WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

[fluent2332]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

I've been so wrong this year with the playoffs. I picked Memphis over LA, Dallas over OKC, LA over OKC, sheesh. Looks like it's going to be an OKC/SA WCF, which should be good. I'll take SA but I wouldn't be surprised if OKC wins. Parker/Westbrook should be a good matchup.

[da ThRONe]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

Yeah if OKC and SAS win I've take SAS in 6. They can do it all. Score off dribble penetration, shoot 3's, score in the post, take away a teams #1 and #2 options with defense, score in transition, etc.

[Boltman]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

That was a lot of assumption, your brain is working to hard over nothing.

I only typed 5 words and one acronym.

[23]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

I actually think the Spurs are the most dangerous team in the NBA

Their bench and depth will make the difference

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

Seriously, an OKC/SA matchup was the most obvious thing ever coming in

Glad to see it come true

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

Everytime I go to sleep on the LAL vs OKC game I wake up with a present!

Had the refs not given the Lakers game 3 this would be a sweep.

OKC is clearly the better team refs or no refs

[Stephen A Smith] However [Stephen A Smith]

LA blew and basically gave away two games late in the fourth quarter

I have said all along OKC was going to embarrass LAL, and I was surprised LAL actually kept it as close as they have throughout the series

[Vni]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

They really havent been as far behind as people would have thought. I would more question Mike Brown coaching last night than Kobe taking too many shots. Everybody is feeling OKC coming back yet he doesn't use any timeout to stop the run or tell his players how he wants the offense to be ran. Sometimes it's like he's sleeping on the bench waiting for Kobe to do it all on his own. If it's Phil Jackson on the bench last night, I don't think Lakers loose, or at least not the way they did.

[Sinner]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

It actually makes some sense. See Cleveland 2008. Swept their first 2 playoff opponents 8-0, then just hit a giant wall against the Magic.

Cleveland 2008 werent as good and didnt have the overall talent, experience and coaching these Spurs have

[da ThRONe]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

OKC is clearly the better team refs or no refs

[Stephen A Smith] However [Stephen A Smith]

LA blew and basically gave away two games late in the fourth quarter

I have said all along OKC was going to embarrass LAL, and I was surprised LAL actually kept it as close as they have throughout the series

I'm not the Thunder are way too one dimensional. They are great at that one thing but still that's pretty much it. The Lakers are a monster with their length in skill in the post. They killed OKC last night with offensive rebounds and second chance points(before I chalked it up as a Lakers victory and called it a night).

[TajDeni]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

sorry so long....

sometimes i really do wonder if ppl actually watch the game or even worse if they even understand what theyre seeing.

1st kobe is not the player he once was, but that is to be expected in professional sports as one ages and puts more and more tread on there body. maybe 2-3 yrs ago the Lakers would be up 3-1 because Kobe could close games with more consistency than what he does with less consistancy now.

ppl try to discredit kobe and his entire career these past 2yrs and seemly 4get he is in his 16th season prolly 18-19th if you factor in playoff miles and olympics. thats like your wife rolling over oneday and saying honey your not the lover anymore you were 25yrs ago. Father times gradually always wins. so thats the 1st thing is that the end is approaching on a spectacular career, but it doesnt have to over yet. and ill get to that.

next about Kobe taking tough shots. well the facts are that Kobe has taken shots that most players wouldnt dare take his whole career, its one of the things that seperate him from all other players. and while they look tough on the tv screen he is atleast comfy taking those shots. now as time as eroded some of his athleticism, younger more athletic defenders have done a better job contesting those shots. b4 he could just rise above them and they couldnt really contest those shots. but again it was bound to happen.

but heres what ill say about it. as Laker fans this is the movie, always has been. Kobes gonna take majority of the 4th qtr shots and sometimes theyre gonna be tough shots. i can understand how some fans dont like it. but again this is the movie and while you may complain. it has translated into 3 str8t yrs in the finals and 2 championships. so again while you may not like the movie, what has your team accomplished in the same time span. Kobe doing it Kobes way has translated into alot of success over the past 5yrs.

its like the carmelo thing, denver fans claim they love the move now, they love the "ball movement" that they claim was non exsistent wit melo, but what has it translated to? 1st rd exists thats what. ppl just like the movie better. but it hasnt produced squat yet. and melo can alteast say he lost to the eventuall champ 4-5yrs in a row and denver wasnt even making the playoffs b4 he got there. no spurs no lakers in the 1st rd and the nuggets got out as evident by the WCF appearence. so you can get fooled saying its a better movie simply because you dont like it, but again what has it translated to really. the same ending? 1st rd exists.

