The OAO NBA Playoffs/Finals Thread

[The Czech Republic 0]

Guys,don't celebrate too early. Here's 2 reasons:

 

1. - NO team has ever swept the middle three games.

2. The lakers are capable of coming back ( The Spurs/Lakers series anyone?)

 

 

Yes, i do know this thing is basically over, do to the Pistons being better and wanting the title more but don't celebrate till the clock hits 0.0 in the fourth on tuesday. THEN you can pull out the rioting gear, the fine wine and join everyone in the streets for a fucking party.

Nobody's taken the middle three, but nobody's come back from 3-1. Something might have to give here.

[TSA09 0]

The Pistons could have come into Game 3 down and let the Game 2 loss effect them; but they didn't. They took that fuel and put it into Game 3. It's like Game 2 never happened, they stepped it up and completely destroyed the Lakers.

 

You know the Lakers act a lot like The Yankees when they are losing, let's blame everyone else for the reason we lost. Let's not face the facts that we are playing like shit and we are getting out-played by a better team.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The Lakers should be up 20 at halftime with the way Detroit is shooting. the free throw shooting discrepancy is ridiculous. Karl Malone gets mugged on his way to the basket and no foul? Yet the Lakers are getting called for ticky tack fouls 35 feet away from the basket?

 

The fix is in.

 

Pistons in 5.

As much as I'm going to catch heat for this, I can't help but agree. I wouldn't know about it being a fix, but LA is getting called for some real ticky tack shit that Detroit isn't getting called for.

 

The Lakers may seem like they're more profitable for the NBA, but so is the tried and true underdog takes down the mighty dynasty story. Fuck this officiating with a 10 inch spiked dildo.

 

The Lakers had every right to complain, oh but watch all the Laker haters come back with "well with all the calls that have gone YOU guys' way.." No no no... Regardless of the situation, it's still bad officiating, and it's just as wrong when it's in favor of the Lakers or against them.

 

Anyways, here's the key to stopping Detroit, as this was the first game I was able to watch from the M-m-m-m-mason introductions to the very heartbreaking end. I think the Lakers need to force them to take quick shots, that was absolutely killing Detroit in the first half and they went away from that in the second and that's why the Hamilton-Billups-`Sheed trio blew up there. LA needs to focus on getting the ball and playing aggressive but not TOO aggressive defense, but pressure Detroit into taking quick shots or risk turning the ball over. And probably the most important one is to not touch the Pistons at all since clearly that'll draw a foul.

 

Player-wise, Walton made a lot of rookie mistakes and I'd be careful about using him. I wouldn't do it unless they were up a good 6-10 points, at which point he might help the Lakers go on a run. Medvedenko, was, well.. Medvedenko. Taking stupid shots, making stupid fouls, and not meaning jackshit on either offense or defense minus a rather nice layup and 1 out of 2 free throw attempts. Fox should be used sparingly ala Medvedenko and I think the best thing LA has going for it right now is Gary Payton finally playing his ass off. I was impressed by Payton's performance on offense tonight especially in the first half. He may not have done much, but he did enough to keep it close and put them or keep them in the lead.

 

But when all is said and done, there will be a first time on Tuesday, or possibly 2 firsts if LA can force a Game 7 and win it. No team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, and no one has ever achieved a home sweep in the Finals either. I see the later one much more likely to happen, and if not I don't see how LA can win 3 games in a row, but I guess never say never.

 

So when's Kobe's next court date? He's due for a big game sooner or later..

[TSA09 0]

I love the fact that teams can't admit when they suck, they always have to blame someone else and never put them blame on themselves. Men love to never admit that they are being outplayed and outhustled, it's always someone else's fault for you playing like complete shit.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The Lakers may seem like they're more profitable for the NBA, but so is the tried and true underdog takes down the mighty dynasty story. Fuck this officiating with a 10 inch spiked dildo.

Well well well. Look who's complaining about the refs. And it's not even as bad as some of the miscarriages of justice that Sacramento had.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Men love to never admit that they are being outplayed and outhustled, it's always someone else's fault for you playing like complete shit.

 

Get out of here with that sexist shit.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Men love to never admit that they are being outplayed and outhustled, it's always someone else's fault for you playing like complete shit.

 

Get out of here with that sexist shit.

Get out of here with your Laker fanboy it's-ours-to-lose shit.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Men love to never admit that they are being outplayed and outhustled, it's always someone else's fault for you playing like complete shit.

 

Get out of here with that sexist shit.

Get out of here with your Laker fanboy it's-ours-to-lose shit.

When the FUCK did I ever say it was ours to lose?!

 

Get out of here with that generic Laker hatin shit

[The Electrifyer 0]

What I love about this series is how all the commentators and announcers are changing tunes. In game 1-2, it was all about LA and how Detroit shocked the world. Now, its about Detroit being the better team finally. They're finally giving credit where its due.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Men love to never admit that they are being outplayed and outhustled, it's always someone else's fault for you playing like complete shit.

 

Get out of here with that sexist shit.

Get out of here with your Laker fanboy it's-ours-to-lose shit.

