Lakers Vs. Nuggets Live Game Blog

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

J.R. Smith just realized crazy-good passes are even cooler than crazy-bad shots that happen to go in. It's a Denver revelation.

Bryant has 18 points, and the rest of the Lakers have a reason to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they really want to win. It's times like this where I don't blame Bryant for getting irritated with his teammates.

Is it at all feasible that a frontline of Gasol, Bynum and Odom should be getting outhustled by the likes of Nene (a baby), the Birdman (a former drug addict) and K-mart (a surgically repaired version of his former self)?

Breen, Van Gundy and Jackson are sitting in front of a semi-transparent ESPN wall/logo setup. I'm assuming it's to shield out the annoying fans who would clamor for idiotic air time and brag to their friends about it.

3rd Quarter

11:22- K-Mart's forced to air-ball a three on one end, Pau Gasol gets an and-one on the other end. Lakers back only four. Van Gundy tried to justify comparing Gasol's move to Dr. J by overlaughing at his own creativity. He's still going five minutes later. Then he finally gave up.

10:30- Anthony misses a three right after Van Gundy starts up his Dr. J rant again. Mark Jackson's game-serious tone is doing its best to make Van Gundy look foolish.

9:16- Gasol with the hook. At least Van Gundy didn't compare him to Kareem, or I would've strangled the tv. Odom's already waiting to check in. Nene's fouled on the offensive board. Odom's in for Bynum. That was fast. Nugs up four.

8:07- Billups blows by Odom and gets the and-one on Gasol. You know, if Cleveland swapped one of its defensive-minded role players for one of the Lakers' offensively minded role players, both teams' problems would be solved.

*They just showed a chart of Billups' conference finals appearances with those of four different Lakers. Magic, Kareem and Michael Cooper I get it. Kurt Rambis? That's an example of being along for the ride...

7:29- Billups' free throws are throwing off the Lakers' rythmn. Nugs up 64-55. Bryant misses, Billups with a pull-up. Sickening memories of the '04 Finals are flashing through Phil Jackson's head.

6:15- Nene with another offensive board and a putback. Where are Gasol and Odom?Nugs up 12. Kobe answers with a three. Nene tips another offensive board to Martin for the atrocious-looking floater. Nugs up 11 with 5:04 left.

4:40- Odom gets an offensive board but blows the putback. I feel like I'm watching the Lakers from the Kwame Brown Era: Kobe and a whole lot of nothing.

3:54- Jones has gotten under Bryant's skin. Replays showed Jones did a seemingly intentional trip earlier, but Bryant has to be careful not to get a technical with the seven-technical rule=suspension in the postseason.

2:39- Birdman flies for the jam off of a missed K-Mart layup. Nugs up 74-63. Nene and K-Mart already have double-doubles. This is a pathetic showing by the Lakers' frontline, which was supposed to be their biggest advantage over anyone else in the playoffs.

* Is it just me, or does the Birdman look like a taller, tattooed version of Christian Slater? Seriously. I keep picturing him as a cutting edge Will Scarlet.

1:54- The Birdman just took a three. Luckily, it was just as accurate as Vujacic's following attempt. You can guess what that means. Meanwhile, Jackson and Van Gundy are still up in arms about Jones' attempted trip of Bryant. They're calling for his supsension, head, you name it. Don't touch Jackson's crush.

1:08- J.R. nails the three. Bryant misses one. Of all the scenarios on a night when 'Melo is ice-cold, George Karl could never have hoped for this. Nugs up 11.

:00- Nugs up 77-66. The Lakers have been maddeningly inconsistent on offense. Kobe gets his when he posts up or drives to the hole, but then he goes away from that in favor of long threes. Pau hits two in the paint, and then doesn't touch the ball again. Where is Phil Jackson? Is he too focused on how disgusted he is with Andrew Bynum? Is he lecturing the rest of the reserves? What is he coaching?

The Nugs are the Laker antithesis. They're playing spirited defense, they're getting any offensive rebound they want, and everyone is chipping in on offense on a night when 'Melo is sick and ailing. Yes, the Nuggets are the most consistent team tonight. There, I said it.

4th Quarter

11:45-

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