The OAO NBA Playoffs/Finals Thread

[Vern Gagne 0]

It will never be the Wolves year. Flip Saunders in the end is always outcoached in the playoffs. Latrell Sprewell shows up for about 50 games a year, and with outstandng performances like in Game 4. He's not going to help the Wolves win anything.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Wolves fans are fast becoming the biggest bunch of crybaby, excuse making sore losers in sports. The refs hate us...wah wah wah. Shut up all ready. The Lakers are better,deal with it.

[Damaramu 0]

Actually I heard that T-Mac's top place to go to is Houston.

Yao and T-Mac? Hmmm....

[Steviekick 0]

Who said anything about Tracy McGrady going to the Lakers ? Go away with that bullshit.

Stop acting like everybody is going to end up on the Laker roster.

 

They'll all kill each other before the season even starts.

Hasn't there been some talk of the Magic letting Tracy out of his contract or something?

[alfdogg 0]

Yes. I posted an article on it on one of these pages.

 

I doubt he goes to the Lakers and Kobe stays.

[Guest Vitamin X]

But I am not too sure about the Lakers. Bill Simmons had a great article today about the Lakers on ESPN.com, on Page 2. Where he made some good points about how either Phil or Kobe will be gone next season. I could see Kobe leaving, just so he does not have to share the spotlight with Shaq. Now a smart player would swallow his ego, and agree to play with Shaq until Shaq could play no more, but this is Kobe, who is on his on little world most of the time. And Malone, even if he does resign, is not getting any younger. His age is catching up to him, and this was not his best season. I don't remember Malone spending relative time on the DL, like he did this year. Is he really going to make that huge difference? And Payton is gone next season, but even he is showing that he is not the player he once was, so I doubt the Lakers will miss him any. And if Kobe is gone, the Lakers fall back into the crowd. Shaq with a way past his prime Malone, does not strike the fear of Shaq and a just-entering-his-prime Kobe. And if the Lakers do decide to keep Kobe, then Phil will go bye-bye, and maybe Shaq as well. Without both, the Lakers will not win the championship. And in the article, Simmons mentioned that the Lakers might have had enough of Kobe, intensified by the whole rape trial (which I will credit Kobe for not letting that affect his play).

I think of the two, Shaq has a bigger ego than Kobe. It comes with being former MVP and being 7'2" 300+ pounds. You can't have anything small at that size.

 

I remember there being an article in the paper around All-Star weekend about Kobe leaving or something. Now I've been damn confused as I hadn't really been following the season from roughly November-January (All Star weekend or so) since I was unable to access any sort of news or internet, anything like that, so can you mind filling me in on the problems between Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant? Why is it necessarily that if one stays the other leaves? And I think Kobe is being heavily recognized as the leader of the team now instead of Shaq. Any championship or hell playoff runs in the future are Kobe's, Shaq had his runs with the 3 championships already's, but it's safe to say the Lakers are Kobe's team now and losing him would be a major blow to both Kobe and L.A.

 

I think it's possible for LA to win without Shaq. Without Jackson? That's a big one, but still possible. But without Kobe, that's going to be damn tough.

[razazteca 0]

Actually I heard that T-Mac's top place to go to is Houston.

Yao and T-Mac? Hmmm....

So the trade would involve Stevie Francis to Orlando?

[Tony149 0]

Actually I heard that T-Mac's top place to go to is Houston.

Yao and T-Mac? Hmmm....

So the trade would involve Stevie Francis to Orlando?

It'd have to. Houston's the only team with the balls to trade one of their stars for another. LA doesn't have anything worth offering outside of Shaq & Kobe, and they won't be trade. There's no way I see the Spurs willing to give up Parker and/or Manu, but they'd probably be willing to trade Hedo and/or Rose.

[Guest Rob Van Dam]

yeah, Hedo and Rose for T-Mac, yeah thats a fair trade. Orlando would be stupid to make that trade.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

HA! Wolves are up 46-40 at halftime against the Lakers. The Fakers have been exposed to be the heartless punks they really are. L.A. should be up twenty at halftime, especially with Cassell not playing.

 

I have a big feeling the Wolves will win this series, because the Lakers just don't have the chemistry; not to mention, they like to coast during stretches of the game.

 

Like I said, an overconfident Lakers team will lose tonight, the Wolves will barely edge out the Lakers on Monday, and KG will have the performance of a lifetime, befitting a true MVP, in Game 7.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Can someone please ban this fucker or at least keep him from posting in this forum?

 

Anyways, Lakers in 6 it is, then. What a fucking horrible performance in the middle of the game. They should be SPANKING Minnesota like they were in the first quarter, and got the favor returned double. They're up 92-80 right now on a timeout but I'm not even bothering to watch the rest of the game since it's pretty obvious they just want to close out the series in Los Angeles.

