Game 59: Denver Nuggets (39-19) @ LA Lakers (44-15)

[almost famous]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

This is truly epic material.

[SnakefromHell]

MHZ, you have a knack for blowing things outta proportion.

Go back to WCF Game 1 and 2 last year, Melo was dominant, yet he was smiling and laughing, as always. So what's the difference between that Melo and this Melo?

This Melo tonight is much less serious... that Melo in WCF Game 1 and 2 during dead plays was smiling and stuff but when the game was on, he was dead serious. He was intense, he was fired up.


Are "intense", "fired up", "serious" the adjectives you would use to describe Melo in this Lakers game? Heck no. It's not even close.

Both Melos are smiling but I know the difference when he smiles and destroys people and when he smiles and his mind is in Timbuktu... he can't fool Snake's eyes.


Again, if you canNOT describe Melo (in the Lakers game yesterday) as "intense", "fired up" and "serious", then you should get my point.


At some point, Mr Big Shot should slap him and tell him to grow the **** up... his mind can be so juvenile/ child-like at the wrongest time. We don't need a playful dude... we need a winner like Mr Big Shot.

[That Nicka]

whats going on with refs? foulin out melo like crazy in the crunch time

He got some crappy calls that went against him, but the Lakers got a few called on them in the 1st half, so you knew that was going to even out.

He didn't play a great game and Ron played him pretty tough most of the day.

Afflalo played a nice game on Kobe today was a positive to take from this game. This is the second time in a row that he played him tough.

Agreed. Good game.

[KAVK]

LAL had to take this game in order to survive mentally! Seriously Pau proved it with his radio comment no kidding....

MHZ positively right and there comes in Snake with his criticism. We fell bit short happens to everyone but i can't deny the effort. We may have tried bit too hard in this game, no worries. We still has a shot to cause some more mental meltdown for LAL before playoff.

[Teens On Acid]

what the...

[devv83]

MHZ, you have a knack for blowing things outta proportion.

Go back to WCF Game 1 and 2 last year, Melo was dominant, yet he was smiling and laughing, as always. So what's the difference between that Melo and this Melo?

This Melo tonight is much less serious... that Melo in WCF Game 1 and 2 during dead plays was smiling and stuff but when the game was on, he was dead serious. He was intense, he was fired up.


Are "intense", "fired up", "serious" the adjectives you would use to describe Melo in this Lakers game? Heck no. It's not even close.

Both Melos are smiling but I know the difference when he smiles and destroys people and when he smiles and his mind is in Timbuktu... he can't fool Snake's eyes.


Again, if you canNOT describe Melo (in the Lakers game yesterday) as "intense", "fired up" and "serious", then you should get my point.


At some point, Mr Big Shot should slap him and tell him to grow the **** up... his mind can be so juvenile/ child-like at the wrongest time. We don't need a playful dude... we need a winner like Mr Big Shot.

But during the cavs game Melo was smiling joking and laughing too and he had a great game and they won. Honestly I think its just part of his personality, ever since I been watching him play. Thats just Melo, as long as he is still giving 100% I'm happy.

Take for instance that play were fisher had a fast break, honestly when is the last time you seen Melo go for a chase down block on a fast break?? So I know he was giving 100% I would rather him smile then go out there angry and get two techs and get kicked out. He will make the necessary adjustments and come back strong next game that's all you can do. I know alot of people like Melo's game when he is angry, including Hastings, but I dont he forces way to many shots and is extra extra aggressive and fouls out

[PeTBuLL]

Great effot for Nene on the 1st half, then, as always, ppl. forgot that he was playing good and stoped to give him the ball...

[el loco]

He did it when he was in college:



He did it when he was drafted:



He does it with his family:



He did it in the olympics:



He does it when he is brawling



And he does it now:




He is living his dream, so what in the hell does he have to be sad/mean/angry about? He makes gazillions playing the game he loves, which enables him to provide the good life for his family. It doesn't get any better than that. If you came from the streets that he came from, and got to where he is currently at, you would be smiling as well.

[el loco]

Great effot for Nene on the 1st half, then, as always, ppl. forgot that he was playing good and stoped to give him the ball...

He did play a good 1st half. But come on PetBull even you have to admit that he is way too passive at times.

