Game #56 Celtics @ Lakers 2/18/10 7:30PM

[Jajwanda]

Even at our best with Kobe, Denver nearly beat us.

[daddyfivestar]

Freaking Mychal Thompson called it - maybe jinxed it - saying at the end of 1st Qtr review of Allen's shot ruled 2 pts and changed to 3 pts, "watch that point be the difference maker".

[stu_sutcliffe]

Even at our best with Kobe, Denver nearly beat us.

Nearly? They beat us by 15 and Melo didn't even play...not to mention at Staples.

[Jajwanda]

Playoffs and that was not the same Denver team. They're improved. We're also improved defensively but the offense is in the ****.

[Slava]

We scored 2 points over the final 7:14. Talk about execution and offense. Phil got his work cut out for him now.

[Magicontinues]

Anybody know if Lamars layup before the final time out went in? I couldn't tell.

Should have given it to Pau who was open on the block.

[phat_24]

Really? Really? We're blaming Gasol-Brown for this one?

Hell no. Did I even say that? The 'chemistry' between them on 2 key possessions in the 4th was what I was referring to. I may be a little harsh on Gasol on the possession where Shannon passed up a shot and bricked it. The second possession was where Pau's nuts froze into ice and he forced the issue with Brown cutting baseline.

I am not blaming Gasol-Brown for the loss but those 2 plays were really costly in the end and that, in addition to 2 points in the final 7:14 is what I'm frustrated about as would most Lakers fans.

[microfib4thewin]

I don't blame Gasol so much on the last 2 plays(seriously, anyone expect him to be clutch?) than what he did for the first 46 minutes. Even against an aging frontcourt with a washed up Rasheed and a bum knee KG he still came up way short as our post option. I don't know if he has some kind of nagging injury, but his play lately is hampering us as much as Kobe did last month. He couldn't even dominate against the Warriors and they are notorious for getting burned by at the 4 spot.

[magic1fan]

Even at our best with Kobe, Denver nearly beat us.

they didn't beat us when it counted most.

[magic1fan]

i really don't see the big deal. we lost by one to the former champs without our best player. we are 4-1 without kobe. we new they were going to have a few rough patches without kobe but i can't be mad at that record. as far as pau goes he is who he is. he is a nice compliment to kobe,but i think sometimes people see box scores and think he can be a first option,and he can't. he did a good job last night but he is not a superstar. i personally would have liked to see the ball in lo hands last night to take the last shot. either him or artest.

[TylersLakers]

Guys.. we played a great team without our top gun and we battled and nearly come out with a W. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm proud of my guys.

[Sofa King]

Guys.. we played a great team without our top gun and we battled and nearly come out with a W. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm proud of my guys.

You're not so bad yourself. But make one of your epic game day threads. I miss those.

[Danny Darko]

Pussies? Ya I doubt you would say that outside of being a mod or in person. It's a right to complain. Censorship is something you don't allow. When something is wrong you're allowed to complain. It's what being a fan is about. Do we desire injury to Fisher? No. Do we want our team to lose? No.

Nobody censored you. I've got every right to my opinion. Are you trying to censor me?

Relaxe. How do you know i was even talking to you?

People bitching about how the ship is sinking are the same people who bitched last year about our inconsistency meaning we could not win a championship. They are also the same people who forget about our record that players like Fisher (while having serious flaws) Know how to win championships and have repeated proved their value.

[Sedale Threatt]

Guys.. we played a great team without our top gun and we battled and nearly come out with a W. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm proud of my guys.

I wouldn't say proud, but yeah, we battled hard last night. The effort was there, we just didn't make shots. So I'm not all that upset at all, other than the fact it was a winnable game.

Otherwise, as badly as Pau played down the stretch, I'm honestly surprised he's getting the finger blamed at him. I shouldn't be, but I am. Even with his no-show in the clutch he was still our best offensive player -- by far.

I'd say the much, much, MUCH bigger problem was that our top three guards combined to 5 for freaking 25, compounded by the fact we couldn't guard the calcifying Ray Allen and our foul shooting was awful.

Mark these words -- if this team in fact doesn't repeat, our lack of shooting is going to be far more detrimental than anything Pau does or doesn't do.

[Sedale Threatt]

People bitching about how the ship is sinking are the same people who bitched last year about our inconsistency meaning we could not win a championship. They are also the same people who forget about our record that players like Fisher (while having serious flaws) Know how to win championships and have repeated proved their value.

Fish redeemed himself on the strength of one single shot. If he doesn't make that, it was an almost totally lost season on his part. And he's worse this year.

It's nothing personal -- Fish is a great Laker, and a better person, and he'll get all the respect he deserves when he retires. At this particular point, however, looking strictly between the lines, it's impossible to ignore the detriment he's become.

[Danny Darko]

I agree with that, totally.