NO. You don't see anything that would disrupt the belief that the Lakers only cheat to get ahead. Both teams get their fair share of calls. The Lakers were simply the better team. ------------------ Drop kick me Jesus through the goalposts of life, Tumble end over end, neither left nor right. Straight on ahead through the goalposts I'll go. I've got the faith Lord, If you've got the toe.
Sure. I guess I'll just leave it there, because you must have been watching a totally different game than I was. All I saw was the Fakers getting calls all game. Maybe the Fakers are a better team. But for once I'd like to see them show it to me with their play instead of cheating. I just wonder all the time how good the Fakers would be if the games were called fairly. Could they win it all then? Maybe. I'd like to know, but I know I'll never get that chance with these refs. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
I don't know why you guys are arguing. I thought all the players did what the NBA/NBC wanted. Listen, if Kobe wouldn't have asked the refs to step in and make sure that he won the game, the league wouldn't want to market him as the next Jordan. What about the NBA and the marketing? What about Adidas? And Sprite? They will lose millions and you won't have things to buy when you go to the mall. I can't wait to see what the NBA has in store for Francis. Can you imagine? The talent of Francis meshing with the NBA and NBC to produce nail-biting games and the refs right there to make sure he gets away with the palming so that Francis gets those calls? Boy, the future is looking bright for us! And, if you look closely, Shaq clearly tired and needed to get out of the game. He needs to look refreshed so that when the Lakers lose game 5, the league can make it seem that despite Shaqs upcoming 40 points, it will look like the Pacers survived and it will bring even more people for the big game 6 where the boys will have their best performances for us. The refs will be there this time to help Perkins grab those offensive rebounds. And I am sure the league will come up with something so that Shaq won't hit any of those damn annoying free-throws. I think that ruins some of the suspense and takes away from the plot twisting built in already. Appreciate all this, folks. This is the best drama out there. Nobody can write better than NBC/NBA. What else can you expect from the station that produces Emmy winning shows like Friends, Frasier, ER, Family Ties, the Cosby Show and Seinfeld? Its athletic literature at its best if you ask me. ------------------ INDY IN 7!! The people and Nielsen want it! [This message has been edited by Almu (edited June 15, 2000).]
Puedlfor Every play Shaq violates 3 seconds, over the back, etc. yet they aren't called. ------------------ I AM SPARTACUS
Its late and I have stuff to do tomorrow so : My Final Thoughts I can't stand it when people refuse to give credit where credit is due. This "cheating" nonsense, in my opinion, is something whiney fans of loser teams use because they can't stand that other teams are better than them. I am not a whiney fan of a losing team, and I can recognize a dyansty in the making. In both LA and Houston. The road to the title will run through L.A. for a while. They are the best team in the Association for the forseeable future. The sooner we recognize that, the sooner we can figure a way to beat them in a 7-game series. ------------------ Drop kick me Jesus through the goalposts of life, Tumble end over end, neither left nor right. Straight on ahead through the goalposts I'll go. I've got the faith Lord, If you've got the toe.
Dean- agreed. Shaq was over the back on practically every play. He was probably over the back 5 or 6 times before they finally threw him out. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
I refuse to give credit to the Lakers because they don't deserve it. It's easy to win when they have every official in their pockets. Now I'm also not discrediting LA because the Rockets didn't win as many games as they did. I just don't like seeing a team get the red carpet treatment so the NBA can make more money. As for beating the Lakers, the Rockets have done it before and can do it again!! ------------------ I AM SPARTACUS
Dean, Until Francis improves his performances, the refs and the league won't include him in the plans for the near future. But, you are right. One day, we will get NBC/NBA writing stuff for us like they did when Dream was at his best. I just hope that Francis will be as good at following the script as Dream and then Drexler did. I can't wait! ------------------ INDY IN 7!! The people and Nielsen want it!
Well, I taped this game, and will keep it for a while. When the Rockets next season starts, and they are the victims of bad calls in a game (it happens), I will bet you almost everyone will be upset that they were cheated. Is everyone then a whiney fan of a losing team? I challenge you to one thing Pu. Repost what you just stated in the Rockets forum next year when they lose a game and many of us are complaining they were cheated. If you don't, to me you are completely being a hypocrit. You are just looking for an excuse to say that the Fakers are the better team. Maybe LA in your opinion is the best team, but IMO not even close. By far the best team (at this point) going into next season is Portland. The only way the Fakers will even come close to another title is if the refs hand them one again. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
Cat and Dean, before you guys take your comedy act out on the road, you ought to realize the point that Almu is somewhat subtly trying to make: The best thing for the NBA, ratings/money-wise, isn't for the Lakers to win -- it's for the series to go 7 games, regardless of who wins. If the Lakers close this out on Friday, NBC probably loses money. If it goes to Game 6 or Game 7, though, the ratings will skyrocket, and they'll make a mint. Granted, this thought is probably too complex for your young, hatred-crippled minds to grasp. Oh, well. ------------------
Swopa- the series probably will go to a Game 6 or 7, because the Pacers can win at home against elimination. NBC will still get the money for the series going 6 pr 7, but will be assured of a Faker victory none the less because the Pacers can't win both in LA. And I don't think you need to be making comments about people's minds Swopa. You are one of the most closed-minded people that I have ever met online or anywhere. And by the way Swopa, are you a physhic so you can tell my age? ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
Anyway, that'll be my last post for tonight on this. I have better things to do with my time than argue with some little closed-minded idiot. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
Swoopa I'm just saying the officials are terrible in the fact that they aren't calling anything on NBC's glamour team the Lakers. The entire playoffs have been nothing but the refs sucking up to Shaq. ------------------ I AM SPARTACUS
Cat, I prefer "insightful" to "psychic." But to be honest, there's also a dose of wishful thinking involved -- your spelling is so atrocious when you try to use grown-up multisyllable words like "psychic," "asterisk," and "hypocrite" that I just pray you're still in school, if only so there's hope you might someday learn better. ------------------
Almu, I want you to know that you are appreciated, although most are not catching on. Great stuff; keep it up. Cat- man, I just don't know what to say. It's true that everybody should be able to post their opinions here, thank god you are civil. It's just... it really sucks trying to discuss anything with you concerning the Lakers. It isn't even a discussion. You concede nothing. You don't give an inch. Your passionate hatred makes you blind, and you continue insisting on "facts" no matter what overwhelming evidence mounts against you. This thread has some of the most well-founded (and creative!) arguments, but it is all meaningless to you. It's like talking to a deaf person. Over the past weeks, you have consistently avoided addressing the strongest arguments posed against you and it's becoming clear that it isn't coincidence. I don't mind passionate posts at all, for instance RocketmanTex's invocation of hatred for the Lakers. Personally, I would have loved to see Los Angeles eat their team alive after losing to Portland. I'm getting sick of talking to a brick wall, or a broken record, and so are several others, which is why it is turning personal (not that I think it's justified.) Yes, this BBS is about people voicing opinions, but there is so much more communication possible for us, where people can actually learn from one another. This isn't happening with you, at all.
