Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 at 8:44 am  |  179 responses

Post Up: Fight to the Finish

Lakers outlast Suns after three OTs; Bulls down Hawks.

by Adam Figman | @afigman

Chicago 114, Atlanta 81

The Bulls destroyed the Hawks, reclaiming their spot atop the East and reinforcing why many think they could breeze through the first (and the second?) round of the Playoffs. Derrick Rose put up an even 30 points and 10 dimes, while Luol Deng (whose importance really can’t be understated at this point) dropped 27. Jeff Teague led ATL with 20.

Portland 111, Washington 76

Another blowout. The Blazers knocked down the Wizards, sending them packing behind a great night from Gerald Wallace (28 points) and 22 points apiece from both Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge. Somehow, Washington still hasn’t won a second game on the road, so perhaps we should’ve celebrated the first one a little more when that went down. The Blazers currently hold the sixth spot in the West, just one game behind Denver and one ahead of New Orleans.

L.A. Lakers 139, Phoenix 137

Three overtimes, 276 points and 63 total minutes. And after all that, the Lakers managed to hold off the Suns and pull off the exhausting victory. After a series of close almost-finishes and high-pressure moments, Ron Artest (!) scored 4 clutch points in the final two minutes of the third overtime—two after a big steal, and two via a fallaway J—and a Kobe Bryant jumper put the Suns away for good with 14 seconds remaining. Kobe ended up with a ridiculous 42-12-9 stat line, while Steve Nash went for 19 points and 20 dimes for the Suns. Channing Frye (32 points, 14 boards) was vital as well, draining a number of threes (he had five total) that kept Phoenix in it during the end of regulation and first two OT sessions. Most importantly, this contest produced some glorious post-game quotes, including Lamar Odom’s “I’m tired. I’m ready to go home. And I’m in the mood for pancakes,” and Phil Jackson’s “I was hoping to get outta here by 11. It’s a little past my bed time.” Understandable. The Lakers “host” the Clippers on Friday; the Suns, unfortunately, have to get back to Arizona to host the Raptors tonight. That won’t be fun.

Last Call: JaVale McGee denies Wesley Matthews. Hard.

(H/T: @outsidethenba)

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  • http://slamonline.com MichaelG

    I feel like the Gipper cause there you go again. Everybody ELSE is getting emotional, NOT you… except your still herb’d about my hypothetical refrence to your age. And seem more concerned about debating that than the actual subject. Defenition> “butt hurt.” Lol. Im done with ya homie, seeing as i dont care nearly as much about the subject and especially the quality of debate with your a55. its like playing body blows with an amputee.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Sugar Ray Robinson. sorry.

  • http://slamonline.com MichaelG

    Nicholas Flemming: Haha,yeah your right about were Scoop has Kobe. I was just fuggin with you to see what your response would be. Whenever cats state thier opinions as law the way you did i cannot resist the urge to challenge it. See whats behind such strong opinion. Same goes for the Bill Comment. I actually agree with you almost completely. I have Kobe around 6 and he’s got allot of work to do to just to catch up to Magic who i have @ #2, IMO.

  • JTaylor21

    Marciano? umm most experts and true boxing fans say that Sugar Ray Robinson’s the GOAT. Ali said that same thing when asked to name the greatest.
    People really need to go check up on some of dude’s accomplishments; he went 85-0!!!as a amateur and for the first 11 yrs of his pro career he went 128-1 with 84 KOs!!!. I could go on and on with all that he accomplished but I would be on here for hours. All you need to know is that Sugar Ray Robinson is the undisputed greatest boxer of all-time.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    But not according to Slic Ric and Nicolas Fleming.

  • sutphin

    Why are you so sensitive? You act as if you sleep with Kobe every night. I mean, YOU initiated the “debate” with me lil man. Scroll up, I think you’ll find where I made my comment and you starting playing the Defender of All Things Kobe. Nobody asked you for your two cents about your idol lmao. And correct if I’m wrong, but didn’t YOU get all up in arms about being called a groupie? What exactly was the actual subject again? Do you even know what it was because you sepnt so much responding to me I’m almost thinking you like me as much as you crush on Kobe Mr. Butt Hurt LOL. Dueces lil guy.

  • sutphin

    One last thing: I’m officially adding “butt hurt” to the list of things grown men shouldn’t be saying in 2011. I’m putting it on top of the terms ‘swag/swagger’ and ‘hating’.

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Add dueces too.
    Nah, I say that too much myself. lol

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    SG almost made me cry to tears when he said “I’m still bumpin that K.O.B.E. by Kobe and Tyra Banks in my car today. That joint goes hard.”

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    *laugh to tears

  • JTaylor21

    That’s why I said “experts” and “true” boxing fans.

  • T-Money

    Nbk, actually, a lot of people say that mario lemieux was better than wayne. His back just let him down.

  • http://sfdjklf.com Jukai

    I don’t agree with a LOT of what Bryan Crawford says, but Lebron is a lot more narcissistic. It’s a more likable narcissism though.

  • http://sfdjklf.com Jukai

    Anderson Silva: Best MMA fighter ever

  • http://nobulljive.com Enigmatic

    Eh, right now, pound for pound best fighter, yes.
    But Rikson Gracie, Bas Rutten, Fedor Emilianenko, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and others could be argued for as well.

  • Jackie Moon

    Lebron’s narcissism is so much more likeable than Kobes, ha!

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    Well, Anderson Silva is probably the most dominant fighter to ever fight in the UFC

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    Katarina Witt; hottest figure skater everrrr.
    (i will not discuss this, nope)

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    Darksaber, I don’t really follow figure skating so I couldn’t argue if I tried

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    No argument needed, Kati ROCKS. (okay, maybe my opinion is a tiny bit biased due to her posing for playboy years ago, but still….) She is da bestest. :-)
    Honestly though, you should check out some of the acrobatic events at the olympics etc. The things those kids do put bballers to shame.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    I saw the ’08 Olympics. China was cheating it’s a** off in Gymnastics. Like 3-4 of those girls claimed to be 16 and looked 7-8 years old.

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    Yeah, they have a history of that nonsense. Diving, gymnastics etc.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    I can’t wait til the next Summer Olympics though, I’m REALLY looking forward to track, even though Jamaica and the US will probably dominate again like always

  • http://philosopher.view@blogspot.com The Philosopher

    MiChael Gerard Tyson.

  • Logan

    man..y’all still at it? See the great thing about sport and supporting a sporting icon is it blinds a person from listening to anything negative about their ‘hero’. At the same time criticizing a mannerism of someone who is a proven winner borders on nitpicking and ‘not having anything better to do’ category.

    So Kobe does the jaw thing…so what…it looks bad….okay…but look at the box score…yeah….they just won the game.

    Any great athlete is under so much media scrutiny these days that they would be insane not to have planned an image to project…

  • Logan

    yeah it was awesome how Chinese officials put up a straight face which was like ‘huh…underage? what are you talking about? they are just petite!’

  • http://www.slamonline.com J

    Anderson Silva. GOAT. (Though I’m both die hard St. Pierre and Anderson fan.)

  • Lakers are pretty good!

    The Lakers turn into this offensive juggernaut when Bynum doesn’t play. When Bynum is in they become this defensive force! If they stay healthy they’re gonna be tough again in the playoffs!

  • http://slamonline.com Mars

    Ron Artest may be Kobe’s best teammate to date. And all those “critics” (see “Hater” in Websters Dictionary) that said it wouldn’t work out. The man is a greatly underrated basketball player.

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