Nba

[mbkudu]

To tell you the truth I would like to see Sacramento trade Webber. I think he's holding the team back. Now, I hate to say this right after your post, Dradam, but

Tracy McGrady in my opinion would be the perfect fit for the Kings.

[JJDinsay]

I don't understand how a player like Weber can hold a team like the Kings back. He was a core part of the team that got them going when nobody paid any serious attention to the Kings. Same could be said for Jay Will who's style of play brought the Kings some excitement but he did have to go cause he was shooting too much. As far as McGrady, the guys awesome he could bring a lot to any team he comes to. But who cares, as long as Shaq and Kobe are on the Lakers the whole issue is kinda moot, although I'm pulling for Detroit, I doubt its going to happen

[mbkudu]

I have nothing against Chris Webber, but I remember that during the season when the Kings played without him, they did fine and sometimes even played better. He's just not the player he once was. I think they need someone else to get them further. I lost $100.00 on the T-Wolves/ Lakers series, so I'm not betting on the finals, But I sure would like to see Detroit kick their Hollywood a$$es. Realistically I don't see it happening though.

[cathyy]

Woohoo! Detroit going for the title! I hope they do well. It's tough to live here since the RedWings have slipped. The Lions and Tigers ALWAYS suck. So those Pistons are our only hope for glory any time soon!

[mbkudu]

This is their best chance. They've got some kick a$$ players in Ben Wallace,

Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton and others. It will be tough, but they are tough, so we'll see what happens. BEAT LA!

[dfwbkk]

Sad to say - but the Lakers should grab it in no more than 6 games...

Remember some 30 games into the season when half of the country expected (hoping!) that the Lakers would actually miss the play-offs?

I'm a Mavs fan myself. They'll come back strong next year - needs to get rid off Walker and Bradley and bring in a real center though to contend!

/// DFW

[mbkudu]

What's wrong with Walker, I thought he was good for Boston and he's a ###### good shooter for Dallas. Dallas is one of those teams I can't figure out why they don't do better during the playoffs. They've got a great coach, Newitzski is awesome, Nash, Finley all great players, but oh well. I am a Kings fan and they are the true heart breakers. Sometimes I think they are cursed, but then I look at the Warriors year after year, now that's a pitiful team. They're up $$$$ creek because their owner is an idiot. You can't just fire the owner.

[dfwbkk]

Walker is an excellent player in many aspects. He brings the ball to the basket like few others. He has a good eye and soft hands...but he just can score on a consistant level! He misses more 3-pointers than any other frequent shooter in the NBA and I can't even begin to tell you how many lay-ups he missed this year (which is so frustrating because it was often a brilliant move that got him to the basket in the first place!!!)

Also, the Mavs are salary-capped and he commands 15.4 mill next year...they'll probably expose him to the expansion team - and if that doesn't happen they will trade him for a center...

Mavs does indeed have the foundation to be a great team (last year they went down in 6 in Western Conference finals, but this yr they deflated early).

Out west my second team would indeed be the Kings... they've been in the same spot that the Mavs are right now - one dissapointing play-off after another..

[mbkudu]

dfwbkk, this new expansion team, are they called the Bobcats? Maybe they are replacing the Charlotte Hornets but I'm unsure.

[dfwbkk]

dfwbkk, this new expansion team, are they called the Bobcats? Maybe they are replacing the Charlotte Hornets but I'm unsure.

You're absolutely right.

Check out http://www.nba.com/bobcats/ for the inside scoop.

Bringing NBA back to NC after the Hroents flew off to New Orleans...

[dfwbkk]

Dang, I did mean to write Hornets, my posting kinda lost its fang due to that error...

[dfwbkk]

Lakers just went down at home in game 1. Pistons won a strange game 87-75...

This might actually turn really interesting now. The schedule is one more game in LaLa-land and then 3 consecutive games in Motown... could they possibly??

/// DFW

[mbkudu]

DFW, the Pistons are playing guerilla warfare style basketball. Defense is their

specialty and that game certainly proved it's credibility. If the Pistons hadn't turned the ball over as much, it would have been an embarassment for the lakers, instead they got off easy. However, Phil Jackson is a very crafty coach. After a first game loss he will make adjustments to counter Detroit. The pistons looked

confident and solid though; even defensive machine, Ben Wallace was making key

outside shots. Their defense was clean as well, the Lakers were hardly ever at the line taking free throws. We can only see and hope for a Detroit Triumph.

[dfwbkk]

5 minutes to go of the 2nd game and they're tied at 75.

Shaq on the bench with 5 fouls...

Go Motown!

/// DFW

[dfwbkk]

Nooooo!

Kobe makes a long 3 to tie with 2 seconds to go. Defensive mistake by Hamilton. Lakers kill em in OT and grab it 99-91.

I feel like crying...

