The "Official Lakers vs. Nuggets Thread!!!
- Thread starter LordSinister
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Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Only good thing about ESPN...they replay the game. Get to see the Lakers lose twice tonight.
Only good thing about ESPN...they replay the game. Get to see the Lakers lose twice tonight.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
ESPN replay sucks. they chop up the game to push more commercials.
ESPN replay sucks. they chop up the game to push more commercials.
No way, I'm putting this loss on Gasol at all. He made good contributions. I put the majority of it on Coach Jackson for being too creative post quarter one.
Too much So Cal Sushi and not enough Midwest meat and potatoes.
It's funny how you mentioned dude and how he went off tonight. I actually had this dude as a new impact player preseason. But Coach Karl was "hating" apparently, because he remains under the radar.
http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=311060&highlight=KLEIZA
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Yeah I know, I'm just checkin last of 4th quarter. Shit was good.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
actually HLG, it's pretty clear you DIDN'T watch the game.
there was NEVER a time in G2 where lamar odom was defensively assigned to linas kleiza.
in straight matchups, linas kleiza was guarded primarily by luke walton, and vice versa.
in cross match situations, linas kleiza was assigned to defend trevor ariza, and pau gasol was assigned to defend linas kleiza. later, the cross match was linas kleiza defending trevor ariza, and tobe was assigned to defend linas kleiza.
there were a couple switch situations where derek fisher defended linas kleiza.
in fact, lamar odom scored against linas kleiza, but not the other way around. furthermore, lamar odom was not even in the game during long stretches where linas kleiza was in the game.
so it looks like eewwll's guess is pretty close to the truth.
actually HLG, it's pretty clear you DIDN'T watch the game.
there was NEVER a time in G2 where lamar odom was defensively assigned to linas kleiza.
in straight matchups, linas kleiza was guarded primarily by luke walton, and vice versa.
in cross match situations, linas kleiza was assigned to defend trevor ariza, and pau gasol was assigned to defend linas kleiza. later, the cross match was linas kleiza defending trevor ariza, and tobe was assigned to defend linas kleiza.
there were a couple switch situations where derek fisher defended linas kleiza.
in fact, lamar odom scored against linas kleiza, but not the other way around. furthermore, lamar odom was not even in the game during long stretches where linas kleiza was in the game.
so it looks like eewwll's guess is pretty close to the truth.
He missed 3 straight free throws in the last minute and a half of the game. YES, any time an 80% (I'm giving him that, he shoots it at 78% when the pressure is off during the regular season) free throw shooter has a history of missing free throws in pressure situations, it's his fault. That's the difference between a good player, and a GREAT player. Great players win championships, good players have nice games.
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/pau_gasol/
67% from the line in the playoffs...
If you are going to blame the loss on Gasol for the two missed free throws, you have to also blame Kobe for the loss for the critical fuck up at the where he turned the ball over and the jump ball occurred. That's only if you are going to be intellectually or analytically "honest". The reality of the matter is that one play or a couple of missed free throws doesn't negate the rest of the rest of the game.
Gasol shot 62 percent from the field and had 17 rebounds. The reality of the matter is that if it weren't for his effort, the Lakers would have never build up the lead on the first place. How many points did the Lakers score after his offensive rebounds as well?
Your guards need to get the ball to Gasol more...period.. the problems with the Lakers is always ball movement and forgetting or dismissing running the triangle through the post and getting shots in the post.
You cats are clown man. You see two missed free throws and you forget about the rest of the shit in the game.
The Nuggets missed a lot of free throws in game 1, but it still was not the critical REASON the lost the game.
Ok, Odom had 10 points and 9 rebounds in 19 minutes...
KLEIZA had 16 points and 8 rebounds in 21 minutes, and wait for it... HE WAS ODOM's MAN. This dude is averaging like 13 minutes and 5 points a game in the entire playoffs this year...Not only that HE TOOK LESS SHOTS THEN ODOM (and odom only took 9, you think that's enough to take pressure off of kobe?). But never mind that, are you saying that odom is consistent?
Last line is a classic straw man. That was not my argument. Maybe you are logically-challenged. You can read other posts if you want to know my overall opinion on Odom.
