Following a Kobe three to cut it to one, Pippen is fouled, and can only convert the first free throw. Result: A Kobe drive and dish to the wide open Horry who hits a three with 2.1 seconds left and yet another Laker victory over the Blazers! What a comeback after being down 5 with 35 seconds left.
I didn't think it was possible, but the artists of the choke have topped themselves. Up 15 with 10 minutes... that's terrible. But up 5 with 40 seconds? That's unthinkable. I've never seen a worse played 40 seconds of basketball in my life. Right out of the timeout, they give up a wide open layup. Then, Wallace misses one of two. Right out of the next timeout, they give up a wide open three. Pippen misses one of two. Then, last possession, the worst that can happen is overtime, right? Well, not if Scottie Pippen is playing defense. Pippen leaves only about the most clutch player in the last ten years wide open for a series winning three, and then throws the ball away on the next inbound. Scottie's had some memorable collapses before, but this was amazing. In a way though, I think it may be better for the rest of the league that the Lakers won this game. Though the media will undoubtedly praise the Lakers as unbeatable, they showed several flaws in this series, and practically any other playoff team could've taken advantage. The Spurs had many of the same weaknesses, but were given somewhat of a "wakeup call" when the Sonics beat them in game 2. Hopefully, the Lakers read some of their own press clippings and start to believe in this unbeatable aura, and the Spurs could have a shot at taking 1 of the first 2 in LA.
Or four, like I predicted in 99. (note: to anyone that can't read sarcasm, I'm not picking the Spurs to sweep LA)
when am i gonna learn, never ever believe the blazers have the lakers beat. i was actually thinking "oh my god, they actually made a big play towards the end (the sheed dunk) maybe they can actually finish it off." then even though they gave up a layup, fox still had to work and of course makes it. then i don't understand not showing on the pick for kobe. the worst that happens if you show is he wastes a few more seconds to launch the 3 or he gives it up for a 2 and that wastes time and your still up 2. then kobe has a very hard shot to get off at the end and they double? and of course friggin horry has to hit they shot. i love ya horry but you're on the lakers, couldn't you miss a damn clutch shot once in a while. seriously, all the MFing lakers have to do is miss one shot of those 3, come on. and y couldn't they make one more free throw. it pisses me off so much. and the daily official rant. ok, what does shawn kemp have to do. two times in a row shaq offensive fouls him and then the third time kemp gets a phantom foul called on him. basically, two offensive fouls and a no call got the lakers two fouls on the blazers and a no call. then there's anderson getting hammered with no call, and wells getting fouled with no call, and then a huge one was rasheed having his arm grabbed while receiving a post pass and losing the ball. i mean the lakers are good and gonna win a lot of games, but when you basically start every game with a 6 or 8 point advantage b/c of the officials it just makes it that much more impossible.
I'm not going to bother with the ref comments because no matter what I say or do you're still going to disagree. The Cat's argument that this was actually bad for the Lakers is laughable, but I'm going to withold comment as Cat has said before that if the Lakers do indeed win the championship, he'll concede that they're kind of an OK team. Anyway, with that being said, BEST GAME OF THE YEAR BY FAR!
napster: Characteristically, every championship team has a "wake up" game somewhere along the line. For the Lakers last year, it was game 1 of the Finals. For the Spurs in 99, it was game 2 of the first round. As good and smart as teams may be, when they are that hot, they usually fall into somewhat of a comfort zone. Often times in the past, one surprising loss can lure teams out of that. Looking from the Spurs perspective, I'm trying to find some way to be positive about this result. P.S. Have you been around the last few days? I conceded that last year's team was one of the best in the history of the game, and actually defended them in a "fictional" matchup with the 93-94 Rockets. What more do you want from me?
This year's playoffs are going to be harder for the Lakers, but hopefully that'll make it more interesting/suspenseful than last year's. Didn't know that Cat..I gotta get around more.
What a bunch of clowns posing as a basketball team. If Paul Allen has any brains he would blow that team up and rebuild around Rasheed and Bonzi Wells.
Well, I did some research, and Scottie might deserve the "Mr Clutch" label as much as Chris Webber. They always say that the top players elevate their game to the level of the competition, so with that in mind, here's one of the NBA's "50 greatest" against the best in the league: Regular season: October 30: 2 points (1-5 shooting), 5 reb February 17: 5 points (2-8 shooting), 7 asst March 29: 5 points (2-18 shooting), 5 reb April 14: 14 points, 2 reb ****** ****** Pippen had an excellent first quarter in that game, but threw a ball in the stands in the second quarter and was ejected Playoffs: Game 1: 11 points (4-11 shooting), 8 rebounds Game 2: 20 points, 9 rebounds (the exception to the rule, although many of those points came after the game was decided) Game 3: Obvious Nothing like having him as a go-to player and leader...
What's really funny is how many open perimeter shots the Lakers allowed Pippen to have. The shnozz bricks like there's no tommorow. Can't drive it anymore either. Other than being a point forward to relieve Damon of pg duties, wtf is the point of having him on the court? Weak.
I have the finest moniker on this here bbs. It still reigns supreme. You all each of you reek of covetness and envy
That "hail Mary" lob pass Pip threw was atrocious. MJ would have his head for that. Hehehhehhehehheheehhhhehee!!!! Classic.....3 years in a row, Pip chokes against the Lakers. The Lakers have to love Pippen.
actually HOOP-T, it's 4 straight years Pippen has choked against the Lakers. Game 1 of the Lakers-rockets series in 1999 when Pippen stumbled to the floor with around 7 seconds left, gave the Lakers their chance to get the lead and win.
heh heh heh... crisco: I saw that, too... it gave me perverse pleasure knowing that Pippen plays the same role Tmo does on the Rockets...
I love it, Pip comes thru again! What is he making like a billion dollars! Ha, ha! I have never said this before but I am so happy to have overpaid Cato than very overpaid Scottie!
