NBA Finals

[Guest Dangerous A]

As someone stated earlier on another post, the NBA was at it's low point in the 70's when they were at their most democratic. When teams like Seattle and Washington were winning titles. Then David Stern came in right at the start of the 80's and dynasties (LA, Boston, Chicago) were being born left and right. Stern knows the value of big market cities generating a ton of money because they have more people to appeal to.

[Guest Ripper]

I think the conspiricy starts and ends with game 6 of the Sac series this year.  The NBA wanted a game seven.  The Now in game 7, there was no impartiality shown to either team.  The Lakers BEAT the Spurs and Blazers...no conspiracies there.  Just like last year, outside of the nocalls on fisher and Lue in the finals, the Lakers just beat the shiot out of everyone in the playoffs.  No conspiracies there.  Now the WERE ALOT of obvious nocalls, big calls agasint teams that were bull in the 7th game of the Blazer series and game 6 of the Pacer series the year before...but I chalk that to just bad calls, they come with the game, and the want of close games all the time in the NBA(which I honestly believe the refs shoot for.  I think they try to make the games competetive, not really try to make a certain team win.  I really won't call them conspiracies, the only team that has been better than the lakers these last 3 years was the Kings and we will find out about the Nets.  

 

In the end, the Lakers only blatenetly got help in one series these playoffs (that dispicable game 6   ) but thats about it.

[Guest Human Fly]

Well, in between times when he was praising the Lakers, Bill Walton actually made some good points and was quick to call poor officiating when it occured. The Nets can take some good things away from this game. Obviously all losses suck, but they can build on this. First, they were down by 23 and came back, they know they can hang with, and play better then the Lakers now. They need to do it for a whole game. Second, Jason Collins will get more playing time. He was playing very well, but could use a little defensive help on Shaq. Some things that they need to work on are apprehension about taking shots, and Offensive rebounding. Jason Kidd should stay defending Kobe. When he did, he did and excellent job of shutting Kobe down. The Nets were beaten down the stretch by Shaq, and they need to find some way to slow the big man down.

[Guest The Man in Blak]

I didn't watch the game, but anyone else find it peculiar that Shaq didn't get a single foul called on him throughout the first half?

[Guest Ripper]

Well, there were only 2 plays that he was in on that should have been called a foul, and the refs aren't going to catch them all. The nets were playing a peremiter game in the first half and didn't take it at him, so he wasn't in foul trouble.  While Collins did a great job, Todd McCullah did a lot better job after that disasterous first quarter and shut Shaq down pretty well in the second and third.  I would have gone with him more in the 4th.  Also, Kerry Kittles was 3-7, 1-3 from 3's and runs the floor better than Harris...why wasn't he in the game at the end.  

 

The Nets lost game one of the Pacers and the Celtics series.  They have shown a amazing adjustment ability and they have plenty of things to build on in the second half.

 

Bill Walton was only member in the church of Shaq last night.  His worship of the guy was nausiating last night.  A female friend of mine who wasnt watching the game but in the kitchen and could here it was like "IS that guy in Love with Shaq??"  so I knew that I wasn't imaginging anything.  I was expecting to hear him start calling him a sexy sexy man and talking about his ass in a few seconds.  GAWD was that annoying.  He did step up and call the bad calls though, kudos for that, but GAWD he was annoying.

 

By the way, as much as people talk about how Iverson claims he was fouled after every play, doesn't Kobe do the exact same thing.

[Guest What?!]

Well, I'd say that this series is pretty much done.

 

C'mon Nets, even the Blazers made us sweat a little bit. Heck, Mark Madsen got to play twice in the same game!

 

Oh well, we're going to win. I guess I shouldn't complain.

[Guest ant_7000]

Well, it's 3-0 so the lakers got this one wrap up, The Nets played the best they can tonight but Kidd did made a couple mistakes towards the end (shooting a 3 on a 4 on 1 break late in the 4th while they had a lead) I think if Kobe plays in game 4 like he did tonight he might win the Finals MVP.

[Guest Kingpk]

The title is in the bag for the Lakers.  Hope those "celebraters" in L.A. are picking out the primo spots to turn over and set cars afire.

