A Laker No Show

It was a pretty gloomy drive into work today because all those majestic purple and gold car flags that just yesterday were proudly flapping in the wind and sunshine all across Los Angeles are nowhere to be seen this morning. Kind of like the Lakers last night. Nowhere to be found.

For the second night in a row, we got A NICE, SWIFT ASS KICKING in the Association.

And for the second night in a row, that nice, Swift Ass Kicking was a major statement. Clearly, the Dubs are nowhere near done. Clearly, the Dubs still have every bit of that competitive fire and desire that let them stack up four Larry O’s in the first place. And clearly, the Dubs can still switch up and adjust on the fly better than just about anyone else.

Case in point, JaMychal Green. Dude started in place of a sick Kevon Looney last night and turned that spot start into a monster start. LeBron even said after the game “those 12 minutes felt like 24 minutes, 30 minutes” and as ridiculous as it sounds, he’s right. Well, almost right, it was actually 13 minutes. But he's right to say that the13 felt like 30.

In the end it was 15 points for JaMychal Green in those 13 minutes in that spot start he only found out about around two hours before tip. This is a dude who didn’t score a single bucket in the Kings series, lighting up the Lakers in a huge Game 2. You love to see it.

But even better than JaMychal’s 15 points in 13 minutes was the fact that Kevon Looney still managed to out rebound everyone on the Lakers even though he didn't start and only played 12 minutes and played those 12 minutes sick as hell. Dude still came away with 8 boards, more than any other Laker.

Everyone on the Dubs stepped up last night, but nobody more than the legend Klay Thompson. Klay was freaking ON ONE. 30 points and 8 of 11 from three. 8 of 11. Dude was liquid magma. Not only does he still have it, and not only can he still find another level, his other level is still straight up terrifying. When he’s in a zone and when he’s letting it fly and feeling it and stroking it like he was last night, he's still basically unstoppable.

And the Lakers should look the hell out because now Klay gets to come back to So Cal and reunite with his beloved ocean.

This dude… seriously who else is like this dude? And who else has been on a journey like he has? I can’t get over that he’s still this dude. That he can still kick it into this crazy gear. That he can still compete at the highest level and dominate the highest level. That after all he’s been through, he’s still that guy.  He’s still him.

He’s like the easiest dude to pull forever. Unless, apparently, you’re his father. In which case you are actually rooting against him right now.

Look I get it, the man was a Laker and he still works on the Lakers radio broadcast. But damn, mike, you’re picking a paycheck over blood: money over fam.  Then again, business is business, and my old man fired me from the family business.  But it works both ways so don’t be bent or surprised when your kid stabs you in the heart.

As for the Lakers, how the hell does that happen? And yes, I get that when this crew loses, they generally get blown out: but that’s more of a regular season thing. Every single thing they’ve done since training camp began, was pointed to this very moment. Then you go into the Dubs’ house rip game one, knowing that if you do them again, and they fall behind 2-0 with two home losses, this series is effectively already over. Then Looney gets sick and LeBron goes off for 21 in the first half. And you still get blown the hell out?!  How the hell is that even possible. How the hell do get 21 in the first half from LeBron and have him sitting out the fourth quarter. How the hell do you get 21 from le fib in the first half and still get run of the gym by 27?  How? By having almost every other Laker no-show, that’s how. Starting with the ultimate gimme and A or F dude, Anthony Street Clothes Davis.

Like I tweeted last night, must have been a load management game for S.C.A.D. but that’s actually let that dude skate: because if he was an A+ in Game 1, he was an F minus last night. It’s almost like he saw Draymond Green come out with a completely different level of aggression and AD just decided, we got our split, I’m good. Because that dude straight vanished last night. From one of the 3 or 4 best players in the world to invisible in just 48 hours. Only S.C.A.D. CAN DO THAT: and he does it all the time: that’s what makes him S.C.A.D.  Would it surprise anyone at all, if the guy shows up in L.A.? And goes 25-25 in game 3? And when you do, don’t be looking for an apology from anyone, when you owe everyone one yourself for no-showing last night. If you had told me when that Looney news dropped in the pre-game that we’d get an entire fourth quarter of garbage time, I would told have told you to get that crap out of here: but that’s exactly what happened. And that’s what it was. Crap. 

This garbage time was so trash and so boring and so painful that we actually had to hear about Jeff Van Gundy’s childhood nickname during the broadcast.

Jefferino Hot Dog Buddy. Look that’s painful, but that’s not the booth’s fault. The booth showed up to call a basketball game, it’s just that the Lakers didn’t show up to play. One I promise you, if the Lakers gave them anything to work with, we would never have found out about ‘Jefferino Hot Dog Buddy.’ If you're still cringing right now, don't blame anyone except the Lakers.  But if Jefferino Hot Dog Buddy is better than Mark Jackson telling Steve Kerr to get his starters off the floor: or Steve Kerr anything at all;  because you’re reason Kerr is there in the first place, Jax.

LA no-showed Game 2 and the Dubs showed up to make a statement. Statement being: NOT DEAD, CAN'T QUIT.

Never mind making adjustments, Darvin. Maybe you should concentrate on that perimeter defense of yours. How do you let Klay go off on you like that?!

Darv took some during the broadcast. Hot Dog buddy had some for Darvin.

Good one Hot Dog. I’d tell you not to mess with the Ham, but I know the clones will shortly.