s_knight8

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basket...chke3may03,1,3
416292.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers

SAN ANTONIO - In one corner, a veteran despaired.

"I didn't bring it," Karl Malone said. "The game I played is unacceptable."

In another corner, a veteran whined.

"We didn't do a bad job on Tony Parker defensively, we just need to go back
at him at the other end," Gary Payton said. "But this is not an offense
where we can do that."

In one corner, a veteran shouldered the responsibility of the Lakers' 88-78
loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference
semifinals.

"I did a terrible job on the defensive end. ... Veterans don't make the kind
of mistakes I made on offense," Karl Malone said. "This one's on me."

In another corner, a veteran passed the blame more deftly than he, with a
whopping three assists, had passed the basketball.

"In Seattle, we made Tony Parker play defense too," Gary Payton said. "Here,
we don't go back at him."

They say that the true measure of a man can be found not in how he achieves
success, but in how he handles failure.

In their first major playoff test Sunday, the Lakers' two prize purchases
failed miserably.

Afterward, one guy looked about a foot taller than the other guy.

Can we finally conclude that when the Lakers claimed to have found two
championship answers last summer, they were only half right?

Malone played Sunday as it he never took his feet out of their daily ice
bath, but with him, there's hope.

He missed seven of 10 shots, but they were mostly the sort of mid-range jump
shots he was making in the first round against Houston.

"Those are shots I have made before, and I'll keep taking them, I'm not
worried about that," he said.

"They were aggressive, and they pushed us around a little," he said.

"My teammates are looking at me, I need to set an example, something like
that is contagious," he said. "I can't be making those plays. I will get
better."

With Malone, you believe it.

With Payton, you seriously wonder.

While the stark differences between Malone and Payton make for good
locker-room drama, at this point, one wonders if it would have been better
to see Malone show up last summer with someone else.

Say, Tyronn Lue.

Payton repeated Sunday that, if he had been allowed to use his height to
post up Parker and draw fouls and wear him down, the defense wouldn't matter
so much.

"It's a lot frustrating, it's very frustrating," Payton said. "I know I can
go back at this kid."

"The shots I'm taking right now, they're not rhythm shots," Payton said.

mike fletcher

Oh spare me that horseshit. Payton is absolutely right. I can tell Phil
wanted to try to post GP up on Parker but it didn't happen. It needs to
in order to make him work.

I see you, GP. I might be the only one, but I know.


--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002

terraholm

He is not the first star to have his game lost in the Bermuda triangle. The
should start Fisher for the role he is getting and let him play the 2, move
Kobe to SF. Run some screens for him and get him involved like they di early
in the year.


--
Laurel T
The league has informed the Blazers
that Wallace and the team will be fined the next
time Wallace ignores his responsibilities
to speak to members of the media.
Wallace was unavailable to comment.

morpheus

Fletch,

as a long time reader of your posts, i cant agree with you on this
one.....payton hasnt done it since before the all star break.......he had
his chances today, I was even encouraged by a couple of strong takes to the
basket early on......but hes lost out there.....i dont know if hes lost it,
or actually never had it....theres just no fire other than his
mouth..........

as happy as I was that Payton was signed to get Fish off the court, the anti
guard has deserved every minute in the playoffs that he has taken from
payton. I mean, seriously, can Payton throw a lob pass???? I counted about
five times today Shaq was fronted and Payton threw it away.......and I have
noticed it all year. A stat that floored me today was that Kobe has more
assists to Shaq this year than Payton, and paint it anyway you
want.........but with Kobes injuries this year, thats pathetic!

I really hope GP comes back because when I think of him this year two things
especially in the playoffs come to mind.......his complaining after every
single reach foul he commits, and then the pouting, even while hes in the
game........theres just no fire there......

terraholm

He had 2 turnovers.

vicxnews

Bill Plaschke...nuff said

mike fletcher

Who else? I remember Rice, but then he went to New York and proved that
it really was just him.

I think Payton is just a victim of the lack of playing time together.
He's obviously a rhythm player, unlike Malone who can just slug it out
and MAKE room for himself, and he hasn't found his click with this bunch yet.


Fisher > George? Devean has played very well since getting his starting
job back. It does look like Derek has gained a step or two, though.
Maybe his foot wasn't 100% the last two years?


--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002

mike fletcher

Well yeah, I admit that. He *has* lost it, and that's the problem. But
he's not the same kind of player like Malone who will go out and get
"it" back, he needs his team to help him, which I don't think is
unreasonable.

I really think he needs to have the offense run through him in the post
for a bit just to see what comes of it. If it doesn't work at first, try
again to let the guy get off. He's too good to let rot away and could be
too much of a weapon to not explore.


How does that work? He had only two turnovers.


But when there is, how dangerous is he? I'm saying he might need the
fire stoked a bit. I think Phil realizes that and will try to make that work.

--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002

terraholm

'
GP is quite capable of creating his own shot. For several years he in the
top five players(not hust guards) for points in the paint. 2 years ago he
was second to Shaq. Run some picks for him and get him going.


How much talent does it take to walk up the ball at the pace of these games
and initiate an offense?
And Fisher can body up Parker some to see if they can wear him down. Fisher
might get his spot up 3s going if he was starting. That seems to be about
the role Payton is playing and he does not seem to fit it. He has too much
talent to coach him out of his game.


He can play all out off the bench knowing he does not have to save anything.


--
Laurel T
"The Isaiah Rider camp,has only one camper in it."
David Kahn, Pacers GM,

mike fletcher

That's what I'm saying. I was talking in terms of his involvement in the
offense. He needs to have the rock to make a difference. The Lakers need
to decide to get him involved and then he'll get off and running.

Word. What's Phil's email address? You should write him.


--
MF

See L.A. for class
On March 21 in Los Angeles, former Celtics great (who broke the hearts
of many Lakers fans) Bill Russell had his picture on the scoreboard.
The fans gave him a long ovation.
The previous night, when it was announced that Shaq O'Neal scored his
20,000th point, the fans in Sacramento booed. Then, to make matters
worse, a the game ball was defaced, presumably by a Sacramento fan.

Clinton E. Parish
Sacramento

Rest in Peace, Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn : 1916 - 2002