Smack / Feb 6, 2009 / 4:39 am

A Tale Of Two Cities

By

Kobe BryantKobe Bryant

Coming into last night’s game, the Lakers were in a Charles Dickens-esque predicament. It was the best of times (Kobe’s 61 and the top record in the West), and it was the worst of times (no Andrew Bynum for the foreseeable future). But nonetheless, it was a trip back to Beantown – a place the Lakers hadn’t been since June 17, when Boston’s 39-point win set the NBA record for the biggest margin of victory in a championship clincher. With the wound still fresh despite a win over the Celtics on Christmas Day, all eyes were on Kobe. With a combined 97 points in two games, you knew Mr. MVP was going to get up for the champs. But after being named an All-Star replacement by David Stern for the injured Jameer Nelson, it was fellow Class of 1996 member Ray Allen (22 pts) who came out the gates gunnin’. Goodness gracious, Ray had the hamster wheel in full effect on panicky Derek Fisher – whose eyes were darting all over the floor looking for coming screens all night. At one point, Jesus ran him through three guys for a beautiful corner trey. But despite Ray’s prolific shooting, Los Angeles took the early lead … Still think the Lakers don’t need to make a move? After two quick fouls by Lamar Odom in the first six minutes, Josh Powell (and the 200+ minutes he’s logged so far this season) was the first guy off the bench … After falling in a hole during the second quarter, the Celtics’ version of the “Bench Mob” – led by Eddie House (16 pts) and Leon Powe (10 pts, 8 rebs) – cut the Lakers’ lead to four. House hit for five straight, while Powe auditioned for the role of Frank Dux in Bloodsport 2. Serious question: If Powe and Kobe met in an alley, what would happen? … Hitting four threes on the night, when will opposing defenses figure out that you CANNOT help off of House. There’s a reason he’s the all-time leading scorer at Arizona State and has a 61-point game of his own (nine years ago last month) … In the second half, things got ugly. E-mail from Dime’s Christian Grant-Fields after Rondo (16 pts, 12 asts, 8 rebs) pushed Kobe on a loose ball garnering a double technical: “Rondo is about to kick Kobe’s ass!” Couple plays later, a little tiff sparked after Odom smacked KG on the ass to say that he “drew” an offensive off-ball foul on Garnett. As Reggie Miller put it, they were “eye dancing” … Honestly, these teams may genuinely dislike each other. Maybe that’s not quite that profound, but in today’s world, it’s fairly rare. Most of the time, people realize that it’s just a game, but when tempers really flare, it brings sports to a whole other level. It’s a big reason why we were all so compelled by the Bulls/Jazz (Rodman/Malone) in the ’90s, and couldn’t stop watching the Celtics/Lakers (McHale/Rambis) in the ’80s. We’re only in year two of this rivalry now, and it doesn’t seem like the players genuinely dislike each other simply because of tradition … After being called out by Miller during halftime, Odom (20 pts, 6 rebs) decided to pick up the slack while 22 minutes passed without a Bryant field goal … Flu or no flu, Garnett (16 pts, 6 rebs, 3 blks) at the top of the key is lights out. But fouling out with 4:22 to play, it’s hard for the commander to lead from the bench. Doc Rivers decided to roll the dice with Big Baby over Powe, and Davis came up with a huge rebound over Pau Gasol (24 pts, 14 rebs). Cool as the other side of the pillow, Kobe (26 pts, 10 rebs, 5 asts) came back with a couple big threes, one giving the Lakers their first lead in the second half, 101-100. But despite three missed Big Baby jumpers (Really!?!), Pierce (21 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts) was able to notch one from the stripe and head to overtime … With five more minutes on the house, it came down to who wanted it more, and despite Pierce’s tremendous D on Kobe, the Lakers willed their way to victory. Snapping the Celtics 12-game win streak, the Lakers are the only team in the NBA to beat the Celtics twice all year …

