Lord Knows I love VanGundy, but the Lakers are going to crush them.
What’s the word on Mailman’s ankle?
It’s day to day, but he says he’s going to play in Game 1. We’ll see. I wouldn’t count on him playing significant minutes for the first couple games. Rough season for Malone, huh? It’s like he’s making up for all those years of health in one shot.
Anyway, much luck to the Knicks. As much as I want them to lose so I can gloat to my roomie, I think they’re going to beat the Nets in six and cement their position as alpha dog of NYC (not that this series is the decider, but it would have helped the Nets make strides.)
I don’t follow basketball, but I think if our T Wolves lose in the first round of the playoffs THIS year, we’ll be plenty happy to ship them off to Cali to join the (previously Minneapolis) Lakers.
Hm, it’s sad that the Kings couldn’t clinch the Pacific, since I wanted the Spurs and Lakers to meet in the Final…er… conference finals. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Kings lose in five the way they’re playing.
Provided Kobe doesn’t go absolutely nuts like he’s done the last couple of games, I’m taking the Spurs in seven (of course). Then we’ll have to take on those pesky T’wolves who wouldn’t give us the conference title 
Yeah, I’m hoping the Knicks get crushed as well. The next best thing to not making the playoffs is to show they don’t belong there.
After the Lakers (Malone needs a fucking ring, bad), I’ll pull for Minny as I’d like KG and especially Spree to get rings. After Minny I’m going with Indy, as I’d like old man Reggie to get a ring.
Well let’s get up to speed.
The Knicks are a pathetic waste of an NBA team, and the asswhipping gave me such joy.
Now time for the Lakers to crush the rockets tonight!
Go Malone!
I have to admit that I misread the thread title. That said, I don’t give a shit about the NBA, but I do think Little King Cream Ale ain’t a bad brew.
Since they had the best record in the league don’t the Pacers deserve a little attention?
Fuck the Pacers!
I love the Pacers!
Fuck the Pacers!
I love the Pacers!
Fuck the Pacers!
I love the Pacers!
There. All better now. Covered all sides of that argument.
(actually, I really do like the Pacers, but I’m not sure they can win it all-- hope so, though.)
Well, go Nets. I enjoyed the look of disgust on my friend’s face that lasted approximately 3 hours four times in the past week. Good times.
As for the Pacers, they’re not a threat. I don’t even think they’ll come out of the East. Of course, look at my prediction of Nets-Knicks and see how much my opinion is worth.
And, after the Kings are managing to crush the Mavs, I’m not hearing nearly as much shit talking.
What has always amazed me is the total lack of respect. Last year, Lakers were talking about how sorry the Kings were, how they were gonna get trounced, how they were the worst team in the NBA… never mind that both teams were bounced in the SAME ROUND, making them equals in some way. Never mind that this year the Kings are going to move to round 2 with the SAME record in the playoffs.
I’m not really into Basketball. I’m still learning.
But I’ve been a Kings fan since I moved here, back when the would be tied with the T-Wolves for last place.
Looking forward to the game tonite, and the rest of the playoffs.
Hmmmm, funny I picture Indy coming out of the east, I mean who’s gonna stop them? Detroit? Maybe, but doubtful.
I’ve always had more allegance to players then to teams so I’ll state this all now.
Order of who I’ll root for.
- Lakers - Karl Malone needs a fucking ring, 'nuff said.
- Timberwolves - Garnett has time, but I’d like Spree to get a ring. He played out of position on those shitty Knick teams for years, he deserves one.
- Indy - I’ve been a huge Reggie fan (fucking over the Knick for years, hehe), so reg needs a ring. I also love crazyman Ron Artest, who would be one of the first players on my team if I had one. Any dude that smashes his head against his locker in anger when they lose is ok in my book. He recently won the NBA defensive player of the year award, and Pop from the spurs bitched that it should be Bruce Bowen. Artest challenged him 1 on 1, winner gets the trophy. The guy is all about winning, and he’s fucking crazy too.
There are 2 teams that I always love to see get beat, the Fakers and the ‘76’ers. If Shaq has to play by the same rules as everyone else in the NBA (since he is no longer Stern’s prize/lead ho’) he is nowhere near as dominant a player.
Horry is so hot and cold that I compare him with “the evil captain Kirk” (you never know which one is going to show up) as it’s harder to see the eye makeup on Robert, I am a longtime Rockets fan and I have been watching Robert for years, he will make the amazing buzzer-beater shot and then go to the back of the arena and sleep for a while.