 

Quote of the series so far by Phil Jackson: "Hustle is a substitute for talent." (Obviously referring to how the T-Wolves were playing their asses off whereas LA should have shut them down)

[Guest Urine Sane]

Well then lack of hustle is a product of ego, referring to the lakers lack of any respect.

[Tony149 0]

yeah, Hedo and Rose for T-Mac, yeah thats a fair trade. Orlando would be stupid to make that trade.

I'm not saying that's a fair trade, I wouldn't do it either (Well I guess it's possible if McGrady keeps bugging the Magic about a trade; they'd at least get something). The point is McGrady wants to go to teams that don't have much to offer except Houston.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Well then lack of hustle is a product of ego, referring to the lakers lack of any respect.

The Spurs played FAR better than the T-Wolves have. There isn't as much reason for respect, especially since Minnesota is without Sam Cassell.

 

Final score tonight was 98-96, Minnesota. Fish hit another swish that didn't really matter at the buzzer to make the final score seem closer than it really was.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Since when do the Pacers wear yellow socks? It looked very...

[The Czech Republic 0]

HA! Wolves are up 46-40 at halftime against the Lakers. The Fakers have been exposed to be the heartless punks they really are. L.A. should be up twenty at halftime, especially with Cassell not playing.

Watch out, Bob Barron. You've got competition in the "I like every team" competition.

[Damaramu 0]

Well then lack of hustle is a product of ego, referring to the lakers lack of any respect.

Exactly. This is a reason why I hate the Lakers. They seem to respect nobody but themselves.

Unless you're saying the Lakers get no respect. In which case that's not true. I don't like the team but I respect there playing ability. I don't respect the attitude's of the players though.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

Here are some interesting quotes off the LATimes.com message board:

 

"As the great Doug Collins once said, "Luck comes to those who are prepared." Brainwashed Lakers fans may ascribe a Timberwolves upset to luck, but if the Wolves shock the world, it was because they were prepared and weren't joking in the lockerroom before the game."

 

"If the T'Wolves upset the Lakers, they'll become National Heroes to everyone in the country except Southern California. It will be a universal message to all: potential and talent don't matter if you don't have the heart to fuel it."

 

"The Lakers' biggest weakness is a lack of heart. In Game 5, the Wolves exploited that weakness to the max. In Game 6, the Lakers will be blinded by their vanity again, as the Wolves win a game and a series the Lakers were "supposed" to win. Wolves have heart; the Lakers fart."

 

"Where are all the Lakers fans? Crying in their beds tonight, I presume. Their team showed no fire, no heart, no grit, no urgency, and virtually had their manhood stripped by an undermanned team playing without two of its best players, Sam and Troy."

 

"I find it funny how everyone is writing the Timberwolves off. According to every "pundit" and "fan" the Lakers are a lock for the Finals. Nothing would put a wider grin on my face than to see the Wolves shock the world."

 

"Can you imagine if the Wolves won the NBA Title after never advancing past the 1st round in previous years? That would be awesome, and a testament to Garnett's greatness. The Wolves just have to win one game -- the one on Monday at Staples. If it goes to 7, the Lakers will choke."

 

"The Lakers don't deserve to win. They really don't care, and why the hell should I? I'm cheering for the team that really wants the title, that really desires it, a team that will undoubtedly give 110 percent. I'm cheering for the underdogs. I'm cheering for the Wolves."

 

"Many people also talk about how Kobe is a better player than Jordan was. This is such nonsense. Jordan made his teammates better, had more fire, was more consistent, and rarely shot below 50 percent from the field."

 

"Charles Barkley, a guy who isn't afraid to tell the truth, said it best on Inside the NBA. He opined that Kobe, unlike Shaq or Jordan, for example, doesn't make his teammates better. He's a great one-on-one player, but he doesn't make the game easier for his teammates."

 

"Note to David Stern: After the season is over get with the NFL and get your referees some professional training. NBA officiating is a joke. Timberwolves shoot about 6 freethrows in LA and 106 in Minn. And I'm a Laker fan!"

 

Interesting...it looks like Lakers fans are turning against their own team.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Well unfortunately, the Lakers are sort of justified in their arrogance, not that I agree with it. But they did win 3 in a row, and the only other team to do so, post Jordon's Bulls, was the team the eliminated in the second round. So I can see where the arrogance comes from, but boy does it make for some confusing game play from the Lakers, who'd mailed in another performance today. Thank god the T-Wolves can make their free throws, or Fisher might have had another game winner. But, the Lakers fell asleep, and could not catch up in time to pull an incredible victory out of their hats. I am not thinking this series goes to 7, the Lakers will come to play in Game 6, so T-Wolves be prepared.

