No matter how this turns out (Kings will win it), the Kings are the better team and deserve to go on. I hope they do it in LA Friday night... But it tells you just how talented Shaq and Kobe are---basically with tissue paper around them, they've been in it almost all the way. Give them their credit. Honestly, if LA had been blown out of the series like they were blown out of the game two games ago, I expected Shaq to retire. Seeing how close they played them, I expect them to reload and go at it again next season. Kobe's hunger should enormous and we'll be able to judge clearly how much 'like mike' he really is.
I am too. Despite the fact I wanted Sac to win, before the series I figured the Lakers would be able to turn it on and find a way to pull it out. They still might. But I definitely feel the Kings are the better team.
gb - Glad to see your a sport about it. As I mentioned to you before, my major objection has been Shaq allowed to dislodge defenders. It appears that the officiating is starting to call that a little more fairly. Kobe will definitely take his game up another notch, but I'm not convinced it's enough. Shaq's feet are more of a concern than he is letting on. Anyway, neither the Kings nor the Lakers are our favorite teams maybe we should take some hope from this.
He seems to have learned to deal with that as the series has gone on---and I guarantee that the Lakers will have better personnel next season to help him out. It irks me that they all of the sudden take it away from him. Beginning of the season, beginning of his career---ok. When the series he hungers for hits: not ok. I fully expect Curry and Chandler to be here in a few seasons. And after watching Bibby---I do want Jay Will... Hey man---I try to be fair. I call it as I see it. It is, after all, only a sport.
Aside from the Rockets, the Lakers are my second favorite team. I've seen them get swept by the Jazz. Dominated by the Jazz. Humiliated by the Jazz to share that common bond with the Rox. No doubt the Kings are the deeper team that's executing better right now. But the Lakers aren't going away. The Lakers also have that never say die attitude that made the Rockets champions. It's easy to dismiss them right now, now that they're down 3-2. But if history and stats had their own way, Knicks would've won in six...
Something to consider for 2002-2003: Shaquille O'Neal ----- $23,571,428 Kobe Bryant ---------- $12,375,000 Robert Horry ---------- $5,300,000 Rick Fox ------------------ $4,170,375 Derek Fisher ------------ $3,000,000 Lindsey Hunter --------- $3,000,000 Mark Madsen ------------ $813,000 Subtotal ----------------$ 52,229,803 Player option: Samaki Walker --------- $1,540,000 That doesn't look to encouraging to me. Especially with Jerry West now in Memphis.
Aside from game 1, the Kings have outplayed the Lakers in every game. They are proving that the regular season champs are for real. Its going to be tough to close the Lakers out at home, but if anyone can do it, its the Kings of this yr. They have no one who can stop Bibby. NO ONE!
Man... Vlade might be called overdramatic with his flopping but he's been taking Shaq out of the game for most of the series. That's the most important factor for the Lakers right now. If Shaq ever learns to adjust, whether by accepting the calls or changing his game, he can easily score 40. And I doubt Bibby can overcome that.
So Bibby couldn't overcome Kobe's elbow... He was trying to play Kobe too close and should'nt have grabbed Kobe to break his fall. If he had learned from the school of Divac, he should've fallen back at the first hint of contact... Sillyness aside, he didn't b**** about the questionable call and you gotta respect that.
looks like an epidural hematoma... "When a person receives a severe blow to the head, the brain bounces within the cavity. This movement of the brain structures may cause shearing or tearing of the blood vessels surrounding the brain and dura. When the blood vessels tear, blood accumulates within the space between the dura and the skull. This is known as an epidural hematoma (epi-door-ul hem-a-to-ma), or blood clot at the covering of the brain." courtesy of the University of Mo. Health Care Center
