Bringing in a quality backup big must be a priority this offseason. Then, Ham must play said backup big.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect it...but when we pulled to within 1 in the 3rd, I actually thought we could close it out. I did. Then, MEM goes on what? a 25-4 in about 2 mins and 40 secs? That was a gut punch. GOTTA BRING IT and close out in LA.
It was my fault I didn’t watch. We always win when I watch the game live. I’ll watch game 6 for sure.
Yea, it was us down 75-74 in the 3rd with 3:48 left. I thought we could close it out. Then MEM went on a 19-2 run to close out the 3rd and I was one deflated Laker fan...until game 6.
I sure did. Didn’t even watch this one because this team hasn’t shown that killer instinct. Not sure they have it in them at all. But they respond pretty well when backed into a corner, so I expect them to win game 6 and move on.
lol, me exactly. i didn't even watch the first half because i was busy with stuff, so tuned in sometime in the third and saw us get back into it. when they went on the 7-0 run after we cut it to 1, i turned it back off to go do something else in the house, and by the time i looked at the score again, we were blown out. it was like 6 real life minutes later. whatevs. i expected a loss. i expect us to win at home in game 6. if we don't, that's the series. we're not taking game 7 in memphis. some role players need to step up at home.
I know this is a WMC thread, but I am not here to complain simply because I expected this. 100% expected it.
we're the 7th seed. Lucky to even be here after the season we've had but if we're here, and we're ahead in the series, we darn well better take advantage of it!
expected a game 5 loss but like others, when we were only down 1 in the 3rd...I thought we had a chance Game 6 is basically our Game 7. This reminds me of when the SUns came into LA and Tim Thomas buried us in game 6. I don't want a repeat of that...and def don't want us blowing a 3-1 lead. PLease close this out guys
it's very similar, but i'd say that suns team was stronger and that lakers team was weaker than this one. i think it's important to keep things in perspective. we really shouldn't be here. plus a lot of the team is new, and lebron is clearly not at 100%. i don't expect us to lose the series now, but even if we do drop three straight, it wouldn't be the upset of the century or anything. and it wouldn't affect my optimism for next year.
yeah if they lose game 6 it's over. they're not winning a game 7 on the road next game is basically game 7
Sacremento and GS's defense doesn't look all that impressive to me TBH: they're playing way too close to Draymond, and have basically no rim protection. GS is definitely better with GP and Wiggins back but if you looked at the game last night, Sac was forced to play non shooting threats like Mitchell more and they left him open to compensate for their lack of defense. Memphis is making it a lot rougher on the lakers and vice versa then people realize if you're not watching these other games
I said Lakers in 6 at the beginning and still think that is what will happen. I am actually more optimistic that we could win a game 7 than most, but I don't expect it to come to that. I expect a fully engaged team to show up and overall we have played the Grizzlies well. They will go down swinging but I think we pull out a tough game.
With the rest of the West, I also question the defense of teams like the Kings and Warriors. We will see how well LeBron holds up, but we've got a fair shot against anyone left with the Bucks and Clippers gone.
It's the weirdest scenario and I don't see they the usual folks like Zach Lowe are talking about. (they did mention it on the telecast) GS is playing Sabonis like most teams play Draymond: they are leaving him open at the FT line and it's a like a big deal when he shoots it. It's junking up their offense. It's literally a FT for Sabonis and he hit a few of them. If I was Mike Brown I'd be yelling at him to take that shot, it's a literally a FT and he should be able to 70-80% of those shots. OTOH, Sabonis is playing up on Draymond and he's actually driving on them. Like WTF you should never play up on Green so he can drive on you. GS is way scarier obviously as GP, Wiggins, Looney, Green are all good defenders but I'm just picturing AD and Lebron get to play free safety with Schroeder, Reaves, Vando cutting thru the screens and i'ts going to be a lot tougher for GS to play LAL then the Kings (meanwhile on offense, having no JJJ is going to seem like a breath of fresh air for the Lakers, rim running is going to a staple for the Lakers)
man...i get not wanting your team's fortunes to rest on your ability to convert 80% on elbow jumpers. that's some tricky stuff, psychologically. you have to have supreme confidence. i think i'd tell him to take it with the idea that he and one other perimeter guy will crash the boards on every attempt. that makes it feel like it's an opportunity creator (like when you take a layup as a guard that you know is unlikely to fall but will draw the shotblocker and leave the boards open). i don't know; i just get why someone would be gun shy on that if they weren't dirk or kobe or kawhi or mj.
