Lakers @ Heat - Game Thread #50 2/10 12:30 PST, ABC

[B-Scott]

Man this team is versatile. The only thing that can beat this Laker team is boredom and themselves with quick shot selection

[Minhee]

I am surprise not many people are talking about Kobe's attempted dunk vs Wade's attempted block. They both went up high, Kobe has the height advantage and Wade has a LOT of hops. It turned out to be a foul on Wade, wonder if Kobe would have dunked it over him if there wasn't a foul or would Wade have gotten a block.

[Sofa King]

I am surprise not many people are talking about Kobe's attempted dunk vs Wade's attempted block. They both went up high, Kobe has the height advantage and Wade has a LOT of hops. It turned out to be a foul on Wade, wonder if Kobe would have dunked it over him if there wasn't a foul or would Wade have gotten a block.

It was pretty straight forward foul although a bit of a harsh landing. Kobe didn't make a big deal about it. He was okay and gave a nice love tap to Wade's head to show no hard feelings.

[TyCobb]

Wade popped Kobe in the head... should have been a flagrant.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Good game and good luck the rest of the way, guys.

With the Heat obviously out of it, I hope Kobe holds up the trophy in June.

YEEEEEEEAH BABY YEAH!!!!

[blix]

I am surprise not many people are talking about Kobe's attempted dunk vs Wade's attempted block. They both went up high, Kobe has the height advantage and Wade has a LOT of hops. It turned out to be a foul on Wade, wonder if Kobe would have dunked it over him if there wasn't a foul or would Wade have gotten a block.

Honestly, the thought that went through my head (and I'll sound like a hater here) was - yeah, Wade really looks hurt to me.

[RJM]

Wade is just confused and healing. Expect those issues (athleticism, timing, intelligence) to disappear next season. I like Miami's future. Great game guys! We really held it together when we needed to! Damn if only we could get another shot at Boston before June!

[Minhee]

-= original quote snipped =-



Honestly, the thought that went through my head (and I'll sound like a hater here) was - yeah, Wade really looks hurt to me.

I love both players, obvioulsy I like Kobe more but judging by your comment had Wade would have been healthy are you saying Wade would have gotten a clean block on that play? That is what I am wondering, who would have won that play? Not that it is important.

[Gerald3Wallace]

great game..LO with 15/18/6

odom playing consistant last 7 games???? whatttttt???

lol..give the man his props...dude is ballin since the trade

[blix]

-= original quote snipped =-



I love both players, obvioulsy I like Kobe more but judging by your comment had Wade would have been healthy are you saying Wade would have gotten a clean block on that play? That is what I am wondering, who would have won that play? Not that it is important.

My point (and I'm not anti-Wade or anything) is that I'll I've been hearing all year is Wade's hurt - he sure got up on that one. He (Wade) didn't look like his knees were bothering him on a few occasions.

[milesfides]

The said Wade was making a play on the ball, but really, he had no chance, he was too late on the play, he just wanted to stop another Kobe dunk. He swung wildly and hit Kobe's head, as well as body checking him in the air.

Imo, that was a flagrant.

[milesfides]

There's going to be times in the playoffs where Lamar and Bynum up front could be a better option then Gasol and Bynum. Not a lot,but against certain teams.

Gasol can sleepwalk a little on the boards sometimes

Actually probably Turiaf and Odom.

Tonight was Odom's type of game, not Gasol. The Heat played uptempo, led by Wade and Marion and Dorrell Wright.

Gasol isn't an agile defender, well, he's not a very good defender period, but this was a game in which smaller players dictated the game. Alanta was the same type of deal.

Odom plays very well in these uptempo, small-ball games. That's his style, and he's been rebounding very well against small teams.

Unfortunately, he hasn't played consistently welll against top teams like Detroit, Boston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah, Houston, etc.

That's his room for improvement, to be an impact player against top competition and potential playoff opponents.

[Erik Eleven]

I'm really glad we got the win but we didn't win it the way it should have been won. It got close, the Lakers kept inviting the Heat back into the game.

This Laker team still needs to up the intensity, get on top of poor teams early and not let up the pressure, not give them an ounce of hope.

There were mental letups throughout the entire game. That type of stuff becomes habitual and will hurt the Lakers against solid playoffs teams further down the road unless they change their mentality. Habitual behavior will work to your advantage but only as long as the habits are good.

They need to jump on bottom tier teams early, kill their hopes, and keep the foot on the throat until the game is over

[milesfides]

Kobe and Sasha played extremely aggressively, they were sharp. Odom was steadily contributing throughout the game, mostly on the boards. Walton chipped in too, which I found unexpected because I thought he would struggle in the athletic, up and down game. Turiaf had a very strange game, in which he didn't score but rebounded well, which was the opposite of his usual style. Farmar picked up a little of Fisher's slack, but neither really had a good rhythm going.

