The Lakers put the Magic in a Choke-hold.
by Vincent Thomas / @vincecathomas
Big game tonight, SLAMfam. Game 4s are pendulum games. Either L.A. takes a decisive 3-1 lead, or Orlando ties up the series and takes an incredible amount of momentum into Game 5.
Readers, Facebook friends and Twitter followers have been asking me what I think is gonna go down tonight and I keep going back to two things I harped on immediately after Game 3. 1.) Orlando shot, like, 99.9% from the floor in Game 3 and only won because The Closer failed to closeout the game like he (Kobe) usually does. When you shoot 63%, you should probably win easy. Orlando will fall back to earth tonight. They’d do well to even shoot 55%, which, to be honest, is a very accurate night under normal circumstances. Which gets me to 2) L.A. needs to and will get Pau the ball more. Orlando is helpless against Gasol and, to a lesser extent, an aggressive Lamar Odom. I can’t imagine that L.A. will ignore this advantage all series long.
One other thing. We’re gonna do another edition of The Commish Comments. Expect it Friday afternoon. This time, though, I will cull comments/questions/opinions and tangents from this liveblog comment thread. So be provocative, be smart, be funny and be thoughtful.
I’ll be headed over to Amway in an hour or so to catch the coaches’ pregame pressers and catch the vibe of the lockerrooms. I’ll check-in here at tip-off. Until then, feel free to start the discussion…
PREGAME
Sorry guys. Had some trouble with the connection. Before I move onto first quarter action, just wanted to update folks on the “Shard/Hedo defensive assignment” question. Iasked SVG why he assigns Shard to the bigger player and he said, simply, that Shard is a better low post defender, that Hedo feels more comfortable defending on the perimeter. He said he could tell this almost as soon as he became coach last season. So, there you have it. Shard is on Gasol and Odom because, of the two, he’s better equipped.
FIRST QUARTER
After four minutes, with Orlando up 7-6, this much is clear: Kobe has little interest in staying with Lee on the perimeter, roaming instead…and Kobe will be shooting a lot again. Meanwhile, Dwight is active with six boards and two fouls on Drew.
This Orlando crowd is locked in. I think they are fueled by the same disrespect-complex that is motivating their squad. It’s loud in here. Not smart loud, like Boston or Chicago, but bottle-blonde, “go blue-white” loud. But loud nonetheless. It’s easy to see why role players thrive at home and struggle in more hostile environs.
Right this moment, there’s a group of geriatric WASPs, at midcourt, dancing to “Hot In Herr.” That’s why I diss Orlando as souless. That wouldn’t go down in Philly.
When Hedo learned of Kareem’s “Dwight’s O-game is predictable” comment, he responded “let’s see you play him with one man.” And that’d be a nice snarky “touche” comment, if Dwight wasn’t so horrible coming out of double teams…like the one that just happened.
Realizing that D12 isn’t the smartest defender, but Gasol is one of the more crafty scorers, why not pound it to Gasol when Dwight is checking him? Instead, Dwight is getting the night off and sending the Lakers bigs to the bench. Maybe Zo is right and Phil isn’t actually coaching on the sidelines.
My man Bomani Jones just tweeted: “i’m starting to wonder if bynum fouls on purpose so he can go sit down.”
Ariza wasn’t slamming the ball in disgust. At least it’s not clear. He could have been trying to bounce the ball in the basket. Players (and fans) try that all the time. But, seeing as how easy it is to misconstrue that action, why be a complete mushroom-head and slam the ball on the court?
Orlando shooting 50%, L.A. shooting 33%. Orlando 12 boards. L.A. 5 boards. But Orlando only up 3. Hmmmm
Magic can do whatever they want in the pain for rest of the quarter now that Gasol, Bynum and Odom are all on the bench with two fouls.
Kobe may be jacking, but he’s keeping L.A. in it. Strategic-jacking.
Redick shouldn’t be on the court during the Finals. It’s like will.I.am being in an Rap Armageddon battle.
end of 1st. Magic up 24-20. Don’t see a trend, yet. Anyone else spot something notable?
2ND QUARTER
Folks, unfortunately all of my 2nd Quarter thoughts were lost in a technical error. I’ll say this about the 2nd Quarter. Orlando is starting to look a lot like they did in CLeveland where it seems that they just have way more shot-makers than their opponent.
L.A. only shot 33% for the first half. I’ll be shocked if that continues. Orlando’s defense can be pretty stellar in bursts, but L.A. is a smart offensive team. And Bynum and Odom played a combined 14 minutes due to foul trouble. That SHOULD change.
I’ll be interested to see if Orlando can blow open a big lead to start the third (they are capable). Or, there’s a great possibility L.A. quickly gets the lead under 4 points and makes it a new game.
At any rate, Orlando 49, L.A. 37.
END OF 1st HALF
Here’s a question for you all to discuss, is Pau Gasol a better basketball PLAYER than Dwight. I say yes.
3RD QUARTER
Let’s see if Bynum can stay on the floor for more than 150 seconds. And let’s see if L.A. can get D12 in foul trouble.
