[OT] Basketball anyone?

[Mistwell]

I'm a big LA Clippers fan. Next year, the playoffs. (Mantra of the Clippers).

That means I like the underdog, and in this case it's Sac in the west (and I'm honestly not sure in the east. Both teams are kinda underdogs, and fun to watch). Sacramento has been trying so hard this year to play perfect, and it has been soooo long since they have made it even this far, that I would love to see them with a championship.

I'm also not a big Lakers fan. I really dislike the ego of Kobe Bryant, who is a great player, but who isn't as good as he thinks he is (and still has a lot to learn). Shaq I like, once I figured out his sense of humor. And Lakers fans are BORING. I swear I think most people who go to Lakers games are there as a social event, to conduct business, to eat, to hit on someone, to do anything other than watch the game. And most of them will leave before the game is even over, because getting out of the parking lot is more important to them than watching the final minutes of the game. Believe me, if the Lakers ever started to struggle to make it to the playoffs, most of their fans would disappear. I find most Lakers fans to be fair-whether fans. Give me a losing but exciting Clippers game to a winning but dull Lakers game any day.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

i hated the Divac flop even when he played for LA. there just shouldn't be any room for that mess in real games. he actually went down tonight, after a screen from Fisher. FISHER!!! the smallest guard on the lakers, supposedly knocked him down. what a waste.

True. Of course, I might even pay money to see him take a fall with Tony Delk driving against him. Now that'd be hillarious.

Originally posted by Flinx
I really really hope your predictions hold true Kajamba, but the Lakers can't wait for a one game do-or-die playoff. They have to buckle down NOW!

The Lakers' focus seemed to be way off, and they can't wait to buckle down, but I just don't see them losing at home, regardless of how good the Kings are. For that matter, the Kings damn near lost control of last night's game with their foul shooting. I think that's what worries me more than anything about their game. Their defense is (not always, but sometimes) spotty and their free throw shooting was heinous last night. Two things for them to think about over the next few days or so. As I said, I'd love to see Sacramento win, they're a fun team to watch (even though a lot of me wants Boston-L.A. in the worst way); I'm just not sure I see it happening.

Originally posted by Mistwell
I'm also not a big Lakers fan. I really dislike the ego of Kobe Bryant, who is a great player, but who isn't as good as he thinks he is (and still has a lot to learn).

I get into problems with the Lakers with the whole Shaq-Kobe bit, more than Kobe's ego. There's no real winners in that sort of divisive behavior, although if forced to pick a side, I'd say Shaq is right — most teams in this league do not have a body that can defend Shaq, so feed it to him down low, let him get his for three quarters, Kobe can have the downtime after they separate from the other team).

Best,
tKL

 

[drothgery]

boone, while a bit over the top, has it pretty close to right.

As an avid Kings fan since they came here in '85, I'm SO glad that the Lakers are having their insulting, arrogant words shoved down their throat with each game that this series goes on.

I'm actually quite pleased that the Kings won game 5 - they probably didn't deserve to nearly as much as they did Game 4.
But now they go back to the Staples Center, where they have pretty much owned the Lakers for all but .3 of a second in the playoffs. LOL

I've been waiting patiently for anyone to start a basketball thread to talk about these great playoffs.

I've been cheering for the Kings, though it's more because I'm a fan of fast-paced basketball where everyone's involved than because I'm a Kings fan. For much the same reason, I'm hoping the Nets win in the East.

No matter what the finals are, the West champ will win in 4 or 5 games, so they might as well be 4 or 5 fun to watch games (Kings-Nets), not 5 games of hack-a-Shaq (Lakers-Celtics).

 

[Weeble]

It's funny that in the after math of september 11th that the patriots won the superbowl.

It would be even more fitting for baby-boomers if the Lakers and the Celtics were in the playoffs again together-ratings are lower than they were back then, afterall.

But two "fresh" teams who have never been in the playoffs would be the direction I would like to see it go.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

No matter what the finals are, the West champ will win in 4 or 5 games, so they might as well be 4 or 5 fun to watch games (Kings-Nets), not 5 games of hack-a-Shaq (Lakers-Celtics).

