The 2009 NBA Finals Thread...Lakers win series (4-1)

[The Ominous]

I thought that was money. I was jumping around like a wild animal thinking it was in.

Seeing it over and over really sucks!

Thanks Courtney Lee and J.J. Reddick for epic failures.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I'm just looking at the box score an I'm amazed this was even a game...

Magic with 20 turnovers..42 fg %..Dwight not really dominating. Lakers getting every call. I'm baffled how Orlando even hang. It's actually pretty pathetic for the Lakers.

 

[TheCount]

I still can't figure out why Lee didn't use the glass on that shot, but good job by Gasol to at least make it a little more challenging.

Kobe definitely had to work for this one, they defended him light years better than they did the game before but Odom is stepping up.

The magic have completely screwed up their point guard situation, that's for damn sure. None of them can get a rhythm going.

 

[The Ominous]

Howard really needs to work on that low-post game.

He holds the ball WAY too low and the strips are becoming a major detriment to his overall game.

Van Gundy has to emphasize this in the next practices.

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

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[SLATEmosphere]

I still can't figure out why Lee didn't use the glass on that shot, but good job by Gasol to at least make it a little more challenging.

Kobe definitely had to work for this one, they defended him light years better than they did the game before but Odom is stepping up.

The magic have completely screwed up their point guard situation, that's for damn sure. None of them can get a rhythm going.

Rafer and Johnson were doing just fine..I don't know why they to rush Jameer back. Rafer is looking awful. no confidence.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

That sucker was going in, I thought. I was already pouting. I still dont know how he missed it. Rookie boo boo, I suppose.

Lets go Lakers! MVP tonight goes to Lamar Odom.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Well since my credibility has been restored after calling a Laker win tonight. I will go on record to saying the Magic will take 3 straight at home.

Two words:Home calls!

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I thought that was money. I was jumping around like a wild animal thinking it was in.

Seeing it over and over really sucks!

Thanks Courtney Lee and J.J. Reddick for epic failures.

How was Redick an epic failure? I thought he played fairly well and got some big playing time minutes after basically sitting two whole series. He made one bad turnover but created alot of shots and knocked down a big 3. If anyone was an epic failure it was Dwight and his 7 costly turnovers. He needs to STOP dribbling in the post when there's 3 guys swarming him. Pick the ball up and swing it! guys were wide open!

 

[The Ominous]

How was Redick an epic failure? I thought he played fairly well and got some big playing time minutes after basically sitting two whole series. He made one bad turnover but created alot of shots and knocked down a big 3. If anyone was an epic failure it was Dwight and his 7 costly turnovers. He needs to STOP dribbling in the post when there's 3 guys swarming him. Pick the ball up and swing it! guys were wide open!

I guess epic is too strong a word for him specifically, but I thought Reddick made quite a few misreads in some crucial possessions. He drained a big 3 there late, but he also missed some decent shots and wasn't moving off the screens well. He got way too many minutes because of the foul trouble.

So I guess that leads into more failure, which is Pietrus with his putrid 2 pts and 6 fouls. He did his job against Kobe defensively, but he needs to be the shooter out there with Lewis and Turkoglu.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Unlike game 1, The Magic showed up. I'll be playing "what if" on that Lee missed shot until game three, real bummer that he missed that one (at least from the Magic's perspective).

 

[Yeagermeister]

That should have been a goaltend on Pau he had his hand in the rim and net.

 

[TheCount]

How was Redick an epic failure? I thought he played fairly well and got some big playing time minutes after basically sitting two whole series. He made one bad turnover but created alot of shots and knocked down a big 3. If anyone was an epic failure it was Dwight and his 7 costly turnovers. He needs to STOP dribbling in the post when there's 3 guys swarming him. Pick the ball up and swing it! guys were wide open!

Dwight passing out fo the double team was a main reason the game was so close in the first place. He just needs to protect the ball better.

How many minutes did Bynum play last night anyway, 5?

That should have been a goaltend on Pau he had his hand in the rim and net.

