With Apologies to Denver Fans...

[OneMadOgre]

My Wolvies rock.

Look out Sac-Town, you're next.

[Essex]

I use to be a knicks fan back in the day... but then I realized basketball sucked lol but I do hope the t-wolves win I like KG

[Graav Wolfsong]

I feel bad for Denver, they really saw a glimpse of hope when 'Melo got them to the playoffs and they actually managed to upset the Wolves in game 3. Dammit! I lost alot of dough on that match. :rant:

I'm hoping for the Timberwolves to go all the way this year, their '3 headed monster' is pretty much unstoppable.
And Kevin Garnett is just uncanny!
How in the world can a guy have an average match that goes something like this: 27 Points 16 Rebounds 8 Assists.
He is he most worthy MVP candidate in a long time.
Not to mention you always get a steady stream of great quotes outta him.

Would be nice to see the Lakers go all the way too tho', Malone and Payton really deserve a ring before they call it quits.
Would be real nice for Kobe too, hes been amazing, considering the shoulder injury and the sexual assault case haunting him.

I'm just happy as long as the Spurs crash and burn, thats the most tedious faceless championship team I've ever seen.

Whoever makes the finals from the West, theyre gonna be tangling with the Pacers wich wont be easy unless 'someone' manages to get rid of O'Neal and Artest 'somehow'. :idea:


Essex: Basketball sucks? Sucks? Such blasphemy is not tolerated around here!
*Lights a torch and grabs a pitch fork*
Get 'im y'all! :)

[Essex]

LOL well I use to be big into basketball. I mean I had my Patrick Ewing poster, my knicks hat, everything. Even the my.yahoo.com homepage had a knicks lay out. Then the knicks got really really bad... then so did the whole league with all the power being out west and basically the championship won by whoever got out of the west.

I will admit I like watching the Pacers, and I enjoy individual players, but the game is sorta in a bad phase rght now.

However i love football... oh my god I can watch any football game (pro) at any time. I also like watching Soccer (the reall football) anytime.

[Bartleby]

Laker fan since the mid 80's (since I was like 7 or 8) and I don't think I could root for another team ever again. I tried rooting for the Clippers at the same time, but the damn managment makes it impossible. If they'd spend just a few bucks on that team... I mean look at the talent they have, but it will be gone once the contracts are up. Nobody stays with the Clippers, because they wont pay their players squat...

[Illidan]

If Christy starts playing offense again and Stojakovich starts playing defense again, I have high hopes for the Kings. They've dissapointed me every since they lost to the lakers a couple of years back in the western finals, but Bibby seems to finally have started playing like a professional again. He really inspired me to get into basketball that year, and then it was as if it was a one hit wonder, he never played well again. He's starting to again this year but I just hope it keeps up.

[PhatAlbert]

GO SPURS GO!!! Muwhaha =p

[Essex]

the spurs are so boring though... give it to Duncan... he's doubled/tripled he passes out to a guard, they go back to him pass it back to duncan he gets fouled and takes two free throws.


The man has no passion (not visible passion anyway) and that's why the only comercial he's ever had is the shaving one with David Robinson.

[Drakeon]

pffft, please.

Wolves are going down, Kings are going all the way baby!

[Lecnac]

You can't mess with the three-headed monster! Yeah, I always had faith in the Wolves. They're gonna rock the house this year!

[jsc02003]

Damn you OMO, and your T-Wolves! :rant:

Hehe, just kidding. Ok, yea, I'm from Denver. And we never really had a chance to win the series, especially after 'Melo went down. Quite frankly though, I didn't think we had a chance to make the playoffs when the season started, so this has obviously been a really good year for the Nuggets. Now all they need are a couple of quality free agents this off season, and who knows how far they could go?

[Essex]

in the west? about 1st to 2nd round. In the east, they could probably be confrence champs lol

[Drakeon]

Essex is right.

In the east there are really only 3 good teams (at least imo). The Pacers first and foremost, the nets and the pistons.

The west is a much tougher division, at least it has been for the last few years (considering the last 5 championships have also been won by the west)

[Graav Wolfsong]

Well, Kevin Garnett was named the NBA MVP, getting 120 of 123 possible first place votes. :worship:
I'd call that a convincing victory. :lol:

[Lecnac]

About time. Kevin Garnett certainly deserves that award.

[Bartleby]

Garnett is a monster, but he can't beat a team by himself. Now if the T-Wolves were all on the same caliber as Garnett... *shudders* they'd be unstoppable (this is not to say that Sprewell isn't amazing too, he's just not Garnett). The fact is, at the moment the eastern conference is easier than the western conference and the championship will almost inevitably be won by a team from the west.

