[quote]Xeneize wrote:
Cool pic of Farmar rebound.[/quote]
Looks like a cartoon slipping on a banana peel.
[quote]Eielson wrote:
I’m a Laker fan but Vujacic really pisses me off sometimes. Shooting that 3 before the buzzer is another reason why I wouldn’t mind letting him go at the end of the season.[/quote]
That’s now two times by two different players this series that the Lakers have hoisted a three at the final buzzer after the Spurs had conceded. Farmar did the same at the end of Game 2.
I’m quickly reminded of why I’ve never liked the show-boat Lakers.
Even so, I’ve got to give the devil his due. Way back in this thread, I said that I didn’t like the Lakers chances vs. the Spurs. Later, I said that I didn’t think they’d win an easy, short series.
I was wrong on both counts. Strong performance by the Lakers, as the Spurs just ran out of fresh legs.
Thursday, May 29th Recap:
- Lakers defeat 3) Spurs 100-92: Kobe Bryant went off for 39 points, Pau Gasol had 12 points and 19 boards, and the Lakers return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004. Tim Duncan finished with a triple double (19/15/10) and Tony Parker had 23 points for the Spurs, who will not be defending their title this season.
Stud of the Night: Kobe Bryant. Tonight’s game is the reason why he is the NBA’s MVP. 39 points, including 17 points in the critical fourth quarter, helped the Lakers erase an early 17-point deficit, and his Lakers now have a chance to play for the crown.
Just want to elaborate on Kobe a little bit:
What a performance from the MVP tonight. This year, he has proven himself as a leader, a better team player, and really elevated the overall aspect of his game. All of us know he’s a great scorer and defender, but it was the intangibles that he really improved on this year, and it shows.
Last year, the Lakers were 42-40, and lost to the Suns in the first round as a 7-seed. This year, in one of the most competitive conference races in recent memory, he leads his Lakers to 57 wins and a 1-seed. The addition of Pau Gasol, the emergence of role players, and the ability for Kobe to really step up for his team was phenomenal.
One more series win, and he can get the dirt off his shoulder about not being a leader, being second fiddle to Shaq, along for the ride on the first three championships, etc. He has proven himself, and with a NBA title, he will go down as one of the best ever to play the game.
His game developed like Jordan: wanted to be a big-time scorer at first, was all about himself, but became a better team player and made everyone else around him better.
Kobe Bryant: your time is now. Make it happen.
Kobe will have the perfect season if he wins the title and is finals mvp, then goes on to win an easy olympic title.
[quote]Eielson wrote:
I’m a Laker fan but Vujacic really pisses me off sometimes. Shooting that 3 before the buzzer is another reason why I wouldn’t mind letting him go at the end of the season.[/quote]
I think he got caught up in the moment. It definitely was not the classy thing to do and I wish he would have just held on to the ball.
http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/e/5/e52ef-lakers5.jpg
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Thursday, May 29th Recap:
- Lakers defeat 3) Spurs 100-92: Kobe Bryant went off for 39 points, Pau Gasol had 12 points and 19 boards, and the Lakers return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004. Tim Duncan finished with a triple double (19/15/10) and Tony Parker had 23 points for the Spurs, who will not be defending their title this season.
Stud of the Night: Kobe Bryant. Tonight’s game is the reason why he is the NBA’s MVP. 39 points, including 17 points in the critical fourth quarter, helped the Lakers erase an early 17-point deficit, and his Lakers now have a chance to play for the crown.[/quote]
Stud of the night scores two of his 39.
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Just want to elaborate on Kobe a little bit:
What a performance from the MVP tonight. This year, he has proven himself as a leader, a better team player, and really elevated the overall aspect of his game. All of us know he’s a great scorer and defender, but it was the intangibles that he really improved on this year, and it shows.
Last year, the Lakers were 42-40, and lost to the Suns in the first round as a 7-seed. This year, in one of the most competitive conference races in recent memory, he leads his Lakers to 57 wins and a 1-seed. The addition of Pau Gasol, the emergence of role players, and the ability for Kobe to really step up for his team was phenomenal.
One more series win, and he can get the dirt off his shoulder about not being a leader, being second fiddle to Shaq, along for the ride on the first three championships, etc. He has proven himself, and with a NBA title, he will go down as one of the best ever to play the game.
His game developed like Jordan: wanted to be a big-time scorer at first, was all about himself, but became a better team player and made everyone else around him better.
Kobe Bryant: your time is now. Make it happen.[/quote]
Well said, TMoney.
[quote]Xeneize wrote:
Eielson wrote:
I’m a Laker fan but Vujacic really pisses me off sometimes. Shooting that 3 before the buzzer is another reason why I wouldn’t mind letting him go at the end of the season.
