Pistons in 6

[druez]

I would go five, but the lakers will be given a game by the refs.

[JeeberD]

I pray that you're right.

[EagleFan]

As long as the refs keep checking with the scorer's table to make sure they don't foul Shaq out, that will make it an uphill battle for that punk-ass bitch Larry Brown's Pistons.

It's a battle of two teams that I want to see lose. Maybe it will go 7 and hit a never-ending overtime cycle until it's declared a draw.

[LionsFan10]

Me too, and I'm not even a Pistons fan.

[kserra]

As a Detroit fan, so take this with a grain of salt...

I am so excited to see a classic matchup of the Pistons-Lakers...the amount of late 80's video we will be seeing in the next few days will be ridiculous...

Before we start hearing the cry of "experts" regarding the quality of play, Larry Brown had a great comment, paraphrasing..."anyone who is a coach/fan of the game appreciates the effort and intensity with which these past six games have been played with...that's good basketball"...again, don't have the exact quote, but said something like this...

All of those East/West coast fools who think this series was terrible and would rather see the Mavericks and their "form" of basketball, well, I don't think you know the game very well in truth...

I can't wait for this series to start...yet, once again, the NBA does a great disservice to its fans by making us wait till SUNDAY for the first game...at 9PM Eastern to boot!

Anyone got a schedule of the games? It should be a league-wide mandate that all playoff series have games every other day...

Kevin--Go Pistons

[kserra]

As long as the refs keep checking with the scorer's table to make sure they don't foul Shaq out, that will make it an uphill battle for that punk-ass bitch Larry Brown's Pistons.

It's a battle of two teams that I want to see lose. Maybe it will go 7 and hit a never-ending overtime cycle until it's declared a draw.


Philly fan= Bitter fan

Sorry, but what Brown did with the Sixers was remarkable...took an uncoachable superstar, coached him up, and had the surrounding cast of middling players (any other even above average starters there? Snow, please...) play above their heads...To even get to the finals with that group tells us how good Brown is, and how a determined Iverson (and healthy) can impact a game...

Sorry Philly fans, not a shot, just a view from D-Town...now you may rip on my Lions and Tigers, even Wings I guess! :)

Kevin

[LionsFan10]

The Tigers, now there's a topic ... do you think their "success" will continue or will they bottom out sometime soon here? I watched them blow a three run lead starting in the sixth inning today and I just can't help but feel sorry for these guys. As hard as they play, and no matter how many runs we put on the board our pitching is so terrible that it just doesn't matter. Our best starter is only 4-3 with an ERA approaching five, not gonna cut it.

I love the Tigers because they brought in one of my favorite players (Ivan Rodriguez), and he's doing his job at the dish, hitting .333 with 40 RBI's, not to mention 7 HR's, and Young's return to the line-up will definitely help. But until we improve our pitching, it isn't going to matter. Although I'm quite happy to see the Tigers still in third place at the beginning of June, I have to be honest when I say I didn't expect them to be anywhere near 23 wins already. Just looking for a fellow Tiger fans thoughts ...

[MrBug708]

hehe...Anyone care to wager about the Pistons NOT in 6?

[tucker342]

I'm sorry, but the Pistons will NOT beat the Lakers.

[gi]

I have the 24 Season Ticket package for the Tigers...Last Sunday saw them give up 6 runs in the 9th to lose...disheartining...

I believe we are stuck with our pitching until next year. Maybe dom can inject some worth to it...

Until then, I will hope for a .500 season...I think it is the best we can do. Even if our pitching gets better. Thought that is not saying much. It really has no where to go but up.

[Ksyrup]

Before we start hearing the cry of "experts" regarding the quality of play, Larry Brown had a great comment, paraphrasing..."anyone who is a coach/fan of the game appreciates the effort and intensity with which these past six games have been played with...that's good basketball"...again, don't have the exact quote, but said something like this...

