Lakers

[HBCoug]

I've been harsh on Fisher all year, and he's deserved it actually. Tonight shows the value of sticking with guys who are champions. I still hate every time he drives and tries to finish a layup, but after this series he has a lifetime pardon from me. He can do no wrong from here out if they finish this off.

Again I hated the way Kobe played down the stretch. Thought it was bad basketball watching him dribble down the clock and take contested jumpers with teammates watching the isolations. To be fair, he wasn't going to get a foul call inside and the other guys looked like they had no desire to put up a shot off high pick. I don't think LA took a FT in the 4th Q or in OT until the flagrant. Howard was allowed to do whatever he wanted. Oh well, championship teams push through it and that's exactly what they did.

[Surfah]

I really think SVG is a quality coach, but I really think he made a mistake by benching Skip To My Lou for Nelson. Sure Nelson made a few plays, but with him on the floor the Lakers didn't have to worry much about him scoring. Alston gives the Magic another scorer on the floor. And he was torching Fisher.

[TripletDaddy]

I've been harsh on Fisher all year, and he's deserved it actually. Tonight shows the value of sticking with guys who are champions. I still hate every time he drives and tries to finish a layup, but after this series he has a lifetime pardon from me. He can do no wrong from here out if they finish this off.

Again I hated the way Kobe played down the stretch. Thought it was bad basketball watching him dribble down the clock and take contested jumpers with teammates watching the isolations. To be fair, he wasn't going to get a foul call inside and the other guys looked like they had no desire to put up a shot off high pick. I don't think LA took a FT in the 4th Q or in OT until the flagrant. Howard was allowed to do whatever he wanted. Oh well, championship teams push through it and that's exactly what they did.

Fisher stole these Finals. Every Finals has a "moment." Fisher just made that moment. Hats off to the Fish.

I smell a parade on Figueroa....NEXT WEEK!

Also, Jax deserves major props. Calling for that inbounds full-court seemed insane at the time. But he wanted to spread the floor to prevent the Magic from giving one quick foul. Spreading things out allowed Fish to get free. In the postgame with Rob Fukazaki, Jax explained that the play was drawn up for Fish and it worked as planned. Amazing.

PS Does Rashard Lewis EVER miss that stupid 3 point shot from the corner?

[Surfah]

Fisher stole these Finals. Every Finals has a "moment." Fisher just made that moment. Hats off to the Fish.

I smell a parade on Figueroa....NEXT WEEK!

Also, Jax deserves major props. Calling for that inbounds full-court seemed insane at the time. But he wanted to spread the floor to prevent the Magic from giving one quick foul. Spreading things out allowed Fish to get free. In the postgame with Rob Fukazaki, Jax explained that the play was drawn up for Fish and it worked as planned. Amazing.

PS Does Rashard Lewis EVER miss that stupid 3 point shot from the corner?

Yeah, I watched the press conference with Jax. Big time call. I thought it was dumb too to take the ball out full court.

I ripped on Ariza at the half and he stepped up big in the 3rd.

And yes, Lewis misses. He missed quite a bit tonight. But I was screaming as he got there with space on the one inbound play that Hedo called a TO on.

[TripletDaddy]

Dedicated to the Purple and Gold as they continue their climb to the top...and into our hearts!

[youtube]-Qae_TUTeGo[/youtube]

[TripletDaddy]

Does anyone buy the schtick about 30-year-old Kobe being fatigued? It couldn't possibly be that he's met a better team, heavens no not Kobe.

Shaq was 34 when he led Miami to the title. If Shaq can do it, certainly Kobe can too, right?

You are right on both counts. Kobe has not met a better team in this series and Kobe will lead his team to a title.

By the way, what was the answer to your trivia question? It is driving me nuts!

Trivia: since the NBA switched to the 2-3-2 format in the finals, only one team has been swept in the middle 3. Who was it?

[SipiTau]

"We lost this game because of our stupidness"-Hedo at the post game presser. Hearing that made me ROFL.