Let's stick this THIS game.
Now let's to the line about that one.
The offense is not run to "Take pressure off of Kobe". That is not the objective. That is only a benefit to every player on the damn team if the triangle is run correctly... it opens up scoring opportunities for everyone.. kobe included but not specifically for Kobe.
You can't help me out when you can't even help yourself out
When the Nuggets made their big run at the end of the 2nd and then took control late in the 4th...who was scoring a majority of their points dumbass...
Billups and Carmelo.. and neither Odom or Pau had them as their defensive responsibility.
Again.. did you even watch the game?
Your guard couldn't contain Billups and continued to foul Billups while driving to the lane. Shit had nothing to do with Gasol. Billups was often fouled before he even got to the paint. He didn't do this for entire stretches of this game or in game 1.. so it had nothing to do with the "fear" of Gasol and everything to do with the guard blowing their defensive assignments and Billups being smart enough to keep pushing to draw contact and get to the line.
Melo got too critical offensive rebounds and scored when Kobe had the defensive responsibility. Being that Gasol was the high rebounder for the night, he can't be blamed for the lack of rebounding for the Lakers or lack of interior presence..he never was expected to be an intimating shot-blocker in the first place.that is not his role... so get the fuck out of there with that bullshit.
That's what Bynum is supposed to do. Your supposition is like proposing that Dirk be a defensive stopper.. it is not his game..never was and never will be and it's fucking idiotic to expect it.
Your guards need to get the ball to the post players on the offensive end and keep Billups in front of them.... make him beat you from the outside... the Lakers aren't built like the Spurs or like my Pistons teams so stop with the pipedream bullshit
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I wasn't saying you were. I was pointing out that my response was in direct response to the cats scapegoating Gasol for the loss.
it was a good game. The turnover (jumpball) by kobe was costly. We had a chance to send it to OT but couldnt capitalize. Lets try to get 1 in denver. Trevor had a good game, I would like to have seen more of him during the 4th instead of walton.
I can't even bitch about that game. It was too close to put the loss on any one thing. Anyone could have won that game.
Trade Gasol for KG
If you are going to blame the loss on Gasol for the two missed free throws, you have to also blame Kobe for the loss for the critical fuck up at the where he turned the ball over and the jump ball occurred. That's only if you are going to be intellectually or analytically "honest". The reality of the matter is that one play or a couple of missed free throws doesn't negate the rest of the rest of the game.
Gasol shot 62 percent from the field and had 17 rebounds. The reality of the matter is that if it weren't for his effort, the Lakers would have never build up the lead on the first place. How many points did the Lakers score after his offensive rebounds as well?
Your guards need to get the ball to Gasol more...period.. the problems with the Lakers is always ball movement and forgetting or dismissing running the triangle through the post and getting shots in the post.
You cats are clown man. You see two missed free throws and you forget about the rest of the shit in the game.
The Nuggets missed a lot of free throws in game 1, but it still was not the critical REASON the lost the game.
Last line is a classic straw man. That was not my argument. Maybe you are logically-challenged. You can read other posts if you want to know my overall opinion on Odom.
Let's stick this THIS game.
Now let's to the line about that one.
The offense is not run to "Take pressure off of Kobe". That is not the objective. That is only a benefit to every player on the damn team if the triangle is run correctly... it opens up scoring opportunities for everyone.. kobe included but not specifically for Kobe.
You can't help me out when you can't even help yourself out
When the Nuggets made their big run at the end of the 2nd and then took control late in the 4th...who was scoring a majority of their points dumbass...
Billups and Carmelo.. and neither Odom or Pau had them as their defensive responsibility.
Again.. did you even watch the game?
Your guard couldn't contain Billups and continued to foul Billups while driving to the lane. Shit had nothing to do with Gasol. Billups was often fouled before he even got to the paint. He didn't do this for entire stretches of this game or in game 1.. so it had nothing to do with the "fear" of Gasol and everything to do with the guard blowing their defensive assignments and Billups being smart enough to keep pushing to draw contact and get to the line.
