[LAL/DEN] Western Conference finals
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Don't forget the two ridiculous trades that happened last year to renew the Lakers / Celtics rivalry. 
There's a lot of money to be made off this stuff... you can't underestimate the power of that. And no doubt the NBA needs as good a year as they possibly can (money wise).
I've pretty much been under the assumption for the last few years that things do happen behind the scenes to ensure that the best chance for a money making series or scenario occurs. I doubt even the small market teams would care all that much as it's ultimately in their best interest.
Ah well.
There's a lot of money to be made off this stuff... you can't underestimate the power of that. And no doubt the NBA needs as good a year as they possibly can (money wise).
I've pretty much been under the assumption for the last few years that things do happen behind the scenes to ensure that the best chance for a money making series or scenario occurs. I doubt even the small market teams would care all that much as it's ultimately in their best interest.
Ah well.
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Excellent win for the Lakers. They executed well on offense and had quality shots down the stretch. Denver's philosophy of single coverage is being exploited by Kobe and Gasol. On defense, the Lakers did a good job to contain Melo and Billups. George Karl has a lot of work to do before the next game.
Don't forget the two ridiculous trades that happened last year to renew the Lakers / Celtics rivalry.
There's a lot of money to be made off this stuff... you can't underestimate the power of that. And no doubt the NBA needs as good a year as they possibly can (money wise).
I've pretty much been under the assumption for the last few years that things do happen behind the scenes to ensure that the best chance for a money making series or scenario occurs. I doubt even the small market teams would care all that much as it's ultimately in their best interest.
Ah well.
There's a lot of money to be made off this stuff... you can't underestimate the power of that. And no doubt the NBA needs as good a year as they possibly can (money wise).
I've pretty much been under the assumption for the last few years that things do happen behind the scenes to ensure that the best chance for a money making series or scenario occurs. I doubt even the small market teams would care all that much as it's ultimately in their best interest.
Ah well.
Alternately the team you wanted to win got beat and people are just looking for excuses. There's my conspiracy theory.
Recap:
1) Orlando becomes the first team in the league since Feb to beat Cleveland on their home court, full strength.
2) Denver gets what were probably the two most leniently officiated games in a row of any Laker playoff opponent since Staples opened.
3) Denver wins their first game at Staples of any kind in 6 years.
4) LeBron has to hit a ridiculously hard buzzer shot to tie the series.
5) Lakers win a road game on a couple clutch shots and a stupid mistake by Denver.
6) The total point differential in the 5 games is only 12 points.
7) Very possible that each series is 2-2 by Wed.
And this tightness is STILL not satisfactory?!
1) Orlando becomes the first team in the league since Feb to beat Cleveland on their home court, full strength.
2) Denver gets what were probably the two most leniently officiated games in a row of any Laker playoff opponent since Staples opened.
3) Denver wins their first game at Staples of any kind in 6 years.
4) LeBron has to hit a ridiculously hard buzzer shot to tie the series.
5) Lakers win a road game on a couple clutch shots and a stupid mistake by Denver.
6) The total point differential in the 5 games is only 12 points.
7) Very possible that each series is 2-2 by Wed.
And this tightness is STILL not satisfactory?!
Here's a quote from an ESPN article this year:
"With 2:54 left in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets are clinging to a 99-98 lead, when the ball goes out of bounds to the Nuggets underneath their own basket. Chauncey's fear is realized. The team has no out-of-bounds play. Karl just wants them to improvise, to use their basketball instincts, but Chauncey can't live that way. So he calls time.
In the huddle, they're all stumped. Smith tells Anthony: "He just got here, and he's calling timeouts?" But Chauncey waves them close and starts in: "Look, George, I need you to draw me up an out-of-bounds play, man, to get the ball in. Because if we don't and we turn the ball over and lose this game because we didn't have something, that just won't sit well with me."
Karl and the team's response is: wow."
Pretty telling, eh??
In addition to that portion of the story quoted above, the story also talked about Billups not being able to find anyone on an inbounds pass in high school, so he threw it off of the back of the defender who was facing away from him (because the play broke down) and scored a basket to help his team win a state title (I think). Sound similar to the play from game 2 where Billups threw an inbounds pass off of Kobe to get a go ahead layup when the game was tight down the stretch? That inbounds play broke down as well - no one was open. So once in each of the three games in this series the Nuggets have had crucial inbounds plays to execute, and were it not for Billups inbounding the ball on one of those 3 plays, the Nuggets are likely down 0-3. So why isn't Billups taking responsibility for the inbounds pass each and every time for the Nuggets?
Assuming that GK actually thinks this stuff through, the answer might be that most starting points are not the inbounders in final second situations. The guy in my avvy almost never did it and he was 6'9". It seems that coaches generally want their points to be in ready position as the first guy who gets the ball or as a backup option. Logical reason for this is that they have a better chance at getting the ball on the floor than they do if the guy they throw it to has to pass it back to them (that guy could be a clutzy forward or something, who knows). Otoh, 3 different Nuggets made the inbounds including Chauncey, so iono. It's not out of the realm of possibilities that they don't care who inbounds it -- I read they don't work on it.
solid win for the nuggets.. i dont approve of some calls but i love the effort on the rebounds thats how they should do it.. i saw less shots and possesions that could send george karl tearing what ever hair is left.
JR smith finally heating up.. and passing the ball heres to hoping he continues contributing
JR smith finally heating up.. and passing the ball heres to hoping he continues contributing
The drama in this series is figuring out which version of each team will show up. Nice of the Lakers to put forth a lackadaisical effort tonight... when was the last time they got clobbered so badly on the boards?
Lamar Odom was the invisible man...
The Nuggets were cold from 3, and Carmelo was terrible. The Nuggets had no business winning this game but just simply outworked the Lakers.
No idea who wins the next game...
Lamar Odom was the invisible man...
The Nuggets were cold from 3, and Carmelo was terrible. The Nuggets had no business winning this game but just simply outworked the Lakers.
No idea who wins the next game...
In all honesty, I think Birdman/Anderson is a combination of the best (and worst) of Scot and Rodman...
Rodman, as is pretty obvious after his recent Celebrity Apprentice appearance, still has problems with substance abuses. Scot, on the other hand, never seemed to allow what he did for recreational purposes (if anything) cross over into his professional life.
But you're right about the style of play. Rodman at his best had an intensity few could match.
Bottom line for me is he's made this round of the playoffs a lot more fun to watch.
Rodman, as is pretty obvious after his recent Celebrity Apprentice appearance, still has problems with substance abuses. Scot, on the other hand, never seemed to allow what he did for recreational purposes (if anything) cross over into his professional life.
But you're right about the style of play. Rodman at his best had an intensity few could match.
Bottom line for me is he's made this round of the playoffs a lot more fun to watch.
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