The L.A. Lakers lost Game Three of their second round series with the Utah Jazz. The Jazz won: 104 - 99. In the sports section of the L.A. Times, Pau Gasol is trashed. It is cynical attack articles that really speaks more about the writers than the athletes that purportedly are covered. It really is shoddy journalism that revels in placing blame, ridicule and tearing down a performance.

Pau Gasol may not have played his best game. However, not all turn over of possessions were caused by Pau Gasol. The Lakers had eighteen turnovers. Pau Gasol did not miss eighteen of twenty three shots from three point range. He was not shooting the twenty one per cent from long range. He did not take a three point shot. There were other Lakers who did not have a good night. Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar combined for zero points in more than twenty six minutes of playing time. It was an aberration for Mr Vujacic and Mr Farmar. Here is the box score story:

link: Lakers / Jazz: Game Three

It is really disappointing reporting. Some of the basketball reporting in the L.A. Times seems to revel in tearing down a player or coach, especially Phil Jackson. It is the type of reporting that one would expect from a tabloid or a magazine that one sees when going through the grocery checkout. It is not the quality one would expect from the L.A. Times. - And Pau Gasol will be just fine in the remaining games with Utah.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster:  http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]nba, l.a. lakers, utah jazz, pau gasol, l.a. times, reporters, playoffs[/tag]