/// DFW

[mbkudu]

Oh, come on! This is just the beginning. Everyone and especially the Lakers have

underestimated how good the Pistons are. It's going to be an all out fight to the finish. I'm not predicting anything on this one.

[huski]

Nooooo!

Kobe makes a long 3 to tie with 2 seconds to go. Defensive mistake by Hamilton. Lakers kill em in OT and grab it 99-91.

I feel like crying...

very sorry to see you feel like crying...please do not look at this picture

[mbkudu]

Last year's finals was awsome seeing all those Hollywood twits on the sidelines

at Staple's Center crying. Half of those halfwit actors aren't even from California,

mostly New York and the Midwest; absolutely no loyalty, pure bandwagon jumpers.

At least Spike Lee is true to his roots; we only see him on the sidelines in New York when the Knicks play. BEAT LA!

[JJDinsay]

Oh how I wish it were true - but this is the NBA not the NCAA - no Cinderella stories here. The Pistons will win one more game and that's it. They played an awesome game tonight just to stay with the Lakers and in the end was gunned down by Kobe. Freakin Lakers, can be down by 10 in the 4th with 1 minute left and it can still be considered close. Although, I wish so bad that Detroit will win this, there is no way the Lakers will go down. Shaq and Kobe - unstoppable.

[dfwbkk]

Freakin Lakers, can be down by 10 in the 4th with 1 minute left and it can still be considered close.  Although, I wish so bad that Detroit will win this, there is no way the Lakers will go down.  Shaq and Kobe - unstoppable.

Interestingly Phil Jackson said after the game that "Luke Walton was in my mind the player of the game".

At the press conference: "You can talk about my shot all night long but without Luke we would not be in that position," said Bryant.

Dad must've been proud up in the stands. You gotta admire Jr's effort, poise and determination.

It takes more than the awesome force of Kobe and Shaq to beat the Pistons - this time it was Luke who rose to the occasion.

Still - now it's 3 straight games up in Motown. Anything - ANYTHING - can happen!!

/// DFW

[mbkudu]

Oh how I wish it were true - but this is the NBA not the NCAA - no Cinderella stories here. The Pistons will win one more game and that's it. They played an awesome game tonight just to stay with the Lakers and in the end was gunned down by Kobe. Freakin Lakers, can be down by 10 in the 4th with 1 minute left and it can still be considered close. Although, I wish so bad that Detroit will win this, there is no way the Lakers will go down. Shaq and Kobe - unstoppable.

The fat lady is not even close to singing yet. I won't predict a winner here because I don't want to jinx the team I hope wins. I do think that it will go to game 7. If the Pistons keep playing strong, smart, steady basketball they will take it. The

Lakers have all the firepower in the league but they are sporadic. Remember that these guys are beatable; the Spurs showed them that two years ago. I do think that Shaq and Kobe have improved since then but I don't think Payton and Malone have made them any better.

[Dradam]

I never expected the Pistons to play so well with the Lakers. It takes the Lakers eight minutes to score 10 points against Detroit so I disagree with the statement that the Lakers can be down by ten with one minute left and it is a close game. Detroit's defense is better than that.

The Mailman isn't delivering. The Glove is no longer as effective.

This will be a good series. I would have never given the Pistons a chance before. They play ugly. Their ugly play is affecting the Lakers as well.

[mbkudu]

It's hard to say this last game was ugly; that was some of the most beautiful basketball I've seen this whole playoffs. Detroit is just strangling the Lakers.

It was a complete team effort by every Piston; spot on!

[dfwbkk]

This series will reinforce the respect for the Eastern Conference. I myself had predicted that the Lakers would grab this in 5 games. Now I hope/believe that the Motown boys will actually grab it!!!

Outstanding! However, next year this will all be about the Mavs!!!!!

/// DFW

[Dradam]

Maybe this will bring a few tears to Lakers fans.

[bonsaimax]

LA buried alive in game 3. Guys, let's be realistic. It's ALL OVER for the Lakers! Malone does NOT deserve a ring!

[mbkudu]

Boys, the Pistons are a$$ kickin mofos who are gonna force Hollywood to its knees for a little crying game!

[bonsaimax]

..........they already are on their knees.......

[mbkudu]

I hope the Pistons aren't going to be preoccupied with this stupid Larry Bird thing.

I have a lot of respect for Bird, but I think his comments were plain idiotic. Why

would a true NBA fan want more white players in the game for the sake of ratings

and image; what crap! All this would do is degrade the game and water it down.

There aren't more white players in the game because there are so many better

black players. The only reason there are a lot of white Euros coming in is because

they have strong developmental leagues for younger players. Critics need to drop

the BS race card and start practicing more! Jason Kidd is one of the best point guards in the NBA, not because he's white or black, but because he grew up

on tough Oakland playgrounds playing streetball, not some sassy little suburban

white high school.

[mbkudu]

Pistons just thrashed the Lakers again; now they're up 3-1. Not too many Laker

fans on this forum, hahahahah! BEAT LA!!