Lakers down 0-1 to Dallas

As expected, the Lakers finished off the Hornets, with a 99-80 win in  the 6th game of the opening round.
Chris" Little Cesar" Paul wasn't able to spark and inspire the young Hornet team. With all hope relying on another stellar performance, Paul was limited to 10pts, 8 rebs, 11 asst.  The Lakers applied a strong "playoff" style of defense, allowing  Chris Paul only 9 shots in 43 minutes. The Lakers' bench, led by Lamar Odom's 14, outscored the Hornets bench 30-21. The Lakers' length and size caused the Hornets additional headaches, in the areas of rebounding and blocked shots.  The Lakers out rebounded the Hornets 43 - 30 (14-7 on the offensive boards), and out blocked their shots 6 shots to 2. The Hornets had no answer for Andrew Bynums's 18 pts/12 reb night.  The steady defense, the  lack of Chris Paul heroics, and no one else other than Carl Landry having a good scoring game  tallied up to a Lakers' series clenching win (4games to 2). The Lakers still aren't the well oiled machine yet, but  they did look better.    Next stop........Dallas.

Dallas, Mark Cuban's team came out the gate acting like a team who doesn't know its not suppose to beat the defending Champion Los Angeles Lakers. And on the Lakers' home floor no less. well the Mavericks came away from game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals with a stunning 96-94 victory over the 2 time defending NBA Champs. Lack luster, uninspired play along poor shot selection by the both the bench and starters down the stretch, lead to the Maverick overcoming a 16 pt deficit and dodging  a last second 3 point attempt by Kobe Bryant for the win  from the top of the key, as time expired. What do they need for game 2?   Well,  its time for Steve Blake to earn some money. Its time for more interest, better bench play, better shot selection across the board ( do you here me Shannon) , get the ball to Bynum, Gasol, and Lamar down low (the Mavericks have no one to stop them down low),  and "normal" games, I said "normal" games (not great, not superhuman, but normal games)  from Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Kobe, and Lamar, the Lakers win not only game 2 (tonight).  They win the series, they win the Championship.  Everyone hoped that game 4 of the Hornets series was the "Wake up call".  I guess,  after game 6, the Lakers hit the snooze button.  So, have the Lakers finally gotten the "wake up call" again.  . Are they  ready to show theLaker "swagger" we know. Are they ready to show us that 17 -1 team we saw after the All-Star break. I think the Lakers are ready to show up and get the final 12 wins they need to complete the "3-pete".  As for the impending Laker death and doom, I thing the quote from Mark Twain best applies,  "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated".  Also, I might add, Yogi Berra's quote , it's not over till it's over", and its only game 2!  Relax. No time to  panic. Not time to worry. It time to play some ball.

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