May 28, 200917 yr Alston would abuse him just like everyone else he's faced has. Where was that big game experience against a rookie PG vs. Houston? He got torched. Fisher's a great guy to have on the roster because of his experience and leadership. But, at this point, I'd prefer to see Farmar getting more minutes. He's played well the last two series, IMO. I expected Fisher to play better against Denver since he wasn't being asked to defend a guy that was simply too quick. I didn't expect him to shut Billups down, or even win the head-to-head matchup...I just thought he'd be better and staying in front of his man, and that he'd be more effective on the offensive end at hitting the open jumpers he gets. Maybe he's just in a slump, but he doesn't look good at all right now...and it's only magnified when you see Farmar or Brown come in and play better and provide the Lakers with some energy. Alston (or Cleveland's PG) will definitely be the worst one LA has seen this post-season, if they get to the finals. Deron Williams is no worse than the second best PG in the league. Aaron Brooks...I'm not sure how good he is, but he played about as well as a PG could play in the Lakers series. And, Billups is just a great basketball player. Brooks was too quick for him, that's true. Brooks obviously has been underrated so far in his career considering Houston gave up their starting PG so he could play more. His quickness would be tough for most PG's over a 7 game series. But, you can't be disappointed that two of the best PG's in the league in Billups and Deron Williams have made him look bad. They do that to opposing PG's on a nightly basis. I told everyone that Billups would have a field day on Fisher, he is the tyoe of PG that has good speed and great strength/savvy.
May 28, 200917 yr I see it different. I'm sure the Lakers are better, but I'm not sure they'll win the series. Lamar Odom was AWOL for 4 games. Derek Fisher can't do much of anything and Phil Jackson refuses to give the PT to Farmer and Brown who have played much better. Basically, Kobe, Gasol and Ariza split 4 games with Denver, until Odom showed up and played last night. I'm hoping the Lakers can finish this series off, because I like the matchup in the finals much better, whether it's Orlando or Cleveland. At this point, I think Cleveland would be the easier opponent. They're not physical or terribly athletic, the two things that trouble LA the most. Orlando has some athleticism, but they're not a big problem physically inside. The Lakers are leading the series b/c Karl is terrible. If they had sideline out of bounds plays it might already be over. Jackson is so much better it is unreal. I agree about the Finals, but I think Denver would win the series easier. They match up good w/ both teams and they wouldn't take a game or two off.
May 28, 200917 yr The Lakers are leading the series b/c Karl is terrible. If they had sideline out of bounds plays it might already be over. Jackson is so much better it is unreal. I agree about the Finals, but I think Denver would win the series easier. They match up good w/ both teams and they wouldn't take a game or two off. The Lakers were ahead both times Denver threw the ball away...it may have cost them a good chance to win those games, but getting the ball in by no means assured victory. I'm not sure why people treat those plays as the sole difference between a win and loss. They might have lost both games anyway. Those two plays are just the prime examples of the difference...LA plays and executes better than Denver at crunch time. I don't think Phil has been as good as he used to be. But, I'd take him over Karl any day.
May 28, 200917 yr Brooks was too quick for him, that's true. Brooks obviously has been underrated so far in his career considering Houston gave up their starting PG so he could play more. His quickness would be tough for most PG's over a 7 game series. But, you can't be disappointed that two of the best PG's in the league in Billups and Deron Williams have made him look bad. They do that to opposing PG's on a nightly basis. I told everyone that Billups would have a field day on Fisher, he is the tyoe of PG that has good speed and great strength/savvy. I don't think anyone, including Lakers fans, had any great expectations about the Fisher/Billups matchup. Everyone knows Billups is better and everyone expected him to do what he does. I just expected Fisher to play better. He simply couldn't stay with Brooks. That's not so much the case against Billups. He should at least be able to stay with him and not allow the defense to get broken down over and over...and I figured he'd shoot better. That's all. I certainly didn't have any visions of grandeur that Fisher would win the PG battle or even come close to playing even. Billups is the third or fourth best player in this series and the second best clutch player. If Cleveland had Billups, they'd probably be 12-0 in the playoffs. :lol:
May 28, 200917 yr Done a little stat work... Fisher 27 Minutes 7.4 Points 2.8 Assists/1.8 TO 31.8% FG (26.3% 3Pt) 66.7% FT Billups 41.2 Minutes 19.8 Points 5.4 Assists/1.8 TO 40.9% FG (33.3% 3Pt) 83.3% FT Farmar 10 Minutes 4.2 Points 2.0 Assists/1.0 TO 42.1% FG (27.3% 3Pt) 66.7% FT Brown 12.2 Minutes 4.4 Points 0.2 Assists/0.6 TO 37.5% FG (25.0% 3Pt) 50.0% FT If you combine LA's production at the point, they're not faring that bad vs. Billups. 16.0 Points 5.0 Assists/3.4 TO 35.6% FG (26.3% 3Pt) 61.5% FT Considering LA's point guards and Billups, I'll take that. Also, thought it was interesting to look at the LA point guards on a per 48 minute basis... Fisher = 13.2 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.2 TO/g Farmar = 20.2 ppg, 9.6 apg, 4.8 TO/g Brown = 17.3 ppg, 0.8 apg, 2.4 TO/g
May 28, 200917 yr Author Who was it that kept warning you that you were selling Denver short? The Lakers should win the series, but I'm not sure they're better. That makes no sense to me. Denver has 7 games to prove they are better and if they can't do it in 7 games......they obviously aren't better.
May 28, 200917 yr Author Billups hasn't been as good as I thought he would be this series. He hasn't shot the ball particularly well. What is it 40%? Now Carmelo, on the other hand, has been magnificent.
May 28, 200917 yr The Lakers were ahead both times Denver threw the ball away...it may have cost them a good chance to win those games, but getting the ball in by no means assured victory. I'm not sure why people treat those plays as the sole difference between a win and loss. They might have lost both games anyway. Those two plays are just the prime examples of the difference...LA plays and executes better than Denver at crunch time. I don't think Phil has been as good as he used to be. But, I'd take him over Karl any day. My post didn't come out as I wanted. I wasn't aying they would for sure win those games. What I meant is: how do you not have sideline out of bounds play and you're an NBA coach? I read a piece I think from Simmons of ESPN that when Billups got there he couldn't believe they didn't have out of bounds plays designed to get shots. There sole purpose is to get the ball in. That to me means your getting outcoached in a big series.
May 28, 200917 yr That makes no sense to me. Denver has 7 games to prove they are better and if they can't do it in 7 games......they obviously aren't better. Why? The Lakers have home court advantage b/c they earned it. I think right now Denver is a better team, but won't win the series. I think htye send it to 7, but the Lakers win game 7 at home. The Lakers have executed down the stretch and I think a lot of it has to do w/ the coaches being so far apart not the players.
May 28, 200917 yr Author It just seems to me that the better team would win the necessary 4 games out of 7 if they were indeed the better team. IMO, if Denver is the better team, they will win the series.
May 29, 200917 yr It just seems to me that the better team would win the necessary 4 games out of 7 if they were indeed the better team. IMO, if Denver is the better team, they will win the series. That's why they play a 7 game series. So the better TEAM will win the series. Anyone can win one game.
May 29, 200917 yr Author That's why they play a 7 game series. So the better TEAM will win the series. Anyone can win one game. That's what I am saying, tell that to SSC.
May 29, 200917 yr Here's some trivia for you. Who is the only player to have 30 missed FG's in one game? Hint: He's playing tonight. :laugh::laugh::laugh: Sorry Hammertime and PurplePride. I like you guys, it's just a slow day at work and I felt like being mean.
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