I think Andrew Bynum might be his generation’s Nick Anderson. I think these playoffs are scarring him.
Ariza needs to get back to that steal for the dunk. L.A. within 10, 51-41.
Imagine if Hedo were explosive. That shot he just dropped in was so friggin crafty.
Ariza for three. L.A. has cut the Magic lead to 5, 54-49. Ariza has seven points and a steal in the first four minutes. This is NOT want the Magic wanted, obviously. Bottle-blonde crowd is silent.
Ariza has been absolutely HUGE. He’s pulling a Kobe. Laers within one, 54-53
What did I tell you about the start of the 3rd? L.A. takes the lead on two Bynum free throws, 55-54. More importantly, Bynum has managed to stay on the floor for more than six minutes. This is a first. Howard has been silent.
The game has settled into a boxing match, now. Hedo having 4 fouls is big.
Reddick with the trey. SVG must like the dude. Orlando’s bottle-blonde crowd loves him.
Howard picks up his third foul on a loose ball. Kobe responds like a jaded girlfriend wrestling her way out of an abusive boyfriend’s arms.
Kobe with a big shot at the end of the quarter. Lakers take a 67-63 lead into the 4th quarter. Odom (with his two threes) and Ariza (with his super-active start) were big in the 3rd, as was Hedo being on the bench.
4TH QUARTER
Hedo might have the dopest up-fake in the league. Either him, Kobe, Paul Pierce or Scalabrine.
Did you see Ariza chase down Pietrus and change that gimme-layup.
Kobe’s up-fake is so ill that he has Pietrus deathly afraid to do anything OTHER than stay on his feet. Because of that he just dropped a dagger-three on him. Lakers 75-70
Pietrus with the And1 to tie it up at 75-75 and chance to take the lead on his free throw.
Kobe can’t play fast break defense anymore. He’s not capable. Pietrus blew by him. Look at how Ariza defends a charging defender. That’s how Kobe used to be, but much better. Kobe used to devour dudes.
Dwight Howard doesn’t seem to show any regard or discretion when it comes to blocking shots. Hence that dumb goaltend.
Kobe just pointed for Ariza to dump it down to Pau. Why? ‘Cause after three straight posessions of going hard to the basket, the old man needed a rest.
It’s tied up 79-79. Magic not shooting free throws well.
L.A. shooting less than 40%. Magic outrebounding them. But game is close because Orlando has 14 turnovers to L.A.’s 6. Magic have to take care of the ball.
Huge three by Ariza to tie it up at 82.
Bad misses by Dwight. I at least expected one of two.
L.A. down 3, 87-84, with the ball and 11 seconds. For the first time in nine years, I’m not confident Kobe will come through.
Uncle Fish with the CLUTCH pull-up three. But Orlando has two assassins. Lakers fans are peeing pants right now. Magic crowd has an eerily confident buzz.
Great inbound defense by the Lakers on the last play. Didn’t let Shard get it or let Hedo get it on the pass-back after the inbound. Forced pietrus into an uncharacteristic shot. But the really great defensive possession was on the first failed inbound, when Shard curled to the baseline for that SAME shot he hits at the end of the game all the time in these playoffs, except Ariza shadowed Hedo’s right shoulder and took the pass away.
We go to overtime, 87-87.
OVERTIME
Tied up 91-91. Nobody is taking control. I’ll tell you this, though. Kobe needs this two day rest he has coming up.
SVG refuses to play Skip. That will be a major question in the postgame pressers.
You know how continues to botch splitting that double team? Here’s a quip from my girl Jemele Hill: “Message to Phil: That split-the-double-team-pick-n-roll doesn’t work” It doesn’t. If it were DWade or CP3 splitting the double team, maybe. But not Kobe and not with Dwight being the big man getting split.
Uncle Fish with the HUGE 3 again!
Pau with open court dunk after the rebound deflection. Lakers up 96-91 with only 21 left. But with Magic three point shooting, they’re never out of it.
Also, Kobe’s pass to Fish was MJesque.
Pau with the And1 dunk. Game over. Lakers take that decisive 3-1 lead.
Discuss amongst yourselves. I will have a few thoughts during/after the press conference.
And keep commenting, so I have a lot of good stuff to work with for the weekend’s Commish Comments.
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As far as me hitting the wall, so what if I did? I didn’t, but so what if I did? Q. What does it mean if you did?
KOBE BRYANT: It means nothing. Q. Because?
KOBE BRYANT: Because I’ll run straight through it. http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/02/koolaidman.jpg
http://www.channelsurfing.net
http://www.atdhe.net
http://www.justin.tv Andrew, hope that helps
Oh wait. We haven’t started yet. My bad.
And andrew: go to “ATDHE dot net” or “Justin dot tv” They work alright.
@Mike: http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/06/a-look-at-mike-browns-job-security/
@Mike: I don’t know what’s up with Shannon’s disappearance.
Anyway, it seems like sometimes that when Hedo has the ball, the other Magic players have no clue what play they’re running.
Any doubts I once had about Fish were quelled as soon as, like the veteran he is, he drilled the 3 off the well-executed Philly play.