 

ESPN will have the bulk of the games next year, good luck in finding anyone outside California to watch them.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

The title is in the bag for the Lakers.  Hope those "celebraters" in L.A. are picking out the primo spots to turn over and set cars afire.

 

ESPN will have the bulk of the games next year, good luck in finding anyone outside California to watch them.

Actually it's more of a spur of the moment type of thing.

 

Hopefully Marv Albert will be the #1 play by play man next year.

[Guest Ripper]

Yeah, this series is over...but some thoughts.

 

1: Whut happened to Lucious Harris and Richard Jefferson and AAron Williams...They have basically made the nets bench production non-existant.  They have been getting wide open shots and either a: Passed it up (jefferson) b: missed horribly(harris) or was concentrating on what creative way to foul Shaq on the other end (Williams)  I won't even get into the still uter disgust I have for Anthony Johnsons inablity to run a offense.  

 

2: The Refs really don't like Jason Collins.  I mean, I understand he is a rookie, but that kid has been getting beat up with not a single call going his way.  Life as a rookie I guess.  

 

3: I really hate that they are rewarding the Lakers flopping.  No laker fan can ever say a thing about Vlade again.  Me and My family were watching game 3 and started counting.  Either FIsher, Horry, or Fax flopped on 9 STRAIGHT PLAYS.  The fact that ANY of them got called pisses me off.  I really REALLY hate flopping.  

 

4: Jason Kidd is the farkin man.  Thats...pretty much it... I am hating how I was hearing people say that Kidd lost the game for them in game 3 because he took 2 bad shots.  Kidd took maybe 2 GOOD shots when he went on that ungodly domination of the game late in the 3rd and early in the fourth.  The only way the nets were scoring were quick hitting plays, because they were shut out on the offensive boards...they only ones they got were the long, hussle rebounds it was no need to slow it down.  He played how they got there.

 

5:  Ok, I like Byron Scott and all as a coach...but dude got some serious substitution issues.  WHY in the love of god does he keep going with Harris in the 4th when Kittles has been playing 1000 times better on offense and defense when in the game?? WHY in the lord has Todd McCullah not played in the 4th of any game despite having strong games, being a better offensive rebounder, and a actual deterant in the middle.  WHY in the hell has Anthony Johnson continued to play the begaining of the 4th(until game 3). THEY CAN'T SCORE WITH HIM IN THE GAME.  The Nets have played great in the playoffs with Harris running the point when ever kidd goes to the bench.  WHY hasn't Keith Van Horn played in the fourth quarter.  I, like every other person that has watched Jersy this year, knows that he plays like a god in 4th quarters.  He does have a problem of playing soft for 2 quarters and erratic in the 1st, but the guy is CLUTH.  You always have to go with who got you there and Scott hasn't done that.

 

The Nets will have nothing to hang their heads about.  Even if they get swept, they were not dominated the way that everyone is acting.  The  Lakers WERE sweating in game 1...they were Sweating in 3...they just came through in the end.

[Guest What?!]

Woohoo! It's officially over. I know you Laker Haters out there aren't happy, but oh well.

 

I will say this about the Nets, in 5 years, Kenyon Martin will be a perennial MVP candidate. He still has some improving to do, but whoa, what a player.

 

And it was nice for a long time Mitch Richmond fan to see him play in the final minute. Sure, he didn't contribute to the Championship, but hey he's averaging 96 points per 48 minutes in the NBA Finals.

[Guest Human Fly]

Well, the Nets gave it a go, but there was just too much LA down the stretch. The Nets are a young team though, and Martin, Jefferson, Collins etc. will only get better. Also, this was Kittles first year back and next year he will probably improve as well. With a weak East I could easily see them in the finals again. If they play Sacramento instead of LA it might be different.

[Guest]

On top again, baby!  Wooo!  

 

OK now that that's over, some comments.  You've got to respect to the Nets.  Probably one of the classiest teams in the NBA.    Give Byron Scott credit for that.  I'd say he's the real coach of the year along with the real MVP of the year, Jason Kidd.  Rick Adelman should learn a lesson from Scott.  Gracious in defeat, using each game as a learning experience, and showing that adjustments can be made instead of complaining about the refs.  When Philip retires hopefully the Lakers can nab Byron.  Another dominant performance from Shaq.  I was pleased with Kobe also.  Richmond was cool, too.  Finally, I think Devean George is going to be a player.  That guy can really ball.  The Lakers better re-sign him... he could be like the next Pippen, but probably 10 times better.

