Real Deal

So trade one of the few players on your team that plays both offense and defense? I don't get this. If they are truly looking to deal Iggy, it's to wipe out the contract...and that means they probably won't get anything out of him. And THAT means they might as well rebuild.

It is a huge win for Cleveland, and I consider it a huge loss for the Lakers. Thing is, most of the people that do get involved with Lakers fans are those who only show their faces at the end of losses. They never discuss Lakers basketball until then, and that's why it's annoying and uncalled for. I know people don't like a lot of Lakers fans. If many of them saw me posting at TLN, they'd realize I don't, either. That doesn't make it right to turn into a smart ass and post unnecessary remarks in gameday losses, like Diesel (one of our banned members) used to do all the time. If members want to discuss the Lakers, they can do it. If they want to be happy about a loss, they can talk about it. They don't need to go any further than that, though. The Sixers have lost 28 games this season. I don't go in each game topic and laugh about it, just because I don't like a few Philly fans. In fact, I've discussed topics in a mature manner with them, including those about Dalembert, Iverson returning, Eddie Jordan, and many others...what members should be doing here. And you already know this isn't me swinging at you, just a clarification.

I just didn't like Phil's decision to rest Bryant for seven minutes in the fourth, and the Lakers were pressing late in the shot clock on a TON of shots in the third, and looked to Bryant to bail them out. That was my only problem with the offense, really...just nobody was trying to get open, and they were spectators more than teammates (with the exception of Farmar and Brown, actually). The defense was bad. Kobe held West very well, did good on LeBron, and I actually liked what Farmar was doing out there (a first)...but other than that, it was hard for me to watch. Shaq may have had his way with Gasol and Bynum, but Bynum needs to put more effort into it. Gasol is rail thin compared to Shaq, but at least he tries to play physical basketball. Trying doesn't mean a lot if you don't produce, though.

Uh, actually, he didn't get owned defending LeBron. He contested a couple of shots, making him miss on a strongly-contested three as well, after he caught fire. Stop watching SportsCenter highlights and looking at boxscores. Haha, nice to pick up one blocking foul, though...LOL did you see Kobe drop that jumper on LeBron's face? Guess that means LeBron is getting old... Houston was a terrific defensive team last season, but LA isn't this year? The Rockets were 4th, defensively, while this year's Lakers are currently ranked 2nd. No, Kobe doesn't post up with both of our seven-footers in the game. You're dead wrong. He takes the post when one is out. If you think he posts up with both in the game, you might need to read up more on the triangle offense. And don't call me sweetheart. I don't swing that way.

Kobe is looking like an old man? LOL...did you see the game? And, no, Kobe doesn't post up when Bynum and Gasol are both in the game. The only time Kobe posts up is when Odom is running the offense, Bynum or Gasol are out of the game, AND he's got a smaller defender on him (ex. West). Bryant was getting doubled, and stuck in corners, without posting up. It happened three consecutive times, at one point. Nobody comes out to defend LeBron at the three point line, which is why he's attempted 15-20 threes in his last two games, and why he has a career high in threes attempted per game this season. Yes, I watch my Lakers, every game. Since Gasol's return, Kobe has posted up 75% less. And the doubles put on LeBron, when they happen, have slowed him quite a bit. Refer to Houston and what they did to him last season sometime in February, and also check into the Magic's game against LeBron in two of the three games they played Cleveland last season.

Just imagine what Bosh does for that problem, and how much that opens up Bryant (or Bosh, or whoever they want).

Amare isn't the starting center for the Suns, and he plays the majority of his time at the four. Good way to sneak in an extra PF, though.

By the way, it's still a loss, doesn't matter when it happened. When was losing a good thing? There are no moral victories, and people will find this out if we end up losing home court advantage by one game.

They don't double because the Cavaliers are the best three-point shooting team in the NBA. They have Mo, Parker, West, Gibson, Moon and Ilgauskas, all who can make open threes at will. Teams won't double Shaq, either, even though he can still have his way with most centers in the NBA right now. Kobe saw a double every single time he touched the ball in the second half tonight. I didn't see a single double on LeBron until he hit the paint, which is just ridiculous if we're not sticking Bryant on him.

Yeah, my Firefox has been acting up quite a bit on Facebook, actually...lots of delayed loading, and the spell check is just ruined on the new version. I won't ever switch to IE, though...but I'm thinking about Chrome.

Nah, that reply was just mocking another from a football topic. I actually enjoy when people root against the Lakers, believe it or not. Otherwise, I would've opened up a Lakers board (like I had planned on doing) instead of OTR. How many times did we double LeBron this game? How many teams actually double him? Kobe is the better defender, has a better jumper and better post game. That, alone makes him better. Sticking Ron Artest on LeBron, out on an island, isn't proving much to me. Bryant would've lit Ron up for 50 if that happened last year against Houston.

