Kobe looked great, incredible until the last two minutes. Was he tired? I have been thinking lately that Kobe seems to defy normal human aging. But no one can defy nature forever. Of course I’m bitter because Ginobli was hurt all season and Duncan’s knees seem to be degrading in right in front of my eyes. Still, I have no doubt that Kobe will get his fourth ring and first without Shaq.
Great start by Kobe, not so great finish, including 5 missed FT’s, when he is shooting 90% for the playoffs. Very uncharacteristic for Kobe. I expected the Magic to win Game 3, let’s see if the Magic keep up the momentum or if LA goes up 3-1. Kobe cannot let this game bother him. He has to forget about it and prepare for Game 4.
Howard gets hammered by Odom.
Rashard Lewis seals the Magic’s first-ever Finals victory.
[quote]Malevolence wrote:
Magic won a game that most people expected them to win. But, despite shooting an NBA record 63% from the field, LA was at their heels the entire time, even tying it in the final minutes. Couple of blown plays down the end(by Kobe no less) and the Lakers come up short, but if I’m the Lakers I have nothing to be ashamed of. I just hope Kobe doesn’t beat himself up over this too much. [/quote]
I think the series is still a foregone conclusion. Doesn’t mean the Lakers can just ease up, but they are just a better team. Orlando played the game of its life, shot better than any team in the Finals ever, got two phantom points on that ridiculous Pitreaus double dribble layup, and sitll barely won. I expect LA to be all business for Game 4 and for Kobe to close the deal down the stretch.
[quote]strungoutboy21 wrote:
Say what you want about James, but he will never have such a pretty turn-around jumper as Kobe does.
The Lakers have a lot of bandwagon fans because they are from LA which is in socal. People in southern california aren’t as hardcore about sports as other cities and states are.
Go Lakers btw.[/quote]
Never said he was pretty. Just the dominance on the court is pretty damn incredible for somone under 7’3.
I doubt he’ll ever have the amount of offensive weaponry Kobe has. Kobe is like a military store with grenade launchers, spy camera’s, bazookas, Batmobiles, bonds cars, Lebron is just a tank.
Kobe got hammered last night when he didn’t have the ball and they didn’t call shit, I guess homecourt really does help.
Orlando really has the chemistry like the pistons a few years ago where they are just all confident in each other, whatever Stan van gundy does to get them working together is one hell of a job.
That’s orlando’s 1, i’m still with lakers in 5
Despite the loss, that was a hell of a game by the Lakers. The Magic were playing at home, shot 64% from the field, had few turnovers, yet only won by two.
At this point, I’d pick LA to win the series, but it’s not nearly the done deal some of you making it out to be. Courtney Lee makes one layup, and Orlando is winning 2-1.
“A series doesn’t start until somebody wins on the road.” Thus far, the home teams are 3-0. Neither team has done anything but hold serve up to now.
[quote]tGunslinger wrote:
Despite the loss, that was a hell of a game by the Lakers. The Magic were playing at home, shot 64% from the field, had few turnovers, yet only won by two.
At this point, I’d pick LA to win the series, but it’s not nearly the done deal some of you making it out to be. Courtney Lee makes one layup, and Orlando is winning 2-1.
“A series doesn’t start until somebody wins on the road.” Thus far, the home teams are 3-0. Neither team has done anything but hold serve up to now. [/quote]
Aside from game one, Bryant hasn’t played well and last night he was miserable down the stretch and the Lakers are still up 2-1.He just looks plain tired. Kobe’s gonna pull his shit together and they’re gonna close this thing out. I predict the next two games are statement games from Bryant. Also, was watching some show on ESPN this morning and Andre Iguodala [sp?] was a guest. He said if the Lakers win that Bryant goes down as the 2nd best player ever, and if they don’t he’s still top 10. I’ve noticed how people in the media tend to side with LeBron as the best, but active players all side with Bryant. Think that’s pretty telling.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
tGunslinger wrote:
Despite the loss, that was a hell of a game by the Lakers. The Magic were playing at home, shot 64% from the field, had few turnovers, yet only won by two.
