OMFG
by DexterFishmore on Dec 4, 2009 11:54 PM PST
in Game Recaps
80 comments
The chronicles of Laker history already had a 0.4 Seconds, and now there's a 0.6. That's how much time remained on the clock when Kobe Bryant - 25 feet from the basket, flying leftward off one leg, with Dwyane Wade is his face - launched the shot that brought hoops fans everywhere to their feet and to their laptops and Blackberries, so they could tell everyone what they just saw. It was a banked-in three that Kobe calls the luckiest shot he's ever hit, and it stole a win from the Miami Heat. Scroll down to see the video. The final score was 108 to 107.
The Lakers trailed by four with nine seconds left, but Derek Fisher dropped a three from the right elbow (location-wise, roughly the same spot from which he daggered Orlando in Game Four), and Dwyane Wade then missed one of two free throws to set up the final possession. By that point the Laker defense had more or less fallen apart - they allowed the Heat to score 1.29 points per possession in the fourth quarter and 1.23 PPP in the second half - Lamar Odom had been ejected, and the consensus in our game thread was that the Lakers kinda, sorta deserved to lose this one.
As Clint Eastwood observed in The Unforgiven, however, "Deserve's got nothing to do with it." This one goes into the books as a win, the Lakers' 15th against only three losses.
Ron Artest, would you care to have the final word tonight?
"That's Black Mamba. I knew he was gonna make it."
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Poss. |
TO% |
FTA/ |
FT% |
EFG% |
TS% |
Off Reb% |
Def Reb% |
PPP |
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L.A. |
92 |
9 |
0.30 |
82 |
46 |
53 |
38 |
60 |
1.17 |
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Miami |
92 |
14 |
0.55 |
64 |
53 |
57 |
40 |
62 |
1.16 |
0 recs |
80 comments
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People on the LA Times Laker blog are crying that the sky is falling
what with the Lakers actually almost losing to a decent team. They’re calling the Lakers incapable of competing with the best in the NBA. They’re so wrong it’s not even funny.
The Lakers lost nearly every statistical category tonight. They shot 43% to the Heat’s 49%. Until the two clutch threes by Kobe and Fish, they were 3-15 from 3-point range while the Heat were 6-13 on the night. They lost the rebound battle by 4 (Jermaine has more left in the tank than people think). They also took 14 less free throws than the Heat.
They did, however, somehow manage to win the most important stats category.
That’s champion-caliber stuff.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
I never understand how some people look at this game and don't see it as a positive
The ability to win a game in which LO fouls out and offensively the Lakers played lousy and yet they grind it out and win…how is that a bad thing? If anything, to me this was a good test for them to be able to win this type of game. In the past, they would have chocked and gave up.
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:03 AM PST up reply actions
I will try to explain
1. They shouldn’t be lousy offensively.
2. Lakers were playing at home, against a team that is way sub-par and played last night.
3. They allowed heat, not really a good offensive team, more than 100 points.
They should have won easily and not require miracle shots to beat a team like this. It shouldn’t be a grind out game to begin with.
That's ridiculous
Until the game is played by robots or androids or something, imperfection and fallibility will always be part of it. Unpredictability will also always be part of it.
You can’t look at how good the Heat have or have not been in the other games they’ve played this season. You also can’t look at the fact that it’s a back to back for them, and they’re away. Those are all things that COULD affect them, and they matter before the game. But during and after the game, all that matters is how they actually played.
Yeah, being on the second half of a back to back COULD have affected them. But it didn’t, so it’s not a talking point anymore. It’s irrelevant. Just as teams sometimes have off nights, teams also sometimes overperform. That’s not necessarily the Lakers’ fault; the Heat just played well. Better than the circumstances would have caused us to expect, but at the end of the day, the Lakers didn’t play against circumstances. They played against a Heat team that was playing well.
As for the Lakers, they’re a group of humans. And humans are fallible. If you honestly expect that they’re not ever going to (1) struggle offensively, (2) allow teams to score 100 points, etc., then you’re just living in the clouds. It’s completely unrealistic. No team composed of human beings can live up to that.