Melo got too critical offensive rebounds and scored when Kobe had the defensive responsibility. Being that Gasol was the high rebounder for the night, he can't be blamed for the lack of rebounding for the Lakers or lack of interior presence..he never was expected to be an intimating shot-blocker in the first place.that is not his role... so get the fuck out of there with that bullshit.
That's what Bynum is supposed to do. Your supposition is like proposing that Dirk be a defensive stopper.. it is not his game..never was and never will be and it's fucking idiotic to expect it.
Your guards need to get the ball to the post players on the offensive end and keep Billups in front of them.... make him beat you from the outside... the Lakers aren't built like the Spurs or like my Pistons teams so stop with the pipedream bullshit
Ok, so after that long winded response, (which I partially agree with, especially the part about Bynum).
With that said you're missing some very fundamentalfacts about
defensive schemes that win championships, (that's what we're talking about right? Why the Lakers aren't going to win a championship AGAIN this year...?) The bottom line is, if the Lakers can't protect the paint (which is dependent on help defense from the front line), they are once again going to get embarrassed. If not by denver in this series, then by the cavs or orlando.
It's the big man's responsibility to protect the paint and help defensively, PERIOD.
This is why I'm making the point AGAIN this year, that a team with a soft big man as their best player will never win a championship. Gasol is lucky because he's not the best player on his team any more like he was in Memphis, but his inability to help defensively and make free throws in pressure situations, combined with Odom's inability to string together consistent play, are all going to equal to another Lakers failure. Sit back and watch...
Btw I hate the lakers, and I'm a bulls fan, so you don't have to refer to them as "my" guards...
Damn this shit is long!!
I just want Melo to know that sticking his hand in his face is not good defense. You have to do it while he's in shooting motion like Shane Battier would do. At the point where Melo was doing it, Kobe wasn't shooting. He's doing it too early.
I just want Melo to know that sticking his hand in his face is not good defense. You have to do it while he's in shooting motion like Shane Battier would do. At the point where Melo was doing it, Kobe wasn't shooting. He's doing it too early.
Agreed.
Nuggets Thread!!!
anything that might provide a distraction to an opponent is a plus on D.
the faceguarding "technique" that shane battier skillfully executes is fantastic simply because it offers defense without fouling. shane battier rarely gets the hand it tobe's face before the shot is launched, so the actual faceguarding value is tremendously low.
with respect to carmelo anthony's version, i'll take it. a defender with hands up and proactively working is 100 times better than a dude laying back, giving cushion and waiting to respond.
anything that might provide a distraction to an opponent is a plus on D.
the faceguarding "technique" that shane battier skillfully executes is fantastic simply because it offers defense without fouling. shane battier rarely gets the hand it tobe's face before the shot is launched, so the actual faceguarding value is tremendously low.
with respect to carmelo anthony's version, i'll take it. a defender with hands up and proactively working is 100 times better than a dude laying back, giving cushion and waiting to respond.
Kobe need to bite them ninjas fingers.
No. That is not what the topic of this thread or any of my related post was about at all. The topic was: Why did the lakers lost THIS particular game or really.. should any individual players of the Lakers be directly blamed for this loss. That was the topic.
This is what I mean about logical fallacies on this board. You've completely changed the supposition and thus changed the argument.
Also, I was one of the first people on the bird to mention in extreme details on this board repeatedly about the defensive problems that lakers face.. mostly because of lack of consistent intensity.
I'm a Pistons fan... all of our titles were built on Defense. I grew up watching some of the best defensive teams in the history of the game 40+ games a year LIVE in the Silverdome and Palace..
In the case in which you are using it (guard penetration) the responsibility of the "protecting" the paint is keeping the guards out of the paint in the first place. There is a difference between the big men giving up a bucket here or there and never challenging penetrating guards AND the Lakers guard giving up consecutive fouls (while in the penalty) or repeatedly allowing the Denver guard to get into the lane. The latter is a problem with the guards..not the big men...
But's its NOT the responsibility of the BIG men to have to consistently deal with penetrating guards because their guards aren't playing sufficient perimeter defense. The big men should HELP...not be used as the defensive mechanism for dealing with penetrating guards as the consistent fallback plan. You are trying to heal trees in the leaves when the disease lies not only in the roots by the medication needs to be applied there as well. You've given an incorrect diagnosis doc.
