2008 NBA Playoffs: What to look out for in the west

[Jew]

It was definitely a foul. But Barry traveled to draw the contact anyways. He establishes his right foot as his pivot foot then takes another step with it into Fisher before dribbling. And the play that gave the ball back to the Spurs was a bad call too. The shot clock should have been reset for the Lakers, since Fisher's shot grazed the rim. That of course would have meant the Spurs would have had to foul Kobe, rather than Kobe forcing up a quick shot to give the Spurs that last possession...

 

 

That's what I hate about last second bad calls. The reality is an entire game of bad calls took place before that. Tim Duncan's stroll to the basket for a dunk. Kobe not getting to the line once. Odom's goaltending should have been a foul too. The list goes on and on both ways. I am admittedly bias, but I think that was a good non call given how the whole game was officiated.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

In any applicable case, I will walk around tomorrow with a huge "HONK IF YOU LOVE THE LAKERS" sign. Anyone driving arould Compton tommorow (I doubt) you know it's me.

[mcjaco]

But Barry traveled to draw the contact anyways. He establishes his right foot as his pivot foot then takes another step with it into Fisher before dribbling.

 

In the NBA? Say it ain't so!

 

[Wes]

At least Dwayne Wade isn't in the playoffs, that guy travels so much he gets frequent flyer miles.

[mcjaco]

^ Please. I'm from Chicago. We watched MJ takin' steps for years!

[Jew]

Brent Barry traveled in the only way they actually make the call: Moving your pivot foot. Once you put the ball on the floor, you're free to stroll from halfcourt...as Tim Duncan proved on his dunk in the 2nd quarter.

[Hercules]

Tough "no call." Just going off of memory, he did seem to impede Barry from sidestepping, and possibly getting a clearer shot. I've always hated the grey area of "whistle swallowing" in the last minute of playoff games. I mean, would that have been a foul in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarter? Probably. So why not show some consistency?

 

With that said, Barry's only mistake was not going straight up for a shot when he saw the defender leave his feet. Then it's clearly a no-brainer.

Oh well. Can't worry about L.A.

 

We've got our own problem to worry about....and it's called inconsistency.

 

I'm totally with you on this one. Why should a Spurs/Lakers playoff game be called any different than a Trailblazers/Timberwolves game the second week of the season? Or, why should the first 3 minutes of the second quarter be called any differently than the last play of the game? I think there needs to be a lot more consistency in the league and there wouldn't be this debate. The rules and calls need to be simple black and white.

[mcjaco]

The rules and calls need to be simple black and white.

 

Perhaps thats why NBA refs wear grey.

[65skylark]

As long as you have human beings making calls without any use of instant replay, it is litterally imposible to have consistent, black and white, officiating. Yes they could do better, but you will never have the right call made every time. I am totally unbiased as I'm not a Spurs or Lakers fan at all. I still say it was the right thing to not call a foul on that last play. Barry did just as much wrong as Fisher, IMO. Now, if he had just went up for the shot (which he most certainly didn't) instead of looking for contact, then I would probably have a different opinion. Either way, you will always have bad calls and no calls as long as you have humans on the floor making the calls. Just a fact of life.

[Jew]

They were consistent...they blew the call right before that gave the Spurs possession in the first place. AND missed the fact Barry traveled to draw the contact from Fisher. So that was the make up non-call to balance it out.

[Wes]

YES!!!!! YES!!!!!

 

You have no idea how happy I am right now (especially after a stressful day at work). I was literally shaking, my hands were tingling like I've never felt before, during the last few minutes of the fourth.

 

This is vindication for the real fans. I can't count how many times since 2004 I've heard that Kobe would be nothing without Shaq, how the team was going to fall apart, that Kobe destroyed the team. I've had to defend them so much...and now I'm sure all those haters are flying Lakers flags on their cars.

 

( I know it's kind of stupid to get so invested in a sport, but watching and following basketball really makes me happy and motivates me to keep healthy)

 

Anyway, bring it on Boston (...or Detroit, yeah right).

[knottslover77]

I loved it! Did you see how happy Kobe was? For all you Kobe haters... he and the lakers are in the finals!!!

 

--Jay

[Scaparri]

^^Dude, that's not stupid at all. Sure, there's a level where it can reach an extreme, but it takes a LOT to get to that point. I mean heck, that's why pro sports teams are there; for people to enjoy. They allow us to escape the rigors of life and focus on something fun. Everybody has to have their "thing" that they enjoy, and sports teams are a common one.

 

I never knew you were so into basketball. Coming from Indiana, that automatically takes you to a higher degree of awesome.

[Wes]

^ I've always loved basketball. I was born on a night the Lakers won a Playoff or Finals game...so that must be where it comes from.