While I cant speak for NBC, but certainly the NBA's only wish isnt just for a seven game series. It would be just as good to have the next MJ make game winning plays in overtime after his superstar sidekick fouls out. NBA doesnt care if it goes to seven now that they got more superstars in the making to market throughout America and the world. My opinion on the refs. Both teams do get their share of calls, no calls. But, the LAkers really do seem to get more. Shaq, for instance, could have fouled out a hudnred times earlier. WHile I think the one they called was least representative of a Shaq foul (somehow the refs always screw that up), it was still a foul technically. Besides, Shaq does often camp in the lane and frequently goes over the back (take that play where he misses his shot and goes right back up and puts it back...he was all over Perkins back on that). Also, I dont understand why people cant take more charges on him. I mean even NBC noticed that Shaq does this thing where he bumps off the defender right before he gets the ball so when he does get it he can make a quick move. All one needs to do is take a flop there. Perkins did it once all night. Notice that when Shaq doesnt get this little bump and takes more time, he usually misses the shot or the play doesnt go as smoothly. I mean will somebody take a charge on that man--he barrells people over every play. Further, where was the call on Kobe Bryant near the end of the game when he bumps Travis BEst, Best losses control and there is a 24 second violation. Or the bump on Jalen Rose late in the game. I really have no favortie here (I also think Reggie traveled on that last play but did ot see any moving screens or whatnot), but I honestly think the LAkers get more calls. All that aside, the Lakers still do take those calls/no calls to their advantage and make people pay with great play. One further point. IS Larry bird the dumbest coach on the planet or is it just me. What the hell is the deal with his rotation. Why was Smits not in the game when Shaq had 5 fouls. FInally puts him in in overtime and Shaq fouls out. Instead, you put Davis on him, Davis ends up fouling out, and you see the rebound problems they have in overtime. BIrd sucks. ------------------ When I die I want to go peacefully like my grandfather. Not screaming like the passengers in the back seat! [This message has been edited by JayZ750 (edited June 15, 2000).]
Nolan, thanks! Now, seriously folks... Cat keeps calling people names. His hatred has gone to that extent that he is just lashing out on everyone. But what Cat fails to realize that he shouldn't be mad. Yes, he hates the Lakers. But, do you really think the Lakers will win this? THEY WILL NOT! The point of this series is for the refs, the league and NBC to make this into a do or die situation for the Pacers. Then, they will have it where the Lakers lose game 5, and 6 and have another monumental showdown for game seven. Can you imagine? Bird and the refs versus the Lakers and NBC/NBA? Bird leaving for good and the Lakers trying to make the league money? The old, crafty refs helping out Reggie by calling fouls for him when he kicks his leg out and the NBC/NBA hype machine having Shaq and Kobe be the Batman and Robin of the new milli? You have to appreciate the writing that this team produces. I hate the Lakers just as much as the next guy. But I have come to appreciate Shaq and the way he sticks to the script despite the fact that he is so dumb. You can't deny the man has talent. That game last night was the best production of the year and they did it with little rehearsal and a new character in Kobe. And look at the results! A fantastic game with overtime, drama, fouls, heroism, and most of all, excitement! One quick story... I remember when Hulk Hogan use to wrestle. I loved Hulk Hogan and when he lost his belts to evil people like Ric Flair, I use to cry myself to sleep. I wondered why the world was so unfair as to have a wonderful person like Hulk lose over and over to that b**** Ric Flair. It drove my hatred for him to the point where I thought I was turning into Cat. And then, to top it off, the league would market this SOB as the best of all time, the greatest of his generation, and give him top billing all over the place. When Hogan use to whoop up on that SOB, I use to have a smile on my face for a week and would then go to class and rub it into all the Flair fans out there! Despite the fact that Flair won so many times over Hogan and is considered better by many, I will stick to my guns and say that Hogan was the best I ever saw no matter how many titles Flair had over him or how many times he beat him. Each Hogan win would erase 10 losses. Hogan was my favorite. And I hated Ric Flair. That all I wanted to say...thanks for your attention. ------------------ INDY IN 7!! The people and Nielsen want it! [This message has been edited by Almu (edited June 15, 2000).]
I couldn't have said it better myself. The Pacers had the Lakers beat, and let them out of the bag. I wonder how much NBC paid 'em off. What a freakin' joke!! ------------------ Bring It!!
