The Piston's look young, athletic and fierce--at least defensively. They honestly just like they are imposing their will on them. LAL-Bull's 89 (or whenever) or LAL-SA last year? While the Pistons have no Jordan or TD it sure look like the old guard is being taken down by the younger, hungrier, wolves.
Oh why, oh why do teams play back to back games in the regular season -- sometimes in different cities -- yet there's a TWO FREAKING DAY BREAK in the finals when the games are in the same city????? Are they THAT determined to have me lose interest??? Are they hoping to stretch the playoffs until they overlap with the pre-season?? UGH!
All LA needs is one game in Detroit, and no team has ever won the middle three home games. The Lakers have this series without question. They didn't destroy the Spurs for nothing. As a fan of Gary Payton and a Karl Malone hater beyond belief, this series has me somewhat torn. But the team that beat the Rockets will be the champion. The Pistons will blow a home game, and be destroyed in LA.
Lakers have to win 3 out of the 4 remaining games. How is that "without question"? Piston did what they needed in LA, stole one game (should have been two), and came back to their home to beat the **** out of Lakers, and you still think Lakers have this series without question? Maybe you should check out the bets from Vegas to see whether those casinos think it is "without question".
Detroit sure didn’t look bothered much by playing in LA during the first 2 games of the series. As much as I hate to admit it, I think that the big difference between the Lakers that faced the Wolves and Spurs, and the Lakers that are facing the Pistons is that Karl Malone is not at full strength. Malone has been a big reason for the Lakers success. First, on the offensive end against the Rockets. Then on defense against the Spurs and Wolves. The Malone that’s playing now is hurting the Lakers more than he’s helping. Mainly because of his inability to go after rebounds. Also, Chauncey Billups is mentally the toughest point guard the Lakers have faced and I have always felt the best way to beat the Lakers is from the point guard position. He’s not going to make the mental errors that Steve and Parker did and he’s obviously much better than Derrick Martin.
Another thing to remember, Derek Fisher and Devean George are also struggling through injuries and without those two, the Lakers would have been bounced from the playoffs a long time ago.
Those 2 have been always hobbled with some type of injury with the previous championship games. They have been through this before, but this they have met their match (Billups, Prince and Hamilton).
Sportscenter today pointed out an interesting fact: through the first 3 games of the series, Detroit FT attempts 91; LA FT attempts 56. The more aggressive team gets the calls? The NBA caves because of all the calls for a conspiracy? All I know is that Phil Jackson is the last person that should be complaining about not getting calls.
YES! Exactly what I was planning to say. Halfway through the report I was thinking either why in the world are they complaining or now they know what it feels like. The comments made were, in my opinion, VERY ciritcal of the refs; PJ was acting as if calls should be automatically made because they're the Lakers. It's true though that they aren't getting the bs calls that occurred in the Wolves series for instance, but it's how it should be anyway. It's silly. Of course he or George or the Lakers won't get fined because that's going 'too-far' on the NBA's part. And it's The Finals, so let 'em play! Two more things about the rest of this series: It's obvious the next couple of games will be tighter-called, giving LA the opportunity to win, but with their idiotic play (ie: not giving Shaq the ball), they'll be lucky to win one more game. Also I think Malone's actions hurt the lakers in that the league is realizing that maybe the Lakers shouldn't be The Team to win. I still feel a bit embittered about everyone in the media and elsewhere climbing aboard the Detroit dernier cri, the entire time acting stupidly saying the East has no chance against any team in the West. As I see it, the East was OVERdue for a Champion. And while it's been said, it's worth repeating: If the Lakers win, the team will disintegrate; If the lakers lose, the team will disintegrate.
I think the Karl Malone factor is overblown for this series. The problem with the Lakers is not that they are getting killed at the 4. The problem is Detriot as a team is so athletic, long and quick they have got Shaq out of rythum and their offense in feeding Shaq out of rythum. Kind of reminds me of what Seattle used to do to Hakeem. Karl Malone is more important defensively and rebounding wise for them, and while those are important--especially against opponents like SA or Minny, Detriot has thrown them off in their bread and butter Shaq oriented inside-outside offense where Karl is a fairly minor part.
Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe... Prediction ~ Gary Payton has a big game. Go Pistons.