At this point, I’d pick LA to win the series, but it’s not nearly the done deal some of you making it out to be. Courtney Lee makes one layup, and Orlando is winning 2-1.
“A series doesn’t start until somebody wins on the road.” Thus far, the home teams are 3-0. Neither team has done anything but hold serve up to now.
Aside from game one, Bryant hasn’t played well and last night he was miserable down the stretch and the Lakers are still up 2-1.He just looks plain tired. Kobe’s gonna pull his shit together and they’re gonna close this thing out. I predict the next two games are statement games from Bryant. Also, was watching some show on ESPN this morning and Andre Iguodala [sp?] was a guest. He said if the Lakers win that Bryant goes down as the 2nd best player ever, and if they don’t he’s still top 10. I’ve noticed how people in the media tend to side with LeBron as the best, but active players all side with Bryant. Think that’s pretty telling. [/quote]
That’s a very good point about people in the media and casual fans seem to side with LeBron, while active players tend to say Bryant is still the top guy. Most basketball insiders, general managers, coaching staffers and scouts pretty much say Kobe is the man right now.
BTW, I like what T-Nation has done with the photos. When you click on them now, you get a MUCH larger image than you used to. Nice touch.
[quote]Xeneize wrote:
That’s a very good point about people in the media and casual fans seem to side with LeBron, while active players tend to say Bryant is still the top guy. Most basketball insiders, general managers, coaching staffers and scouts pretty much say Kobe is the man right now.
BTW, I like what T-Nation has done with the photos. When you click on them now, you get a MUCH larger image than you used to. Nice touch.
[/quote]
Yeah good point about Kobe > LBJ among people inside the game, and last time I checked, opinions inside the game > opinions outside the game. Game recognizes game.
And yeah the enlarged pics are pretty sweet. Preciate ya Xen on all the pics you’ve added throughout the playoffs.
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
That’s a very good point about people in the media and casual fans seem to side with LeBron, while active players tend to say Bryant is still the top guy. Most basketball insiders, general managers, coaching staffers and scouts pretty much say Kobe is the man right now.
BTW, I like what T-Nation has done with the photos. When you click on them now, you get a MUCH larger image than you used to. Nice touch.
Yeah good point about Kobe > LBJ among people inside the game, and last time I checked, opinions inside the game > opinions outside the game. Game recognizes game.
And yeah the enlarged pics are pretty sweet. Preciate ya Xen on all the pics you’ve added throughout the playoffs.[/quote]
No sweat, T. Wish I could have been more timely, but work is a bitch this year.
I meant to post this during te first five minutes of Game 4, cuz I noticed the Lakers had that sleepy look like they did against the Rockets when they got blown out. It may be a 20+ point Magic victory tonight. Thought they’d come out strong, but I guess they fooled me again.
Well, the Lakers made me look foolish all right, for straying from my original thought of how Game 4 would go. Not that I mind. Thanks, D-Fish!
Derek Fisher came up clutch late after a miserable night of shooting, and missed Free Throws KILLED the Magic, absolutely just cost them the series(barring ridiculous miracles).
[quote]red04 wrote:
Derek Fisher came up clutch late after a miserable night of shooting, and missed Free Throws KILLED the Magic, absolutely just cost them the series(barring ridiculous miracles).[/quote]
Yes, the magics SHOULD have won…
The ending of the game did not disapoint. Even though Gasol shouldn’t have probably dunked that shot at the end, that was a stupid flagrant foul by Pietrus.
That and Nelson played some bad defense on Fisher before he tied the game with that three pointer.
Can’t wait for the parade!
When does NFL start?
fucking Lakers! I wanted them to fucking lose. In the final minutes I kept yelling" YOUR NOT JORDAN KOBE, YOU AINT GOT SHIT, MICHEAL JORDAN SCARES ME BUT NOT YOU, yOUR NOT JORDAN!! well I found out today that he’s not jordan. He’ Kobe Bryant! Damn, I can’t deny it. I’m crushed but I cANt deny it.