Besides great players do not a championship team make, look at the Spurs... they're faceless in terms of superstars (and don't say Robinson or Duncan, they're not superstars, although Robinson used to be a looooong time ago) but they are a really tough team. The Lakers with by far the most talent on any given team in the NBA today (and arguably in NBA history) has been plagued by injuries. If those guys don't get the chance to gel as a team then forget it... they're not going to go all the way regardless of the number of superstars they have on the roster.

[Essex]

Well I agree with Bartleby you need two big name guys and everyone else has to have a role they play.

However to say that Duncan isn't a superstar is crazy. He's always on the all-star team, he was mvp two years in a row. He's an automatic 20-10 guy (Garnett is too, but he's a 20-10- and 5 assist guy so suck on that Duncan) So I really have to say that Duncan would be considered an all star.

The lakers have a lot of talent if this was two or three years ago. Other than kobe the other superstars are way past their prime, even Shaq is not the man he use to be (but he's still a total monster) I saw an intersting thing on PTI last night about Payton not really fitting in in L.A. and most of the problems are with the Triangle offense. Payton needs the ball alot which the Triangle doesn't really allow him to do.

Quick in five seconds name any point guard from the teams Michael Jordan won a championship on?


Times up, there was only ever one really good pg for Jordan and that was Ron Harper because he wasn't a guy who demanded the ball a lot.

How are the mavericks already out? I mean I hadn't heard **** about the kings all year.. then again I haven't been paying that much attention to basketball this year.


And I bet you all are surprised as hell that I watch Pardon the Interuption on ESPN lol :)

[jsc02003]

Hehehe-PTI is a great show, although I almost never get to see it (stupid Philosophy class). But the Kings were great this year- UNTIL Webber came back from injury. The problem, I think, is that Webber is not even close to 100%, and quite frankly the Kings were better off without him. Oh, if he was uninjured, of course the Kings would be better with him. But with him not being 100%, I don't think the Kings have anyone who can stop KG. My prediction is T'wolves-Spurs in the Western Conference finals, with the Spurs winning.

[Bartleby]

Duncan is about as exciting to watch as grass growing. The only reason his stats are impressive is the team strategy is pass it to Duncan on the post, Duncan takes shot + foul, shoots free throw(s), rinse and repeat. *Yaaaaaaawn* This makes him a valuable player, but hardly as dynamic as a superstar like Magic, Jordan, Isaah, Shaq, Kobe, Garnett, etc.

And as far as Malone or Shaq being past their prime, that's just crazy talk. Shaq? Past his prime? That doesn't even need to be discussed, other than to say "Uhmmm no". Now Malone would be a different story except the man's a freakin animal. Nobody works harder than Malone to stay in shape. He's more fit than most of the young guys in the NBA. On top of that he'd been playing dirty ball with Stockton down in Utah since the beginning of recorded history (note: slight exaggeration), so he's got more experience than any of the other players. I hated him on the Jazz, because he was so good. Now I don't have to hate him. I wouldn't say he's past his prime.

[Essex]

well bart i'll admit I haven't kept up with the nba but everytime I heard about malone it was that he was on the IR again with knee problems that made it sound to me like he was having some issues.

Plus I heard Shaq was having problems with his abdonimal muscles tearing and **** again. Plus Kobe's issues... I mean how is he able to focus on basketball at all?

[Illidan]

As much as I hate to admit it (because I'd rather have someone else in his place, like Jackson) Webber is one of the best current Team captains in NBA. He really keeps the Kings together in tight spots, and has the widest eyes in the team. I remember he used to steal and make baskets out of nowhere, so if he needs to get back in the game to get his 100% back I don't mind.

ABC stopped showing the Kings games though :( I don't know what's been going on lately, stupid network tv. Like I really need to watch the Kobe being an A-hole 24/7.
I'm sorry but ever since the all star game where he stole the victory from Jordan I've hated his guts. He'll stand still and be a nobody all game then all of the sudden in the last 1:30 minutes of the game he becomes an unstopable force of scoring. Hate him so much. Oh well, If it's easy for anyone can you guys post the standings of the western conferance right now?

[Ifrit18]

T-Wolves > Kings Nuff said... Kings need to loose! How dare they beat the Mavs! :rant:

Spurs > Lakers Lakers have too much drama, spurs are faceless.


Nets < Pistions Nets are a great team but when you have guys that reject the ball every time you try to make a shot, your not going anywhere.

[OneMadOgre]

I like my Wolves chances against the Kings although I expect each and every game to be extremely close. I like the Spurs over the Lakers. I really want to say Wolves over the Spurs, but I don't know if we're really the better team right now. We'll have to see after these next few games.

[Essex]

it'll be a great showdown with duncan vs garnett the mvps for the last three years going at it. Anyone really think the Pacers won't be coming out of the east?

[Bartleby]

well bart i'll admit I haven't kept up with the nba but everytime I heard about malone it was that he was on the IR again with knee problems that made it sound to me like he was having some issues.

