LAKERtown!!!!

The FISH has been stale all playoff's.. I don't see him coming to life.. Bynum has been a flop for the most part, Gasol is soft, Vujachick hasn'tdone anything.. Odom had 1 good game... Really, other than Kobe, who else has from the Lakers has done anything consistently (other than whine about everythingthey can dream of, that is)?<br><br><br>Speaking of Kobe.. I suppose everybody also "didnt see" him push "DIRTY DAHNTAY" out of bounds in game 1? Of course not.. because he'sthe golden boy everybody turns a blind eye too!<br><br>I just realized, I think I'm the only guy on these boards who doesn't like the Lakers..other than a die hard Celtic's fan or 2...lol<br><br>Thursday, I can't wait!

Lebron blew it again (did the same thing last year too), and if he wants to be in the same squad has the elite, he needs to become a better sportsman. Not realhard to shake some hands and admit a better "team" beat you.<br><br>Tom, do you have any footage of Kobe pushing any players, from his high school years? Who cares, basketball has never been a "clean" sport-it'snot tennis. You get calls, you don't get calls, put the ball in the bucket, call it a game. Nobody is golden, and certainly not Kobe, Lebron, KG, Mello, oranyone else, regardless of the color of their uni's.

I actually like(respect)the Lakers(Kobe),but you have some good points - Fisher is old,Gasol is "soft". Laker's have the playoff<br>experience and that could be the difference here. Magic really surprised me beating the Cav's,and they're running on all cylinders<br>so it will be a good series. Now, as far as Lebron James - What a poor freakin' sport! Can't believe he wouldn't shake hands or<br>speak to the media after the game! Next he'll be down playing his teamates as a reason for going to NY. Big freakin' poor sport<br>(like Isiah )in my book. You didn't see Kobe act like a numbnuts after Laker's lost to the Celtic's last year.<br>Alas I will end(Dave) by chanting Brady,Brady,Brady!<br><br> Kevin(K-dog)

<blockquote> <strong class="quote-title">chrish284 wrote:</strong> <hr> Tom, do you have any footage of Kobe pushing any players, from his high school years? Who cares, basketball has never been a "clean" sport-it's not tennis. You get calls, you don't get calls, put the ball in the bucket, call it a game. Nobody is golden, and certainly not Kobe, Lebron, KG, Mello, or anyone else, regardless of the color of their uni's.</blockquote><br><br>I provided footage earlier in this thread of him elbowing.. don't have any of the actual push on Jones.. however.. the posts I placed about Kobe beingdirty was in response to an earlier post about how dirty the Nuggets played. <br><br>I stated pretty much the same thing as you.. All teams have dirty players... and thats basketball. Kobe just happens to be 1 of those dirty players that getsaway with A LOT more than other players. I suppose thats the priveledge of being among the most talented in the league, you can get away with things otherscan't.

Tom, I respect that, but I also watched Kobe get hammered many, many times in that series, and NOT get a call. Paybacks are known to be a _______. Lebron, nowif you even think about touching him, your getting called. Been awhile since I had seen so many phantom calls in a series-for a star. I felt bad for Orlandofor a second (only 1).<br><br>Fish is not that old, and he played well in the last 2 games of the Nugs series, like most of the other Lakers did (by the way). Gasol is soft? Dudes' anAll-star, who puts up double-doubles like Chugger does at In-n-Outs, and he blocks shots. He's just not beast in size, so he must makes up for it insmarts. Ever seen him foul out? Lamar is the X factor, but he looks scary SIC in the last two games, unguardable. Orlando did beat the Lakers this season, butthe GUY who beat the Lakers, isn't playing in this series.......

Ya, Kobe got hammered.. as many people do/did and will.. Kobes push on Jones was in game 1, and IMO what started Jones down his path of dirt in the Lakersseries... But, it's basketball, they are all grown men, just play, if you get pushed , who cares, keep playing, ya know.<br><br>Too many whiners in the league for sure..<br><br>Gasol - Being an all star means nothing in my book...it's a popularity contest. and hes popular because he's in LA. Look at Shaq, he was an All Stareven though he was injured most of the season..<br><br><br><br>He blocks a few shots here and there, but blocking shots does not equal defense (ie Birdman - top shot blocker per minute in the league, but not a greatdefensive player). He puts up double doubles a lot...but thats not hard to do when you are the big man on the floor. Overall, he is tougher than he used tobe.. but he still isn't big on boxing out against other big men, going hard to the rim, or taking hard fouls. He's a smart player , yes, but sometimeshis "smarts" make him play soft...<br><br>Im probably a bit over critical of him because he's a Laker.. but IMO he's still soft.. and Bynum has been a flop in the playoff's, so who'sthe big man to dominate for them like DH will for the Magic?<br><br>Nelson may play in this series, and yes, he was the reason they beat the Lakers in the season.. but since he has been injured, the Magic haven't fallen,they've been playing just as well... Courtney Lee (among most of the other Magic players) has stepped it up big. I hope the Finals don't intimidate him

Gasol was an all-star in Memphis, not with the Lakers. Remember, he's not the bigman either, he's playing the 4 position, not the 5, and doing so at 7foot. DH is a gamer, but he's very much like Shaq in "his" Orlando days, just a dunker, and I didn't care for Shaq's game very much backthen. DH has talent, but he needs to become a Gasol type of shooter and have some range, once he does that, then he will be a force. Nelson has been cleared,but he's nowhere near ready to play FINALS ball. Orlando would be not very smart to rush him back and have him hurt that shoulder, since it was supposed tobe serious injury. 60 days doesn't heal that type of wound.

Just one quick thing to say because I'm more of a "fan" than a "basketball guy"...<br><br>But yeah, Tom, you are one of the few non-Lakers fans here, and that's a tough position to be in; so I gotta give you kudos for handling it with aplomb andkeeping the discussion fair and civilized!

I dont think they'll start Nelson, maybe only play him a little bit.. I think they are better off without him at this point.<br>My mistake on Gasol, I thought he was an All Star after comign to the Lakers.. ok, either way, he's the ugliest guy in the NBA, so he sucks.. lol, j/k.<br><br>I think DH is very similar to Shaq in his Magic days as well.. he's a dunker, blocker, and thats about it.. however, I think that will be enough thisseries, but we shall see! I've never been a Magic fan.. so won't be too upset if they don't pull out the W..but I always like to see the Fakerslose, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!<br><br>Greg - Thanks.. I'm used to being the "lone" fan (or non fan), being that I'm born in raised in Denver, and HATE the Bronco's, I'vedealt with it all my life! I figure if you can't have soem good fun civilized chat about sports, than whats the point?<br><br>I also learn a lot more through these discussions, and it's always nice to speak with people that are fair and civlized as well (ie most everybody on RLOL)and actually know the game and what they are talking about (usually moreso than I do! )

<blockquote> <strong class="quote-title">chrish284 wrote:</strong> <hr> Lebron blew it again (did the same thing last year too), and if he wants to be in the same squad has the elite, he needs to become a better sportsman. Not real hard to shake some hands and admit a better "team" beat you. <br><br></blockquote><br><br><br>Forgot I wanted to comment on this earlier.. I don't think LeBron blew it.. he did all he could.. his team and coach didn't provide him much of anyhelp to win any games. He WAS the team, and that will never work. <br><br>I was VERY dissapointed in him and the way he handled the loss.. I guess he still has some immaturities. I understand his frustrations, scoring 40 points agame , nearly averaging a triple double for the series, and still not being able to win has to suck...but come on man, you're a multi million dollarathlete.. 1 of the most gifted young athletes to play the sport.. take the time to suck it up, talk to the media and fans and stop sniveling!