Kings-Nets could be fun, but I think the Nets will be pretty ridiculously outclassed by the Kings or the Lakers. I don't think the Nets will be able to shut down the Kings offense, nor do I think the two-headed monster of MacCulloch-Williams will be able to do anything against Shaq except foul him. Either way, Lakers win, it's hack-a-Shaq time.

Oh well.

Best,
tKL

 

[Lazybones]

I've always been more into college ball (go Bears!), but I have to say I've really been sucked into all the Kings-mania here in cow-town.

I like the fact that the Lakers-Kings matchup is fast becoming one of the leading rivalries of the NBA. I can't remember a series as exciting as this one has been, and I think that game 6 will be an all-out slugfest. If the Kings can get their free-throw shooting back, and keep the pressure on Kobe/Shaq, then I think they'll take another game in LA.

After the back-to-back last minute wins, I can't wait to see what they serve up next.

Go Kings!

LB

 

[Boone]

wow, some people get so touchy and personal! you do realisethat it is just a game right? fun. remember fun? now go lie down, and take your heart medication. LOL (jus playin) i'm not even gonna try to respond to any of that. (draw whatever conclusions you want from it.) some people crack me up tho!

~NegZ

I guess the conclusion I will draw from it was that you had nothing to respond with and pawned it off that you didn't want to try to respond to it. Which in a way cracks me up.


The nightmare NBA Championship match up for the League is Kings vs. Nets.

Small market teams.... But the simple fact is that Kidd vs Bibby is interesting and thats were it ends NJ has no answer inside for Vlade or Webber. ...

Kings vs. Boston. ...... Boston has no depth... Walker and Peirce get locked up by Christie and a combo of Bobby jackson/Hedo/bibby and also have no answer inside.


Oh... also when the Zen master was asked "why wasn't Kobe on Bibby on that inbounds play? " Phil responded "Kobe didn't want to be on Bibby" telling him he didn't feel comfortable with guarding him...

...Way to go Zen Master... you are truly worst master motivator of all time. Any one have a clue what Pat Reilly would of told Kobe...? Real simple... Pat would of looked at Kobe and simple said in a oh so Reilly way, " I don't care if your not comfortable or not... you get yourself comfortable for the next 13.5 seconds and stopp Bibby from scoring... you are our superstar and we need you to deffend like one...don't let you team down.

....... result being.... Kobe elevates his defense ... bibby isn't even open for the pass and Webber make some pathetic shot attempt that doesn't touch the rim .. Lakers win.

 

[Flinx]

Okay, I missed most of tonight's game (East, Game 5). What the heck happened to the Celtics at the end? I got the impression that it was close until the fourth quarter when NJ got a 20-1 run or something like that. The Celtics have a way of getting themselves into holes and then fighting there way out. Unfortunately, getting into a hole in the fourth quarter is just a bad idea.

In response to some of the comments made about the Lakers that I just read (doggone sleeping and working! ), yeah, okay, the team is mostly Kobe and Shaq. But Kobe is awesome and Shaq is the biggest bully on the block and everybody knows it. Like 'em or not, they're a great combo. I also don't think the rest of the team is as bad as others think. They are just outshone by the other stars.

That being said, Sac definitely plays better team ball. They work the ball around better and have more go-to guys. Does that mean they'll win the West? Not if LA is on top of there game. Unfortunately, that can be a big 'if' at times. I guess that's why these playoffs have been fun.

 

[Black Omega]

This makes three games in a row the Celtics have gotten off to horrible starts. Unless they find some way to actually show up and play in the 1st Quarter, I'm afraid this series be over next game. Very disappointing.

 

[drothgery]

I guess the conclusion I will draw from it was that you had nothing to respond with and pawned it off that you didn't want to try to respond to it. Which in a way cracks me up.


The nightmare NBA Championship match up for the League is Kings vs. Nets.

Small market teams....

Err, the Nets play in that tiny market of New York City, even if the Knicks get more local coverage.

Sacremento is less than 100 miles from the SF/Oakland/San Jose area, and I'd wager the Kings get a lot more press in the Bay Area than the Warriors do.