Plus I heard Shaq was having problems with his abdonimal muscles tearing and **** again. Plus Kobe's issues... I mean how is he able to focus on basketball at all?
Like I said, plagued by injuries. Kobe suffered shoulder injuries as well. But injuries does not equal past your prime, it just means that you had a run of bad luck. It's particularly bad for the Lakers since 3 of the 4 superstars have been out during the regular season, either individually or at the same time, making it very difficult for them to learn how to play as a team.

Still with all those injuries they entered the playoffs first in their division and third in their conference with .683, two games behind the T-Wolves who've had a great season with .707 (best ever?) and one game behind San Antonio who are playing as expected with .695

Do you still think they're past their prime?

I'd like to see the Pacers make it to the Finals, they've eaten dirt for far too long. Of course if the Lakers are their opponent, then I'd like to see them continue to eat dirt. :D

[Essex]

Bart they already beat the Pacers a few years ago and Reggie deserves that ring. I'm pretty much a secondary pacers fan thanks to my cousins intrest in them back when they kept beating the knicks in the playoffs lol

[Drakeon]

woooo Kings take game 1!

I'm really happy that the kings were able to AT LEAST get a split out of the first 2 games.

Kings are going all the way! :p

[Graav Wolfsong]

Actually, the Lakers managed to get the second seed in the western conference. When I look at the standings something seems wrong as the Spurs are liested with better statistics but the Lakers ARE the second seed so the records on NBA.com are whacky.

In my opinion the Lakers have done amazing this seasong considering the troubles they have faced. Any team would fall apart at the seams with problems like that, have to give props to phil Jackson for holding it together as well as he has.

But if they get past the Spurs they have been granted a miracle.

Malone has been the best trained guy in the NBA since the dawn of time but still, he IS past his prime. Strange that hes still buff like a bodybuilder. He turns 41 in what, a few weeks. And considering the extremely physical nature of a power forwards game it is simply astonishing that he is still one of the top PFs in the game. Jordan gave up at 40 and as a SG\SF he spent his two seasons woth the Wizards mostly working the turnaround jumper, Malone has to get in the box and scrap all game long.

Shaq has had foot problems all through the last few seasons, this season he had to learn to walk correctly again after his busted toe made him change his stride the last few years. And hes even worse on the freethrow line than ever.

Kobe has really impressed me, with the court case in wich hes looking at 4 years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation if convicted. Sure, hes a superstar but that is not a hollywood court. Its a redneck court angry because a black man ***** a white slut. And yes she is a slut, a total skank, I mean, what was she doing wearing panties with some other guys sperm on them when she came to the hospitel and cried about being *****? And the **** shield law prevent Bryants attorneys from bringing up her very questionable sexual history in court that would back up the claim that she tried to set Kobe up. Geez.
And I bet Bryant has been taking a lot of heat from his wife over this.
Not to mention the shoulder injury, the same shoulder he had surgery on in the offseason, he wore a protective shirt under his uniform for weeks, maybe he still is wearing it? I cant remember.
He has had his share of drama thats for sure, but still he has been great.

And Payton, constantly whining over diminished minutes, not enough ball possesion and too few shots. Plus the fact that he has back trouble these days.

And George, Fisher, Rush, Grant and Cook all have injuries plaguing them.
Hell, Kobe looks to be the healthiest one on the team.

I saw a good description of the Lakers on ESPN.com, it went something like this:
Kobe is mad at Shaq. Phil is mad at Kobe. Payton is mad at Phil. Shaq is mad at everybody. Payton is frustrated the triangle. Shaq is frustrated with his diminished role and too few shots. Kobe doesnt like Phil as a person. Malone is frustrated with his teammates.

Pretty much sums this seasons Lakers up.

But the Lakers sure are entertaining to watch, they always put on a good show and will remain a favourite of mine for years to come.

Any thoughts on what the Lakers will do if Kobe decides to leave and test the free agent market after this season? And what if Malone and Payton calls it a day after this season? They have a two year deal but are free to leave after the first year and Payton has said he will do whatever Malone does.

Shaq sure would be happy to get rid of Kobe but the team would need some serious new player power to stay afloat.
Hey, maybe they can snag Mcgrady, the magic have been thinking about trading him before his contract expires after the next season.

Leaving as a free agent could do wonders for Kobe tho', more $$$ and a team centered around him and he would be putting up points in the mid thirties per game. What I really like about Kobe is his competetive instinct, hes much like Jordan on that (Wich is probably why he delighted so in robbing Jordan of the winning basket in the All Star game). And he is still developing the game, when he first came into the NBA he was just a high flyer, then he developed a good jumper, then a great turnaround jumper and these last few seasons he has become an amazing 3 point shooter and clutch player. And hes only 25!

