Props to Detroit for playing a great game last night, pressuring LA to the point where they got out of their normal rhythm.
Kobe can't get the ball? Can't get the ball into Shaq? What a major breakdown by the Lakers! I expected Detroit to win by making the other players work extra hard, but no way did I think the could keep the ball out of the hands of the two best players on the court!
:eek2:
Game 3 was a major breakdown by the Lakers, and while it isn't terminal, I no longer think the Lakers will win in 6. They'll be lucky if they win it at all!
I already wrote that the margin for error with the Lakers was very slight and last night's game emphasizes that point more than anything I could write.
Detroit's confidence has to be very high as a result of this, and I'm sure the Brown won't let them get too overconfident. Make no mistake- the Lakers have to win game 4 or they loose the series. They cannot afford to be down 3-1 and have to win 3 straight against Detroit.
There was obvious dissapointment on Shaq's face and apparent frustration on Kobe's. The rest of the Lakers have no answer for Detroit's hustle and agression. It wasn't just Detroit's defense, but their ability to drive the lane against the slower Lakers that killed them.
I very much doubt that the Lakers team has it in them to overcome the problems Detroit's defense generates. They're haveing problems executing on offense, and making a lot of errors, resulting in turnovers. Give a team like Detroit turnovers and you get a result like you did last night- Detroit was in contol the whole way. Anytime the Lakers got close, Brown made an adjustment, and pulled away again,
The more I think about it, the less likely I think it is the series will even get back to LA. :nod:
