The OAO NBA Playoffs/Finals Thread

[alfdogg 0]

He's been like that ever since he first got to ABC. He is the worst color man in the league, by far. Rex Chapman's up there too, though.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

The reason all these Laker fans cant seem to comprehend tough defense not equal fouls is because of their vaunted Western Conference that they lvoe and adore and have crowed about for the past few years. A conference in which nobody other than San Antonion plays great D.

Also I just dont get where someone said "it's impossible to play Shaq one on one and not get more fouls" ...ok wtf? One of the major reasons to go 1 on 1 is to AVOID fouling him. Before the series began, I kept hearing about how Larry Brown tried to dril into the Pistons head to not foul Shaq when he goes tot eh hoop.

 

However, if you want to cry conspiracy about something (rolls eyes), dont do so with the officiating, but instead do so with the pre-game hype.

Now I understand LA were favorites, hey I thought LA would win in a hard fought 6-7 game series (the latter still being possible), but there is no way in hell Detroit should have been SEVEN TO ONE UNDERDOGS. Not if you've actaully been watching them. Maybe if you just checked some box scores of the INDY series (and only the INdy Series) and ignored everything else and were just ignorant, maybe you thought it was gonna be a four game sweep route. SEVEN TO ONE? give me a friggin break.

So if there's a conspiracy about anything, you might want to point at the NBA and the media maybe deliberatly downplaying Detroit's chances to have a bigger underdog-takes-the-fight-to-the-lakers story.

 

the odds should have been 2-1 or maybe 3-1 in favor of LA, and no worse than that.

 

By the way it was practically obscene that LA wasn't feeding Shaq more in that final 6 minutes. He's the only guy the Pistons D cannot shut down (or slow down in kobe's case). Again too many jumpers and silly plays. LA should be trying to get Shaq close to the 45-50 range.

[The Electrifyer 0]

In the end of the games, Shaq almost never gets the ball for some reason. And when he does, almost all the time someone's there to knock the ball out of his hands or the pass came too late or too early for him to get a good look.

[Guest El Satanico]

Another thing that will make it harder for the Lakers to win. I'm sure the internal "drama" is at a boil right now. That article before game 4 with Shaq, Kobe, Fox, George and Fisher demanding a chance to start together is a sign that there's cracks in the foundation.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

you'll also notice Shaq was one of the few guys not having a meltdown with the theatrics and stuff when LA was getting called for their dumb fouls (which they did commit). he seemed to be the only major Lakers guy keeping his poise, and playing well... and he was barely getting the ball. Phil should have made it a priority to have almost every play (in those final few minutes) be strategized ways to get the ball to Shaq. I haven't watched that much LA this season so I dont know all that much about the WAY Phil coaches really, but I know if say Larry Brown wants Rasheed to get the next two or three touches, he'll drill it into Chauncy's head or something, and next play, they will try to get it in to Sheed (and if they can't, chauncy'll just toss up a three ). ANd if Kobe's reluctant to give the ball up to Shaq, Phil needs to grow a backbone and scream and ORDER him to. Phil's the coach. Maybe I just dont understand the Lakers system and have been watching too much of LB and the Pistons *shrugs*

 

I'm glad to see Rasheed finally be able to play some signficiant minutes in the 1st half and not have to sit down because of fouls. The Medvendenko episode was hilarious, but i thought it was 'Sheed overreacting. He probably just did so to fire himself up, but he after that he went off. 26 points. We'll need another game like that from him on Tuesday

[Guest Seven Sins]

I know if say Larry Brown wants Rasheed to get the next two or three touches, he'll drill it into Chauncy's head or something, and next play, they will try to get it in to Sheed (and if they can't, chauncy'll just toss up a three ).

Yeah i noticed that about The Pistons last Night.'Sheed went to the basket a few times in a row via passes from Billups i believe. I would seriously like to know why they always quit going to shaq in the finla minutes of the game. If you want to win get it to him, Sure they might foul but the would help get some of the Pistons into Foul trouble and make it a Little easier for the Lakers to make a comeback and win.

[Vern Gagne 0]

This isn't an upset. The Lakers beside Shaq, and Kobe who when they're on are the two best players. The Lakers has a team are inferior athletically, and quite honestly Detroit has better overall talent and depth.

[Gert T 0]

Good to see Mychal Thompson (former Laker and color commentator for the team) told a Detroit radio station today it was the most biased officiating he has ever seen.

 

Shaq will go to the line more when he gets the ball more.

 

And if there is a conspiracy, I would say that everybody on the Lakers besides Kobe & Shaq are in on it too since NOBODY besides Shaq & Kobe have hit double figures for the Lakers in five games. That is pathetic.

[Guest Choken One]

I strongly believe that Slava really needs to fuck with 'Sheed. Mess his mind, force him to erupt and get themselfs (even sacrificing himself) ejected from the game.

 

'Sheed was the difference maker last night...and there was an AMPLE opportunity for Slava and the Lakers to take him out of the game but they didn't.

[Guest Seven Sins]

The Lakers would still be screwed. They'd still have to attend to Rip,Billips,Big Ben and Prince.

