The OAO NBA Playoffs/Finals Thread

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah people accuse me of being a rabid Sooner fanboy....as true as that may be the Laker fanboys on here are 10x worse.

At least I admitted that LSU was a better team. Nobody will admit that the Lakers have any faults. If they lost it was "because they didn't feel like playing hard" Yeah......bullshit.

In that case OU didn't feel like playing hard against KSU and LSU. Oh and The Eagles didn't feel like giving it there all against Carolina. Oh and Boston. They didn't feel like pitching there best against Aaron Boone. They just didn't feel like it.

 

This Laker love crap is such bullshit it's not even funny.

[Brett Favre 0]

Yankees didn't feel like beating the Marlins last year. (<--Yankee Fan in [Laker excuse Mode])

[Ripper 0]

The Suns felt like losing all those games and never winning a championship. They are going to win one as soon as they feel like it.

[Justice 0]

You know, the Pistons felt like missing all those shots last night so they could make the game interesting.

 

[Guest Vitamin X]

I think it's obvious just from watching the games, they played REAL sluggish in Game 2 (though admittedly I didn't watch most of it since I was at work, but what I did catch was slow) and Game 5 almost felt as if they weren't trying till the 4th quarter. You got the feeling they tried in all of Game 6, especially when they got all frenetic on defense, and Minnesota still put points up on them, I give the T-Wolves credit there.

 

But like Crazy Dan mentioned, this is such a damn uninspired championship run, and it really looks that way because of the sluggishness they played with. Now in the whole San Antonio and most of the Houston series, they tried and when they lost, they got whipped. In Game 2 of the WCF, they got whipped AND they didn't even try to mount a comeback till the end, same as with Game 5. I think the 17-0 run really demoralized them in Game 5 and they felt as if they couldn't comeback, so really it looked like they gave up until the last 5 minutes or so. Plus the crowd really took them off their game.

 

I could see this LA-Detroit finals going to 6 or 7 games. Jackson even credited them way back before they acquired Wallace midseason as being the best team in the East.

[Damaramu 0]

Oh and did you see the bored look in Tim Duncan's eyes during Game 6? You could tell he didn't feel like trying or winning.

And Jake Delhome? I thought that guy was going to fall asleep during the super bowl.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Tim Duncan was shutdown in Game 6, he didn't get bored.

[Ripper 0]

I think it's obvious just from watching the games, they played REAL sluggish in Game 2 (though admittedly I didn't watch most of it since I was at work, but what I did catch was slow) and Game 5 almost felt as if they weren't trying till the 4th quarter. You got the feeling they tried in all of Game 6, especially when they got all frenetic on defense, and Minnesota still put points up on them, I give the T-Wolves credit there.

 

But like Crazy Dan mentioned, this is such a damn uninspired championship run, and it really looks that way because of the sluggishness they played with. Now in the whole San Antonio and most of the Houston series, they tried and when they lost, they got whipped. In Game 2 of the WCF, they got whipped AND they didn't even try to mount a comeback till the end, same as with Game 5. I think the 17-0 run really demoralized them in Game 5 and they felt as if they couldn't comeback, so really it looked like they gave up until the last 5 minutes or so. Plus the crowd really took them off their game.

 

I could see this LA-Detroit finals going to 6 or 7 games. Jackson even credited them way back before they acquired Wallace midseason as being the best team in the East.

Not trying would be them not shooting. They were trying to make the shots. They weren't falling.

 

Getting tired(especially on a team with two oldies on the court) is something that happens. I am just tired of all this "They were just not interested in beating the Wolves yet so they didn't" crap.

[Damaramu 0]

Tim Duncan was shutdown in Game 6, he didn't get bored.

No he was playing very sluggish. He just kind of gave up and didn't feel like trying anymore.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Not trying would be them not shooting. They were trying to make the shots. They weren't falling.

 

Getting tired(especially on a team with two oldies on the court) is something that happens. I am just tired of all this "They were just not interested in beating the Wolves yet so they didn't" crap.

Oh I agree with you on that it is crap when people are saying "They were just not interesting in beating the Wolves so they didn't", but what I'm saying is that there were days were LA seemed to just throw in the towel and say 'fuck it let's go finish the job in Staples' and not even try to comeback.

