Nba

[JJDinsay]

Hey, I didn't see the Larry Bird comment. Please oh please I hope I'm wrong about LA, winning. You gotta give it to the Pistons, they are playing an awesome game. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze.

[Dradam]

I moved to Thailand from Oakland, CA about 8 months ago. In Oakland, playing basketball is given more respect than going to college (unless you are going to college in order to play basketball). The problem with streetball is that players want attention. They want to be noticed. Kobe Bryant is a good example of this. He takes 25 shots in a game and makes 8. His score shows 20 points but the fact that he took 325 shots to get that point total is what is killing the lakers. Poeple can blame Malone, Payton, or O'Neal but the true reason for the Lakers failure is Kobe. He wants to be the hero.

O'Neal is making 75% of his shots. Perhaps Phil Jackson should sit Kobe and Fisher on the bench for the rest of the playoffs and see if his Lakers can win.

[JJDinsay]

Hey, not that I'm a Kobe lover or anything but you can't take his status as one of the greatest NBA stars out there because he overshoots. Same thing can be said about MJ about him taking a ridiculous amount of shots but you can't discount all the things he did on the court. Kobe has pulled magic out of his ass and the Lakers have benefitted. How can the Lakers be a better team without Kobe? I don't know about the attention either, 1st of all he gets it already and I don't think getting attention is as much on his head as winning - the guy wants the ball when he counts and he steps up, you can't fault a guy for wanting to win the game. As far as Shaq, I don't have my stats and I could be wrong but 75% of his shots are high percentage shots, he's down low close to the basket, he's 300+ pounds, 7 ft+ tall and is the most dominating player in that position, how could he not have 75%? Though he is not getting the ball as much as he should and that's a mistake the Lakers will regret IF they lose.

I wonder how many people who have been following the Series would sit Kobe out for the remaining games if they were Phil Jackson?

Man I Hope They Lose

[Dradam]

I keep hearing that the Lakers don't have the depth of roster that Pistons have. I hear commentators say that the Pistons have a deeper bench. Playoffs are not about how deep your bench is. It is about how well conditioned your starters are. In the playoffs the starters must play 90% of the time. That is how the Pistons are winning. It only takes 5 people on the court. Bench can be insignificant if the 5 players are well-conditioned and stay out of foul trouble. The Laker starters are only playing 70%

[mbkudu]

A lot of the commentators are full of s###. When the finals began a few days ago

Tom Tolbert and Brian Scott both said, Lakers in 5, without any hesitation whatsoever. The Pistons have great shooters, but if you were to ask me who the MVP of the finals should be, I would without a bit of hesitation say, Ben Wallace.

His offensive and defensive rebounding prowess has enabled Detroit to get a lot

of second chance baskets off misses and to reset fresh shot clocks on misses.

His physical dominance has not shut down Shaq, but he has kept him under control.

[Dradam]

I am being pretty harsh on Kobe but I think he deserves it. Some of his shots (even the ones he made) were the most idiotic choices I have seen (triple teamed at the three point line, plenty of time left on the shot clock, hurls it up, it goes in). He has shot 30% in the 3 games the Lakers lost. When I play basketball, if I see my shot is not going that day, I quit shooting and concentrate on passing and defense unless I get an easy shot. I agree that Kobe is a superstar. One of the best players in the NBA. Maybe he needs another felony court appearance to sharpen his shooting touch.

I have to put my vote with Rasheed for MVP. The fact that he hasn't lost his temper is a miracle. Rasheed is one of the best players in the NBA but in the past he has had the mind of a two year old. The Lakers need to have someone get into Rasheed's head and force him to self-destruct. A healthy Malone would have done that with ease. Rasheed is also too good at shooting 3 pointers for a gimpy Malone to guard him or a slow Shaq.

Shaq has run all over Ben. Ben is an amazing player but is helpless against Shaq. I can't see Ben getting the MVP unless it is based on his entire season and not the finals. If Shaq's 70% FG percentage is considered keeping Shaq under control than the Lakers must be hoping Ben continues this trend. It is unfair for Ben to guard Shaq. Ben has alot of heart though and has a much cooler temper than Rasheed. He is doing his best.

[mbkudu]

I think Shaq is the only thing the Lakers have going for them at the moment. The

Pistons know they can't stop him, but they can at least keep him on the foul line,

and it's pretty obvious that they are stopping all the other Lakers. I don't think Ben Wallace should be solely judged on his ability to guard Shaq. He is pretty much all over the court making plays; scoring is not his main duty, enabling others to score is and he's doing it.

[dfwbkk]

WOW! Lakers down by 23 going into the final quarter of the season.

The Pistons are humiliating them...what an outstanding performance.

Lakers look tired - dethroned - you guys reckon they will split up big time going into next season? Will even Phil Jackson be there?

/// DFW

[mbkudu]

The Pistons absolutely killed them. I never thought they would win by so many points, just spectacular. It was like watching a pro team humiliate a college team.

This was one of the hardest choices for MVP; Doc Rivers said that the whole team

should get it. I agree. Chauncy Billups deserved it, but Ben Wallace was so important throughout. Through all my years of being a fan and watching the NBA

I've never seen a player a hit the boards like him.

As for the Lakers, I could care less about them. There are a few that I like though, Derek Fisher and Kareem Rush. You've got to wonder what Malone will

do. I guess you got to feel for the guy, but I always thought he was kind of a jerk

when he played with Utah. I felt pretty bad when Patrick Ewing retired without a ring because he was a great guy, Malone and Payton I'm not so sure.

Cheers to the Detroit Pistons, there is an NBA God after all!

