Amazing excuses for the Lakers from media types like Gary Peyton. Something to the effect of "they got a big lead and started sleepwalking"
It's pure nonsense. Everyone knows that games go through runs where each team takes over for a while, and then the other team comes back. The Lakers opened up big leads twice last night, but the Sixers came right back both times.
In crunch time, good teams impose their will and break the other team. The Sixers refused to crack last night and didn't back down. Neither did the Lakers, but they could not control the game or stop the Sixers.
A good team wouldn't have let the Sixers back into the game, or rather a better team than the Lakers. Frankly, the Lakers don't look like world beaters to me, their 2nd group is worse than the Sixers, and that's a serious deficiency. The Lakers couldn't stop the Sixers, or even slow them down and the Sixers don't have the most potent attack. Phil should know better, bottom line is his team got beat by a group that wanted it more.
And a well-coached team doesn't let Iguodala take that shot, but Andre is so quick that if Ariza tried to foul, Andre would have thrown up a shot to get three free throws. The real problem was that Kobe took his shot too soon, and gave the Sixers a chance. Sink that shot with 2 second left, and Iguodala can't get his off.