You're WILDLY off- basis with where the problem lies with the Lakers. Do you know their winning percentage before Gasol got there and what it is once he got there? With his production, he's about the last one to blame. The Lakers need to play better PERIMETER defense... the Nuggets are not dominating this series in the paint..that's evident by the rebounding and points in the paint stats...
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Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Those aren't the only two options. Play good defense. I don't believe activity is a substitute for achievement. Don't just be doing something to be doing something. Learn an effective way to it or don't do it at all.
Carmelo is taller and longer than Battier so if he did it right, it would be even more effective.
Those aren't the only two options. Play good defense. I don't believe activity is a substitute for achievement. Don't just be doing something to be doing something. Learn an effective way to it or don't do it at all.
Carmelo is taller and longer than Battier so if he did it right, it would be even more effective.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
UD,
absolutely correct.
so far, the denver nuggets have provided 3 options: dahntay jones, j.r. smith and carmelo anthony.
of the 3 styles, i'll opt for carmelo anthony's proactive (alternately fronting, hand in the face, measuring) over the other 2.
in the case of tobe, the best option is to let him shoot. but the shots cannot be free looks. as long as a defender makes him work to get the shot off, it's good D. the percentages take care of the rest.
UD,
absolutely correct.
so far, the denver nuggets have provided 3 options: dahntay jones, j.r. smith and carmelo anthony.
of the 3 styles, i'll opt for carmelo anthony's proactive (alternately fronting, hand in the face, measuring) over the other 2.
in the case of tobe, the best option is to let him shoot. but the shots cannot be free looks. as long as a defender makes him work to get the shot off, it's good D. the percentages take care of the rest.
Nuggets Thread!!!
carmelo anthony: "i was just wiping some sweat off his forehead"
carmelo anthony: "i was just wiping some sweat off his forehead"
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
And Melo has been forcing him into taking jumshots. he's wracking up drives to the lane and fouls (thus easy free throw attempts) mainly when guarded by Smith (Smith better be looking over his shoulders for Rollie_Fingaz) and especially Jones..Jones picked up 5 fouls in a matter of a few minutes total..
I like the defense Melo is playing on Kobe..especially the fact that he seems to be really up for... Melo is essentially completely neutralizing Kobe in this series... He's outscoring and outbounding Kobe...and also give him slight problems on the defensive end.. the Nuggets can't ask for much more...only that he keep it up
And Melo has been forcing him into taking jumshots. he's wracking up drives to the lane and fouls (thus easy free throw attempts) mainly when guarded by Smith (Smith better be looking over his shoulders for Rollie_Fingaz) and especially Jones..Jones picked up 5 fouls in a matter of a few minutes total..
I like the defense Melo is playing on Kobe..especially the fact that he seems to be really up for... Melo is essentially completely neutralizing Kobe in this series... He's outscoring and outbounding Kobe...and also give him slight problems on the defensive end.. the Nuggets can't ask for much more...only that he keep it up
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Don't get me wrong, I think he's played very D on Kobe. I'm just not a fan of the hand over his face while he's scanning the floor strategy.
Melo is the only one of the three with the size, footwork, speed and strength to defend him for any length of time without drawing fouls. You know a nobody like Jones is going to get fouls called for looking like he touched Kobe.
Don't get me wrong, I think he's played very D on Kobe. I'm just not a fan of the hand over his face while he's scanning the floor strategy.
And Melo has been forcing him into taking jumshots. he's wracking up drives to the lane and fouls (thus easy free throw attempts) mainly when guarded by Smith (Smith better be looking over his shoulders for Rollie_Fingaz) and especially Jones..Jones picked up 5 fouls in a matter of a few minutes total..
I like the defense Melo is playing on Kobe..especially the fact that he seems to be really up for... Melo is essentially completely neutralizing Kobe in this series... He's outscoring and outbounding Kobe...and also give him slight problems on the defensive end.. the Nuggets can't ask for much more...only that he keep it up
Melo is the only one of the three with the size, footwork, speed and strength to defend him for any length of time without drawing fouls. You know a nobody like Jones is going to get fouls called for looking like he touched Kobe.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
that was precisely the case in Q1 of G2.
