I KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVED THE LAKERS AND IT COST ME LAST NIGHT AND THE MAN GOT ME FOR A NICE PIECE BUT THESE ARE THE NBA FINALS, ITS A 7 GAME SERIES AND DETROIT IS ONLY HALF WAY HOME. ONCE LA WINS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH IS A MUST WIN IF I HAVE EVER SEEN THIS SERIES BECOMES A BEST OF 3 WITH LA HAVING HOME COURT ADVANTAGE SINCE GAMES 6 AND 7 ARE @STAPLES CENTER WHERE I WILL BE FOR THOSE 2 GAMES AND WATCH MY LAKERS BRING HOME THIS CHAMPIONSHIP IN A DRAMA FILLED 7 GAMES.....
It would be if Brown fouls in game 2, but the lakers seem to have a horseshoe up their behind, the east is no longer the JV Brown and Carlyle have created a different game not for the good but that is the way the game is going to be played for the next few years. Look for Indiana to get very strong in the off season.
I just think the Lakers are beyond wounded. They are too slow, other than Kobe, and that poor guy is being run ragged at one end and virtually triple-teamed at the other. The Pistons clearly have a better defense, and at home I would say their offense is no worse than the Lakers OF THE MOMENT. A fair line could well be Detroit -4 even with LA needing this one badly and having an extra day to rest. Detroit COULD fall prey to their own press, but they lack the classic superstars who letdown in these spots on occasion. Remember - even the Yankees lose from time-to-time. If you believe in your Lakers, I at least recommend just rooting from here and keeping the cash quiet.
LAKERS=TIRED LEGS AND JUST 2 PLAYERS...LAKERS ARE LUCKY TO BE JUST DOWN 2-1..AS YOU KNOW...THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY GAME THIS SERIES YET?? WHAT GOING TO CHABGE IN DETROIT OF ALL PLACES??? DETROIT YOUNGER LEGS...AGRESSIVE PLAYERS..(ALOT OF THEM..LOOK WHO GETS LOOSE BALLS)BETTER "D"..BETTER BENCH....BETTER ALL ROUND SCORING...HOME CT ADVANTAGE...LA HURT ..MALONE AND FISHER HURT...PAYTON READY FOR RETIREMENT...AND WITH ALL THESE FACTS YOU STILL BELIEVE LAKERS CAN WIN...WHAT CHANGES?...THEY JUST CAN'T THROW THEIR UNIFORMS OUT THERE ANYMORE AND SAY" WE ARE THE LAKERS" AND TAKE A VICTORY...DETROIT HAS THE CONFIDENCE...ITS OVER...
IF THEY LOSE SUNDAY NIGHT I WILL THROW IN THE TOWEL, BUT IF THEY CAN EVEN UP THIS SERIES AT 2 GAMES A PIECE IT BECOMES A BEST OUT OF 3 WITH LA HAVING TO GAMES AT HOME, THAT IS THE SCENARIO WE ARE LOOKING FOR, JUST WIN 1 GAME IN DETROIT SO LA IS GURANTEED THAT THERE WILL BE A GAME 6 AND YOU KNOW EVEN IF THEY COME HOME DOWN 3-2 THEY WILL WIN GAME 6 AND GAME 7 WILL THEN BECOME AN INSTANT CLASSIC...
HEY, I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND ROOTING FOR "YOUR TEAM"!! AND SOMETIMES THAT CAUSES ONE TO LOSE SIGHT OF ALL THE FACTS...NOW SERIOUSLY, CAN YOU GIVE ME 1 WAY/REASON THE LAKERS CAN WIN?? BETTER PLAYERS?..BETTER "D"...BETTER BENCH...MORE AGREESSIVE..WANT IT MORE...HOME CT ADVANTAGE...BEEN PLAYING BETTER BALL...LIKE SOMEONE SAID EARLIER IN THIS POST...THINK IT MIGHT BE OK TO ROOT FOR THE LAKERS FROM THE SIDELINE ,BUT MAKING A MONETARY INVESTMENT IN THOSE THOUGHTS MIGHT BE A MISTAKE...HEY MAYBE THE XTRA DAY REST WILL HELP OL'SHAQ...KOBE GETTING BEAT UP AND RUN RAGGED AND WHEN THOSE 2 ARE NOT IN GAME...WELL THE LAKERS ARE JUST A SHADOW OF THEMSELVES...YOUR RIGHT ITS NOT OVER YET, TEAM HAS TO WIN 4 GAMES FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT THE PENDELUM IS SWUNG IN DETROITS FAVOR !!! GL
THE EXTRA DAY OF REST WILL BENEFIT THE LAKERS, SHAQ HAS NOT PLAYED WELL AFTER 1 DAYS REST IN THIS ENTIRE PLAYOFF YEAR, IT WILL ALSO GIVE THE ZEN MASTER SOME TIME TO FIGURE HOW TO FREE UP KOBE WHICH I PROMISE YOU THEY WILL. GAME 4 IS A MUST WIN AND THE BIGGEST GAME FOR THIS LAKERS TEAM. I DO AGREE THAT DETROIT IS BETTER ON THE DEVENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL AND I ALSO AGREE THAT THEIR BENCH IS BETTER BUT THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE "2" BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD AND 1 OF THOSE 2 HAPPENS TO BE THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYER THIS LEAGUE HAS EVER SEEN, ITS TIME FOR SHAQ TO WAKE UP AND TAKE OVER AND GET BETTER POSITION DOWN IN THE BLOCK, HE IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH WHEN HE GETS FED IN THE POST...