All of those East/West coast fools who think this series was terrible and would rather see the Mavericks and their "form" of basketball, well, I don't think you know the game very well in truth...
I'm a Detroit fan as well - as in, a fan of all of the Detroit teams, but not necessarily a basketball fan. This playoff season, I've watched more basketball than I watched in the past 7-8 years combined. And I'll tell you what - it's crappy basketball. That's not to take away from the intensity, efort, and teamwork that teams like Detroit have shown over the past 74 weeks of the playoffs, but I realized once again why I stopped watching basketball all those years ago. Effort and intensity do not make good basketball - or any game, for that matter - by themselves. Scoring 27 points in one half of an NBA playoff game is an embarrassment.

I was, and will be, content to occasionally flip over and watch a couple of minutes at a time, check the score, and then flip over at the 6 minute mark of the 4th quarter to watch the ending if it's close. That's about as much 2004 NBA basketball as I can stomach these days.

But in any event....go Pistons!

[ageofquarrel]

Yeah but Larry Brown is part of the reason why those below average starters where wearing sixer uniforms anyway. He got them to the finals but the team is now a trainwreck, I dont see them competeing anytime soon. He realized this and then acted like a big baby so he could get out of his contract. He is a great coach but terrible general manager. You better hope you win the finals before he start making moves and ruins your team. I still want the pistons to win though.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yeah but Larry Brown is part of the reason why those below average starters where wearing sixer uniforms anyway. He got them to the finals but the team is now a trainwreck, I dont see them competeing anytime soon. He realized this and then acted like a big baby so he could get out of his contract. He is a great coach but terrible general manager. You better hope you win the finals before he start making moves and ruins your team. I still want the pistons to win though.

Don't worry about that, friend. In Dumars We Trust.

[druez]

Brown is a great coach period. He is also a good GM. Living in Philly at the time of the Sixers you have to remember he started with nothing but trash.

Only way pistons loose is if the NBA scripts the finals... as usual.

[MrBug708]

Brown is a great coach period. He is also a good GM. Living in Philly at the time of the Sixers you have to remember he started with nothing but trash.

Only way pistons loose is if the NBA scripts the finals... as usual.


Heaven forbide the Lakers actually be a better team with a better coach

[Suicane75]

Philly fan= Bitter fan

Sorry, but what Brown did with the Sixers was remarkable...took an uncoachable superstar, coached him up, and had the surrounding cast of middling players (any other even above average starters there? Snow, please...) play above their heads...To even get to the finals with that group tells us how good Brown is, and how a determined Iverson (and healthy) can impact a game...

Sorry Philly fans, not a shot, just a view from D-Town...now you may rip on my Lions and Tigers, even Wings I guess! :)

Kevin


Uhhh, Snow is a legitimate, good NBA point guard and Mutumbo was the most dominant Center in the east, it wasn't 1 Superstar and 5 nobodys, add those 3 to the role playing grit of McKie, Geiger, Lynch and Hill and they were a very good team.

[Suicane75]

Brown is a great coach period. He is also a good GM. Living in Philly at the time of the Sixers you have to remember he started with nothing but trash.

Only way pistons loose is if the NBA scripts the finals... as usual.


What in the blue hell are you smoking?

[Neuqua]

Heaven forbide the Lakers actually be a better team with a better coach

Better team? Yes. Better coach? Not so sure.

[RainRaven]

I would't even call the Lakers a "better" team. They have more talent in Shaq and Kobe plus company but I hate teams that don't show effort on a night in night out basis and the Lakers are the posterchild for that. Players can't always have good games but would it kill them to work their asses off everynight for the paychecks they recieve? I personally hope that the Pistons pull the upset and make the Lakers relize that they just can't play hard when they "want" to but instead have to bring their A game every single night.

[Neuqua]

I can go with that. The true difference between the Lakers and Pistons is Shaq. If Shaq shows up then there's very little Detroit, or anyother team, can do about it.

