Will/should the Lakers revamp their roster?

[alfdogg 0]

It's more insurmountable than it sounds.

 

LA still has to take 3 of 4 from the Spurs...two in San Antonio.

 

It's a little interesting now, but I still say SA wins in 5 or 6.

[Guest OraleHolmes]

The Lakers only need to take one in San Antonio, assuming they win the next three games.

 

Game 4 -- Staples Center

 

Game 5 -- SBC Arena

 

Game 6 -- Staples Center

[alfdogg 0]

I know that.

 

I just don't see Shaq keeping up this effort for long...and they need him to if they have any hope at all of winning.

[Ripper 0]

Why? Bryant is from Philly. Just because he shut Iverson down in the 2001 NBA Finals, doesn't mean Philly fans have to hate him. Believe me, once the fans realize how good he is, he'll become Philadelphia's favorite son. And that whole issue about Kobe not having any street cred compared to Iverson, well the rape allegations and the new tattoos did just that -- give him that elusive street cred.

this is quite possibly the dumbest thing I have read in weeks.

Not spending much time in CE lately, huh?

 

It seems that I'm in the minority as far as giving this series to the Spurs. It's far from over people. 2-1 is not anywhere near insurmountable. That being said, I think that they'll be major changes in LA next year regardless. I'd be surprised if Kobe, Payton & Malone aren't all in other cities next year.

Yeah...mike came along and blew this out the water, but still..this is top 5 material.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The Lakers only need to take one in San Antonio, assuming they win the next three games.

 

Game 4 -- Staples Center

 

Game 5 -- SBC Arena

 

Game 6 -- Staples Center

I thought Game 6 went to the team with home-court advantage...what's going on?

[C Dubya 04 0]

The Lakers only need to take one in San Antonio, assuming they win the next three games.

 

Game 4 -- Staples Center

 

Game 5 -- SBC Arena

 

Game 6 -- Staples Center

I thought Game 6 went to the team with home-court advantage...what's going on?

It's 2-2-1-1-1 for home games in a series.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Hm I know hockey had always been 2-2-1-1-1, I personally like 2-3-2 better for baseball and basketball but whatever

[The Electrifyer 0]

It's 2-3-2 in the finals. I don't know why its different though.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Don't touch Chandler and Curry of the Bulls. They're perfect where they are.

 

That being said, I echo the statement that Kobe'll go to Memphis to be reunited with West but only if they improve their squad I think.

[Dangerous A 0]

Memphis is going to have to dump or trade guys because I don't think they have much cap room.

 

No one mentions the Phoenix Suns as a possible option. They are going to have a ton of cap room and Stoudamire and Marion are perfect guys to compliment Kobe, IMO. I would've mentioned the Clips as another good fit, but the Clips can't win, even with talent.

[Guest Choken One]

Why would you leave the Lakers just to walk to the other side of the arena?

 

If he leaves...it's out of Hall lea Wood.

[C Dubya 04 0]

It's 2-3-2 in the finals. I don't know why its different though.

It's 2-3-2 in the finals because the Lakers and the Celtics were playing against each other every year and they didn't want to have as many trips across country.

 

 

By the way, is everyone still so convinced that the Lakers are done?

[Ripper 0]

It's 2-3-2 in the finals. I don't know why its different though.

It's 2-3-2 in the finals because the Lakers and the Celtics were playing against each other every year and they didn't want to have as many trips across country.

 

 

By the way, is everyone still so convinced that the Lakers are done?

Yeah...I am.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Well now the series is tied, with 2 of the next 3 games in San Antonio.

 

All LA needs to do is win ONE FUCKING ROAD GAME, and really I think the Spurs weren't trying in Game 3 as much, but I think it looked like they put some effort into Game 4, and Kobe went nuts on them. Where was Duncan? And the now-infamous "I CAN'T STOP TONY PARKER!" whining from Payton has stopped.

 

Seriously if LA goes all the way this year (hey it's possible) I want Malone and Payton to retire. Or at least get rid of Payton, fuckin worthless bitch. We can all see why your minutes being cut, it was extremely evident in the first two games of the series.

 

And the key right now is for to keep up the physicality and don't lose the Spurs start zipping around with all those transition buckets. That's why Shaq and Kobe have been so good. If ANY of the Fab Four should be kept though, it's Kobe. Keeping Shaq, Malone, and Payton doesn't even equalize not having Kobe around and Bryant is only getting better and better every year.

[Sass 0]

Kobe > Shaq > Malone > Payton.

 

Kobe has youth on his side while the other 3 are on their final legs as "proficient" starters.

 

7 years, $142 million Kobe...you know you want to stay...

 

That is unless you're ass isn't in the pokey by the start of the next season...

[alfdogg 0]

By the way, is everyone still so convinced that the Lakers are done?