By the way, what are the odds of a major riot in Detriot Tuesday night?

[Damaramu 0]

I'm not a Piston bandwagon jumper persay. Just an intense Laker Hater. But that's no bandwagon there. I hated The Lakers when they sucked in the 90's to.

[Guest MikeSC]

Anyways, I think Rick Fox needs LESS playing time if anything not more. The more he plays I think the less hustle the Lakers have. And what's all this talk about Detroit DOMINATING Los Angeles? Every single game in this series (with the exception of Game 3) has been closely contested with LA being in foul trouble making the difference.

The series SHOULD be over. If Kobe doesn't hit the fluke shot, LA is already at home griping.

 

And, Detroit OWNING the boards is what's killed LA --- that and the fact that NOBODY outside of Shaq and Kobe are doing a damned thing offensively.

 

Detroit has dominated LA.

Laker fans are complaining about fouls for that very reason, since that is what has been swinging the momentum in Detroit's favor in the series.

No, they're complaining because they can't fathom the possibility that Detroit is, in fact, a BETTER TEAM. LA is slow as dirt. They have almost no athleticism. When teams are bitching about fouls when they're losing a series badly --- they know they've lost.

 

Griping about fouls is the loser's limp of basketball.

Do we need to be reminded that LA was up at halftime during both games at Staples and got beat by a late run in the 3rd, almost came back in the 4th and Detroit stopped them?

Irrelevant. Detroit has better, more athletic players that can play better defense.

 

Heck, my Buffalo Bills led Dallas at halftime of SB XXVIII --- doesn't change the fact that they got hammered in the end.

 

Sad fact is --- LA, using conventional wisdom --- should have ANNIHILATED a Detroit team coming off a brutal loss in Game 3. But, instead, they couldn't even get the lead once.

And of course we all know about Games 2 and 3 (Divine Intervention in Game 2, and the blowout in Game 3) but Game 4 was another close one, and they went into the 4th quarter tied. The difference in this game was that LA got lazy on defense like Ripper pointed out, and I think they need to force Detroit into shooting quick shots since they don't have the shooting power LA has and LA could tilt that in their favor. Even if Detroit plays awesome D on them, they have been exposed in a couple areas, mainly that they're a smaller, weaker, but much more well-conditioned team. Think about what the series would look like had the free throws for both teams were reversed. We could be looking at a 3-1 LA lead or at least 2-2 right now.

And we're one fluke three from a sweep.

 

"What ifs" are a useless tool in sports.

Despite the series being 3-1 in Detroit's favor, it's not over yet and as pointed out in a newspaper recap I read, Jackson's coaching staff has never been put in a position like this before, so it'll be interesting how they come out facing the monumental task ahead of them. But with having a chance to clinch it at home, I think Detroit will give it all they've got and we can expect a hell of a Game 5.

Detroit has the better coach.

They have a better team.

They play defense.

They don't melt down.

 

Heck, I didn't buy Detroit as real. I assumed the Eastern Conference was simply crap teams with no shooting ability.

 

Detroit has shown that they are one of the all-time great defensive teams.

 

If LA wins Game 5, I'll be amazed. There is no way they'll win it all.

-=Mike

[Youth N Asia 0]

And in case it hasn't been said yet...

 

FUCK PHIL JACKSON!

[Guest OraleHolmes]

A few interesting things:

 

-Rick Fox is now publicly pleading with Phil Jackson to start himself, Fisher, Kobe, Shaq and George in the next game.

 

- Kobe is being shredded by the media for his stubborness and selfishness for refusing to give Shaq the ball. Most fans now realize that Kobe can't carry Jordan's jockstrap, let alone be in the same league as him.

 

- Kobe Bryant (and Shaq to a lesser extent) has guaranteed a Game 5 victory.

 

 

Now, if the Lakers do manage to win Game 5, I really believe the Lakers will be very reinvigorated going back to Staples and can feasibly win this in 7. With that said, the Pistons, if they want to become 2004 NBA champions, MUST win Game 5.

[Damaramu 0]

Nah. Even if the Pistons lose Game 5 it'll still be a close loss and it won't rattle them as they've proven. They'll beat LA's ass in LA if they need to. LA can't beat Detroit 3 straight. It'll be impossible. Detroit is just so much better than them it's not even funny. No way LA can beat them 3 straight.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

If the Lakers win Game 5, they'll win the series.

[Damaramu 0]

If the Lakers win Game 5, they'll win the series.

No they won't. No team has ever come back from being down 3-1. Besides that Detroit is better than LA. Winning one game won't swing the outcome of the series. Detroit has proven they aren't scared of the city of LA as they already won one there and nearly won another.

How exactly would LA winning Game 5 mean they'd win the series? It'd break the Pistons heart? Nope. They tried that and Pistons proved to be unrattled. It'd go back to LA where The Pistons would play badly? Nope they proved LA means nothing. So how would could they possibley drop 3 straight to an inferior team?

God these Laker fans have become pathetic. Your team won't win. Accept it.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

What do you base that on? The Lakers have played better during one overtime period and that's all. Nothing would lead you to believe their capable of winning 3 straight. If they could win with an extra day off I find it hard to believe they can win more than 2 games more.

