Icehouse and Desert_Scar are known Kobe haters. I'll at least give Desert_Scar credit because he flat out admits that he hates Kobe. Their analysis on who would win this series was clearly flawed by bias.
Ah, the Kobe Fan Boys. Who really cares? We did see a surgery-bound Tracy McGrady put up a VALIANT fight against Utah considering he went into the playoffs without the best post-up option and his valuable point guard, eh? How well would Kobe have done in T-Mac's place this year against Utah? Yeah, scoring 50 or 60 while the Jazz win 4-0 or 4-1? I love the way T-Mac at least measures his game to honestly get his team involved, give them a fighting chance. Yeah, McGrady talks up some ridiculous stuff but he does honestly work to get lesser talented teammates into the game. But they simply didn't have the framework without at least Rafer. This isn't necessarily the Triangle Lakers, you know. Rafer still worked like a classic point guard regardless of Adelman Ball. It's because of McGrady that the seriously banged up Rockets took Utah to six. With Kobe, I think it's simply the high volume scoring, the other Rockets simply look on and Utah wins in a sweep or 4-1. I'd rather PAIR Yao WITH McGrady STILL. As a Rockets fan, I think T-Mac is still better for this team as a playmaker and leader. Forget it. Kobe is awesome as heck but I won't throw T-Mac away from the Houston Rockets. You're not going to get Kobe here, so keep dreaming. Like I said, I wouldn't want him here to disrupt the chemistry. I feel good about the new system in place and the fact that the pit bulls now around Yao and T-Mac such as Scola, Landry, et al give us a shot at a 60 win season and a championship.
"It's not denial. I'm just selective about the reality I accept." I wasn't aware that the annual fishing trips required any. Relax. This wasn't about whether Tmac helps the Rockets or not. Obviously he does. It was about who is better, Tmac or Kobe. I brought this up because I have had this discussion with couple of people on this board in the past. As of right now, I doubt any neutral fan will take Tmac over Kobe. I am a Rockets fan, not neutral, and I would take Kobe over him. I suspect most Rockets fans who want to win championship, would do the same.
The fact that they had such asset as a big expiring contract to trade for pointed to great management more than anything. Some people are just jealous or in denial.
Terrible argument. No doubt there have been steals via expiring contracts historically. But there's usually some baggage to the deal. The star is usually in decline or injured (Baron Davis), a nutcase (Rasheed, Bonzi to Memphis) or there are multiple picks or young players thrown in to sweeten the pot. This was nothing of the sort. They got a 27 year old, healthy, All-Star big man for absolutely NOTHING. That trade changed NBA history.
The Lakers will win the championship, proving PJ is one of the best coaches ever..However, without gasol, they wouldn't be there...
The Lakers traded Caron Butler & Chucky Atkins for Kwame Brown & Laron Profit in Summer 2005. I doubt that their intention at the time was to have a big expiring contract that they could use two and a half years later. Kwame was mainly a disappointment for most of his years with the Lakers. If you call that great management, then you are in denial.
Especially since Caron is becoming an all star player very soon, he might be a better player than the Lakers 2nd and 3rd best player now. "A poor man's Paul Pierce."
You win some you lose some. Where the laker management has shined is with there later round draft picks. Sasha, Farmar, Turiaf, Walton etc
I don't like the energy level of either team. The Pistons aren't playing defense with any desperation and the Celts don't exactly look like a team swooping in for the kill. Last night, the Spurs came out roaring like champs but they ran out of gas. I'm disappointed so far. Doesn't seem like an elimination game.
Sam playing like a stink bomb. We won't be seeing him again today. Will someone tell me why the Celts even let Rip get off a shot. Very poor defense. For the 2nd year in a row, Tayshaun Prince plays like garbage in the conference finals. I wonder what's wrong with him. If KG's jumper wasn't off, the Celts could be putting some heavy pressure on the Pistons. Chauncey and Rip are doing a number on the Celts. So far, the only reason this game is interesting is because it's an elimination game.
^^^Wrong thread The one thing I worry about the Lakers against the Celtics or the Pistons is both of those teams play more physical, they have the big bodies to rough up Gasol, Odom, Turiaf and Radmonivic.
A) Kobe is going to have to work for his points. I think I was right on this one. Kobe barely got to the line and shot a lot of jumpers. He is great and really converted, but he still worked for his points as opposed to the Jazz series. B) Duncan isn't. Gasol can't contain him if he tried. I was clearly wrong. There is no excuse for Duncan not dominating that matchup. C) Odom doesn't cause the huge mismatch issue due to Horry, Udoka and the teams overall defensive strength. Odom had a so-so series. So I will say I was right on this one. D) Manu still got his shots...he just had a bad night. The same goes for Fisher though. I was clearly wrong here, although Manu did shoot like garbage and just miss a lot of open shots. You can say that about most of the SA players in general...they got open looks but didn't convert them. E) They still have no one for Parker. I was wrong here. They did a good job of keeping him out of the lane. F) The Laker bench is clearly better. I was right. And I was clearly wrong about who would win the series.
I didn't forsee Duncan shooting in the low 40's against a frontline of Gasol/Odom, or Manu shooting like Rafer Alston.
I am not a Kobe hater. He is great, but I don't think he is on MJ's level and I don't see how anyone can say he has a bigger impact on the court than Shaq or Duncan. If you aren't even the clear cut best player in your generation how the hell can you be in the GOAT convo?
