Originally Posted by
HARMCITY45
Originally Posted by jupeezy
ariza isn't checking Melo he is on billups, and the nuggets made bonehead plays down the stretch and thats how they lost...free throws or not they didn't stop Kobe and made silly fouls....thats what lost the game....they can let melo go off just can't let anyone else get buckets....lakers in 5
%%@%# you trippin...
Ariza WAS checkin Melo
Kobe was on Billups up until the 4th when he switched up and started checkin' Melo....
Why? Cuz Ariza was gettin' his *%+ busted(nh)...
Everyone knowss you can't stop Kobe...
But please believe that if Kobe doesn't score 30 every game against the Denver...
Lakers will lose...Bet that!
I agree with you in that Kobe cannot slack in order for the Lakers to advance...
I don't agree in that he NEEDS to score 30 every game in order for them to win the series.
All Kobe needs to do is Lead the team and play smart consistent Basketball. We are better off as a team when Kobe is distributing the ball and making thesmart extra pass rather then taking a circus shot over 3 defenders (which he can make, but is not my point...).
This type of play by Kobe can only be achieved through the rest of the team stepping up and being ready to play. Not only does Pau have to step up and try toplay a physical series against Martin but the ENTIRE Laker team must be ready to step up to the plate.
To add to all of this I must say this, last night we played bad basketball. If it were not for the Nuggets making mistakes, missing free throws, Carmelo notbeing able to duplicate his 1st Quarter heroics, etc. etc. then we would have lost that game. Kobe needed to step up since the rest of the team was draggingbehind. He did so in the 4th and set the tone for the team. As soon as this happened the team followed. Kobe is capable of doing this EVERY game IF he isOn. It is in our best interest that he does not have to do this for 7 games. If like I said the Lakers as a team can step up and allow Kobe to set the toneand distribute the Rock then we should be headed to the NBA finals.
Carmelo was on fire in the 1st Quarter and no one can deny that. Another thing we cant deny is that he sometimes is a very streaky player.
Rather then Kobe having to score 30 a game I think it is safer to assume that Melo will have to drop 30+ every night in order to give his team a fair shot atadvancing.
I honestly think that his 1st Quarter performance can somewhat be atrributed to the fact that we indeed do not have anyone to "shut him down" butalso to the fact that we needed to adjust to the new matchup.
The proof is in the numbers...
Carmelo-
16 points in the 1st
4 points in the 2nd
10 points in the 3rd
9 points in the 4th
He went on a steady decline. While we do not have anyone who can naturally and efficiently defend Melo, I believe that adjustments will be made and it willbecome difficult for Melo to go 14-20 and 4-5 (from beyond the arc) AGAIN.
So to reitterate, rather then Kobe having to do something I think the pressure is on the Nuggets and Carmelo.
They had their chance to take HCA from the Lakers but failed down the stretch. This will only add to that pressure. The Media made the Nuggets the"Favorite" to take game 1 and many sports personas went as far as to choose the Nuggets in 6 making the Lakers the underdog. After the the victorylast night I think that the pressure is back on Denver. The lakers on the other hand have an opportunity to come out for game 2 with more confidence and withnew respect for themselvels after the unexplicable Rockets series.
Kobe on the other hand...
8 points in the 1st
10 points in the 2nd
4 points in the 3rd
18 points in the 4th
He stepped up when he needed to and hopefully he will be able to do this for the rest of the playoffs.
Lakers in 6, but if necessary we will get it done in 7.
Just my .02
P.S. I have to agree with some of you in that Ariza might be able to keep up with Melo. He is young, fast, and at times physical. He was top 10 in stealsthis year...