2 of the 4 fouls he picked up in the first 6 minutes
were mighty suspect.
for nuggets fans, the loss of dahntay jones didn't really carry a large amount of damage to the team. in fact, with the exception of almost single-handedly putting the nuggets in the bonus, dahntay jones foul-spree may have helped.
dahntay jones has been having a MISERABLE ball handling G1 and G2.
that was precisely the case in Q1 of G2.
2 of the 4 fouls he picked up in the first 6 minutes
were mighty suspect.for nuggets fans, the loss of dahntay jones didn't really carry a large amount of damage to the team. in fact, with the exception of almost single-handedly putting the nuggets in the bonus, dahntay jones foul-spree may have helped.
dahntay jones has been having a MISERABLE ball handling G1 and G2.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Thank you, eewwll for breaking down the impact of Pau Gasol's presence on the Lakers. I was about to pitch in with just one general fact/question about him on the team.
And this has been pointed out repeatedly by the likes of eewwll, cranrab, and others.
Thank you, eewwll for breaking down the impact of Pau Gasol's presence on the Lakers. I was about to pitch in with just one general fact/question about him on the team.
eewwll said:
And this has been pointed out repeatedly by the likes of eewwll, cranrab, and others.
Nuggets Thread!!!
HLG,
please try watching the games before commenting.
as if the false assertion that lamar odom was guarding linas kleiza was not bad enough, the above quoted nonsense and extrapolation is beyond farce.
the denver nuggets scored 26 points in Q4.
of those 26 points, 9 were scored at the free throw line due to the fakers being in the penalty. these 9 FTs were ALL from NON-SHOOTING fouls.
that leaves 17 points. 3 of those were from a linas kleiza 3 point shot.
that only leaves 14 points. that's 53% of the denver nuggets total Q4 points. so much for "almost all".
but let's continue. of those 14 remaining points, 4 were from offensive rebounds by carmelo anthony. sorry, not attributable to pau gasol.
that leaves 10 points.
seriously. try WATCHING a game for once.
HLG,
please try watching the games before commenting.
as if the false assertion that lamar odom was guarding linas kleiza was not bad enough, the above quoted nonsense and extrapolation is beyond farce.
the denver nuggets scored 26 points in Q4.
of those 26 points, 9 were scored at the free throw line due to the fakers being in the penalty. these 9 FTs were ALL from NON-SHOOTING fouls.
that leaves 17 points. 3 of those were from a linas kleiza 3 point shot.
that only leaves 14 points. that's 53% of the denver nuggets total Q4 points. so much for "almost all".
but let's continue. of those 14 remaining points, 4 were from offensive rebounds by carmelo anthony. sorry, not attributable to pau gasol.
that leaves 10 points.
seriously. try WATCHING a game for once.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Rollie gotta take out Smith first... where was rollie tonight? He might not have been joking about taking Smith out
How come Rollie_Fingaz ain't going after Dahntay Jones too
Rollie gotta take out Smith first... where was rollie tonight? He might not have been joking about taking Smith out
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
because if he takes out dahntay jones first, then that means j.r. smith HAS TO play.
How come Rollie_Fingaz ain't going after Dahntay Jones too
because if he takes out dahntay jones first, then that means j.r. smith HAS TO play.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
because if he takes out dahntay jones first, then that means j.r. smith HAS TO play.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
whoops! overlooked that
because if he takes out dahntay jones first, then that means j.r. smith HAS TO play.
whoops! overlooked that
Nuggets Thread!!!
looks like i was right.
Uneasy quiet on West front for Lakers
Andrew Bynum, unhappy about playing time, and Coach Phil Jackson aren't speaking to each other on eve of Game 3 against Denver. But it's Lakers who need to make a statement.
By MIKE BRESNAHAN
On The Lakers
May 23, 2009
Reporting from Denver — It's not like the Lakers to have story lines of internal conflict -- oh wait, yes it is.