back to Kobe, nobody was complaining about the movie when he took all the shots in the 4thqtr against the spurs, nuggets and suns ('08-'10) in the WCF, nobody complained when he took all the shoots the 4th qtr against the Magic/Celtics in the Finals, because he was hitting them. same exact shots.

like JVG says all the time, you cant have it both ways, this is what he does he's made alot and he's missed alot, but ive felt the joy of being a champion 2x in the last 5yrs as a fan. im not even bringing all the WC playoff shots he hit w/ shaq.

The lakers live and die by Kobe, he is Denzel. it is what it is but again when you go to hate the facts say, Kobe shooting his way to championships works. the movie just might be about over, nothing last 4ever anyways.

so again Kobe wasnt able to close the deal the past 2 yrs, its still be 1 heck of a ride and ill take 2 rings, 3 finals app in a 5yr span what your team boasting in that same span? whatever it is its not that? so show some freaking respect to 1 of only 2 active living legends (T.D.)

------------------------------------

Now about this series and Bynum, the media and fans are quick to say Kobe should give it to bynum in the post, do you guys even watch the games or do you just repeat what espn tells you. because i watched the games and in both games 2&4 the lakers were trying to get it to drew but drew was getting fronted by Serge and Perkins and they couldnt get the pass in safely to him. Andrew has to win that battle in game 2 and establish that position but he was unable to.

far as game 4, ill give drew a pass, because he looked gas and wasnt able to get any rest majority of the 2nd half, if i blame MB 4 anything its 4 not using TOs and mini resting periods 4 his starters. so dont believe all the half truths the media spins because they tried and couldnt get the ball to Drew. so again in game 2 i thought drew didnt fight thru the fronting enuf and in game 4 i thought he looked exhausted down the stretch.

-----------------------

2 Gasol, Kobe was right to call him out, because 2yrs in a row now 3x in the playoffs if you include the '08 Finals against boston, Pau has come up unacceptably small for a player of his talents.

now 1st let me say that he played up to his talents in '09-10. and b4 anyone say he carried Kobe in game 7, pau had 3 terrible games that series and Kobe had carried him those game so he and ron owed him that game.

Pau is over, he is afraid to shot, Kobe always says to Gasol shot the ball more, last yr he told gasol be the black swan instead of the white swan. but here the real issue, theyre are plently of times when neither Kobe or Bynum are on the floor and PG is still not looking to shoot, still wont go into the post. he's setting screen but hes not even lookin to get the ball back after the screen or to roll to the basket. most of his baskets are off of missed shot tip-ins. as a basketball fan while i do appreaciate him 4 his entire career, im done with him, because to me he's not even trying on a championship level. 3x is enuf. so why you may not like the fact that KB called him out, it was the truth and a player of PG caliber should never need to be called out over playing up to the required level, which is championship level.

peep whats happening, he's basically been sut down 1 on 1 by Serge Ibaka. last series it was Faried, PG is supposedly the most skilled big in the game and he cant even get his 1 on 1. 1 thing ill give Drew you play him 1 on 1 he's puttin gyou in the hoop.

so what was said was true, take your anti-kobe glasses off and lets call a spade a spade.

-----------------------

but who i blame the most is management. the current lakers management is not managing the team at a championship level. i cant remember the last time a team had 2 players that constantly draw dbl teams who also didnt surround those same players with outside shooters.

the funny thing is the lakers once had the best bench in the league. but management went the cheap route and didnt pay guys. so lets break it down. J.Farmer is basically making the same money theyre paying R.Sessions, and yet Farmer can do everything sessions does but is also a spot up shooter.

the lakers had Sasha who did struggle after he got paid but he played no more inconsistant than Blake has, was taller, a better shooter and a better defender. all for the same money theyre paying blake now.

while i love ron, he's just as worn out as kobe and they had a young athletic wing player Ariza who had good defensive skills and was improving with his spot up 3s. all 4 about the same money.

so except 4 ron who is prolly a wash with Ariza based on age the lakers have let bench after bench player go only to replace them with worse players, all 4 around the same money.

if the lakers had outside shooting Drew and Kobe wouldnt see so many dbl teams, these are just the facts.

not even to mention they let LO go, who believes LO has that season in LA? and dont give me it was a money play, Kobe is making 25mil plus. when your paying someone that much the only way to justify that is by winning rings. so as long as KB is playing making that much money, you keep a championship caliber team around him, unless you can get CP3. next yr LO wouldve been in his last yr and a much improved trade chip 4 your next franchise player.

so ultimately i hold the organization responsible for all the this in the end for not putting or keeping the right collection of role players around KB and AB. Geez look at the Spurs, thats how you do it.

so theres alot here and i prolly left some stuff out but here it is in plain english, break it down how youd like and lets have at it because i actually watch the games so im ready to go with the espn or i dont like the movie guy.