Which is why this is impressive. Because…
1. Sometimes you are lousy offensively.
2. Sometimes teams come into your house and fight much harder than anyone expected, playing above their usual level.
3. Sometimes even so-so offensive teams get it clicking and will be able to score on you.
In those situations — and when they’re also getting a lot more free throws — to be able to grind out a win is impressive. It shows that the Lakers can win under all kinds of circumstances. Not just when things are going their way or when they’re clicking. And that’s what champions do … win even when all the indicators say they should have lost.
No one’s saying it’s a positive that this game was so close. But we ARE saying that it’s a reality that this will happen from time to time, and it’s absolutely a positive that they were able to grind out a win in that situation.
Strength & Honor
It's good to be the Champs
well said josh,
Datuca you must be new to following the Lakers if thats really how you feel.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
I doubt I will be able to change your mind but I'll put my point across anyways
Lakers are humans and can suck sometimes, I agree. But lets apply the same logic to Heat. They are humans too and were playing the second game of back-to-back and on the road. If they sucked, it would be completely understandable. But they were able to play well and the lakers weren’t. Thats my point. That was the case in last seasons playoffs as well. The Lakers are inconsistent. The teams who perform at a high level night in and night out are called consistent and strong. I would rather have lakers consistent than be happy that they grinded out a victory against a team they should be able to beat easily.
I understand teams struggle from time to time but the probability of heat struggling were a lot more than lakers struggling because of the circumstances.
As for scoring 100 points, I never said I want lakers to not allow 100 points in every single game. I was talking about allowing heat 100 points at home. Heat are averaging about 97 points a game and I am sure that total is even lower on the road. Plus wade struggled most of the game but part of it was lakers defense. And the heat still managed 100 points.
All I am saying is that lakers need to be more consistent specially after getting gasol back. If they play like last years playoffs, they aren’t beating the celtics in the finals (assuming both teams reach there) and I really want them to kick celtics ass. Winning last years championship wasn’t enough to erase the memory of lakers getting pounded in the finals the year before.
@Justin: I might not be a long time lakers fan as a lot of you but I have been following them since they traded for kobe.
Consistency is always something to strive for
But if you expect it every night, that’s a bit unreasonable. If the Lakers had been playing a lot of these types of games lately, your points would be much more accurate. But they’re on an 8 game (9 now) winning streak in which this was the only game they didn’t play well. That’s pretty damn consistent. And then you kill them for having one bad night in two weeks, and still finding a way to get a victory on that bad night.
You are absolutely right that the Heat had a higher probability of playing poorly in that game. But probabilities go out the window once the game was played. In that game, the Heat played pretty well, the Lakers played pretty poorly, and L.A. still fought through it.
A very fitting quote:
“Deserve’s got nothing to do with it.”
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:04 AM PST reply actions
Bow down to the real King, the real Chosen One with a Resume to match
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:10 AM PST reply actions
great pic can't believe I've never seen that before...
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
I just found it today myself. I keep them all.
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:28 AM PST up reply actions
As he is half my screen"namesake" I have to say
Holy Shit. That was an unbelievable, incredible, ludacris awesome shot!
Yes, I’m back. For those of you I haven’t had the opportunity of bantering with, hello. For those of you I have, congrats. Jesus Christ. Man! I hate Kobe but that made me jump out of my seat….somewhere the other half of my screen"namesake" is smiling…and I don’t mean “fluffs”….
Go nuggets.
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 5, 2009 12:17 AM PST via mobile reply actions
welcome back
heard about you but haven’t had the pleasure. You sure your not a closet Kobe fan?
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:22 AM PST up reply actions
I can't wait
For the rematch….cannot wait. You guys are great and exactly what the nuggets need as role models….and arch nemesis’…
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 5, 2009 1:12 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Stern?
nice to see you again. Be nicer to true_lakerfan next time on Stiffs. He was being nice to you.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
I kinda made up with true_lakerfan
I mean I comiserated with him/her at least about work.
