Published: May 7, 2009
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In Game 1 on Monday night, the Houston Rockets got everyone’s attention by showing that they would not kneel before the mighty Los Angeles Lakers and that, sure enough, we had a series on our hands.
Wednesday night’s Game 2 escalated the stakes.
Via their steely resolve charging back from a second quarter deficit without the help [...]
Published: May 5, 2009
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It has been said of the Los Angeles Lakers all season that their greatest weakness might be their overconfidence, that they were at times too sure of themselves for a team that hasn’t won a title. Even in winning 65 games in the regular season and taking care of the Jazz in five games, Phil [...]
Published: April 28, 2009
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Championships are not won in April, but they can certainly be lost there.
In that respect, the Los Angeles Lakers should be pleased with themselves after having dispatched the Utah Jazz in five games thanks to a 107-96 win Monday night.
But let us not confuse the actuality of a series win with signs that they are [...]
Published: April 26, 2009
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If Game 4 of the Lakers-Jazz showed the basketball world only one thing, it was evidence of why Kobe Bryant is… well, Kobe Bryant.
On the heels of one of his worst postseason games ever, Bryant delivered exactly as everyone thought he would: 24 points in the first half, 38 for the game.
In Game 2, LA’s [...]
Published: April 22, 2009
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On Tuesday night, Game 2 of the Lakers-Jazz series played out with a palpable level of familiarity. While the finer details of the proceedings may have been different, it still had the feeling of so many others we have seen in the past between these rivals.
In brief: the Lakers did their work early by dominating [...]
Published: April 20, 2009
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On a night where ‘Amazing’ happened in Orlando, the playoffs for the Los Angeles Lakers started out somewhat more mundane.
The Lakers did not need Andre Iguodala-style heroics or Derrick Rose-like revelation in taking down the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their Western Conference bout. Instead, cool efficiency, deadly professionalism, and precise effectiveness marked the [...]
Published: April 15, 2009
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With the 2008-2009 regular season about to enter our collective rear view mirror, I thought it might be clever to briefly look back at my initial projection as to how this season would play out.
Considering foregone season previews with the benefit of hindsight is done first to ensure I am held accountable and answerable for [...]
Published: April 6, 2009
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North Carolina was successful this season not because of one player’s staggering individual excellence or game-changing ability, but because of the collective talents of their entire roster. They found success via collectivism.
Published: April 1, 2009
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What will define Kevin Love’s rookie year is the manner of efficiency in which it was conducted, and the template it has laid for a great career to come.
Published: March 11, 2009
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With apologies and acknowledgment to Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden and Jordan Hill, any team that passes on Ricky Rubio is making a huge mistake.