[druez]

I can go with that. The true difference between the Lakers and Pistons is Shaq. If Shaq shows up then there's very little Detroit, or anyother team, can do about it.

Shaq is over-rated. He fouls as much as he is fouled. But, he has a superstar tag on him so he gets to play with 4 fouls and not worry. Its BS.

[druez]

Heaven forbide the Lakers actually be a better team with a better coach

Better Coach? What did Phil Jackson do when the Bulls were loosing their talent? Umm run for the hills... Wouldn't take another coaching job till another superstar filled team was there waiting for him..

Most over-rated coach sure I'll go with that.

Better team, not so sure about that. The pistons defense is for real period. I don't think we've ever seen a team so dominate on defense as the Pistons are. Even the Pistons of old.

Wallace's = Shaq stopped

Bryant is more important then Shaq, in my opinion. Shaq didn't win a championship till cobie got there did he? I believe he was schooled by Hakim when he had his chance with the Magic....

[RainRaven]

Agreed druez, Bryant is the more important of the two. You don't see Shaq making big plays down the stretch of the playoff games but hear the names of Bryant, Derek Fisher and Kareem Rush echo through the room. Shaq is good for one reason only and that his pure size, I consider players like Bryant, Jordan, Iverson, Garnett etc. to be better players then Shaq can ever lay claim to even with his rings.

[MrBug708]

Better team? Yes. Better coach? Not so sure.

I can easily say that Jackson is a better coach. i could be a homer on both sides of the fence, since Larry Brown is a former UCLA coach.

[MrBug708]

Just curious, but what do you consider "stopping Shaq"? I mean, 24 points 9 rebounds? Is that Stopping him?

[judicial clerk]

I think Brown will have a plan and his team will be ready to play. However, the lakers just got done beating two teams that are better than the two teams the Pistons beat (and maybe better then the Pistons). I think the Lakers are battle hardened and will be ready to take advantage of the Pistons and the Pistons will be shocked by the jump in talent level of their opponent.

The Spurs are better than the Pistons and they couldn't quite get it done.

[MrBug708]

Brown's already 0-1 vs Phil Jackson led teams in the Finals...

[Alf]

The sad thing is that I will be out of NBA TV access next week....

Lakers in 6.

The key is the PF position as usual for a Lakers team. If the Sheed can play well enough over Malone, Detroit might have a chance. However Malone has increased his defensive play lately (although I depise the guy, I appreciate the defense he displays in the playoffs !).

[MrBug708]

He's faced PFis that are league's better then Detroit's PF's are (maybe if you could combine) and the Lakers managed to win. Unless Garnett and Duncan, the previous 2 MVP's are slouches....

[Alf]

Then I don't see any reasons for the lakers not to win ;)

[Alf]

dola

I still think that Detroit made the right decision when trading Jerry Stackhouse for Rip Hamilton (time for me to search for that burried thread)

[MrBug708]

dola

I still think that Detroit made the right decision when trading Jerry Stackhouse for Rip Hamilton (time for me to search for that burried thread)

I think everything was validated when they were able to acquire Sheed

[druez]

I think Brown will have a plan and his team will be ready to play. However, the lakers just got done beating two teams that are better than the two teams the Pistons beat (and maybe better then the Pistons). I think the Lakers are battle hardened and will be ready to take advantage of the Pistons and the Pistons will be shocked by the jump in talent level of their opponent.

The Spurs are better than the Pistons and they couldn't quite get it done.

Didn't indiana have the best record in the NBA?

[rkmsuf]

Detroit cannot score enough points to win against the Lakers. Unless Rip throws in 30 a night it's over.

[The Afoci]

Didn't indiana have the best record in the NBA?

They played mostly teams in the east. What was their record against the west?

[rkmsuf]

Lakers are -575...big favorites.

[VPI97]

They played mostly teams in the east. What was their record against the west?They had a 20-8 record against teams in the West. Their winning percentage was higher than anything a Western team put up against their own conference.