This one might be minor compared with Shaq vs. Kobe, or Magic vs. Paul Westhead, but there's something going on between Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Coach Phil Jackson, and it's entirely unspoken.
The root of it is pretty simple: Bynum wants to play more, and Jackson wants him to play more defense.
Bynum never returned after being yanked from Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with 7:14 left in the third quarter Thursday night.
It had nothing to do with foul trouble. He had only one. And he had no turnovers in the Lakers' 106-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Jackson didn't like that Bynum failed to hustle downcourt after not getting a pass in the post on a Lakers possession. Denver center Nene, left unguarded at the other end, made a layup and was fouled by Kobe Bryant for a potential three-point play (he missed the free throw).
Lamar Odom quickly checked into the game. Bynum checked out for the rest of the night, finishing with nine points on four-for-eight shooting in 18 minutes.
Jackson has been frustrated by Bynum's lack of defense and rebounding, though he declined to speak in depth about him after Friday's practice.
Jackson said Bynum didn't return in the fourth quarter because the Nuggets went with a smaller lineup and that there were no guarantees of more playing time for Bynum tonight in Game 3.
"I don't know," Jackson said. "We'll see what this next game brings."
Bynum was slightly more outspoken, in his own way.
"There's nothing to be said," he said. "I've just got to go out there and play if I'm called upon. I'm here to do what they want me to do. If that's what my job is to be, then I'll do it."
Bynum said he was more disappointed than angry and would talk to Jackson about his feelings only "if he approaches me."
Would he ever approach Jackson?
"Nah. It's not really my place," Bynum said. "It's for him to decide what's going on."
These haven't been the best playoffs for Bynum, who is averaging 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 fouls in 15.7 minutes a game. He went scoreless in three games of the Houston series, two of them with Yao Ming sidelined because of a broken foot.
Bynum made four of eight shots and one of three free-throw attempts in Game 2.
"I had a couple of shots just rim out, which would have turned into a better game for me," he said. "If he's going to play me in the minutes I'm going to play, I can do a little bit better out there."
Just the same, Bynum bristles when asked about Denver's front-court domination so far this series.
"I keep hearing this question. It's kind of funny," he said. "They're getting their stuff because of our defensive scheme. They're just driving to the basket and nobody's bumping them.
"When I roll to the basket, I get hit by [Chauncey] Billups on the way down to the rim. It's just team defense. [Our defense] definitely needs to be more physical. It definitely needs to have more people on bodies. We can't just let people run free."
andrew bynum gonna open his mouth and piss off the wrong (or right) person:
On what the Lakers need to adjust to win in Game 3:
“Honestly, I think that we need to re-think how we are doing the defense. They are use to it, they play it every day in practice. They are just attacking it and swinging it to the other side. It is an easy 3 on 2 every time that they swing it to the other side.”
i wonder who is on the weak side that he's talking about?
looks like i was right.
Uneasy quiet on West front for Lakers
Andrew Bynum, unhappy about playing time, and Coach Phil Jackson aren't speaking to each other on eve of Game 3 against Denver. But it's Lakers who need to make a statement.
By MIKE BRESNAHAN
On The Lakers
May 23, 2009
Reporting from Denver — It's not like the Lakers to have story lines of internal conflict -- oh wait, yes it is.
This one might be minor compared with Shaq vs. Kobe, or Magic vs. Paul Westhead, but there's something going on between Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Coach Phil Jackson, and it's entirely unspoken.
The root of it is pretty simple: Bynum wants to play more, and Jackson wants him to play more defense.
Bynum never returned after being yanked from Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with 7:14 left in the third quarter Thursday night.
It had nothing to do with foul trouble. He had only one. And he had no turnovers in the Lakers' 106-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Jackson didn't like that Bynum failed to hustle downcourt after not getting a pass in the post on a Lakers possession. Denver center Nene, left unguarded at the other end, made a layup and was fouled by Kobe Bryant for a potential three-point play (he missed the free throw).
Lamar Odom quickly checked into the game. Bynum checked out for the rest of the night, finishing with nine points on four-for-eight shooting in 18 minutes.
Jackson has been frustrated by Bynum's lack of defense and rebounding, though he declined to speak in depth about him after Friday's practice.