No need to mention that I am a huge Kobe fan. :thumbsup:

[Essex]

all the kobe stuff in free agency hangs on the Eagle Colorado jurys.

I wonder if he signed a huge contract with another team would they add in a clause that if he goes to prison he has to pay them back or something?

[Bartleby]

Yeah it's likely that the Lakers are headed for a few low seasons to come... *sigh*

But back to Malone being past his prime, let me clarify myself: It is true, he is past his own individual prime if you consider his age, but when people say one is past their prime they usually mean they aren't good anymore, which is a ridiculous thing to say about Malone. He is one of the more dominant power forwards in the game today and he trains religiously to keep in peak form so he can throw them 'bows.

The Lakers including Phil all need to go get high together (weed bringing friends together) then get cortisone+painkiller injections and hit the court after stopping off at Roscoe's Chicken n' Waffles for grub.

[Bartleby]

Oh yeah and after last night's game, the wolves better step it up or dirty Sacramento *holds nose* will be moving on; and I think only our resident GoBot wants that to occur.

[Graav Wolfsong]

Yeah it's likely that the Lakers are headed for a few low seasons to come... *sigh*

But back to Malone being past his prime, let me clarify myself: It is true, he is past his own individual prime if you consider his age, but when people say one is past their prime they usually mean they aren't good anymore, which is a ridiculous thing to say about Malone. He is one of the more dominant power forwards in the game today and he trains religiously to keep in peak form so he can throw them 'bows.

I totally agree, Malone is not what he used to be -wich is "Hey I sold my soul to the devil" good- but he is a long away from being a bad player.
I think alot of people see that his numbers have dropped and think "Old age finally got him I see" but that is just because his role is considerably smaller than with the Jazz and he is still not quite at 100% after his knee problems.
Lets say if he were to head back to the Jazz next season, he would still put up 20+ points a game.
And Malone is actually rebounding better this season than he did last season wich is just uncanny, rebounding is usually the first to go when a players career is winding down.
Karl Malone is after all the most productive power forward in history.


The team that really disappointed me this season was the Raptors, the only team besides the Lakers and Hornets I have some real loyalty to.
Of you look at their starting lineup they have a pretty damn good team.
One of the most exciting players in the NBA in Vince Carter -who by the way would have been sooo much better if he hadnt had trouble with injuries the last few seasons, I really hope we wont see another Grant Hill tragedy with VC-, a really great shooter in Jalen Rose, Morris Peterson is pretty good at that too, Donyell Marshall has really grown into his own skin after being traded to Toronto and the rookie Chris Bosh really has potential.
They seemed to be on track to the playoff but then Vince started struggling with his leg again and Jalen broke his hand and the Raptors went on several punishing losing streaks.
I really hope they get their act together next season and kick some kaboose in the East, wich shouldnt be very hard anyway.

[Essex]

I was very surprised with the grizziles. Even though I live in TN I don't pay attention to the Grizz but damn they did well for a team that hadn't been to the playoffs yet. Just goes to show that JERRY WEST CAN DO NO WRONG!!!

EDIT: damn hit return. Anyway... when I say Malone is past his prime I just mean he's not at the peak of his game, but even a sub-par Malone is one of the best power forwards in the game. Patrick Ewing is a good example about three years before he retired I'd say he was past his prime but still one of the best centers in the game and argueably the best center in the east. However just a two seasons later he can barely make it through a game.

[Bartleby]

Fine, fine, but I'm not going to be the guy to go up to Malone and tell him he'll be gone in two years cuz he's old... I value my life too much :)

Why don't you go tell him Essex, and uhhh be sure to let me know how that works out for ya :)

[Essex]

lol hell no I've seen the ESPN specials, I know how many guns he has in that cabin. Not to mention the fact he could tear me limb to limb with his bare hands.... so.. umm.. no :)

[OneMadOgre]

woooo Kings take game 1!

I'm really happy that the kings were able to AT LEAST get a split out of the first 2 games.

Kings are going all the way! :p
Not a chance. Wolves take at least one back from Arco. :)

[Drakeon]

Pfft, with the way the wolves have been looking? They barely won that 2nd game in minnesota.

The kings have been looking better and better and the Twolves haven't been. I mean they were blown out by Denver and hardly beat them in game 4 in denver.

Although not to say the King's will have it to easy, the series could very well go to 7 games, I'll just hope for 5 games :)

[Graav Wolfsong]

What about the Lakers thrashing of the Spurs, did Parker and Duncan just have a bad night or have the Lakers figured out a way to stop them?
I mean, I dont think just homecourt will change a team that much.

I was really getting worried when Parker totally made a fool out of Payton in the first two games but Payton did a pretty good job in game 3.
In any case, if Payton keep struggling with Parker I think they need to put Kobe on him.