When the FUCK did I ever say it was ours to lose?!

 

Get out of here with that generic Laker hatin shit

Typical Laker fan, denies responsibility for everything negative

[Guest Vitamin X]

I've been championing the Pistons and saying this was going to be a tough series from day one. Noone can deny that Detroit has upset LA, not the other way around, so it's not like I'm making excuses for my team's poor performance.

 

Well well well. Look who's complaining about the refs. And it's not even as bad as some of the miscarriages of justice that Sacramento had.

The Lakers had every right to complain, oh but watch all the Laker haters come back with "well with all the calls that have gone YOU guys' way.." No no no... Regardless of the situation, it's still bad officiating, and it's just as wrong when it's in favor of the Lakers or against them.

 

Czech yourself before you make comments like that.

[TSA09 0]

I wasn't trying to be sexist, what I was saying is that all the Lakers are doing is whining. They aren't owning up to the fact that they fucking suck right now. It seems like whining and bitching when you suck is a pre-requesit (sp?) for all championship teams. The Yankees do it, the Dallas Cowboys have done it and so on. Detroit is simply better than the Lakers, period. The Lakers come in thinking they are all high and mighty and Detroit from Game 1 put the Lakers in their place. But now when the Lakers have their backs against the wall, they bitch and moan and make bullshit excuses. If the shoe was on the other foot, the Lakers fans would probably be saying "shut up you're being outplayed by a better team, so stop your bitching." It's funny how the mood changes when the supposed dominate team is getting their asses handed to them.

[Guest El Satanico]

As the announcers said the Lakers are more worried about the officials than playing and that was evident in the 4th.

[AlwaysPissedOff 0]

Alright, people... Keep it civil.

[Damaramu 0]

I love this series.

The girl I was with told me that her roommate was out of town and had a TV in her room. So I was running back and forth between the horrid Bad Blood and the awesome Game 4.

[The Robfather 0]

Maybe they should have beached Kobe if he's going to be jacking up all those bad shots.

[Guest El Satanico]

But Kobe's the superstar...the second coming of Jordan...he's got to carry his team to the promise landah...

[bobobrazil1984 0]

Its like Magic said, LA just came in with an attitude that disrespected the Pistons. Trust me guys its GOOD if they are making excuses and such. That kind of signals thre is a bit of denial, which is GOOD for Detroit in Game 5. If they were totally accepting of Detroit's dominance and there was no talk about fouls form that.... that would indicate that they might be strategizing for G5 with an objective mind... they can't start to overcome Detroit until they accept what's in front of them, then they can strategize effectively. Detroit did this, they accepted hwo good Shaq + Kobe were and then objectively strategized to their weaknesses (well Kobe's at least). Laker-haters should be happy, not complaining, if LA is ducking with excuses and such.

[Damaramu 0]

So can we officially declare LA dead and buried?

I mean even if they win on Tuesday they don't have a prayer of beating Detroit 3 in a row.

Is it over yet?

[ant_7000 0]

Somewhat off topic: Doesn't Rip Hamilton's pops looks like he's in his 30's? Its over for LA, because they're only getting offense from Shaq and Kobe. Phil Jackson should consider benching GP and Malone from the start next game because they're not contributing.

[The Electrifyer 0]

No, its not over till the final horn sounds. LA is still a great team. If they win game 5, then the momentum is completely shifted and the series goes back to LA. Detroit MUST win game 5 for it to be over.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I just find it ironic that the Lakers and their fans have the nerve to complain about poor officiating. After all the bullshit calls to go in the favor of the Lakers over the last several years, it's almost laughable that they are serious in complaining about bad officitiating or any fix. Christ.

[ant_7000 0]

Burning Questions: Will Kobe, D. Fisher, and Malone cry after Tuesday nights game?

 

Will Kobe blame his teammates for not giving him the ball enough?

 

Will Shaq and Coach Jackson Blame Kobe?

 

Tune in Next time As the Lakers Turn.

[The Robfather 0]

Oh don't worry, Lakers can 'flip on the switch' at any time!

[Guest El Satanico]

Don't any of you proclaim the Lakers are dead. All of us non Laker fans need to stick together in not proclaiming the Lakers dead, or it could jinx everything.

 

The Lakers are good when it comes to "drama", so if any team can come back from 3-1 it's them. However, the Pistons are showing no signs of folding, so it's going to be a struggle for the Lakers. Larry Brown has his team ready, so the Lakers will have to play perfectly from here out.

[Just John 0]

Another question: Do Malone and Payton retire if the Lakers lose, or do they stick around for another year?

[The Robfather 0]

I doubt the Lakers org. will want either of them back, no matter how this turns out.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Alright, people... Keep it civil.

Vitamin X, we both just got T'd up. No hard feelings, I just wanted to keep the banter going.

[Justice 0]

Bold prediction: Game 5 gets a 16 share T.V. rating with everyone tuning in to see if LA can hold out against what seems like the inevitable or if Detroit can finish the job at home.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

I will likely be watching Game 5 from the male Combat Systems berthing aboard the Carl Vinson, unless I can find a good sports bar in Bremerton; Pistons better win.