The big negative was definitely defense. Pau and Radman's poor defense let the Heat get back into the game. Our offense was good, even despite Gasol's off-game against the likes of Mark Blount, who's hardly a good defender.

Pau doesn't protect the basket well, and Radmanovic couldn't defend any of the long and rangy Heat forwards from attacking the basket. This sad combination of bad defense led to Dorrell Wright and Mark Blount making impacts that they shouldn't have had.

This is where we miss Ariza and Bynum (even Kwame).

[Sedale Threatt]

I'm really glad we got the win but we didn't win it the way it should have been won. It got close, the Lakers kept inviting the Heat back into the game.

This Laker team still needs to up the intensity, get on top of poor teams early and not let up the pressure, not give them an ounce of hope.

There were mental letups throughout the entire game. That type of stuff becomes habitual and will hurt the Lakers against solid playoffs teams further down the road unless they change their mentality. Habitual behavior will work to your advantage but only as long as the habits are good.

They need to jump on bottom tier teams early, kill their hopes, and keep the foot on the throat until the game is over

[Erik Eleven]

I'm really glad we got the win but we didn't win it the way it should have been won. It got close, the Lakers kept inviting the Heat back into the game.

This Laker team still needs to up the intensity, get on top of poor teams early and not let up the pressure, not give them an ounce of hope.

There were mental letups throughout the entire game. That type of stuff becomes habitual and will hurt the Lakers against solid playoffs teams further down the road unless they change their mentality. Habitual behavior will work to your advantage but only as long as the habits are good.

They need to jump on bottom tier teams early, kill their hopes, and keep the foot on the throat until the game is over

[milesfides]

Not sure if that's a sign of things to come with Gasol -- my impression after four games: outstanding offensive skill, extremely soft on D -- or just one of those games.

Not just one of these games, that's how Gasol plays. He's a top scoring PF, but his defense is mediocre. Regarding toughness, I think he's mentally tough but his game isn't, especially not his defense. People call him soft - he's just not very strong or quick. He's crafty on offense, his height and length really help him.

On defense, he's always a step behind, he gets pushed around, he gets boxed out, etc.

It was one of the reasons that I wanted Jermaine O'Neal rather than Pau over the summer, although right now, O'Neal's injury and Pau's trade to our team makes that a moot point.

I'm happy with Pau, and although his defense wasn't very good, I expected that. His offense wasn't very good tonight, that was a surprise. Mark Blount outplayed him, and that's a bit disappointing.

One pattern seems to be emerging, Pau struggles against smaller, quicker teams. He struggled tonight, he struggled against Atlanta.

Phil sat Pau for a good chunk of the 4th quarter, and I hope that won't be a common thing. We can't afford that. We need to hide some of his deficiencies.

One thing's for sure, Pau needs to work out. His body reminds me of Bynum's in the past. Just a little soft, not strong enough in his base. A bit too slow to keep up. I wonder if our trainers could make him a bit stronger. It would really help his game.

Or, we can just take his 18 and 9 and take the bad with the good.

He might actually play better when Bynum returns though. He's a finesse player.

[Erik Eleven]

no worries Bynum is comming back soon.

Yeah, you make a good point.

Bynum brings that killer instinct that we're actually lacking right now. Before he went down, this team did what I was just talking about, on a regular basis. Farmar normally carries it with him, but has snapped out of it recently.

I'm hopeful that they will put together the right mentality for the home stretch of the season. Step on their necks when they're down, boys. It would be awesome to see Coby Karl, Chris Mihm and the guys finishing up the games for us again.

[Tesla]

Good to get a win, I knew that Miami would come out with energy and emotion, I never for one second thought before this game that it was going to be an easy one.

Kobe played great! Where are all those people that were so down on him about playing with a dislocated pinky? It looks like Kobe has adjusted, and he is playing damn well.

Few things:

1. Pau Gasol: I think a lot of Laker fans were so excited that they got way to high on their expectations with him. He is a good player, but he's not a great player, and he lacks defensivley. While we have a great talented squad, most of that talent is on the offensive end, I think that might be a bit of a problem for us. That said... Pau has only played 4 games with us, and he's played pretty damn well, considering chemistry, and knowing your teammates, system, etc. Don't expect so much so soon, let them click. He is also playing out of position, he can play Center,but only sometimes for some spot minutes. He is too much of a finesse player to bang.

2. Lamar Odom: After being so down on him after the Detroit game, I'm coming around to really enjoying how he is fitting in as a 3rd/4th option. There are not many players at his talent level that would be happy in his role, but it seems like he doesn't care, and actually likes it. He's been playing pretty well. He just needs to find his jumper a little more, so he is respected out at the three point line - I know some of you don't like him shooting outside 15feet, but in order for him to be effective as SF he needs to be respected on the perimeter.


Bynum get back, and get back healthy! He is the key

[Phil Jackson]

Kobe Bryant pwned D. Wheelchair.