Tough loss for the Lakers tonight without Gasol. They could have used him because Timmy had a nice game. Bynum played fairly well too.

Kobe went to the locker room at the end of the 3rd with back spasms. I'm sure he'll be fine. They tried to make it interesting when he went off the floor but the Spurs had too much tonight.

Main reason I started the thread is because about a month ago we were all calling the Lakers the best team in the league but many of us said we wanted to see how they faired on the road. To this point they've only played 14 road games, they're 8-6. Any of you Laker fans worried about that? Coming off Sacramento taking them to OT they've lost 4 straight road games (well one was in their own building technically), but what I've really noticed is they can't seem to beat anyone good on the road. Their best win was Houston and that was the 5th game of the season. Wins over Sacramento (OT), Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, NJ, Golden State, Houston, OKC. But losses to Denver, Utah, Phoenix, Clippers, Portland and now San Antonio. They've been beaten by double digits in most of those too.

Point is, that's kind of odd given their record and how well they've played at home. BUT, they've already played 24 of their home games so they're going to have to get better on the road. This team seems really inconsistent, I suppose that may have something to do with their bench--but are any Laker fans worried about this? Don't get me wrong, when you're 29-9 there isn't much to worry about but they aren't playing on the road and I think there is something to say for that.

I'm just happy they lost. The more losses the better IMO.

Without Gasol they are a totally different team and very, very vulnerable. He needs to get healthy and get healthy quick.

They definitely need him. Bynum isn't man enough to be the leader they need in the post. He's good but he'd be GREAT if he wasn't so soft.

The game was close (8 points) with 4 minutes to play. Not having Bryant didn't help them at all.

Things are looking brighter and brighter for the Cavs ending the season with the best overall record.

Footwedge wrote: The game was close (8 points) with 4 minutes to play. Not having Bryant didn't help them at all.

They started to make a little run and then when Kobe went down they kept it going but it was honestly a mix of shitty calls from the officials and the Spurs shooting themselves in the foot with DUMB turnovers.

SQ_Crazies wrote: They definitely need him. Bynum isn't man enough to be the leader they need in the post. He's good but he'd be GREAT if he wasn't so soft.

Exactly.

Here's an honest question for Lakers fans.

You guys currently have a considerable lead for the first seed in the West (entering today, it was 4 games over Dallas). Kobe is banged up. On another thread, JakeGiant mentioned his finger problems. Here, it's stated he left this game with back spasms.

Should you guys shut him down for a week or two? Give him a chance to get healthy. I'd think that if you guys were healthy, you'd be the favorites to win the West, if not the championship. But with your lack of quality depth, you stand to lose a LOT if your top guys aren't healthy. And if it's Kobe that's not healthy, you won't go anywhere.

Heretic wrote: Here's an honest question for Lakers fans.

You guys currently have a considerable lead for the first seed in the West (entering today, it was 4 games over Dallas). Kobe is banged up. On another thread, JakeGiant mentioned his finger problems. Here, it's stated he left this game with back spasms.

Should you guys shut him down for a week or two? Give him a chance to get healthy. I'd think that if you guys were healthy, you'd be the favorites to win the West, if not the championship. But with your lack of quality depth, you stand to lose a LOT if your top guys aren't healthy. And if it's Kobe that's not healthy, you won't go anywhere.

no 30% kobe is better than 90% of the league

DeyDurkie5 wrote: no 30% kobe is better than 90% of the league

LOL.

I Would like it if what is suggested is, in fact, what could possibly happen this season. Namely, that someone other than the Lakers will prevail in the NBA Championships. I have been subjected to the Lakers ever since they moved to LA because I was living there at the time and they aren't going to fold. They will have their moments of ineffectiveness, and yes, they may even actually lose to mortals once in a while, but when the games really count, the Lakers will win. Trust me on this. It may be an off-balanced 75' shot at the buzzer, desperation shot while Kobe is falling out of bounds with all five members of the other team right in his face. It won't matter though, and the shot will be good. Every time! (At least it seems that way an inordinate amount of the time.) Hollywood is an amazing place. Strange things happen there on a daily basis that defy logic. Laker last second heroics are right at the top of that list. Even the Harlem Globetrotters would lose occasionally to the Washington Generals, but only about once a year. Same can be said about the Lakers with Kobe.

LA and SA both have a BULK of their road games in the second half of the season... Could be an interesting subplot..

pkebker wrote: I'm just happy they lost. The more losses the better IMO.

+1 excellent loss

While I believe players need to step up in another's absence, in many of these Road games SQ is concerned about, the Lakers weren't fully stacked. When Gasol comes back, and the team being back to "normal", if they still can't win with some regularity on the Road, then perhaps there'll be cause for concern.

I'll only be concerned if they get eliminated from the Playoffs. Boston couldn't win on the road in the Playoffs a couple of years ago and they still went on to win the Title.

True, but I'm still a bit shocked at how they've faired on the road thus far.

DeyDurkie5 wrote:

no 30% kobe is better than 90% of the league

I lol'd

Me too...in fact, I've lol'd twice about that now.

SQ_Crazies wrote: Me too...in fact, I've lol'd twice about that now.

I'd be LOLing myself, except I think that's the closest to an answer I've gotten to my question, which makes me sad.

They'll be fine when they get healthy. I'm more concerned that they're losing to the good teams as opposed to losing on the road. They've seemed uninterested in a lot of games and seem to be having a bit of a championship hangover. Unfortuantely for the rest of the NBA this is probably the one team that can flip the switch and be unbeatable in a 7 game series. I'm still looking at LA and Boston in the Finals.

Nice win tonight for LA minus Gasol. LA 100 Dallas 95

Dirk hit a 3 to tie it with about 40 seconds left. He had a monster game with 30 and 16. Kobe hit a 20 footer with 28 seconds left then had a good foul on Erick Dampier to put Dampier on the line where he missed both.

Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Ron Artest all had double-doubles for LA. The Lakers are better when Kobe only has to take 15-18 shots.