 

They tried, I just think they gave up and tossed the game aside as unimportant. Again, there's that Laker ego.

 

Wouldn't it be more interesting if there were 1 or 3 game playoffs instead? That would make EVERY game important, no matter what. I guess I'm just too used to the football system.

[Guest TheArchiteck]

Lakers could of swept the Wolves if Shaq felt like it. Every time it mattered in the series, the Lakers stepped it up.

 

Oh, and 6 games doesn't mean a close series. When it's the Lakers and Shaq you have to take in to affect the interest in the game.

What is with THIS bullshit?

 

It's pure comedy to me. Lets see if Shaq doesn't feel like winning any games this series.

[Steviekick 0]

Not trying would be them not shooting.  They were trying to make the shots.  They weren't falling. 

 

Getting tired(especially on a team with two oldies on the court) is something that happens.  I am just tired of all this "They were just not interested in beating the Wolves yet so they didn't" crap.

Oh I agree with you on that it is crap when people are saying "They were just not interesting in beating the Wolves so they didn't", but what I'm saying is that there were days were LA seemed to just throw in the towel and say 'fuck it let's go finish the job in Staples' and not even try to comeback.

 

They tried, I just think they gave up and tossed the game aside as unimportant. Again, there's that Laker ego.

I will agree with those here who have commented on the whole "screw it" attitude the Lakers have shown. In the games where they started to get into trouble quickly, they really have collapsed. I don't believe that they totally decided to throw games, but it does make sense that at a certain point that maybe its best to just weather the storm and try again tommorow.

 

But on the other hand, it was a HUGE gamble on their part to give up and bank on winning home games. Had the TWolves been as agressive the games after the ones what they won, we'd be looking at them going against the Pistons.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

One other thing... I see people constantly say "look at those horrible quarters detroit had in the indiana series" as some kind of evidence that the Pistons can never score 75+ or something, or are this horrible offensive team, while completely ignoring the regular season (hmm, look up their scoring average and ranking*) and the other playoff series'. Indiana and Detroit were defensive grinding teams, Det's core was set up by Indy's coach, and used to its defensive potential by LB. These are mirror images playing each other, leading to low scoring game (just like how say a Dallas/Sacramento game is expected to be a high scoring game, b/c they are two similar offense oriented teams). Yes there was some bad bball there, occasionally atrocious, but the Indiana series was the exception, and not the RULE for the Pistons. If you think it is the rule, you haven't been paying attention to Detroit at all, until recently.

*that would be 90.1 ppg, which isn't that bad at all in today's nba game

 

Either way, there won't be any sweeps. This is a 6 game series in my estimation. (Detroits first win will either be Game 1, simply because the Lakers just sort of underestimate them and play lazily (Philly?), or Game 3 (more likely) after being down 2-0 and getting fired up by coming back home.)

[alfdogg 0]

Hats off to the Pistons...you certainly deserved this far more than us.

 

Good Luck against LA.

 

Part of me wants the Pistons to win, just so LA doesn't...but part of me wants LA to win, so Malone and Payton get their rings and so Phil breaks Red's record and they all get the F out.

[Guest]

LA wins in 6.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

Lakers in 3.

 

I can see it right now:

 

Game 1: Lakers 105, Pistons 65

 

Game 2: Lakers 97, Pistons 59

 

Game 3: Lakers 110, Pistons 55

 

Game 4: Pistons forfeit the championship, and can be seen frolicking off the coast of Jamaica fishing with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

[Guest]

I'm a Laker fan, but you're fucking ignorant.

[Justice 0]

Lakers in 3.

 

I can see it right now:

 

Game 1: Lakers 105, Pistons 65

 

Game 2: Lakers 97, Pistons 59

 

Game 3: Lakers 110, Pistons 55

 

Game 4: Pistons forfeit the championship

So Johnson, long time no see.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

I'm just kidding guys. Everyone talks about how Detroit can't put up points on the board, get it? Everyone isn't giving the Pistons a chance to oust the team bestowed with the golden armor of all that is heavenly. Just kidding, again.

