Much as I hate to say it, me being a Knicks fan, the Mid-90s Knicks and ""Riley-Ball"" has seriously hurt the NBA. Everyone plays that ""Flagrant Fouls On Layups"" style of defense now. Makes me pine for the late 80''s.
But I agree, when the leading FG% leader is Shaq at 58% because he plays around the rim, it''s a league that doesn''t play enough shooters.
Haven''t low post players always led the league in FG%?
It was just excellent defense of both sides of the ball.
Either side would have good ball movement and not be able to get something of an open look until less than 5 seconds was on the shot clock. Then with a last ditch effort, some defender would get a hand up.
Ya, I know 70''s is a horibble score, but I was amazed and the cohesion, rotation, and flexing of the defenses. Its an offense minded game so there are going to be breakdowns on defense, but the recoveries and hussle was terrific for both LA and SA in games 5 and 6. That was a great series.
KG needs to not stoop to Sac''s level. He''s the MVP he needs to start acting like it.
Haven''t low post players always led the league in FG%?
To answer my own question I looked at the NBA leaders in field goal percentage between the 1971-2001 seasons and not once during that time was the leader in field goal percentage a guard. Every person that led the league was either a center or forward with a stronger leaning towards centers.
Aaaaand the Wolves are through. I swear, if Lakers vs. Wolves isn''t averaging at least 170 per game combined, i''m going to watch golf.
Aaaaand the Wolves are through. I swear, if Lakers vs. Wolves isn''t averaging at least 170 per game combined, i''m going to watch golf.
Oh, come on. Hack-a-shaq is far more entertaining to watch than golf.
"Prederick" wrote:Aaaaand the Wolves are through. I swear, if Lakers vs. Wolves isn''t averaging at least 170 per game combined, i''m going to watch golf.
Oh, come on. Hack-a-shaq is far more entertaining to watch than golf.
You''re right, since noone''s going to haul off and deck Tiger anytime soon (as much as I continue wishing that Sergio Garcia will emerge from a Sand Bunker and have at him with a 9-Iron... just for kicks).
Watching Shaq level his shoulders and run entirely through the Wolves defense should be fun.
Still, 170 total per game. Minimum. Or someone''s getting shot.
Detroit, 87 - 75 over LA in Game 1. Har, har.
Detroit, 87 - 75 over LA in Game 1. Har, har.
Great game, great result.
Bah!
I am liking it so far. I doubt the Pistons can hold off the Lakers but oh well. I would do anything to not see Malone ever get a ring. I also hope Shaq and the Rapist don''t get another championship. 
the Rapist
The Rapist who''s victim had sex with another man a few hours after the rape took place? DNA is a Female Doggo aint it?
I think we can start calling him ""the Adulterer"" now. Though you can still not want to see him get another ring.
No no, Mr. Connery, that''s ""Therapist,"" not ""The Rapist.""
I am liking it so far. I doubt the Pistons can hold off the Lakers but oh well. I would do anything to not see Malone ever get a ring. I also hope Shaq and the Rapist don''t get another championship. :o
Its more a question of who is the better coach; Phil Jackson or Larry Brown?
Can Phil revamp his team to compensate for what he saw Sunday? Maybe.
He needs buy in from Kobe though, to do it. If the game plan is to give the ball in to Shaq all night, as it should be, how long you think Kobe will go along with that? That didn''t last half the third quarter.
LA''s bench is being exposed for the bunch of coattail riders they are.
Detroit needs to shift tactics as well, since you want to keep LA off balance. Double Kobe early, let D-George or Rush try to beat you with an outside shot. One up Shaq, don''t let anyone else in the lane. Something like that.
Maybe lay a hard foul on Malone early, set the tone.
Larry doesn''t need buy in from anyone, though-it''s his team. He tells BenWa, ""I want you to be agressive, I want you to score"", Ben does it. He want''s ''Sheed to line up for a three every possession, to draw Malone out of the paint, ''Sheed does it.
Detroit, in 7.
If Detroit can keep rotating the guy who has the big game they will have the best chance of winning.
If they stagnate the Lakers will adjust and dominate.
This will be a good coaching battle. Larry Brown is the Bill Parcells of the NBA, resurrecting franchises everywhere he goes.
Think Larry''s down with the ""Jap Plays""?
Game Two is pivotal though. If Detroit can take these two, the series is theirs, no doubt. And the way they shut down everyone not named Shaq or Kobe, it''s possible.
Technically they shut down Kobe. Anytime Kobe gets his points but he takes 27 shots to get 25 points (I think those were his numbers) thats shutting him down. Well, atleast its exposing his weakness that hurts the support players on his team. Every shot he takes and misses is a shot that someone else could have taken and gotten in rhythm.
There cant be many games where Kobe has 20-25, Shaq has ~20, Malone has 10-15, Payton and/or Fisher has 10-15 where theyve lost. That was something that I miss from Magic, having 5-6 players in double figures.
If Detroit can keep rotating the guy who has the big game they will have the best chance of winning.
If they stagnate the Lakers will adjust and dominate.
This will be a good coaching battle. Larry Brown is the Bill Parcells of the NBA, resurrecting franchises everywhere he goes.
I noticed that every possession, D-troit had billups and rip running off picks, with the ball touching three players before a shot was made. That''s some disciplined, old school, ball.
One thing the Lakers know for sure now-don''t think you are going to get back into the game in the 4th if you are down against Detroit. I can''t believe how much they stepped up the D.
Not even the 90''s Knicks, hard fouling, d-fensively minded team that they were, had that capability. Usually, they let a team back in. Not Detroit. The message is ""we can do this all day.""
You know, Detroit starts looking deep, if Rasheed and Ben start scoring. 10 points from either of them could decide a game.
The Lakers do that often. The know they can kick it into higher gear in the 4th. Maybe, Detroit is the first team to say, we have another gear too.
Lakers in 6...
I dont think Detroit can put together 4 quality games...
Lakers 99 - 91 in OT. Pistons collapsed in the end and LA stepped up. Now we have a series.
That was an awesome game, sucky OT.
quite sucky
The only way i''ll ever like Kobe is if he signs with the Celtics.
well...HE MIGHT!
ok,...he won''t
Lordy... How did Detroit let that one get away? That''s a gut-punch of a loss...
Detroit 88 - 68 and take a 2 - 1 series lead.
Morbo does not think LA knows the true meaning of pain. Mwwahahahaha!
Detroit''s outplayed L.A. in 11 of the 13 periods played so far, badly. They are clearly the better team on the floor at this point. They just look like they are more athletic and better prepared.
So much for that talk of the ''LEastern'' Conference.
I cannot belive this, and I couldn''t be happier. I thought LA would steamroll them in five. But Detroit may seriously pull this off. Here''s hoping it''s Detroit in Game 4.
Whatever happened to games being played at decent hours of the day? I remember watching afternoon games on the weekend. I looked at the schedule for today (Sunday), and once again there is an 8:30 EST start time. I can watch about half the game and then have to head to bed - that 7:00 work day start time just won''t work with games that last until midnight.
Pistons lead the series and are one win away, I like it. Sorry Malone and Payton, no ring for you! 
More here.
Pistons lead the series and are one win away, I like it. Sorry Malone and Payton, no ring for you!
More here.
This one is over. LA would have to win three against Detroit, which is not likely. Even if they somehow pull it together, win the next game in Detroit, and game 6 in LA, what''s the likelihood of winning 3 games?
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