Lakers/Spurs Game 5 Halftime Notes
Lamar Odom (photo. Tim Tadder)* Unacceptable for the Lakers to come out as flat as they did in the first quarter, and they didn’t show any life during San Antonio’s big 17-2 run. Forget the series lead; L.A. has to treat this exactly like a Game 7, because a loss tonight followed by a very lose-able Game 6 in Texas puts them right on the brink of elimination.
* Like Doug Collins pointed out, the Spurs have been terrible at finishing out quarters and halves. They let the Lakers right back in the game at the end of the half via a 9-0 run, and now only lead by six. It seems every game this series Kobe has scored a bucket right before the halftime buzzer. You saw the “Inside Trax” segment where Gregg Popovich told them not to milk the lead, but that’s precisely what they did, looking like they were playing not to lose.
* Everyone is waiting for Kobe to take this game over and step on the Spurs’ neck. It hasn’t happened yet, but you saw what he did in the second half of Game 1. Don’t think San Antonio doesn’t remember it, either. The next 24 minutes is going to be huge for Bruce Bowen.
* Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol need to step it up as well. Odom’s been committing silly fouls, turning the ball over, and has one rebound. Gasol has 8 boards, but he can’t make a shot and is playing soft offensively.
* We love Kurt Thomas, but his drive-and-kick game needs some work. That was the most awkward dribbling exhibition we’ve seen since our Wednesday night rec league.
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May 29th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Jeffco says:
first!
May 29th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Jeffco says:
Your right dime, Gasol and \Odom need to step it up!
mos def Gasol, hes been playing like trash lately
maybe its because of Timmy but Gasol still has to do some dirty work!
and it seems like that was kobes first free throw in a weeek!
lakers have to put this one away in the second half
or it will be trouble going back to San Antonio
oh and i finally got first in the responses!
woo hooo!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
rangerjohn says:
i am sorry but phil jackson is crazy, he honestly believed the refs gave thomas 2 free throws after a made basket. lmao
spurs need to really step up or they are done.
and kobe is a cry baby, pushed off bowen HARD and then bitched because he didnt get the call 3 TIMES
May 29th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
rangerjohn says:
let me be the 1st to congratulate the lakers (1 minute left) the lakers out played the spurs this series, call it age, call it tired, spurs could not get over the hump.
congrats, spurs ODD year next year
May 29th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
rangerjohn says:
oh and whats up with sasha taking a 3 at the end of the game, that is just bullshit. the kid is a dick all the way around.
kobe was just not stopable, no mater who was in his face he could not miss in the 4th
May 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
spurs gotta re-tool and reload. they need a rebounder badly. from what i noticed in this series, that is one of their biggest weaknesses. they cant rebound anymore.
they need a younger more athletic bench. damon stoudamire, kurt thomas, robert horry and brent barry cannot get it done anymore. shit…how many vets do you need on a bench anyway?