Deron WilliamsDeron Williams

By the time we got switched over to the Mavericks/Jazz game, Utah led 22-20 with a minute left in the first quarter. First question: Who would win in a fight between Paul Millsap and Brandon Bass? … The real story in this one was Deron Williams (34 pts, 12 asts, 5 rebs, 5 threes). Before the game, the Jazz identified this as “one of the most important games of the season,” and Williams took that to heart. With three teams (Utah, Dallas and Phoenix) jostling for the last two slots in the playoff race, every win – especially head-to-head – is extremely important. While the game was close through two, Millsap capped off a 14-2 run on a Williams pass from half court for the alley oop to put it out of reach. Boozer, sitting behind the bench wearing earrings he clearly bought on Overstock.com, should find a good realtor real soon … Next time we put together a list of the Top 10 Best In-Game Dunkers, we’d be crazy not to include Ronnie Brewer (who could be the League’s best kept secret) … NBA on TNT had Malone in the studio last night, and speaking of 61-point games, the Mailman talked on the set about the one he had back on January 27, 1990 after he found out that he didn’t make the All-Star Game. “I had a bird in my salad,” said Malone. Chuck better make it back by All-Star Weekend … In the only other game on the NBA docket, the Sixers beat the lowly Pacers behind solid outings from Sam Dalembert (18 pts, 20 rebs), Andre Iguodala (20 pts, 11 asts, 8 rebs, 4 stls) and Andre Miller (13 pts, 12 asts). Overwhelming Troy Murphy (15 pts, 14 rebs), Mike Dunleavy (21 pts) and the power of the mustache, Philly persevered despite the knowledge that they’ll be without their $80 million man, Elton Brand for the rest of the season … Highlights from Thursday’s college schedule: University of Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt finally has gone where no other D-I basketball coach – man or woman – has before, winning her 1,000th game. I guess you can finally say she’s got this coaching thing down pat … In a good ol’ American shootout in Clarksville, Tenn., Tennessee-Martin’s Lester Hudson went off for 30 points and 10 boards in a victory over Austin Peay’s Drake Reed who notched 35 points and 18 boards … Arizona State’s James Harden scored 36 as the Sun Devils defeated Oregon; Michigan’s Manny Harris went off for 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a 20-point win over Penn State … Davidson’s Stephen Curry, who just keeps doing his thing, had 29 points and eight rebounds in a 21-point win over UNC Greensboro. For those of you looking forward to seeing Davidson in the tournament, they are now 20-3 with losses only to Oklahoma, Purdue and Duke. With only eight games left on the season, their next big test is February 22 versus No. 11 Butler … Finally, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Grizzlies are expected to add Damon Stoudamire and Henry Bibby as assistant coaches on Lionel Hollins’ staff pending final approval by owner Michael Heisley. Since December, Stoudamire has worked as Director of Player Development for the Rice Owls men’s basketball team in Houston … We’re out like the Celtics versus the Lakers in the regular season …

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  • Celts Fan

    @FK T-Oh – My point was that you said the Celtics got “all the calls down the stretch” then you openly say the one that cost us KG was a bad call. Just pointing out that we didn’t get all the calls. We both got some calls and hated others (the refs were horrible for both teams, so no surprise there.) Just saying the officiating was terrible BOTH ways (no excuse there, like I said before, it did NOT affect the outcome of the game)

    @Doug – Manu was gimping through May last year and IS a difference maker as much as all of us hate his flopping antics. You’re right though, Ariza is a d@mn good defender and could equalize it and was playing out of his mind before he broke his wrist last year. I just think you’ll miss what Ronny Turiaf brought as a 2nd unit defensive enforcer type that blocks shots (though if Powell can keep hitting jumpers, maybe not! didn’t know he had that in his game.) and that TD will take advantage of a pretty soft front line now that Bynum’s not there to enforce the middle (love Pau as a 4, he’s got TONS of skill, but as a 5 he gets pushed around and we all know Lamar’s not a banger.)

  • Ian

    but u gotta give celts fans some credit they are the defending champs so that to me gives u bragging rights till someone else is crown even if u suck remember they play with scalabrini and big baby that is sad.

    and u know what i mean about excuses everytime the spurs meet the suns u know whats gonna be the end result and u know that the fans are gonna make some shit up.

  • Ian

    shit ive been readin to many doug post did i really use the word “cat” damnn

  • doug

    yeah Ian.LOL, you better watch out using that word there some idiot in this forum name Yog who goes after people that use the word “Cat” he’s a real idiot. Nah Ian I’m not sleeping I got nothing but respect for those cats, see that the difference I don’t respect the Celts, the Spurs win titles with class you don’t see TD cursing out fans and players or Tony Parker talking trash or Pop making excuses there a classy organization you can’t do anything but respect them. The celts got a whining Doc Rivers whose loaded with excuses and a classless trash talking big man in KG who by the way can’t hold a candle to TD and than you have Pierce the 6’8 janitor proclaim he’s the best player on the planet after he got his first ring last year, that’s why I don’t respect them there just idiots and don’t win with class.

  • rell

    @doug

    Don’t be like the politicans and pick and choose what I said. Get the whole statement and not part of it. This is what I said…

    “On this board, the Lakers fans talk more trash than anybody. You hardly ever hear Boston fans trashing the Lakers players the same way you trash Boston players.”

    I said “On this board”. You do not see the Celtics fans trashing the Lakers players like many of the Laker fans do the Celtics player on this board.

    Right now, I agree the Lakers are the best team in the West. But to say that it is a guarantee that the Lakers will make to the finals, I don’t agree with especially w/o Bynum.

    Come on now, I can’t believe you are calling someone a homer. I have not one time said the Celtics are guarantee to make it to a finals, which you said about the Lakers. A homer does not see a team flaws and make excuse for a team and coach no matter what they do. This Boston squad is not even better than last year because we miss Posey badly and PJ also. However, to say that Boston should worry about the Lakers when we have to get out of the East first doesn’t make sense.