[Bartleby]

Yaaaaaa baby!!! Lakers owned the Spurs like a bunch of uncoordinated midgets :D (no offense to wee-people) If game 4 looks like game 3 then the Spurs will know the first two games were a fluke.

[OneMadOgre]

Pfft, with the way the wolves have been looking? They barely won that 2nd game in minnesota.

The kings have been looking better and better and the Twolves haven't been. I mean they were blown out by Denver and hardly beat them in game 4 in denver.

Although not to say the King's will have it to easy, the series could very well go to 7 games, I'll just hope for 5 games :)
I'm hoping for five games too. :) We didn't let you beat us in arco all season, so reason to start now.

[Bartleby]

Lakers/Spurs Game 4 in just a bit... I'm hoping the godly Laker team shows up tonight...

[Graav Wolfsong]

Well, another Lakers win.
Bryant really is uncanny, when he has returned from a long day in court he has scored 30+ points all but once, and in that game he nailed the winning jumper.
Guess, he is a glutton for punishment, the worse his day is, the better he seems to play.

I'm really having trouble figuring the Lakers out though, how can they be total garbage the first two games and then become damn near omnipotent when they go back to the STAPLES center?
I mean, in game 3 they made the Spurs look like a bad high school team, and game 4 wasnt much better.

[Essex]

kobe is like the legal version of the hulk.

"Don't litegate me, you won't like me when I'm litegated!" "RAWWRRRR KOBE SMASH RAWWRRRR"

[Bartleby]

The Lakers are hard to understand for everyone Graav... I think they're basically ruled by their emotions. When they're happy and they're focused on fun, they dominate; but if they've got fear in them they just seem to give up.

As for Kobe jokes, I'm going to suspend judgement until facts start coming out in the trial.

[OneMadOgre]

Lakers, Spurs... Doesn't matter. Wolves take either one. :)

Go Wolves in game four!!

[Bartleby]

Lakers, Spurs... Doesn't matter. Wolves take either one.
Awwww he's delusionally optimistic.... that's so cute :lol:

[Lecnac]

OMO is right. The Kings/Wolves series is sure to be much more entertaining and close than the next (after the Wolves take Sacramento out of the picture). The Spurs and Lakers just can't play up to the level of Minnesota.

KG4EVER!

[Ifrit18]

Kings MUST win tonight or they will loose the series. I want the Wolves to win though.

Lakers > Spurs

I thought the Spurs looked to win this series but the Lakers seem damn tough right now. This series will probaly go 7 games.

Wolves > Kings

Tough teams. But thats why its the Western Conference. Wolves home advantage hold the key to this match-up. Seven game series that will be interesting.

Nets > Pistions

Probaly six games here. Detroit is not looking good right now.

Pacers > heat ?????

Heat are much better than everyone thought. Pacers have the home court and heat suck on the road. Seven game series. Be nice to see the Heat win. They been playing extremely well.

[Essex]

no the pacers have to win, is there anyone in the east that could possibly win other than the pacers?

I either want the wolves to win or whoever from the east goes cause it's been a long time coming since the east one a championship.

[OneMadOgre]

I was never an NBA fan or even a Timberwolves fan before Kevin Garnett. I only want to see him have success. Best sports quote ever from KG after Malik was killed in an auto accident and Joe Smith had his contract voided and the franchise had it's draft choices stripped. Kevin, all of these problems for the Timberwolves this season, doesn't this cause you a lot of stress?Nah man I ain't got no stress, ten kids, one job and two biskets. That's stress. I absolutely love it when a professional athlete can have that kind of prospective. It's so rare. I love the way he works and I love the SciFi commerical with him. Second best quote ever? When he compares Terrell Brandon to the Black Lion forming the head of Voltron. Voltron!!?!? KG is a geek. I love it.

Go Wolves!!

[Bartleby]

The Lakers are unfreakin believable!!! I would love to be able to read Duncan's mind right after he made his unbelievably lucky shot and then right after Fisher made his unbelievably lucky shot. My guess is it went something like this...

OMFG Yes!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you God... thank you...

...

NO, no noooooooooooooooooooooooo.... what... the....
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF**************CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!

Sleep tight Spurs fans... it should all be over soon.

This head of steam should give the Lakers just the boost they need to allow them to go all the way.

[Essex]

the lakers or spurs winning the nba title is just like the Yankee's making the world seires every year. Boring, predictable, and bad for the game.

The reason football is so popular is because every year there's always a shot your team might make the playoffs, hell the super bowl. Can the clippers honestly say that at the start of a year?

[Bartleby]

The Yankees lost to the Angels :D and how exciting was that? As an Angel and a Dodger fan (although some will say you can't be both) I can tell you it was awesome. A year or two ago, if memory serves, the Clippers surprised everyone with a strong show, and sadly an equally weak finish.

Football, like baseball has always had and will always have a large following (even before the caps).

