG92I/R9_nPuFOHgI/AAAAAAAAAUA/aT7QSAs5ud4/s400/talktothehand.jpg

[MarkGrace]

That second picture is kind of crazy. He looks like he is about to palm Kobe's head.

[TripletDaddy]

Daily Debate: Suspensions, anyone? Also, tables can kill you if you live in Ron Artest's neighborhood.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/

Bynum: Slump is in my head! (apparently it is not on the court, where he didn't score a single point last night)

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw...,5607358.story

Lamar wants fans to touch him

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...3197325.column

Lakers tie it up

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,5635064.story

Lakers get tough

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...2454852.column

Lakers blog: 3 Good 3 Bad

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/05/three-good--execution-in-chalking-up-much-of-the-lakers-poor-play-in-game-1-to-the-ruyst-gathered-from-a-week-without-compet.html

[TripletDaddy]

That second picture is kind of crazy. He looks like he is about to palm Kobe's head.

Yeah, those are the times when Kobe has sometimes jumped into the hand to draw the easy foul. But it is somewhat risky because you risk getting poked in the eye, and nobody wants to do that.

I was referring to when Kobe has the ball at the perimeter and is dribbling, waiting to see how things will develop. You will often see Battier cover Kobe's face (not touching him, so no problem).

It happens in various instances. The Rockets seem to love doing it. As long as they don't touch anyone, I don't see a problem with it. If they touch people, then the refs can subjectively call a foul, just like most any other contact.

[MartyFunkhouser]

A cheap shot IMO is unprovoked. He's hardly a cheap shot artist. Kobe retaliating isn't a cheap shot. It's tit for tat. I have no problem with players evening the score when the officials don't do it.

Good, I hope you have no problem when the Blazers retaliate next year. At least they better retaliate, because I'm pissed they haven't yet.

[MartyFunkhouser]

So I just watched Ron Artest's ejection and it is just another example of why the NBA is just a complete sham. Kobe Bryant elbows Artest and nothing is done about it so they eject Artest?

Also, I'm hardly seeing where there is any tit for tat for Kobe Bryant elbowing Artest. Yes, Artest followed him before the play but it was just that a foul and nothing else.

Funny, how Ariza taking out Fernandez's head isn't a cheap play but Artest moving Kobe Bryant in the lane is a cheap play. Unreal.

[Hot Lunch]

Funny, how Ariza taking out Fernandez's head isn't a cheap play but Artest moving Kobe Bryant in the lane is a cheap play. Unreal.

Was Rondo's foul on Brad Miller a cheap shot?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Are NBA players more afraid of Ron Artest or Jerry Stackhouse? I've always heard that Stackhouse is not a guy to cross- I've heard of him following players into the tunnel after the game to get payback.

Artest is crazier, but I'm not sure if he's as good of a fighter as Stackhouse.

[MarkGrace]

I've always heard that Stackhouse is not a guy to cross- I've heard of him following players into the tunnel after the game to get payback.

Helloooo Kirk Snyder.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Was Rondo's foul on Brad Miller a cheap shot?

Yes, it was a cheap shot but wasn't nearly as dangerous or as bad as Ariza's foul on Fernandez.

[Surfah]

So I just watched Ron Artest's ejection and it is just another example of why the NBA is just a complete sham. Kobe Bryant elbows Artest and nothing is done about it so they eject Artest?

Also, I'm hardly seeing where there is any tit for tat for Kobe Bryant elbowing Artest. Yes, Artest followed him before the play but it was just that a foul and nothing else.

Funny, how Ariza taking out Fernandez's head isn't a cheap play but Artest moving Kobe Bryant in the lane is a cheap play. Unreal.

You crack me up. You're still the only one that thinks that the Ariza foul on Fernandez was a cheap shot.

Anyway, Ariza fouling Fernandez and then a Blazer going after Kobe is not tit for tat. And retaliation can't happen next year or it's nothing more than a cheap shot. That said, Rudy or another Blazer should have laid the wood to Ariza that game. And I wouldn't have had an issue with that. Your problem is that the Blazers are a bunch of pussies and wouldn't/won't retaliate like you hope.

[MartyFunkhouser]

You crack me up. You're still the only one that thinks that the Ariza foul on Fernandez was a cheap shot.

Anyway, Ariza fouling Fernandez and then a Blazer going after Kobe is not tit for tat. And retaliation can't happen next year or it's nothing more than a cheap shot. That said, Rudy or another Blazer should have laid the wood to Ariza that game. And I wouldn't have had an issue with that. Your problem is that the Blazers are a bunch of pussies and wouldn't/won't retaliate like you hope.

How can you claim that Ariza's foul is not cheap and also claim that Rondo is a cheap player.

Which one of these 3 plays is worse. It is pretty damn clear that the Ariza foul was the cheapest shot of the 3.

Also, some context for the Ariza foul is helpful. He look off his head in a game where the Blazers were kicking the Laker's ass. It was completely uncalled for and could have seriously injured Fernandez. At least Rondo fouled Miller in a competitive game and wasn't just taking out his frustrating about getting his ass kicked.

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[Hot Lunch]

You are right. Rondo's was much worse. He full on punched Miller in the mouth. Ariza grazed Rudy's head as he was clearly going for the ball.

Rondo foul was a major cheap shot. Ariza was a good hard foul. No freebies.