Good job sucking, Ron. Kobe should've defended him, like he did both times last season. Ron is in way over his head. Houston played excellent zone defense against LeBron. It was never just Artest. Figures, though. Maybe Artest needs to go back to watching Shane Battier and the way he puts a hand in his assignments' faces and does what he can to stay in front of them, instead of flying past their shooting arm or gambling for a steal.

Shocked.

Gasol chokes, Fisher is the worst starting point in the league, Shaq crushed Bynum and Pau, and Artest should've never been assigned LeBron. This game was really over in the third, once Cleveland started forcing that strong double on Bryant. Fact of the matter is, Phil Jackson needs to stop [expletive] around with the five-man units, keeping Bryant out of the fourth for seven minutes, and playing old man Fisher for that long. Pathetic game, once again.

Williams, Delonte, it doesn't matter. He'll light Fisher up, whoever it is.

I wouldn't say Duncan is declining that much. He's still giving Pop 20 a game, which he's been doing since 2004-05, and his FG% is the second highest of his career. Ten boards is still awesome...as many as he had in 2007, when he led the Spurs to a championship. The only thing that stands out? Probably the minutes, but that's Pop for you. When we all thought the Spurs would barely squeak in as a playoff team early in November and December, they are now sitting a top four or five in the West, and that's mainly because of Duncan recovering from his injury, combined with Gregg playing him off and on so much. The biggest problem the Spurs have right now is Manu Ginobili, who is performing way below his average play, despite the bench role...and probably Michael Finley, who I don't hear or see much of anymore. And the loss of Bowen, of course. San Antonio is ranked eighth in offense, ninth in defense. They started the season 9-9, and have gone 16-7 since. Duncan may have lost a step as far as speed goes, but I won't go as far as saying he's noticeably on the decline just yet. His last two seasons, not counting this current one, gave him much more trouble than anything else, and it was mainly because of his foot problem.

I'd actually rather have Kobe defending LeBron, and taking it easy on offense...but whatever they want.

Beasley played five minutes less than Wade because the game was already over in the second quarter. Miami just sucked...no offense, no defense, no nothing. At times, Wade was walking back down the court, like he was done.

We wouldn't necessarily have to give up Bynum. We could deal them expirings and Jordan Farmar. New Jersey is more than likely looking to just get rid of his contract, which is why they threw Rafer out of town without exploring trade scenarios. Bynum makes too much money to begin with. They wouldn't take him on for 4-5 seasons, $12 million up to $16 million his last season, especially when they already have an offensively-talented center in Lopez.

Honestly, this would be better for us than the Chris Bosh deal. Fisher needs to go to the bench.

Might as well invite Larry Nance, Julius Erving and Spudd Webb as well. Shaq can't grasp the fact that Vince and Kobe can't get up like they used to be able to. Bryant has had his knees scoped, and Vince has been suffering from knee injuries for a few seasons now. You won't be seeing a reverse 360 windmill from Carter. It's more of a good idea FOR LeBron to win it. How about putting Bron in there with James White, Shannon Brown, Andre Iguodala and some other mean dunkers who can give him a reason to actually try and be creative, instead of powerful?

Hinrich is the better defensive player, but Gordon is no slouch on the defensive end, either. Offensively, I think both are nearly on the same level. Hinrich just doesn't have the green light to do what Gordon does. Hinrich is the better pure shooter and has more range, while Gordon is the better slasher. Running an offense, it goes to Hinrich, hands down. It's not even close, in that regard. Overall better player? Kirk. However, Gordon will turn out to be the better player someday, unless he turns into a Kevin Martin and becomes a selfish player with no intent on distributing the ball, for his team, his teammates or even his own good.

Read it, angry Seattle fans. I remember a handful of you saying there would be no way the Thunder would sell tickets like the elite NBA teams, and that they'd be on sale in three years, and that Oklahoma City was a "cow town full of hicks and farms" (which is the complete opposite of what it really is).

Man, as much as I hate K-State, I was telling every one of my friends that Texas was going down tonight. I don't know why, I just had that gut feeling. But WOW, how about dragging the game out at the end? I swear, the last 50 seconds was about 30 minutes of fouling and fighting, lol.

If it's a repeat of last season, I guess you better worry about Orlando. They are extremely tough to beat when Carter defers to the others, and if Van Gundy ends up changing him by April, everyone out East is in trouble. Don't think that will happen, though.