The Lakers p!ss me off, but I give credit where its due.
And its due.
Also, Kobe DID throw a huge ‘bow at Nelson, I’m surprised that wasn’t called. I mean, I’m glad they’re letting the players play with some physicality, but come on…
WHERE IN THE WORLD WAS SKIP TO MY LOU AND WHY WAS HE NOT PLAYING?
Terrible game, refs sucked for both teams. Lakers played terrible. In reality we could be looking at 3-1 Orlando. But that’s the way the finals roll. Every year. One team get lucky and guess WHAT… KO-BE, KO-BE, KO-BE!!!!!
@simmysosa. its hard to swallow but laker fans are as great as they come. as an example: there’s a youtube of a couple of congress ladies talkin friendly smack to each other. the orlando chick doesnt know squat, the la lady cold names the entire team– even has her own nicknames for everyone. and if you think this championship was handed to us, you are the one who doesnt know a thing about this beautiful game we call basketball. your lack of respect for that is why you are a textbook sore loser.
Magic = 17
Lakers = 0 Lakers still win.
And the Lakers still win.
So Dwight is superman hmm, and soooo much improved in his offensive repetoire (according to the talking heads on tv), THEN MAKE A FREAKING CLUTCH FREETHROW!!!!!! How is it that these men, these freaks of athletic nature, FAIL at shooting Freethrows. It’s not like they hang around a hoop most of the day, scratch that, most of the year… Up 3, 11 secs to go, you ice 1 of 2 and the Lakers go for desperations 3′s after their Timeout. You ice 2-2 and it’s essentially game over! All your blocks, rebounds a’int sheeit tonight DA-Whight, you missed maybe the biggest FT’s of your career. Keep smiling about that, you big buffoon!
… Daaarrrrkkkkkkkssss issss souurrrrrrrrrr … Freedommmmmmm issss soouuurrrrrrrrr… EBOY EBOY EBOY EBOY EBOY!!!! lol ya’ll are awsome. Hate baby hate. You guys know all the stats. Kobe for his 4th. Buuutttttt Orlando still isn’t done. It has got to suck being a fan like eboy and dark and freedom. When the refs give the game to the Magic and still lose. These guys that are mad like this is awsome lol. Keeping commenting ladies lol, I love reading it.
Why are people surprised that Dwight missed two pressure packed free throws? He’s a bad free throw shooter, that’s what they do.
Hedo is both cluth, and boneheaded. He makes shots that are crazy clutch, but he also makes plays that cause his team to suffer throughout the game.
Jameer Nelson doesn’t have his burst, and at the end of the game the Lakers kind of forced him to be a scorer on the pick and rolls, and he couldn’t do it consistently.
Kobe’s elbow was not egregious. Jameer needs to keep his distance, that’s ball homie. Unlike some of his dirty elbows, I had no problem with that one.
Bynum’s leg isn’t right. After an offseason working on it, I think he’ll be back to his old form next year.
When the Lakers lock in on defense, the Magic are in trouble.
Derek Fisher has balls like watermelons. That first three was incredibly ballsy. Everyone knows that if he misses that shot, he’s the most hated man in LA, but he still took it, and took it without hesitation. That’s clutch right there.
Sounds like life.
My soul slides away, but don’t look back in anger
I heard you say”
I’m changing back to Izzo….
97-.45.6%
98-42.7%
Smile- though your heart is broken; Smile when Dwight Howard’s choking..Clanking crucial free throws.did you see Jameer’s broken nose?..You just smile when Ariza punks you..Smile..when Gasol just dunked you..Fish raining threes to save the day; See youuuuu at the victory parade!
(thank you..thank you veddy much)
Magic = 21
Lakers = 0 Is this fair? And you Magic fans cry about jameer getting elbowed when he did not give Kobe any space. Oh and you think Pietrus should not be suspended for punching Pau in the back? Thats was deliberate. Pietrus is a coward little cry baby.
the talent is unquestionable and is really only questioned by idiots, but i don’t see much in him that makes me want to root for him. that’s just me, though. i don’t wish him to fail, though, that’s borderline crazy. indifference to his success. admiration for his game.
I actually like Hedo “Crash” Turkoglu on Kobe. They need to go to that more often.” “BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 10:35 pm
Oh crap I’m still BETCATS.” If slam doesnt fix this i am leaving. I dont need a imposter (no matter how harmless/cool he is) impostering me.
It’s cute though.
But Jameer’s defense on Fisher was inexcusable. Was he trying not to get blown by for a layup when they were up 3 with 4seconds left? Really? Oh what, he was an All-Star?
On Dwight: Bring your elbows up when you shoot free-throws dude.
On Stan V G: Panic at the disco.
On Peitrus: French guys aren’t scary
On Derek Fisher: I would want to go out like that. Retire after this ring.
On Jameer: He came back before he was ready so he could say he played in the finals. Well, Jameer, was it worth it?
On Phil Jackson: New nickname – Morpheus
On Skip-to-my-lou: You are a champion already, homie.
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