The Lakers Loss Countdown Thread: Path to a second Suns lottery pick

[Superbone]

GS also lost and Utah looks like they're on their way to one too. Not a good night for our pick.

SUPERBOOOOOOOONE!

Relax. It's a done deal.

[SwingMan]

Every single team that needed to win last night ended up losing.

Monday was 3 days ago for fuck sake.....

[SwingMan]

Well, at least Houston isn't losing any ground tonight - they're pasting Dallas 133-99 with 2:08 to go. 44 point 3rd Q for the Rockets!

[gladiator]

Annoying win by the Lakers. Atlanta had a chance to win in the dying seconds but didn't even get a shot off

[JustWinBaby]

Annoying win by the Lakers. Atlanta had a chance to win in the dying seconds but didn't even get a shot off

Yep our free agent target was toasted twice at the end of the game on the defensive end by Kobe and fumbled a chance at the winning bucket in the final seconds. He did make a nice pass to Horford on the prior possession.

[gladiator]

Utah lost by 1 in overtime at Milwaukee. The Jazz starting back court and small forward (Foye, Watson and Williams) combined for 0 points. Sadly the door to the playoffs that was slightly ajar for the Lakers a month ago is now wide open.

[bobster]

freakin' jazz.

[Superbone]

Who made this stupid thread?!

[JustWinBaby]

It is obvious that the NBA office has noticed the new culture being developed in Phoenix and are afrad that we could turn into a dynasty if we were to get 2 lottery picks. Thus they have instructed all the contending teams to tank so that the Lakers can make the playoffs.

[Superbone]

Bring it tonight OKC!!! Remind the Lakers that they are a very average team.

[INFORMER]

Too bad very average teams can still make the playoffs.

[Aztec_Sunsfan]

It is obvious that the NBA office has noticed the new culture being developed in Phoenix and are afrad that we could turn into a dynasty if we were to get 2 lottery picks. Thus they have instructed all the contending teams to tank so that the Lakers can make the playoffs.

LOL
Hilarious!!!

[Superbone]

Too bad very average teams can still make the playoffs.

True, but any little thing to put doubt in their minds the rest of the way is a bonus. They're not free and clear by any means.

[Mori_Chu]

They're not free and clear by any means.

They aren't even the 8th seed yet. They are 2 games back. People seem to be deciding now that they will make it, but they aren't even in the dance yet.

[JustWinBaby]

True, but any little thing to put doubt in their minds the rest of the way is a bonus. They're not free and clear by any means.

The main reason why they are winning is becuase Kobe has been unbelievable at winning time. He should be in the running for the MVP but Lebron will win it.

I am more concerned with Utah's ability to hold up under the pressure to make the playoffs. Their back court is non existent. How do they beat anyone?

[INFORMER]

They aren't even the 8th seed yet. They are 2 games back. People seem to be deciding now that they will make it, but they aren't even in the dance yet.

The handwriting is on the wall.

[DarkHorse]

Media comments + Stern instructions? Whatever the reason, refs are butchering this game (LAL @ OKC). 27 FT's in first quarter. On pace for 108 FT's. Ugh.

[gladiator]

Lakers lose despite taking 40! FTs. Big night for "our" pick tomorrow, with the Lakers backing up in New Orleans and Houston, Utah and Golden State all playing.

[Superbone]

Refs couldn't make up the difference tonight. Game goes to OKC:

7

[Marionette]

it will be close, assuming the lakers don't go wild... check the schedules. like i said a while back, the lakers have some "easy" ones, now through to st pat's. 2 games? that's nothin', since the jazz are pretty poor on the road.

hey horse, what's your opinion of joe crawford? sorry if previously stated here, obviously he's a high profile ref and controversial to many, so you've probably opined - i can't recall though. it's pertinent since he headed the crew tonight in okc - and no home team wants to see him. (i did not see the game.)

[DarkHorse]

hey horse, what's your opinion of joe crawford? sorry if previously stated here, obviously he's a high profile ref and controversial to many, so you've probably opined - i can't recall though. it's pertinent since he headed the crew tonight in okc - and no home team wants to see him. (i did not see the game.)

He's not a home ref, but he's one of the better score managers from a viewer's perspective (refs that call the game to keep it interesting). I kind of like him. I trust him more than guys like Salvatore and Mauer. If the refs do factor into the outcome of the game it's often a two-versus-one scenario where two of the three refs do or do not like a specific team. That wasn't the case in this game. Tonight, for a moment, I thought of Donaghy. The game started out extremely low scoring, then average scoring, and then all of a sudden in the last four minutes of the first quarter they scored an absurd 30 points (a 360 point pace); because of FT's. It crossed my mind that 'somebody' was on the over, because it seemed so designed following the very low scoring start. The Lakers came out shooting very poorly and yet had a respectable 28 points at the end of the first quarter. It didn't make much sense to me. (and of course the foul situation opens up the way to the basket, so after that it turned into a scoring fest).

David Jones was part of the crew, and he can have a hard time swallowing his whistle. Years ago he kept handing the Clippers FT's in a game in Phoenix. It became almost funny. They would dribble the ball up the court and the possession would predictably end at the FT line. Every single time. Foul or no foul. After I loudly booed him he looked straight at me. This is not really my way, but it just became too much to watch. To my surprise it was one of those 'first booes' that triggers a huge outcry from the crowd (that feels good, by the way). For a brief moment our gazes were interlocked. It may have been coincidence, but after that I no longer noticed the extreme imbalance. The crowd had spoken. F*ck the refs.

[bobster]

Crawford got his job with the NBA when they hired him as a scab out of the CBA in 1977 during a labor dispute between the NBA and NABR (National Association of Basketball Referees).

[SwingMan]

Crawford got his job with the NBA when they hired him as a scab out of the CBA in 1977 during a labor dispute between the NBA and NABR (National Association of Basketball Referees).

Infamous Laker knob slob - see: game 4, 1st round, Suns @ Lakers, 2006 if any doubt lingers.

[LazarusLong]

Infamous Laker knob slob - see: game 4, 1st round, Suns @ Lakers, 2006 if any doubt lingers.

Swing, you mistaking Crawdaddy with Bennett "where's my red-tipped cane" Salvatore, who should have been wearing Laker purple and gold in that series?

[DarkHorse]

For a closer look at the refs you can check out sheets like these for each game. http://www.covers.com/pageLoader/pag...ferees_14.html

The above game has two refs with a 9-1 record in favor of the Spurs in the last ten. Well above the Spurs own winning ratio.

Sarver doesn't understand the importance of giving the refs a first class experience. No need to corrupt anything. Just treat them well. Many refs don't like Sarver, so the Suns won't get the calls when it counts most.