Jackson said Bynum didn't return in the fourth quarter because the Nuggets went with a smaller lineup and that there were no guarantees of more playing time for Bynum tonight in Game 3.
"I don't know," Jackson said. "We'll see what this next game brings."
Bynum was slightly more outspoken, in his own way.
"There's nothing to be said," he said. "I've just got to go out there and play if I'm called upon. I'm here to do what they want me to do. If that's what my job is to be, then I'll do it."
Bynum said he was more disappointed than angry and would talk to Jackson about his feelings only "if he approaches me."
Would he ever approach Jackson?
"Nah. It's not really my place," Bynum said. "It's for him to decide what's going on."
These haven't been the best playoffs for Bynum, who is averaging 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 fouls in 15.7 minutes a game. He went scoreless in three games of the Houston series, two of them with Yao Ming sidelined because of a broken foot.
Bynum made four of eight shots and one of three free-throw attempts in Game 2.
"I had a couple of shots just rim out, which would have turned into a better game for me," he said. "If he's going to play me in the minutes I'm going to play, I can do a little bit better out there."
Just the same, Bynum bristles when asked about Denver's front-court domination so far this series.
"I keep hearing this question. It's kind of funny," he said. "They're getting their stuff because of our defensive scheme. They're just driving to the basket and nobody's bumping them.
"When I roll to the basket, I get hit by [Chauncey] Billups on the way down to the rim. It's just team defense. [Our defense] definitely needs to be more physical. It definitely needs to have more people on bodies. We can't just let people run free."
Nuggets Thread!!!
Things are different in Colorado
Governor declares it 'Nuggets May-nia Month.' All is not well with Andrew Bynum.
Mark Heisler
May 23, 2009
These days, the story is what you don't see the Lakers do -- such as dominate inside with their two 7-footers -- and what they don't talk about.
Such as, there's a problem with Andrew Bynum.
It's not coincidental, or situational, that Bynum has started the last five games but has averaged only 19 minutes and hasn't gone past 22.
Thursday night, Phil Jackson took him out four minutes into the second half and didn't put him back in.
Friday, Jackson said it was because of Denver's small lineup, etc.
Bynum said it was OK and he's there to play as much as they need him, etc.
In real life, Jackson doesn't like Bynum's attitude, effort and offense-first outlook.
Bynum insists he's not upset, but his people definitely are.
Team Bynum has been calling General Manager Mitch Kupchak all postseason -- and anyone else around the beat whose phone number it has.
Friday morning, the phones were ringing off the hooks.
Despite anything his people have ever said, Bynum has always maintained he's fine.
Nevertheless, there can't be a complete split between what they say and what he thinks, which would account for what the Lakers consider an attitude.
Just to clear up a few basic points:
Jackson isn't going anywhere.
Bynum isn't going anywhere, either.
Bynum has a contract (the thing he signed that says he gets $54 million) with nothing in it that says he has to be happy, or play a certain number of minutes.
These are the playoffs (high point of the season), with his team (other guys in the same uniform) pursuing a title (championship that comes with a gaudy ring and a few bucks). This is not only a big deal, it frees you from being asked about not winning one the rest of your life by the media (little people milling around asking dumb questions).
Here's what would be really good for Bynum to remember:
He got here by having a great attitude. Clueless as he was upon arrival, he wasn't coddled, nurtured or even praised.
The Lakers not only didn't brag about him to the media, if someone asked about him, they said, "We'll see."
It took him three seasons to figure out what being in shape meant, or which end was up, but he threw himself into it. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his mentor and no one to hold his tongue, said working with him was "a joy."
For three years, Bynum persevered being benched, zinged, and Kobe Bryant's demand that he be traded, getting ever better until the Lakers had to start him.
However, with Bynum's injury last season ahead of extension talks in summer, his people became hyper-sensitive to conjecture about his rehabilitation.
This season, with his $54-million deal in, off to a slow start and for the first time, feeling the weight of expectations, his people began broadcasting their alarm.
At the same time, Bynum began complaining about the media to Abdul-Jabbar, who encouraged him to get over it.
