The lakers are going to win game 7

[Guest Dangerous A]

And if it doesn't happen I'll feel stupid. But after watching game 6, you can't help but wonder. The Lakers shoot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter? They didn't score a field goal after the 6 minute mark. They just relied on the officials. That was a flagrant elbow Kobe threw Bibby's way and he should've been at the line. I know they are in LA and all, but if the tables were turned and it was Bibby fouling Bryant at Arco, I don't think the officials would call it. Why you ask? Well here goes the league conspiracy against the Kings points.

 

1) The league doesn't want to see a small market like Sacamento in the finals over the biggest market, Los Angeles. Sac has like a little over a million people. LA has around 14 million. They'd lose too many fans on this.

 

2) They needed a 7 game series. The Lakers have had that air of confidence knowing that the officials are going to help them out because the league hasn't had a 7 game series in these playoffs yet and now they are manufacturing them. What better series to have go 7 than the best one, Lakers-Kings.

 

3) The Lakers names are more marketable. We all know about Kobe and Shaq and how they are marketing monsters. Notice how it's Kobe shining the trophy at the end of every NBA playoff ad with the Lenny Kravitz song. Because the NBA is telling you this is who we want to represent us and this is who you can expect in the finals. The names part is this. Names like Fox, Fisher, and Horry are a lot easier on the palatte to say than Stojakovic, Divac, and Turkoglu. The league knows they can sell more of the Laker jerseys because there guys are home grown. The league doesn't mind having foreigners, but when those foreingers are put against good old boys from LA who look all pretty and sleek, they are gonna favor the purple and gold.

 

4) IF the Lakers are in the finals, there is a better story to tell and sell to the fans. If the opponent was Boston (who's out after today) then the media and the league would spin the story that the Lakers and Celtics are facing each other again in the finals for the first time in over 15 years. Que the old footage of Bird and Magic and then show Shaq and Kobe vs Walker and Pierce. If the Lakers face the Nets, it's Byron Scott having to face his old team the Lakers in the finals. Que the interviews with Scott reliving the past championships and having to down his old ball club to attain another ring, this time as a coach. The Kings have no such story to tell with either East team and that is BORING to the league.

 

I am writing this at 2am out of frustration of game 6. I live in Sac and the city is quiet. I listened to some local talk radio and got inspired by the comments of people who felt tonight was the Kings best chance to win the series. I also heard right after game 5 on the best damn sports show period from Tom Arnold that this is just like a movie and that the Lakers look down and out, but will end up looking like heroes in the end on Sunday. That was before game 6. Makes me wonder if Tom knows something? I think the league would like to make Kobe and Shaq look like heroes. Coming back from insurmountable odds. Having to win a game 7 on the road.

 

Again, if the Kings win on Sunday I'm gonna look back on this and feel dumb. Feel free to flame away or join in on my league conspiracy.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

I remember a full page ad in the local paper the NBA used to hype the playoffs last year. Two largest pics in the ad? Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. Right between them is And this is before the playoffs even began.

 

They already know what their big draws are going to be. And the Lakers-Kings series was the end all, be all draw for these playoffs.

 

Given, performance and determination are still factors in whether you win or lose. However, sometimes the referees seem to adjust the scales just right for the fans and, ultimately, the NBA.

 

Shaq barely grazes Bibby in Arco Arena, he gets called for the foul and is out of the game with six: Kings go up 3-2. Shaq dominates, two Kings foul out because of him in the Staples Center, and that notorious elbow to Bibby from Kobe: Lakers even the series at three.

 

To quote Shaq himself, "I'm just going to play aggressive and (they) call it how they call it." Just stuff to think about as I turn on the PS2 and prepare lose complete interest in the playoffs after Sunday.

 

We all know the West is gonna win anyway. No money in that.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I think the Kings have a chance in Game 7. Divac got in foul trouble early, and Shaq just had his way with his defenders.

 

Although I do agree that the Kobe hit on Bibby was complete and utter BS. Although I wouldn't call it flagrant, it should have put Bibby on the line. What was really bad was the official was RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PLAY!!! Yet they called all these ticky-tack fouls in the minutes leading up to that hit.

 

Not making excuses, just making observations.

 

Funny how this Finals had/has the opportunity of either matching up two teams with a storied history (Lakers/Celtics), or pitting two teams that have hardly any postseason history at all against each other (Kings/Nets).

[Guest Mark4steamboat]

Bibby just had his arm out and Kobe charged through and gave him the ol' Roaring Elbow to the nose.