Smack / Feb 4, 2011 / 4:21 am

LeBron drops 51 on Orlando; Spurs beat Lakers in thriller

By

Blake Griffin

All-Star

The fourth quarter began with Kobe, Pau Gasol, Duncan and Parker on the bench. The Spurs were up five when the stars checked back in with seven minutes to go, and they kept a slim lead until Lamar Odom hit a triple to cut it to one with one minute left, then Gasol (19 pts, 7 rebs) gave L.A. the lead at the line with 22 seconds on the clock. Both plays were the result of Kobe (16 pts, 9 rebs, 10 asts) passing the rock … Manu Ginobili missed an open three on the other end, Parker missed a runner, but after L.A. knocked the rebound out of bounds, it was still Spurs ball with 4.6 seconds left. Duncan took a fadeaway and missed, but McDyess was there for the tip-in … Ginobili (14 pts, 8 asts, 5-17 FG) was just off all night. He missed open shots, almost killed San Antonio with crucial turnovers, and he couldn’t even get his flops to pay off. But there was one moment at the halftime buzzer when Manu almost bumped into Jack Nicholson on the sideline that was a memorable meeting of two great actors … Speaking of faces in the crowd, there were about 4-5 people sitting near San Antonio’s bench that looked more like NBA players than Chris Quinn … Did anybody else see Gary Neal‘s falling-out-of-bounds shot at the first quarter buzzer and think of Jeff Malone? … Thursday’s only other NBA game saw the Warriors beat the Bucks behind Monta Ellis‘ 24 points … In case you missed it, the 2011 All-Star reserves were announced. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Al Horford, Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh made it for the East, while Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, Duncan, Gasol and Ginobili will rep the West. Snubs? LaMarcus Aldridge, Ray Felton, Kevin Love and Monta top the list … Funniest moment of the All-Star unveiling was during Rondo’s highlight reel. In between the steals, dimes and layups, they showed Rondo release two jumpers, followed by a random ball going into a hoop that could have been ripped from anywhere. It was a straight movie/sitcom move … After Kenny Smith yelled on national TV, “His team, and his teammates are holding him back!” regarding K-Love’s snub — which you know won’t be an issue after David Stern names him as Yao‘s replacement — we can pretty much guarantee the Wolves win their next game. That is, if they have any heart or pride … We’re out like the caveman …

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  • Shot In Ya Face

    The BEST trade the Lakers can make would be to trade Phil Jackson for Greg Popovich. Just think if the Lakers had a coach that made great in-game adjustments, motivated his team, changed the style of the teams play to fit their players…Lakers would be unstoppable!

  • LakeShow84

    @ Shot in Ya Face

    Ur a moron.. thats all :)

  • QQ is an idiot

    @shot in ya face

    actually a very good assessment. phil does a good job outside of game situations but is pretty bad in game situations.

    Clear example: why was Andrew Bynum not in for the last defensive play against the Spurs? Thats 4 rebounds the lakers missed.

  • LakeShow84

    Why would Phil make ANY adjustments in this game??

    U dont show ur cards before playoff time peeps.. and seeing that LA/SA on a collision course for the WCF i dont blame him..

    But yeah i dont know where the F#$K Bynum was on that last play either QQ lol

  • http://dynastybball.wordpress.com/ sean.dynastybball

    @QQ is an idiot

    I see a game in ’06 where Kobe had 53 points 10 rebounds 8 assists.

    Scroll back up… read what I wrote… read it out loud if that helps.

    http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01/gamelog/2007/

  • First & Foremost

    Bynum was getting a headstart to benchpressing strippers at a club on his bad knee.

  • QQ is an idiot

    @Sean

    wow, really? You’re just as bad as ESPN in making up stupid stats to prove a point. Most people would just say Lebron is the only player since Jordan, Kobe and Wade to get 50+ points, 10+ rebounds and 8+ assists. But you would rather only keep it between Jordan and Bron by adding that one rebound. What an idiot

  • QQ is an idiot

    @lakeshow

    I dont really agree with your assessment. Although it is the regular season and everyone is kinda blowing the Lakers problems out of proportion, you cannot deny that the Lakers are not playing good basketball right now. I am a Kobe fan and I have seen the Lakers team play mediocre and not with their heads on straight and have it bite them in their ass in the playoffs. Its best to get rid of these bad habits as quickly as possible to avoid it lingering on in the playoffs. We don’t want another 30 point collapse against Boston in the finals again. We don’t want to struggle in another 7 game series against mediocre teams in the first round.

    And last but not least, we can still get home court back from the Spurs. Last night would have been a great win to stop all this BS floating around in Lakers town about how we are struggling. But instead, last nights loss will continue to fuel more and more rumors.

    so no, I think last night would have been a great time to maybe pull all the cards out. This is basketball, not football. Everyone knows what everyone else is going to do.

  • pipdaddyy

    @ control

    You are right, Rondo has dropped off a little, but before his injury he was averaging over 15 assists a game, noone getting close to him. The last few weeks I think John Wall might be the best here … now if he could only get his jumper back.

  • the cynic

    great dogfight between Spurs and Lakers. Lakers size is going to be tough for the spurs to beat in the playoffs, but i can’t wait

  • LakeShow84

    Trippin QQ

    ill leave it at that lol

    But the whole “Lakers are in trouble” talk is moot for me.. We are 2nd in the west and thats only because SA is on a record pace..

    Plus we have dealt with injuries and players returning from injury. the injury issue has worn down our 2nd best player already..

    Not makin excuses but it aint like we started with a full deck..

    People was just on us since we started off so hot but if this team through the past 3 years has taught anyone anything its that we cant hit perfection we can just be the best team out of the field when its all said and done..

  • K Dizzle

    What Lakeshow said (post #61)

  • QQ

    Wow. ‘QQ is an idiot’? Dammit, that’s the fucking best you got.

    Looks like another Bron lover has his feelings hurt. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww…..

    Can’t handle the truth that Bron is a douche? Then fucking burn, good for nothing fool.

  • QQ is an idiot

    @ QQ,

    this is the exact reason my name is what it is. you are an idiot. I hate Lebron James with a passion. If you knew how to read, you would have also read I am a Kobe fan like 4 or 5 posts earlier. My post was strictly in favor of the Lakers and Kobe.

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