NBA Semi Finals discussion here
 

My thoughts:

Indiana vs. Detroit: Well, i'm a huge pistons fans, so this might be a little bias. But I think that Sheed and Big Ben will be able to keep Jermaine in check, and as long as we can slow Artest down a bit, we've got a good chance of taking this series. The play of Artest, Prince and both benches are going to be huge, since both teams are pretty deep.

LA vs. Minnesota: The T-Wolves have a lot of heart, and really want it this year. However, they just don't have an answer to Shaq. They aren't going to be able to guard him, and he's going to have his way every game. In order for Minnesota to have a chance, their big 3 are going to need huge games every game. They aren't going to be able to defend LA very well, so basically their only hope imo is to outscore them.

I think it will be Detroit in 7 and LA in 6.

I agree totally about Detroit. I'm totally sad to see NJ go, but the Wallaces got shit covered over there in the Motor City.

D in 7

As far as the West goes, I think the worst is behind LA now. It's gonna take them a total of one game to figure out the Timberpups and then it'll be OVER. Shaq is gonna lay down some ownage in this one - I can feel it.

LA in 5

(and the customary SWEEP in the finals.. heh)

Detroit will not win. Indiana is a much better team. Detroit could barely beat a Nets team which had some injuries. Kidd was playing on one leg and they still almost won, and K-Mart also has a bad knee. Detroit can't beat a healthy Pacer squad. Plus, Artest is gonna be all over that skinny pussy Rip Hamilton. Then where's their offense gonna come from?

In the west.... Look at the avatar baby! LA all the way. I think it's gonna be a good 6 game series.

For me it's very simple. It's always anybody against the Lakers.

The flaw in the Pacers' lineup will be Reggie Miller. If Indy puts Artest on Hamilton, Prince and Williamson will run all over Reggie... plus, Artest will spend most of the series out of rebounding position and an outnumbered Jermaine O'Neal will give up too many offensive rebounds. If Reggie covers Hamilton (and the refs call his clutching and grabbing excuse for defense), Rip will wear the Pacers out and the inside games will negate each other.
Detroit totally outclasses Indy at guard... starters and bench... at both ends of the floor. Now that they have an answer to Jermaine inside, they will win. 6 games. (Al Harrington has the potential to be the "X" factor and change this outcome... but I doubt that he will)

LA has woken up. Pity the T'wolves. Somebody has to put the smack-down on Karl Malone. His physicallity is the key to the Lakers right now. When he asserts himself, Kobe and Shaq can operate. And Kobe has to avoid playing selfish. When Kobe shares the ball with Shaq, Shaq works harder on defense. 'Wolves last 6 games... if they are lucky.

East: I like Detroit in 6, Who cares where their offense is coming from, when the other team can't score on them.

West: If LA Does to Garnett what they did to Duncan, his team mates will not choke. Payton can't hold anybody anymore. My only worry would be holding shaq (would suggest letting The Big O hack him early & get him out of rythym, who cares if the O is in foul trouble. Wolves in 6.

Amazing how two people can see things so differently. The Pacers are a deeper team. Look at their rosters.(guys who play)
Pacers:
Ron Artest
Jermaine O'Neal
Reggie Miller
Al Harrington
Jamaal Tinsley
Jonathan Bender
Fred Jones
Jeff Foster
Anthony Johnson
Austin Croshere

Detroit:
Richard Hamilton
Chauncey Billups
Rasheed Wallace
Tayshaun Prince
Ben Wallace
Corliss Williamson
Mehmet Okur
Mike James
Lindsey Hunter

Mike James and Lindsey suck nuts. So that only leaves Chauncey and Rip at guard. The Pacers have Artest, Tinsley, Jones, Johnson, and Miller all play guard. Now, exactly how the hell is Detroit deeper and how do they outclass the Pacers at guard? Also, Rip and Chauncey put in 40 minutes a night at guard. Which doesn't leave any time for the bench to play... Why is that? Because their coach has zero faith in their week ass backups. The Pacers have 4 guards averaging over 20 minutes a game, and Johnson plays about 18. Why do these guys get more playing time than Detroit's backups? Because they're better players. Period. Pacers own the guard position, and Jermaine is the best big man on the court in this series.