 

But I will give props, again, to my boy Madsen, who provided some key bench help in the first half, which helped the T-Wolves take 6 point lead to half. But no props to my other boy, Olowakandi, who missed a key dunk which the Lakers used to fast break two, and get them back into the game. Boy, the T-Wolves did a great job, until those final minutes. But a win is a win, and so we go to Game 6. But, the Lakers are undefeated at home in these playoffs, so Garnett and Co. better be ready to play like there is no tomorrow. I just feel that the Game 1 lost, will be the reason for them losing this series, but I will be rooting for the T-Wolves regardless of the futility. But a reminder, Game 7 is not your ordinary game, but one that needs to be played on your home court, most of the time. So maybe the T-Wolves can pull of the V, but I am seriously doubting that they can actually do this. But, if they can, then all bets are off. And the Lakers in 2000 did blow to series leads that year, but held on to win it all, eventually. Maybe this time will be different.

[CanadianChris 0]

"As the great Doug Collins once said, "Luck comes to those who are prepared."

Now there's a sad indictment of today's society. That's a ripoff of a Branch Rickey (Society: "Who?") quote: "Luck is the residue of design."

 

Lakers in six, if only because the Lakers played a horrible, horrible game on the road, the T-Wolves played possibly their best game of the series at home, and they still only won by two.

[alfdogg 0]

Olowokandi is the WORST No. 1 pick EVER.

 

There is no competition.

 

Ellison and Joe Smith at least had a few good seasons early on.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Man, Olowakandi was definately not the first pick, nor should he ever have been. No the most impressive thing about the Kandi-Man is that we went from not knowing how to properly pass the ball to Big West player of the Year. So he improved greatly in just three years, and he sat on the bench his Sophmore year. So he played regulary for two seasons, and he vastily improved in just two years. And many of us at UOP were excited for him going into the draft. I think he was definately a first rounder, but not the first pick. I was shocked by the pick seriously. I mean Olowakandi is an athletic legit 7-0 footer, but since he grew up in England, playing basketball was not an option, like soccer was. I am thinking the Clippers went for the dreaded "Up-Side" with him. If he had played at a ACC, Big Ten, or any other power confrence, then I think he would have been better prepared for the NBA. But lets get real here, he played in the Big West!!! Doesn't send fear down your spine, does it? And I am not suprised that he didn't pan out like he was supposed to, but I am impressed that for someone who never played B-ball until his Sophomore year in college, that he starts for the T-Wolves.

 

But I think if teams could go back, then Derk, Pierce, and Carter would have been the three top picks instead of how it turned out. But I will say that he should never have been a lottery pick. But, he is still playing in the league, so he is not a complete bust. I see him being a Center who can get some boards, score some points, and foul Shaq when he is in his sights. But, he was a cool cat to all of us at UOP. The sight of him at my Frat parties was hilarious. Talk about your sore thumbs. But he never acted like he was way better than you, and he was just a cool guy. And so I will always pull for him, regardless of him being mistaken for Hakeem, which come to think about it, is probably what the Clippers were thinking that he had the potential to become. Both came from similar backgrounds. Both did not start playing until college. But with Hakeem, he took a lowly Houston team to two Finals Games (well he had Drexler to help him one year, but the next was clearly Hakeem willing his team to the Finals). Big Mike couldn't get us past St. Joesph's in the first round, but I blame Thomlinson's game plan, which did not exploit the lack of big men on St. Joesph's. But I think you get my drift. Mike was unproven, the Clippers took a big gamble, and he was the wrong pick. But this is the Clippers, so futility should come as no suprise. But I can say I went to school with the Number One pick, so I am happy.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

^^^^Olowakandi is garbage.

[Guest OctoberBlood]

The Lakers/T-Pups game was the highest rated (most watched) cable basketball programming ever? Thats what they said on TBS just now.

 

Nice.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Gotta give credit to the Minnesota fans for that one. They were rabid and furious no matter how much they were down or up by.

 

They played a huge part in my opinion in the win.

[alfdogg 0]

Hell though, if I went to school with an eventual pro athlete, I'd be telling everyone too, no matter how bad he is.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

If the Wolves win Game 6, do you guys think they have a chance?

[Guest OctoberBlood]

Wow, Richard Hamilton is just being Godly tonight.

[The Electrifyer 0]

If the Wolves win Game 6, do you guys think they have a chance?

If that happens... it'll be 3-3 with game 7 in Minny. Of course they would have a chance.

[Guest Choken One]

bad day for Indy in general..

 

 

Indy gets delayed 2 hours...ends short and Pacers dont bother to show up tonight