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

[Goldenrichards83]

I'm kidding about alot of this stuff. I really could care less about Kobe. If he wins a ring I wouldn't lose any sleep. I'm really a fan of LeBron though. He's too legit to quit

I enjoyed jawing with you this playoffs dog. You made my night on a few of your predictions. I like talking with knowlegeable fans, your pretty fair when you aren't bias.

 

[Goldenrichards83]

i think just from tonight it proves that he does need to be dominant down low offensively. if it was duncan or shaq or the dream, when the lakers were making a run in the third, they would have gone to them down low and they would have gotten buckets when the rest of the team is struggling offensively. double teams would have come and that would have gotten his three point shooters open looks, if he knew how to pass to them out of a double team, which he doesnt.

I saw about 4 or 5 looks when the Majic was just to slow in getting him the ball. He was wide open on a few of those and you have to admit as a whole in the playoffs, he has been finding his shooters very well. Heck, thats part of the reason they got this far.

 

[TheCount]

Haha, rocking the sig a little early, Slate?

And did you just call Jordan humble?

 

[trickblue]

We don't know that Van Gundy didn't tell everyone that. It could have been a Jameer slip up.

Could also have been a van Gundy slip...

Are we going to argue this all night?

The game was the Magic's for the taking... they choked...

Good coaching should have avoided this...

 

[Goldenrichards83]

This was Kobe 63rd carreer 30 point playoff game and his sixth straight playoff game with at least 8 assists.

 

[The Ominous]

Could also have been a van Gundy slip...

Are we going to argue this all night?

The game was the Magic's for the taking... they choked...

Good coaching should have avoided this...

I was just shocked, as everyone else I was with, that Van Gundy didn't foul there.

I was screaming like a lunatic about it and almost got kicked out of the place.

Just a disappointing choke-fest by the Magic there late. Players and coaches alike.

 

[Avaj]

1 win away from a ring : Go Lakers!!

Fisher, Riza and Gasol - Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart!!

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Haha, rocking the sig a little early, Slate?

And did you just call Jordan humble?

Just trying something new.

:shush:

 

[kristie]

Could also have been a van Gundy slip...

Are we going to argue this all night?

The game was the Magic's for the taking... they choked...

Good coaching should have avoided this...

yes.

 

[Nav22]

It's been a series of inches.

If Courtney Lee finishes the alley-oop in Game 2 and Howard hits a FT at the end of regulation in Game 4...

Orlando is up 3-1, without any OT sessions in the series. I feel bad for Magic fans... must be gut-wrenching.

Last night was just an epic choke. Up 12 at the half, up 5 with 40 seconds left, up 3 with 11 seconds left and a chance to ice it at the line... choke.

Call it the curse of Nick Anderson.

Kudos to the Lakers for keeping their composure and coming through in the clutch.

Kobe didn't look at ALL worried in the 1st half, even with Orlando dominating. He stayed very even-keel and that attitude rubs off on your teammates... he has truly developed into a terrific leader. A huge (albeit premature) CONGRATS to the soon-to-be Finals MVP and 4x Champ.

You think Trevor Ariza (a very reserved "follower" type of player by nature) has the confidence to blow up in the 3rd quarter, after a horrendous 1st half, if Kobe is screaming and pointing fingers in the 1st half? Very doubtful.

I'm kidding about alot of this stuff.

Awwww maaan, why'd you give it away?

It's like when I was 7 and I officially learned that pro wrestling is fake. I had always kinda known it was fake deep down, but I could still pretend it was real before an older kid exposed the truth to me.

I was just shocked, as everyone else I was with, that Van Gundy didn't foul there.

I don't agree. In hindsight, it's very easy to say "they should've fouled", but that doesn't mean it would've been a smart strategy at the time.

Eleven seconds left... that's too early to foul the other team when you're up 3.

Their only opportunity to foul on that possession would've been to grab Kobe on the inbound pass. Ariza passed to Fisher before a defender could reach him, and Fisher was already facing the basket when Nelson was guarding him.

So let's say Kobe is fouled with 9 seconds left, and he makes both FTs (he finished 8-8 at the line).

Now you're only up 1 with 9 seconds left, and the pressure is on Orlando to make 2 FTs. Considering how poorly they shot at the line, how confident are you that they make both?

And even if you do, so what? There's still 7-8 seconds left on the clock and the Lakers are still down 3... basically the same situation as before.

Nelson simply gave Fisher too much space on the 3.

 

[Nav22]

Oh, and Pietrus should be suspended for his flagrant foul on Gasol.