I think he got caught up in the moment. It definitely was not the classy thing to do and I wish he would have just held on to the ball.[/quote]
x2. The game was in hand, the Spurs stopped playing defense, it was over. I don’t remember if it was Doug Collins or Marv Albert (I think DC), but he said Finley shot Vujacic a dirty look after he took the shot.
Even if the shot didn’t go in, it was totally unnecessary to even attempt a shot at that juncture in the game.
[quote]Xeneize wrote:
shizen wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
As Game 5 of Lakers-Spurs approaches, a couple of things from Game 4.
The Barry/Fisher incident and the Lakers’ shot hitting the rim but being ruled an airball in the waning seconds aside, there were a couple of other iffy calls:
-
When Parker went in for that layup that was called goaltending on Odom, replays CLEARLY showed that was a block. It’s not even disputable. That was a blown call.
-
On Barry’s last second shot, before Fisher even jumped, Barry traveled. It wasn’t called, but by the letter of the NBA law, it was traveling. He established his right foot as his pivot foot and then lifted and stepped with it before dribbling.
That said, I don’t have a big problem with the Barry walk not being called, as the NBA doesn’t apply the traveling rule consistently, and many stars, including Kobe get away with similar plays a lot.
The bottom line is that the NBA should really take a look at improving the consistency of the officiating, which is highly subjective and all over the map at times.
I think just letting players play is better then constantly blowing the whistle and slowing down the game. Of course you should call blatant fouls or travels but for the most part just let the game go on.
As a general rule, I definitely agree with you.[/quote]
I agree as well. Just let them play the game. Technically, I’m sure a foul could be called on every possession, but the refs let the ticky-tack fouls slide most of the time.
I’m not saying it should be like streetball, where there are no refs and basically anything goes, but the flow of the game sometimes can be interrupted by too many unnecessary foul calls.
And on that kick, is it just me or does it seem like Derek Fisher gets a whistle on some of the slightest/“oh come on ref” contact possible, at least once a game?
I would like to say Sasha just got caught up in the moment, but on the court he seems to do boneheaded things like that quite a bit. Still though, we would not be here without him.
[quote]Malevolence wrote:
I would like to say Sasha just got caught up in the moment, but on the court he seems to do boneheaded things like that quite a bit. Still though, we would not be here without him.[/quote]
I hope in a quieter moment, his teammates/coaches take him aside and say, look dude, that wasn’t cool. Think a little.
I’m not going to hold it against him forever, but I hope it doesn’t happen again. Getting back to the finals and dispatching the Spurs in 5 should be reward enough.
[quote]Malevolence wrote:
I would not be at all surprised if this series only goes to 5. [/quote]
Just wanted to give Malevolence some props for this call on Lakers-Spurs a few pages back.
The whole sasha thing is not THAT big of a deal, he is a young player and kind of a airhead at times I really doubt he was doing it to cause any harm.
Anyways I’ll be rooting for the Celtics now, a Lakers Celtics series would be awesome.
[quote]shizen wrote:
The whole sasha thing is not THAT big of a deal, he is a young player and kind of a airhead at times I really doubt he was doing it to cause any harm.
Anyways I’ll be rooting for the Celtics now, a Lakers Celtics series would be awesome. [/quote]
It’s not just that, I’ve watched that ugly kid play quite a bit. A few of the big reasons I don’t like him are shooting that three, getting that technical against the Jazz for stupid reasons, and nicknaming himself “Machine.” Who nicknames themselves? And machine? Are you kidding me?
[quote]tGunslinger wrote:
I’m quickly reminded of why I’ve never liked the show-boat Lakers.[/quote]
It’s a couple of backups that made those shots. I’m going to guess that you’re like most people and just don’t like the Lakers because they’re good.
[quote]Malevolence wrote:
And on that kick, is it just me or does it seem like Derek Fisher gets a whistle on some of the slightest/“oh come on ref” contact possible, at least once a game?[/quote]
He gets rewarded for the lack of flopping, and acting. As he uses his strength to still make shots. It’s difficult to tell how hard someone got fouled if they don’t flail their hands all around like a maniac and actually try to make a shot. Many of these players are strong enough to shoot through the shots they take.
I’m sure this plays a part in why Barry didn’t get that foul, while it could’ve gone either way, I’m sure the refs are getting tired of people trying to create contact to get a foul versus trying to score. I don’t see how the officials felt a need to make a statement that Barry got fouled. He got Fisher in the air then decided to go right in to him to draw a foul versus avoiding him and trying to shoot.
Tony Paker falls about 20 feet every time he drives to the hole.
I actually meant it the other way around. FISH gets the foul called against him.
It seems like at least once a game, Fish gets a call for some of the most insignificant contact. Usually while running back in transition defense and usually in the late first quarter or early 2nd quarter.
It just kind of happens, where D(and Phil) look completely astonished, but play resumes after a quick inbound.
Just something I have noticed.