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chrisr87 · 11-02-2005, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyM

sorry but kobe will score 50 on your team today and WIN WIN WIN

I CAN SEE IT!!

Why can't the Kobe-homers run back to ESPN forums where they belong ;\
BTW, watch Kobe average 30+ this season and not make the playoffs. Then watch the smile on his face as he looks through the box scores of one of the games saying:

Kobe: 50
Rest of the team: 25

Kobe's reaction: Giant Smile
Win-Loss Prediction for Lakers this season: 40-42
Playoffs? I think not.

Anyway, I do think the Nuggets did not play as well as they could've. We'll just wait for good ol' George Karl to come back into action and coach this team to the 2nd seed in the West like they were predicted to.

**cpawfan** · 11-02-2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoddneyThaRippa

What didn't you like about the coaching?

The rotations, the lack of adjustments and the play calling after time outs.

The Lakers in the second half committed to doubling the post whenever Melo or Kenyon were in the post. Nothing was done to take advantage of that.

RoddneyThaRippa · 11-02-2005, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpawfan

The rotations, the lack of adjustments and the play calling after time outs.

The Lakers in the second half committed to doubling the post whenever Melo or Kenyon were in the post. Nothing was done to take advantage of that.

Fair enough. The rotations have baffled me thus far. I don't know if their a product of Brooks or they're what we should expect when Karl comes back. I mean, why won't we play Earl Watson? Just really confusing.

**cpawfan** · 11-02-2005, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoddneyThaRippa

A few comments:

-Carmelo had a good game. He had a tough battle with George, one I thought he ended up winning. Unfortunately, he broke down on that last possession before overtime. He really panicked. But still, good game.

I disagree. He was good in spurts, although I thought his defensive effort was very good all game. I thought he did a so-so job of passing when he was doubled.

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-Marcus Camby is one of those players who just knows how to win. He showed it last year and showed it tonight. I'm not sure if his foot is still bothering him, but he isn't doing as much in the paint - it seems like he isn't contesting as many shots. Still, he's a force even though he's probably injured.

Camby played well. He and Kenyon owned the interior on defense.

Quote:

-We really need a scorer on the team other than Carmelo. I suppose Earl could fill this role, but he's so inconsistent and takes shots in bunches. As ugly as this halfcourt offense is, it really helps when you have a player you can go to consistently that can score at any given time. Carmelo needs someone to help him out here. At times, Andre can fill this role, but he's just too inconsistent in his play. I wonder if DerMarr or Hodge can't help out here. DerMarr has already shown ability to create offense. Watching Hodge in college, I think he could do it too. Unfortunately, the way we're running the lineups, I'm not sure if either of these guys will get a chance.

If the Nuggets keeping getting slowed down like this, then yes, they need another scorer. However, I more disapointed in the perimeter defense tonight. Could they at least use Watson to attempt to slow down Smush Parker?

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-What is Kenyon contributing out there? I've been really disappointed with his play and effort so far.

I saw great effort on the defensive end, an improved outside shot (although I could have done without 2 of his heat check shots) and some definite explosiveness that wasn't there last season. He had 3 strong moves in traffic that almost dropped. I believe that is because of the preseason games missed and those shots should start dropping for him soon.

One thing that you are overlooking is that Kenyon's ability to switch onto so many players defensively allows Camby to play to his strength and patrol the paint.

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-Voshon Lenard has surprised me in the first two games. He hasn't hogged the ball, like two years ago, and he's played within the flow of the offense. It's nice to have a guy who can knock down shots.

I thought Brooks kept him out of the game too much

Quote:

-I know it's early in the season, but we'll have to figure out something with the offense. Either you run or you don't; Phoenix committed to the run last year, period. None of this in between bull****. If we wanna run, fine. Then quit walking the damn ball up the court and run the ball. If we wanna be uptempo, fine. Then take advantage of opportunities to run the ball and figure something out in the halfcourt. Our halfcourt set is among the ugliest in the league. So much standing around, poor decisions, etc. I mean, you don't have to be highly organized like Sacramento to have a decent halfcourt offense. At the very least, we need to start calling players earlier in the shot clock and work off that. But right now, we can't get anywhere with this offense.