[Suicane75]

Pistons will be lucky to win 2 games in this series, anyone who thinks otherwise is smoking some seriously good stuff.

[druez]

17 annd 11 for Detroit against the west ummm not to shabby

[druez]

Detroit was number 2 in the NBA in point diff.. @ 5.84 pts per game margin.
Lakers were at 3.91

Lakers beat San Antonio on a another scripted BS call with Fishers shot. It is impossible for him to shoot the ball that quickly. It changed the series.

Lakers beat Minnesota, big deal. They won the first game when Minn had zero rest. It was a gimmie. Minn did not have one of the best point guards in the league for the whole series and they still went 6 games.

Laker fan if you win this series, it will prove the NBA scripts this shit.

[rkmsuf]

Detroit was number 2 in the NBA in point diff.. @ 5.84 pts per game margin.
Lakers were at 3.91

Lakers beat San Antonio on a another scripted BS call with Fishers shot. It is impossible for him to shoot the ball that quickly. It changed the series.

Lakers beat Minnesota, big deal. They won the first game when Minn had zero rest. It was a gimmie. Minn did not have one of the best point guards in the league for the whole series and they still went 6 games.

Laker fan if you win this series, it will prove the NBA scripts this shit.

What was there a string or remote control device in the ball that made Fisher's shot go in or something?

What is so hard to understand that the Lakers clearly have more talent?

[heybrad]

Laker fan if you win this series, it will prove the NBA scripts this shit.
Answer a couple of questions for me.

When do the scripting meetings take place?
Who is involved?
Is it just the commissioner and the refs or are the owners in on it too?
If the owners are in on it you think they just accept that their team doesnt win it?
If the owners werent in on it, dont you think they'd get out of the league if they really thought it was scripted against them?
Why the Lakers?
Why not New York? They're a bigger market.
Is the script written before the season starts or refined as the season goes along?
If you were writing a script, why would you write it having 2 teams that cant score 70 points in a game in the Eastern Finals?

Please answer these for me. I could use a good laugh today.

[rkmsuf]

Tim Duncan got a huge tongue lashing for making that off balance shot.

[Neuqua]

I'm no Laker-lover but Druez, what the hell?

The Lakers beat the Spurs, you can look at the replay of Fisher's shot as many times as you want and every single time it is going to tell you that it went in. Slow motion, give the proper respect that its due. These Lakers are no slouches by any means. They took down the Rockets, Spurs, and a very aggressive Minnesota team (albeit minus Cassell.) They have earned their way to the Finals.

Gosh I hope Bug does not read this.

[MrBug708]

I'm no Laker-lover but Druez, what the hell?

The Lakers beat the Spurs, you can look at the replay of Fisher's shot as many times as you want and every single time it is going to tell you that it went in. Slow motion, give the proper respect that its due. These Lakers are no slouches by any means. They took down the Rockets, Spurs, and a very aggressive Minnesota team (albeit minus Cassell.) They have earned their way to the Finals.

Gosh I hope Bug does not read this.

I think I'm in love

[druez]

Answer a couple of questions for me.

When do the scripting meetings take place?
Who is involved?
Is it just the commissioner and the refs or are the owners in on it too?
If the owners are in on it you think they just accept that their team doesnt win it?
If the owners werent in on it, dont you think they'd get out of the league if they really thought it was scripted against them?
Why the Lakers?
Why not New York? They're a bigger market.
Is the script written before the season starts or refined as the season goes along?
If you were writing a script, why would you write it having 2 teams that cant score 70 points in a game in the Eastern Finals?

Please answer these for me. I could use a good laugh today.

I'm not actually being serious. While I do believe the NBA influences outcomes through officiating more then any other sport, I don't believe they actually pen the whole series in stone. Will they tell refs to let calls go in a game four in the hopes that it might mean a game five or something of that sort? Yes they will in my opinion.

