Guest OraleHolmes Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Like I said, if the Lakers win Game 5, they'll pull off the IMPOSSIBLE and win this series. I just have an eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach that Kobe's miraculous pair of threes in the last game of the regular season (which changed the playoff seeding), Fisher's oh point four shot, the injuries that had befallen Cassell and Hudson, Rush's barrage of threes, and Kobe's clutch three in Game 2 all happened for a REASON. I believe in the Lakers magic, mystique, and the path of destiny gilded with purple and gold that awaits them. It would be so fitting to see the Lakers muster their will and their might as they converge, for one last time, into the team everyone expected them to be. Everyone has already counted them out -- everyone on this board to every pundit on ESPN.com. The Pistons believe in their hearts, too, that the coronation is only a formality at this point. Guys like Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton have had trouble sleeping after their Game 4 victory because they are so elated, so ecstatic, knowing that their team is unofficially the 2004 NBA champions. They cannot stop smiling, for they know that history doesn't lie -- 27 teams have been down 3-1 in the Finals and they have all lost in the end. But...don't forget what happened to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were up 2-0, and the Lakers, with their backs pressed against a spike-ridden wall, pushed back with resolute unity, as they defeated the much vaunted Spurs four games in a row. When the Lakers win Game 5, win Game 6, and win Game 7 amidst an incredulous crowd of "experts" and fans, don't say I didn't tell you so... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 If they win Game 5. Well will they or won't they win? You tell everyone they win the series if they win Tuesday...yet you don't make a prediction in that game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 I won't go out and make any predictions since it would surely jinx the Pistons, but one thing that's stood out to me is that at no point have they gotten caught up in themselves. A lot of teams would've gotten sidetracked after winning Game 1 against the Lakers, but the Pistons stay focused on the task at hand. They're playing it one game at a time, but they're not celebrating anything until they've got four victories in the bag. It's like I said earlier; this series reminds me of the Yankees and Marlins World Series. Everyone thought the Yankees would win the series will relative ease, despite all of the Marlins' heroics in the postseason. Even with the Yankees' backs against the wall, many people insisted that they were ready to break out some of that famous Yankees magic and win the series. That never happened. I'm starting to get the feeling that the same is going to hold true for LA. If it was going to happen, Sunday night was the time. I know the Lakers are one for the dramatics, but I don't think even they would want to push the envelope so much that they're now forced to win three straight games. I look at the Lakers' bench in recent games and I see a lot of long faces. These guys don't seem confident in themselves. They've played tough at times, but so far, they've conceded defeat rather easily in three games. Most people are now counting the Lakers out and maybe for good reason. But I think regardless of what the majority thinks; regardless of what the media says; the Pistons aren't going to get caught up in their own hype. They know what needs to be done and you won't see them letting up until it's complete. Especially with someone like Larry Brown calling the shots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OraleHolmes Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Well, I hope you're wrong. Either way you look at it, a new record will be set by the end of the series. The Pistons will become the first team to win the middle games OR the Lakers will be the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. There's no gray area, here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mosaicv2 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 This just in: Kobe pulls a Mark Messier sayin the Lakers WILL win game 5... brother Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godthedog 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 This just in: Kobe pulls a Mark Messier sayin the Lakers WILL win game 5... brother and he just lit a fire under detroit's ass in doing so. this was not a smart thing to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted June 15, 2004 ^ I totally agree. It shows that the Lakers still don't respect the Pistons at all and now you have a very pissed off Pistons squad that already was motivated to finish the series off at home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Joseph 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 If it wasn't for a miracle shot by Kobe in the first game, we WOULD be saying 2004 NBA CHAMPIONS the Pistons. There is no manifest destiny of the Lakers Orale. Don't ascribe patterns to random events with distributed probabilities. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomasmoney 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 why are people still doubting that the Pistons, the same team that has DOMINATED the Lakers for almost four full games cannot win one of the next three games Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Because Lakers and to a certain extent their fans would have to give some shred of credit to the Pistons and not admit they aren't the greatest team ever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 This just in: Kobe pulls a Mark Messier sayin the Lakers WILL win game 5... brother And then he backpeddled and said "Well it's a must win for us. I think we all know that." Really? A must win!? You think!? Because if you lose you go home jackass! Alone! Anyways Orale you're quite possibley the saddest fanatic I've ever met. You say that we're either going to see a home sweep or the Lakers coming back from 3-1. Actually if we don't see the home sweep we'll still see The Lakers going down. There won't be a comeback. Just because they're in LA means JACK SHIT to Detroit. I don't know where you're getting the idea that Detroit will fall apart in LA. Hell even if LA came up with a game winning plan it would only be a temporary solution. Larry Brown is to good for that. You're in denial dude. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spicy McHaggis 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 This just in: Kobe pulls a Mark Messier sayin the Lakers WILL win game 5... brother and he just lit a fire under detroit's ass in doing so. When you're up 3-1 in the NBA Finals, you shouldn't need bulletin-board material. That shiny gold trophy should be motivation enough. Rip, I've never said Game 6 was fair, but it was justified because of the bullshit that was Game 5. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 This just in: Kobe pulls a Mark Messier sayin the Lakers WILL win game 5... brother and he just lit a fire under detroit's ass in doing so. When you're up 3-1 in the NBA Finals, you shouldn't need bulletin-board material. That shiny gold trophy should be motivation enough. Rip, I've never said Game 6 was fair, but it was justified because of the bullshit that was Game 5. But you never mention WHAT in game 5 was so unfair. Oh yeah, I forgot. Bobby Jackson held Kobes Jersey before he caught the inbound pass. Yeah, thats the same as 25 fouls called in a quarter when most of them were OBVIOUSLY not fouls do to the announcers calling out the officials on the bad calls, the replays showing they were obvious bad calls and Even the LA sportswriters admitting they were bad calls. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 the funniest things about this series so far is: A. Tom Tolbert's hideous suit the other night B. Stephen A. Fucking Moron Smith doing a complete 180 on the Lakers...it took the Pistons going up 3-1 on these guys for this moron to finally reckognize who the dominant team is... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Seven Sins Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Well, I hope you're wrong. Either way you look at it, a new record will be set by the end of the series. The Pistons will become the first team to win the middle games OR the Lakers will be the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. There's no gray area, here. Not really. Neither record has to be broken, which one of them will be by tonight. I got to thinking though, and if Somehow the Lakers do win game 5 that would mean the pistons didn't sweep all three games, then if the pistons win game six, the lakers didn't come back from 3-1 it just ended 4-2. I have an eerie feelin theres gonna be a riot tonight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Detroit will burn to the ground? that Kimmel is a prophet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spicy McHaggis 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 ...it took the Pistons going up 3-1 on these guys for this moron to finally reckognize who the dominant team is... I didn't notice your prediction before the series started. Ripper, I'm talking about Jackson, I'm talking about Webber's illegal screen, I'm talking about all the little dirty shit Sacto did for 7 quarters until the 4th quarter of Game 6. I'm not even mentioning how the refs got the Kings into OT in Game 7... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 ...it took the Pistons going up 3-1 on these guys for this moron to finally reckognize who the dominant team is... I didn't notice your prediction before the series started. what does me making a prediction before the series started have to do with anything i typed? Everyone BUT him knew after game 1 and definently game 2 that the Pistons were the better team..that is what i am referring to with my stephen a. smith comment...you know, this getting technical stuff on a message board is getting real old...i thought you all were intelligent people... don't get mad at me because you and Rip are having issues... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 you know, this getting technical stuff on a message board is getting real old...i thought you all were intelligent people... Bwhahahaha. Anyway, Smith isn't too bright, but I thought he was a riot after Game 4. "I'm booking reservations to go back to Philly Wednesday. It's ova. It ain't goin' back to L.A." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 ...it took the Pistons going up 3-1 on these guys for this moron to finally reckognize who the dominant team is... I didn't notice your prediction before the series started. Ripper, I'm talking about Jackson, I'm talking about Webber's illegal screen, I'm talking about all the little dirty shit Sacto did for 7 quarters until the 4th quarter of Game 6. I'm not even mentioning how the refs got the Kings into OT in Game 7... Dude... Missed/questionable calls...okay. Mike Bibby being elbowed in the face and getting called for a foul...Rick Fox scratching doug Christies arm while he grabbed him causing him to bleed to get the "clean" steal....Doug Christie standing on the sideline tocall a time out and Rick Fox running into him to knock him out of bounds and them giving the Lakers the ball....Kobe Bryant getting in VLADES face and the two getting in a argument, and them calling the tech only on Vlade...The Kings letting a break away layup go at the basket and them calling a foul despite noone even challenging the play or reaching for the ball or ANY contact. Doug Christie with the Cleanest Block in the History of Basketball and getting called for the foul... THOSE are obviously bad calls. You were bitching about the holding that goes on in the little scrum NBA players get in on out of bounds plays to end the game of game 5. Webbers screen WASN"T illegal just because Derek Fisher ran right into him. He didn't move. You can debate it all you want, but questioning if a man stepped into a screen is miles difference from calling a foul on a guys face. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godthedog 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 This just in: Kobe pulls a Mark Messier sayin the Lakers WILL win game 5... brother and he just lit a fire under detroit's ass in doing so. When you're up 3-1 in the NBA Finals, you shouldn't need bulletin-board material. That shiny gold trophy should be motivation enough. my bad. i didn't mean to imply that a fire wasn't already under their asses, just that this dumbass comment will make them play that much harder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 It's 5:30 now and I am absolutely PUMPED for game 5... I can't wait for it. In other news, that guy who Malone poked has made a challenge to Karl Malone. He is willing to put up $100,000 against Malone to do a lie detector test. If the lie detector proves that the fan spat on Malone, he will pay Malone $100,000. If the lie detector proves that he didn't spit on Malone, than Malone will pay him $100,000. It's most likely not going to happen, but I'd like to see Malone accept this. Oh, BTW... Fuck Malone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Mike Bibby being elbowed in the face and getting called for a foul. Explain how the refs justified this please Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 Lie detectors have been fooled before, why don't they just see if there was any footage of the spitting? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 ^ there wasn't any footage of it. The only footage they had starts before the poking, with Malone a bit away (and two people between them)... so either the guy spit on Malone... who walked away and after a little while came back and did the poking, or there was no spit. or maybe... there was a second spitter!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted June 15, 2004 I don't really care about who Karl Malone poked, (like it's a big fucking deal), but it's really sickening to look at ESPN.com and see every single article about how great the Pistons were and why didn't they know they'd win the series, Uh, newsflash. The series is STILL GOING ON. I'm gonna have to go to work in a little bit, so I won't watch the game until late but I want to make my prediction now so everyone can reference it later. The Los Angeles Lakers will win Game 5 tonight, Game 6 on Thursday, and then Game 7 on Sunday to once again become NBA champions. If the Pistons have any minute chance of winning the series, it would be in Game 6, where the Lakers could theoretically suffer a letdown, but that's not what will happen. The Lakers will come back and win the series in seven games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted June 16, 2004 The Los Angeles Lakers will win Game 5 tonight, Game 6 on Thursday, and then Game 7 on Sunday to once again become NBA champions. If the Pistons have any minute chance of winning the series, it would be in Game 6, where the Lakers could theoretically suffer a letdown, but that's not what will happen. The Lakers will come back and win the series in seven games. Wow, it really IS a bold prediction. Hahahahaha. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted June 16, 2004 I don't really care about who Karl Malone poked, (like it's a big fucking deal), but it's really sickening to look at ESPN.com and see every single article about how great the Pistons were and why didn't they know they'd win the series, Uh, newsflash. The series is STILL GOING ON. I'm gonna have to go to work in a little bit, so I won't watch the game until late but I want to make my prediction now so everyone can reference it later. The Los Angeles Lakers will win Game 5 tonight, Game 6 on Thursday, and then Game 7 on Sunday to once again become NBA champions. If the Pistons have any minute chance of winning the series, it would be in Game 6, where the Lakers could theoretically suffer a letdown, but that's not what will happen. The Lakers will come back and win the series in seven games. OK, the Lakers have dominated Detroit for a five-minute span in this entire series. Detroit has owned them, pretty much, the rest of the time. They have kept LA's scoring down, which is what they wanted to do. They've kept LA from rebounds, which is what they wanted to do. And they have frustrated LA so much that the moment things so wrong for them tonight, they might suffer a TOTAL meltdown. I wouldn't be shocked to see Kobe or Phil ejected from tonight's game. -=Mike ...And if that happens, the Lakers lovers will claim biased officiating... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justice 0 Report post Posted June 16, 2004 I don't really care about who Karl Malone poked, (like it's a big fucking deal), but it's really sickening to look at ESPN.com and see every single article about how great the Pistons were and why didn't they know they'd win the series, Uh, newsflash. The series is STILL GOING ON. I'm gonna have to go to work in a little bit, so I won't watch the game until late but I want to make my prediction now so everyone can reference it later. The Los Angeles Lakers will win Game 5 tonight, Game 6 on Thursday, and then Game 7 on Sunday to once again become NBA champions. If the Pistons have any minute chance of winning the series, it would be in Game 6, where the Lakers could theoretically suffer a letdown, but that's not what will happen. The Lakers will come back and win the series in seven games. The Pistons have proven that home court doesn't effect them, and that heart breaking losses don't phaze them. The Lakers have yet to prove that at all in this series. If anything, if the Lakers win tonight I see them failing back into their "bad attitude" and getting the shit beat out of them ala Game 3. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly Report post Posted June 16, 2004 I can't believe this. Karl Malone finally may retire after the underdog Pistons kick the Lakers asses. Retiring following tonight's mauling is not a fitting way for this proud man to retire. This means that he will retire as the player with the most postseason games played and he will not have a ring to show for it. I will miss you Karl... ..but at least now he can play wit da kids. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
