Lakers vs. Minnesota

Kareem Rush with aq big 3 in the end.


Lakers win 96-90

I do hope a team from the east can put up a good fight in the finals.

Notice: I put up a yahoo box score because the NBA.com box score was not up.

instead of 4.

You mean 2 points.

hmmm, why did I wrote 4?

ohwell, doesnt matter anyway, Lakers are going to the finals

Congratulations to the Lakers for making it back to the Finals. Still, given that some people put an asterisk next to the Spurs' championship last year as the Lakers were without Fox and Kobe had a shoulder injury (that didn't prevent him from putting up 30+ ppg). As the Timberwolves were without Cassell for certain stretches, Hudson for the entire playoffs and Wally Szczerbiak has also been ailing, will the same standard apply?

For the record, I don't think it should, just as the asterisk some people placed on the Spurs' title last year wasn't fair. (Actually, there's an idea for a discussion. I'll come back to that one in a new topic)

If ever there was any doubt, the Lakers should hang on to Kareem Rush in the expansion draft. We shouldn't get carried away and hype him as a better or more significant player than he actually is, but a championship team needs a guy who can have a surprising performance every now and again (eg Steve Kerr on the 96-98 Bulls). At the very least, the Lakers should repay his heroics by keeping him around a little while longer; I'm pretty sure they will after Game 6.

Congratulations are also in order for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They've had a great season, and finally got the first round monkey off their backs. They managed to get past a seven game series with another Western power, and were not completely blown out by the Lakers (an average deficit of around 8 ppg, with a series average of 89.8 ppg to the Lakers' 92 ppg). They did come up short, but it was the best season in franchise history, and even though they won't be competing for the title they can be proud of a fine season, and hopefully look forward to a few more chances in the near future.

Micchy_boy, first of all, calling me stupid isn't going to do anything but diminish your credibility as a logical poster on this board. Before you call me that, maybe you should first learn how to type correct grammar.

How do you know for a fact that I didn't watch the game and just looked at the boxscores? Garnett changed his style of play. Instead of making 2 or 3 fakes, he just turned around and took the jump shot which turned out to be effective. He took it right to Malone and he couldn't do anything about it. I'm not saying Malone didn't do a good job of guarding Garnett, but you claiming he did a "GREAT" job is not neccessarily true. KG has been constantly double and triple teamed, and most of the times that he scored, he was going one-on-one with Malone. The boxscore was just one of the "proofs" that is easily accessible that is why I pointed it out.

Why the heck am I trying to explain myself to you anyway? The series is over now, God was on the side of the Lakers tonight (particularly Kareem Rush) so what's the point in arguing? It's pretty obvious I'm just talking to a kid anyway.

I think Karl Malone did a great job (actually, in between good and great, whatever that may be), but he just couldn't stop Garnett. Did you see how many turn around jump shots he took? He simply just played really well. Too well for Karl Malone. But still, every single shot Garnett took was contested. Go Karl Malone! God is in your side this time! May you finally win the ring that you desire so much. TT.TT (Crying from emotion.)
And congratulations to Kareem Rush, you can maybe become the next Steve Kerr (not really, but just saying it...I'm guessing he'll just be a good 3 point shooter.).

I've already asked everyone to refrain from insults and personal attacks. By all means make your point, but please don't make things personal. Thanks.

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Last edited by hmm on Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

Absolutely, I didn't mean to compare their style of play. I was referring more to the roles they play; key reserves who may not always get more than 20 minutes of playing time, but are capable of having a big impact on a game every now and then.

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Last edited by hmm on Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

But i dont think he is the next Kerr he is capable of doing many things

Lol, what did Steve Kerr do in his carreer to be capable to do many things?

I'm pretty sure Homer meant that Rush isn't like Steve Kerr, as Rush is capable of doing many things.

Still, given that some people put an asterisk next to the Spurs' championship

Who put an asterisk where? I dont remember hearing anything of this sort. If I was given an article showing that this is the case, I would actually believe it. The only asterisk I know about was the 99 season.

Last year a few people suggested the Spurs' championship was tainted by the injuries to key players on the Lakers and Mavericks. It wasn't as widespread as the 1999 title asterisk talk, but it did come up.

Nice work Lakers! For once in a while I got a prediction right!

Anyway- great game for Rush and I think Malone/Payton's performances have gone unnoticed. But it was a great effort. However, I don't think people should be all hyped up about Rush. It's only one game. It's like me saying Kwame Brown was finally doing well and the the next game he scores 2 points... And Jax was right- Rush is the Laker's best three-point scorer...

Karl Malone; playing for his first championship in 19 years... I hope he comes back for next season! And Payton will also get a ring but I think Detroit will give us a run for our money. Honestly- I think the Pistons will be more of a worthy contestant- except for a Kobe-Artest match-up...

