Pau Gasol score game highs on points, rebounds and assists!

You have to thank George Karl for that.  He decided to put K-Mart on Kobe.  Smart move, except that it freed up the inside offense of L.A.  George Karl had to pick a poison: the Black Mamba or the Spanish Conquistador.  He chose the latter and ended up losing anyway.

So, what could Karl be thinking for Game 2?  I still think he will stick K-Mart to Kobe and plead the rest of the team to play inside defense.  Good luck to that.  After watching Game 1, I think this series is now for the Lakers to lose.  I know it’s just 1 game but it exposed the defensive weakness of Denver.  They haven’t been a defensive team during the regular season.  I don’t see how they can suddenly be a defensive team now.

Of course, the ball is round and I’m an idiot.

• 1st Round: Lakers vs Nuggets
• Happier Bryant steps up game
• Odom raises his game as Lakers raise theirs
• Kobe Bryant scores 27 points as Lakers end Jazz’s 19-game home winning streak, 106-95
• Lakers sweep Nuggets