Denver is better team

[Lumi]

Denver is better team


The title of this article won?t be real popular in L.A., but who cares, as Joe Friday of Dragnet used to say, ?Just the facts?. After watching four games between Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers, the truth is in, the Nuggets are better team. That?s doesn?t mean they will win the NBA title, what the heck, it doesn?t even mean they will win this series against the Lake Show, it just means my adjusted 20-15 laser vision can see who the better team is after 16 quarters of professional basketball in the Western Conference Finals.

Denver has more players interested in playing hard than Los Angeles, which is fairly remarkable, since the supposed vision of the Lakers was to make up for losing in last year?s finals to Boston. All season, television talking heads spoke about the new Lakers toughness and the resolve they had, which is a whole lot easier to do against the Clippers, as opposed to mixing it up with Denver.

I?m wondering if the NBA should give up this all-access in game coverage, as NBA coaches are no longer coming off as wizards of the hardwood. It started last year really, when Doc Rivers didn?t so much coach his team, he more implored them to victory. This has followed up with George Karl, telling his team to ?stay focused? or ?keep playing hard?, not exactly how one pictures Red Auerbach in the huddle talking to his team. With this style of coaching, the only thing missing is pom-poms and ?let?s go team?.

Maybe that is how coaches need to talk to their teams, since Phil Jackson has the greatest collection ever of unmotivated players expected to win a NBA title. In watching a portion of Spike Lee?s ESPN thing -John & Kate plus 8 - Kobe style, Bryant talked about the diversity of language spoken by the Lakers. This makes more sense than ever, since communication for motivation purposes is surely lacking for a team that has lost six postseason games by almost 10 points per game.

Maybe Jackson should lower himself to this primitive-method of coaching, since his players are too nonchalant, plus they are less athletic and less talented than their Denver counterparts.

L.A. has not lost two in a row in the playoffs, winning six times by 15 PPG, making bettors pleased with six matching covers.

We?ve all heard how complex the triangle offense is, but is it me or has Kobe given up on teammates, when Lakers need points? The number of assists Bryant has to have in the fourth quarter should be able to be counted on one hand. Besides if the triangle offense is so difficult to understand and execute properly, is Jackson really helping matters playing three different point guards, or does desperation force his hand?

If Derek Fisher didn?t have championship jewelry, retiring right now would be suitable option. Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar, no wonder Kobe is keeping the ball for a team that is 2-8 ATS after being burned for 100 or more points.

Denver?s frontcourt is SO much more active than the Lakers it?s ludicrous. Mark Cuban might have been right about Kenyon Martin being thug, but he?s outplayed Lamar Odom by a mile. Nene has played exceptional position defense on Pau Gasol, whose every touch has been as mechanical as Yao Ming, flustering the Spaniard. If the Denver does win NBA title, Chris ?Birdman? Anderson, will be the most requested person on talk show circuit, with people wanting to hear his story of overcoming himself. Phil Jackson would love to look down the bench to find a high effort guy.

The Nuggets have covered like 49 of last 50 games, OK, 21 of last 26, including last six pressure-packed road tilts. Denver, despite playing so well is still volatile. J.R. Smith is loose cannon, as is Martin. Dahntay Jones is not above some chicanery and Denver shot selection can alter games towards the negative.

I checked Sportsbook.com and they opened the Lakers as six-point favorites and Jackson coached teams on the left coast are 15-5 against the spread when series is tied up. Even with the Game 2 loss, L.A. has covered 11 of last 14 at Staples Center against the Nuggies, though I forget, this is different Denver team (wish I had a dollar for every time I?ve heard that since playoffs began).

The Nuggets are 13-5 ATS after scoring 105 or more points and have covered the number is seven of last eight times with one day?s rest.

I?ll probably make a small wager on Denver, because they are the better team and if they really want to prove it, they win Game 5 setting up clincher at Pepsi Center Friday.

 

[Lumi]

Denver at L.A., Game 5

Denver at L.A., Game 5

Denver at L.A., Game 5

After four games, the Lakers and Nuggets have settled nothing. With the series tied at 2-2, the Western Conference finals head back to Tinseltown for Wednesday?s Game 5 at Staples Center.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Los Angeles (75-23 straight up, 50-48 against the spread) as a six-point favorite with a total of 210 ?. As of Tuesday night, most books were listing the Lakers as six-point ?chalk? with a total of 209 ?. Bettors can back Denver (64-32 SU, 57-38-1 ATS) on the money line for a plus-220 return (paid $220 on $100 wagers).

George Karl?s team evened the series Monday night by capturing a 120-101 win as a 4 ?-point home favorite. Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith led seven players in double figures with 24 points apiece. Smith drained 4-of-9 shots from 3-point land.

Carmelo Anthony wasn?t on his A-Game with a sprained ankle and a stomach virus slowing him for much of the night. Anthony had 15 points and five assists, but he was just 3-of-16 from the field.


The Nuggets? big men came up huge. Nene had 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Kenyon Martin finished with 13 points, 15 boards, two blocked shots and zero turnovers. Chris ?The Bird Man? Andersen produced six points, 14 rebounds and a pair of blocks with high-energy play off the bench.

Chauncey Billups bounced back from a shaky Game 3 performance to score 16 points and not commit a turnover in 42 minutes of play. Billups, the only Nugget who owns an NBA championship ring, made all nine of his attempts from the charity stripe.

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 34 points in the losing effort. Bryant, who was 10-for-26 from the floor, had seven rebounds, five assists and only one turnover. Paul Gasol finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Andrew Bynum had 14 points and five boards in 23 minutes of playing time.

I take a lot of shots at Bryant and stand by all of ?em. However, I will give him credit for showing a ton of restraint in Game 4. Bryant has five technical fouls in these playoffs, so two more would lead to a one-game suspension.

On at least two occasions, Bryant was the victim of dirty plays by Dahntay Jones. Bryant was in mid-air on a drive to the basket when Jones blatantly pushed him from behind. In fairness to Jones, this is the playoffs and the shove (that he pulled up on somewhat) did prevent a three-point play because Kobe missed before going to the free-throw line.

The other play, tripping a cutting Bryant, is all on Jones. Although it wasn?t called a flagrant foul at the time, the NBA upgraded it as such on Tuesday. With three flagrant fouls in the playoffs, another would result in a one-game suspension for Jones.

Bryant had to be tempted to at least have some words with Jones after both plays, but he kept his cool and didn?t engage in anything to put himself at risk of a technical. After the game, he told the media that Jones was playing ?good defense.?

L.A. head coach Phil Jackson had a different view, calling Jones? play ?unacceptable? and ?unsportsmanlike.? Gasol made similar remarks. Jones said he ?didn?t remember.?

The ?under? is 50-47-1 overall for the Lakers, 25-25 in their home assignments. The ?under? is 7-1 in the Lakers? last eight games regardless of venue.

The ?over? is 49-47 overall for the Nuggets, but the ?under? is 26-21 in their road games.

ESPN will provide television coverage at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.



--Denver killed the Lakers on the boards 58-40 in Game 4.

--According to LVSC, the adjusted series price is L.A. minus-200, while the Nuggets are plus-170 on the comeback (risk $100 to win $170 if Denver advances to the NBA Finals).

--The ?under? is 3-1 in this series, 9-2 in the last 11 head-to-head meetings between these Western Conference adversaries.

--When playing on one day of rest, these teams have performed much differently. The Nuggets are 33-18-1 ATS in such spots, while the Lakers are just 24-34 versus the number.

--The Nuggets are 12-1-1 ATS in these playoffs.

--Orlando took a 3-1 series lead in the East finals thanks to last night's thrilling 116-114 overtime win as a one-point home underdog. For Game 5 back in Cleveland, LVSC opened the Cavs as eight-point favorites with a total of 191.

 

[Lumi]

(2) Denver Nuggets (2-2) at (1) Los Angeles Lakers (2-2), 9 p.m.

(2) Denver Nuggets (2-2) at (1) Los Angeles Lakers (2-2), 9 p.m.

(2) Denver Nuggets (2-2) at (1) Los Angeles Lakers (2-2), 9 p.m.

A trip to the NBA Finals may be on the line tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.

The Nuggets evened the series at two games apiece on Monday when the team refused to let another fourth-quarter lead slip by the wayside, as Chauncey Billups' 24 points and a solid effort from the free throw line helped Denver upend the Lakers, 120-101.

When a series is tied at 2-2 in NBA history, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to take the set 83 percent of the time.

"Game 5 statistically historically is much easier to win than Game 7," Nuggets coach George Karl said on Tuesday. "I think we all know that. I think the bounce we got off last night's game, no one knows what bounce we got, but we're hoping we got the bounce and we can handle it professionally and come out and match their energy, match their home court intensity. We need to figure out how to win in the fourth quarter."

Carmelo Anthony, who was hampered by an ankle injury and stomach virus in Game 4, shot a meager 3-for-16 from the field to finish with 15 points for the Nuggets, who were carried by their bench.

"Caught a little stomach virus right before the game in the locker room, had to get a couple of IVs and I wound up twisting my ankle out there," Anthony said. "Even before me twisting my ankle with the stomach thing, I don't think I had my legs early in the game and felt like I didn't have any energy."

J.R. Smith scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, Linas Kleiza chipped in 10 points and Chris Andersen grabbed 14 rebounds, helping the hosts dominate the glass, 58-40.

"We just didn't get to the ball," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "The ball was coming off and they were beating us to the basketball a lot of times inside."

Kenyon Martin and Nene each recorded double-doubles, with Martin logging 13 points and 15 rebounds, and Nene adding 14 and 13 for Denver, which shot 37- for-49 from the foul line.

LA's Kobe Bryant recorded a game-high 34 points but made a mediocre 10-of-26 from the field and failed to come through in crunch time. Pau Gasol deposited 21 points and brought down 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who had won seven straight postseason games in Denver prior to the setback.

LA, which has been outplayed for most of the series, seemed to be coming apart at the seems a little bit on Tuesday.

The normally stoic Gasol complained about getting only four shots in the second half of the rout on Monday.

"I wish we would take more advantage of our inside game, because it's pretty effective," Gasol said after Tuesday's practice. "It's unfortunate we don't recognize it enough."

Meanwhile, Jackson was fined $25,000 for grumbling about the officiating in Game 4. The Nuggets made 37-of-49 free throws in that one, while the Lakers went 24-of-35 at the line. Afterward, Jackson said he was particularly upset when LA's Luke Walton came across the lane and got hit in the throat by an elbow from Nene and when Dahntay Jones tripped Bryant in the third quarter.

"That kind of disparity we don't like in ball games," said Jackson during his postgame press conference. "That's not equal refereeing, and those are the things that change the course of games. We don't like that. We want the game to be fair and evenly played. There's another situation out there tonight that was unacceptable by Dahntay Jones. Just unacceptable defense, tripping guys and playing unsportsmanlike basketball."

The Zen master acquiesced a bit Tuesday but his criticism may have planted a seed as Jones was assessed a flagrant-1 foul for the trip.

"You know, there's a sense of how much people want it and what the level is how you play when you have to play hard. And how aggressive you become," Jackson said. "I think that's a fine line. And I want to keep the topic on a positive note. I don't want to talk about that aspect of it. I want to talk about basketball."

Karl defended his best on-ball defender.

"I know Dahntay Jones and I think he's a great competitor but I don't think he's a dirty player," Karl said. "There's a lot of guys in this league like Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest who push that line of intensity and physical contact when you're playing a great player. I don't think this series is anything but a pretty even NBA playoff series. They're not liking us and it's not going to get any kinder. It's going to be harder, tougher."

Game 6 is scheduled for Friday back in Denver.

LA took three of four games from Denver during the regular season this year with the Nuggets lone win coming in the Rocky Mountains on February 27.

The two teams have met in the playoffs on three different occasions with the Lakers coming out on top each time. LA took a first round series in 1979, won the Western Conference finals in 1985 and swept the Nuggets in a first round set last year.

 

[Lumi]

Denver @ Los Angeles

Denver @ Los Angeles

Denver @ Los Angeles
Wednesday May 27
9:00 PM EDT

Los Angeles -6.0, Total 210.5





RECORD ANALYSIS:
Straight Up Against The Spread
Denver Home Away Total Home Away Total
Year to Date 7 - 1 3 - 3 10 - 4 7 - 1 5 - 0 12 - 1
Last 10 Games 5 - 1 2 - 2 7 - 3 5 - 1 3 - 0 8 - 2
Straight Up Against The Spread
Los Angeles Home Away Total Home Away Total
Year to Date 7 - 2 3 - 4 10 - 6 4 - 5 3 - 4 7 - 9
Last 10 Games 4 - 1 2 - 3 6 - 4 3 - 2 2 - 3 5 - 5

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Date Matchup Line Total ATS Result
05/25/09 Los Angeles 101 @ Denver 120 DEN -4.5 209.0 DEN/O
05/23/09 Los Angeles 103 @ Denver 97 DEN -3.5 213.0 LAL/U
05/21/09 Denver 106 @ Los Angeles 103 LAL -5.5 212.5 DEN/U
05/19/09 Denver 103 @ Los Angeles 105 LAL -7.0 214.0 DEN/U
04/09/09 Denver 102 @ Los Angeles 116 LAL -8.5 211.0 LAL/O
02/27/09 Los Angeles 79 @ Denver 90 LAL -2.5 218.0 DEN/U
11/21/08 Denver 90 @ Los Angeles 104 LAL -8.5 205.5 LAL/U
11/01/08 Los Angeles 104 @ Denver 97 LAL -8.5 210.5 DEN/U
04/28/08 Los Angeles 107 @ Denver 101 LAL -5 225.5 LAL/U
04/26/08 Los Angeles 102 @ Denver 84 DEN -1.0 229.0 LAL/U


Denver Last 10 Games
Date Matchup Line Total ATS Result
05/25/09 LAL 101 @ DEN 120 -4.5 209.0 W/O
05/23/09 LAL 103 @DEN 97 -3.5 213.0 L/U
05/21/09 DEN 106 @LAL 103 +5.5 212.5 W/U
05/19/09 DEN 103 @ LAL 105 +7 214.0 W/U
05/13/09 DAL 110 @ DEN 124 -10.5 213.5 W/O
05/11/09 DEN 117 @ DAL 119 +2 210.5 P/O
05/09/09 DEN 106 @DAL 105 +4 209.5 W/O
05/05/09 DAL 105 @ DEN 117 -7.0 208.0 W/O
05/03/09 DAL 95 @ DEN 109 -7.0 207.5 W/U
04/29/09 NOR 86 @ DEN 107 -11.0 198.0 W/U