[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.

Sorry JJ to rub your nose in it, but isn't this fun! I can't get too gleeful though, my team, the Kings were finished long, long ago. It's just so great to see the Lakers lose and a team as awsome as Detroit win it.

[JJDinsay]

Yes rub my nose in it, I don't care, the Pistons WON!!!!!!! Woooooohoooooooo. Anybody but the Lakers. ###### good game, I'm glad I was completely off, I guess there are Cinderella stories after all. Probably going to be some soul searching now for the Lakers, Jackson said chances of him returning are "slim", Kobe might stay a Laker or might be starting 5 for the cell block D in Colorado penitentiary, what about Shaq? If he goes, what will the Lakers do? Soooooooooooooooo happy that they won and I'm glad that I was wrong. Good thing I didn't make any bets. Any Y didn't Billups play like that for the Celtics? Guess Joe Dumars did a smart thing passing over Carmello Anthony for him.

[mbkudu]

Ben Wallace is the foundation pillar for that team. He's the Mac Fro Daddy!

[JJDinsay]

######, Wallace was an animal!! Dat guy was everywhere. ###### Larry Brown's wife is a hottie.

[mbkudu]

I can't believe someone else was thinking the same thing I was, well maybe I can. She is totally f###### hot!! What a night for Larry! He and his team win the

NBA championship and then he gets to go home and slip into the sack with that babe all naked and s@@@. Yah, she is a babe.

I'm still in shock over the whole thing. I seriously think they have a chance at a few more. They are rock solid and still relatively young. They have younger players in training (Darko Millicic) and a killer coach. They also have salary cap space. It still puzzles me how the Lakers got whipped so bad by Detroit yet were able to beat teams like San Antonio

and Minnisota, weird.

Next year I hope the Kings can get their act together and do something like this.

This was a big lesson to other teams in the league; a big wake up call.

[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!

Woohoo! So Detroit won, as I hoped. There was no rioting afterwards, either, unlike the 1984 title. This is real progress for Detroit. We might be ready for a SuperBowl, after all. Downtown they are selling loft conversions faster than they can renovate them, and for a lot more money than I can afford.

If that jerk Ilitch would just spend some money on the Lions and get more than one good player; or if the Tigers would keep a pitcher instead of trading all the good ones away...

[mbkudu]

Did you even watch the game? I don't think you did. I'm never sure what to think of sports fans like you Cathy. I like your enthusiasm but you are like a guy I know.

He's always talking up the Yankees, the Knicks, the Islanders and the Jets. It's all very suspect to me. He'll even throw in a cheer for the Mets. Now that's pathetic.

[cathyy]

I watched ALL the games in the finals, thank you. Detroit dominated the Lakers in every game. I watch every game I can in the NCAA basketball tournament, too. I've predicted the winner there before the college basketball season has even started. But that's mostly guesswork. Watch Texas Tech...they'll have it within 3 years.

What's wrong with showing a bit of support for your home teams? I only posted because NOBODY else had even mentioned Detroit as a contender, and I thought they were. And I turned out to be right.

My husband picks and chooses teams from around the country to support. But he can't really follow a team, because the games aren't shown. If you actually enjoy watching a sport, the home team is the way to go. You'll see all the games, ticket sales allowing.

[mbkudu]

So I guess you saw how totally hot Larry Brown's wife is?

[dfwbkk]

So I guess you saw how totally hot Larry Brown's wife is?

She's hot - and she looks so much like that lady on JAG. (Catherine Bell)

JAG Lady (Col. McKenzie)

Now, the rats are leaving the sinking Laker's ship..next year will be great! Where will Shaq and Kobe end up?

/// DFW

[mbkudu]

Tracy McGrady is also requesting a trade out of Orlando. I really hope he goes to

the Sacramento Kings. I have a suspicion that Kobe Bryant will remain a Laker and Shaq will leave. Next year will definitely be a shake up year in the NBA.

[cathyy]

While I'm not qualified to determine whether ot not Larry Brown's wife is hot, (I decide whether men are not) I will freely admit she's highly decorative. A very nice-looking brunette. I truthfully spent more time looking at the players, they being of more interest to me on more than one level!

[mbkudu]

Cathy, you have no argument from me here. That series was absolutely great

and game 5 was one of the best displays of NBA basketball I've seen (Jordan

and the Bulls taking down Utah in Utah in Jordan's last year as a Bull).

Ben Wallace is just such a good all around player that he made the Lakers look like fools, and then when you have as many other good players on the Pistons team, it becomes a complete breakdown for LA. I think one other reason for LA's

demise was a lack of communication between Phil Jackson and his players, and a lack

of communication between Bryant and his team mates and coach, D'oh!

I have no sympathy for them and Hollywood. I hope Jack Nicholson is slumped over a bar somewhere crying.

[mbkudu]

Just wondering what you guys think of the latest trades; Stve Nash going to Phoenix, Tracy McGrady going to Houston and maybe Shaq going to Dallas?

I think Dallas blew it big time letting go of Nash. Watching Yao Ming and T-Mac

play will be very interesting indeed. Shaq? I think the Lakers will find a way to keep him.

[dfwbkk]

Mavs blew it? Perhaps...I do find it troublesome...they're still dreaming about landing Shaq but that woulda required Stevie in the picture somehow. I think the decision not to match the Suns lucrative offer came down to his longevity. He has 2-3-4 great years left in him - but most likely not 6, given his all-out style. He has had some injuries already.

Rookie guard (Kevin Harris) together with Marqueese Daniels will work a couple of years down the line. Walker still there. Josh Howard?...

/// dfw