The bounce of the basketball

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I'm watching the NBA finals game 3 right now, and I've just given up and immersed myself. I *know* that the Lakers will win the series, in four or even five games if the Nets are lucky.

I've just realized that this Lakers teams is the "Team of the Millennium." Shaquille O'Neal is the dominant center of the era, Kobe Bryant could be a pure scorer, but he plays defense and rebounds. Robert Horry does all the little things, and a few of the big things (game winning three in the Kings series, OH!). Derek Fisher has proven his ability to shake off a few bad shooting nights, and Rick Fox can bring his all-around game. The Lakers are just better than the Nets. I smell a three-peat.

Anyone else like basketball as much as I do? Please share your favorite teams, players et cetera in this thread.

 

Oooh.. don't get me started on the lakers! I am so pissed at the NBA. In the western conference finals, the refs incredibly handed game 6 to the lakers (who were behind 3-2 and came back to win the series 4-3). I am serious they simply just gave the game to the lakers. Non-existant foul calls and shaq goes to the line 25 times in the 4th quarter! Also 27 foul calls on the kings only in the 4th quarter alone! At least 10 of them were phantom fouls.

The Kings are a better team than the lakers. Lakers were just lucky with that incredible shot by Horry in game 4. The lakers are just 2 people. Shaq who is a cheater always elbowing and shouldering people, dislodging his defenders and the refs never call the offensive foul. He also almost always violates the rules when he's making free throws. His left foot gets past the line before the ball touches the rim. Never called again. He also has a pea sized brain Gosh I can't rant enought about him He's also a freak of nature and a very skilled center but that's another story.

Kobe is a more class act but he never managed to hit any game saving shots during the kings series. And I lost all respect for him because he elbowed people in the kings series 4 times! He elbows them in the face! Two of them were a foul call on the kings! Two were a non call. And at the end of game 6 he elbowed Bibby with 8 secs or so left. If the flagrant foul was called there, the kings would've won the series. But of course it's a non-call. Otherwise the lakers get eliminated and people wouldn't be able to watch kobe & shaq

The nets have no chance against the lakers. The eastern conference is too weak compared to the west. Nets would probably be 5-7th seed in the west.

If the kings don't break up this team next year they'll kick some serious lakers ass and I'll be laughing. Man I am so pissed and I had to get that off my chest. Okay I feel better now. Sorry about that

[This message has been edited by Invoker (edited June 10, 2002).]

 

Agreed, he's one of the reasons I stopped watching.

 

Well, I'm a basketball fan.

Although they're badly outmatched, I want New Jersey to win. Jason Kidd's season has just been phenomenal, and IMO he deserved the league MVP more than Duncan did. Just look at last year's performance between the Nets and the Spurs, and where they are this year. Besides, I haven't seen a point guard average triple doubles since Magic Johnson.

I was a big L.A. fan during the 80's, with Magic's Showtime and the Worthy Express. When Magic retired, I kinda switched to Phoenix, with Charles Barkley. A 6"6" (actually 6'4") player who could play and perform the way he did. A power forward in a small forward's body, with guard instincts. That's how Marv Albert described him.

Oh, and who could forget Larry Bird, the best shooting forward in recent basketball history, and the human highlight film Dominique Wilkins, and one of the most dominant 6'1" players in NBA history, Isiah Thomas.

Of course, MJ is MJ.

But enough of the 80's...

Webber should focus more on post up plays, instead of doing too many jump shots. Every time he did that, that left Divac vs. Shaq 1-on-1 for the rebound. Stojakovic being injured was also a big blow to the Kings. You wouldn't see Rick Fox sag so much on defense if Peja had was in good form.

New Jersey should get a very good center. They just plain LACK in the low post. Van Horn, all 6'10" of him, just keeps on throwing 3pt shots and jump shots, and Kenyon Martin drives to the hoop. I believe he lacks the skills to play with his back to the basket. Besides, what starting power forward would just average 6 rebounds!!?

I'd go as far as saying that the Nets should trade Kenyon Martin, say for Elton Brand, but I don't think the Clippers will let him go.

The Lakers just need to keep their starting 5 intact, AND Phil Jackson. No matter how great Shaq and Kobe are, they didn't start winning 'til Phil Jackson and his triangle offense arrived in L.A.

What surprises me is that Shaq is actually making his free throws. If this keeps up, he will be unstoppable. The only people I see who MIGHT be able to just keep up with him would be Dikembe Mutombo (ya just gotta love his heart) and Tim Duncan, but that's not even close.

Ah well... enough Basketball for now.

 

As a Philadelphia Sixers fan, I liked Dikembe in last year's playoff run but he was just *pathetic* this year, with those "hands of stone" that make him a major liability on offense. I've heard we can ship him to Portland for Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells, a deal I would definitely make.

Shaq does bump a lot, but he also gets as much as he gives. About the non-existent fouls, Michael Jordan got a *lot* of calls when he was in his prime. Refs tend to favor the more experienced, dominant player.

I do like the Kings. I feel that Mike Bibby is a phenomenal player, best point guard in the NBA. He really made "The Leap" this year from above-average to best at his position. However the Kings lack poise. As do every team that seems to play the Lakers.

After watching Game 3, I think the Nets will win Game 4 and maybe Game 5, and then lose.. by the way, Kenyon Martin had a phenomenal Game 3, I wouldn't trade him for Elton. He's a young player, with raw skills.

 

True. Jordan had that famous push before he made a jumpshot.

Martin is very athletic. He'll get much better in the future I think. I wouldn't trade him either.

