Lakers vs. Minnesota

[Fresh8]

I think the Lakers went cold. 1:00 left...they're back at 10 points down...

BTW... dont know what i'm talkin bout cause i'm following via gamecast!

EDIT: 30 seconds left... 8 points down- Payton taking two free throws

EDIT TWO: Lakers lose by two... Derek Fisher made a shot at the buzzer...to lower the margin from 5 to 2.... Lets go to Staples for Game 6!
Hey- the Lakers lost but maybe my prediction will come true! Lakers win in 6- wooo hooo!

[Amphatoast]

Minnesota 98, Los Angeles 96

T'wolves survive and live anther day. KG had a excellent game with 30points 19 rebs and Sprewell also helped with 28points.
Game kinda ended funny with a Derek Fisher 3 though He his 2 shots in the final 10seconds and both looked impossible...kinda makes u wonder if somethin is up for game 6

[GloveGuy]

T-Wolves pull out 98-96. The score doesn't speak for the game. The Lakers made a late run in the last 10 seconds.

Box Score

The Wolves just wanted it more. However hard the Lakers played, Minnesota played that much harder.

The Lakers had an opportunity to come back, and I think Kobe made some crucial mistakes at the end. He lost faith in his teammates, thinking he could take the game over. There were two straight possessions where he poorly shot up a three with time left on the shot clock.

The turning points were definitely the Lakers' three-second violation, which was shortly followed by Hoiberg's three-point play. The first was a play where Payton should've shot the ball, leading to Shaq's confusion. The next was a grade school mistake by Kobe -- fouling the jumpshooter.

[RedTorro]

Live post game wrap up here....

http://www.570klac.com/streaming.html

[Andrew]

Even though I'm normally one of those people who say "it isn't over until it's over", I really don't see the Timberwolves coming back to win games six and seven. I would love to see it happen (not because I'm a "hater", I simply like the Timberwolves the most out of the two teams), but coming all the way back from 3-1 down is highly unlikely against any team, let alone this year's Laker squad. Lakers in six.

Just to add to that, even if the series goes to a seventh game, I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Lakers pull out a win on the Timberwolves' home floor. Still, the Timberwolves have had a great year, and have done well in their first venture out of the first round.

[Amphatoast]

.

The turning points were definitely the Lakers' three-second violation, which was shortly followed by Hoiberg's three-point play. The first was a play where Payton should've shot the ball, leading to Shaq's confusion. The next was a grade school mistake by Kobe -- fouling the jumpshooter.

i see someone has been watching Inside the NBA

anyway i have a feeling the lakers lost on purpose so they can go home and do it in front of their fans.

[Andrew]

anyway i have a feeling the lakers lost on purpose so they can go home and do it in front of their fans.

I remember a few people said that about the Bulls/Sonics Finals series back in 1996. As much as I'd like to believe it, the Sonics simply regained their composure and won a couple on the home court.

Shaq and Phil have come off as being a little overconfident in recent years, but I don't think they'd lose on purpose. If they did, it's a dangerous idea.

[Jackal]

anyway i have a feeling the lakers lost on purpose so they can go home and do it in front of their fans.

I don't think you watched the game live, that's why you made such a comment. The Lakers lost because they didnt want it, they didnt play as if they wanted it whilst the Wolves were playing as hungry as ever. They were hustling and all. In all the "keys" to winning they were ahead of the Lakers, wether it was fastbreakpoints, second chance points or points off turnovers, they just out hustled LA.

Well, onto my thoughts (ramblings):

It was going really well for LA, they were up 40-33 untill the Wolves decided to go on a 13-0 run. If anyone watched this game or has taped this game...look at how they played to get that lead. Everytime the ball went down the court..Shaq got a touch. After he was doubled he passed the ball and there was movement leading to an open shot or penetration. Now look at the last 4 minutes and 20 seconds, when the Wolves went on that 13-0 run, can anyone guess how many touches Shaq had on the ball? Yeah, zilch, zero, nul, nada, niks, kuch nahin. When you have that big lump of corruption, why not utilise him?

Malone tried to do a good job on KG, but KG was just being KG - the league MVP. KG played a stellar game, it wasn't a "quiet" effort, he was vocal in this win, he wasn't quiet, I dont know how to explain it...he demanded the ball, he shot the ball. He did everything...even ran up the ball up the court.

"What we ask KG to do is remarkable," said Minnesota coach Flip Saunders, who used a small lineup. "The only thing that I can think of that is similar is what Magic (Johnson) did against Philadelphia (in the 1980 Finals). ... He told me at half that he could go the whole way."