Shaq owns the paint. Kobe is solid as always. The Mailman outplayed the league MVP, and Fisher drains more huge shots. Malone is an under-rated defensive player. The job he's doing playing D in the playoffs is fucking amazing for a man 40 years old.

Looks like Cassell is hurt, and the T-Wolves don't stand a chance without him.

In a few weeks LA will be champs baby!!!

I just stumbled across the thread after seeing tonights game, though it really didn't change my opinion on the Min vs LA series.

I think Indiana will win. They are more sound on offense, and great defensively as well. Artest poses problems for Detroit defenively. Which Det starter is going to cover him? He will outmuscle Rip and Prince in the post.
My problem with Detroit is that their offense often goes through long stagnant periods. Thats a major weakness for any playoff team. Foster will make Ben work hard, even though he normally does. Collins is a big body, but Ben outquicked him.

LA's mircale shot in game 5 last series put the title in their hands, all they have to do is hold onto it.

I hope Indy does win so I can see Artest matchup with Kobe in the finals.

I recall you saying NJ was going to beat detroit, too. Kidd was injured, but he was just missing open looks. K-Mart wasn't that injured. He just got shut down a lot by the Wallaces. He was moving fine. Rasheed's foot was at about 60% as well, and Chauncey's back was hurting him the entire series. But he still outplayed Kidd every game.

And as for handling teams, hello? Indy struggled with Miami! Detroit had to take it to 7, but one loss was 3OT that could have gone either way, and game 7 was a blowout.

Heh, I disagree about Mike James and Lindsey "sucking nuts". They both play really good D, but detroit's guards play a lot because they need to score. Jones and Johnson aren't the most solid guards either. Miller is old. Jermaine is indeed the best big man on the floor, but he's going to have both wallaces making it hell for him in the paint, assuming Rasheed's foot doesn't get worse.

It's going to be a good series, and it can go either way. Both team has weaknesses. But the one time the pacers and pistons played when the pistons had Sheed, the pacers scored 61 points. So for you to keep saying that Detroit it going to get owned, and we suck nuts, and whatever, is ignorant. Keep hating though.

You wish.

Go Pistons

Stubborn, stubborn sixate! You'll never forgive the Pistons for not picking Carmello, will you?

You are the only person I've found that counts Artest (small forward) as a guard and gives the edge at guard to the Pacers. Maybe the reason that the Pacers give so many minutes to so many guards is that none of them have enough game to sustain more minutes?

Hunter and James command a lot of respect around the league... especially for their defense (Allen Iverson is on record as naming Hunter as the toughest match-up he has to face). Both have been starting point guards and handle the ball (and pressure) well. Meanwhile, Tinsley's rep is that he doesn't handle pressure defense well... a Pistons strength. Miller is still a great spot-up shooter, but age has eroded the rest of his game. The other guards have little impact on most nights.

The Pacers strength is their front line: O'Neil, Artest and Foster, with Harrington and Croshere off the bench. There's a lot of power and energy there. With Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, and Prince, and Williamson, Campbell and Okur off the bench, the Pistons match their intensity, plus bring more size.

It's going to be a great series, and the outcome is far from a foregone conclusion. Let's watch and see who's analysis is more accurate.;)

hmm with the lakers and wolves...


lakers have an all-star starting lineup. minnesota has kevin garnett. i know, i know, latrell latrell.. but honestly. if the lakers learned how to play the pick n roll, kobe can shut him down every night. anyways, lakers in 6 or 5.

pistols/pacers... wow what a great series. can't wait. very evenly matched... but the pacers have that ugly fuck reggie miller hehehe. iceman. hope it goes to game 7 so reggie can let it rain. pacers in 7.