Denver Last 5 Home Games
Date Matchup Line Total ATS Result
05/25/09 LAL 101 @ DEN 120 -4.5 209.0 W/O
05/23/09 LAL 103 @ DEN 97 -3.5 213.0 L/U
05/13/09 DAL 110 @ DEN 124 -10.5 213.5 W/O
05/05/09 DAL 105 @ DEN 117 -7.0 208.0 W/O
05/03/09 DAL 95 @ DEN 109 -7.0 207.5 W/U
04/27/09 DEN 121 @ NOR 63 +1.5 194.0 W/U


Los Angeles Last 10 Games
Date Matchup Line Total ATS Result
05/25/09 LAL 101 @ DEN 120 +4.5 209.0 L/O
05/23/09 LAL 103 @DEN 97 +3.5 213.0 W/U
05/21/09 DEN 106 @LAL 103 -5.5 212.5 L/U
05/19/09 DEN 103 @ LAL 105 -7.0 214.0 L/U
05/17/09 HOU 70 @ LAL 89 -13.0 195.0 W/U
05/14/09 LAL 80 @ HOU 95 -9.5 197.5 L/U
05/12/09 HOU 78 @ LAL 118 -12.5 200.0 W/U
05/10/09 LAL 87 @ HOU 99 -12.0 197.5 L/U
05/08/09 LAL 108 @HOU 94 -2.0 193.0 W/O
05/06/09 HOU 98 @ LAL 111 -10.0 194.0 W/O


Los Angeles Last 5 Home Games
Date Matchup Line Total ATS Result
05/21/09 DEN 106 @ LAL 103 -5.5 212.5 L/U
05/19/09 DEN 103 @ LAL 105 -7.0 214.0 L/U
05/17/09 HOU 70 @ LAL 89 -13.0 195.0 W/U
05/12/09 HOU 78 @ LAL 118 -12.5 200.0 W/U
05/06/09 HOU 98 @ LAL 111 -10.0 194.0 W/O


Over / Under
Overall Home Away
Denver 10-10 7-4 3-6
Los Angeles 8-12 5-7 3-5

 

[Lumi]

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers (-6, 209.5)

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers (-6, 209.5)

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers (-6, 209.5)

Series So Far

In many ways this series has been almost as competitive as the ultra-hyped Celtics-Bulls first round tilt - minus all the overtimes. Three of the first four games have been decided in the final minute of regulation.

In Game 4, the Nuggets finally earned the first comfortable victory for either team. They also notched the first pointspread cover by a favorite after the underdog had cashed in each of the first three games.

Latest from the trainers' room

Denver was able to win and cover Game 4 despite a subpar showing from Carmelo Anthony. He was suffering from a stomach bug and reportedly was power puking into a garbage can in the locker room 15 minutes before game time. He shot only 3-for-16 from the floor and snared just three rebounds, by far his weakest game of the postseason.

Anthony should be back to full strength on Wednesday against Los Angeles. J.R. Smith and Renaldo Balkman have also battled minor injuries in this series, but both should be at or near 100 percent in Game 5.

The Lakers injury woes continue to mount. Lamar Odom?s bad back is flaring up and remains problematic heading home. Odom has been a non-factor for most of the series and his Game 4 performance was rather ugly, with as many fouls (five) as points scored.

Lakers starting point guard Derek Fisher is ailing as well. The oldest player in either team?s rotation has shot just 5-22 from the floor in the previous three games while dishing out only six assists.

Trevor Ariza is suffering from lingering hip and groin injuries. In Game 4, Ariza was awful, notching only three points, one rebound and one assist in 26 minutes of nearly invisible playing time.

Bench Press

Ariza spent a good portion of the regular season as an energy guy coming off the bench. But Ariza moved into the starting lineup when Andrew Bynum got hurt and has stayed in Phil Jackson?s top five ever since. Right now the Lakers could certainly use some of Ariza?s energy to provide spark off the bench.

Denver?s bench quartet of Smith, Chris Andersen, Anthony Carter and Linas Klieza outscored the Lakers bench 29-15 in Game 3 and followed that up by outscoring L.A.?s bench 42-24 in Game 4. During the regular season, the Purple and Gold consistently saw its role players step up, but that hasn?t happened yet in this series.

Energy and aggression

Look at these two postgame quotes from the Lakers superstars for a classic example of a team that knows they didn?t play well in their last outing.

Kobe Bryant: ?They whupped us, period. They whupped us on the glass, they whupped us to loose balls.?

Pau Gasol: ?You could sense more their sense of desperation tonight. Their game plan was attack, attack the paint, penetrate, everybody go to the boards. We didn't have quite that aggressiveness that they did.?

Battle of the boards

The Lakers won the rebounding battle by nine in Game 1, nabbing 17 offensive rebounds in the process. In Games 2 and 3 the two teams were virtually even on the glass. But in
Game 4 the Nuggets controlled the glass with a 58-40 rebounding edge that included a whopping 20 offensive boards.

Birdman had a career high 14 rebounds coming off the bench, while Kenyon Martin and Nene grabbed 28 boards between them. That trio outrebounded the Lakers entire team.

It was the first playoff game since Utah?s double overtime loss to Denver in 1994 where three different players on one team got 13 rebounds or more in the same game.

Foul fest

This has been an extremely physical series and the refs haven?t been shy about blowing their whistles. The Nuggets went to the free throw line 49 times in Game 4, leading Phil Jackson to begin his annual ?whining about the zebras? postgame tirade.

The Zen-Master was not a happy camper, claiming ?not equal refereeing? and ?unsportsmanlike basketball? when the Nuggets finished with 14 more free throw attempts than the Lakers on Monday. Funny, Jackson wasn?t complaining when the Lakers got 45 foul shots compared to Denver?s 31 in Game 3.

Both teams have taken at least 31 free throw attempts in each of the last three games. The straight up and against the spread winner in each of those three games was the team that got to the free throw line more often. We can expect whichever team is more aggressive taking the ball to the basket to get more than its fair share of foul calls once again in Game 5.

 

[Lumi]

Oddsmaker details NBA conference finals betting trends

Oddsmaker details NBA conference finals betting trends

Oddsmaker details NBA conference finals betting trends

Where the money is going in the NBA conference finals.

We opened our line for Game 4 in the West with Denver as a 4-point home chalk even though the club lost Game 3 as home court faves.

Chauncey Billups has galvanised the team. He?s like a basketball Reggie Jackson ? the straw that stirs the drink.

The public agreed with the books? favoring Denver by 4. They snapped the Nuggets on the opening line. After some hours, we moved the line to Denver -4.5 in response to that early action, but we adjusted the payout price slightly because the Lakers are still the Lakers, and you?ll always see action on them.

In terms of bookmaking, this slight payout tweak, from -110 to -115, proved something of a golden mean, as our book was balanced quite evenly when the game tipped off last night. And all those Denver backers got their wishes at -4 and -4.5 with the Nuggets stomping the Lakers by 19 points.

Over in the East, tonight?s Game 4 is a fascinating example of how public perception differs from game actuality.

The fact that Orlando leads the series 2-1 is stunning in itself - even more so when you consider the prices at the start of the series. We priced Cleveland -1000, or thereabouts, to win the East before Game 1. The Cavs have drifted to -139 while Orlando?s price is slashed to even money. That?s a seismic shift in prices.