I love KG, he is just so humble, anyone see him talking to Cheryl Whatever? He really comes off as a nice guy just waiting to win.

George came out and hit two back to back jumpers, he was getting off to a good start. Then he missed his next four. I like him, he works really hard. He also had a collision with one of the Wolves' players as he dove for a lose ball. He went to the bench and was treated at halftime and returned to the game. It's fun watching him defend Sprewell, he just jumps around all over the place.

Sprewell was just on fire, he did something he didnt do in previous games. He drove to the basket, he went to that 15 foot mark and shot jumpers. The Wolves ran the pick and roll and made Shaq come out, and Sprewell just burned them all night long. 28 points, real nice. Props to Sprewell, actually to both Spree & KG they carried this team to victory. Oh, salute to the Mayor, what the hell got into him?

Bryant started off early. He had like 14 points in the first half if I remember correctly. In the third, where he normally explodes, for the first few minutes (3 minutes and 20 seconds I think) orso he had 1 point off of a technical freethrow which was given to Flip Saunders.

The Lakers had an opportunity to come back, and I think Kobe made some crucial mistakes at the end. He lost faith in his teammates, thinking he could take the game over. There were two straight possessions where he poorly shot up a three with time left on the shot clock.

I couldn't have said it better. Well Phil Jackson made an indirect comment I thinks.

"I thought we didn't play very smart basketball," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We ask them to move the ball and they were trying to take them off the dribble."

On a sidenote: What the hell is wrong with the refs? (Yes, I know I know, I'm a little sissy girl/Laker fanatic who complains about the refree-ing just because my team lost, I dont care) I want to see what the refs would do if they saw Hassell play another Guard the way he played Bryant, for christ's sake I dont think I've seen a guard being hit on his arms by reach-ins as many time as Bryant was hit last night. Sure, go ahead and play physical, no problem...all the more interesting in fact, but come on he kept hitting him on his arms while reaching in to try and poke the ball away or whatever it was he was trying to do. Why the double standards? Same thing goes for fouls on Shaq, they hammer him, no calls...he's bigger so he can take it. Now that Kobe has known to dominate + he can shoot free-throws they just let the defenders be that much more physical until there is a really obvious foul. Aren't the rules the same for everyone? Same with Shaq, unless it's an obvios hack across the arms or a wrap around...the foul won't be called. *shrug* My bullshit as a Laker fan.

Was Payton at the game? He was so quiet I cant even remember his presence.

Fisher did what Fisher does best this playoffs, he's come off the bench as a spark. He gives them some instant offense. 17 points in 33 minutes not bad.

I cant really blame Payton though, he was being guarded by the taller Wally Youtryspellinghisname.

Anyways, as I said this game will be wrapped up in 6 games. I had expected this much. Good job by the Wolves staying alive one more game. Once again, great job by Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell.

[Micchy_boy]

this series was all scripted.
game 1 and 2 at minny = lakers will win one game (game 1)
game 3 and 4 at LA - LA will win both game
game 5 - one last try to extend the series by minny
game 6 - fab four will hug cassel, KG and Spree
lakers will say to cassell to rest his ailing back
lakers will say to KG that you deserve the MVP award but we deserve our 4th ring.
lakers wil say to spree that he was a very good player but will never win ring unless join the lakers.

wolves will congratulate lakers for being Western Conference champion and as well as NBA champion

[matmat8]

this series was all scripted.
game 1 and 2 at minny = lakers will win one game (game 1)
game 3 and 4 at LA - LA will win both game
game 5 - one last try to extend the series by minny
game 6 - fab four will hug cassel, KG and Spree
lakers will say to cassell to rest his ailing back
lakers will say to KG that you deserve the MVP award but we deserve our 4th ring.
lakers wil say to spree that he was a very good player but will never win ring unless join the lakers.

wolves will congratulate lakers for being Western Conference champion and as well as NBA champion

yeah...yeah

[Steve04]

The Lakers would be wise to put Kobe on the elbow to post up Hassel. Hassel cannot guard Kobe when he is being posted up. When Kobe is out on the parameter they just double team him.

[.]

The Lakers would be wise to put Kobe on the elbow to post up Hassel. Hassel cannot guard Kobe when he is being posted up. When Kobe is out on the parameter they just double team him.

I agree, Hassell has longer arms and legs as Kobe has and its helping him by stopping Kobe when he tries to go around him, however, in the 4th quarter, Kobe posted him up 2 straight times..faked him out and took a step to the rim, simply by good footwork and using his head. But you know what happend after he made those 2 shots, they put Garnett on him, which is nearly to post against if youre a Shooting Guard

[Steve04]

I'll also say I'm dissapointed in Payton. I guess he just doesn't really fit in with the Lakers, but he just seems listless in a lot of games. I think he's lost a step or two, plus his defense is subpar. Malone is the X-Factor though, and the Lakers would never lose if George gave them a great effort every game.