Pacer/Pistons game 1:
Harrington's energy saved Indy in the first half. Nobody could cover Billups or Hamilton and Ben owned the inside. As expected, Artest was too strong for Prince, but missed a few bunnies.
Turnovers, and Billups total disappearing act in the second half cooked the Pistons. Jermaine played strong, while Rasheed didn't show up at all. (Weak move by 'Sheed when he "guaranteed" a win in game 2. He's been doing a good job of staying quiet and letting his game speak. Just shut up and play!)
Foster stepped up huge when it counted, and Reggie pulled off another "Reggie moment" to seal the deal.
Outside of Harrington's first half, neither bench impressed, although Johnson played Billups rather well. The role players on both sides are going to have to play better for their teams to move on.
The Pacers need to keep pounding in the paint, forcing the Wallaces to make plays, while the Pistons need to keep making Artest and Miller chase skinny pussies all over the court.
Game 2 outta be great!

Man, this would be a completely different series if Rasheed's foot wasn't shit. He had no lift whatsoever. Even Jeff Foster could guard him 1v1. Not to take away from him, but there's no way he could guard a healthy Rasheed by himself.

Go Wolves! Got the lakers to score a playoff low in points!

Good thing for the Timberwolves that they were on fire. Shaq was pretty terrible tonight, and Kobe didn't hit alot of his shots. Now I'm thinking this will actually be a series, and Karl Malone will actually have to work hard for his ring. God I hate him. He was classic Malone tonight, charging knee first and throwing forearm shivers.

In the East, I just want to see if Rasheed Wallace looks like a fool or not for his guarantee.

Yep, I just hate that flaw when he sinks a game winning 3. REG-GIE REG-GIE REG-GIE!

This could be the year the pacers win it all!

--jaded

That would be a valid statement if the pacers had won by more than a clutch 3 point shot... at home. Indiana could still lose in 5, so don't get cocky~

Yeah well I'm not getting cocky. Seems like Rasheed is taking care of that part by guaranteeing a victory in tonight's game!

Best of luck, should be a good series regardless.

-jaded

No I won't. It will go down as one of the worst draft decisions ever.

I'll tell you why. When this line-up is on the floor what position does Artest play: Jermaine, Foster, Harrington, Tinsley, Artest.......

That makes Artest a guard. He plays both positions, and expect to see Artest on Rip more tonight.

Sorry, but I disagree. I think they're going to keep Artest more on Prince to make sure he stays as a non-contributor. They don't want to tire Artest by having him chase Rip around the court, because man, that guy can run full speed without the ball for 50 minutes and not get tired. It's insane.

Shame on the Pistons for letting the game get to that point.

"Miller is still a great spot-up shooter," (...I wrote that too!)

Amazing game tonight. It was so intense since every basket was SO important. That block at the end by Prince was unbelieveable. Can't wait for the next game.

That WAS a great game.. they played that block over and over and over on sportscenter.

Great game! Now here's my guarantee that the Pacers will win the next! :D

--jaded

Rasheed GUARANTEED the next two games will be played in Detroit. Haha, I laughed.

If the Pacers don't change their starting line-up they will lose this series. Have Reggie come off the bench, put Artest at shooting guard to D up Rip, and start Harrington and have him D up Prince. If they don't make this chang I hope they lose. I hate when coaches don't do the obvious.

The obvious? That's what the other team would EXPECT!

Why worry about Reggie? He and O'neal carried the team in the first half, and Rip didn't do his damage until the 4th quarter. What's hurting Indy more is the lack of offense from Artest. The guy is stinking up the gym. (I really enjoyed his cute exercise of his 1st Ammendment rights last night. I hope the league was watching, too!)

Hmmmm..... Would Carmello have made that block?

Which LA team is going to show up tonight? The Lakers or the Fakers? Were they properly embarrassed enough the other night? Coach Phil was impressed by how hard the T'wolves played... by implication he was unimpressed with his own guys.

I really think Artest would tire pretty quickly chasing Rip. All he does is run full speed. Every single offensive play, he's running. Prince basically shut down Artest defensivley. He made sure Artest, who was trying to draw fouls, kept getting offensive fouls, and just kept him out of rythm. He even fouled out with about 2 minutes left. Indiana has two guys that score for them lately, Artest and Jermaine. Both were all but shut down, Jermaine going 0-8 in the second half and Artest with only 13 points. They're shooting like crap, which is mostly due to the amazing D detroit has been playing.

Hell no :D

Doesn't matter because it would be a completely different series if Melo were involved.

Melo>Rasheed and Prince combined.