WITH THE GAMES BEING PLAYED IN MOTOWN, SHAG WILL NOT GET THE CALLS HE GOT IN LA WHEN DOWN DEEP...SHEAD WALLACE NOT GETTING IN FOUL TROUBLE LIKE HE DID BOTH GAMES IN LA...AND THE WALLACE GUYS ARE CONTROLLING THE PAINT..2-1 KILLING SHAQ AND THE D ON KOBE IS TOUGH AND WEARING HIM DOWN...NO ONE ELSE TO SCORE OR TAKE CONTROL...WALTONS POOR "D" WAS SHOWN UP LAST NITE...JUST TOO TOO MANY THINGS IN THE STONES FAVOR NOW IMO....AND TO CAP IT OFF I MADE A 6-1 BET PRIOR TO SERIES ON THE STONES AND AM LUVIN IT...GLTY
Last night was just 1 game. Remember, this Laker team was down 0-2 to Spurs and came back to LA and won 4 straight in that series. I think the Lakers were +400 (or something like that) to win that series after game 2. I personally don't think this Detroit team is better than the Spurs. Lakers have excelled with their backs against the wall and all Lakers need to do is win 1 on road to bring it back to LA. Don't be suprised at all to see Lakers win game 4. They will be bringing their defense. Lakers for god knows what reason did not come out with energy last night. I guess they like the drama.
Remember 2 years ago, Lakers were down 3-2 to Kings (who were by far much more talented than Lakers) and Lakers won last 2 games. There is decent chance Shaq/Kobe/Phil figure this thing out. It was likely Lakers would lose 1st game in Detroit.
Series gets decided on Sunday and we will see what Detroit is made of and what Lakers are made of. Remember, Shaq has always dominated when he gets more than 1 days rest. Look for him to run up the floor and hustle on rebounds.
Watch Lakers go through Shaq on offense (like they always do when backs against wall) and Kobe taking it very aggresively to the hoop. Something that has not been done conistently in this series (although it was somewhat done in game 2 where Pistons only led for 2min. 16 sec. of the game). It also seems like Lakers never make adjustments until backs against the wall and always seem to relish on making things harder for themselves.
I also don't think Pistons will be shooting 17 more free throws than the Lakers. HUGE ADVANTAGE for Pistons whether or not they deserved it. Lakers def. will be taking it to the hoop in game 4 which should even out the free throw disparity. Without the free throw disparity, Pistons are in trouble. Pistons have gone to the line 84 times to LA's 54 in 3 games.
Remember 2 years ago, Lakers were down 3-2 to Kings (who were by far much more talented than Lakers) and Lakers won last 2 games. There is decent chance Shaq/Kobe/Phil figure this thing out. It was likely Lakers would lose 1st game in Detroit.
Series gets decided on Sunday and we will see what Detroit is made of and what Lakers are made of. Remember, Shaq has always dominated when he gets more than 1 days rest. Look for him to run up the floor and hustle on rebounds.
Watch Lakers go through Shaq on offense (like they always do when backs against wall) and Kobe taking it very aggresively to the hoop. Something that has not been done conistently in this series (although it was somewhat done in game 2 where Pistons only led for 2min. 16 sec. of the game). It also seems like Lakers never make adjustments until backs against the wall and always seem to relish on making things harder for themselves.
I also don't think Pistons will be shooting 17 more free throws than the Lakers. HUGE ADVANTAGE for Pistons whether or not they deserved it. Lakers def. will be taking it to the hoop in game 4 which should even out the free throw disparity. Without the free throw disparity, Pistons are in trouble. Pistons have gone to the line 84 times to LA's 54 in 3 games.
Thanks, this is becoming the norm with the Lakers. Especially if Lakers win game 4. I can can see why anybody or everyone would say Detroit is the better team. Lakers have looked horrible. But the Lakers time and time again rebound well. Will be VERY interesting to see what happens on Sunday. I would not be shocked if lakers win series in 6. If Lakers come out and win on Sunday, then I know they have been toying with Detroit and not putting out best effort in every game. If Pistons win Sunday, then I know they outclassed the Lakers. If you listened to Brown last night after game, he was basically saying this. He fully expects to see a different Laker team and expects Lakers to play best ball in series on Sunday. Lakers only play best basketball when they have too. Well, they have to on Sunday cuz otherwise winning 3 straight against Pistons will be VERY TOUGH! (although I think lakers are capable of doing that as well)
*A side note, how much sweeter would a Laker championship be now beating Pistons in 6 or 7 games vs them sweeping or winning it in 5 games vs Pistons.