Brooks appears too tentative to make adjustments. Karl is very good at making half-time adjustments and it appeared to me that the Nuggets regressed in the second half.

**23AJ** · 11-03-2005, 12:36 AM

Well as well all know another loss tonight at the hands of the Lakers and a last second shot in over time by Kobe Bryant. Lakers win 99 to 97.

Here is a good recap I found on the game via Yahoo. They concentrate a lot on the Lakers/Jackson/Bryant though, but some good Nuggets information as well.

Camby led Denver with 19 points and 14 rebounds

Quote by Carmelo -

Quote:

``I kind of wanted to blame it on myself,'' Anthony said of the loss.

Game Pictures

Quote:

LA Lakers 99, Denver 97, OT

Preview - Box Score - Recap

By EDDIE PELLS, AP Sports Writer
November 3, 2005

AP - Nov 3, 2:22 am EST
More Photos

DENVER (AP) -- With a sweet swish as the clock neared zero, Kobe Bryant picked the perfect way to say ``Welcome Back, Coach!''

The Kobe and Phil Show made a grand return Wednesday night, as Bryant hit a long jumper with 0.6 seconds left in overtime to lift Los Angeles to a 99-97 victory over Denver in Phil Jackson's first game back as coach of the Lakers.

``The win wasn't important for me, it was important for the team,'' Jackson said. ``But getting the win is twice as nice.''

Bryant, who scored eight of his 33 points in overtime, swished home the game-winner, then ran with clenched fist to the other end of the court, chest-bumping with teammate Devean George to celebrate his biggest shot of this very young season.

After a timeout, Denver's Voshon Lenard had a good look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it missed. Jackson walked off the bench with a smile and pointed toward a group of Lakers fans who staked out the corner of the Pepsi Center.

Bryant's big shot was his second chance at a game-winner.

After trailing 89-84 late in regulation, the Lakers scored five straight points and got the ball back. Bryant went one-on-one with Greg Buckner and had a decent look at a long jumper, but it rimmed off at the buzzer and set the stage for overtime.

At the end of the overtime, Los Angeles' original play was for the shot to go to center Kwame Brown, who had a mismatch on Eduardo Najera. Brown missed the shot, though, and when Bryant won the fight for the rebound, there was little doubt who was taking the next shot.

``He got a good shot on the move and does what he does great -- shooting those kinds of shots when he's under duress,'' Jackson said.

The last regular-season game Jackson coached for Lakers provided a very similar ending. With a chance to win the Pacific Division and the second seed in the West, Bryant hit a leaning 3-pointer from the top of the key to send a game against Portland into overtime. He then hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the second overtime to give the Lakers the division.

This team is much different, though.

Helping the effort on this night was newly acquired point guard Smush Parker, who finished with 20 points and six assists. Lamar Odom had eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Marcus Camby led Denver with 19 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Carmelo Anthony also fouled out in the extra period. He finished with 16 points on a frustrating 6-for-17 shooting night.

``I kind of wanted to blame it on myself,'' Anthony said of the loss.

The finish for Los Angeles couldn't have been any more dramatic or perfect given the story line -- Jackson returning to the team he led to three championships after a year off to coach Bryant, the player with whom he didn't always get along.

The Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1994 last season, and when they beckoned Jackson back, Kobe and Phil appeared to put their differences aside. Not much was expected of the Lakers this season, but on the first night, they came out ahead in what is supposed to be a difficult place to win this season.

``It was a big game for us,'' Bryant said. ``We are a young team and we had to battle back to get the win.''

On the other bench, Nuggets assistant Scott Brooks fell to 0-2 in his stint as an interim replacement for George Karl, who served the second game of a two-game suspension.

The Nuggets probably could have used Karl's expertise in this one, to say nothing of power forward Nene, who injured his knee Tuesday night in Denver's opener and will probably miss the rest of the season.