Rasheed is on the downside of his career, and Prince is streaky at best. Prince hasn't even scored in double figures in the 2 games, and Rasheed has been terrible. The only thing those two have done well is block shots.

Melo is a better scorer, yes, but not a better defender. Sheed is only 28, and is playing on a crappy foot that would have him benched during the regular season. Prince doesn't need to score all the time for the pistons to win, obviously. And uh, I guess the defense that they played, shutting down artest and o'neill doesnt count as doing something well? Please.

Rasheed was disposed of in Portland because he could never deliver in the playoffs, and because Randolph is a far superior player. He's not much better on a foot that doesn't hurt. Don't kid yourself into thinking he's better than Melo. There isn't a team on the planet, other than the stupid ass Pistons, that would want Sheed over Melo. Artest and O'Neil won't be shut down for the entire series, and if the Pacers are smart and do what I say Artest will own Rip, and the Pacers will win the series.

BTW, Artest and O'Neil weren't shut down in game 1. So what makes you think they're gonna be able to do it the rest of the series?

I picked Indiana to win earlier in the thread, and even though I still think they will win, my reasoning has been way off thus far.

Prince has defened Artest well, and Foster hasn't played as big as a role as I imagined he would.

Indiana looks lost offensively when Oneal is being fronted/doubled in the post late in the game.

I would like to see Bender play some more minutes. Last game it appeared as if he was trying to do too much to quickly, knowing his minutes are limited.

The game before though, he had a strong Isolation play against Big Ben, and threw down a thunderous two handed to finish it.

Tinsley had a poor game down the stretch. Every possession was obviously highly contested. He made short work of two, throwing a bad pass and shooting up an air ball.

Artest had 17 points and went 4-5 from the line in game 1, but by many standards going 6-23 from the field (less than 25%) would constitute being shut down/ having a bad night.

I like Indiana too, just trying to be objective though.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.....

(Ooops! I believe he's serious!)

In Detroit, Carmello would be Rodney White II, because no "D"= no "PT".

Top stories of the series: Indy's FG% and Detroit's FT%. And 19 blocks? That's just sick!

We'll see who's laughing in a couple of years when Melo is considered a top 5 player in the league. The Pistons don't have a top 5 player in the East.

Pistons got lucky tonight in winning game 3. Nine points scored in the entire 2nd quarter by the Pistons was not pretty. Sheed had a good game at both ends, making up for the last 2 games at least offensively. Pacers will be good for a long time, all their great players are damn young.

Whats up with the West series? Tuesday nite game was awful, slow, boring, those guys look like they need a vacation or something.

God, I don't think the pacers have played this shit all year. The way they play they certainly don't even deserve to be in the eastern conference finals.

Tip my hat to Detriot though, they picked a good time to play Indy :D

Luck had nothing to do with it. They scored 27 in the first, what about that? Why focus on the weak points and say they got lucky?

I guess Detroit's D and 19 blocks in game 2 had nothing to do with their bad play. Man, you guys give the pistons no respect. But when they're playing in the finals, and actually competeing, maybe you will?

Oh yeah...

And yet they're beating the team with the best record in the leauge in the semi's. Hmmm!

Artest could not keep up with Rip for 40 minutes the way he runs off the ball. Could not could not could not. And it looks like a paid professional agrees with me.

Since when is shooting 6-23 (Artest), or going 0-8 in a half, when you are considered an MVP canidate (O'Neal) not being shut down? Look at their shooting percentages for game 3. Both under 30. What makes you think they're NOT going to get shut down every game? Prince has length, and is standing up to artest's strength, and Sheed's foot is getting better, which improves his defensive game a ton.


ALL of this said, this series can still go either way. But it isn't going to!

I'm sorry but Detroit's D is overrated. They are good for sure, but nowhere near as stellar as you claim them to be.

Indy is just in a horrible offensive slump but it'll be their doom if they don't snap out of it. If Detroit make it to the finals, they will be severly owned by the Lakers anyway. The same holds true for the Pacers.