[DubaLakers]

yeah el loco sure, but LaLa?

[DubaLakers]

FYI I'm ok with DEN now, I'm over my hate, I understand your team better. If you did beat us in the playoffs it wouldn't be the end of the world, but if you did, you better beat CLE! Thought you should know . Melo & Billips are just playing beautifully. How is BBB Billips playing the best ball of his career at age 33?! HGH? Later.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

MHZ, that was some major ownage. Well done.

Although.. it was kind of like beating up a 1st grader. He was asking for it though.

[MHZ]

MHZ, you have a knack for blowing things outta proportion.

Go back to WCF Game 1 and 2 last year, Melo was dominant, yet he was smiling and laughing, as always. So what's the difference between that Melo and this Melo?

This Melo tonight is much less serious... that Melo in WCF Game 1 and 2 during dead plays was smiling and stuff but when the game was on, he was dead serious. He was intense, he was fired up.


Are "intense", "fired up", "serious" the adjectives you would use to describe Melo in this Lakers game? Heck no. It's not even close.

Both Melos are smiling but I know the difference when he smiles and destroys people and when he smiles and his mind is in Timbuktu... he can't fool Snake's eyes.


Again, if you canNOT describe Melo (in the Lakers game yesterday) as "intense", "fired up" and "serious", then you should get my point.


At some point, Mr Big Shot should slap him and tell him to grow the **** up... his mind can be so juvenile/ child-like at the wrongest time. We don't need a playful dude... we need a winner like Mr Big Shot.

So you've gone from saying that there's no smiling on a basketball court, because it's a serious situation like having your kid die, to saying that you can only smile during dead balls. You've also pointed out that you have some sort of ability to look at Melo and know where his mind is.

I would pose to you this: after Melo missed a shot, followed his shot amongst the trees, missed again, and then fought for and tipped in a third attempt, he smiled as he ran back. Was his mind elsewhere there? Was he thinking about his upcoming appearance in Stop Snitchin' 2? Was he wondering whether he left his stove on when he left for the arena? How would you have suggested he act more like a winner in that situation? Miss the first shot, scowl at little kids in the first row, and run down the court? Should Chauncey Billups have been to correct to run in, swat Melo's shot off the rim (garnering an offensive interference call), to teach him a lesson?

Tell me, Snake. You know what Melo's thinking. How would that play, where he broke your cardinal body language rule apparently, but showed consistent effort going after the ball until he put it in, be improved. Do everything the exact same, but don't smile? Uh oh, that would lead me to believe that whether he smiles or not means absolutely dick.

[el loco]

yeah el loco sure, but LaLa?

What are suggesting, that he take advice on such matters from Lamar

[J Smitty]

It's seriously surprising to me how concerned and worried about the Nuggets the Lakers actually are. I mean, it's one thing for the fans to be that way....that's how us fans get. But for their players? That would be troubling to me.

It's like they were searching and searching for reassurance that they are in fact the better team. And now, winning this game by six points, has given them just that...apparently. Because if they weren't worried, and it wasn't weighing on their mind, and we weren't in their heads....then they wouldn't feel the need to be talking about how they're the better team now after this win. If you're so much better, like they're trying to convince themselves that they are, then there would be no reason to talk about it.

And people talk about our lack of 'mental toughness.' Oh how beautiful this is becoming. Can't wait until the playoffs!

[SnakefromHell]

So you've gone from saying that there's no smiling on a basketball court, because it's a serious situation like having your kid die, to saying that you can only smile during dead balls. You've also pointed out that you have some sort of ability to look at Melo and know where his mind is.

I would pose to you this: after Melo missed a shot, followed his shot amongst the trees, missed again, and then fought for and tipped in a third attempt, he smiled as he ran back. Was his mind elsewhere there? Was he thinking about his upcoming appearance in Stop Snitchin' 2? Was he wondering whether he left his stove on when he left for the arena? How would you have suggested he act more like a winner in that situation? Miss the first shot, scowl at little kids in the first row, and run down the court? Should Chauncey Billups have been to correct to run in, swat Melo's shot off the rim (garnering an offensive interference call), to teach him a lesson?