And ABSOLUTELY NOT a closet Kobe fan. His ego wouldn’t fit, and it’s a walk-in.
Geez, that shot alone is going to make me not be able to watch ESPN for a week. He just made everyone on that networks LIFE for the next 24 hours….
True_lakerfan sorry for any Ill-will, but you must understand on some level….
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 5, 2009 1:01 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I think I mentioned closet Kobe fan
because your name says more about your hatred for Kobe than the love of your team. Which is greater? Your love for the Nuggets or your hatred for Kobe/Lakers?
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
OMFG???
One Monster Field Goal?
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
Do you think that Fish should have his Jersey Retired
Besides Kobe, he has been the only constant to the last 4 titles and without his clutch shooting I don’t know what other PG since Fish’s rookie year (1996) could have done what he has done for this organization. The most clutch player of our generation is Kobe but Fish and Horry are up there.
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:26 AM PST up reply actions
Well I wouldn't mind, but I doubt it.
They really reserve those retired jerseys for the greats. Lots of great players in Laker history probably deserve it before Fish, but I still love him.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
Guess you are right
especially about other Laker greats who deserve it more.
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:38 AM PST up reply actions
I nominate myself as dumbass of the night.....
I sold my tickets to mrbarneydangles. He better have gone to this one, or I am gonna kill him.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
what the hell?
I was going to ask why you would sell your tickets but I remembered where you lived. SUCKS!
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:27 AM PST up reply actions
funny thing is, I haven't gone to any games yet this season.
I am going on Sunday. I guess I almost picked the right game. Maybe Kobe will win another one at the buzzer?
I was at the game in 2006 Playoffs against Phoenix when Kobe beat them at the buzzer in OT so I still have mrbarneydangles beat. But damn, I would have loved to have been there tonight.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
that is crazy
Lucky you were at that game in 06. One of my favorites.
I remember you saying you have season tickets. That means that you will be there on Christmas day’s game against Cavs then? LUCKY!
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 12:37 AM PST up reply actions
Actually I will probably sell them....
I know it is blasphemy, but I really, really, need the money.
My wife was 9 months pregnant at that game, and gave birth one week later. Here is a pic from before the game.
!
!
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
and another from right after "the shot"
I love the look on the face of the guy behind her…..
!
!
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
That game was so awesome
The atmosphere after that shot, it seemed like no one wanted to leave, they wanted to savor the moment.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
thnx for sharing the pix
Nice for a child to be brought into a Laker atmosphere.
Well I defenitely want to know how much, if you decide to sell them. Not sure If I can afford it but we can talk if you like. Click on my name for my email if you are willing to sell them.
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
Take the W
But the Lakers should treat it as a loss, practice as if they lost, and play the next game as if they lost this game.
Winning covers up a multitude of sins, the lapses should not be ignored.
That said, DFish and Kobe Mu’ fuh’in Bryant don’t mind missing the big shots, and they don’t mind makin’ the big shots. Ballers.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
Two things I noticed about the last play.
1) Artest was way, way, open. Like alone on the court open. Not that I blame Kobe, but interesting how they just left him wide open.
2) After the ball went in, everyone ran to congratulate Kobe. Artest turns around and starts celebrating with the fans instead. Gotta love that guy.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
Bad passing angle.
It looked like Haslem or another one of those Heat players (a few of them look very similar) had a good angle to pick off that passing lane and was looking to do so.
Yeah I didn't mean to imply that Kobe should have passed it.....
just that I was surprised they left him that open.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
I think because of the time limit
everyone knew he had to take the shot, there wasn’t time to pass and get a good shot for Artest. So when he got the pass, they knew it was his shot, so they keyed in on him and left Artest.
Strength & Honor
It's good to be the Champs
I'm not seeing #2
Are you watching a different clip than me?
Strength & Honor
It's good to be the Champs
It was on the FSW broadcast. As soon as the ball goes in............