We opened tonight?s Game 4 at pick ?em but we?ve had to move that line to Cleveland -1 and then Cleveland -1.5. Bettors still believe in Cleveland in a way that the evidence of the first three games cannot contradict. The public likes Cleveland, likes LeBron and likes the idea of a LeBron-Kobe showdown in the Finals. The public doesn?t quite believe in the Magic to the same extent, and that?s why we?ve had to move the price.

 

[Lumi]

Wednesday's best NBA bet

Wednesday's best NBA bet

Wednesday's best NBA bet

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers (-6, 209.5)

Pau Gasol wants the ball inside against the Denver Nuggets. Only he's not about to pull a Keyshawn Johnson and order his Los Angeles Lakers teammates to "just give me the damn ball."

That's not the Spaniard's way.

Gasol is all about finesse on and off the court, so he'll leave the angry big man approach alone.

"I just want to go with what's effective and what works out there and what's been working for us and what's a strength of ours," he said after Tuesday's practice. "I think we should explore that a little more."

The mild-mannered Gasol complained about only taking four shots in the second half of a 120-101 loss at Denver on Monday night that left the Western Conference finals tied at two.

Gasol went 8 of 11 for 21 points in Game 4. He's shooting 62 percent in the series, but he had only four free throws in the fourth quarter Monday.

"I don't think there's many people who would say there's something right about it," he said afterward. "I wish we would take more advantage of our inside game, because it's pretty effective. It's unfortunate we don't recognize it enough."

Kobe Bryant knows what's keeping the Lakers from delivering the ball to Gasol in the post.

"They're double-teaming him on the catch. He's got to go a little quicker when he catches it," Bryant said. "That's something I've always told him, 'When you got a shot you got to take it.' At this late in the postseason, teams aren't going to let you back out there and spin and do some of the things he likes to do in the post. He's got to go and go quickly."

Pushed on whether he would demand the ball in Game 5 on Wednesday night, Gasol didn't sound too convincing.

"I'll try, but there's only so much I can do as far as demanding," he said. "I'd rather talk to our coaches and our guys and hopefully we see what's effective and what works and we go to it."

The Lakers' frontcourt of Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum were no match for Denver's trio of Nene, Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen, who dominated the boards 42-25 in Game 4.

"One of our main focuses was trying to get the rebound so that way we can do our running game," Andersen said. "Our best offense is our defense and rebounding is a big part of that."

The Nuggets practiced in Denver on Tuesday before flying to Los Angeles.

Coach George Karl believes winning Game 5 on the road would be easier than doing so in a Game 7 on the Lakers' home court.

"We right now have made somewhat of a move to challenge them to try and figure us out a little bit more," he said. "Can we win the energy game down there? It would be a big step towards getting a win. My big guys were terrific last night. I don't know if I've had three big guys be so dominant on the boards."

The Nuggets rested for a week after putting Dallas away in five games in the conference semifinals. The Lakers, meanwhile, were pushed to seven games before escaping against Houston, and the fatigue appears to be showing.

"They've been playing every other day since May and we've had our breaks and the advantage to heal our bodies is better than the Lakers," Andersen said. "Now we're starting to get back in our rhythm that we were at when the playoffs started."

Odom said the Lakers need a dose of energy and effort Wednesday night at Staples Center, where the Nuggets won Game 2.

"When you get behind, you take quick shots and you tend to give those guys some good numbers when it comes to rebounding," he said. "We want to clean up the defensive boards and keep them off the offensive boards."

Odom is continuing treatment for a lower back injury, but he declined to specify just how hurt he is.

"For this team to be good, I need to pick it up," he said.

Bryant wouldn't concede fatigue is hurting the Lakers.

"I don't think it had anything to do with how we played yesterday, they just played better," he said. "We do a pretty good job of responding to challenges and we certainly have one here tomorrow night. The challenge of the situation re-energizes me."

The NBA fined Lakers coach Phil Jackson and the team $25,000 on Tuesday for his post-game comments on the officiating in Game 4.

The fines were announced after the Lakers addressed the media, but Jackson was asked whether the Nuggets have shifted their play from physical to dirty.

"There's a sense of how much people want it, how you play when you have to play hard and how aggressive you become and that's a fine line," he said. "I want to keep the topic on a positive note. I don't want to talk about that aspect of it."

Pick: Los Angeles

 

[Lumi]

Trends - Denver at L.A. Lakers

Trends - Denver at L.A. Lakers

Trends - Denver at L.A. Lakers

ATS Trends

Denver
Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 playoff games as an underdog.
Nuggets are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nuggets are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a S.U. win.
Nuggets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nuggets are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nuggets are 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
Nuggets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Pacific.
Nuggets are 23-6 ATS in their last 29 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Nuggets are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Nuggets are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games following a ATS win.
Nuggets are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 vs. Western Conference.
Nuggets are 17-35-1 ATS in their last 53 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Nuggets are 17-36-1 ATS in their last 54 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Nuggets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.


L.A. Lakers

Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Lakers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.


OU Trends

Denver
Under is 11-1 in Nuggets last 12 playoff games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Under is 5-1 in Nuggets last 6 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5.
Under is 9-2 in Nuggets last 11 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Under is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 10-3 in Nuggets last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 20-6 in Nuggets last 26 playoff games as an underdog.
Under is 13-4 in Nuggets last 17 games as an underdog.
Under is 9-3 in Nuggets last 12 games as a road underdog.
Under is 9-3 in Nuggets last 12 road games.
Under is 19-7 in Nuggets last 26 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 18-8 in Nuggets last 26 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Under is 13-6 in Nuggets last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 36-17 in Nuggets last 53 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5.


L.A. Lakers

Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 games as a home favorite.
Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 home games.
Under is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 playoff games as a favorite.
Under is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 playoff games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Under is 8-1 in Lakers last 9 Conference Finals games.
Under is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 overall.
Under is 7-1 in Lakers last 8 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 6-1 in Lakers last 7 vs. NBA Northwest.
Under is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-2 in Lakers last 10 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 20-6-1 in Lakers last 27 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 16-5 in Lakers last 21 games following a S.U. loss.
Under is 16-5-1 in Lakers last 22 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 6-2 in Lakers last 8 Wednesday games.
Under is 26-9 in Lakers last 35 games as a favorite.
Under is 20-8 in Lakers last 28 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 9-4 in Lakers last 13 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5.


Head to Head

Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
Nuggets are 5-11 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Nuggets are 3-11 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Los Angeles.

 

[Lumi]

Going gets rough for Lakers, Nuggets

Going gets rough for Lakers, Nuggets

Going gets rough for Lakers, Nuggets
Penalties are changed after Game 4, with Lakers needing to win or face elimination in Denver.
By Mike Bresnahan
On The Lakers

May 27, 2009

The Denver Nuggets have been physical, undoubtedly, but did they cross the line in Game 4?

Variations of that question were tossed around Tuesday at Lakers practice, with players and coaches answering in distinctly different ways.

The synopsis: Kobe Bryant welcomed the Nuggets' increase in aggression, Pau Gasol criticized it and Coach Phil Jackson avoided the concept altogether.

The league also weighed in on a Western Conference finals that spilled beyond the normal parameters of offense and defense, making three rulings related to Game 4, none of which will directly affect Game 5 tonight at Staples Center, where one team will take a 3-2 series lead.

The NBA fined Jackson and the Lakers $25,000 each for Jackson's critical comments of the referees in the wake of the Nuggets' 120-101 victory.

Also, Dahntay Jones was assessed a flagrant foul 1 but not suspended for purposely tripping Bryant in the third quarter of Monday's game, and Andrew Bynum's fourth-quarter flagrant foul was reduced to a personal foul.