 

No team has ever come back from 3-1 and no team has swept the middle three. So Detroit historically will lose game 5 but still win the series.

[DangerousDamon 0]

it will be amazing if the Lakers can win three straight games. It will be totally shocking. I hate how already people are talking about how the Lakers are gonna take three straight when they really should be saying "Well, damn if Kobe doesn't hit that shot then the Pistons would be parading down Woodward right now".

[Dangerous A 0]

Nah. Even if the Pistons lose Game 5 it'll still be a close loss and it won't rattle them as they've proven. They'll beat LA's ass in LA if they need to. LA can't beat Detroit 3 straight. It'll be impossible. Detroit is just so much better than them it's not even funny. No way LA can beat them 3 straight.

Don't be so sure about that, Dam.

 

The Lakers have this thing about winning game 6's on their floor to push a series to 7 with a little "help". I am a Kings fan and do recall the Lakers winning game 6 on their floor to push the series to 7. The Kings were in prime position to take the game as it was close or within reach most of the way, then the Lakers shot 24 free throws in the fourth quarter alone. Most of the mainstream media couldn't even hide their thoughts that there was a bias there, but Laker fans attribute that to "being aggressive".

 

 

Sort of like how the Pistons are being with the Lakers in this series. That's why I find it funny how Laker fans can cry about biased officiating and lopsided fouls being called. You want some calls, play defense with your feet instead of hacking and hip checking. You want to go to the line, take it to the hole instead of shooting jump shots. The Lakers shoot a shit load of jumpers and that is why they are not going to the line as much. The Pistons are moving the ball and getting penetration on pick and rolls. They are being the aggressor.

 

However, for once, I might have to agree with OraleHolmes. If the Pistons don't take this on Tuesday, it is my firm belief that the Lakers will win the series in 7. I just get the feeling it will all come down to tommorrow.

[Dangerous A 0]

- Kobe Bryant (and Shaq to a lesser extent) has guaranteed a Game 5 victory.

Perhaps Chauncey and Rasheed should also guarantee victory so it offsets the guarantees and we get an evened out game that will end with 2 guys with egg on their face.

[godthedog 0]

If the Lakers win Game 5, they'll win the series.

for the love of all that is holy:

 

stop.

 

making.

 

predictions.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

LA's "defense" (and I use that word in quotes because of the defense its compared to) can't stop Detroit, so they foul.

On one end of the floor, they shoot jump shot after jump shot, and on the other end, they can't play great D and they foul. Gee I wonder why they aren't getting the lion's share of the calls?

Meanwhile, LB has drilled into the Pistons head (and this is long before the LA series, living near Detroit I heard this over and over again in the NJ and INdy series), "keep your man in front of you" "keep your man in front of you". The pistons are HUSTLING instead of just playing lazy defense and reaching in when they feel like it (resulting in all these calls on LA).

If you dont believe me, grab a tape, and watch Tayshaun's Prince's FEET. Just his feet. Watch the way he moves to stay with or ahead of Kobe. When Kobe or soembody breaks away from a defender, watch the way OTHER FOUR players almost simeotaneosly (sp?) instantly ROTATE around so that nobody's left open. The Pistons D is like the Borg, they think with one hive collective mind! (ok not really but at times it seems like it)

This whole foul complaining seems to be done with a blindness of what the PLAYERS ARE ACTUALLY DOING IN THE GAME.

 

I wouldn't put it past LA to win a game or two and make a run for the title so I warn pepole not to get too overconfident, but the reason why I think this is different than S.A. is just the lakers' attitude. there seems to be a complete denial of what their problems actually are in this series. "it's the fouls." "we just gotta execute better." Usually the seeds for a comeback are sown when you HONESTLY identify what your problems are and work to correct those.

 

and for the love of god why didn't Phil grab Kobe during a late time out and yell "GET THE BALL TO SHAQ!"???

[Guest Urine Sane]

Fuck the Lakers.

[Steviekick 0]

And in case it hasn't been said yet...

 

FUCK PHIL JACKSON!

As a Lakers fan, I'll second that.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

I think we should all make predictions.

 

If Rick Fox brings the full on Sideshow Bob hair, the Lakers will win in 6. Despite them winning in 6 being impossible. But they will.

[Justice 0]

I think we should all make predictions.

 

If Rick Fox brings the full on Sideshow Bob hair, the Lakers will win in 6. Despite them winning in 6 being impossible. But they will.

Did anyone else think that he looked like Aziz, the bad guy from True Lies with that hairdo on Sunday?

[The Czech Republic 0]

[Doc Rivers] is the worst color man in the league, by far.

And my rebuttal is this:

 

"Throw it dooown, big man, THROW IT DOWN!"

[The Electrifyer 0]

Oh my God. Thank God that he didn't commentate game 2.

[Guest Brian]

Detroit's been in control of pretty much every game. They run the pace, they set the tempo, and the keep the scoring low. They do a lot of off-ball movement, work the boards harder, run the full length of the floor, run against the screens. And for three quarters, they tire the Lakers out and wear them down, and in the fourth they make their big push.