--jaded

Time to open a can of worms:

Except of Reggie, none of the Pacers have played at this level. (O'Neal watched from the bench in Portland like Darko's doing now in Detroit) Most of the main players for Indy either jumped to the NBA right from high school or left college early. As a group, they are quite young, inexperienced and undisciplined. By comparison, the Pistons are a great deal more disciplined and experienced, with more big-time college and NBA playoff exposure in their resumes.

If this series were to be played next year, or even two years from now with the same personnel, things might go differently. But for this series, this year, experience seems to be trumping youth.

Nimbletoe, I just love how you have to wait until after the game is over to talk shit.

The Pacers are giving this series away, Detroit isn't wining it. The way they're playing they don't deserve to win. Artest did not guard Rip the entire game so to say he can't keep up is just dumb, and the Pacers are dumb as fuck for not making the change in the starting line-up that I stated earlier. If the Pacers would play like they did all year they would win the series easily, but they aren't, and that doesn't have shit to do with Detroit's D.

I also like how when Artest shoots 6-23 he had a terrible game, but when Rip shoots 7-19(36%) he had a great game. Please be a little more consistent if you're gonna argue like this.

And don't even talk about how well Prince is playing. Just because he made 1 great block doesn't mean he's having a great series. Look at his numbers.... He's fucking playing like a bitch. His numbers are terrible in this series.

Lastly, get your damn numbers straight. Jermaine and Artest didn't shoot under 30% in last nights game. Jermaine shot 41%(7-17) with 24 points, and Artest shot 30.8%(4-13) with only 13 points. So don't even say they both shot under 30% because they didn't. Please learn how to do math a little better.

The Eastern finals is looking to be a damn good series. I like the Pistons in that one, but I hope it goes to a game 7.

I'm already writing off the Timberwolves as dead. They lose tonight, unless some sort of flu besets the entire Lakers team.

And I hate the Lakers.

Sixate > Rick Carlisle. He knows all the players that he's never worked with before better than the paid professional coach of the pacers, and knows each and every player well enough to make decisions that seem so obvious, but a coach that has coached 2 teams to 3 50+ win seasons, one of those 60+, doesn't make. I bow to you and you're knowledge of basketball Sixate. You were clearly right when you said that Jersey was going to beat Detroit, among other things.

Anywho, i'm done on this thread. I'll just leave it at, Go Pistons!

EDIT: Erm, I never said a few things that you claim I said. I never said Prince was having a great series, but you can't tell someone's defense by numbers. I also never said Rip had a great game when he shot 7-19, but he has been the one consistent offensive player on either team in the series. So i'd appreciate you not putting words in my mouth. Thanks!

Austin Croshere was a huge part of the Pacers' 2000 finals team. Scot Pollard has been right in the middle of the Kings-Lakers playoff battles. Though these players may not be the most critical players now, their experience should be helping the younger Indiana players to some degree. Not only that but Detroit has it's own playoff inexperience in such guys as Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace. You can't count last years trip to the conference finals as any real experience seeing as the Pistons were swept. I don't think experience is the reason why Detroit is up 2-1.

what did I say? Lakers in 5. They are undefeated in close-out games. This will be all wrapped up come Saturday.

Not just "playoff" experience. "Life" experience, "Big game" experience, "under pressure" experience. It counts. Playing 4 years at a big program like Kentucky or UConn helps develop mental toughness. And Ben is special: nothing rattles him.

I can't account for Croshere and Pollard. Neither are team leaders in any obvious sense.

The Pistons were swept in last year's conference finals, but they were not blown out. It was a hard and useful experience for them. Yes, experience and disipline are playing a large role in this series.

Pacers will win tonight! There, now that it's been said, why can't the lakers just go away and die? :D

--jaded

(Cartman voice)
I hate you guys so much...

I just wish the refs would stop being such bitches and call the game even for a change. In two games alone they have been the determining factor by taking teams out of the game.

Indy wins! Woohoo :D

Funny that you say that, because I see a TON of non-calls and bad calls that fall in Minnie's favor. Let's be a REAL fan and not blame the refs - ya?

Non-call's such as Hoiberg getting flatened by the Diesel?

I wasn't bitching in Minnesota's interest, I think the poor reffing has gone both ways.

