vel. He was supposed to keep point guards from burrowing inside the defense, and he was supposed to beat people downcourt. The Lakers scored zero fast-break points Monday. The Lakers had no conventional point guard under Phil Jackson. Sessions is a driver and disher, and it's obvious that few of his teammates, if any, know exactly where he's going and what he'll be doing. In the playoffs he is shooting 36.8 percent with 31 assists in eight games. But it's much more than that. The Lakers are now minus-32 in point differential in these playoffs and, for the third time, lost a game by 15 or more point shooting does not alone make a team good at scoring points. Field-goal percentage is no way to judge offense. It does not account for how many shots a team generates, how often it gets to the foul line and what sorts of shots it attempts. And in news that broke three years ago, this is where Boston faily will have to put in a little moreSpurs are 26-2 at home against the Clippers since drafting Tim Duncan. The .929 win percentage is tied for their third-best at home against any team over that span (27-0 vs Golden State Warriors; 14-0 vs Atlanta Hawks).

- To say these teams have differing levels of success in the postseason would be a drastic understatement. Despite being in the NBA for six fewer seasons, the Spurs have more NBA titles (four) than the Clippers have series wins (three). The Spurs have more than four times as many series wins (34) as the Clippers have playoff appearances (eight).schedule is killing us" rhetoric was at a high pitch before, watch out this weekend, when both West series will play back-to-backs. The Thunder and Lakers play Friday and Saturday nights. The Spurs and Clippers play Saturday Soccer Shirts afternoon and Sunday night. Throw in single days off between gas. Last season ended with a 36-point flameout in Dallas, and Bynum decking J.J. Barea and removing his shirt on his way out. Monday night ended with Devin Ebanks getting tossed and losing his shirt. The playoffs can be revealing.
# Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer: Winning close games was a skill that eluded the Sixers during the entire regular season. While they were adept at creating blowouts on those nights when the opposition didn't want to fight through their clinging defense, they weren't very good at finishing games in which the outcome was in doubt. During the regular season, thrence favorite role in the NBA playoffs. In Game 1 of this West semifinal series, the Thunder left the Lakers exasperated. Kobe Bryant went from frustrated to laughing at the futility by the fourth Cheap Soccer Shirts quarter. Twin towers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol sat on the bench for what seemed like forever after the game, trying to make sense of this run-rule. Rookie Devin Ebanks got ejected late and stripped to his waist, ala Bynum from a year ago, when the Lakers were unceremoniously swept by the Mavericks in the second round. Don't look now, but with the Thunder playing like this, another sweep is possible. ... “They're just younger and faster,” Kobe said with a degree of resignation. The Lakers are a proud franchise with a team full of stars. They won't go easy. But that doesn't mean they won't go quickly.
# Mark Whicker of The Orange County Register: There was more evidence that Ramon Sessions is exactly what he was when the Lakers got him from Cleveland – a backup point guard, at least on this lee Sixers were 5-18 in games decided by eight or fewer points and 1-8 in games decided by five or fewer points. That's why it was shocking when three of their four wins against Chicago in the opening rounavid Stern and his minions, for their lockout, their dense season and their unusual second-round playof

- Much of the focus will be on the matchup between Euro 2012 Jerseys Chris Paul (third in MVP voting) and Tony Parker (fifth in MVP voting). The two have faced off seven times in the postseason, with Parker winning four times. Paul has enjoyed the statistical advantage, averaging 23.7 points per ga

fensive team, and are thus surprised they have spain 2012 jerseys struggled to score against the Hawks and the Sixers. The misunderstanding seems to come from the fact that a) Boston has very famous players on its team; and b) the Celtics rank fifth overall in field-goal percentage and eighth in three-point percentage. So let me put this as clearly as I can: The Celtics are a bad offensive team. The sympathy has to go to the Lakers, who are chapped about the Chris Paul trade that didn't happen at the outset of the season, are coming out of a grueling contest against the Nuggets during which they often looked exhausted and are now facing the league's most astonishingly rested and young team in the Thunder.

Even, knock wood, if no one from any of those teams gets hurt in the days to come -- although injuries happen all the time, of course -- it is a lock that a week from now fans in one city or another will blame the schedule-makers.

Early next week both West series will have a team trailing 3-2, or worse. Maybe fans of that team will blame their predicament on the other team simply being better, or some other basketball factor.

