LAKERS 2-0 KINGS| Lakers blow by Kings in Game 2

[Isaiah]

really appreciate it...

wanted to take more pics but too time consuming to keep exiting the game and setting up a new one on one or practice mode with diff players

[Cornerthree]

I always liked your "behind the scenes" stuff in your earlier dynasties. Good work on this one... GL in playoffs man!

[Isaiah]

MIHM BURIES LAKERS IN GAME 1
Hornets lead series 1-0

BOX SCORE
LAKERS
HORNETS



LOS ANGELES - By the way the regular season finale played out, and by the way the Los Angeles Lakers practiced, it would seem that we would be in for a fast-paced, lights-out shooting, physical series. It was exactly the way the analysts and coaches predicted the game would be played, except something was different: the outcome.

Chris Mihm, a former Laker, hit the game-winning jumper with 3.7 seconds to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 110-108 defeat in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series.

After a Lakers timeout, Kobe Bryant missed the potential game-tying jumper short. Mihm completed the victory by grabbing the rebound and threw the ball away.

Mihm finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

Antawn Jamison led the Hornets with 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting, to go along with 18 rebounds. Wally Szczerbiak had a complete game of 34 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Baron Davis had a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists.

Bryant had 25 points but shot only 10-of-21 from the field. Kenyon Martin scored 18 points, Steve Nash had 11 points and 10 assists but shot 2-of-8. Josh Howard scored 12 points and grabbed 9 boards.

Rookie of the Year candidate LaMarcus Aldridge, still hobbled by a strained calf, scored only 1 points and grabbed 1 rebound. In his semi-absence, Andrew Bynum scored 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Off the bench Jordan Farmar had a big game with 11 points, 5 assists and 3 steals.

Afterwards, coach Phil Jackson cited interior defense as a source of their poor game.

"We were really weak inside defensively," he said. "Antawn Jamison really killed us. We have to make that adjustment for game 2."

The Hornets now have home court advantage in the series.


HIGHLIGHT PICTURES




VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF GAME 1

Click here to watch some of Game 1's best plays.

[Cornerthree]

Oh tough loss... It always sucks to lose the first one, especially when an ex-Laker kills u...
Anyways, good game from Bynum, glad he's good in your dynasty.. Good luck in the next one...

[Isaiah]

Oh tough loss... It always sucks to lose the first one, especially when an ex-Laker kills u...
Anyways, good game from Bynum, glad he's good in your dynasty.. Good luck in the next one...

thanks..good luck in your playoff series as well!

[Isaiah]

i added video highlights to the recap.. not really that good. haha..

[Isaiah]

DAVIS LIGHTS UP LAKERS FOR 51, HORNETS CONTROL SERIES
Hornets lead series 2-0

BOX SCORE
LAKERS
HORNETS




LOS ANGELES - It was bad enough the Los Angeles Lakers lost home court advantage.

It's now even worse.

Baron Davis lit up the scoreboard for 51 points, shooting 18-of-30 from the field and an amazing 11-of-16 from downtown, to give the New Orleans Hornets a 116-113 win and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Hornets led virtually the entire way, with Los Angeles putting up little resistance before late rallies in the 2nd half.

Davis also had 10 assists.

Wally Szczerbiak and Jerry Stackhouse scored 19 points each, and Antawn Jamison scored 17.

Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 39 points. Steve Nash had 24 points and 9 assists, Kenyon Martin scored 21.

The Hornets now have all the momentum as the series shifts to New Orleans' house.

"The people there are gonna be rockin'" Davis said.

"We didn't take them for granted," Bryant said. "We just played carelessly. We now have to regroup, get ourselves together and avoid being down 3-0."

Bryant injured himself early in the 3rd quarter but was able to return. He is not expected to miss any games.

If necessary, Game 5 will be back here in Los Angeles.

HIGHLIGHT PICTURES

[Cornerthree]

Oh shit this is getting hard... Wakeup soon or you'll find yourself in a deep hole... Good luck in Game 3

[Mark.]

Ouch down 2 and you had homecourt... you seem to be playing well on the offensive end, you just need to crack down on defense

[Isaiah]

Oh shit this is getting hard... Wakeup soon or you'll find yourself in a deep hole... Good luck in Game 3

the series was tougher than i expected. the hornets are coming out on fire.. all of a sudden i cant stop them! getting into a deep hole is exactly what im fearing..

Ouch down 2 and you had homecourt... you seem to be playing well on the offensive end, you just need to crack down on defense

i just blew homecourt advantage. i cant believe it. Baron Davis is so hard to stop defensively. he just blows by Nash and Farmar. by the time i put Bryant on him, he was already on fire. 11 threes for crying out loud!!! 11-of-16!!!