Karl “I used to be the Mailman” Malone WAS a great player but he had Stockton (with whom he had some kind of odd connection) and he was younger.
Kobe is great sometimes but he seems to have an attitude problem (he acts immature for his age).
My '76’ers thing is simple, AI is a PUNK BITCH!!!.
Yes I know the Fakers beat the Rockets, that is exactly what I thought was going to happen.
Watching the Spurs kick the crap out of the Fakers at home is going to be sweet!!!.
Unclviny
I love Artest as well. Pop bitching about Ron winning the DPOY was incoherent inconsistent drivel. He bitched about the media voting for the DPOY instead of the coaches insinuating that it was Carlisle’s campaigning in the media that won Ron the DPOY. But the old geezer forgot that Ron was the highest vote-getter among coaches in being selected to the All-NBA Defensive Team beating out both Bowen and Big Ben. I found it sad that instead of standing up for Bowen or Ben, both Pop and Larry Brown are putting Ron and his stellar season down. Give the man his credit… he worked his ass off!
BTW, Ron is not crazy… the rest of the world is.
Artest had surgery on his thumb a month or two ago, and 3 days after the operation he was out in a bathrobe on the court shooting 500 practice shots.
Totally hardcore.
Unclivy Karl Malone is still a great player, look at his stats. He had a nice 30 point beatdown on your Rockets the other day as well.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,
A veteran and one of the all time greats scored 30 points between broken hips, big news (yawn), I will check back on this thread in a few days when all will be clear to you deluded Fakers fans.
Unclviny
Why would you? I not going to talk any shit until the Kings lose. And if the Lakers get bounced then I’ll come in and take what’s coming to me.
Except, the team the Lakers lost to wound up winning the title after waxing Dallas in six. And San Antonio isn’t a no-heart joke like Dallas.
As an aside, seriously, has Don Nelson ever coached a team with a backbone? Ever? Best thing Dallas can do is fire him and bring in someone who can light a fire under this team’s butt on the defensive end. Who available?
You’re doing well so far. 
Yeah, actually. Rasheed can handle O’Neal (most overrated forward in the NBA - seriously. He wouldn’t even crack the top 5 out West. Who the hell does he have to go up against in his conference? Kurt Thomas? Drew Gooden? Please.)
And Artest’s talents are going to be wasted against Detroit. Who’s he supposed to shut down? Prolific scoring powerhouses like Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton? Not exactly team keystones like Kobe, Pierce, or Peja.
So really, Indiana’s best attributes are a wash against Detroit. And while I wouldn’t mind seeing Reggie win a ring, he’s not going to do it.
I’ll also point out that up until this season Karl Malone missed only 7 or 8 games, and all were due to suspensions. Not a single game missed to injury in 18+ (20?) seasons, is pretty damn impressive. Even this season he has bounced back from his injury.
Funny, I’ve always thought of 'Sheed as overated. I tried to dig up some stats for O’neal against the west, but didn’t have much luck.
He makes good players worse, and bad players even more worse, his tough defense is never a bad thing.
I’ll say Indy in 6 if they meet.
Well, Rasheed has been a little overrated, but mostly because he doesn’t like the spotlight. He is a shut-down defender who can play inside or outside and who knock down shots well with some regularity. And play in the post. He just doesn’t want to be the first option. But he’s proven he can get it done against the best forwards in the game.
It would be interesting to see him paired with Kobe.
As for O’Neal’s splits:
vs Minnesota he averaged 16 points and 7 boards. vs Portland he averaged 14 and 10. vs LA he got 14 and 6. vs Dallas he got 16 and 9. He did average 21 and 10 vs. Sacramento and San Antonio though.
Oh, I agree. Artest is definitely not a liability. But he also won’t be at his maximum effectiveness. If a team’s biggest strength is interior defense, that’s not much good against a team built to jack threes all day long. Or if a team’s best attribute is a lockdown backcourt, that’s not much good against a team with a dominating inside game.
For instance, I think he would be much more effective against the Lakers than the Spurs because he could do a number on Kobe, but there’s not much point on locking down against Bruce Bowen, y’know? Artest can’t do much against Duncan or Parker one on one. The latter is what I see against Detroit. I think he’d be much more effective against the Nets.
Detroit in 7.
I agree with everything, 'cept the Pistons in 7 