NBA FINALS "LAKERS vs. PISTONS"

[Jackal]

I know he's frustrated, so are Laker fans, but seriously. Singleing out Malone and Payton isn't the way to go. Keep it in general or comment about every player of the team. Those comments aren't good for the Lakers' reputation in the eyes of other players. I doubt they would want to be singled out in the papers. It's just not done.
As much as I like Magic, and can somewhat understand his frustration, that wasn't correct. This could influence whether Malone & Payton do return next season or not.

Those comments could go both ways, it could fire those two up and make them play hard or it could piss them off and make them give it up.

Anyways, some little birdie in my body just says that LA will win this game. That's just a gut feeling of mine though, I could be very wrong. I'm not saying this to offend any Piston fans nor am I downplaying their ability as a team, it's just a feeling I have.

If the Lakers do lose tonights game, I would have to say that it would be near impossible to come back in win, ofcourse I'll be hoping for that near impossible thing to happen, but I too would have to concede and say that the Championship trophy might not be in their grasp.

That's if they lose this game. (Which I don't think will happen, in which case this comment self destructs and becomes void. )

[matmat8]

Magic has problems accepting to loose...he was a great player, no doubt, one of my favourites ever, but that's just not how you support your team even though it may be true

[Jackal]

As I said, those comment could be taken both ways, negatively...or in a way that is supposed to hype them up and make them play harder. He's trying to do whatever he can to make the team play better, I'm just not too sure if those comments were the best way to reach his goal.

[Alcoholic]

Yeah I'm watching TV right now they played back Magic saying all that stuff.... Malone said what the fan did was like a slap in the face.

[GloveGuy]

What's this about Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Devean George, Rick Fox, and Derek Fisher leading Phil Jackson into a restroom for a 5-1 confrontation and telling him that they should be the starting five(It was just on Chevrolet Hangtime)? I'd like to see Rick Fox try and hold down Rasheed Wallace. Just because they know the triangle well doesn't give them the right to start.

I just can't believe that they seriously thought they should be the starting five. Derek Fisher has been getting burned by Billups just as much as, if not more than, GP so it's not as if he's providing anything on D. Rick Fox, well...is he serious? This just seems like a real shady thing to do, very disrespectful in my mind to Malone and GP. Did they actually think Phil would listen to them?

[Fresh8]

Well- if they tried to do that it didnt work

thje usual starters started game 4

scores locked at 18 with close to 3:00 left in first

[corranjedi]

Good game, but I find one thing quite funny. A lot of the Pistons points have been coming from free throws, because the Lakers are fouling a lot. So, you could say the refs are keeping the Pistons in the game because of all the foul calls. However, it is the exact opposite. The Lakers are finally starting to get called for some of the fouls that they normally get away with because their the... (cue the awe inspiring music) ... Lakers!!! Funny thing is, even with all these fouls called, the Lakers wouldn't be in the game if it wasn't for the refs. Shaq's elbows are allowed to roam free under the basket, no matter if it's air or one of the Pistons' faces getting in the way. I know travelling is one of those things that is so rarely called in the NBA today that you almost have to write it down in the history books when is called (Halftime Headline: Pistons up by 2 and get this, travelling was actually called!!!), but the Lakers have been getting away with it left and right. Take Kobe's 3 near the end of the half, which closed them within 2. First of all, no matter how good you think Kobe is, that shot was nothing but pure luck. Second of all, if the refs were on the ball instead of star eyed by all the Lakers stars on the courts, Kobe wouldn't have been able to take that shot. Rick Fox, who passed the ball to Kobe after saving it from going out only took about seven or eight steps to keep from falling out of bounds, and no travelling called. This is absolutely ridicilous, but if the Pistons could start hitting their 3s, and the refs would actually call the game the way it is, the Pistons could easily be up by 30 if not 40 points. You can just about take away every single point Shaq scores, considering he rarely makes a shot without getting away with an offensive foul. Anyway, I hope the Pistons tear them a new one in the second half, and if they end up winning the championship, they will have climbed two mountains to do it. First the supposedly formidable Lakers, and second the Laker Loving Refs who try to hand the game to LA at any point, if they would only take it.

[Amphatoast]

Detroit 88, Los Angeles 80


1 more game and its over for the Lakers

[Matt]

YESSSS!!!!!!!!!
finally for the first time the Pistons don't squander an opportunity
1 more game at home, Pistons hopefully will win.....THE PALACE will be louder than ever for sure

The game was won by a run early in the 4th by the Pistons. Shaq scored everything, Kobe had a dreadful game, R Wallace had a great game and

BILLUPS 4 MVP

[-BHZMAFIA-]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHHAA!!!!

Pistons are just too smart, and has too much team chemistry for the lakers to handle. how about luke walton he basically had 6 fouls in one quarter lmao

[Calvenn]

LOL, the poll now shows 55% Lakers - 44% Pistons .

[Bang]

before those da piston fans start saying "where are the friggin laker fans" again I'll start posting right after.

KOBE!! PASS!!! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THIS? PASS KOBE!!
IN FACT, ALL LAKERS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PASS TO SHAQ!