The Lakers have this year and maybe next year (like the Bulls) before the Dynasty is done and they go back to being just okay. As far as bad for the game goes, I disagree. True fans love their teams especially when they're the under dog, because if they win they feel vindicated. Everyone else is just band wagon, but the NBA loves bandwagoners because whether their team sucks or not the true fans will always watch; it's the band wagoners that they have to court. And what attracts band wagoners more than a dynasty team? Nothing. The Lakers persona or star power is so big that their players are household names in other countries. The more people watch the more money the NBA makes so I don't see how that's actually bad for the game.

Sadly, few sports teams are profitable and unfortunately the NBA seems to feel that the only way to stop players from asking for ever more outrageous sums of money is to impose salary caps. I think on some level they were trying to make the game more balanced for the true fans, but I believe they were mostly interested in team solvency.

If the NBA can still have dynasty teams with the salary caps, then it'll be in good shape. If you're one of those that think dynasty teams somehow ruin the purity of the sport well then more power to you, but I believe in economics and understand that the big name teams bring in money for the teams that aren't doing as well.

[OneMadOgre]

You know Bartleby, I had stopped by earilier and nearly made a post about how much laker fans left a distaste in my mouth. Now I read your post and I see it's not their fans I dislike, it's their bandwagoneers. :)

Nobody knows about being a true fan more than a fellow who can say that he follows the poor, poor clips.

This all being said, I still want to squish whoever comes out of that bracket with my wonderful wolvies. (Sorry Kings, already started to look past you. :) ) Hope I'm not paying for it tomorrow.

[Bartleby]

Nobody knows about being a true fan more than a fellow who can say that he follows the poor, poor clips.

My teams:

L.A. - Lakers (Secondary: Clippers, because there's no way I'd be a Kings fan)
Was Secondary: Buffalo Bills (Now dead to me: The St. Louis Rams)
L.A. Kings (Secondary: Mighty Ducks)
Anaheim Angels and L.A. Dodgers (don't ask me to pick)
Liverpool
Andy Roddick
As a Buffalo Bills fan I think my fellow Bill's fans have it rougher because we've always got a decent team (even wins v losses) but never a great team, save the four years we came in second f**kin place... *sighs*

But truly the only fans that bear the weight of the proververbial cross are RedSox fans... man, I don't envy them :)

[Graav Wolfsong]

The Lakers win over the Spurs was unbelievable.
I had 100 bucks ridin' on the Lakers so my joy was limitless as the buzzer sounded.
The final 12 seconds was filled with incredible highs when Kobe did what he does best, then incredible lows as I cursed Duncans existence and then again incredible highs as I ran out to the street and shouted how much I loved Derek Fisher.
Truly an amazing finish. Did you see Duncans face when he hit his shot over Shaq? He was all like "I'm the king of the world!!!" then it all came crashing down. :lol:

I'm still a little worried for the Lakers tho', they have momentum now but Kobe did pass out of exhaustion and dehydration in the dressing room after the match and needed two bags of IV and an hour of nap time before he could even get up.
No wonder really, considering all hes going through but the Lakers need Kobe magic to make it to the top this year.


Personally, I love the NBA for its salary caps. It keeps the athletes sane.
In american sports you see big paychecks but nothing even comes close to the madness that is player salary in football. (or soccer as you yanks prefer to call it)
It has transformed most of the truly great players into greedy little bastards that make more money while theyre takin' a dump in the morning than most people make a year. And it has made big teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United multi billon dollar empires.
All for a game? I'm afraid athletes will eventually completely forget the love of the game and be all about the benjamins.

That is one of the reasons I really respect Malone and Payton who are playing for about 1\10 of what theyre worth.

[Graav Wolfsong]

And I think the NBA are good for a few surprise teams. The Clippers may be beyond help, at least until they get better management.
But the Miami Heat went from an 0-7 to 5-15 to giving the Pacers a run for their money in the semis, I'd call that a surprise performance.
I'm thinking Wade have been underestimated most of this season as he has proven himself to be more than a match for LeBron and 'Melo and a great clutch player. If I had to point to one decisive factor in the Heat run it would be Wade and the improvement of Butler.

[OneMadOgre]

MMMmmm... One more game for my Wolves. Nice team Kings, but if Brad Miller keeps blowing up like that, it's going to be a coast in game six too.

[Drakeon]

Brad Millar had good reason to do what he did, he should of kept his cool, but I understand why he did it. He got hit with a low blow by Derrik Martin and he retaliated, like I said he should of kept his cool, but I understand why it happened.

And don't act like any of the games have been easy OMO, there haven't been any blowouts in this series.