Once all the infractions were reviewed and reallocated, the Nuggets officially finished with three technical fouls and a flagrant foul, while the Lakers had one technical foul and a stiff financial penalty.

"We're not shocked, but we're disappointed," Lakers spokesman John Black said.

If only the Lakers' front court was as active as the NBA office.

The Lakers were pummeled on the boards in Game 4, 58-40, and outscored in the paint, 52-34.

It has become so bad that the mild-mannered Gasol demanded more touches after scoring 21 points on eight-for-11 shooting.

"I just want to go with what's effective, what works out there and what's been working for us and what's been a strength of ours," said Gasol, averaging 17.8 points on 62.5% shooting this series. "I think we should explore that a little more."

The Lakers weren't so sure they wanted the Nuggets to continue exploring their rough-hewn ways.

"They get away with a few things and obviously at home they get away with more stuff," Gasol said. "I think the league is pretty aware of it at this point in time and they should be able to cut it off, so hopefully they will."

Bryant, for one, seemed to embrace the Nuggets' rough tactics, even though he skidded several feet after Jones stuck out his foot while Bryant moved in to pursue a possible rebound of Lamar Odom's three-point shot.

The play was called "unsportsmanlike basketball" by Jackson, though Bryant, a noted proponent of flying-elbow basketball from the '80s, shrugged it off.

"It's just good playoff basketball," Bryant said. "It's cool with me."

Jackson, however, was noncommittal when asked if Denver had transitioned from physical to dirty. He had probably already heard that a fine was in the works for saying there was "not equal refereeing" in Game 4.

"I want to keep the topic on a positive note today," Jackson said Tuesday. "I don't want to talk about that aspect of it. I want to talk about basketball."

The Nuggets were willing to talk about Jackson's post-Game 4 declaration, which included placing a verbal microscope over Jones' tripping of Bryant and an elbow that Nene threw at Luke Walton.

"He's good," Denver Coach George Karl said of Jackson. "He's really good. I mean, his philosophical stuff is good stuff. He knows how to trick you into thinking with him. I'm not that good now. I had my opportunity in Game 3 to go to the same place and I just said I'm not going to go there."

Not to be forgotten was the actual game tonight.

The Lakers have played 11 games in the last 22 days, though they are reluctant to blame fatigue.

Odom (bruised back) and Trevor Ariza (hip pointer, strained groin) will suit up and try to improve upon a Game 4 effort in which they combined for eight points.

The Lakers will also try to establish more of an inside game, hoping Andrew Bynum's 14-point performance was the beginning of a stronger inside presence.

For now, though, the words are done being exchanged.

"We'll take care of it on the court," Odom said. "There's no reason for us to talk about it or retaliate with words."

Where's 'the Machine'?

Reserve guard Sasha Vujacic has been a non-factor in the playoffs, averaging 3.7 points and shooting an unsightly 27.2%.

It's now a confidence issue, Jackson said.

"For a year or two, we thought Sasha was an 11 o'clock player -- he played in practice but he couldn't fulfill it in games, and that's because he's a very high-energy guy and he gets animated or he has nervous energy in a game," Jackson said. "He's almost too quick shooting the ball, so we tried to slow him down a little bit and in the process, he's at the point now where he's starting to think about it and that's what you don't want a shooter to do."

Vujacic had six points in Game 4, making two of four three-point attempts.

Etc.

Bryant wasn't bothered by the antics of Denver guard J.R. Smith, who enthusiastically celebrated several made shots. "He knocks a shot down, he's got the right to do that," Bryant said. "We have enough motivation. If we need that kind of motivation to get us going, then we've got issues. Kudos to him." . . . Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis has received permission to talk to the Sacramento Kings and will interview with them after the West finals. Rambis is no longer in the running for the head coaching vacancy of the Philadelphia 76ers.

 

[Lumi]

Lakers still growing, and it can be painful

Lakers still growing, and it can be painful

Lakers still growing, and it can be painful
All but forgotten amid their erratic postseason play is the fact that the Lakers are still a young team, with two starters under 24. Maybe they're just not ready yet.
Mark Heisler

May 27, 2009

Countdown to a title, Lakers style:

16, 15, 14 -- Oops -- 13, 12 -- Say what? -- 11, 10 -- Yawn, bummer -- 9 -- Biff! Sock! -- 8, 7 -- Et tu, Nuggets? -- 6 -- Who turned out the lights?

Yes, things have changed since last spring . . . or last month . . . ending the notion of the Lakers as The Next Big Thing and Absolute Rulers of the West.

Remember their 17-2 start when talk show hosts and other excitable people said they'd win 70?

Remember when they won the West by 11 games and everyone thought their only test in the conference playoff draw would be Portland in the second round?

Now Lakers fans want to know one thing:

What in the name of the Jell-O jiggling inside the refrigerator happened to our team?

The refrigerator door isn't just open, the Nuggets -- you remember, the former rabble the Lakers swept in last spring's first round -- are helping themselves to the Jell-O.

OK, here's the answer:

The Lakers not only had a big opinion of themselves, which we figured out a while back, they're painfully young.

Mercifully, the arrogance is gone but the growing-up process continues.

"It's a different kind of group," says Derek Fisher, who played on the Lakers' champions in 2000, 2001 and 2002 with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

"A lot of stock has been placed in Andrew [Bynum] and his potential at 21 years old -- where, compared to our teams in the past, the only guy near his early 20s who was being asked to do anything of major importance to us was Kobe.

"Now we're asking that of Trevor [Ariza] and Jordan [Farmar] and Andrew and Shannon [Brown], who's been here for two months, guy after guy, who are still trying to figure out where they fit in in this league, not to mention what their specific role is on this team.

"By the time we got to this level, Kobe and I were four-year guys, Shaq had been to the Finals and lost, and then we had Rick [Fox], and Rob [Horry] and Harp [Ron Harper] and this coaching staff. I mean, you had thousands of NBA games' experience, and players who had been through everything."

The current complex of problems first surfaced in last spring's Finals, with the Lakers coming in favored after blitzing through the West draw 12-3, and going out feet first.

Their ancient foe, the Celtics, ran them over, exposed them as marshmallow-soft and sent them home with a Game 6 humiliation to remember them by, but it didn't set off alarm bells among the Lakers.

The final piece of the puzzle was already in hand: Bynum, who had missed the postseason but would be back to settle accounts in what looked like a New Lakers Age.

Of course, after coming back, Bynum then got hurt again, and is still working on this comeback.

With Bynum up and running, as opposed to loping and playing 20 minutes, the Lakers can be something they aren't now . . . special . . . a skilled, towering team that can play over anyone's heads, including the Nuggets, who for all their athleticism and, uh, enthusiasm, are really 6-10, 6-8, 6-6 across the front line.

Whether Bynum's warmup in Game 4 means anything remains to be seen, but he scored 14 points and impressed Phil Jackson with his determination, for a change.

In Chicago, Jackson used to say, "You win with men," and he won with enough men to know.

There have been only four starters as young as 23 on the last 20 NBA champions: Bryant, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Robert Horry.

The Lakers now start two, Ariza, 23, and Bynum, 21.

Experience meaning what it does, Bryant and Fisher both called the Lakers' Game 3 win in Denver one of the biggest road games in their career.

"I think it does rank up there," Fisher says, "because this team has actually been compared in potential with some of our championship teams, trying to kind of step into the championship role of the Lakers of old.