Artest > Pistons

[IMG]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0PQDnAuUR7BYC3iP40n*SxMUBE2YbMQaywhLW51TiZ!3XIepxxDt!bIH8TNFUbDtSZuHmasItLOGyiTYZWD6ksMj6tGu3JhVu/12.gif?dc=4675474191425832414[/IMG]

sigh...looks like pistons in 7 now,,,

That's a great picture. And it'll be Indy in 6 :)

--jaded

Indy stepped up to the challenge. Carlisle made great adjustments and Croshere was great. (Dammit!)

I hope O'Neal isn't hurt too badly.

He got flattened after a clean block. Same way you're allowed to land on a shooter after he releases his shot.

they just lost their first one since the 2000 finals :|

And it was a beautiful thing :D

--jaded

go wolves !!! if they beat lakers next game at home, then lakers are history !!

You say that as if it's a realistic possibility. HAH!

sure it is, lakers are a good team BUT they have no fighters instinct like the wolves have !!! when it comes to fighting till the end, wolves will take the lead. Just look at the last game, seemed to me lakers didn't even care to win ...

Pistons in 6 baby!

The T'wolves are showing a ton of heart, but I'm afraid that they're undermanned without Cassell on the floor. If the Lakers decide to give a shit, they close it out in game 6.

Meanwhile, how could the Pacers lay down like they did on Sunday? I expected the Pistons to win, but I expected more fight from Indy.

Wow, what a travesty. No ring for Reggie ever. Oh well, if they don't want it I guess there is nothing you can do.

Something's fundamentally wrong with your offense when Jamaal Tinsley, who's playing on one leg, is shooting 13 times and Jermaine O'Neal is getting 10 shots.

--jaded

Fucking Garnett is awesome, I can't wait for the game tonight. Whoever wins, I hope its a good game. My guess is the goddamned Lakers will finish it off tonight.

The Pistons would have a good chance against the T-Wolves or Lakers, so I'm happy they're leading the series now.

Ben Wallace and his 'fro will dominate game 6 to put the Pistons in the Finals.

You heard it here first.

Wolves are cashed... I would say that the series would've been way different had Cassell not been taken out of it, and god forbid KG got a pair and attacked the hoop. Darrick Martin running the point this late in the season only spells doom. There's always next year... /sigh

Minn just fell apart defensively at the end. Doesn't matter, I think the finals will be Detroit picking LA apart.

I thought the fix was in for the Lakers in the first half. Once KG got himself into foul trouble, the refs called the game as lopsided as I have EVER SEEN. I was fuming. I checked online and even SPURS FANS were in agreement that the Lakers were being shafted.

In the 3rd quarter it was evident that the Wolves NEEDED the Lakers in bad foul trouble in order to play EVEN with them. Shaq put out a big middle finger to the refs, played with 4 fouls for the whole quarter and the team saved their hacks for the last 12 minutes. It payed off, 'cause they came out without fear in the fourth and the refs, probably sensing that they were a little too obvious in the first half were forced to even out the calls a little bit.

Stern really wanted that game 7, but his henchmen blew the magic trick. The Lakers played 8 on 5 and still won.

KAREEM RUSH!!!!!!!!!

Timely shots, 6/7 from downtown. He looked like Derek Fisher out there :) The Lakers bench was key tonight. Kareem especially but Slava had 4 FG's in 7 minutes of play and though slowed by injury Fish was able to hound Martin and Hoiberg, get 6 assists and throw in a three.

And...I have a great appreciation now for Kevin Garnett. He just may be the best player in league, not just the MVP. This playoff experience will only make him better.

Kareem Rush killed us, almost makes me semi respect the Laker's bench.

Ehh. Kobe is the best player in the league. KG was just being as much for his team as he could.

Pistons vs. Lakers... Pistons in 7.



Thats right!




:D

War Wagon and Nimbletoe: you guys are nuts if you really think Detroit has a snowball's chance in hell of beating the Lakers in the finals. They'll be lucky to win 1 game.

Mine was more or less wishful thinking. However, I do think it will go to at least 6.

Kobe as best player in the league? :rolleyes:

Seriously you are insane if you think Kobe is better then the big ticket. Kobe needs to learn something called consistency to even compare to KG.

Hold on now. Detroit hasn't even beaten the Pacers yet and you're talking about Pistons in the finals already.