[Guest]

No, you weren't. And it's people like you that give us Laker fans a stereotype.

[Justice 0]

I'm just kidding guys. Everyone talks about how Detroit can't put up points on the board, get it? Everyone isn't giving the Pistons a chance to oust the team bestowed with the golden armor of all that is heavenly. Just kidding, again.

There's a point where you are kidding, and there is a point where you are being an irritating troll. It's not a hard line to see, but you've crossed it, whether you like it or not, and it's pissin' people off.

 

Detroit, imho, will take at least 2 games. I can't possibly see them ending this quickly with the amount of hussle and heart that Detroit has, plus arguably the scariest defense in years should keep this a really competitive series. Lakers in 6 or 7, or Detroit in 7 are the only outcomes I see.

[Guest]

Detroit can put up points, but they don't need to.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Detroit's going to be so fucked over by the refs in this series. I can smell the scandal already.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Lakers in 3.

 

I can see it right now:

 

Game 1: Lakers 105, Pistons 65

 

Game 2: Lakers 97, Pistons 59

 

Game 3: Lakers 110, Pistons 55

 

Game 4: Pistons forfeit the championship

So Johnson, long time no see.

OraleHolmes is like the bastard child of Johnson and rawmvp.

 

I don't think Orale is going to make it to August.

[iggymcfly 0]

As for Detroit's offense, it wasn't just shitty in the Indiana series. It was just as bad against New Jersey too. The only reason they even got through the NJ series is that they had Ben Wallace make a few shots for them. When Ben Wallace hitting 15 footers is the only offense you can muster, you'll be in trouble against a team like the Lakers. And for all this talk about the great defense in the East, I just haven't been seeing it. With the exception of the one Detroit/Indiana game with all the blocked shots, I haven't seen good defense at all. What I've seen is missed open threes, teams not getting into their offense and running the shot clock out, and bad turnovers.

 

As for the Lakers not playing hard, well it's true. As for the person who said not trying hard would be intentionally missing jumpers, well you're a dumbfuck. There's way more to basketball than taking jumpers. There's spreading the ball around. Working for a better shot when you're tired and would rather throw up a three with a hand in your face. Getting back on defense. Expending the energy to play defense on one of the best players in the world instead of saving your energy for the offensive end.

 

These are the kinds of things that the Lakers become lax on when they don't feel any pressure. Obviously, comparing the Lakers being lax in Game 5 against the Wolves to the Panthers being lax in the Super Bowl is completely pointless. In the Super Bowl, one game decides who wons the trophy. If the Lakers were playing the Pistons in a Game 7, I'm sure that none of the things mentioned in the previous paragraph would be an issue. However, even if they lose Game 5 (which they did), they still have two more chances. Furthermore, deep down, they don't believe they can be beat in those two games, and the sense of urgency just isn't there. It's more like a 9-4 team playing in Week 15 than the Super Bowl, if you want to compare it to the NFL.

 

 

Obviously, this won't be settled for good until the finals are over, but seeing how the Lakers work, I can tell you how the series is gonna go:

 

Game 1: Lakers get annoyed with talk of a classic series. Show Pistons how good they are in 92-69 win.

 

Game 2: Feeling less motivated, but still playing at home, Lakers let Pistons stay in the game before ultimately winning 80-73.

 

Game 3: Lakers start celebrating early and are shocked to be completely shut down by the Pistons. Detroit foils a late comeback to win it 77-74

 

Game 4: Lakers fear there may be a real series and decide to step it up. Cruise to a victory 85-70.

 

Game 5: Despite the knowledge that the series is wrapped up, LA goes on an offensive showcase and finishes it in the Motor City, 105-81.

[Ripper 0]

As for Detroit's offense, it wasn't just shitty in the Indiana series. It was just as bad against New Jersey too. The only reason they even got through the NJ series is that they had Ben Wallace make a few shots for them. When Ben Wallace hitting 15 footers is the only offense you can muster, you'll be in trouble against a team like the Lakers. And for all this talk about the great defense in the East, I just haven't been seeing it. With the exception of the one Detroit/Indiana game with all the blocked shots, I haven't seen good defense at all. What I've seen is missed open threes, teams not getting into their offense and running the shot clock out, and bad turnovers.

