Defense has to end with a rebound. Is a lineup tweak in order?

The so-called experts on TNT as well as the four letter network have consistently talked about the fact that if the Lakers just played better defense they would be able to easily make it to the finals. However, in my humble opinion the defense is fine, the problem is securing the defensive rebound. For example, for all the heroics The Spaniard had at the end of game 5 with the offensive rebound and putback, the 7 footer managed to play 44 minutes without grabbing A SINGLE DEFENSIVE BOARD. To put this in perspective even Sasha Vujacic had 2 defensive rebounds. Its hard to manage that you can play a whole game without one ball bouncing in your direction, Pau, you gotta step it up. Boozer has clearly been boxing you out and out toughing you, but if you want to win the series you need to do better. Pau, here is something maybe you can understand: “Tienes suerte que tiene Lamar Odom” (you are lucky you have LO) Because Lamar has been hustling and boarding like a maniac.

The Lakers got a few breaks and were able to pull out game 5, but the games have been too close for comfort, and maybe lineup changes are in order. I know its hard to argue with his 9 championship rings, but I don’t understand why Phil Jackson hasn’t even tried to put Ronny Turiaf in with Pau and move Lamar over to the small forward spot, especially when Radmanovic has been largely ineffective. Ronny battles inside, rebounds and blocks shots, exactly what the Lakers have been missing with Andrew Bynum out of the linup. This move would also stop Kirilenko from being able to guard Kobe on a cross match, because it would force Korver to have to contend with Lamar, which I can tell you right now, wouldn’t work. I’m not saying I know it all, but Phil, maybe you should give it a shot, especially on the road in Salt Lake where the Jazz are allowed to play even more physically.

Watching the Lakers in Tampa

It's always interesting trying to watch professional sports in a city that does not have a professional team in that sport. Nobody seems to care but you. Anybody who has ever tried watching baseball in Canada knows what I'm talking aboot. Eh?

Last night, The Jar was in Tampa trying to watch the NBA playoffs--most importantly, the Lakers -Jazz game 5--at a local watering hole. Only one problem: I am the only one in this city who seems to care about the NBA. The first spot I went to had all TV's focused on the Rays-Yankees game even though Boston-Cleveland was in the 4th quarter. I know the Rays are the team of the week and this is Tampa...but a bar with every single TV tuned into a midseason baseball game instead of Game 5 on the NBA playoffs...please. Needless to say, The Jar did not get to see Lebron cry after the game.

The Jar can handle missing the shitfest that has become the Boston-Cleveland series, but there is no way that I would miss Game 5 of the Lakers-Jazz. So we went to some shady bar called "The Sports Bar" (I wish I was kidding) to catch the first half of the game. Lots of wife beaters. Lots of crew cuts/backwards hats. And everybody smoking cigs. I even saw a couple of Hooter's girls grabbing a drink after work (for those of you who don't know, Hooters was founded in Clearwater--a suburb of Tampa). But let's just say that these girls weren't up to the standard that one would expect from a typical Hooter's girl...especially from the city were the restaurant chain was founded! At least they were a friends with a girl from Wing House (a local Hooter's knockers...I mean knock off) who definitely had much more appealing assets.

The place still had arcades, darts and there was even a karaoke machine with some degenerates signing songs like "Sweet Home Alabama." There were about 20 TV's in there...most of them on the Speed channel or showing highlights of the Rays (these are the types of places that make NASCAR the juggernaut that it has become). Luckily, they showed the Lakers game on one of the TV's. Nobody was watching except for my associate and I. Real pumped. Great game and great victory for the Lakers. Too bad nobody else in there seemed to care. Orlando is only 80 miles away from Tampa. I wonder if the people here seemed indifferent about the NBA because they are Orlando Magic fans and are bitter that they already got taken out of the Playoffs by the Pistons Or maybe they just don't like all that loud hip hop in the NBA. I'm not sure...

On another note, the Jar will be attending the Tampa Rays-NY Yankees game tonight. Look out for a post on that later...