BTW- who said the Lakers arent deep? If we had Madsen- we'd be deeper than any other team... (OK- thats a bit of an exagerration...)

And now all I have to say is:

Bring on the EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!

The Lakers did miss Mark Madsen to play behind Malone/Shaq, specially now that Grant is injured, and his hustle can be usefull aswell, specially during the SPurs series when San Antonio grabbed like 3 straight offensive boards a couple of times during most of the games, but he isnt on the team and still the Lakers are pretty good without him.

Kareem Rush is my man, he made so many big shots when the Lakers needed it and it was so fun watching him shoot the ball with his great shooting touch, Kobe did a nice job by finding him because alot of his shots came from Kobe drawing the double team and passing outside. What I also liked when Kobe was asking for the pick from Karl Malone and draw the double team, when Garnett comes over, that means that Malone is wide open, but when you wait to long, then the center (Johnson, Olowokandi) will have him on lock along with Shaq, but Kobe passed it out to quickly when the centers didnt have time to take over the Forward, which gave Malone 2 open layups (note: this was during the end of the game).

Also great coaching by Phil Jackson in the final minutes , the Wolves have decided to hack Shaq and after they made their first foul on him, he got subsituted by Karl Malone, remember, this was during the time when the Wolves were behind by 8 with 3 minutes left, so anything could happen of they let Shaq in the game and miss Free throws

btw, I hate the fact that the General Manager recieved the trophee instead of the players, te GM´s just sit on the bench or in their office while its the players who work hard to win, I think the players should hold the trophee up first, then the managment.

Play of the game: Kobe putting the facial on Michael Olowokandi durint the first 20 seconds of the first quarter

Well...it's nice to hear that Kobe was giving up 'tempting' opportunities to be the hero and add clips of himself to his favourite home videos! I read that he was passing to the open man and i'm like, "Thats wat i'm talkin' about!"

And it's funny, cause after the Lakers won...the Dodgers were down 0-2 and apparently the Lakers game was announced and Dodgers found some inspiration and won in the 10th innings...

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Last edited by hmm on Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

Oh sorry, Im exhausted because I didnt get any sleep tonight, so maybe my brains are not working well

Karl Malone; playing for his first championship in 19 years...

He is? Damn, and I thougth he played in Utah...(j/k) He went to the finals two times, I think, 97 & 98.

Play of the game: Kobe putting the facial on Michael Olowokandi durint the first 20 seconds of the first quarter

Yeah, that was a great dunk. 2nd play of the game (tied with Kobe, IMO):
Kandiman (I don't like him but that's for another thread) putting the facil on Shaq


Well, congratulations to the Lakers, good luck against the Eastern Conference champions.

He is? Damn, and I thougth he played in Utah...(j/k) He went to the finals two times, I think, 97 & 98.

I think he means that Malone is going to play for his 1st championship, in other words...he is going to play to try to win his first championship in his 19 year career

Oh sorry, Im exhausted because I didnt get any sleep this afternoon, so maybe my brains are not working well

Last year a few people suggested the Spurs' championship was tainted by the injuries to key players on the Lakers and Mavericks. It wasn't as widespread as the 1999 title asterisk talk, but it did come up.

1999 was different, shorten NBA season, first time EVER. Injuries are all a part of the game. Almost every team has injuries and has to play through them. Keep in mind Troy Hudson was also injuried..a key back up point guard not to mention their starting point so whoever made up the excuse of Fox being injuried and Kobe is just dumb. If the Knicks had Allan Houston I think they would of beat the Nets, then the Pistons, then the Pacers ( lol ok let me not get carried away)

anyway good game for Kareem Rush. Taking those Derek Fisher left handed 3's and nailing them really played a big role in the Lakers victory. I hope the east can put on a battle and possibly steal the lakers ring...just imagine pacers vs lakers...game 7...pacers down 2...reggie for 3! its good!!! and the pacers win!! Reggie Miller, who stayed and didn't bandwagon like 2 other superstars did finally get a ring and the lakers are in shock and disbelief! lol ok let me get out of fantasy plays land

ok no reggie shot with pacers losing

Kareem Rush is my man, he made so many big shots when the Lakers needed it and it was so fun watching him shoot the ball with his great shooting touch...

Yeah, now y'all love Rush,

If ever there was any doubt, the Lakers should hang on to Kareem Rush in the expansion draft.

I absolutely agree, Kobe's future is in danger as a Laker & as a professional, for instance Rush should be a perfect choice to replace him and if given the same chances Kobe got in the past, Rush might take advantage & become a great player.

Yeah, now y'all love Rush,

Ehm, just because I said that he wont become as good as Kobe is, that doesnt mean I dont like him