[Isaiah]

LAKERS PLAY SLOW, TAKE GAME 3
Hornets lead series 2-1
by: Isaiah P. Cruz
(not to be confused with Lakers GM Isaiah Cruz)<--just felt like putting it. im known by both names lol


BOX SCORE:
LAKERS
HORNETS




NEW ORLEANS - The Lakers decided to slow things down for Game 3.

They slowed down their gameplay, they slowed down Baron Davis, and they slowed down the New Orleans Hornets.

More importantly, they slowed down their chances of being eliminated from the playoffs early.

Los Angeles used a half-court, post up, physical style of attack on the road, instead of their usual fast-paced, up-tempo style to take a 102-94 win on the road, getting back home court advantage and moving with 2-1 in the best of seven series against the Hornets.

Kobe Bryant, slowed by a sore elbow sustained in Game 2, shot only 4-of-12 from the field, but shot 14-of-16 from the line and finished with 22 points to lead the attack. Steve Nash also had 22 points to go along with 10 assists.

However, it was more their defense than their offense that got them the win in this one.

After allowing 113.0 points per game to the Hornets in their last 2 games, the Lakers held them to only 94. After allowing 24.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game to Antawn Jamison, they limited him to only 8 points and 5 rebounds. After allowing 51 points to Baron Davis in Game 2, he was held to 11 points once again.

"It's an old NBA saying," Bryant said. "Like a cliche. 'Defense wins Championships.' People might say 'Yeah, yeah whatever.' But its true."

"I knew it from the start," Steve Nash said. "Once we lost Game 1, I went home and said to myself, 'There will be a Game 5.'"

The Lakers out-scored New Orleans 34-19 in the fourth quarter, after the Hornets thought they had taken control in the 3rd.

"We just blew this one," Byron Scott said. "We disappointed our fans. We just have to regroup, and focus on Game 4."

Game 4 is in Oklahoma City, while Game 5 will be played in Los Angeles. If necessary, Game 6 will be back here.

GAME PICTURES

[Isaiah]

HEADING HOME EVEN
Series tied 2-2
by: Isaiah P. Cruz

BOX SCORE
LAKERS
HORNETS




OKLAHOMA CITY - The Lakers knew what was taken from them, and they took it right back from the Hornets.

The Lakers lost the first two games of the series, both at home, but have even the series up 2-2 following a 122-108 victory over the Hornets in Game 4. The road team has won every game in the series. However, the Lakers look to end that in Game 5.

"We're 0-2 at home, 2-0 on the road," Phil Jackson said. "We got home court advantage back, and we have to take advantage of our advantage, so to speak. Its not enough that we just have it, we need to capitalize on it. And by the way this team has played, they look focused on winning at home."

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 30 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, but each and every starter scored in double figures. Josh Howard had solid numbers with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, Steve Nash had a double double with 16 points and 11 assists, Kenyon Martin had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and surprise starter Andrew Bynum had 16 points, but shot a miserable 2-of-12 from the line, drawing comparisons to you-know-who.

"I thought it was Shaq out there playing," Kobe Bryant said.

As a result, the Lakers as a whole shot only a depressing 18-of-35 from the line.

Jerry Stackhouse scored 22 points for the Hornets, who also had every starter in double figures. However, their defense was the key to their loss. The Lakers scored 36 points in the 3rd quarter, extending a halftime lead of 8 to 15 by the start of the 4th.

The Hornets showed no threat after that.

Game 5 will be in Los Angeles, while Game 6 has been moved here to Oklahoma City instead of New Orleans.


GAME PICTURES




VIDEO HIGHLIGHT

WATCH NOW!>>>
Watch Kobe Bryant tower over Wally Sczcerbiak on the first play of the night!

[Lamrock]

Just checked this out. Great idea. Nice job retrieving home court advantage! I was shocked to see the stacked top seed lose 2 straight. Good luck in game 5!

[Isaiah]

NBA PLAYER AWARDS GIVEN OUT!!!





-Kobe Bryant
-Elton Brand
-Charlie Villanueva
-Tim Duncan







-Andrea Bargnani
-LaMarcus Aldridge





ALSO.....

CURRENT PLAYOFF STANDINGS

[Isaiah]

Just checked this out. Great idea. Nice job retrieving home court advantage! I was shocked to see the stacked top seed lose 2 straight. Good luck in game 5!

hey thanks for checking this out! i have a feeling Kobe and LaMarcus Aldridge got robbed of the MVP and ROY, respectively..so..ill look to them having huge games in Game 5!

[Lamrock]

Yeah, they probably were robbed, though I don't know about LaMarcus. Playing on such a stacked team, there is only so much he can do. Villanueva in 4th for MVP voting? Paul winning MIP?! WTF! Paul was better than Villanueva last year anyway. How is it that Charlie has a better season, but Paul wins Most Improved despite not improving anything? This sim engine is almost as bad as 2k7's.

Can't wait for game 5! It is stories like this that influence me to do my 2K7 associations.

[Isaiah]

Yeah, they probably were robbed, though I don't know about LaMarcus. Playing on such a stacked team, there is only so much he can do. Villanueva in 4th for MVP voting? Paul winning MIP?! WTF! Paul was better than Villanueva last year anyway. How is it that Charlie has a better season, but Paul wins Most Improved despite not improving anything? This sim engine is almost as bad as 2k7's.

Can't wait for game 5! It is stories like this that influence me to do my 2K7 associations.

i actually thought Bargnani would win the award...

LaMarcus Aldridge was the West's rookie of the month on December, January, March and April

Rudy Gay was the West's rookie of the month on November and February
Morrison was the East's rookie for November and Bargnani was the rookie of the month from DECEMBER TO APRIL

[Isaiah]

BRYANT, ALDRIDGE, THOMAS, FARMAR ALL NAMED TO ALL-NBA TEAMS


LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas and Jordan Farmar were all honored at the end of the season.

All play for the 64-18 Los Angeles Lakers, and all were named to All-NBA Teams.

Bryant, who finished 2nd in MVP voting, was named to the All-NBA 1st team. For the season he averaged 24.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists, shooting 52% from the field. With him is 5th-MVP vote-getter Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, Baron Davis and MVP Jermaine O'Neal.



The All-NBA 2nd team is composed of 3rd-placed MVP vote getter Elton Brand, Brad Miller, Boris Diaw, Gilbert Arenas and Tracy McGrady, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, owners of the NBA's best record at 65-17.



LaMarcus Aldridge and Tyrus Thomas were both named to the All Rookie 1st team. With them is Adam Morrison, Rookie runner-up Andrea Bargnani, and Rookie of the Year Rudy Gay.



Jordan Farmar was named to the All-Rookie 2nd team. With him is Randy Foye, Quincy Douby, Marcus Williams and Brandon Roy.



MVP Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Gerald Wallace, Larry Hughes and Baron Davis make up the All-Defensive 1st team.



Tracy McGrady, Brad Miller, Dwight Howard, Andrei Kirilenko and Most Improved Player Chris Paul make up the All Defensive 2nd team.



For leading the Cavs to the NBA's best record, Cleveland coach Mike Brown is the Coach of the Year, edging out the Lakers' Phil Jackson.

[Isaiah]

hey guys! a new magazine is in the works, by nature of Devin112's old template. haha. i used to have the "Low Down" thingy, but i guess ill change the title. any suggestions guys?

[Lamrock]

I loved Devin112's dynasty. I don't know what happens in the forum, but where did he go? Looking forward to the magazine and game 5. Aldridge wasn't that good this season, but Bargnani was robbed. All his stats were superior to Gay's...

[Isaiah]

BEHIND THE SCENES: Not So Fast...

STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA

Drills, drills, drills. Scrimmages, scrimmages, offensive sets, defensive sets.

This has been the scene of the Lakers' practice. No one is exempted. Not he starts, not the ones with breakout games. Everyone is being drilled through all these drills.

As the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Lakers find themselves tied with the New Orleans Hornets, 2-2.
"This is the pivotal game," Kobe Bryant told reporters on the side. "Its really important for us to be focused on this game. We feel we are good enough to win every game, but we know it isn't gonna be handed to us. We have to work, every game. No one said this series was gonna be easy picking."
And a few punishments on the side, too.
In the last two games, missed free throws have been vital, even though both turned out to be Laker wins.
For his part, Andrew Bynum shoots an extra 100 free throws in addition to the team free throw drills.
"Any missed free throws, you will run suicides," Kurt Rambis told the players. "Gotta make your fee throws, c'mon now. Each missed free throw, 1 suicide. Miss 4, four suicides."

Besides winning, there is the competition for playing time. Tyrus Thomas took over the role of backup power forward to Kenyon Martin, and Rasual Butler has been Josh Howard's backup in Game 4. The team deactivated Anderson Varejao and placed Allan Ray in the lineup. For Ray, Varejao and Leon Powe, its all about playing time.

The faded number 14 jersey has been appearing everywhere on the court on defense. Ray could see himself playing pretty soon.
"Its my chance to show what I've got," Ray said. "I got Farmar and JR Smith to compete with. Its fun. I'm up to the challenge."

