Comments on: NBA Finals Game 4: The Lakers Put the Magic in the Kobe Clutch and Defeat Orlando 99-91 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/ Bangin’ and Scorin’ Every Trip Down the Floor Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:49:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Magic still believe despite Game 4 loss | Free Sports Lines and odds for Football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26568 Magic still believe despite Game 4 loss | Free Sports Lines and odds for Football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:57:21 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26568 [...] NBA Finals Game 4: The Lakers Put the Magic in the Kobe Clutch and … [...] [...] NBA Finals Game 4: The Lakers Put the Magic in the Kobe Clutch and … [...]

]]> By: Jeremiah http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26567 Jeremiah Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:52:03 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26567 Howard will force a game 6. The Lakers still lack a killer instinct. Kobe can't close games anymore. Expect a Magic victory in Game 5 Howard will force a game 6. The Lakers still lack a killer instinct. Kobe can’t close games anymore. Expect a Magic victory in Game 5

]]> By: Big Rob http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26560 Big Rob Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:07:16 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26560 Good points, T3. This is the biggest reason I'm for guys going to college. Their is a severe lack of development, especially with big men, in the league here. As physically talented as Howard is, his overall offensive game isn't very good from a skills standpoint. And it may never be; he's in his fifth season already and by that time players are who they are. Yes, you can improve things you already know how to do, but how many players pick up new skills after their fifth year? Ones that they showed no existence of earlier? Good points, T3. This is the biggest reason I’m for guys going to college. Their is a severe lack of development, especially with big men, in the league here. As physically talented as Howard is, his overall offensive game isn’t very good from a skills standpoint. And it may never be; he’s in his fifth season already and by that time players are who they are. Yes, you can improve things you already know how to do, but how many players pick up new skills after their fifth year? Ones that they showed no existence of earlier?

]]> By: Temple3 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26538 Temple3 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:42:54 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26538 Shaq was more polished than Dwight in high school. Do you remember his full court coast to coast dunk (with crossover) in the McDonald's All-America game? He played with Stanley Roberts in practice everyday and played in the SEC for a minute. He played against Alonzo and Dikembe in college. He played against alot of very good players before he came to the league and had time to refine his game -- and he played in an era where he had to KNOW how to score against Hakeem and Ewing and others. Dwight's had it relatively easier and its been detrimental. Shaq was more polished than Dwight in high school. Do you remember his full court coast to coast dunk (with crossover) in the McDonald’s All-America game? He played with Stanley Roberts in practice everyday and played in the SEC for a minute. He played against Alonzo and Dikembe in college. He played against alot of very good players before he came to the league and had time to refine his game — and he played in an era where he had to KNOW how to score against Hakeem and Ewing and others. Dwight’s had it relatively easier and its been detrimental.

]]> By: Jerold Wells Jr http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26537 Jerold Wells Jr Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:55:15 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26537 @Temple And they got rid of him bc he wasn't a good enough 3pt shooter. How ironic. Clarification. The Finals single game record for Howard is the 9 blocks. @Temple
And they got rid of him bc he wasn’t a good enough 3pt shooter. How ironic.

Clarification.

The Finals single game record for Howard is the 9 blocks.

]]> By: Jerold Wells Jr http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26536 Jerold Wells Jr Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:49:59 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26536 Right on Temple Kobe is looking worse and worse as the series progresses. He just doesn't have the legs to score like he wants to. Ironically he's probably not the MVP of these Finals. Sure the numbers are there but I'd give it to Gasol at this point. Kobe will get it, 30 and 8 is nothing to sneeze at...... I'm just saying. As for the Magic man I don't know. I was talking to my pops and he mentioned the law of averages. Sure Orlando was bound to have a good shooting game and they had one. I countered with this: The law of averages says that average players will eventually come back to earth and perform like average players. Alston? At this point in his career he's a solid NBA player. He's average. I really hope the Magic didn't expect him to put up 20 again last night. D. Howard was a beast last night. Dude almost had a trip dub with BLOCKS!!! Single game Finals record. 21 rebounds. Most double doubles over the course of the playoffs. I really don't know if it's in the cards for him to be a huge scorer. I mean Shaq played in the Finals against Houston, at the same age, and flat out did work. Sure he had the benefit of college but just how much of an advantage does that give? Dude's game is just so raw at times. Right on Temple

Kobe is looking worse and worse as the series progresses. He just doesn’t have the legs to score like he wants to. Ironically he’s probably not the MVP of these Finals. Sure the numbers are there but I’d give it to Gasol at this point. Kobe will get it, 30 and 8 is nothing to sneeze at…… I’m just saying.

As for the Magic man I don’t know. I was talking to my pops and he mentioned the law of averages. Sure Orlando was bound to have a good shooting game and they had one. I countered with this: The law of averages says that average players will eventually come back to earth and perform like average players.
Alston? At this point in his career he’s a solid NBA player. He’s average. I really hope the Magic didn’t expect him to put up 20 again last night.

