[NBA] 08'/09' Season

[Mippo]

They were consistently hitting shots because they were wide open everytime down the court. Obviously you still need to make the shots but Denver not playing defense had a lot to do with the Lakers shooting percentage.

[Ancalagon]

This was also a near-perfect game by Kobe (Kobe at this point in his career). It wasn't quite at the level of Lebron's superhuman ridiculousness last night, but what is? He did absolutely everything he needed to do to keep his team on top; to keep the Lakers' foot on the Nuggets' neck for the entire second half.

Lebron is better player than Kobe right now; I agree with those who say there's not really room for debate at this respective point in their careers. But I have to say: Kobe's feel for the moment, his sense of urgency and his killer instinct, his sickness at the free-throw line (as opposed to Lebron's ineptitude) -- all these combine to make Kobe in many ways a more lethal player and a player more conducive to championship-winning than Lebron, even with Lebron at his physical peak and Kobe in decline.

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by Mippo

They were consistently hitting shots because they were wide open everytime down the court. Obviously you still need to make the shots but Denver not playing defense had a lot to do with the Lakers shooting percentage.

There were a good amount of shots like this (most of the 3s), but there was also a lot of offense that was just straight skill and intensity (see: most of Pau's buckets in the paint; most of Kobe's shots over defenders; a lot of what Lamar did). They bring that skill and intensity to the finals, they're the odds-on favorites even if their opponents, whoever they may be, are Ding up.

[WillzZz]

We were just waiting for the finals. Close enough. ;P

I will cherish these past two games. They will be the only back to back games you'll ever see Lamar Odom play defense in.

[Rad]

If anyone happens to be at the finals and peeks my custom tee, hit me up!

[TecKnoe]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon

Lebron is better player than Kobe right now; I agree with those who say there's not really room for debate at this respective point in their careers. But I have to say: Kobe's feel for the moment, his sense of urgency and his killer instinct, his sickness at the free-throw line (as opposed to Lebron's ineptitude) -- all these combine to make Kobe in many ways a more lethal player and a player more conducive to championship-winning than Lebron, even with Lebron at his physical peak and Kobe in decline.

This and the fact he plays off the double team so well never second guessing the pass, its a do or die situation when kobe has the ball, same with lebron at this point i think kobes experience and vast knowledge of the sport is whats pulling him and the lakers through, phil jackson may as well take a seat on the end of the bench for the finals if kobe keeps coachin like this.

And im a lebron fan over kobe.

[UnchainedAcolyte]

Watching last night's Laker-Nugget game sometimes you really have to wonder wtf is going on in the minds of the players. Denver looked like shit out there, especially on defense, where they previously shone for the better part of the series. Plus Carmelo Anthony looked like he didn't give a shit about winning last night. Way to play on your home turf.

That, and all of a sudden, Kobe becomes leader and mentor; not whining and bitching about foul calls, but actually talking to, coaching, and encouraging his teammates. The rest of the Lakers team was also pitching in to win the game.

Game six must have come to us from a parallel reverse earth last night.

I'll know for a fact this shit is fixed when the Cleveland LeBrons come back in the next two games and poopsock Orlando from out of nowhere.

[Zeste]

Wonder how fast they can pull the puppet commercials if the cavs epicfail.

[UnchainedAcolyte]

LeBrons are getting raped by 16 heading to the 4th. God, David Stern or the refs are going to have to get involved to change this.

[Zeste]

Man. What a interesting but slightly predictable turn of events. Howard at 40 points, James at 25, not even a double double?

Did LeBron just throw the game so he can move to New York and not have to lose to the Lakers with his sub-par team?

Or is LeBron gonna join Barkley and Malone and Stockton on the "no ring" table after a long career as a superstar?

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Zeste

Man. What a interesting but slightly predictable turn of events. Howard at 40 points, James at 25, not even a double double?

Did LeBron just throw the game so he can move to New York and not have to lose to the Lakers with his sub-par team?

Or is LeBron gonna join Barkley and Malone and Stockton on the "no ring" table after a long career as a superstar?

Its way way way to early to even call Lebron Barkley or Stockton and Malone. Jordan didnt win until what 28 or 29?

[Ancalagon]

Lebron to New York! Let's make it happen!

This series just makes me wonder: how the fuck did the Cavs do as well as they did all season? I guess the answer is that Lebron impelled his mediocre teammates to be the best they could be every night, while other teams, though way more talented, phoned it in during the regular season. But during the playoffs, when teams start showing up, talent wins out. And the Cavs just ain't that talented.

Orlando and LA is actually going to be a pretty fun matchup. Very different styles of play -- Orlando works inside-out through Dwight with tons of pick-and-rolls setting up their myriad three-point shooters; Lakers run the triangle to perfection. Even yesterday I would have said Lakers in 6, but after seeing this performance -- coming-out party? -- from Dwight, I really don't know. I'm going to say Lakers in 7, but with not an incredible amount of confidence.

[findar]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon

Lebron to New York! Let's make it happen!

This series just makes me wonder: how the fuck did the Cavs do as well as they did all season?.

hint: look at their home record.

[Obsidian]

I hope we get to see a Dwight Howard puppet now. I think the Lakers win easily in 6; I just don't see the Magic as a particularly good team. They had to come from behind against a Philly team that didn't deserve to be in the playoffs, they had to go 7 games to beat an undermanned Celtics team missing arguably their most important player and they just happened to match up very well against the Cavs. I'm not saying the Magic are a bad team or that they didn't deserve to get to the finals, I just don't see them as being capable of beating the Lakers. They went 2-0 against the Lakers during the regular season though so maybe they have some match up advantages that I can't see off the top of my head.

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by findar

hint: look at their home record.

Point being? They had home-court in this series and couldn't get it done, and they were a great road team during the regular season as well. They did play better at home, obviously, but they are simply an undertalented crew that overachieved mightily thanks to the ridiculousness of their one star. BTW, I think Mike Brown for COTY is a fucking joke. To the extent that the team was successful, it was because of Lebron. Not fucking Mike Brown.

Originally Posted by Obsidian

I hope we get to see a Dwight Howard puppet now. I think the Lakers win easily in 6; I just don't see the Magic as a particularly good team. They had to come from behind against a Philly team that didn't deserve to be in the playoffs, they had to go 7 games to beat an undermanned Celtics team missing arguably their most important player and they just happened to match up very well against the Cavs. I'm not saying the Magic are a bad team or that they didn't deserve to get to the finals, I just don't see them as being capable of beating the Lakers. They went 2-0 against the Lakers during the regular season though so maybe they have some match up advantages that I can't see off the top of my head.

I think you're missing the simple answer: they beat the Lakers, the Cavs, the Spurs and the Celtics during the regular season; in the playoffs they've played mediocre against Philly, gotten pushed to the limit against a battered Celtics team, and wrecked the team with the best record in the NBA during the regular season. Answer: this Magic team plays to the competition. If that's the case, then I think the regular season series with the Lakers might have more than a little relevance to how this finals series will turn out.

That being said, Jameer Nelson was a big part of the Magic's two wins during the regular season. No Jameer now, so it's difficult to draw too much from the regular season.