Tell me, Snake. You know what Melo's thinking. How would that play, where he broke your cardinal body language rule apparently, but showed consistent effort going after the ball until he put it in, be improved. Do everything the exact same, but don't smile? Uh oh, that would lead me to believe that whether he smiles or not means absolutely dick.

I watched the game highlights again... I can see closely that Melo was messing around... it's not because he smiles, but it's his hustle. When Ron pushed him around so he wouldn't get nice positions, he didn't exactly fight for the position back. He just let Ron dictate where he is and he just didn't have a desire to fight back for the position. Watch the game again, watch up close, and tell me that Melo was serious in that game.

I know smiling is his trademark... he has smiled and been serious at the same time before but he has also smiled and jerked/ messed around too. You watch the game again, and you can't convince me he was serious in that game. Case in point, Ron pushed him and almost just roughed him up and there was little resistance, if any from Melo.

Cavs game, he was smiling too but he was fired up in that game, he was motivated, he played hard, his 40 pts proved it.

[J Smitty]

I haven't read any of this thread....but seriously, what the **** are you talking about? This is a new low, even for you.

[MHZ]

So you've gone from saying that there's no smiling on a basketball court, because it's a serious situation like having your kid die, to saying that you can only smile during dead balls. You've also pointed out that you have some sort of ability to look at Melo and know where his mind is.

I would pose to you this: after Melo missed a shot, followed his shot amongst the trees, missed again, and then fought for and tipped in a third attempt, he smiled as he ran back. Was his mind elsewhere there? Was he thinking about his upcoming appearance in Stop Snitchin' 2? Was he wondering whether he left his stove on when he left for the arena? How would you have suggested he act more like a winner in that situation? Miss the first shot, scowl at little kids in the first row, and run down the court? Should Chauncey Billups have been to correct to run in, swat Melo's shot off the rim (garnering an offensive interference call), to teach him a lesson?

Tell me, Snake. You know what Melo's thinking. How would that play, where he broke your cardinal body language rule apparently, but showed consistent effort going after the ball until he put it in, be improved. Do everything the exact same, but don't smile? Uh oh, that would lead me to believe that whether he smiles or not means absolutely dick.

I watched the game highlights again... I can see closely that Melo was messing around... it's not because he smiles, but it's his hustle. When Ron pushed him around so he wouldn't get nice positions, he didn't exactly fight for the position back. He just let Ron dictate where he is and he just didn't have a desire to fight back for the position. Watch the game again, watch up close, and tell me that Melo was serious in that game.

I know smiling is his trademark... he has smiled and been serious at the same time before but he has also smiled and jerked/ messed around too. You watch the game again, and you can't convince me he was serious in that game. Case in point, Ron pushed him and almost just roughed him up and there was little resistance, if any from Melo.

Cavs game, he was smiling too but he was fired up in that game, he was motivated, he played hard, his 40 pts proved it.

Your argument has changed. A lot. We went from too much smiling, to not being enough like Kendrick Perkins, to acting differently during basketball than he would when his kid was in the hospital or dead (my personal favorite), to Chauncey Billups needs to slap some seriousness into him.

Now, it's not the smiling, it's just that he didn't resist Ron Artest enough. Even though he fouled out - from fighting for position. Even though those two went at it every trip down the floor. Even though, to pretty much anybody else, his fault was trying to overdo (the exact opposite). Offensive fouls, over dribbling when he didn't need to, some forced shots, etc.

Saying he had 40 points against the Cavs, so that shows he played hard is a little foolish. You can play your ass off, but if the shots don't fall, the shots don't fall. Ask Anthony Carter. Does anybody deny his effort or how hard he plays? No. Yet he **** blows. Playing hard doesn't necessarily equal good game, even for a guy as talented as Melo.

And I know how much you care about body language. It's the most important thing to you. Look at Melo's face on the bench after he fouled out and tell me he didn't want the game. Tell me it wasn't killing him that he wasn't on the court. Tell me that he was just out there joking around. He had a scowl on his face. I'm surprised you didn't have an erection.

[PeTBuLL]

Great effot for Nene on the 1st half, then, as always, ppl. forgot that he was playing good and stoped to give him the ball...

He did play a good 1st half. But come on PetBull even you have to admit that he is way too passive at times.

Agree, and i dont know why... maybe its religion...