 

As for the Lakers not playing hard, well it's true. As for the person who said not trying hard would be intentionally missing jumpers, well you're a dumbfuck. There's way more to basketball than taking jumpers. There's spreading the ball around. Working for a better shot when you're tired and would rather throw up a three with a hand in your face. Getting back on defense. Expending the energy to play defense on one of the best players in the world instead of saving your energy for the offensive end.

 

These are the kinds of things that the Lakers become lax on when they don't feel any pressure. Obviously, comparing the Lakers being lax in Game 5 against the Wolves to the Panthers being lax in the Super Bowl is completely pointless. In the Super Bowl, one game decides who wons the trophy. If the Lakers were playing the Pistons in a Game 7, I'm sure that none of the things mentioned in the previous paragraph would be an issue. However, even if they lose Game 5 (which they did), they still have two more chances. Furthermore, deep down, they don't believe they can be beat in those two games, and the sense of urgency just isn't there. It's more like a 9-4 team playing in Week 15 than the Super Bowl, if you want to compare it to the NFL.

You call me a dumb fuck and have the rest of that bullshit plauge your post? If you haven't seen defense in that Indy, detroit series besides some block shots, you don't know what defense is.

 

Okay, seriously, WERE THE LAKERS TRYING IN GAME 6 AGAINST THE WOLVES? Were they trying last year to stave off elimination against the Lakers. They lost because they couldn't put the ball through the basket as many times as their oppponent. Blah balh blah, they were playing lethargic because they weren't worried. It just shows that you are ESPN bitch and buy into that bullshit. Yeah. The lakers DIDN'T want any rest by putting away the Wolves earlier(in a game they lost by 2 fucking points) so they said screw this.

 

There is more to basketball than shooting jumpers? NO SHIT. A BIG part of basketball is adjustments and exploiting mismatches. The lakers whipped the Wolves in game one. The Wolves made adjustments and got offense out of a suprise player in Darrick Martin in game two, found ways to keep Shaq away from the ball and the Lakers couldn't hit their open shots. Game 3 Phil spread the floor more to make the Wolves pay for tripleing Shaq and Derrick Fisher made them pay with his perimeter shooting. The Wolves attempted to make adjustments the next night by trying to spread the court to get KG room and it didn't work...they lost and got nothing from Sprewell. Game 5, they changed their defensive stragedy on Shaq AGAIN and prevented him from getting the ball by frounting and backing him and staying at home more. They got a couple of good runs and were able to hold off the Lakers. In game 6, the Lakers adjusted again and pressured the ball because they realized that the Wolves had no handlers with Cassell out and made guys like hoiberg and Wally Z and KG have to take the ball up, which tired out KG and led to numerous turnovers, which is what really cost the Wolves the game.

 

THERE is the fucking series. Its not the Lakers didn't feel worried. Adjustments were made and they LOST, they made adjustments and WON. The SAME way they won the Spur series, by adjusting to what was working for the SPURs. The spurs didn't lose games because they weren't worried about it, they lost because They didn't make better adjustments to counteract what the Lakers did. All this if the Lakers try, they can't be beat shit just goes to show how many people know absolute shit about the sport.

[Black Lushus 0]

the Panthers were lax in the SuperBowl? I musta been watching something else...sure it took them a whole half to come around, but I could have sworn they only lost by a field goal? i dunno, i was pretty drunk that night...

[Ripper 0]

the Panthers were lax in the SuperBowl? I musta been watching something else...sure it took them a whole half to come around, but I could have sworn they only lost by a field goal? i dunno, i was pretty drunk that night...

WHOOSH~!

[Ripper 0]

The guy that posted above me is the greatest EVER.

[Black Lushus 0]

the only conspiracies I believe in are the refs being cheaters (being a Knicks fan and watching Jordan shit on them all through the 90s makes you get that way)...everytime the Lakers got beat, it was because they sucked ass that night, not because they "didn't feel like winning"...that's gotta be the dumbest theory ever...ESPECIALLY in the playoffs, you don't fuck off on a team like the Spurs or the Wolves...okay MAYBE you do with Houston but...