I thought Vlade did a great job on shaq. Mutombo last year in the finals was also great. I don't know what happened to his play

 

Good points.

Though I still have to stress that Kenyon Martin should learn to play post up. He had a lot of success doing that in Game 3.

And the Nets really need a scoring Center.

Regarding Dikembe, I wouldn't trade him for Dale Davis and Bozi Wells, unless the Sixers plan to trade Bonzi Wells again. Won't that put too many guards in the Sixers' line up? I'd wait, there's probably a better deal for the Sixers out there.

Though I have to disagree with you on Mike Bibby, BlackRose. I'd say Bibby is the best point guard in the West right now, but in the league, I still have to give it to Jason Kidd. But yes, Bibby was AWESOME!

It would have been great to see a Kings vs. Nets finals, just to see Kidd and Bibby go head to head...



[This message has been edited by eveningdrive (edited June 10, 2002).]

 

I don't know about if a healthy Peja really would help that much. I mean he's always been a letdown in the playoffs so far. He wasn't playing well last year, and he wasn't playing that well this year until his injury either (in the playoffs).

I think Hedo who played for him is just as good and also a bit more athletic and faster. But Peja of course is more experienced. Although his airball that could've won the series really took me by surprise.

Webber taking those jumpshots was part of Adelman's plan I think. It worked very good in game 5 as I recall. But the next games lakers defence was very good and didn't give him that open look.

 

My apologies, Kidd is indeed the best point guard in the NBA. Then Mike Bibby, then Baron Davis I would think, that culminates the upper-rank of NBA point guards (with Gary Payton as a borderline upper-rank). Then you have players like Eric Snow, Fisher, Andre Miller (although he gets no credit on an awful team like the Cavaliers).

I think Webber needs to become more focused and intense, and should indeed post up more. I *really* didn't like how he would constantly make fancy passes on the pick-and-rolls with Bibby in the Kings-Lakers series. That shows a lack of concern and if Phil Jackson had picked up on that it would have been trouble for the Kings.

Breakout team next year. Memphis? I think Jerry West is just the man to teach Jason Williams how to play the "right way". They also have another high draft selection and young talent. Basically, I like Jerry West. Heh.

 

Dallas Mavs are coming

 

Well, at least the Lakers are doing something with their talent, but really they should have owned the league for more than the last three years. Kobe and Shaq alone do not a team make, but they've had all kinds of talent for a long time.

Out here in DC we hate to see Webber and Howard and Strickland do so well AFTER we traded them. Yeesh. If MJ hadn't come back this would be the worst team ever... well, except the Clippers.

 

Hey...I like the Clippers. Somewhat.

Anyway, I totally disagree with the statement

Possibly the team of the last FOUR YEARS, but come ON, the Bulls had a better run than the Lakers currently do, and the Celtics were a more dominant team than even them, when Larry Bird was in his prime...
FRONT-RUNNER!

[This message has been edited by SlimShogun (edited June 10, 2002).]

 

Sharlpie-Poo, talent is wasted with noone to properly direct it..........until now, ofcourse.

SlimShogun, remember that the Bulls were also coached by Phil Jackson during their "reign".

[This message has been edited by Xenecor (edited June 10, 2002).]

 

Hmm do you think Phil Jackson made Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'neil basketball stars or is it the other way around

Get the ball to Shaq and he'll handle the rest as he is triple teamed and bulldozes his way to the rim or finds an open man in the perimeter. Or give the ball to Kobe and watch him try and do some MJ imitations

 

Well, I think Phil Jackson is a significant factor. If my memory serves me right, one of the first things he taught Shaq was how to pass with his left hand, and make the Lakers more proficient in transition defense. Michael Jordan and the Bulls didn't win their championships 'til Phil Jackson became head coach too. All those championship rings, he must be doing something right.

And remember, Olajuwon whupped Shaq during the Houston vs. Orlando finals.

Oh, and Shralp... don't forget Rasheed Wallace.


[This message has been edited by eveningdrive (edited June 11, 2002).]

 

Hmmm. I still don't agree that the Lakers (at this point in time) are the "Team of the [insert any period of time other than last 5 years here.]

 

I meant right now the Lakers are the team of the millennium. They won the 2000 and 2001 championships, and will most likely win the 2002 Finals. So right now, they are the ones on top.

Phil Jackson made Scottie Pippen a much better player, although I doubt he changed Jordan's game as much. He has gotten Shaq and Kobe to put aside their differences, which qualifies as good coaching in my book. Sure, the players help him more than he helps the players, but he has an inexplicable knack of making very good teams into great teams.



[This message has been edited by TheBlackRose (edited June 11, 2002).]

 

Jackson is exactly what most pro teams need -- a tall fellow who can coax various egos into working together. It couldn't have been too difficult with Pippen, Jordan, Cartwright, Paxon, Grant, and that crew. But getting Dennis Rodman in line and smoothing over the Steve Kerr-MJ spat was a feat, albeit one helped by MJ's professionalism and Rodman's respect for MJ.

The true test was trying to get the Lakers superstars to work together. In the end, Jackson could only keept Kobe and Shaq and had to get rid of... oh, why is my brain failing now... the third fellow. Outside shooter. Won the 3 pt contest one year. Grrrrrr. That guy. Anyway, Jackson couldn't get them all enough spotlight time or get them to agree to share nice.

I have no idea the logic behind getting Shaq to read Nietzsche, whose philosophies are what ended up driving him insane.

Someone please remind me of the third all-star on the Lakers team.

 

Glenn Rice, Shralpy, Glenn Rice.

 

Dang!

I was hurrying back here to post it. Darn you Phillipinos and your weird time zones!