Camby, Anthony and Kenyon Martin played most of the night in foul trouble and didn't take full advantage of the matchups with Los Angeles' less-talented frontcourt.

``It was frustrating. It was a game we should have won,'' Camby said. ``You have to give those guys credit.''

Nobody gets more credit than Bryant.

Demanding the ball, jawing with refs, ignoring the constant boos that rained down, he was a picture of confidence. He went 13-for-28 and also finished with five rebounds and four assists.

Surprisingly, Jackson didn't draw the final play up for him, although Bryant said he didn't take it as an insult.

``He's done that in the past where the opposition is expecting something,'' Bryant said. ``He trusts me. He knows when the play breaks down I will follow my way to the ball. He knows that.''

Indeed, Bryant got the ball, got his shot and Jackson walked away a winner in his second debut with L.A.

Notes

The Lakers improved to 32-14 in regular-season openers. ... Earl Watson, the guard the Nuggets gave a $29 million contract to in the offseason, didn't play for the second straight night.

**Timmons** · 11-03-2005, 10:21 AM

Watson must be injured???????? Please god tell me why he's not in there shutting down these nobody point guards! Tony P. has a name, but not a lot of O and Smush?

If the Nuggets want to win they better start controlling the glass and playing better defense.

The offense is also very frustrating, but baffling at times when Miller can just toss lobs, Melo drives in and lays it in and Miller drives it in with ease too. Frustrating why they can't do it all game.

I question the organizations effort to aquire outside shooting. The opposition closes the lane down and Denver is toast. Nobody to kick the balls out to for 3's that would be wide open. Very frustrating.

We'll see what the gameplan is for the bench that's not being utilized at all and what Karl can do to motivate this underacheiving group.

Denver should have won last night big. What a shame, losses like this will haunt the Nugs come playoff time when we could have a higher seed than we may get.

Lakers Own · 11-03-2005, 12:43 PM

I could never figure out why they signed Earl Watson when they have an established starting PG in Andre Miller and an awesome back up in Earl Boykins. They spent alot of money at a position where they didn't really need more depth in. They needed a 2 guard more than anything and it seemed like they just ignored the need for one.

**23AJ** · 11-03-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetobin73

Watson must be injured???????? Please god tell me why he's not in there shutting down these nobody point guards! Tony P. has a name, but not a lot of O and Smush?

If the Nuggets want to win they better start controlling the glass and playing better defense.

The offense is also very frustrating, but baffling at times when Miller can just toss lobs, Melo drives in and lays it in and Miller drives it in with ease too. Frustrating why they can't do it all game.

I question the organizations effort to aquire outside shooting. The opposition closes the lane down and Denver is toast. Nobody to kick the balls out to for 3's that would be wide open. Very frustrating.

We'll see what the gameplan is for the bench that's not being utilized at all and what Karl can do to motivate this underacheiving group.

Denver should have won last night big. What a shame, losses like this will haunt the Nugs come playoff time when we could have a higher seed than we may get.

I'm with you in frustration over this team right now. By the way here is what Brooks said about Watson not playing.

Quote:

ETC.: Denver point guard Earl Watson has yet to get off the bench in his first two games in a Nuggets uniform. Watson signed a five-year, $29 million contract in September. "Everybody knows Earl Watson's a great player, but it's tough to play three point guards," Brooks said. "You'd love to have everybody play, but it's hard. It's hard to play three and keep the other two happy"

**Timmons** · 11-03-2005, 06:41 PM

Man! I can't believe that is the case!

Brooks should be fired!

Naw, that is a pretty boneheaded move when you consider the games Tony and Smushie had.

Crazy!

**23AJ** · 11-04-2005, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetobin73

Man! I can't believe that is the case!

Brooks should be fired!

Naw, that is a pretty boneheaded move when you consider the games Tony and Smushie had.

Crazy!

Yeah seems fishy. There has to be more to it than not being able to find any minutes. Considering they had no problems playing all 3 PG's in the pre-season.

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