[ORL/LAL] 2009 NBA Champions - Magic or Lakers?
- Thread starter Warhawk
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So I'm sitting here in Southern Cali, surrounding by a bunch of Laker fans (friends, family, associates, workmates, etc.), and as such, I'm probably watching more Laker basketball than a lot of the rest of you are.
One thing I've noticed, since the beginning of the playoffs, is that these teams the Lakers have played all suffer from untimely turnovers. In every game, there's at least one stretch of the game where the team turns the ball over and let's LA score in transition. I'm wondering what the hell is going on, because it happens in every single game, at home and on the road, even to heady players like Battier, Billups, Turkoglu, etc. And it just looks like the teams are throwing risky passes, being sloppy, lazy passes being picked off, etc. I'm not talking about the Ariza steals against Denver, I'm talking about deflections on post entry passes, interceptions on skip passes, etc.
But are they just lazy passes? The Lakers have a lot of length; it's been well-chronicled all season long. And they have players that like to cheat into passing lanes. We all know this. But is that the reason that they are able to force these turnovers in crucial situations, or are the teams they are playing against just falling asleep and failing to take care of the ball?
One thing I've noticed, since the beginning of the playoffs, is that these teams the Lakers have played all suffer from untimely turnovers. In every game, there's at least one stretch of the game where the team turns the ball over and let's LA score in transition. I'm wondering what the hell is going on, because it happens in every single game, at home and on the road, even to heady players like Battier, Billups, Turkoglu, etc. And it just looks like the teams are throwing risky passes, being sloppy, lazy passes being picked off, etc. I'm not talking about the Ariza steals against Denver, I'm talking about deflections on post entry passes, interceptions on skip passes, etc.
But are they just lazy passes? The Lakers have a lot of length; it's been well-chronicled all season long. And they have players that like to cheat into passing lanes. We all know this. But is that the reason that they are able to force these turnovers in crucial situations, or are the teams they are playing against just falling asleep and failing to take care of the ball?
It is all a conspiracy by those teams and Stern against, um, themselves. And us of course.
But yes, I have noticed that too. However consider: Houston 2nd round -- had not been to the 2nd round in a dozen years; Denver WCF - had not been to the Conference Finals in...20 years? longer?; Orlando Finals - had not been to the Finals in 15 years.
These teams have had no experience whatsoever at these highest levels. Its all been new for them. That they should end up shaky in key situations is no real miracle. Its very rare for teams who hae not been to the top to suddenly reach there all at once. Normally it takes years of banging your head against the wall learnign lessons just like the ones they are learning now. L.A. really hasn't had to face any perennial hardened contenders at all throughout its playoff run.
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lakers are too experienced. phil jackson, fisher, kobe. these 3 represent winning. the lakers will not beat themselves, you have to beat them. lakers havent faced anyone like orlando this year in the playoffs. the magic have to keep the ball in turkoglu's hands. i think he has more playoff experience than anyone on the team(in the normal rotation). and you have pietrus and lewis who have a little less experience but can knock down daggers like a horry or elliot. i get so sick of watching teams beat themselves. i always prefer to see talent/skill win. this isnt an old mans game.
That doesn't explain a team just throwing the ball away. I can understand forcing the action and turning the ball over, penetrating too deep, rushing shots, etc. But we're talking about a team that is playing well overall, and then all of a sudden, they just start throwing bad passes, lazy post-entries, soft passes to the corner, etc.
I just don't get it. When they heap praise on Dwight and Turk there's nothing wrong, but he says some stuff about Kobe and it's so wrong? The guys have also been saying how well Dwight's been playing and how athletic he is, and how talented Turk is. But apparently your ears only hear Kobe. If you dislike him so much, tune out geez.
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