Sure, it doesn't look like the pacers stand much of a chance the way they're playing, especially with O'neal playing with a bum knee BUT...I still have faith :D

Go Pacers!

--jaded

Oh, the lakers will kill the pistons if it should come to that. I can't see detroit winning two games against them.

the question for tonight is can the pacers buy a foul


espcially reggie



things look bad with tinsely down oneal hurt and artest with a head ache if the pacers win tonight it will be with that at times amazing bench

KG needs to learn a thing called 'clutch' and 'NBA champion' to get qualified in my book.

KG WAS the wolves this year. Can't say that about Kobe. Also, Kobe has Shaq. I'll make my decision when Kobe gets put in KG's situation.

Kobe WAS the Lakers too in the 4th quarter. That's all he needed to be. Just because you're on a team with a bunch of awesome players doesn't mean you aren't the best there is.

There is a reason why KG got the MVP - because he WAS the most valuable player to his team. The Lakers, however, had enough good players that the best player in the league needed not be the most valuable. Catch what I'm saying here?

You're arguing for the MVP, which I am in agreement. However, when it comes to skill vs skill, instinct vs instinct, clutch vs clutch - Kobe is the reason why the Lakers are where they are.

This is the funniest game i've ever seen. It's halftime right now, and man, I thought it was the end of the first. How pathetic.

The Pistons will get killed by LA. They've been lucky all post season, and they get almost no respect from me. Little Ben can't handle Shaq, and the Pistons can only dream of having a player who can slow down Kobe.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...ory?id=1814070

This link is for Sixate. :D You better hope the negative trend of your pistons series picks doesn't continue. But hey, I don't disagree that Shaq and Kobe will be a problem, but they're a problem for any team. And they've been beaten anyway before.

What's funny is Rip is gonna have to guard Kobe. Just how many do you think Kobe is gonna lite him up for each night?

Do you also realize the Rockets were the best team defensively throughout the season? Look at what LA did to them in the playoffs, and the Rockets actually had the size(Yao, Cato, Taylor) to match up with LA, the Pistons don't. Ben is tiny next to Shaq, and Rasheed couldn't perform against the Lakers when he was in his prime in Portland, and the rest of the Pistons are a bunch of unproven playoff performers with zero experience........ Something the Lakers don't lack with Kobe, Shaq, Malone, and Payton.

No brag, just fact!

And, as I recall, I predicted that LA was the only WC team who could hope to beat EITHER Indy or Detroit in the finals.

I still think that the key to the Lakers is Malone. Nullifiy his physicallity and the Lakers are beatable. The Pistons can do it, but will the league allow it? Rasheed and Ben are not the glamourous poster boys that Shaq and (pre-rape charge) Kobe are. Lakers in 6 or 7... depending on the refs. (But my heart says Pistons in 6).

(Detroit split the season series with the Lakers. Back in November, Corliss Williamson, a 6'7" small forward, SHUT DOWN Shaq as Detroit defended it's home court. LA is very good, but not invincible.)

Im glad this series is finally over. It should have been over in 5, with all the Pacer injuries. Every Piston except Rip Hamilton has played like shit this entire series. The inconsistency is nauseating. The farther this thing goes, the more flaky they play.

Lakers in 5.

Houston definitley weren't the best defensive team this year. San Antonio or Detroit, both being very good. But come on now, Houston? Kobe is going to have tons of fun chasing Rip around all night. I think the wallaces won't shut down shaq, but they will at least slow him down a little.

Speaking as a non-biased pistons fan, if they continue to play as crappy as they did at times in the indiana series, it will definitley be the lakers out on top. But if they play better, who knows. The pistons are the definite underdog in this series, i'm not disputing that. LA is a good team with 4 hall of famers, but they aren't as invincible as you all think, and I think it will show in this series.

Lakers in 4. My hat off to Detroit against a gimpy pacers team. But reality is, Hamilton vs Lakers just isn't enough.

--jaded

Detriot has no hope of beating LA, I'm almost leaning to a sweep. Pistons have no hope of stopping LA's scoring, nor comparing to it. Nor will they have an answer to Diesel or Kobe.