As he said this, Ray looked up at the banners.
The two big bodies, Andrew Bynum and LaMarcus Aldridge, are also going at it on one side of the floor during individual drills. Both are showing that they make up a solid tandem, and that they are not backing down from each other.

"Its healthy competition," Phil Jackson said. "Those kids are showing that they aren't gonna lay down for someone to step all over them. This is good because it shows that it means they can also do it out there."
"We got each other's back," Aldridge said.

Hard working coaching staff, hard working players.

Even tied 2-2, even after 2 straight wins, even with all the momentum, they know that the Hornets are saying, and the Lakers are saying to themselves, "not so fast."

[Cornerthree]

Nice two wins in a row, glad you tied it... I think that I won't be as hard as in the first two from now on, since you're making a run and you totally killed 'em last time, so GL Isaiah!

[Isaiah]

well..still..the semi-PG domination even with the fix..but still..never underestimate..haha..but thanks for the support!

[Isaiah]

BRYANT HITS THE GAME-WINNER



BOX SCORE
LAKERS
HORNETS

LOS ANGELES - Bryant for the win...BANG!

Kobe Bryant hit the game-winner jumper with 2.8 seconds left on the clock to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-98 win over the New Orleans Hornets, and a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-seven series.

LA now has a chance to put the Hornets away in Oklahoma City. The Hornets must win Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7 back here in Los Angeles.

Bryant flirted with a triple-double with 32 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, shooting 14-of-19 from the field, in his first game after finishing 2nd in MVP voting. Statistics aside, he also led the Lakers back in the second half.

The Lakers finished the first half up 54-38. LA went on a blitsering run after the game was tied 26-26, with the reserves on the floor. However, the Hornets slowly chipped away at the lead, and eventually went in front 91-87 with a little over 2 minutes to play.

But Bryant's 14 points in the fourth quarter led LA back, and his 10th assist to Tyrus Thomas' three-pointer with 26.1 seconds left put LA in front 98-95. But on the ensuing possesion, Wally Sczcerbiak hit a trey to tie the game up. Phil Jackson didn't call for time, and it set the stage for Bryant's heroics.

Steve Nash was the only other Laker in double figures with 10 points and 8 assists. JR Smith finished with 9 points, Thomas had 9, Andrew Bynum had 8 points and 7 rebounds, LaMarcus Aldridge had 7 points and 9 rebounds.

Baron Davis finished with 37 points, 28 coming in the 2nd half. Antawn Jamison once again ripped the Lakers insie for 21 points and 7 rebounds. Jamal Magloire had only 6 points, but pulled down 16 rebounds.

NOTES: Kobe Bryant missed the game-tying shot in Game 1, which was won by the Hornets 110-108...Each and every Laker played and scored...Allan Ray played for the first time in the playoffs. He scored 3 points.

GAME PICTURES


VIDEO HIGHLIGHT
Click hereto watch Kobe Bryant's game-winning shot.

[Isaiah]

HORNETS SENT PACKING; BRYANT HAS TRIPLE DOUBLE



BOX SCORE
LAKERS
HORNETS

OKLAHOMA CITY - Again, too much Kobe Bryant in Game 6.

Bryant had a triple-double of 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, LaMarcus Aldridge finally came out of his playoff slump to score 16 points with 9 rebounds, and four other players scored in double figures to help the Los Angeles Lakers convincingly send the Hornets packing, 123-101.

Tyrus Thomas continued his huge performance with 14 points and 5 rebounds, Steve Nash had 13 points, JR Smith and Josh Howard each had 11 for LA.

But Bryant's performance was too much for the Hornets. He shot 10-15 from the field, 3-6 from distance, 4-4 from the line, and included a 360-degree dunk on the fast break. Since Jermaine O'Neal was named the league's Most Valuable Player, Bryant has been averaging 29.5 points, 10.5 assists and 9.5 rebounds.

Baron Davis had 29 points and 8 assists in the loss, Jerry Stackhouse had a well-rounded game with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, and Wally Szczerbiak had scored 24.

The Lakers led virtually throughout the game, taking an early 18-7 lead and up 27-20 after one quarter. The Hornets posed no serious threat after that, and Los Angeles steamrolled through Oklahoma. The lead was 95-71 early in the fourth quarter when the crowd started to empty. During a timeout, the remaining fans in the Ford Center stood and applauded their Hornets, who gave the Lakers a rough series.

The Hornets won the first two games on the road before the Lakers tied it up and took the series.

Up next for the Lakers will be the 5th-seeded Sacramento Kings, whom the Lakers aquired from near the trade deadline. In that deal, the Lakers sent Chris Duhon, Etan Thomas and Lee Nailon in exchange for Kenyon Martin.


GAME PICTURES