Artest turns around and puts his arms up and basically the fans on the sideline swarm him with high fives. Just for a second then they cut away. Probably on someone’s youtube clip.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
Maybe I'll be able to see it on the ESPN360 replay of the game
Strength & Honor
It's good to be the Champs
Here is a link to LakersMedia HD highlights.
Watch near the bottom of the screen as soon as the ball goes in.
http://www.lakersmedia.com/Flash/heat-at-lakers-1204-kobe-buzzer-beater.html
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
don't forget first half's buzzer beater from Kobe
he just does this.
Looking at that great pic of the shot at the top of the post
The gap between Kobe, Wade, and the placement of the ball is very … feminine, shall we say? You see it? Pure art.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
Im glad to see that the team can win this kinda of games
but was anyone else surprised that PJ decided to go with sasha in the last 9 seconds?
Destiny awaits
A great shot; enjoy it while you can. Destiny and KG awaits the Lakers on January 31st.
A game awaits January 31st
For destiny, your boys need to get to the finals first.
Check back next year so we can discuss “destiny”.
Destiny = destruction
I somewhat remember “my boys” getting to the Finals recently, perhaps your group here does as well.
I seem to recall in that Finals that the Lakers blew a 24 point lead at home in game 4 (the look on Jack Nicholson’s face at the end was absolutely priceless), and then were totally, completely barbequed in game 6 with the cherry being the Lakers surrendering in the 2nd half once they were down by 20-something. They appartently forgot the lesson from game 4, you NEVER EVER give up.
That’s something to learn from KG and my boys.
What happened last year?
Oh yeah KG was injured, I forgot. Must be tough to win the championship without a key 7 footer on the court.
Wait, didn’t that happen to us in 2008 Finals? And we actually MADE it to the finals that year.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
Sorry, but no 7 ft Euro-Marshmellow is equal to KG
The Lakers did not lose in 08 because they were missing their marshmellow, they lost because they had no heart and no will to win. BTW, they didn’t grow a heart in last years Finals, either, though I give them their due as defending NBA champions.
My boys are in the Lakers’ heads. The Game 4 home meltdown and Game 6 barbeque will remain in their memories no matter what anyone here says or thinks. Assuming both teams return to the Finals in June, which I do, and I hope in good health (KG’s knee) then no Euro-marshmellow will prevent banner 18 in the Garden.
by jdn on Dec 5, 2009 2:44 PM PST up reply actions
Why KG is > PG by a mile
KG = All NBA 1st team, 2nd team multiple years
All NBA Defense 1st team multiple years, inc. 5 years in a row
NBA MVP 2003, runner-up multiple years
NBA All-Star multiple years
NBA record 6 years straight 20ppg /10 rb /5 assists
heart and soul of a true NBA leader, beast and defender
has never flopped for a foul but takes charges like a man
etc, etc, etc
PG = NBA Rookie of the Year
NBA All-Star reserve
cry-baby on the bench 2008 Finals (it’s on YouTube)
All-NBA flopper par exellance (but not as much as Vlade did)
Moves away from taking a charge
PG can’t carry KG’s jock though he is having a decent year in 2009. I’ve not seen the Lakers play much this year, being on the east coast, but PG needs to man up defensively, big time, before being mentioned as KG’s possible equal.
KG would never have let his team give up the ghost in Game 6 and neither would Paul Pierce; that’s leadership. Kobe just let it happen on world-wide television without once getting in anyone’s face. You go out on your shield, not throw hissy-fits and watch/jog nonchalantly.
That’s why #18 flies up the Garden rafters next June, KG’s knee willing. We hope it’s against the Lakers and not Denver or San Antonio. That would be like when the Red Sox beat Colorado in 07; good but not as satisfying
by jdn on Dec 5, 2009 4:28 PM PST up reply actions
So you're using pass accomplishments as your basis. Fine, KG has Rated PG16
beat by mile. Currently, Pau Gasol is the better player. Gasol is a better passer, scorer, and dribbler of the basketball. KG has nothing on the Gasol’s post game, one that includes the ability to beat off the bounce with either hand and finish with either hand. KG probably has better shooting range and is a better defender one-on-one or team defender. However, KG’s defensive wizardry isn’t superior enough to give him the nod over Gasol, who isn’t a slouch on the defensive end either. Plus, Gasol is younger and healthy at this point; showing no signs of slowing down.