*A side note, how much sweeter would a Laker championship be now beating Pistons in 6 or 7 games vs them sweeping or winning it in 5 games vs Pistons.
scott-
"I personally don't think this Detroit team is better than the Spurs."
you forget malone and fisher was healthy in that series
no doubt this det/la series would of been different w/ healthy malone and fisher- but they are not
its 2 vs 5 plus the stronger bench
detroit knows this is the dagger game
when you think about it now, the game 2 ending will actually help detroit. they will not be overconfident and know anything can happen.
which team has focus??
thought so
"I personally don't think this Detroit team is better than the Spurs."
you forget malone and fisher was healthy in that series
no doubt this det/la series would of been different w/ healthy malone and fisher- but they are not
its 2 vs 5 plus the stronger bench
detroit knows this is the dagger game
when you think about it now, the game 2 ending will actually help detroit. they will not be overconfident and know anything can happen.
which team has focus??
thought so
HOW CAN ANYONGE WHO FOLLOWS SPORTS EVEN COMPARE THIS SERIES TO THE SAN ANTONIO SERIES?? 1ST THE LAKERS WERE DOWN 2-0 TO SAN ANTONIO,CORRECT, AFTER LOSING THE FIRST 2 GAMES IN SAN ANTONIOAND THEN MADE IT 2-1 IN LA AND EVENTUALLY 2-2..THIS TIME THEY SPLIT IN LA(REALLY SHOULD HAVE LOST BOTH) AND THEN ARE DOWN NOW 2-1(AS BEFORE ) BUT THE NEXT 2 GAMES ARE IN DETROIT..NOT LA..ALSO THIS TIME IT IS 9 VS. 2 ON THE COURT..AND MALONE AND FISHER ARE HURT..NO WAY YOU CAN COMPARE THE LAKERS DREADFUL SITUATION NOW TO THE SAN ANTONIO SERIES...AND REMEMBER THIS..JUST BECAUSE THE TEAM NAME IS THE LAKERS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE THE SAME LAKERS AS YRS PAST JUST LIKE THE BAD COWBOYS,49ERS TEAMS ARE NOT THE SAME AS THE OLD TEAMS...AND THIS TEAM DEFENSIVELY IS NOT EVEN IN THE SAME ARENA AS THS SAC QUEENS!!!!YOU GOTTA BE SMARTEER THAN THAT...DON'T BET W/YOUR HEART...
good points by CedarCreeker...also Spurs went very cold shooting, not simply a credit to Laker 'D'. As well, the Spur win was supposed to be for the championship. Then you have to play six vs. a Wolves team with virtually no point guard and as you are getting gimpy, you get to play an ultra-physical, relentless team from the "no respect" conference.
Lakers changed 'D' vs. Parker and accomplished something. No variance is improving their headaches with Piston guards after THREE games, which makes me believe they have nothing left to counter with.
Pistons are pretty legitimately getting to the line more because they are more athletic. Lakers lazy, late getting in good position defensively...forced to foul or play total matador 'D' watching guys make layups. 17 extra attempts IS too much, granted, but I wouldn't say refs are leaning to any real extent.
Stern likes drama/game 7s - no argument, but no influence either. I believe there has been NO seven-game final in 14 YEARS, with the average length 5.3 games. There were 3 sweeps.
Lakers changed 'D' vs. Parker and accomplished something. No variance is improving their headaches with Piston guards after THREE games, which makes me believe they have nothing left to counter with.
Pistons are pretty legitimately getting to the line more because they are more athletic. Lakers lazy, late getting in good position defensively...forced to foul or play total matador 'D' watching guys make layups. 17 extra attempts IS too much, granted, but I wouldn't say refs are leaning to any real extent.
Stern likes drama/game 7s - no argument, but no influence either. I believe there has been NO seven-game final in 14 YEARS, with the average length 5.3 games. There were 3 sweeps.
IF THE LAKERS WIN GAME 4 THIS SERIES WILL HAVE A NEW LOOK TOO IT, IF LA CAN TIE THIS SERIES UP 2-2 THEY CAN AFFORD TO LOSE GAME 5 AND COME HOME DOWN 3-2 WHERE THEIR FANS WILL FIND A WAY TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH ENERGY TO WIN GAME 6 AND THEN GAME 7 COULD BE ANYONE'S GAME, BUT FIRST OFF WE MUST SEE LAKERS WIN GAME 4 BECAUSE IF DETROIT GOES UP 3-1 THIS SERIES MAY BE OVER IN 5 GAMES, BUT I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT, THESE ARE STILL THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS.....
