It was a joke line - consider that every playoff there’s some talk about a league conspiracy. Milwaukee bitched about it vs. Philly a few years back, Sacramento bitches about it every time they lose to the Lakers, anytime a border line call goes to the Knicks in an important game, etc. It even goes as far as people accusing the NBA of rigging the draft. In all seriousness, I really don’t believe it happens.
Shaq and Kobe ARE superstars. Malone and Payton WERE superstars. They no longer get the calls like they used to. Witness the change in how the refs called Jordan towards the end of his second season. Reggie Miller isn’t getting the same calls as he used to (as vividly demonstrated by the leg kick vs. Detroit) etc. If you think Payton is still getting his “respect” from the officials, you’re nuts. Reggie Miller has more cache nowadays.
You can find it incredulous all you want, but if you don’t see that Detroit is getting away with a lot more contact than the Lakers are then you aren’t watching the game. At this point, the Lakers are getting a raw deal from the refs, but it’s more like a pile on than a decisive edge. Maybe with fair officiating the Lakers only lose by 10 instead of 20 in Game 3 - but they still lose. As long as they refuse to box out, don’t hustle to loose balls and brick the few open shots they get, they’re going to lose.
My only two regrets: Not picking Detroit in 5; And having a job that has me in Chicago 28 days a month and not being able to experience this in a hometown bar. I can’t believe everyone that I work with is rooting for the Lakers. I mean, we’re both Midwest cities!-- the underdogs, fercryinoutloud!!!
My, my! Now, it’s a one-man show. Shaq finally showed his 2000 NBA finals form but Kobe was frustrated out there. If he passed, no one took the shot, if he took the shot, it was a wild shot.
Indeed. Let’s hope the pistons wrap this up at home. I’d hate for Jack Nicholson to have to wait until next season, but I’d rather see the lakers return home in utter shame.
I was watching Sportcenter today to get the highlights, and they were still all Lakers. It’s like they didn’t know that L.A. was down 3-1. There was little talk of the Pistons defense or Kobe’s pathetic shooting. It was also shocking to see how little Kobe seemed to care that they were a game away from a long summer. I guess Magic Johnson was right. Maybe they just don’t care. :dubious:
It’s not just the highlights,** Harborwolf** around here we’re calling ABC Already Biased Coverage. It’s like The Incredible Almighty Lakers vs. some other guys.
Pistons are pouring on the excellent defense, the commentators talk about the local weather. Kobe or Shaq get something going and whoa! Hey! They wake up and get all excited, then it’s back to the all Lakers highlights and interviews. We haven’t ‘won’ any games, y’see, the Lakers have just been having off nights. It’s not that Detroit outplayed them, not even 3-1, nah. :rolleyes:
I feel pretty good about being the first to say the Pistons are gonna take it. So what my count was off by one. Thank you Rock City for proving me right. Hey, I’m not even a Detroit fan. All you Piston fans out there oughta be ashamed of yourselves. Again congrats to the 2004 Bad Boys.