Now, with Bynum floundering in his crash comeback in the playoffs, his people are really upset. For their part, the Lakers aren't happy, either.
So, no, it's not a mystery why they haven't been able to get to that dominating inside game of theirs after all.
Things are different in Colorado
Governor declares it 'Nuggets May-nia Month.' All is not well with Andrew Bynum.
Mark Heisler
May 23, 2009
These days, the story is what you don't see the Lakers do -- such as dominate inside with their two 7-footers -- and what they don't talk about.
Such as, there's a problem with Andrew Bynum.
It's not coincidental, or situational, that Bynum has started the last five games but has averaged only 19 minutes and hasn't gone past 22.
Thursday night, Phil Jackson took him out four minutes into the second half and didn't put him back in.
Friday, Jackson said it was because of Denver's small lineup, etc.
Bynum said it was OK and he's there to play as much as they need him, etc.
In real life, Jackson doesn't like Bynum's attitude, effort and offense-first outlook.
Bynum insists he's not upset, but his people definitely are.
Team Bynum has been calling General Manager Mitch Kupchak all postseason -- and anyone else around the beat whose phone number it has.
Friday morning, the phones were ringing off the hooks.
Despite anything his people have ever said, Bynum has always maintained he's fine.
Nevertheless, there can't be a complete split between what they say and what he thinks, which would account for what the Lakers consider an attitude.
Just to clear up a few basic points:
Jackson isn't going anywhere.
Bynum isn't going anywhere, either.
Bynum has a contract (the thing he signed that says he gets $54 million) with nothing in it that says he has to be happy, or play a certain number of minutes.
These are the playoffs (high point of the season), with his team (other guys in the same uniform) pursuing a title (championship that comes with a gaudy ring and a few bucks). This is not only a big deal, it frees you from being asked about not winning one the rest of your life by the media (little people milling around asking dumb questions).
Here's what would be really good for Bynum to remember:
He got here by having a great attitude. Clueless as he was upon arrival, he wasn't coddled, nurtured or even praised.
The Lakers not only didn't brag about him to the media, if someone asked about him, they said, "We'll see."
It took him three seasons to figure out what being in shape meant, or which end was up, but he threw himself into it. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his mentor and no one to hold his tongue, said working with him was "a joy."
For three years, Bynum persevered being benched, zinged, and Kobe Bryant's demand that he be traded, getting ever better until the Lakers had to start him.
However, with Bynum's injury last season ahead of extension talks in summer, his people became hyper-sensitive to conjecture about his rehabilitation.
This season, with his $54-million deal in, off to a slow start and for the first time, feeling the weight of expectations, his people began broadcasting their alarm.
At the same time, Bynum began complaining about the media to Abdul-Jabbar, who encouraged him to get over it.
Now, with Bynum floundering in his crash comeback in the playoffs, his people are really upset. For their part, the Lakers aren't happy, either.
So, no, it's not a mystery why they haven't been able to get to that dominating inside game of theirs after all.
Re: Nuggets Thread!!!
Because Dahntay understands his role: he's the perimeter defender. He never does more that what is asked of him. I can accept that.
J.R. will have ONE good home game and will follow up by shooting Denver out of the next two. But I'm tired of J.R. lowering his head to driving to the basket and not executing the play out of a time out, coming down the court one a 1 on 3 and pulling up to shoot a three, not looking for an open man, crying when he doesn't get the call, not getting back on defense..and I'm really starting to get tired of that nigga breathing. How many second chances can one fuck up get?!?!
..excuse me, I have to get ready for tonights game:
How come Rollie_Fingaz ain't going after Dahntay Jones too
Because Dahntay understands his role: he's the perimeter defender. He never does more that what is asked of him. I can accept that.
J.R. will have ONE good home game and will follow up by shooting Denver out of the next two. But I'm tired of J.R. lowering his head to driving to the basket and not executing the play out of a time out, coming down the court one a 1 on 3 and pulling up to shoot a three, not looking for an open man, crying when he doesn't get the call, not getting back on defense..and I'm really starting to get tired of that nigga breathing. How many second chances can one fuck up get?!?!
..excuse me, I have to get ready for tonights game:
