Point Guard Issues

In Wednesday's Lakers game versus the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers found themselves in an extremely difficult situation; they had no point guards.

Jordan Farmar is recovering from knee surgery, Sasha Vujacic is suffering from back spasms, Sun Yue is afraid to play competitive basketball, and Derek Fisher suffered a minor groin tweak. To sum up the situation in Wednesday's game, the Lakers were playing Trevor Ariza, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom, Josh Powell, and Andrew Bynum. Average height: 6'10". Success rate: Poor. Please note that the Spurs were playing three guards and the Lakers were forced to settle for jumpers. Oh! Tim Duncan was on the bench too.

The Lakers do not necessarily need immediate help at the one position, but they are definitely in a strange position without a 1-guard to defend the quicker guards in the league. Derek Fisher, in his elongated playing time, has proven to be a terrific shooter and a decent defender, but the Lakers have to be worried about playing the aging Fisher 40+ minutes a game.

As an avid Lakers fan, the point guard situation is not a huge issue because the Lakers have the triangle offense and this guy named Kobe Bryant. What does bother me is that Derek Fisher lost us the game that Kobe salvaged. Rant rant rant. Sigh. Orlando Magic on Friday, tune in.

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Game 4: Final Moment

AP Photo


In game 4 of the Lakers-Spurs Western Conference Finals, the Lakers pulled out a victory by winning 93-91. However, with 2.1 seconds left to play, the San Antonio Spurs passed the ball into Brent Barry 30 feet straight away from the hoop. He put up a fake putting Derek Fisher into the air, on the way down he bumped into Brent Barry, who after receiving the contact, pivoted once and threw up a three pointer that stood no chance. After this contact, Brent Barry demanded for a foul call, he didn't get one.

Realistically, are NBA officials going to call that foul? No way. That alleged bump was extremely minimal and they are not going to determine the outcome of a game on such a touchy foul. Considering the pushing and shoving that occurs during inbound passes and the history of no-calls for buzzer beaters, this "foul" was actually, not a foul. It's not always right that the officials swallow their whistles at the end of games, but that's how it is. If you're going to win the game you're going to win it with a legitimate shot, not at the free throw line. But I wouldn't really expect Brent Barry to understand the difficulty of the buzzer beater, how many times has he really been put in that position? (And sorry Brent, 3 point shoot out doesn't count so you can c-walk your way back home)

And on another note, I am extremely disappointed in Derek Fisher's play throughout this series. He's been forcing impossible layups, taking irrational shots, and making bad defensive decisions. And on a last note, were you really trying to block Brent Barry?

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Liveblogging: Lakers-Utah

Just as a disclaimer, I think the Lakers are going to win this one. And it is because I've been saying that it's over in 6 that I'm rooting for them to win. Otherwise I am completely unbiased. Now lets get on with it.

• The Cavs-Celtics game finally ended! For those of you who dared question me when I said Cavs in 7 all I have to say is this is why I run a sports blog and you don't! Just kidding guys! I'm kind of scared about game 7, but I'm rooting for the Cavs all the way so that I can feel like a genius.
• Lakers are starting the game really fast. This is a very nice change from the last Utah home games, where they would get lost on offense a lot.
• I never noticed before but Carlos Boozer's free throws have some amazing arc. I wonder if he shoots a lot better now and days.
• Man I can't get enough of this Laker offense, everything is so smooth.
  
• Lakers now up 24-12. Uh oh Utah. Utah just keeps on taking fade-aways.
  
• Man who else saw Pau almost lose the ball then pick it back up and try a little floater when vlad was wide open for a dunk. Give him the ball man! Vlad ended up tipping it in anyways. But still, where's the respect.
• Hubie Brown just said Kobe is averaging 33-7-7. What?? I haven't been following stats but those are dominating numbers. They all came really quietly...Is that a good thing or a bad thing?? I think it really shows me that the Lakers have truly become a team now.
• I can't wait for next year, when Vlad really gets integrated into the offense. This guy has a lot of potential, even though at times its really, really, really hard to see some times! But Phil agrees with me! He told me over lunch. That's why he's been starting Vlad for the last couple months.
  
• 2nd quarter 11:40, Korver misses a three. Who would you rather have Vujacic or Korver??? Sasha hands-down!!
• Did you know Sasha stole Vlad's nickname??? From wikipedia: "Was nicknamed "THE MACHINE" by Supersonics announcer Kevin Calabro, after his resemblance to NFL quarterback Joe Namath."
• I know you guys saw Korver hit a 3 right after I picked Sasha. And I KNOW you saw SAsha hit one right after!! Thank you, thank you....
• And there's Sasha taking it to the hole, 7pts!! 3 for 3 !!!
• Who else thinks that live-blogging is weird. Am I supposed to comment on every single play??
  
• Matt Harpring is being a little overly aggressive now while guarding Kobe. I hope no one gets into a fight tonight..... Who am i kidding!!
• Derek Fisher cookie!!!!!!!!
• Derek Fisher assisst!!!
• Kobe dunk!!!
• by the way, when is Kobe ever going to do a one-handed dunk... the last one must have been when he dunked over Steve Nash two years ago.
• Lakers in 6?? What did I say??
• Time-out now, finally. Lakers 50 - Utah 35. This liveblogging is so much work. I hope 50,000 people read this.

• I just saw a commercial for the WNBA, featuring Candice Parker. I happened to watch the Women's final four with Tenessee. Anyone else?? I still cant believe the half time speech Pat Summit gave Candice Parker. She guilt tripped her into playing with her injury!
• Utah is in a zone now.. zones work well against teams who can't shoot. Zones used to destroy the Lakers when they had Smush Parker. I will stop there.
• Trevor Ariza is cleared to play??? Now they have a lockdown defender.. this will come in handy for them vs. the Spurs. Did I just? Yes I did.
• What is C.J. miles doing...Deron Williams must want to kill him.
• Derek Fisher cookie!!!!
• Back to the man-to-man they go. What did I say. What did I say?? If you didn`t realize. I like being right, alot.

• Back from halftime. First sequence for Utah, and Deron Williams pulls off one of the nicest passes I have seen this playoffs. I could have sworn it curved in the air.
  
• Deron Williams is finally turning it on. But that and1 with 9:45 ish was a travel, undoubtedly. It's just questionable as to whether the foul or the travel came first.
  
• On that note, I think Derek Fisher could beat up Deron Williams easily. Williams is pretty buff, but I think he has a pretty small frame. That's why he is so deceptively quick!
• I think the Lakers will have the most efficient offense in the leauge next year. They might not score the most, but they're ridicuolously efficient.
• I love Pau's intensity. And I love how his personality meshes with the Lakers. I would rather have him than Kevin Garnett.
• Utah has been complaining all game about fouls. And by 3:25 left in the 3rd quarter they're even! I can't believe the fans were chanting "refs you suck! refs you suck!" I wonder if they put that on the jumbotron. Outrageous!!
• with the hanging fade away at the end of the 3rd, Kobe Bryant is officially back. For a moment, Lebron and Chris Paul were the most exciting and most dominant. But today marks when Kobe officially returns. So many people would say Keving Garnett was the best player of the first half, Chris Paul the best of the second half and Kobe was number 2 throughout the year. So they gave the MVP to him for being consistently "2nd best." That's over and done with.
• Man, there's a lot less to write about when the game is a blowout. If Kobe doesn't come back in during this time out (9 min left) then we've already seen the last of him for the conference semis.
• Man, 9 point game! I spoke too soon. Kobe is back in, and Paul Milsap is a beast. He's 6'8 and 258. I didn't know they came that huge! Lebron James is listed as 6`8 and 240. Ron Artest: 6`7 , 246; Elton Brand 6`8 and
  
• Matt Harpring is being outrageously physical. Kobe too, but I didn`t think they allowed this much contact anymore!
• Kobe 3 pointer in Matt Harprings face around 4:50. In game 4 Kobe would have tried to do too much, too soon. But as I said at the end of the 3rd quarter. He is officially back.
• These refs are loving the Lakers and these Jazz CANNOT miss. Mehmet okur is one of the clutchest big men I`ve ever seen.
• Hate to say it but, Kobe Bryant got twin towered. By Kirilenko and Okur with 1min left. One of the best tandem blocks I`ve ever seen!
• Sadly, all of these clutch Utah plays are far from enough.
• AGAIN! Kirilenko! It makes no difference! But this must be fun as heck for Utah fans. At least for the next 15 seconds.
• This is some horrible endof game defense by the Lakers. But again. 12 seconds until the end of Utah.
  
• MY GOODNESS, Utah had 3 chances to tie the game with a 3 and make me eat my feet.
  

Well that`s the end! I`ll end by saying that I LOVE being right =). Till next time folks.

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