"But other than the Finals last year, we didn't really have any of those moments when we had a chance to take that big step and have to fight back and try to win an elimination game on the road.

"It wasn't really until we got to Boston in Game 6, that was really our first time in that position."

Obviously it may take several debacles, er, opportunities, like that one and Games 4 and 6 in Houston.

So it's not impossible that that New Lakers Age could still be at hand, although it's definitely off to a rocky start.

 

[Lumi]

If only Phil Jackson?s four baby or toddler grandkids had the vocabulary to explain how to educe the smiles and snuggles of support from the old basketball coach, then maybe the Lakers? youngest, Andrew Bynum, could figure out a way to Jackson?s heart, too.

Without the grandkids? help, though, here?s the best we can do to sum this up:

Jackson ultimately is more interested in Bynum playing in a way that makes his teammates look better on the court, not just making himself look good. That?s a wide-angle view that most young players struggle to share with Jackson, which is why he so openly demeans rookies as ?whale (excrement).?

Jackson no longer treats Bynum as a total juvenile, previously giving him ?The Old Man and the Sea? to read and throwing impromptu arithmetic equations at him to solve.

But Bynum?s still-goofy demeanor at age 21 definitely makes it hard for Jackson, who certainly doesn?t see an equal in someone who wants to play on a pull-up bar or with a Playboy bunny.

Two things here: A still-goofy and 23-year-old Dwight Howard, against whom Bynum might very soon be tested on basketball?s biggest stage, is dominating despite also sometimes questioning his coach?s methods.

And even a very serious Kobe Bryant didn?t really connect with Jackson until reaching 28, Jackson?s estimated age for anyone to achieve true maturity.

Back in January, when Bynum had recovered from one knee injury and not yet suffered another, no one could quibble about Jackson giving Bynum too much water and not enough sunshine: Bynum had already blossomed.

But now that the next in line for the Mikan/Abdul-Jabbar/O?Neal legacy has averaged 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds through 16 playoff games ? and Bynum is clearly dissatisfied playing just 16 ? minutes per game ? there is an understandable question about them working together.

It can be hard to get any kind of answer to those questions.

For example: The Lakers lost Game 2 of these Western Conference finals in part because Jackson benched Bynum just after halftime and didn?t trust him again the rest of the game.

Pau Gasol logged the entire second half, and Denver grabbed the lead with 29.6 seconds left when Kenyon Martin scored on a play where the Lakers epitomized the critics? ?soft? label:

Lamar Odom was pushed out of the way, and Gasol flopped to the floor. Afterward, there was a flicker of controversy about Bynum and Jackson.

Jackson tried to quell it, saying before Game 3 that the whole issue was ?tremendously overdone.? Jackson noted how he sits right next to Bynum during the team?s video study sessions and advises him on specific things.

Jackson also said he had talked with Bynum after practice the previous day.

So after Game 3, I asked Bynum about that conversation Jackson said they had. Bynum sat in brief, confused silence, then slowly said: ?I vaguely even remember. He might?ve. I don?t even remember.?

Quality time, huh?

I also mentioned to Bynum that Jackson had criticized his conditioning (again), saying Bynum usually gets tired after four or five minutes these days. Bynum sat in brief, annoyed silence this time, then quickly said: ?I don?t know. I was able to go there and play eight straight minutes today in the third quarter and give a great effort.?

That was true, and what Bynum did helped the Lakers win Game 3. And to Jackson?s credit, he rewarded Bynum?s effort by keeping in the game that long.

The next day, Bynum was asked why he doesn?t say something to Jackson if he feels his conditioning is good enough to play more minutes.

?I don?t think it?s really up to me,? Bynum said. ?He?s going to do what he?s going to do anyway.?

Bynum is actually spot-on with that. Jackson is far more interested in Bynum hearing what Jackson has to say.

?I?ve been told numerous times, just focus on rebounds and defend,? Bynum said, as if by rote.

Then came Game 4 Monday, another Lakers loss, although Bynum was the only player Jackson praised in his postgame comments. Just as in Game 2, Jackson was peeved that Bynum lacked energy just after halftime and gave him a quick hook with the Lakers losing by only three points. By the time Bynum returned, the Lakers were down by 11.

What happened next might well turn out to be the turning point in the Lakers? drive for the championship. No, they didn?t win the game, but Bynum suddenly played with all the energy and solidity that Jackson demands.

Maybe the old man isn?t lost at sea when it comes to Bynum, after all.

?He was upset about coming out of the game in the third quarter,? Jackson said. ?There were a couple of actions there where I didn?t see him go to the ball defensively, and I thought, ?Well, we can?t wait around in this quarter after we got the lead down to three.? ?

Jackson did give Bynum the second chance he did not offer in Game 2. And Bynum hit every shot he took and was a rare Laker who refused to be punked by the Thuggets, delivering a fierce two-hand swipe on Chris Andersen for a foul initially ruled flagrant.

?When he went back in, I liked his response,? Jackson said. ?That?s the way he has to play.?

That?s where we stand today, in a now-tied series. Trevor Ariza has been the most important addition to the Lakers? team that fell short last season ? not Bynum. Odom has been playing the most important minutes in the frontcourt ? not Bynum.

Yet Bynum has to know that Ariza (hip, groin) and Odom (back) are now hurt worse than being a little sore and limited in a knee brace. Anyone can see that Gasol is bone-tired after carrying such a load all those games when Bynum was sitting out.

Bynum and Jackson are, finally, on the same page.

?This is a contact series,? Jackson said. ?And so I?ve been trying to get Drew to step up.?

 

[Lumi]

Can Lakers rely on anyone besides Bryant, Gasol?

Can Lakers rely on anyone besides Bryant, Gasol?

Can Lakers rely on anyone besides Bryant, Gasol?
The Lakers' ranks become too thin after their top two players

After another display of unnecessary lack of roughness by the Lakers in a not-so-must-win situation, it's time to go back to the drawing board. It's time to re-evaluate what they have here as far as championship mettle so as to determine who should be the focal points going forward.

Which Lakers do you trust the most right now to come through with a play ? whatever the situation or motivation, at home or on the road, hell or high water?

From 1-14, let's rank them that way ?

1. Kobe Bryant. Obviously.

2. Pau Gasol. He posted his seventh consecutive playoff double-double Monday night. The last Laker to do that was Shaquille O'Neal, and all the way down to the unsteady free-throw shooting this postseason, Gasol is giving the Lakers the old one-two punch. In the Game 4 loss to the Nuggets, Bryant and Gasol had 55 of the Lakers' 101 points, 17 of their 40 rebounds and nine of their 19 assists ? and just one of their 10 turnovers.

3. Um ? OK ? well, let's see ...

This is not a good sign for the Lakers that it's this hard to come up with a No. 3., and the reason is not that there as so many wonderfully dependable candidates from which to choose. Hmm.

Let's go to the bottom and work our way from there. That's usually a good plan of attack when the rankings get difficult.

14. Sun Yue. Even the Chinese media don't talk to him as much as before.

13. Adam Morrison. Like Sun, Morrison has not appeared in the postseason.

12. DJ Mbenga. He has got to be rooting for Orlando to bring a Dwight Howard matchup to town.

11. Josh Powell. When called upon, he has made some shots but made some mistakes. Phil Jackson gave him a surprise chance to start the second quarter Monday night, choosing a very odd time to play Lamar Odom at small forward ? which Jackson has avoided all season ? with Powell and Gasol at the power positions.