Detroit vs Lakers is a classic matchup and its showtime vs grunttime.

Are the lakers that good? They have 2 superstars 2 over-the-hill superstars and a cast of blah....

Detroit has a TEAM of good players. None are in the class of Kobie or Shaq agreed in terms of offense. But, defensively they are the best unit possibly ever. You can't dismiss defense.

[rexallllsc]

My thoughts as a Laker fan:

The Pistons aren't as good as the Spurs, but are better than the Timberwolves.

Lakers in 6.

[heybrad]

Detroit has a TEAM of good players. None are in the class of Kobie or Shaq agreed in terms of offense. But, defensively they are the best unit possibly ever. You can't dismiss defense.
You know what Druez... those are good points. Much better than "If the Lakers win, its only because its scripted."

The series will not be the blowout most people think but I'm still going with the Lakers in 6.

[cmp]

Pistons in 6. I'm a Pistons fan so I have to say that. But I do seriously believe that they have a great shot at winning it. Detroit did just beat Indiana, which had the best record in the NBA and a very impressive record against Western Conference teams. Before that they defeated the Nets who just last year found themselves in the NBA Finals. Just because there an Eastern Conference team doesn't mean they have no shot. Detroit actually had a better winning percentage against the West then the Lakers had against the West this season.

[Tigercat]

My thoughts as a Laker fan:

The Pistons aren't as good as the Spurs, but are better than the Timberwolves.

Lakers in 6.

As a non-Laker fan(but a Shaq fan since he was in college),
I agree.

The Spurs are a better team than the Pistons. Unless the Lakers play worse in the finals, which never happens under Jackson, they should beat the Pistons.

Say what you want about Jackson, he gets it done in the Finals with good talent. Well, here we are. He has talent and its the NBA finals. To say the only way Jackson and the Lakers will win is if the refs over-influence the game goes against common sense.

[Fouts]

Detroit was number 2 in the NBA in point diff.. @ 5.84 pts per game margin.
Lakers were at 3.91

Lakers beat San Antonio on a another scripted BS call with Fishers shot. It is impossible for him to shoot the ball that quickly. It changed the series.

Lakers beat Minnesota, big deal. They won the first game when Minn had zero rest. It was a gimmie. Minn did not have one of the best point guards in the league for the whole series and they still went 6 games.

Laker fan if you win this series, it will prove the NBA scripts this shit.

It's in the NBA rules that you can catch and shoot in :00.3 seconds. Also its up to the officials to get together and decide.

"Regardless of when the horn or red light operates to signify the end of period, the officials will ultimately make the final decision whether to allow or disallow a successful field goal. THE CREW CHIEF MUST TAKE CHARGE OF THE SITUATION."

Minnesota had zero rest, uh huh. What about Cassell being hurt? Plenty more excuses to use. How about Wally and KG turnovers?

Scripted LOL.

[druez]

It's in the NBA rules that you can catch and shoot in :00.3 seconds. Also its up to the officials to get together and decide.

"Regardless of when the horn or red light operates to signify the end of period, the officials will ultimately make the final decision whether to allow or disallow a successful field goal. THE CREW CHIEF MUST TAKE CHARGE OF THE SITUATION."

Minnesota had zero rest, uh huh. What about Cassell being hurt? Plenty more excuses to use. How about Wally and KG turnovers?

Scripted LOL.

Actually the rules states you can tip the ball, not catch turn and shoot.

[MrBug708]

Actually the rules states you can tip the ball, not catch turn and shoot.

You are one bitter fan

[druez]

Bug, I'm an X philly person / sixers fan. Now, since AI ran off Larry Brown I'm a temp pistons fan. My dislike for all teams comes from my philly heritage, but my extreme dislike for the lakers comes from the 4 to 1 loss we suffered a few years back. When that little "tird" Liu or whatever held Iverson all over the court.....