I should probably mention KG's offensive game. I find him to be fairly limited
at this point. KG still has the head and shoulder with the ability to hit a turnaround jumper turn left or right. KG operates predominantly just outside the left side of the paint, high or low post. KG currently isn’t beating many big men with his face up game, so he’s settling for wide open 15 footers. He is making them at a good rate over the last couple of games. Gasol offers much diversity offensively. KG is a HOF, but as of right now, he ain’t better than Gasol.
Uhhh
Try again, friend.
Your memory appears to be a bit fuzzier than you seem to think. The “Euro-Marshmellow” (sic) you’re referring to … yeah, he played in the 2008 Finals. It was our other 7-footer, Andrew Bynum, who was missing.
Guess that puts a kink in your history lesson.
Strength & Honor
It's good to be the Champs
I stand corrected...
Bynum is an American marshmellow; I thought he was European. Neither he nor PG prevents the 08 Finals loss. How about the great games Odom played?
The 08 history lesson stands with the 24 point Heimlich home game and the Boston Barbecue in Game 6.
Can’t wait for the rematches. See you all next year!
by jdn on Dec 5, 2009 4:38 PM PST up reply actions
You know it's funny.
I would think the guy that picks on little guys and runs from the big ones would be called the “marshmallow”. I guess I don’t know my soft white foods as well as I thought.
Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."
Yeah that was two seasons ago.
What does that have to do with this season?
So can I Jump to 85 and 87, and then have you jump to what, 84 then through the 60s all the way to 59?
Come on?
How about last year? Your team got destroyed the two times we met, which included losing in your own house.
Please come back to talk ish after they play this year, preemptive crap talk is never good for the soul.
KD agrees with you.
KG won’t get easy looks with his 18 ft. with 7’ Pau. Plus, we can still sag off of Rondo. Perk can’t shoot over Bynum. Fish can chase Ray around. Paul will meet focused Ron. I can deal with LO watching Sheed brick 3’s (28%).
That’sjust defensively. Offensively, it’s even better.
To be fair
It’s more like I agree with him. And I do. Emphatically.
Strength & Honor
It's good to be the Champs
Add me to the list.
He proved it last year, with his improvements on making mental adjustments to physical play, and his defense.
Um, LA Times pics show it as 0.4 whent he ball was released...
… freaking uncanny:
<a href=“http:// ”http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-heat5-pictures,0,1406549.photogallery" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-heat5-pictures,0,1406549.photogallery" >
Great job with the site, guys! GO LAKERS!!!
M
BruinsNation
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Sorry about the link
This should work.
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
"These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess" - Kobe
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Dec 5, 2009 10:33 AM PST reply actions
Writers are always forgetting about....
Gasol. This article…yes… a nice shot by Kobe. Lebron hit one like this in the Playoffs last year too. Of course none of the taller players on the Heat were in Kobe’s face, instead it was D Wade… who is a phenomenal athlete, but height is an advantage when trying to block shots.
But what is continually left out of the conversation is how Gasol, and Gasol alone has made the Lakers relevant. The Lakers truly benefit from the presence of Gasol. Never quite figured out why Memphis traded him. Before trading Gasol… they own a winning record and are in the playoffs. After trading Gasol… they haven’t won more than 24 games in a season. I guess winning games and being in the playoffs isn’t important to some owners. They’d rather receive a check under the table each year from the Lakers and the Stern for making the Lakers relevant again. The NBA…. where certain owners don’t think winning is important and give the fans the bird every year.
by Put the Ball in the Hoop! on Dec 5, 2009 9:41 PM PST reply actions
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