But more likely they'll blame D# uted Laker purple. Rest trumped rust. And Russ trumped them all. Russell Westbrook was the best player on a court full of all-stars, Kevin Durant was right there with him and the Thunder celebrated the end of a nine-day layoff with a 119-90 thrashing Monday night that sent a clear message. The Thunder is back. Back on the court. Back in the saddle of where it was before an April swoon lifted the Spurs to the Western Conference favorite role in the NBA playoffs. In Game 1 of this West semifinal series, the Thunder left the Lakers exasperated. Kobe Bryant went from frustrated to laughing at the futility by the fourth quarter. Twin towers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol sat on the bench for what seemed like forever after the game, trying to make sense of this run-rule. Rookie Dey were so-so last season and in 2009-10, and have been in continuing decline on offense for three seasons now. It’s wonderful that they shoot with great accuracy, especially from three-point range, but accurate shooting does not alone make a team good at scoring points. Field-goal  percentage is no way to judge offense. It does not account for how many shots a team generates, how often it gets to the foul line and what sorts of shots it attempts. And in news that broke three years ago, this is where Boston faily will have to put in a little moreSpurs are 26-2 at home against the
Once you take that away from the Lakers it’s all about Kobe Bryant. Kobe has been great this postseason. What he’s doing right now, at his age, it’s amazing. You look at the other guys in his class, most of them aren’t playing anymore and none of the guys that am defense. They execute their coverages very well. It’s one thing to Euro 2012 Jerseys say “we’re going to trap the pick and roll” but it’s another to go out and do it. They have a mobile big like Serge Ibaka who can go out and do it. Kendrick Perkins has always been a good defender and Serge has been tremendous this year. I think they’ll be able to guard Bynum and Gasol.
e court together, the 76ers made 30 percent of their shots and were outscored by 19 points.

Iguodala was also able to hold Paul Pierce in check on Monday. Pierce made only one of six shots and committed four turnovers when guarded by Iguodala. In the seri
If the defense is napping or Duncan has prime position against his defender down on the low right block, the ball can go immediately from the wing to Parker on the move (it'll look like a simple give-and-go) or Duncan for a quick shot. Against bad defenses in January, the Spurs will pick up a couple of easy buckets this way, but deep into the postseason, the Spurs usuallnd elsewhere, think the Celtics are a good ofare playing are playing at his level. The hardest part about guarding Kobe is how hard he competes. He makes so many tough shots and he just keeps at it. Even when you have him missing five or six shots, he’s coming back with another one. He’s not as explosive and athletic as he used to be, but he’s a smarter player and he knows how and when to take his shot. You can play the perfect defense and he’ll still make the shot more than any player that I’ve seen since I’ve been around basketball. That’s Kobe for
The Celtics were held to 11 points in the third quarter, tied Cheap Football Shirts for their lowest output in a quarter since the Indiana Pacers held them to 10 points in 

t very good at finishing games in which the outcome was in doubt. During the regular season, the Sixers were 5-18 in games decided by eight or fewer points and 1-8 in games decided by five or fewer points. That's why it was shocking when three of their four wins against Chicago in the opening rounavid Stern and his minions, for their lockout, their dense season and their unusual second-round playof

- Much of the focus will be on the matchup between Chris Paul (third in MVP voting) and Tony Parker (fifth in MVP voting). The two have faced off seven times in the postseason, with Parker winning four times. Paul has enjoyed the statistical advantage, averaging 23.7 points per game and 10.7 assists per g

Maybe, just maybe, Kobe isn't willing to abandon hope after 48 minutes of a second-round series. Tough to saehavior, that’s a big number for people who care about him and his team to absorb.
at away from the Lakers it’s all about Kobe spain 2012 jerseys  Bryant. Kobe has been great this postseason. What he’s doing right now, at his age, it’s amazing. You look at the other guys in his class, most of them aren’t playing anymore and none of the guys that are playing are playing at his level. The hardest part about guarding Kobe is how hard he competes. He makes so many tough shots and he just keeps at it. Even when you have him missing five or six shots, he’s coming back with another one. He’s not as explosive and athletic as he used to be, but he’s a smarter player and he knows how and when to take his shot. You can play the perfect defense and he’ll still make the shot more than any player that I’ve seen since I’ve been around basketball. That’s Kobe for
The Celtics were held to 11 points in the third quarter, tied for their lowest output in a quarter since the Indiana Pacers held them to 10 points in the fourth quarter in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round matchup in 2005.

In fact, they were held to one point per minute over the second and third quarters while making just nine of 37 shots from the field. They made 24 of 42 shots – 57 percent – over the other two quarters to stay in the game.

If the Celtics had gotten to the line, they might have been able to win the game despite their poor shooting stretch. Boston attempted only nine free throws in the game. In 1,879 playoff gam
Cole said that, in a best-case scenario, the 2011 NBA MVP might be able to return in January or February. That would change everything and, if all went well, permanentlygister: There was more evidence that Ramon Sessions is exactly what he was when the Lakers got him from u Gasol sat on the bench for what seemed like forever after the game, trying to make sense of this run-rule. Rookie Devin Ebanks got ejected late and stripped to his waist, ala Bynum from a year
Euro 2012 Jerseys ago, when the Lakers were unceremoniously swept by the Mavericks in the second round. Don't look now, but with the Thunder playing like this, another sweep is possible. ... “They're just younger and faster,” Kobe said with a degree of resignation. The Lakers are a proud franchise with a team full of stars. They won't go easy. But that doesn't mean they won't go quickly.
# Mark Whicker of The Orange County Reirer: Winning close games was a skill that eluded the Sixers during the entire regular season. While they were adept at creating blowouts on those nights when the opposition didn't want to fight through their clinging defense, they weren'Cleveland – a backup point guard, at least on this level. He was supposed to keep point guards from burrowing inside the defense, and he was supposed to beat people downcourt. The Lakers scored zero fast-break points Monday. The Lakers had no conventional point guard under Phil Jackson. Sessions is a driver and disher, and it's obvious that few of his teammates, if any, know exactly where he's going and what he'll be doing. In the playoffs he is shooting 36.8 percent with 31 assists in eight games. But it's much more than that. The Lakers are now minus-32 in point differential in these playoffs and, for the third time, lost a game by 15 or more points. Last Euro 2012 Jerseys season ended with a 36-point flame

Early next week both West series will have Soccer Shirts  a team trailing 3-2, or worse. Maybe fans of that team will blame their predicament on the other team simply being better, or some other basketball factor.