[Essex]

wow so the spurs offically melted down, that was a strange seires...

the lakers are 16-1 in 3-2 games to close out an opponent

[Mad_Mat]

wow so the spurs offically melted down, that was a strange seires...

the lakers are 16-1 in 3-2 games to close out an opponent
Can't say that's not a nice comeback. From 0-2 to 4-2. Go Kings in 7! (Homecourt advantage for L.A ^^)

[OneMadOgre]

Brad Millar had good reason to do what he did, he should of kept his cool, but I understand why he did it. He got hit with a low blow by Derrik Martin and he retaliated, like I said he should of kept his cool, but I understand why it happened.

And don't act like any of the games have been easy OMO, there haven't been any blowouts in this series.
It was only easy in the 4th quarter of game 5 after Brad Miller melted down. Sorry, didn't mean to imply otherwise. I actually like the Kings, just not as much as I like Wolves. If the Kings had Bobby Jackson healthy, this would have been a much different series. He *kills* us.

[Drakeon]

It's the King's curse.. We ALWAYS have one of our good players missing, whether it be Peja, Webber, Bibby or Jackson.

Game 6 has just started 10-5 Kings up while I post this.

Edit: No matter who wins this series, I hope they cream the Lakers. I can understand the Twolves fans too, they haven't ever gotten to the finals.

[Drakeon]

Woot! Kings win game 6!

Now time to go steal one in Minnesota :)

[OneMadOgre]

It'll be interesting come Wednesday night. Who backs up the point for the Kings now with Peeler's probable suspension? Either way, we're going to have trouble with the Lakers in the next series with both teams really hurting at the point. I think we're missing Troy Hudson almost as much as you're missing Bobby Jackson.

[Graav Wolfsong]

I think anyone will have trouble with the Lakers now, considering the momentum theyve gathered and Shaqs new willingness to focus more on his defensive effort when needed.
Payton also seems alot happier now that Phil Jackson allows them to break away from the triangle for some set plays to benefit GP in the post.

I think the Lakers are pretty much the only ones who can stop themselves at this point. Giving a team that had won 17 games in a row 4 straight defeats is really impressive but they must have spent alot of energy, maybe they will just run out of gas somewhere down the line?
The Twolves - Kings going for a game 7 will give them some time to rest up tho'.

I think if the Kings win game 7, the Lakers are destined for the finals, but the Wolves win they will give them more of a run for their money.
KG is a killer but the Lakers managed to contain Duncan so they should be able to give Garnett a hard time too. GP did a great job on Parker the last 4 games but Spree and Cassel is in a whole different league than Parker, can the Lakers stop them with so much attention devoted to KG?
I think that would be the key to a possible Lakers - Wolves series, that and how much magic Kobe feels like unleashing.

[Drakeon]

I want a rematch of Lakers-Kings WCF, this time the Kings winning it of course.

I have confidence in the Kings, we were able to beat the lakers 3/4 times in the regular season and I still feel the Spurs would of been the harder team to play.

I think the Kings or Twolves, whoever win game 7, will both have a good shot at beating the lakers.

[Graav Wolfsong]

The reason I think the Kings would fall before the Lakers is their horrible bench.
The Lakers bench isnt exactly anything to brag about either but the Kings have been going with a 7 man rotation lately and I believe that will be their undoing.
Besides, none of the Kings big men are as big a threat as KG, not even Webber, not anymore. They will be shut down by Shaq and Malone if they keep playing like they have recently.
The only spot the Kings may have a mismatch is Peja-George and if Peja gets a hot hand the Lakers will surely put Kobe on him.

After the Lakers banished the Spurs to a summer of sulking most 'experts' have been jumping on the Lakers bandwagon and is predicting them to go all the way.

[Essex]

hell last summer when they signed Malone and Payton if you listened to ESPN they had already started engraving the Lakers names onto the trophy for this season.

[OneMadOgre]

I really want to believe otherwise, but I believe that if Shaq takes the games seriously, it is very, very hard to beat the lakers in 7 games. When he plays defense and makes free throws, it just gets really hard to keep up with that.

That being said...

Go Wolves!!!

[Essex]

*clears throat*

CAN YOU DIG IT!!!!!!!!!!! *records that, loops it 1000 times*

there now we don't even need the tickertape parade down L.A.

[Bartleby]

First off the Lakers continue to amaze and scare the **** out of me. God I love this team... so frustrating, yet it's almost impossible not to watch. Laker fans know what a roller coaster ride watching their team can be.

[QUOTE=Graav Wolfsong]And I think the NBA are good for a few surprise teams. The Clippers may be beyond help, at least until they get better management.
QUOTE]

Clips are actually one of the few profitable teams in all of american sports. The reason they do so poorly is because the management runs the team to make money, not to win championships so they sign good young guys out of the draft for as long as they can for as little as they can. They trade for decent veterans to fill gaps, but never at a financial loss and when their players become free agents they leave to make more money (if possible).

[Lecnac]

And the Wolves take game 7! :D

Look out, Lakers, here we come!

