This Team Has No Quit!

[critical_beatdown]

I'm most proud right now of this team for never surrendering. Last night we were down 26, and we battled back to take the lead, only to lose it in the end. Even though that was deflating, it showed a lot of character to storm back like that, it's becoming a regular occurrence for this team (and seemingly always has been peculiar to Phil Jackson clubs).

Tonight, again we found ourselves down double digits at halftime, to the same team but this time on their floor, back to back. Our guys didn't fold, and came out blazing in that 3rd quarter and we took command of the game, only again to let down a bit down the stretch so that the game got into overtime.

In OT, we started out slowly (and poorly), but we kept our heads right and kept pushing, moving the ball, finding open men, and playing D. We've earned this victory, and we've showed with the last three road wins at Dallas, at Utah, and at Golden State that this team is for real, and we're doing it without our two top post men right now.

So I'm proud of these guys, every one one of them, including the coaches, proud of this team, and special shout outs tonight go to the Machine for bouncing back from a tough performance, Ronny T for rocking hard, and Kobe and Lamar for going the distance on a back to back.

Go Lakers!

[slifersd]

They also have no idea how to execute down the stretch. A lot of those guys looked like they were going to piss their pants down the stretch and blew a 9 point lead in 2 minutes. It is admirable for them to come back but their clutch plays are a disgrace.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

Fourth game in five nights as well.

[shobe_81]

Well lets just say this Team has no quit EXCEPT Luke and Radman!

[dockingsched]

don't mistake luke's struggles or physical limitations with quitting.

[critical_beatdown]

Luke played well tonight, especially on the defensive end, and Raddy obviously was playing excellent before we met up with the Warriors, who don't seem to be a great match up for him.

[Italianhanger]

well said about luke's limitation not being the same as quitting
im not jumping on the bandwagon that states luke as the worst laker ever or on the team, should he have sat out longer to heal up??? maybe
it also may just be a bad all around year for him, i mean last year we were praising him and hoping he'd resign with us and if didnt we would sorely miss him now a handful of people are out for blood b/c of luke. everyone whose played has had a bad game, its sort of like that for luke but he plays basketball for a living. we might have a off-game were nothing is going in and just be totally out of sync, he has to fight through all those situations and get his groove back. once he's back in sync i say all of those fickle fans will jump off the i hate luke wagon to i love luke wagon....just thank your lucky stars we dont have to go through what the knicks fans have been going through or in this year's case the heats and sota....

[dub81]

I wish we can play with the same energy in the 1st half that we did in the 2nd half. We are playing with fire right now. But great win.

[KB20]

I do give them props for fighting back 2 nights in a row but it can't become a habit. We're better than that. We can't rely on fighting back in the 2nd half. I watched the Pistons do that many times in the past few years and it's really annoying to watch. You won't be able to come back every game and the crazy west you can't take any nights off.

As for Luke, this kid has no use anymore. Last year he was great because Smush was at point guard who we obviously couldn't have facilitate our offense. This year we have Fisher and Farmar who have done a great job. With the addition of Pau and the emergence of Andrew downlow, he has no room to work in that high post area. He can't make a shot worth his life, he's missing layups, and he's blowing defensive assignments.

I suggest this move I made in my NBA 2K8 Association yesterday:

Luke and Mihm for Malik Rose.

This move saves us a ton of cash and adds a veteran big man with championship experience.

[dockingsched]

this idea that farmar is great at facilitating the offense is a myth. he doesn't facilitate anything. he's basically just out there to shoot or pass it to sasha. he's been good at it, but i don't see much facilitating. luke was doing all the facilitating last night against the zone. whether it was telling players where to cut or finding open spots himself, he was taking control at times.

[crazyeights]

Fourth game in five nights as well.

That's most telling to me.

We've played some tough fought games and spent a lot of energy, but were able to win 3 of 4 in only 5 days. That's more strenuous than the playoffs and is a great thing for a team without 2 of our top 3 players.

Go Lakers!

[milesfides]

this idea that farmar is great at facilitating the offense is a myth. he doesn't facilitate anything. he's basically just out there to shoot or pass it to sasha. he's been good at it, but i don't see much facilitating. luke was doing all the facilitating last night against the zone. whether it was telling players where to cut or finding open spots himself, he was taking control at times.

What was completely ridiculous was that yesterday, Walton came into the game, made a basket, made a great defensive play on Monta Ellis, got some rebounds, then he turned the ball over and people were screaming, "get Puke out of here!"

Ridiculous. Walton played hard, he played well. 8 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, 2 turnovers in 23 minutes? Productive night for Luke, and the stats don't tell the story of how moved the ball well, got TIMELY boards, and made defensive plays that don't show up in the stats.

Farmar doesn't do much facilitating, but I like how he throws up the alley-oop every now and then. I think the triangle works more on passes and cuts rather than dribble penetration, which is Farmar's skill and instinct.

[Cookin Baskets]

Good game last night, but what a horrible way to end it. Fisher throws monty down and they get the ball. To be honest the people who broadcast games do better officiating. I was so pissed it went like that it was a great game soiled..nba should replay the 4 sec of the game. Just like the heat-hawks gamel

[RJM]

I disagree. Move on.

[dub81]

I wish that ref did not call that foul on Ellis. They both fell, so let the play go. rediculous call.