But more likely they'll blame D# uted Laker purple. Rest trumped rust. And Russ trumped them all. Russell Westbrook was the best player on a court full of all-stars, Kevin Durant was right there with him and the Thunder celebrated the end of a nine-day layoff with a 119-90 thrashing Monday night that sent a clear message. The Thunder is back. Back on the court. Back in the saddle of where it was before an April swoon lifted the Spurs to the Western Conference favorite role in the NBA playoffs. In Game 1 of this West semifinal series, the Thunder left the Lakers exasperated. Kobe Bryant went fr Paul Pierce in check on Monday. Pierce made only one of six shots and committed four turnovers when guarded by Iguodala. In the seri
If the defense is napping or Duncan has prime position against his defender down on the low right block, the ball can go immediately from the wing to Parker on the move (it'll look like a simple give-and-go) or Duncan for a quick shot. Against bad defenses in January, the Spurs will pick up a couple of easy buckets this way, but deep into the postseason, the Spurs usuallnd elsewhere, think the Celtics are a good offensive team, and are thus surprised they have struggled to score against the Hawks and the Sixers. The misunderstanding seems to come from the facte Sixers was Lavoy Allen and Andre Iguodala. They were on the floor together for 24 minutes in Game 2. During that time, Philadelphia outscored Boston by 20 points and made over half Cheap Soccer Shirts its shots. When the duo wasn’t on the court together, the 76ers made 30 percent of their shots and were outscored by 19 points.

Iguodala was also able to holdthe Lakers, who are chapped about the Chris Paul trade that didn't happen at the outset of the season, are coming out of a grueling contest against the Nuggets during which they often looked exhausted and are now facing the league's most astonishingly rested and young team in the Thunder.

Even, knock wood, if no one from any of those teams gets hurt in the days to come -- although injuries happen all the time, of course -- it is a lock that a week from now fans in one city or another will blame the schedule-makers. that a) Boston has very famous players on its team; and b) the Celtics rank fifth overall in field-goal percentage and eighth in three-point percentage. So let me put this as clearly as I can: The Celtics are a bad offensive team. They were so-so last season and in 2009-10, and have been in continuing decline on offense for three seasons now. It’s wonderful that they shoot with great accuracy, especially from three-point range, but accurate shooting does not alone make a team good at scoring points. Field-goal percentage is no way to judge offense. It does not accou often it Euro 2012 Jerseys gets to the foul line and what sorts of shots it attempts. And in news that broke three 

hup well with the Lakers bigs this postseason it’s the Thunder. OKC also plays more of a team defense. They execute their coverages very well. It’s one thing to say “we’re going to trap the pick and roll” but it’s another tade. Russell i Cheap Football Shirts  s on that level and he should use that ability whenever he has the opportunity. He has the physical advantage over any point guard. Sessions is a bigger point guard, but he’s nowhere near as athletic and explosive
If there’s one team that can matco go out and do it. Theyremendousthis year. I think they’ll be able to guard Bynum and Gasol.
Russell Westbrook has been more aggressive Euro 2012 Jerseys this season and the Thunder have played well with him controlling the game. In the past, the I remember Russell tended to be passive. But now I just see him being aggressive an he knows how and when to take his shot. You can play the perfect defense and he’ll still make the shot more than any player that I’ve seen since I’ve been around basketball. That’s Kobe for
The Celtics were held to 11 points in the third quarter, tied for their lowest output in a quarter since the Indiana Pacers held them to 10 points in the fourth quarter in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round matchup in 2005.

In fact, they were held to one point per minute over the second and third quarters while making just nine of 37 shots from the field. They made 24 of 42 shots – 57 percent – over the other two quarters to stay in the game.

If the Celtics had gotten to the line, they might have been able to win the game despite their poor shooting stretch. Boston attempted only nine free throws in the game. In 1,879 playoff games over the last 25 years, the Celtics are one of only eight home teams to attempt fewer than 10 free throws.


The key combination for the spain 2012 jerseys Sixers was Lavoy Allen and Andre Iguodala. They were on the floor together for 24 minutes in Game 2. During that time, Philadelphia outscored Boston by 20 points and made over half its shots. When the duo wasn’t on the court together, d trying to score for the whole game.

He’s developed into a better shooter, but I think his bread and butter is driving to the basket. He’s physical and explosive in his drive. He’s one of the best players in the league at getting to the rim. The only guys that are better in my opinion are Der