First time since the "bad boy" era that our guys are in the finals.

Enjoy it!! I'm rooting for you, too. My son has a bumpersticker that says, "Anyone but ( ** )." If I had a similar sticker it would say, "Anyone but the Lakers."

** In order to keep this board politics-free, I've omitted the name of a politician who my son doesn't like.

Second that from the U.P. OMQ!!

Yes, getting tired of the Lakers winning just like I did when the Bulls would win every year. Go Pistons. Should be an interesting series from the officiating standpoint. Too different playing styles clashing. BTW, Detroit may be known for their D, but Kobe plays outstanding D.

Arghhhhhhhhh, Kobe does not play outstanding D. He plays good team D but is not a shut-down one on one defender. When is the last time he shut someone down?

Well, Luther, it is a team game, after all.

AH....nevermind. I'll leave it alone. :)

I agree...I don't even think he plays that great of team D on a night in, night out basis...when he decides to play, he does well...last night is a great example of his weaknesses at the defensive end - how many times did Hamilton or Prince (or whoever Kobe was supposed to be guarding) get easy back-door looks because Kobe wasn't paying attention??? Don't like his D...

Thank you, Portland.
Rasheed plays "D". :)

Oh, you're quite welcome. Many Portlanders are glad he got to go to the finals without dragging us down any further. Hope y'all don't get as tired of him as we were.

You're welcome...his D was never in question while he was here...his mental state, yes - but not his D...he will get tossed from a game this series, just wait...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rainmaker

Quote:

** In order to keep this board politics-free, I've omitted the name of a politician who my son doesn't like.

Four letter words have no place on this board anyway ;)

Come on, give the Bullet-ridden wizards their due! Two Wallaces and a Hamilton, and you're on your way to the finals!

As a displaced Detroit suburbanite, and attendee at their first NBA finals, it was sure great to hear the Palace echoing with "BEAT LA" again. Detroit was the asketball center in the late 80s. Good to see the Pistons back where they belong.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hawks Coach

Quote:

Originally posted by rainmaker Quote: ** In order to keep this board politics-free, I've omitted the name of a politician who my son doesn't like. Four letter words have no place on this board anyway ;)

Quietly, but very politically correctly, enjoying a great laugh!

IRpalmer and rockyroad - easy, don't lose your cool guys. Rockyroad you are arguing by instance ... "he didn't play good defense the other night" This is specious reasoning; over the course of the entire season, Kobe is a first tean defensive player. In fact, hmmmmmmm..I believe he was voted first team this year.

Who woulda thunk ?
Darko was in game 4 with white adhesive tape on both ear lobes.
Cute.
mick

Lose my cool??? Don't think I did that...simply stated that I don't like his defense - and it's not just one game...in this series, it's been every game...whoever he is guarding consistently goes back-door on him and gets easy shots...Larry Brown knows this and is exploiting it...and as far as being "voted" first team defensive team - please...you should know that those "votes" are about popularity - not necessarily actual facts...Kobe is a tremendous scorer and very acrobatic - but defense??? I think Detroit is showing him what real defense is...

As long as the Pistons stay on top he should be safe. Now if the Lakers ever get a good lead...


I hated him as a Trailblazer. When I heard he was traded to the Pistons I thought 'crap-does this mean I will have to like him?' Well I do now! Good trade Dumars! Larry Brown is doing a good job keeping him under control.

Not so sure it's LArry Brown...one of the problems in Portland was that he was the "leader" and no one would get in his face when he started one of his tantrums...last night after his T, Billups was right there in his face, followed quickly by Ben Wallace - so they got him back into the game which is something no one here ever could do...

I don't know about all that. Kobe may be suffering a bit off ball, but i think that has more to do with the other guys that he is covering for. On ball, he is pretty solid. Two years ago he completely stifled jason Kidd in the foruth quarter of games 3 and 4 - not a chance to get past Kobe. And last night, Kobe shut down whoever he was guarding. The Lakers simply don't have any other guards who can D up on whoever Kobe doesn't have.

I saw that too!
 

Maybe he hadn't de-golded completely because he didn't expect to get in :)

Re: I saw that too!
 

They're not required to de-gold, are they?

I thought the Lakers just looked exhausted last night. Shell-shocked. And not just at the end of the game. Throughout, they seemed listless and dazed. Not that I'm complaining....

Re: I saw that too!
 

I thought that, too.
When called, he probably thought, "Who me??!!?"

But, I think he is saving himself for the Serbian National team. Looked like he was trying to keep 8-10' spacing between himself and any of the players.

mick

There's nothing wrong with Kobe's defense. The reason the Lakers are down and out is they have been outrebounded on both the defensive and offensive boards.

.and as far as being "voted" first team defensive team - please...you should know that those "votes" are about popularity - not necessarily actual facts.... [/B][/QUOTE]

What are you talking about? I could understand it being a popularity contest if the fans selected the team, but players/coaches select the team, as far as I know. Instead of acknowledging that Kobe deserveed to make the team, you go making up inane excuses about it being a popularity conetst.