I used to watch Inside Stuff with Ahmad Rashad every Saturday, I played "little league" ball for four years, I have a Barkley "Dream Team" jersey, I used to idolize David Robinson (yeah, funny that I hate the Spurs now)... Basketball is the only sport I ever really connected with.

Even my friends don't get it, none of them are in sports, so it's a lost cause. Like tonight, my girlfriend called me during the fourth quarter and she couldn't understand why I was yelling I had to get off the phone. Anyway, enough rambling about me...

 

 

As for the Finals, I'm thinking it'll be a six or seven game win for the Lakers against Boston. I'm hoping for six because that puts them on their home court for the win. They've shown they can win on the road, they can hang with the toughest of teams. Allen can be an okay match-up for Bryant, but I think Bryant will clean the floor, especially with Allen's lack of consistency. The Celtics have been obviously dodgy as hell in the post season, they needed everything they've got to get by Atlanta, Cleveland, and probably Detroit. None of those teams are at the same level the Lakers are. Garnett, Allen, and Pierce will have to step up big time if they're hoping to win. Celtics obviously have home court advantage, but I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference. Lakers have played 15 games, Celtics will have played 20 or 21 depending on tomorrow. The Lakers will be less weary, well rested, and ready to go.

 

 

 

 

If Detroit wins...well, hahaha. Fork over the trophy now.

[65skylark]

^ Congrats, Wes. I am the same way as you about basketball. I love it and get very into a game when my team is playing. So much so, I still have a dent in my refrigerator when Portland melted down in the fourth quarter of game seven in the Western Conference Finals against your Lakers the first year Shaq and Kobe won a title together. I'm still bitter about that game. Stupid Lakers.

 

I am happy for Kobe, though. Like him or not, he is the best player in the NBA right now, without a doubt. Hopefully Boston will put up a decent fight if they make it. If not.....well, yeah.....

[BeemerBoy]

^ I've always loved basketball. I was born on a night the Lakers won a Playoff or Finals game...so that must be where it comes from.

 

Ha! And my dad left the hospital when Mom was in labor to go home and watch the C's play the Bucks in the finals (granted, she was in labor forever and he was ready to go back at any moment, but great start at parenting, Dad...lol). Crap, wait a minute....we lost that game too. That can't be a good sign.

 

Oh, but we did eventually win one of our 16 titles that year though.

 

 

I really hope we meet up again, Wes!

[Wes]

^ Bring it on, Scott!

[BeemerBoy]

^ It's on like Donkey Kong!

 

< That shirt is circa 1986....a bit too small for me these days.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

I like the Lakers' chances. The Celts seem to have a solid team, but I have a feeling that they will (gasps for air) CHOKE!

[BeemerBoy]

^ You also didn't have 'em making it this far, AND were one of the many to doubt their ability to win on the road.....so all things considered, I appreciate you predicting a choke. That bodes well for us.

 

All kidding aside, I'm not even predicting anything at this point. I'm really just enjoying calling up old Laker friends of mine, going through old Celtic memorabilia, reliving the glory days, and taking it all in. This is fun again!

 

BEAT L.A. BEAT L.A. !!

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^True. I may have been "less than correct" on previous predictions, but two road wins...didn't really impress me. Sure they beat the team that mattered, but talent-wise, and in style of play, the Lakers are a much better team than the Pistons, so I think that this will be a hard fought series. I don't think that either team has gone this far to come runner-up. I call this series 4-3 in favor of L.A. I think Boston will fall short when it counts.

[Hercules]

Obviously neither team has come all this way to be the runner-up. I mean, who doesn't want to win the NBA championship.

 

I'm really going to sit back and enjoy this series. I have a very good friend who is a Celtics fan back home. I also like Phil Jackson because I'm a Bulls fan. I'm a huge Garnett fan. Kobe amazes me every time I watch a game. Plus, it's freakin' Lakers-Celtics..... this is going to be a lot of fun.

[Mechanic]

I'm expecting it will be the Lakers in 5, or 6 at the most. Kobe is as clutch as clutch gets, he will not allow LA to lose. I just don't see Boston having the same ability to stick the dagger in and twist it that LA has.

[coasterguy618]

Personally I do not like the Lakers or the Celtics, but I think the Celtics have a better chance of winning this. If they stop Kobe like they did Lebron in their series against the Cavs this series is probably going to be 5 or 6 games.

[stingrock23]

I really hope the Celts win. I just can't stand the Lakers.

 

All this Kobe praise is garbage. Is he the best player in the league? Yeah, he is, I'll give him that. But these Kobe-Jordan comparisons need to stop. This is a guy that was booed by his home crowd on opening night this year.

 

 

As much as I don't want to watch this series, I know I will end up doing so. I think the Celts are the better overall team, but the coaching discrepency between Jackson and Rivers could be the most lopsided in history.