I'm still ticked about the men in stripes at last night's game, but read the following from J.A. Adande and tell me my complaints are baseless. It should be noted that Adande writes about the Lakers more than any ESPN writer and it is always in a positive light.
"Chalk it up to home-court advantage? The Staples Center crowd was vocal at the end, but there were long stretches when the building went quiet as the Jazz stayed uncomfortably close throughout the game -- even if Utah never did manage to take the lead.
The benefits of home were more apparent on the stat sheet: The Lakers enjoyed a 42-28advantage in free-throw attempts (and that includes the four free throws Bryant shot in the final 10.7 seconds, when the Jazz fouled to stop the clock).
When the Jazz got close to the basket, there was more contact than in a rush-hour crowd shoving into the subway, but rarely a blown whistle. Meanwhile, at the other end, Lamar Odom breezed past Carlos Boozer for a layup and got a gift and-one. And Utah players and coaches are still wondering how Mehmet Okur could wind up sprawling toward the baseline, leaving Pau Gasol alone under the basket for an easy offensive rebound and dunk to put the Lakers ahead by five points with 20.5 seconds remaining.
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My case against the NBA and the transcontinental conspiracy is certainly gaining momentum. I'm almost to the point of hoping the Spurs prevail against the Hornets so the league can cheat them out of a chance to defend their title (it would be incredibly satisfying to watch Ginobli fly into the paint and get called for a charge or two).
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