With Gasol, Powell, Odom, Sasha Vujacic and Shannon Brown out there, Powell was hesitant, and Gasol was nonexistent after having played the entire first quarter. Before Andrew Bynum and Bryant came back to replace Gasol and Powell, Denver went on an 8-0 run to take a 30-19 lead.

10. Hmm. This one's not so easy either, because you could throw a lot of unproductive guys down here at No. 10. Another telling statement on the state the Lakers.

Brown is the player who currently plays the least, and Jordan Farmar is the guy who has played the next-fewest minutes to Powell this postseason. Brown was impressive early in the postseason, but he has tailed off and hasn't bothered Billups at all. On Monday night, Brown was just brutal, especially when Jackson believed his team "was fine" with a 77-70 deficit after Bynum's interior attack briefly energized the Lakers to start the fourth.

Then Billups drove on Brown and Bynum for a three-point play. Brown turned the ball over trying to force a pass to Bryant. And Brown let Billups do what he loves most ? and the coaches have harped on to no end: walk with momentum into a 3-point shot, which he sank for a sudden 83-70 Denver lead. So ?

10. Shannon Brown.

9. Luke Walton. Definitely worse than last spring in defending Carmelo Anthony and shooting 32.1 percent from the field for the postseason, which is even worse than Derek Fisher's 34 percent.

8. Jordan Farmar. Can be a huge spark, but who knows if he's going to do the right thing or whom he can defend?

7. Sasha Vujacic. Described the other day by Gasol as "different." He keeps getting court time because he defends with real zeal, which few Lakers do. Yet the supposed sharpshooter is even worse than Walton and Fisher at 27.2 percent shooting.

That leaves the recently hot in Ariza, the biggest upside in Bynum, the most experienced in Fisher and the highest paid in Odom. Let's wrap this up ?

6. Derek Fisher. A month ago, he was a viable No. 3 given his outstanding postseason resume. Now, not only does he keep missing shots, he keeps forcing shots. If Brown missed his next 24 shots from 3-point range, he would still be shooting better than Fisher's 22.9 percent!

Even more disappointing for the Lakers is that Fisher hasn't done what he has made him so valuable to them: getting the ball where it's should go. Fisher ranked fourth in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio in the regular season behind such ball-handling luminaries as Jose Calderon, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. Fisher's ratio was 3.6, whereas in the postseason it is 1.9 ? putting him behind Walton (2.7), Farmar (2.2) and Bryant (2.0).

5. Andrew Bynum. Gasol and Bynum finished Game 4 by combining to make their final 11 shots, and that's what the Lakers should carry into Game 5. Bynum disagrees with Jackson about that weak conditioning, but there's no denying that Bynum doesn't run consistently hard, for whatever reason.

Still, there's no denying that Bynum is playing much better lately, even if he estimates he's only 85-90 percent healthy. And if Odom's bruised back doesn't get better again ? he aggravated it in Game 3 ? then Bynum deserves to play much more based on his substantial ability to make plays.

4. Lamar Odom. He has never been and will never be someone to count on because he prefers to exist on the "intermittent" wiper setting. It is no coincidence that his two worst games of the postseason have come after the Lakers have won road Game 3s, when guys have to find motivation from within to deliver in the Game 4s.

But with experience and an appreciation for this championship opportunity, Odom will at least make something happen more often than Bynum.

3. Trevor Ariza. This postseason should be making it clear in Mitch Kupchak's mind to keep prioritizing the younger, still-improving Ariza over Odom when they're free agents this summer and Kupchak has that already-too-high future payroll. Besides Ariza's unique defensive skills, Jackson spoke early Monday night about Ariza's magnificent shooting in the playoffs and said this about some guys and the postseason's heightened importance: "Their game elevates."

Yet Ariza and Odom both lost focus Monday night, they both can't hit free throws, they both turn the ball over too much, and they both are not full strength because of injuries. Especially with this hip and groin pain, Ariza is not at all a strong No. 3, a guy you want to bank on giving you something almost whenever you need it.

This is why the Lakers, the NBA's best road team in the regular season with plenty of No. 3 options at the ready, have lost three of their past four road games in totally noncompetitive fashion. There's no one besides Bryant and Gasol whom the Lakers can trust anymore.

It's also why the Lakers should be rooting for Orlando to win the East, which would give all these fledgling Lakers the comfort of home-court advantage in the NBA Finals ? if they can make it

 

[Lumi]

NBA Matchup - Denver vs. LA Lakers

NBA Matchup - Denver vs. LA Lakers

NBA Matchup - Denver vs. LA Lakers

(2) Denver Nuggets (54-28) vs. (1) Los Angeles Lakers (65-17)
Game One LA Lakers 105, Denver 103
Game Two Denver 106, LA Lakers 103
Game Three LA Lakers 103, Denver 97
Game Four Denver 120, LA Lakers 101
Game Five Wednesday, May 27th - Denver at LA Lakers, 9 p.m.
Game Six Friday, May 29th - LA Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m.
*Game Seven Sunday, May 31st - Denver at LA Lakers, 8:30 p.m.
Records
2008-09 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 3-1
2007-08 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 3-0
2006-07 Head-to-head record Denver 3-1
2005-06 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 2-1
2004-05 Head-to-head record Tied 2-2
2003-04 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 3-1
2002-03 Head-to-head record Los Angeles 4-0
Overall Head-to-head record Los Angeles 93-46
Home Record Denver 33-8; Los Angeles 36-5
Away Record Denver 21-20; Los Angeles 29-12
Record vs. Pacific Division Denver 11-7
Record vs. Northwest Division Los Angeles 14-4
Record vs. Western Conference Denver 35-17; Los Angeles 44-8
2008-2009 Meetings
11/01 - Los Angeles, 104-97 (at Den)
11/21 - Los Angeles, 104-90 (at LA)
02/27 - Denver, 90-79 (at Den)
04/09 - Los Angeles, 116-102 (at LA)
2007-2008 Meetings
11/29 - Los Angeles, 127-99 (at LA)
12/05 - Los Angeles, 111-107 (at Den)
01/21 - Los Angeles, 116-99 (at LA)
2006-2007 Meetings
01/05 - Los Angeles, 123-104 (at LA)
03/15 - Denver, 113-86 (at Den)
04/03 - Denver, 111-105 (at LA)
04/09 - Denver, 115-111 (at Den)
2005-2006 Meetings
11/02 - Los Angeles, 99-97 ot (at Den)
11/06 - Los Angeles, 112-92 (at LA)
04/06 - Denver, 110-108 ot (at Den)
2004-2005 Meetings
11/02 - Los Angeles, 89-78 (at LA)
01/02 - Los Angeles, 99-91 (at LA)
01/12 - Denver, 95-83 (at Den)
03/24 - Denver, 117-96 (at Den)
2003-2004 Meetings
12/19 - Los Angeles, 101-99 (at LA)
01/07 - Denver, 113-91 (at Den)
01/14 - Los Angeles, 97-71 (at LA)
02/25 - Los Angeles, 112-111 (at Den)
2002-2003 Meetings
12/28 - Los Angeles, 112-93 (at Den)
02/11 - Los Angeles, 121-93 (at LA)
02/12 - Los Angeles, 113-102 (at Den)
04/15 - Los Angeles, 126-104 (at LA)
Game Notes
Note - The Lakers have won six of the last seven meetings.
Note - The Lakers have won seven of 11 and nine of the last 14 meetings.
Note - The Lakers have won 13 of 20 and 18 of the last 26 meetings.
Note - The Lakers have won 22 of 31 and 26 of the last 37 meetings.
Note - Denver has lost four straight at the Lakers.
Note - Denver has lost 12 of 13 and 22 of its last 24 at the Lakers.
Note - Denver snapped a two-game series home losing streak on 02/27/09.
Note - The Lakers have lost four of six and six of their last nine at Denver.
Note - The Lakers have lost seven of their last 11 at Denver.
Note - The Lakers have won eight of their last 15 at Denver.
Note - The Lakers have lost nine of their last 17 at Denver.
Denver last 16 games Los Angeles last 16 games
04/13 - W vs. Sacramento, 118-98 04/19 - W vs. Utah, 113-100 (POFF)
04/15 - L at Portland, 76-104 04/21 - W vs. Utah, 119-109 (POFF)
04/19 - W vs. New Orleans, 113-84 (POFF) 04/23 - L at Utah, 86-88 (POFF)
04/22 - W vs. New Orleans, 108-93 (POFF) 04/25 - W at Utah, 108-94 (POFF)
04/25 - L at New Orleans, 93-95 (POFF) 04/27 - W vs. Utah, 107-96 (POFF)
04/27 - W at New Orleans, 121-63 (POFF) 05/04 - L vs. Houston, 92-100 (POFF)
04/29 - W vs. New Orleans, 107-86 (POFF) 05/06 - W vs. Houston, 111-98 (POFF)
05/03 - W vs. Dallas, 109-95 (POFF) 05/08 - W at Houston, 108-94 (POFF)
05/05 - W vs. Dallas, 117-105 (POFF) 05/10 - L at Houston, 87-99 (POFF)
05/09 - W at Dallas, 106-105 (POFF) 05/12 - W vs. Houston, 118-78 (POFF)
05/11 - L at Dallas, 117-119 (POFF) 05/14 - L at Houston, 80-95 (POFF)
05/13 - W vs. Dallas, 124-110 (POFF) 05/17 - W vs. Houston, 89-70 (POFF)
05/19 - L at LA Lakers, 103-105 (POFF) 05/19 - W vs. Denver, 105-103 (POFF)
05/21 - W at LA Lakers, 106-103 (POFF) 05/21 - L vs. Denver, 103-106 (POFF)
05/23 - L vs. LA Lakers, 97-103 (POFF) 05/23 - W at Denver, 103-97 (POFF)
05/25 - W vs. LA Lakers, 120-101 (POFF) 05/25 - L at Denver, 101-120 (POFF)
Game Notes
Note - All statistics are regular season except where noted.
* - If necessary.