[Wall St. Peon]

Psycho, about Hassell:

He's the "next" Bruce Bowen. The only reason he's in the L is for his defense, and because he is known as a defensive specialist and nothing else, the refs let him get away with stuff, just like Bowen and Artest get away with stuff. That's why teams are overjoyed when Bowen and Hassell score in double digits...it's not expected of them. Their only purpose is to defend.

And you act like Kobe and Shaq don't get away with fouls...

Oh, and I have to stick up for the Mayor...ISU represent! He's always been a solid player and scorer, and he's smart...he shoots 47% from the field and 44% from behind the arc, and 85% from the line...7 ppg in 22 minutes. Pretty good stat line for a role player...he does what he's asked.

And how he got his nickname: As a sophomore at Iowa State, he received three write-in votes in the 1993 Ames mayoral election and was tabbed by famed college basketball analyst Dick Vitale with the nickname “The Mayor”

[Hannibal]

Malone have all-around game with 2 less assist for triple double. and the great defense on KG.

You call KG's 28 pts., 13 rebs., 9 assists a great defensive game by Malone on KG?

one person whose just look at the boxscore. i hope you watched the game coz if you just watched you see that every point, rebound and even assist were hard earned. malone may not stopped the MVp for scoring or doing his number but at least malone gave him the hard time to do it all thus using more energy from KG. and even KG get a another assist to have triple double, it doesnt have an impact to the game coz not having a good number means great game. i hope you get my point in saying malone did a good not great job on KG.

Huh?!? Whattheheckdidyoujustsay?

[Micchy_boy]

hannibal is a stupid person!!!! thats what the my previous post said!!!!

[Jackal]

He's the "next" Bruce Bowen. The only reason he's in the L is for his defense, and because he is known as a defensive specialist and nothing else, the refs let him get away with stuff, just like Bowen and Artest get away with stuff. That's why teams are overjoyed when Bowen and Hassell score in double digits...it's not expected of them. Their only purpose is to defend.

And you act like Kobe and Shaq don't get away with fouls...

True, they get away with fouls, but then we see alot of complaints, don't we? So I complained bout Hassell.

See, I'm helping him..giving him recognition!

[Bang]

Here hannibal, I'll explain it to you:
You were just looking at the box score weren't you? Every single point, rebound and assist were hard earned by KG. In other words, most of the shots were what KG would normally miss. A good defender might not be able to stop someone on a great night. If MJ scores 50 something, chances are that even if the defender did well, MJ would do better. Malone simply gave KG a hard time, and that is what great defenders do. Sometimes you just can't stop a guy who's on fire. If you saw, the game, you'd know that Karl Malone did a good job, but KG had a good night.

Anyhow, today the Lakers eat the wolves. Yum yum...TASTY..

[Micchy_boy]

Here hannibal, I'll explain it to you:
You were just looking at the box score weren't you? Every single point, rebound and assist were hard earned by KG. In other words, most of the shots were what KG would normally miss. A good defender might not be able to stop someone on a great night. If MJ scores 50 something, chances are that even if the defender did well, MJ would do better. Malone simply gave KG a hard time, and that is what great defenders do. Sometimes you just can't stop a guy who's on fire. If you saw, the game, you'd know that Karl Malone did a good job, but KG had a good night.

Anyhow, today the Lakers eat the wolves. Yum yum...TASTY..

thnks bro for helping me explaining to a stupid person.

[Jackal]

I don't think we should resort to calling each other names Micchy. We all mature enough around here.

[.]

Derek Fisher might miss todays game because he busted up his knee during the late seconds of game 5
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/fisher_040531.html

I hope he will get on the court, he has been playing very very well lately, and if it wasnt for him, the Lakers would have lose last game by 10+ points instead of 4.

[Jackal]

instead of 4.

You mean 2 points.

[matmat8]

[b]I hope he will get on the court, he has been playing very very well lately, and if it wasnt for him, the Lakers would have lose last game by 10+ points instead of 4.

And you call yourself a fan (just jokin'...)

[Andrew]

hannibal is a stupid person!!!! thats what the my previous post said!!!!

Please don't resort to namecalling and flames. Even low-level insults such as "idiot" and "stupid" can lead to some nasty flames that throw otherwise good discussions way off-topic. Thank you.

[Micchy_boy]

as im writing this lakers fans in staples are singing this:

NA NA NA NA
NA NA NA NA
HE HE HEY GOODBYE