  • Ian

    lol but remember this guys were all losers before one title sure fucks people up allen is the only one that not like that and is the only player i feel sorry for when he plays bowen.

  • Ian

    doug
    rell made some good points there

  • doug

    Rell thats because your players do all the trash talking for you on the floor and to the fans, your players are classless and I feel the fans aren’t far from it. Aren’t you guys that were holding up signs that jason kidd was a woman abuser when he had the whole situation going on with his wife, yall know no bounds.

  • srb

    I laughed out loud when Doug told Celtics fans to be objective and wake up.

    Doug, be objective and realize you’re not being objective. Let your team get out of the West again, and let ours get out of the East again, then you can start spitting out all that rubbish gloating and Laker love again. Lakers didn’t win the chip yet man, they just beat a rival.

  • doug

    Right now, I agree the Lakers are the best team in the West. But to say that it is a guarantee that the Lakers will make to the finals, I don’t agree with especially w/o Bynum” Rell Look you don’t understand we won the west last year without bynum and a hobbled Ariza, I don’t understand the math, your hustling backwards, we lost Roni and got Powell who does everything Roni does on defense and can shoot,something Roni couldn’t do. I understand you saying yall might not make it and i can understand that’s obvious we beat yall twice and you guys lost the guys to me that won the finals for you Posey and PJ Brown, we knew what we were going to get from Pierce, Allen and KG these cats were the ones we didn’t prepare for. So that isn’t an admission of humility thats just the facts for you guys.

  • doug

    “they just beat a rival” this is what i’m talking about. The fans and the players of Boston are down playing this but I bet you if yall would’ve won your piling on Laker fans. Yall kill me.

  • rell

    Ok, so most Boston fans are classless because 2 idiots held up signs talking about Jason Kidd. That is just like me saying every player on the Lakers is dirty because Bynum broke G.Wallace ribs. That is just like me saying all Pistons fans are classless because one person threw a cup and hit Artest and basically ruin the Pacers franchise. Come on now.

  • doug

    i frickin love it LeBron is no longer the 7th player to record a tripple double with 50 plus points check this out: Cavaliers forward LeBron James was incorrectly credited with a rebound with 39.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that should have been awarded to Cleveland forward Ben Wallace. Due to the correction, James finished Wednesday’s game with nine rebounds — one rebound short of a triple-double — while Wallace ended with two rebounds.

  • doug

    Rell yall were throwing stuff on the floor during the game,not after, during the game 6 final victory last year,classless and very dangerous possible franchise players getting hurt out there. I’m sorry but I don’t recall any other team as long as i’ve been alive doing that during a game in the finals.

  • get em jay

    like to see deron making jt take a seat on floor
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wePGIGNJCic&eurl

  • Celts Fan

    @Doug – on the JKidd thing, it’s as simple as this. If you don’t want us to call you a wife-beater, DON’T BEAT YOUR WIFE. It’s not like we made it up.

    and I was at game 6 last year, and I’m pretty sure no one tossed anything onto the floor except Pierce w/ the Gatorade w/ like 30 seconds left (though I can’t say for sure on that, and if it was the Gatorade thing, the game was over and there was 30 seconds left that guys were jsut walking down the court. It shouldn’t've happened, but if that’s really all you’re talking about, lighten up…)

  • doug

    nah man I watched it to and it wasn’t gatorade it was cups, towels from the stands you didn’t see it the refs had to stop the game a couple of times near the end because of that. I’m not saying this speaks to the class of all Boston fans but it was just classless, I would go hard at Laker fans if they did that to when I was at the game.

  • marcus

    man…

    I was going to get a 12 pack today and get fucked up but from reading these posts I think it would be more fun if I found some of these “Laker goggles”. They seem to distort and change reality in strange ways. Sounds kind of fun….

  • LakeShow84

    Im glad we beat those chumps..

    I hate Boston as much as i love my Lakers.. ok thats doing too much but it was a good one last night.. really just from the back to back standpoint.. So we are maturing mentally and i thought that was a problem that was going to pop up last year and it did..

    And if Ian reads this im sorry.. Pau Gasol is our second best player lol

    And to all those laker hating CHUMPS.. talk that soft shit now.. “lakers are soft” “i aint never seen no pussies win the big one”.. all that shit.. go find another team to hate on..

    And i agree with whoever said it! That Boston team has turned into a bunch of deuches..

  • LakeShow84

    And why is when Paul Pierce does anything with someone around him he makes a whiny face and acts like he is getting hurt..

    That shit is not gangster and THAT is soft..

    what was it game 4? with that bullshit foul on Kobe in the closing minutes because he drove and kicked his head back like he just got whacked?? makes me sick..

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