 

[Lumi]

Greed, jealousy creep into L.A.'s locker room

Greed, jealousy creep into L.A.'s locker room

Greed, jealousy creep into L.A.'s locker room

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. ? During his three years in the NBA, Jordan Farmar admits there are some things about pro basketball ? like trying to figure out the method and messages in the madness that is Lakers coach Phil Jackson ? that have been hard to figure out.

But there are other things, whether in the NBA or in youth basketball, that should be much easier to decipher.

"We just have to play basketball ? it should be so simple," Farmar said. "Everybody should just share the wealth. If we do that, then everybody has more opportunities to be successful, which means that the team will be more successful."

Apparently, on a team that is regarded as NBA royalty, the Lakers are discovering during the 2009 playoffs that some players are more regal than others ? and also dealing with the problems that arise when hoi polloi strain to grab a piece of the throne.

After their 120-101 loss Monday to the Nuggets, many Los Angeles players intimated, like Farmar, that the team needs to be a bit more socialistic in its approach to the series. While using general terms like early shots and a lack of ball movement, no one has come out and specifically said where things are breaking down.

Looking strictly at numbers, one would be tempted to point a finger at Kobe Bryant. The king of all things Lakers, Bryant has set a league record with 147 points in the first four games of the series. In doing so, Bryant has taken 98 field-goal attempts; the next Los Angeles player on the list, Pau Gasol, has taken 40 shots.

Monday, Gasol was 8-of-11, scoring 21 points. Center Andrew Bynum made 6-of-7 en route to 14 points. However, Gasol only took four shots in the second half, one more than Bynum.

After the game, both players were clearly frustrated the Lakers didn't exploit their inside game more, but blaming Bryant almost seems laughable. For one thing, for much of the last couple of seasons, Bryant has been content to bide his time in establishing his offense, preferring to let his teammates try to get off to good starts.

And it has also been Bryant who, more often than not, has been forced to swoop to the rescue. Without his fourth-quarter contributions in Games 1 (18 points) and 3 (12), chances are instead of kvetching about their lot, the Lakers would be eliminated and enjoying a sunny day at the beach.

But whether, it's coach Jackson bemoaning the lack of production and decisions made by his point guards, or the veiled comments in the locker room, it's clear that not everyone on the team is on the same page.

Bryant argued Tuesday that such drama is part of the playoffs.

"When you win, you're great and when you lose, everything is horrible," he said after the team's practice.

But the Lakers have to find a way to ensure this series doesn't become an enduring nightmare.

"The thing to do is be together as one," Farmar said. "I have to share my minutes with Shannon (Brown, another reserve guard). As an individual, I might not like it, but we bring different things to the team, and if that's what's best for the team, then I have to be committed to that, and when he's in the game, I have to root for him just like he has to root for me when I'm playing."

 

[Lumi]

Melo feels well enough to play

Melo feels well enough to play

Melo feels well enough to play

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. ? Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony pronounced himself fit and ready to play tonight against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

"I feel good," Anthony said Tuesday.

He played Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Monday with what he called a stomach virus. Anthony finished with 15 points, hitting only 3-of-16 shots. He was 9-of-11 on free throws.

Nuggets coach George Karl said he didn't expect Anthony to have any issues tonight in Game 5.

Anthony said he has not needed more IVs. He had one at halftime Monday. And no more IVs is just fine with Anthony.

"I can't deal with them needles," he said.

Jones' foul upgraded.

Dahntay Jones has now heard two of the three teams the Nuggets have met in the playoffs declare him a dirty player.
Jones appeared to trip Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during Game 4. The play was initially called a foul but was upgraded Tuesday to the flagrant-1 level by the NBA.

"There's nothing I can do about it," Jones said. "It's what the league has mandated. So just take it and keep playing. It's not up for me to agree with it."

Jones has three flagrant-foul points in the playoffs; one more and he's suspended for a game.

Jackson draws fine.

Before the start of the Western Conference finals, Lakers coach Phil Jackson chuckled at the notion the Nuggets had become a reincarnation of the old Detroit Pistons "Bad Boys."

Chances are Jackson feels a little differently today. Although the Zen master made references to Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, during his post-practice news conference Tuesday, the real verdict came later when the NBA announced the coach would be fined $25,000 for his criticism of the officiating in Monday's game. The Lakers were also fined $25,000.

A-OK.

While some observers thought J.R. Smith's scoring celebrations Monday in Game 4 may have been over the top, Bryant wasn't among them.

"He's got a right to do that," Bryant said Tuesday. "It's the playoffs, he's playing at home. If you can knock down the shots, then you can do that. If we need to look at that to find some kind of motivation, we've got issues."

 

[Eagle123]

Thank you for sharing

GO DENVER GO

BOL to us

 

[Lumi]

You and all of MJ's are most welcome !

I try to find as much as possible and put it one place

 

[mnm]

Yes! Thank you very much. It's excellent!!


mnm