D. Howard was a beast last night. Dude almost had a trip dub with BLOCKS!!! Single game Finals record. 21 rebounds. Most double doubles over the course of the playoffs. I really don’t know if it’s in the cards for him to be a huge scorer. I mean Shaq played in the Finals against Houston, at the same age, and flat out did work. Sure he had the benefit of college but just how much of an advantage does that give? Dude’s game is just so raw at times.

]]> By: Temple3 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26535 Temple3 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:39:30 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26535 Also, the shot that Ariza made at the end of the clock to tie the game at 82 (just before Hedo's 3) was HUGE. If he doesn't make that shot, Fisher never gets a chance to tie it up. And I co-sign what you all have said about his overall performance. And to think, he used to play for the Magic. Also, the shot that Ariza made at the end of the clock to tie the game at 82 (just before Hedo’s 3) was HUGE. If he doesn’t make that shot, Fisher never gets a chance to tie it up. And I co-sign what you all have said about his overall performance. And to think, he used to play for the Magic.

]]> By: Temple3 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26534 Temple3 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:36:27 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26534 For me, Kobe wasn't the story of the game. He took 31 shots and has had a progressively lower shooting percentage in each game. I said last night that he looked wiped out. On three consecutive plays he front-ended two jumpers, then turned the ball over with a jelly-leg dribble. Pietrus ran by him all night long. He even jumped right over Kobe's back to take a rebound and never touched Bean. He recovered to make some big shots, but he wasn't the principal reason why the Lakers won the game. It is as you said. Orlando lost it. Playing at home, they shot 37 free throws. LA only shot 20. Orlando missed 15 shots from the line. They also had a ton of turnovers, but they don't really have good ball handlers on the team. Rafer is a walking turnover. Hedo is solid. Rashard is murder if he puts the ball on the floor (6 pts? Really?). If Orlando had won last night, the Lakers would be facing the prospect of needing to beat a younger team two more times with Kobe shooting less than 40%. I wouldn't have liked those odds one bit if I were Phil. Dennis Green. Right on. Dwight Howard, meet Matt Leinart. For me, Kobe wasn’t the story of the game. He took 31 shots and has had a progressively lower shooting percentage in each game. I said last night that he looked wiped out. On three consecutive plays he front-ended two jumpers, then turned the ball over with a jelly-leg dribble. Pietrus ran by him all night long. He even jumped right over Kobe’s back to take a rebound and never touched Bean. He recovered to make some big shots, but he wasn’t the principal reason why the Lakers won the game.

It is as you said. Orlando lost it. Playing at home, they shot 37 free throws. LA only shot 20. Orlando missed 15 shots from the line. They also had a ton of turnovers, but they don’t really have good ball handlers on the team. Rafer is a walking turnover. Hedo is solid. Rashard is murder if he puts the ball on the floor (6 pts? Really?).

If Orlando had won last night, the Lakers would be facing the prospect of needing to beat a younger team two more times with Kobe shooting less than 40%. I wouldn’t have liked those odds one bit if I were Phil.

Dennis Green. Right on. Dwight Howard, meet Matt Leinart.

]]> By: Okori http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26532 Okori Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:58:17 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26532 THe KOBE CLutch! Someone watched wrestling when tyhey came up with this headline. Nice work. and yeah... The Magic are pretty dead. THe KOBE CLutch! Someone watched wrestling when tyhey came up with this headline. Nice work.

and yeah… The Magic are pretty dead.

]]> By: kos http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26530 kos Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:39:40 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26530 Free throws killed the Magic last night. A bad night for Kobe, but with Orlando only going 22-37 on free throws, the Lakers took advantage and won. One thing D. Howard really needs to learn, is to not clear folks out with his off arm. They are killing him with offensive fouls in the Finals for doing that. But, that goes along with him needing to improve footwork and learning to use his body better. Gotta give it up to Ariza and Odom for not giving Rashard Lewis the chance to really get comfortable. They learned how and where he liked to get the ball, and wouldn't allow him to get it where he could just fire away comfortably. I knew there was no way that Alston was going to have two good games in a row, and he proved it. He had a decent game, but Rashard Lewis led the team in assists! Free throws killed the Magic last night. A bad night for Kobe, but with Orlando only going 22-37 on free throws, the Lakers took advantage and won.

One thing D. Howard really needs to learn, is to not clear folks out with his off arm. They are killing him with offensive fouls in the Finals for doing that. But, that goes along with him needing to improve footwork and learning to use his body better.

Gotta give it up to Ariza and Odom for not giving Rashard Lewis the chance to really get comfortable. They learned how and where he liked to get the ball, and wouldn’t allow him to get it where he could just fire away comfortably.

I knew there was no way that Alston was going to have two good games in a row, and he proved it. He had a decent game, but Rashard Lewis led the team in assists!

