We all had it wrong. Real X factor and only way we win is Ga

[Dexmor]

Gasol. KG is so intense in the playoffs and wants to win so bad. He is almost like Kobe in that regard. He is going to play better then ever before or at least to his highest capability he can.
If Gasol doesn't come out and play like that to we are not gonna win. Now don't get me wrong Odom is still always an X factor and we need him to be the new Odom to but if Gasol plays soft it still won't be enough.
Gasol has to be hungry, he has to be unstoppable on O which he can be with all his moves, length, and everything else that makes him amazing. He could average 20-25 points this series and we are gonna need that from him.

[hermes]

gasol needs to be a big factor in this series, needs to rebound better

[tracey_nice]

Gasol seems scared of Kg, imo.

[TonyMontana]

I think were jumping the gun.
These 2 teams have only met twice in regular season and it will take a few games to adapt to one and other.
I think by game 2 these glitches will be resolved and were forgetting that we are palying the N#1 team in the NBA and they have H.C.A .

Let's come down with who is the big factor and whos not.
Keep in mind that this is a 7 game series.

[Dexmor]

Also Odom to. Odom played like Odom of last year. Odom needs to be an allstar who is hungry for a ring. That is how all of the big 3 are playing and if Gasol and Odom don't play that way they will not be able to beat the Celtics.

Also Jordan Farmar needs to play and Radman needs to continue to start to not mess with his confidence but not play him more then 10-12 minutes unless he gets hot so Ariza-Sasha-Farmar can play alot more.

Really it will come down to who's big 3 plays better ours or there's.

If our #4 was playing who is really our #2 the Celtics wouldn't even have a chance to make it longer then a 5 game series.

[Gerald3Wallace]

its not odom and gasol...kobe needs to play like how he did against spurs to win.

no way in hell you can win when your 3 best players play like that..

[hermes]

everyone needs to step up and play better in game 2, hit their shots rebound and play d

[chefy]

its the finals guys everyone is the x factor

everyone has to do their thing for us to win this

[lakerboy]

you know what i think,they have answers for everybody on the floor,except for kobe.we got outplayed,outhustled,and out coached,because they were ready for us.we looked lost at times,ball movment sucked and kobes jumpshoots just did not fall....they have our numbe,the only thing i can think of is if we can hold off 1 or 2 of there big three..

[Dexmor]

And KG came out like a man on a mission. Gasol came out like a nervous guy who just had jitters.
I think Phil outcoched himself meaning he screwed himself by not playing Farmar or Ariza.

[hermes]

i'm betting ariza won't get a lot of playing time for whatever reason

[Erik Eleven]

Just because you didn't call it doesn't mean that all of us were wrong, Dexmor. Some of us pointed out last week that this series will be won by the team that controls the glass. That means Gasol and Odom need to play out of their minds in every game

[TonyMontana]

Just because you didn't call it doesn't mean that all of us were wrong, Dexmor. Some of us pointed out last week that this series will be won by the team that controls the glass. That means Gasol and Odom need to play out of their minds in every game

[islander009]

Erik Eleven wrote:
Just because you didn't call it doesn't mean that all of us were wrong, Dexmor. Some of us pointed out last week that this series will be won by the team that controls the glass. That means Gasol and Odom need to play out of their minds in every game

[Erik Eleven]

I think I've changed my mind a bit. I have this feeling that the Lakers might actually have a chance at winning it already this year.

The more I let game one sit in my head, the more optimistic I get. Celtics played a very good game

[ko8e]

You know what, I think the Lakers look really good.
Kobe had his worst game of the playoffs. He will bounce back im sure. Look, we had Odom miss a lot of lay ups. Gasol had a bad game. Our bench played like the road effected them. If 1 of those 4 things were different, then game 1 comes down to the wire.

I'm not saying this as a Laker homer, but I'm gonna guarantee a Laker win on Sunday.
There were just too many things Lakers looked to have the advantage in.

[Gomes3PC]

Odom was 4-7 in the paint. So I wouldn't say he's blowing a bunch of shots in the paint. Maybe he hits one more in the lane, but he's face two very long and physical big men in Perk and Garnett. They're going to alter shots and make him earn anything inside.

As for Kobe, he had his worst game, but as one of your mods pointed out, the Celtics are pretty good against perimeter scorers. Boston held Lebron to 36% FG shooting by keeping him out of the lane. Tracy McGrady said the Cs were the best defensive team he had ever faced. And Kobe now 24-72 (33.3 FG%) vs. that same D. I think he can raise that up a bit, maybe to 39-40%, but to win I think LA needs him to be up near the 45-50% range he has had the rest of the playoffs. That, or learn how to play better D and rebound more.

If the Lakers want to win, they've got to find some way to get Kobe to have more than 2 FGAs in the paint. He took TWENTY FOUR jumpers! That won't get it done, not the way Boston always gets a hand in a guys face and keeps them out of 'comfort spots' on the floor.

As for Gasol, if KG continues to get his billing like he did in the 2nd half, don't expect him to make much impact. Pau did well against the stronger but slower-footed Duncan. Garnett has the footspeed to stay with Pau and is just as physical to keep Pau away from the glass for easy 2nd chance points. I think Odom is the big man who will have to step up for LA, and he has been mercurial at best throughout his career.