Believe

Caught Game 7 at home on Saturday night and now it is my turn to toss up my partially digested crow.

It was the young Lakers who gagged as Smush, Kwame, and Lamar all left their game at the hotel. They couldn't score inside, and they couldn't stay in front of Diaw or Barbosa, and they couldn't guard anybody. Why didn't Kwame knock the Brazilian into the stands? Why did Smush switch on S/R instead of going under and making Nash shoot? Why didn't they put Kobe on Nash?

As much as I enjoyed the Suns win, my feeling is that reality will hit when they run up against Elton Brand and the Clippers. Nashie's only hope is to bait Cassell and the young Shaun Livingstone into a run and gun game that leaves the bigs huffing and puffing down the stretch. Clips in 5.

V

Game 7 On

I was watching tape until 1:30am last night. Observations:

- I thought Lakers were going to close out in Game 6, but the Suns finally got stuff going in the half court offense. They ran screen-roll every time with Nash, and when they didn't get roll, Nash pulled it back outside. Then Diaw or Thomas had a mismatch in the low post against Smush, and Nash got them the ball. If Lakers ran double at the post, the post player flipped it to shooter on the baseline opposite. Or, if the post pass wasn't there, Nash was 1-on-1 against Kwame and he ate his lunch with a variety of left drives and cross over pull-ups. Dude is only 6'2"!!!

- Kobe was sick, filthy, nasty in the end game. Unreal shooting touch, especially the two long threes. I respect is game, but I still don't like him. Suns best move was to put Marion on Kobe, something I was going to e-mail D'Antoni to do. Marion is the same size, and just as quick. I think for Game 7, Suns need to put a variety of defenders on Kobe, maybe get Bell to bait him into going 1-on-1, and then finish with Marion in Q4.

- Smush looks totally lost. No confidence whatsover. Suns need to go right at him, Luke Walton, and Kwame and tag them all with early fouls.

- Diaw and Barbosa finally have their stroke going. Take it to the hole!

- Put Kobe on Nash, that's the key for Lakers winning game 7.

- Here's an anecdote from page 2 on ESPN. What's with this Mamba stuff for Kobe? You can't give yourself your own handle...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060505
"Living in Hollywood. Which gives me a chance to hear stories like this: During the timeout right before Kobe's game-tying layup in Game 4, the Mamba waited until Jackson was done talking, then went over to Smush Parker, grabbed him by the shoulders in full view of everyone sitting near the bench, then started poking him in the chest while repeatedly screaming, "You steal that ball! You steal that ball! You steal that [bleeping] ball!" Apparently Smush looked terrified, like a 14-year-old minding his own business in Compton who was suddenly being ordered to rob a liquor store by the leader of the Crips. But Smush stole the damned ball. And if there was video footage of this moment in the huddle, I think I would pay three grand for it. "

Can't wait for Saturday 5:30pm.
V

Laker Fan #1 Writes from London

Boys:

First off I'm adding Alex to this as I know how much he hates Kobe.

Having tons of trouble getting any basketball over here - all they care about is World Cup (Rooney broke his foot - so everyone is freaking out).

I saw that the Lakers got game 5 handed to them. A sign of a young team. But you all know that they have the true MVP and game 6 is in the bag. A Lakers Clippers series will be one of the all time greats.

What is up with Kwame being set up with this sexual assault charge? Just like Kobe, the Man is always trying to keep a brother down.

Anyways thanks to all of you - and I mean all of you that said Kobe sucked and the Lakers would do nothing this year - for coming around and seeing that they are what they are. A young talented team with some growing pains, but also with the best coach and player in the game. It's not eating crow when you admit reality. Way to drop yer pants and grab your ankles like real men.

Now onto game 6 and a second round match up of historic proportions. Gotta love this game! - even from London. I'm off to Amsterdam on Friday - so you may not hear from me for about 4-7 years.

Cheers

T