[RedSceptile]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

Too long didn't read, synopsis please someone.

[BlastX21]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

Grammar and capitalization pl0x.

[DukeC]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

sorry so long....

sometimes i really do wonder if ppl actually watch the game or even worse if they even understand what theyre seeing.

1st kobe is not the player he once was, but that is to be expected in professional sports as one ages and puts more and more tread on there body. maybe 2-3 yrs ago the Lakers would be up 3-1 because Kobe could close games with more consistency than what he does with less consistancy now.

ppl try to discredit kobe and his entire career these past 2yrs and seemly 4get he is in his 16th season prolly 18-19th if you factor in playoff miles and olympics. thats like your wife rolling over oneday and saying honey your not the lover anymore you were 25yrs ago. Father times gradually always wins. so thats the 1st thing is that the end is approaching on a spectacular career, but it doesnt have to over yet. and ill get to that.

next about Kobe taking tough shots. well the facts are that Kobe has taken shots that most players wouldnt dare take his whole career, its one of the things that seperate him from all other players. and while they look tough on the tv screen he is atleast comfy taking those shots. now as time as eroded some of his athleticism, younger more athletic defenders have done a better job contesting those shots. b4 he could just rise above them and they couldnt really contest those shots. but again it was bound to happen.

but heres what ill say about it. as Laker fans this is the movie, always has been. Kobes gonna take majority of the 4th qtr shots and sometimes theyre gonna be tough shots. i can understand how some fans dont like it. but again this is the movie and while you may complain. it has translated into 3 str8t yrs in the finals and 2 championships. so again while you may not like the movie, what has your team accomplished in the same time span. Kobe doing it Kobes way has translated into alot of success over the past 5yrs.

its like the carmelo thing, denver fans claim they love the move now, they love the "ball movement" that they claim was non exsistent wit melo, but what has it translated to? 1st rd exists thats what. ppl just like the movie better. but it hasnt produced squat yet. and melo can alteast say he lost to the eventuall champ 4-5yrs in a row and denver wasnt even making the playoffs b4 he got there. no spurs no lakers in the 1st rd and the nuggets got out as evident by the WCF appearence. so you can get fooled saying its a better movie simply because you dont like it, but again what has it translated to really. the same ending? 1st rd exists.

back to Kobe, nobody was complaining about the movie when he took all the shots in the 4thqtr against the spurs, nuggets and suns ('08-'10) in the WCF, nobody complained when he took all the shoots the 4th qtr against the Magic/Celtics in the Finals, because he was hitting them. same exact shots.

like JVG says all the time, you cant have it both ways, this is what he does he's made alot and he's missed alot, but ive felt the joy of being a champion 2x in the last 5yrs as a fan. im not even bringing all the WC playoff shots he hit w/ shaq.

The lakers live and die by Kobe, he is Denzel. it is what it is but again when you go to hate the facts say, Kobe shooting his way to championships works. the movie just might be about over, nothing last 4ever anyways.

so again Kobe wasnt able to close the deal the past 2 yrs, its still be 1 heck of a ride and ill take 2 rings, 3 finals app in a 5yr span what your team boasting in that same span? whatever it is its not that? so show some freaking respect to 1 of only 2 active living legends (T.D.)

------------------------------------

Now about this series and Bynum, the media and fans are quick to say Kobe should give it to bynum in the post, do you guys even watch the games or do you just repeat what espn tells you. because i watched the games and in both games 2&4 the lakers were trying to get it to drew but drew was getting fronted by Serge and Perkins and they couldnt get the pass in safely to him. Andrew has to win that battle in game 2 and establish that position but he was unable to.

far as game 4, ill give drew a pass, because he looked gas and wasnt able to get any rest majority of the 2nd half, if i blame MB 4 anything its 4 not using TOs and mini resting periods 4 his starters. so dont believe all the half truths the media spins because they tried and couldnt get the ball to Drew. so again in game 2 i thought drew didnt fight thru the fronting enuf and in game 4 i thought he looked exhausted down the stretch.