I can think of few ways more terrible to end a game than a goal tending on a missed game winner, especially on that particular play.

 

[Bleu Star]

I'm just looking at the box score an I'm amazed this was even a game...

Magic with 20 turnovers..42 fg %..Dwight not really dominating. Lakers getting every call. I'm baffled how Orlando even hang. It's actually pretty pathetic for the Lakers.

The difference between a champion and just another loser is often minuscule.

Howard really needs to work on that low-post game.

He holds the ball WAY too low and the strips are becoming a major detriment to his overall game.

Van Gundy has to emphasize this in the next practices.

Dwight needs to take some lessons from Pau. Pau is the master of keeping that ball high in the post. He'll probably charge Dwight for the personal lessons but they'll no doubt be useful.

Rafer and Johnson were doing just fine..I don't know why they to rush Jameer back. Rafer is looking awful. no confidence.

Yep. You mix up your rotation in the finals when everyone is expected to play at their highest heights and things get a little discombobulated. Way to go SVG. Keep it up coach!

That should have been a goaltend on Pau he had his hand in the rim and net.

It's just payback for Dwight's earlier goaltend of Pau when he stuck his hand straight up through the net and got away with it. Dwight Howard stuck his whole arm through the hoop in the first quarter to block a shot. Even SLATE can't argue that one.

Just to squash any argument whatsoever I provide you exhibit A...

Had we been rightfully given those 2 in the 1st Q the game would have been over in regulation.

Lakers in 5.

 

[peplaw06]

That should have been a goaltend on Pau he had his hand in the rim and net.

Wow... didn't even notice that. Good catch.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Wow... didn't even notice that. Good catch.

It didn't alter the flight of the ball so it was a good no call. I just don't want Pau to win anything. :laugh2:

 

[Yeagermeister]

It's just payback for Dwight's earlier goaltend of Pau when he stuck his hand straight up through the net and got away with it. Dwight Howard stuck his whole arm through the hoop in the first quarter to block a shot. Even SLATE can't argue that one.

Just to squash any argument whatsoever I provide you exhibit A...

Had we been rightfully given those 2 in the 1st Q the game would have been over in regulation.

Lakers in 5.

Pau would have gotten rejected by the rim so it doesn't matter. :laugh2:

That's pretty bad the refs missed both calls.

 

[Nav22]

Kobe had a bad game by his standards and the Lakers still won.

Orlando's frontcourt combined for 73 points but they got nothing from their guards. After Lewis, Turkoglu, and Howard, their next leading scorer was JJ Redick with 5 points.

Jameer Nelson's return has completely fudged up the PG advantage that Orlando was SUPPOSED to have in this series. He's not healthy and Rafer Alston's confidence appears to be shot by Nelson's presence.

I still say Lakers in 6.

Orlando will win Game 3 to stay alive, but they won't be able to take all 3 home games. That's just too daunting a task. Pat Riley was right when he said the 2-3-2 format gives the team with home court advantage too big of an edge, since it's extremely tough to win 3 straight games in the Finals. So odds are the team without the home court edge will have to win not once but TWICE on the road.

Orlando needed this one badly and didn't get it. Poor Courtney Lee will be remembered for this the way Nick Anderson is remembered for those 4 missed FTs in Game 1 vs. Houston (and the fascinating psychological effect those misses had on Nick for the rest of his career).

Orlando will drop Game 4 or 5, and L.A. will close it out in Game 6 in front of their crowd.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

• Orlando will win Game 3 to stay alive, but they won't be able to take all 3 home games. That's just too daunting a task. Pat Riley was right when he said the 2-3-2 format gives the team with home court advantage too big of an edge, since it's extremely tough to win 3 straight games in the Finals. So odds are the team without the home court edge will have to win not once but TWICE on the road.
  

• 
  
  
  The Magic will be at home for the next 3 games...mot on the road.
  
  I have a hard time seeing the Lakers lose 4 of 5 games in this finals.

 

[TheCount]

Wow... didn't even notice that. Good catch.

You didn't notice it? They talked about it right after it happened and showed a slow motion replay. :laugh2: