So look guys, I've got 110 pages worth of readings for school among others so I just felt I wanted to get this out of the way, otherwise I don't think I'd be able to concentrate on school work x_x

I was only able to watch the second half of the Lakers-Nuggets game today (good for me right? -_- ) It would seem to have been a good close game in the first half (based on the score), and it would seem like we were in for a great game. Apparently not.

Bynum had 19 points. Don't let the -1 from his season average fool you. He wasn't as dominant as he was in other games when they needed him to be (2nd half). This was an initial concern for me actually. So far, none of the teams the Lakers have faced (except the Nuggets) played tough and rugged basketball especially in the interior. So while Bynum has been dominant throughout the season, it made me wonder how he'd respond against a rugged and physical team (like Denver or Boston). I'll probably be observing Bynum closely this year. He seems to be closing  in on his all-star form, but it will be interesting to see how he responds against teams that have players who are actually as big/bigger, and as strong/stronger than him.

Kobe had a subpar 19 points, being held scoreless in the 3rd quarter by great Nuggets defense. He did not have the freedom to go one-on-one in that 3rd quarter, as every time he would get the ball, the whole Nuggets defense would tilt towards him. Well you wouldn't really expect less from the Nuggets. We did expect more from Kobe though, but that's how it goes. Great players will have subpar games, and today, Kobe had one. 

I personally don't like how the Lakers gave up wide open shots to force the ball into the interior in that 3rd quarter. If i'm not mistaken, Fisher and Walton made a number of those passes that resulted in turnovers rather than shooting the ball themselves. As they saying goes, when you give up wide open shots, you are hurting your team. I thought those were unnecessary passes, disrupting the rhythm of the Laker offense, and adding momentum to Denver as they resulted in turnovers.

Oh, and let's not forget the Laker's "deep bench" as some analysts continue to insist (Doug Collins, I expected more from you x_x)

All those aside, some fans are quick to judge and criticize. Like I'm sure a number of fans are now screaming  things like

• Why didn't Phil take Artest out after 4 fouls?
• Why didn't Phil call timeout during that run?
• Why didn't Phil give the Lakers a chance in the 4th by letting the bench in?
• etc...

You and I probably know more or less about Phil Jackson right? He doesn't call hasty timeouts. He allows a player in foul trouble to stay in the game. He's been known to bench Jordan when the Bulls were mounting a comeback. Etc... All for what? Learning. And Phil has said it before. If it would take losing a few regular season games to gain valuable learning experience, then so be it.

You really think that Phil still had his mind set on winning this game by the end of the 3rd?  You really think that Phil was so crazy about "making a statement" with this game? Think again. And I like that of Phil. Rather than hyping the game up himself (and I'm not saying that this game is not important --- well actually, it isn't that important), he stuck to educating his boys. Look, if he really wanted to win this game, he would have gone Kobe Bryant by the 8 min mark in the 4th regardless of the deficit, even if it was just to give it a shot.

And on Phil's decision of allowing Ron Artest to stay in the game with 4 fouls in the 3rd quarter... I liked it... At the back of his mind, Phil's probably saying, "This is not the last time I'm gonna ask this of you (Artest). Come playoff time, I might have to play you with 5 fouls against Pierce, Carmelo, LeBron down the stretch." Well as we all know, Ron picked up his 5th in the 3rd but if I did not know better, that drove the message even more to Ron Artest. Phil has taught Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, Kobe, Lamar, Fisher, to play with 5 fouls down the stretch. I'm sure he'd like to add Artest to that list, especially come playoff time against the elite wing scorers of the league.

Of course we did not have Pau. But seriously Laker fans. The Lakers need Pau to win a 7-game series against Denver. But the Lakers could have won this one game without him.

Summary of this game: Denver played great. Lakers played poorly. And instead of bailing them out, Phil decides that this is a great opportunity for educating his players.

Peace :)