“He’s one of those guys that when the cop pull him over, he doesn’t speak English all of a sudden.”
The Jazz are regretting not taking care of business. That’s because with the Los Angeles Lakers having disposed of Denver late Monday night, Kobe Bryant and friends were able to take in Tuesday night’s Game 5 … via Deseret Morning News
Washington at Cleveland . The Cavaliers look to oust the Wizards from the first round for the third straight season. via CBS SportsLine
Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes Monday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets and a sweep of their first-round series.
Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers’ first sweep of a playoff series since whitewashing New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals, the last time they won it all.
The Nuggets became the first 50-win team to ever be swept in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers will meet the winner of the Utah-Houston series, which the Jazz lead 3-1, in the Western Conference semifinals. Read more
“I think it’s great for us. We’ve got a couple older guys on the team. Hopefully we can shorten the series. That would help them a lot.”
Every chance he gets, Los Angeles Lakers guard Coby Karl razzes his dad, Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, suggesting he’ll win an NBA title before his father ever does.
But the rookie reserve thought better than to rib his father on Sunday.
“Today is not a day for trash-talking,” Coby said as he prepared for the Lakers’ practice at the Pepsi Center, followed by dinner with dad.
George Karl’s team trails 3-0 in the best-of-7 series and in their 102-84 blowout loss at home on Saturday night, he was heckled on the bench by none other than his All-Star forward, Carmelo Anthony. Read more
Once again, the Denver Nuggets couldn’t keep their emotions or Kobe Bryant in check. via The Post-Standard
I’m out there playing chess.? Kobe Bryant zzstephaniez’s Blog Lakers/Nuggets Game 2 Posted about 23 hours ago Hey, did you hear that? What you ask. via ESPN
It is fair to say that New Orleans’ Chris Paul is not intimidated by the atmosphere of the NBA playoffs. via MyFOX11
“I wouldn’t miss this sh– for the world”
The King of the South collaborated with another King Wednesday night in Atlanta. via VH1 News
As expected the Denver Nuggets make one change in their starting lineup, inserting forward Linas Kleiza off the bench. via Los Angeles Times
There’s no question who this season’s NBA MVP should be. While there are a few worthy competitors, Kobe Bryant’s resume makes him slightly more qualified for the position. via Journal News
“I just don’t think I want to give (Lakers coach) Phil (Jackson) as many postups and mismatch situations as he has in the lineup at the beginning of the game. I think I can make one or two changes and get that taken care of pretty quickly.”
While that offensive production was welcome, Karl seemed more concerned with taking measures to stop a Lakers attack that scored 29 of its 46 field goals in the paint. via Lakers Blog
“That’s a team that’s talented enough to be where we’re at: the No. 1 spot. … We’re looking forward to a really competitive series.”
They have the NBA’s second-leading scorer, a resourceful superstar who might be named the league’s MVP for the first time in his career. via Daily Breeze
“But he’s so strong, such a wide body … it does make it very difficult. We were very fortunate he got in foul trouble early in the game. Hopefully, it will happen again.”
Before they finally landed him in a Feb. 20 trade, power forward Kurt Thomas had been on the Spurs’ player personnel radar for several years for reasons that had little connection to Shaquille O’Neal. Thomas … via MySanAntonio.com
“The game that kind of told the tale was about a year ago. Memphis came into Staples and won a close game”
The smile began to crease Kobe Bryant’s face as he considered a response when asked his initial reaction to the Pau Gasol trade. via Riverside Press-Enterprise
The Denver Nuggets will try to contain Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers when they kick of the first game of the best-of-7 playoff series tomorrow. via KRDO