-----------------------

2 Gasol, Kobe was right to call him out, because 2yrs in a row now 3x in the playoffs if you include the '08 Finals against boston, Pau has come up unacceptably small for a player of his talents.

now 1st let me say that he played up to his talents in '09-10. and b4 anyone say he carried Kobe in game 7, pau had 3 terrible games that series and Kobe had carried him those game so he and ron owed him that game.

Pau is over, he is afraid to shot, Kobe always says to Gasol shot the ball more, last yr he told gasol be the black swan instead of the white swan. but here the real issue, theyre are plently of times when neither Kobe or Bynum are on the floor and PG is still not looking to shoot, still wont go into the post. he's setting screen but hes not even lookin to get the ball back after the screen or to roll to the basket. most of his baskets are off of missed shot tip-ins. as a basketball fan while i do appreaciate him 4 his entire career, im done with him, because to me he's not even trying on a championship level. 3x is enuf. so why you may not like the fact that KB called him out, it was the truth and a player of PG caliber should never need to be called out over playing up to the required level, which is championship level.

peep whats happening, he's basically been sut down 1 on 1 by Serge Ibaka. last series it was Faried, PG is supposedly the most skilled big in the game and he cant even get his 1 on 1. 1 thing ill give Drew you play him 1 on 1 he's puttin gyou in the hoop.

so what was said was true, take your anti-kobe glasses off and lets call a spade a spade.

-----------------------

but who i blame the most is management. the current lakers management is not managing the team at a championship level. i cant remember the last time a team had 2 players that constantly draw dbl teams who also didnt surround those same players with outside shooters.

the funny thing is the lakers once had the best bench in the league. but management went the cheap route and didnt pay guys. so lets break it down. J.Farmer is basically making the same money theyre paying R.Sessions, and yet Farmer can do everything sessions does but is also a spot up shooter.

the lakers had Sasha who did struggle after he got paid but he played no more inconsistant than Blake has, was taller, a better shooter and a better defender. all for the same money theyre paying blake now.

while i love ron, he's just as worn out as kobe and they had a young athletic wing player Ariza who had good defensive skills and was improving with his spot up 3s. all 4 about the same money.

so except 4 ron who is prolly a wash with Ariza based on age the lakers have let bench after bench player go only to replace them with worse players, all 4 around the same money.

if the lakers had outside shooting Drew and Kobe wouldnt see so many dbl teams, these are just the facts.

not even to mention they let LO go, who believes LO has that season in LA? and dont give me it was a money play, Kobe is making 25mil plus. when your paying someone that much the only way to justify that is by winning rings. so as long as KB is playing making that much money, you keep a championship caliber team around him, unless you can get CP3. next yr LO wouldve been in his last yr and a much improved trade chip 4 your next franchise player.

so ultimately i hold the organization responsible for all the this in the end for not putting or keeping the right collection of role players around KB and AB. Geez look at the Spurs, thats how you do it.

so theres alot here and i prolly left some stuff out but here it is in plain english, break it down how youd like and lets have at it because i actually watch the games so im ready to go with the espn or i dont like the movie guy.

Synopsis:

Kobe is Kobe. You love him or hate him, but he never changes.

Paul Gasol is a great player, maybe hall of fame, but lately he's been a bitch.

They shoulda never let Lamar Odom go.

Ron Artest is washed up.

Bynum still young, so he gets a pass.

Overall though, Lakers management sucks, so they get most of the blame.

[TajDeni]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

Synopsis:

Kobe is Kobe. You love him or hate him, but he never changes.

Paul Gasol is a great player, maybe hall of fame, but lately he's been a bitch.

They shoulda never let Lamar Odom go.

Ron Artest is washed up.

Bynum still young, so he gets a pass.

Overall though, Lakers management sucks, so they get most of the blame.

pretty much but i couldnt just write that, because ppl can go at that

ps. dont really care about capitalization on this forum, but i understand that some do. ill try to keep that in mind next time

[BlastX21]

Re: WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI- FINALS THREAD

I agree with TD's point on Odom. I didnt realize how important he was for them until now. Whereas in the past they would win these close games, without him to spell the bigs they can't finish.

And when they ran the floor with Odom, Gasol, and Bynum all on at the same time, that was a nightmare for defenses.