LAL @ WAS, Dec 5, KCAL9/AM570 4:00PM PST

[semi-sentient]

[DEEP3CL]

The second unit guys have to start understanding their roles and they better start to learn quick. Trevor and Drew are granted an exception, but LO,Jordan and Sasha..................these three are the root of the problem. The thing is they all want to handle the ball, there in itself lies the problem..

This is causing the offense not to be executed, causing the rhythm that was established by the starters to be wasted. They gamble to make too many "highlight" plays or pull a relentless amount of three's and jumpers.

When they built the lead on the Pacers Wednesday, they did it by establishing Drew as the focal point of the offense and ran off the turn overs they cause. But what they don't understand is how to CLOSE like a second unit and one that has championship aspiration is suppose to know how to close.

Yeah we can have the highlight sprinkled in but you gotta know when and when not to go for the play. But bottom line is something is not clicking.........but the positive is we have time to get it together.

[DEEP3CL]

Drew needs to be in there in the clutch... screw Odom's feelings.

Drew is a better defensive presence and free throw shooter. Phil and his weird sub patterns

Preach Double D !............................we might as well start adjusting to life without him anyway........hell we all know he ain't gonna be here next season, tell me I'm wrong.

[DEEP3CL]

"Poor coaching," he said. "That's what it was tonight. Putting too much trust and faith in a younger group -- a second unit. They just can't hold it on the road. They can't withstand the fury or the intensity of the fourth quarter. I'm going to have to change it up a little bit."

Please feel free to limit Jordan's minutes to Phil

[b shaw20]

Let's assume we had blown out Indy and Wash like we should have. I'm sure most would be ranting about how we could take Boston.

Looking at the bigger picture, we aren't even close to our potential yet. However, we are atop in the WC. It's where we need to be. Relax guys. It's a freaking marathon of a season. We need to tune up our horse for the one thing that matters... Our Kentucky Derby, -The Finals.

All we need to do is ensure we dominate the paint, focus on team defense and keep the horse healthy.

It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

Despite our "horsh*t efforts" as of late, we are where we need to be.

Let's be chill, yea.

[microfib4thewin]

If this team blew out Indy and WAS, then at least you can say they can still play well and not joke around, but their defense has been lackadaiscal ever since the game against Denver. When they are playing the same inconsistent defense as last year for a good two weeks there are legitimiate concerns. It's like whatever fire they have died and the whole team has reverted back to the same old showtime ripoff without a care about defense.

[Minhee]

These guys are just toying around with the rest of the league...they know they're that damn good...they know all they need is 36 minutes to finish you off and call it a game...

Well...they can't play 36 minutes vs. Boston or other contenders...Im guessing when those teams come along, these guys are gonna play some real ball...

For now, they're just toying around and playing 36 mins of ball the way I see it.

They did that during Game 4 in June...wonder if they were "toying around" then as well. This team SHOULD NOT toy around regardless of the quality of the opponent. What Boston did to us in OUR house was humilating and embarrassing. This team should have the mentality of once we are up double digit it is good night as in going for the throat and not where should we go chill tonight. They did that at Indiana, did it in Philly (we blew a big lead as well), and we did it tonight. We could have easily gone 0-3 on this trip all resulting in giving up 16 pts+ lead in the 4th quarter. Simply unacceptable. I have a feeling this team's will continue this trademark....trust me, I expect us to be up 12-15 pts throughout this season where teams will comeback on us.

I can see it now during the playoffs...commentators will say, well this one is not close to be over because the Lakers DO NOT know how to finish game. It will play into our heads and the media will thrive off of it.

[Mindflayer]

The only question I want answered is why was Lamar on the floor when it counted and not Bynum? We got killed on the boards and defense because of this.

[dockingsched]

Drew needs to be in there in the clutch... screw Odom's feelings.

Drew is a better defensive presence and free throw shooter. Phil and his weird sub patterns

i don't think its about lamar's feelings. i think its about pau's. a lamar/bynum front court gives u superior rebounding, superior help and rotation, and more athleticism.

[Mindflayer]

I don't agree. Bynum/Gasol>>odom/Gasol

[Slava]

Drew needs to be in there in the clutch... screw Odom's feelings.

Drew is a better defensive presence and free throw shooter. Phil and his weird sub patterns

i don't think its about lamar's feelings. i think its about pau's. a lamar/bynum front court gives u superior rebounding, superior help and rotation, and more athleticism.

Pau is being as clutch as Kobe for us since last season's playoffs. No way we go without him in the 4th.

Today's game has to be blamed on the 2nd unit. The starters did their job and were resting their feet when the 2nd unit couldn't hold up. We need a more vocal leader with that unit and Sasha is playing like crap.

[hermes]

Anybody think Phil is doing it on purpose?

yes, that is exactly what is going on here

and i won't be convinced otherwise

yay lakers win

[Anklebreaker702]

"When we fall,..." *inserts picture*

Really? I mean really, that picture of Fish and Pau holding hands? That's like telling me our team is soft... Damn!

Sorry you took it that way, the fall represents when we lose, but then again there's that word soft again & incase you didnt know, Fish was helping Pau off the ground