Playing hard, playing physical, that's one thing... what he did was flat-out dirty and unsportsmanlike.

 

[Goldenrichards83]

It's been a series of inches.

If Courtney Lee finishes the alley-oop in Game 2 and Howard hits a FT at the end of regulation in Game 4...

Orlando is up 3-1, without any OT sessions in the series. I feel bad for Magic fans... must be gut-wrenching.

Last night was just an epic choke. Up 12 at the half, up 5 with 40 seconds left, up 3 with 11 seconds left and a chance to ice it at the line... choke.

Call it the curse of Nick Anderson.

Kudos to the Lakers for keeping their composure and coming through in the clutch.

Kobe didn't look at ALL worried in the 1st half, even with Orlando dominating. He stayed very even-keel and that attitude rubs off on your teammates... he has truly developed into a terrific leader. A huge (albeit premature) CONGRATS to the soon-to-be Finals MVP and 4x Champ.

You think Trevor Ariza (a very reserved "follower" type of player by nature) has the confidence to blow up in the 3rd quarter, after a horrendous 1st half, if Kobe is screaming and pointing fingers in the 1st half? Very doubtful.Awwww maaan, why'd you give it away?

It's like when I was 7 and I officially learned that pro wrestling is fake. I had always kinda known it was fake deep down, but I could still pretend it was real before an older kid exposed the truth to me.I don't agree. In hindsight, it's very easy to say "they should've fouled", but that doesn't mean it would've been a smart strategy at the time.

Eleven seconds left... that's too early to foul the other team when you're up 3.

Their only opportunity to foul on that possession would've been to grab Kobe on the inbound pass. Ariza passed to Fisher before a defender could reach him, and Fisher was already facing the basket when Nelson was guarding him.

So let's say Kobe is fouled with 9 seconds left, and he makes both FTs (he finished 8-8 at the line).

Now you're only up 1 with 9 seconds left, and the pressure is on Orlando to make 2 FTs. Considering how poorly they shot at the line, how confident are you that they make both?

And even if you do, so what? There's still 7-8 seconds left on the clock and the Lakers are still down 3... basically the same situation as before.

Nelson simply gave Fisher too much space on the 3.

Nice observations.

 

[TheCount]

Oh, and Pietrus should be suspended for his flagrant foul on Gasol.

Playing hard, playing physical, that's one thing... what he did was flat-out dirty and unsportsmanlike.

That's the definition of a flagrant 2 right there, the wind up was there, he balled up his fists, no play on the ball and the player had basically already scored. Even if it was meaningless he should have been ejected right there, but I don't know that he gets suspended.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Magic blew any shot they might have had at this series last night. No way they win 3 straight, with 2 in LA. This thing is over by game 6 at the latest.

lewpac...While I know Kobe is a great basketball player, amazing skill, and I don't deny that because to do so would be stupid and foolish, I will never mention him in the same breath as Jordan.

Ever.

It's probably the hater in me, I admit that, but he'll never be in the same conversation as Jordan as far as I'm concerned.

So, no offense, I respect your opinion and all but, no, I don't have to mention him there and I won't be.

 

[Joe Realist]

 

[MC KAos]

horrible defense by nelson, what is he doing guarding the drive? who cares if they get a layup with 2 or 3 seconds to go and up by 3?

 

[TheCount]

horrible defense by nelson, what is he doing guarding the drive? who cares if they get a layup with 2 or 3 seconds to go and up by 3?

Defense wasn't that bad, a lot of people miss that shot.

 

[MC KAos]

Defense wasn't that bad, a lot of people miss that shot.

it was terrible in that situation, he should have been up on him guarding the possible three as oposed to a drive considering the time and score situation of the game

 

[TheCount]

it was terrible in that situation, he should have been up on him guarding the possible three as oposed to a drive considering the time and score situation of the game

Agreed, but if Fisher misses that then the series is tied and no one says anything. I think Fisher deserves the credit more than Nelson deserves the blame. Hell, if Dwight had hit his free throws, there wouldn't even be an issue.

 

[MrMom]

Agreed, but if Fisher misses that then the series is tied and no one says anything. I think Fisher deserves the credit more than Nelson deserves the blame. Hell, if Dwight had hit his free throws, there wouldn't even be an issue.

If Nelson guards that properly he doesn't let Fisher step into that three. Fisher isn't the type of shooter to raise up and hit it over the defender.

Horrible defense by Nelson.

The Magic deserved to lose that game. Too many missed free throws and horrible execution down the stretch.