I think the refs and the NBA will give then another game for ratings. The refs got the script and so did the other players and they will all follow the plan. And no way Kobe plays. Thats not what NBC/NBA wants. They want an interesting series so they will call the Lakers and keep Kobe off the floor. Now, in game 3, the refs and the league tried their best to keep the game close. Most of the players were complaining that the refs were not following the script correctly. I saw Miller staring at the paper on the sidelines and pointing to the spot where he believed he was suppose to take over. Thank God that the outcome came the way the they planned or they would have a major crisis. Kobe needs to follow orders here and just do what they tell him. Sit out another game so they can tie and then at least the games will go 6. They are guaranteed a profit by then. ------------------
ALMU, Are you trying to say the NBA cheats but yet in past posts you argue with Cat and VInce that there is no cheating going on. Now which one is it make up your mind does the NBA cheat or is it that the NBA only does not cheat for the teams you like. Fill me in on this im curious. How about Shaq's clear goaltending on Rose at the end of game 3 was that call to help the Pacers, That call and many other in that game almost cost the Pacers game 3. I am still waiting for a fairly called game vs. the Pacers cause I did not see 1 in the Knicks series and I have not seen a fair game in these 3 games. Its funny when Lakers players foul Smits the fouls are unseen like the creature of lockness. ------------------
I don't mean Kobe is a total liability- I shouldn't have said that. In some cases, I believe he is though. For instance, I think he was a great defender against players like Reggie Miller when he guarded him. But he is a liability when he is forced to guard a physical player like Pippen or Jalen Rose. He can be baited into silly fouls, and then these physical players just attack him in the post and go right at him. I didn't say it right about Kobe- he isn't a total liability. But many of the players he ends up guarding at times have a distinct advantage on him and can take him to the post at will. There is a reason Portland went at Kobe all series. It wasn't Rice, Shaq, Fox, Harper, etc. They attacked Kobe because they knew they could get him into foul trouble and then they could simply post him up and play physical. Hell, even Stacey Augmon was doing it to him! Kobe has got to grow out of that stage IMO to be a great defender. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
Coach, In my opinion, the Lakers get calls only when the Pacers are either starting to pull ahead or the NBA/NBC directors call for the Lakers to win. The script doesn't always go the right way. As a matter of fact, look at game 7, Heat vs Knicks. The Knicks were clearly told by David Stern to lose that game. During game 7, the Knicks shot 8 less free-throws than the Heat. The refs helped out the Heat to the point of no return. They gave them every call down the stretch. If the Heat would of just made 2 of those 8 free-throws, they win the game and the Heat would of played the Pacers. Instead, the Knicks win by 1 and the NBA is screwed because some dopes couldn't hit their damn free-throws like they were supposed to. Another example. The Blazers-Lakers series. Down the stretch, the Lakers get every call imaginable. The refs do their job again. They are helping the Lakers close the 15 point gap so that people stay tuned to the game. This was causing high drama. The comeback was carried out perfectly until the end. Wallace misses two crucial free-throws and Kobe makes his. Instead of having an overtime classic or maybe a double overtime classic, or even the upset of the Lakers like it was written to happen, we get the Lakers going to the finals. Here is another case of the players not executing what NBC/NBA wanted. Now, Kobe seems to be playing tonight. Now, they have to rewrite the whole damn thing. I am predicting a bad game, a sloppy game, because I am absolutely sure that they have had no time to rehearse the outcome on such short notice. Kobe insists on playing. For those who think Kobe is a team player, well think again. He is totally screwing up the playoffs with this "macho-hero" crap. He thinks he can learn his script by tonight? Yea right. He must think hes MJ or Dream or something. They are the only ones that hardly needed rehearsal because they were so talented they knew what the NBA/NBC wanted. They were around for years and they knew when to lose playoffs or when to win them. Kobe is NOT in that league, in my opinion. ------------------
EXACTLY Coach! Don't you just love the way the NBA and NBC keep the games close? Its like you never know the outcome until the last few minutes!! I mean, 90 percent of the time you know the Lakers are gonna win. But, sometimes, they lose! And I am all for that!! The refs, the league and NBC are smart by waiting for the Pacers (or any team who plays the Lakers) to go ahead of them by alot and then they start giving the Lakers all the calls so they can comeback and win dramatically. I love that! That makes it interesting even though I hate the Lakers. But you gotta love the quality of writing the NBA/NBC has. If they didn't do that, the games would be SOOOOOOOOO boring. ------------------
almu, Man your right on that point that the lakers get the calls when the Pacers are pulling away or when they want the lakers to win but they also get calls when they are blowing teams out and even at the beginning of games. Maybe not every last call cause even the crooks at the NBA and NBC have to be aware not to make it to obvious but come on the fouls being not called on Smits are comical to anyone who knows the rulebook and Shaq staying in the lane for 6 seconds all the time does not help either. ------------------