Oh yea, I'm doing in caps on purpose. You know what, if the Lakers passed to shaq, shaq would've had 50 or something and we would've won. BUT NO~~~ Kobe thinks he's Jordan?!?!!!!!

[GloveGuy]

It's not over...Honestly, as a guy who just wants to see Malone and Payton get their rings, I'm pretty worried. I won't lie. But the Lakers won four straight against San Antonio so I don't see why they can't win three straight -- one away, two at home -- against the Pistons.

The refs, in my opinion, sucked. Too many fouls on both sides. The players should stop being such pussies and play, meaning the refs also have the responsibility to stay out of the smallest things. Some of those calls...I mean, come on. It's ridiculous.

All in all, I'm pretty pissed; but I'm not gonna say it's over or whatever because I know it isn't until the Cubans are broken out. I want the Lakers to win and I'm pretty worried. I'll admit I thought it would be a cakewalk for them, but I guess I was wrong. Lakers in 7 though.

[Colin]

two things that lost the Lakers the game IMO: the Lkaers (particularily Kobe) forgetting to pass the ball to Shaq, and GP stopped being agressive after a great 1st quarter.

[Bang]

Oh yea, even IF the Pistons win or WHEN the Lakers win, Shaq will get finals MVP. He should, he gave it his all.
Screw Kobe.
I hate you now Kobe.
Learn how to pass. Look it up in a dictionary.
P-A-S-S. It's only four letters, even a high schooler like you could find that out. Pass it to shaq the next three games or else...
GO SHAQ! GO LAKERS!

[Matt]

the fact that lakers beat Spurs by winning 4 straight is irrelevant

1. Pistons already know what the Lakers are capable of and are unlikely to fold like the Spurs did

2. Lakers know the Spurs inside out due to their meetings each year

3. Pistons are better defensively than the Spurs and have more offensive options, they also have a way way deeper bench

I think Pistons will win the next game

[HowAreYao?]

They'll be in the same place Sunday night

(Y) My plessure.

Wow...you take PLEASURE (spelled correctly) in watching your team lose?

[HowAreYao?]

the fact that lakers beat Spurs by winning 4 straight is irrelevant

1. Pistons already know what the Lakers are capable of and are unlikely to fold like the Spurs did

2. Lakers know the Spurs inside out due to their meetings each year

3. Pistons are better defensively than the Spurs and have more offensive options, they also have a way way deeper bench

I think Pistons will win the next game

4. Pistons are a very good free throw shooting team. San Antonio is what, the worst in the league? Major advantage for the Pistons over the Spurs.

[Amphatoast]

well, if the lakers lose, i think that will be it for Malone. Each finals he has gotten screwed, and now injuries, something that has played a lot of older player like Hakeem and Ewing has entered his game..

question is how many more points does he need to pass Kareem for the all time points leader?

[GloveGuy]

the fact that lakers beat Spurs by winning 4 straight is irrelevant

1. Pistons already know what the Lakers are capable of and are unlikely to fold like the Spurs did

2. Lakers know the Spurs inside out due to their meetings each year

3. Pistons are better defensively than the Spurs and have more offensive options, they also have a way way deeper bench

I think Pistons will win the next game

All your reasons are irrelevant because these two situations have a large thing in common that you fail to realize...

The Lakers CAN beat this team. They know they can beat this team. It took awhile for LA to figure out what they needed to do to beat the Spurs, to clamp down on what the Spurs were doing to win. Obviously, it's taking a little longer for them to do so on the Pistons, but I believe that it is possible, and that the Spurs series can serve as some type of motivation for the Laker players and fans.

[kevC]

The Lakers had 3 chances to prove that they can figure this team out... they're 0 for 3...

[Fresh8]

The Lakers know they can win the series...but they realise its goning to be pretty damn hard...

No team has won the Finals after being 3-1 down and the Lakers don't look like they can play up a level to do it...I wonder if this is all we got? C'mon fellas- bring up the play one more gear.

And great work by Detroit...we underestimated you guys! I have to admit.

Also- I would estimate that Malone would need to average about 14-15ppg nest season in 82 games...to have a chance to beat Abdul-Jabbar...I'm not sure bout that but someone can check it for me....

And. Kobe. Needs. To. Pass. The. Freakin. Ball. - Is that simple enough for him to understand? His biggest weakness got in his way- AGAIN!

[Yessie]

Lakers Will win 3 in a row

YA HEARD!!!!!

[MVP]

Pistons win again! Now, the Pistons will just have to close this up to give Larry Brown his first nba championship as a head coach. The Lakers are going up against History now....facing a 3-1 deficit. No team has come back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals before.
Rasheed Wallace played a great game. His first big game of the finals. As usual Billups and Hamilton played a solid game.

You gotta feel bad for Malone. The cameras kept on showing Malone when the Pistons built that 10 pt lead. As time kept winding down, again Malone appeared on the tv screen.

[whlee75]

All those who blame Kobe for not passing the ball...
I am just wondering who else he can pass it to except for Shaq?