[Guest Ripper]

I think Devon George was living off suprise of the opponent.  I mean, he doesn't look like he would be a god on the offensive boards, but he can be.  he will miss every kind of easy shot, but will hit the big outside shot.  he still is a shioty defender.  Once people start to respect his game, I don't think he will be very effective.  

 

I found myself applauding when Mitch Richmond hit that shot.  I can't remember a guy that worked so hard for so many losing teams, he deserved that.  I also have to give props to the Nets fans for the applause for it.  

 

Kenyon Martin went out like a soldier.  He made sure the Nets wouldn't lose due to his ineffectiveness.  Shaq had a amazing series....  The Lakers hit their stride from the 3 and you were damned if you doubled Shaq and damned if you didn't.  But, you always need that big lost before you win the big one.  Shaq needed the sweep with the majic, Kobe needed to shoot airball threes, the Bulls needed to have the Piston kick thier ass every year...great teams need experience losing to win it all and this very well could be the Nets's.   Baring any big injury or dumb offseason moves(which I don't see happening given they have a great front office) there is no reason that they won't be back  in the finals next year, and with some experience could very well have a different outcome.  

 

Now the season is over so I must go back to my blind devotion of the Suns(the team that BUILT the Eastern Conferece this year) and cursing thier front office and blindly believing they will be a factor in the Pacfic and playoffs....sometimes its tough being a real fan.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

It's a pity that I only watched two of the games during the Finals. I'm not a Lakers fan, but there's a part of me that wants to see Phil Jackson get his tenth ring.

[Guest]

he still is a shioty [sic] defender.

 

You've got to be kidding.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

This was the lowest rated Finals since '81. The Lakers/Kings series had good ratings, but the Finals didn't I wonder if the Lakers make it to the Finals next year.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

Heh, I didn't bother watching the Finals this year. I figured Married With Children and Simpsons reruns would be more entertaining.

[Guest Ripper]

"You've got to be kidding. "

 

Nope...Devon George is a horrible defender.  People get by him whenever they want, he can't defend when posted up, and he generally makes dumb mistakes on defense and isn't even a great team defender.  

 

I think Kobe Bryant is overated as a one on one defender, but at least he is a god like team defender(kinda like Jordan was...if you catch them one on one, they were toast, but in a team Defense, you better know where they are all the time.) Devon George doesn't even have this going for him.  

 

Hell work fine in the triagle, but besides that, his lack of ball handling, incosistant shooting and bad defense will keep him from being a good player in my eyes.

[Guest]

You must not have watched games three and four of the finals, then.

[Guest Ripper]

No doubt he had some great games in the finals, but he he wsa due some due to being a waste of space the rest of the playoffs.  He florished in the finals because of the Nets Zone defense, but for most of the season and the playoffs he was VERY incosistant.  He either plays well or downright awful...there is no middle ground for him.  He will get better, and maybe a hell of a player in 3-4 years, but it would be understandable if the Lakers didn't resign him.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I wouldn't resign Devon George because the guy sucks. If you have a guy that's going to be inconsistent, I think when he is on he should be better than Devon George is. John Starks was inconsistent at times, but he could have a very big game every once in a while. Devon George hasn't shown anyone that he can do that yet. Furthermore, he was missing and passing up a lot of open shots throughout the playoffs, which made me wonder how he was getting so much playing time. He wasn't defending anyone particularly well, he was just six fouls to give on defense.

[Guest]

I guess the Games 3 & 4 I watched were different than the ones you two did:

 

Game 3

D. George: 6 pts, 8 reb, 1 stl, 2 blk, 2-4 FG, 24 min.

 

Game 4

D. George:  11 pts, 6 reb, 4-7 FG, 3-4 3pt, 20 min.

[Guest alkeiper]

Are those numbers good or bad?

[Guest]

those are good numbers kieper, look at the minutes.  Off topic, why are you trying to rape me on the bonds deal?

 

--Rob