[druez]

Bug, I'm an X philly person / sixers fan. Now, since AI ran off Larry Brown I'm a temp pistons fan. My dislike for all teams comes from my philly heritage, but my extreme dislike for the lakers comes from the 4 to 1 loss we suffered a few years back. When that little "tird" Liu or whatever held Iverson all over the court.....


Hmm, I almost feel like a prophet....

[Neuqua]

You do realize that they haven't won the Finals yet right?

[Fouts]

While you're at it, bump all the posts about the Spurs destroying the Lakers after game two of that series.

[Fouts]

No wait, let me send you over the Lakers-Spurs script. It will save us some time.

[hoosierdude]

Pistons may not have as much talent as the Lakers, but they have better "heart" and they play a helluva better brand of defense than the Lakers ever have.

[MrBug708]

Pistons may not have as much talent as the Lakers, but they have better "heart" and they play a helluva better brand of defense than the Lakers ever have.

Lakers havent played D since 2001

[druez]

To the Piston fans who douted their team, you don't deserve this win. To NBA fans who thought this would be a Laker blow out get a clue. If you really watch and study this game, it should come as no surprise.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS PERIOD

Oh and to the Laker fans MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Only thing off on my prediction is the NBA influencing a game. BTW Detroit paid 450 per 100 bucks bet....

[Fouts]

You're like that crazy guy shouting weird things on the street corner. Eventually you get one right.

[druez]

You're like that crazy guy shouting weird things on the street corner. Eventually you get one right.

Yeah, whatever you say man!

[General Mike]

You're like that crazy guy shouting weird things on the street corner. Eventually you get one right.

You know what they say, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile. Or, Even a broken clock is right twice a day. :p

[MikeVick7]

To the Piston fans who douted their team, you don't deserve this win. To NBA fans who thought this would be a Laker blow out get a clue. If you really watch and study this game, it should come as no surprise.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS PERIOD

Oh and to the Laker fans MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Only thing off on my prediction is the NBA influencing a game. BTW Detroit paid 450 per 100 bucks bet....

Actually in the NBA it's always the team with the best player. And this is the case for about 21 out of the last 24 years. But yeah...this year you are right...defense did win A championship.

But saying all that...I'm really glad the Pistons won.

[druez]

Actually in the NBA it's always the team with the best player. And this is the case for about 21 out of the last 24 years. But yeah...this year you are right...defense did win A championship.

But saying all that...I'm really glad the Pistons won.

Check to see during the bulls dynasty who had the best defenses? Umm the bulls?

Yeah thats right.....

[MrBug708]

No, you were right about the influence the NBA had. It was 8-5 still, you just had the wrong team

What? Someone had to say it....

[MikeVick7]

Check to see during the bulls dynasty who had the best defenses? Umm the bulls?

Yeah thats right.....

And a guy named Jordan.

[druez]

And a guy named Jordan.

The lakers haven't had the best player and they won 3.

Neither Shaq nor Kobie have been the best player IMO.

[MikeVick7]

The lakers haven't had the best player and they won 3.

Neither Shaq nor Kobie have been the best player IMO.


Are you and I talking about the same thing? I don't want to get in a debate about two different things here.

What I'm saying is that in the finals alone...the team with the best player usually wins. Not the best player in the league period. Just out of the two rosters of the teams in the finals...the team with the best player usually wins.

Cause in 2000 it was the Pacers (Reggie Miller)...2001 76ers (Al Iverson) and 2002 Nets (Jason Kidd). There's no way that either of these 3 guys...with the exception of Kidd...are anywhere near the same level as Shaq and Kobe...IMO. :D

[MrBug708]

The lakers haven't had the best player and they won 3.

Neither Shaq nor Kobie have been the best player IMO.

Do pray tell, who is the best player in the leagues at that time? Lakers have beaten the Spurs 4 of the 5 years with Duncan and the Wolves have gone down to the Lakers in 3 of the 5 years....