I still don't like how Kobe dominates the ball in the fourth quarter, but I'll take the win. This one isn't going back to LA.

[SipiTau]

Didn't Miami win their 3 at home, then went on to close out Dallas in the 6th?

[HBCoug]

"We lost this game because of our stupidness"-Hedo at the post game presser. Hearing that made me ROFL.

I still don't like how Kobe dominates the ball in the fourth quarter, but I'll take the win. This one isn't going back to LA.

Hope he choked on that tongue after his two baskets put them up 5 late. I guess you'd better make sure you've put a team away before you start acting like an ass. He pulled that same crap up 20 back in 2002 game 4 on the Kings...skipping across the court after made buckets. I wonder if he skipped back to the bus after Horry knocked down the game winner. Overall the Magic are actually pretty likable with the exception of Hedo. Can't question his game @ 6'10" with that skill set. He's the Turks' answer to Lamar with his sweet handle. Just put the tongue away.

[TripletDaddy]

Didn't Miami win their 3 at home, then went on to close out Dallas in the 6th?

Could be.

I also offered up Lakers beating Iverson's 76ers in the second year of the threepeat....Lakers lost Game 1 and then went on to win the next 4.

That is why I am so intrigued to hear Fiyero's answer. We know that only one team has done it, so clearly either you or I are mistaken.

[TripletDaddy]

Hope he choked on that tongue after his two baskets put them up 5 late. I guess you'd better make sure you've put a team away before you start acting like an ass. He pulled that same crap up 20 back in 2002 game 4 on the Kings...skipping across the court after made buckets. I wonder if he skipped back to the bus after Horry knocked down the game winner. Overall the Magic are actually pretty likable with the exception of Hedo. Can't question his game @ 6'10" with that skill set. He's the Turks' answer to Lamar with his sweet handle. Just put the tongue away.

I noticed that and thought of the Kings series.

I guess Hedo still hasn't shaken the Game 7 jitters. He is still scared to death.

In both overtimes, the Magic has come mentally unglued. The capper tonight was Pietrus giving Pau a massage and an And 1.

I don't mind his antics, though. Last series it was a Bird Dance. There is always some knucklehead little brother getting overexcited because they think they can hang with Big Brother for a few games.

He who laughs last.......

This is going to be a LONG summer for the Laker Haters.

[SipiTau]

I noticed that and thought of the Kings series.

I guess Hedo still hasn't shaken the Game 7 jitters. He is still scared to death.

In both overtimes, the Magic has come mentally unglued. The capper tonight was Pietrus giving Pau a massage and an And 1.

I don't mind his antics, though. Last series it was a Bird Dance. There is always some knucklehead little brother getting overexcited because they think they can hang with Big Brother for a few games.

He who laughs last.......

This is going to be a LONG summer for the Laker Haters.

I'm really enjoying Pau's play this series; I was glad he went after Pietrus and started woofing at him. I don't think he would have done that last season.

[HBCoug]

I'm really enjoying Pau's play this series; I was glad he went after Pietrus and started woofing at him. I don't think he would have done that last season.

He's been nails since the Houston series. Then again, Pietrus is French. Is it really that impressive he went after a Frenchman?

[TripletDaddy]

Enjoy the Silence



Ariza was wearing Kobe's shoes tonight. That explains his 3rd quarter outburst and clutch 3 in the 4th.



Steve Nash interviewing The Captain




It is official: The Lakers are the greatest NBA franchise of all time

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=FranchiseRankings-Lakers

[DrumNFeather]

I had two observations from last night:

1) When Hedo Turkaglu hits a big shot and mugs all the way down the floor, his team more often than not loses. We saw this in the Cleveland series as well.

2) Not only did Dwight Howard choke, he lost his composure late and his behavior borderlined on giving up when Orlando still had a chance.

okay, I lied, three observations:

3) Gasol, still not a bad ass.