[Drakeon]

Congrats Twolves fans, I know you've never got this far before :)

What can I say? My kings played hard and gave it there all (ok, in the second half, in the first half we just stunk).

We went to 7 games and came close, but no cigar eh?

Guess I'll be rooting for the Twolves now (gotta root for the team that beat my team, unless its the lakers, never root for the lakers).

[Essex]

I just hope to god the t-wolves can beat the lakers. I'm sorry but I don't want to see them win again. I was happy when the spurs got beat though.

That would be an intersting matchup wolves-pacers

[Graav Wolfsong]

What I dont get is why they had Webber shoot the last second three. Hes not exactly the best perimeter player they have.
Peja's bad shooting night really made things difficult for the Kings.

Kevin Garnett keeps astonishing me tho', I just cant get over how good that guy is.
32 points, 21 rebounds, thats a career best game for pretty much every guy in the NBA, for KG its like "meh".
I really enjoyed it when he took control and scored 13 points in a row in the 4th quarter.

[Drakeon]

I think Christie and Bibby were our two best 3 pt shooters in the Kings-Twolves series, Peja was just cold the whole series :(

[OneMadOgre]

Poor Peja had a series like Wally did for us last year against the Lakers. Basically they figured out Wally and it was just over. Wally disappeared.

Kings put up a good fight. It would have been even better if Bobby and Troy had been healthy. I was pretty sure that Sam Cassell was going to give that game away.

KG is amazing to watch play. I've been following him for years now and it amazes me how quietly he can get 30 points and 20 rebounds. He's just a monster on the court. I get a kick out of hearing about how Ron Artest can guard four positions on the court because I'm seen KG guard point guards and centers. A few years ago we used to stick him on McGrady to shut him down before we got some better perimeter defenders. It's amazing to think that for a few years our best preimeter defender was our 6'13" power forward.

I really will be rooting for my Wolvies, but I'm very worried for them as well. A motivated Shaq is still really, really hard to beat. If Kandi continues to wilt and with Troy Hudson out and Sam Cassell hurting, I'm not sure we can pull this out.

[Bartleby]

Game 3 is going to be ugly tonight... I don't think the Wolves really wanted to get as physical as they did. It may have won them Game 2, but now the Lakers are expecting it and you'll probably see some of the nastiness returned a la Karl Malone's elbow.

[Graav Wolfsong]

Gotta give props to Darrick Martin tho', getting back up from a shot like that from a guy like Malone is pretty tough. I mean, Karl is strong like the Hulk and almost took his head off.

The Lakers really aggrivate me sometimes, they have all the potential in the world and when it looks like they might be on their way to reaching that potential they selfdestruct. Not to mention cost me alot of money. :innocent:

Hope the embarrasing loss and the 4th quarter fighting fired them up a little.
In game 2 it looked like the Timberwolves just wanted it more, if the Lakers keep going like that the Wolves deserve to win.

And they gotta keep Malone outta foul trouble, cant have Medvedenko and Cook guarding KG. They might as well be beggin them "Please sir, torch us for 30 points and 20 rebounds a game. Please".

[Essex]

graav I think you have a gambling problem... lol

[Graav Wolfsong]

Its not a problem as long as I win. :D

[Essex]

lol good answer good answer!

[Bartleby]

Poor Madsen... he's doing everything he can, but Shaq is just to big... it'd be completely unfair if Shaq were a good free throw shooter too.

[Graav Wolfsong]

The Lakers are looking dangerously overpowering at home these days.
I'm afraid the Wolves have got themselves into a real deep hole by losing game 1 at home. Now they have to get one at STAPLES center to win this series.

And yet again, Kobe puts up 30+ points after a day in Colorado court.

He must be happy today, I read somewhere that the defense gets to use the sperm from ome other guy on the accusers panties evidence.
This goes a long way to prove that she had sex soon after her encounter with Bryant and she could have sustained her injuries from the other guy.
And it goes to show she is a bit of a skank in any case. :)

[Graav Wolfsong]

On the gambling thing: I'm serious. Its a hell of a way to earn some spending money when things go well.
Only things I've lost money on the last few months has been the Lakers, the Timberwolves loss against the Nuggets and that pantsy punk Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr and his "Hey lets fall down, that would be fun" attitude cost me 500 dollars. :rant:

[Essex]

you have to admit though that was a hell of a hit. I liked what Larry Merchant said after the fight, when a guy goes all his career avoiding getting hit, when he does get hit hard he's going to go down hard.

[Graav Wolfsong]

Yeah he got nailed pretty good but still. For a guy said to be the best boxer in the world he got beat pretty hard by a guy he was supposed to be superior to.
Thats one of the really interesting things about boxing I guess, the underdog often comes up big.
I'm thinking this was alot like the Lewis-Rahman thing, in other words, a lucky punch.