]]> By: TC http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26529 TC Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:05:11 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26529 Missed the second half and OT of that game, thanks for the summary and perspective Mizzo. People love to focus on clanked free throws at the end, but I always say, if it's come down to the importance of free throws at the end, well you played yourself into that hole earlier. Your point about D Howard putting the ball on the floor is well taken. I've been screaming at the TV most of the games that the Lakers need to stop the other Magic......force D Howard to be the man. They're obviously not listening because ORL is getting big points from lots of players, and Dwight isn't getting many. As you say though, from Dwight's perspective, he really should work on his footwork, develop a drop step, work on his range, perhaps getting better at chippies (to use Shaq's term), hell, a sky hook - how would that be for irony if Dwight developed a sky hook and took the Magic to some championships, after what Kareem correctly said about his game? But my man D Fish. What can ya say about him? As a longtime Laker fan I know in the late '90s and during those first couple championships I used to squeeze the ol' buttcheeks sometimes when Fish shot......but I don't tense up no mo' when Fish shoots. Stone cold, as Jerold says. Ariza stepped up big in the third after shooting 0-6 in the first. Luke has played well when given the opportunity during the Finals. Lamar is well, he's only bolstered his standing as my favorite Laker. Pau does what he does-get good position and make smart decisions. I still wish that Shannon Brown would get some burn but we're up 3-1 so I can't complain much. And thank god for Kobe Bean Bryant. Missed the second half and OT of that game, thanks for the summary and perspective Mizzo. People love to focus on clanked free throws at the end, but I always say, if it’s come down to the importance of free throws at the end, well you played yourself into that hole earlier. Your point about D Howard putting the ball on the floor is well taken. I’ve been screaming at the TV most of the games that the Lakers need to stop the other Magic……force D Howard to be the man. They’re obviously not listening because ORL is getting big points from lots of players, and Dwight isn’t getting many. As you say though, from Dwight’s perspective, he really should work on his footwork, develop a drop step, work on his range, perhaps getting better at chippies (to use Shaq’s term), hell, a sky hook – how would that be for irony if Dwight developed a sky hook and took the Magic to some championships, after what Kareem correctly said about his game? But my man D Fish. What can ya say about him? As a longtime Laker fan I know in the late ’90s and during those first couple championships I used to squeeze the ol’ buttcheeks sometimes when Fish shot……but I don’t tense up no mo’ when Fish shoots. Stone cold, as Jerold says. Ariza stepped up big in the third after shooting 0-6 in the first. Luke has played well when given the opportunity during the Finals. Lamar is well, he’s only bolstered his standing as my favorite Laker. Pau does what he does-get good position and make smart decisions. I still wish that Shannon Brown would get some burn but we’re up 3-1 so I can’t complain much. And thank god for Kobe Bean Bryant.

]]> By: Temple3 http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26528 Temple3 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:02:25 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26528 Jerold Wells screams bloody murder in call for Black on Black crime. Story at 11. :) Jerold Wells screams bloody murder in call for Black on Black crime. Story at 11. :)

]]> By: Jerold Wells Jr. http://thestartingfive.net/2009/06/12/nba-finals-game-4-the-lakers-put-the-magic-in-the-kobe-clutch-and-defeat-orlando-99-91/comment-page-1/#comment-26527 Jerold Wells Jr. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:34:08 +0000 http://thestartingfive.net/?p=6026#comment-26527 Excellent point about the Dwight and the bounce. He's too comfortable dribbling to go into his moves. Again though all in time man. He has to learn how to adjust. The Lakers are doubling on the dribble, from the weak side. To me that's a coaching mistake as well. Somebody should be in his ear about that. Flabbergasted at the missed free throws. Jump shooting teams shouldn't miss free throws. Period. Fisher's three was stone cold. My goodness. Ariza earned himself lifetime security in this series. He played huge in this game. He's looking alot more like Scottie than Odom. That was a P*SSY #SS foul that Pietrus put on Gasol at the end of the game. Straight up. Dude coulda got hurt for real. Two forearms to the back? So what he dunked and the game was decided. Somebody should lay the people's elbow on his roody pooh candy #ss in the next game. Mbenga? Josh Powell? Shannon Brown? Earn your paycheck. Lakers in 6 Excellent point about the Dwight and the bounce. He’s too comfortable dribbling to go into his moves. Again though all in time man. He has to learn how to adjust. The Lakers are doubling on the dribble, from the weak side. To me that’s a coaching mistake as well. Somebody should be in his ear about that.

Flabbergasted at the missed free throws. Jump shooting teams shouldn’t miss free throws. Period.

Fisher’s three was stone cold. My goodness.

Ariza earned himself lifetime security in this series. He played huge in this game. He’s looking alot more like Scottie than Odom.

That was a P*SSY #SS foul that Pietrus put on Gasol at the end of the game. Straight up. Dude coulda got hurt for real. Two forearms to the back? So what he dunked and the game was decided. Somebody should lay the people’s elbow on his roody pooh candy #ss in the next game. Mbenga? Josh Powell? Shannon Brown? Earn your paycheck.

Lakers in 6

]]>