I'll reiterate:

 

I just don't see Shaq keeping up this effort for long...and they need him to if they have any hope at all of winning.

So...yeah. I still think they're done.

[C Dubya 04 0]

2 more games isn't really keeping up an effort for that long.

 

I think that who wins tonights game, wins the series. The Spurs need to get some mo back on their side.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I don't think tonight is the decisive winner. I can see LA pulling it out in Game 6 and 7. My original prediction for this series was Lakers in 7, let's see what happens after tonight.

 

Though I'd love for them to win tonight and kill them at Staples.

[C Dubya 04 0]

It's 2-3-2 in the finals. I don't know why its different though.

It's 2-3-2 in the finals because the Lakers and the Celtics were playing against each other every year and they didn't want to have as many trips across country.

 

 

By the way, is everyone still so convinced that the Lakers are done?

Yeah...I am.

still convinced Ripper?

[Ripper 0]

It's 2-3-2 in the finals. I don't know why its different though.

It's 2-3-2 in the finals because the Lakers and the Celtics were playing against each other every year and they didn't want to have as many trips across country.

 

 

By the way, is everyone still so convinced that the Lakers are done?

Yeah...I am.

still convinced Ripper?

yep

[Guest Vitamin X]

Ripper is officially delusional.

[alfdogg 0]

This series is not impossible, though it is unlikely, for the Spurs to win...we were in the same situation in '94, up 3-2 on the Knicks going home, and lost the series. The Spurs were also on the short end of a buzzer-beater in last year's playoffs, and responded by winning two straight.

 

I think the Lakers will win, but it's not "delusional" to think that there's hope for the Spurs.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The main thing thus far the Spurs have had going for them in the series has been the combination of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Throughout the past 3 games, they've been practically non-existent with the exception of a relatively strong performance in Game 4 by Parker (though nothing compared to Kobe's obviously) and the 26-7 run from the third quarter into the 4th in Game 5, largely due to the fact that tey had that idiot white guy center come off the bench for Shaq, and that the Lakers couldn't make any shots.

 

I think the Spurs are going to be in a bit of a state of shock and anger going into today's game, and it'll be a close one, but LA will finally get to finish them off. And if they don't win tonight, they'll beat them again in San Antonio. Trust me on that one. MY original prediction for the series was Lakers in 7, because I didn't think they would win Game 5 (and some would say they really didn't-to those of you I invite you to look at my sig and where the ball is at the 0.0 mark), but it should be a good one tonight.

 

Best series of the playoffs thus far besides maybe Miami-New Orleans?

[Steviekick 0]

Steviekick's X-Factor for Lakers/Spurs tonight: Gary Payton and Karl Malone. These two guys want NOTHING else but to win the championship this season. They will do whatever they can to put away the Spurs tonight.

 

LA/SA has been THE best series so far this play offs. Miami/NO was pretty good, and Miami/Indiana is starting to take off.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I can't see how anything can compete so far with the second half of Game 5 in the LA/SA series. Unless they outdo themselves tonight.

 

But it's interesting to watch that game then immediately watch the Heat/Pacers game. The decline in talent is so huge, and it's much less fun to watch, I think. The last Heat game was good though.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

It's 2-3-2 in the finals. I don't know why its different though.

It's 2-3-2 in the finals because the Lakers and the Celtics were playing against each other every year and they didn't want to have as many trips across country.

 

 

By the way, is everyone still so convinced that the Lakers are done?

Yeah...I am.

still convinced Ripper?

yep

[Dangerous A 0]

While LA/SA produced the best game of the playoffs so far (game 5) , I think now that LA beat them 4 straight games, it kind of takes the luster off the series as a whole. If the Kings/Wolves goes 7, I can see that taking over as best series of the playoffs so far. One great game a best series does not make.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Game 4 was awesome just to behold the spectacle of Kobe, and Game 6 was damn competitive too.

 

It was tied at halftime, and the Lakers just pulled away, Fun, defense-filled contest to watch. Shaq was apparently the X-Factor in the series, since he neutralized Duncan, and kept Parker from going inside as soon as they figured out to stop the transition game. It seemed to me like LA got faster as the series went on?

[The Czech Republic 0]

I have a question, as a Bulls fan. Did the nation hate us from '90 to '98 the way we hate the Lakers? Same coach, same dominance, same hatred? It just seems to me like the Bulls were easier to like than these L.A. Lakers.

[Damaramu 0]

I have a question, as a Bulls fan. Did the nation hate us from '90 to '98 the way we hate the Lakers? Same coach, same dominance, same hatred? It just seems to me like the Bulls were easier to like than these L.A. Lakers.

That's because most people liked the players on The Bulls.

Jordan, Pippen, and even Rodman were likeable guys.

Shaq and Kobe are easy to hate.