[ORL/LAL] 2009 NBA Champions - Magic or Lakers?

[Peter_Gibbons]

Some fans in East LA are rioting. Shaking stopped vehicles at red lights and just being rowdy it seems. The police put a stop to it and some fans are throwing rocks and beers or something at them. Nothing major, it seems to of died down.

Besides traffic, the fakers are why I hate living in LA.

I live in LA too. I love the city because I grew up here (other than the smog and traffic).

But I know exactly what you mean by faker fans. Unfortunatetly some of my friends are "hardcore" faker fans right now. Some of the guys I've known since high school.

I remember vividly how they did not care about the lakers during the 90s when they were a subpar team. But starting exactly in 2000, all of a sudden they became hardcore fans. But in 2004 when shaq left, never talked about the lakers that yr.

I would tease them in 04 and they wouldn't even defend their lakers team. I also remember the massive # of laker flags all over the city during the 00-02 seasons. But in 2005 & 2006 when they were expected to lose in the playoffs, no more flags even when they were in the playoffs. Thats why its so funny watching games with some of them.


PS, when I call them out, the faker fans would defend themselves that their sudden love of the lakers is because they love LA. But they can't explain why they don't love the Clippers also. The same few guys also started wearing their dodger hats right after they got Manny. sigh......

 

[twocents]

sucks big time for the magic. this loss is on van gundy. he does not play anthony johnson in favor of a pseudo-all star jameer coming off an injury which made him miss the whole playoff's and 3 months of regular season basketball. then he leaves rafer on the bench as well. jameer is completely useless right now. when he is in, the lakers outnumber the magic both on defense and offense. and nelson's job on fisher was fantastic.

other than that, of course the missed free throws hurt but the game should not even be there had a semi-decent pg was playing the fourth quarter.

 

[Gargamel]

The major problem for the Magic--what happened to their three point game? They've only shot 35%, 33%, 36%, and 33% from three in the four games so far. And their turnovers are cropping up all over the place (it has been an Achilles' heel for them throughout the season), particularly with Dwight, and Rashard Lewis is just so unpredictable and not worth even half the money. And now the Lakers steal two victories from the jaws of defeat (Dwight must have had Nick Anderson visions in those free throws with 10 seceonds left, and Courtney Lee's heartbreak miss), and basically are on their way to a championship (I can't see the Magic recovering from this given the history and the psychological component involved).

Sounds like the Nuggets series recap.

 

[coolhandluke]

kobe...... MJ comparisons gotta stop now.


Other than game 1, kobe has not had a good game. I know they will give kobe the finals MVP if they win. But come on. kobe single handedly choked game 3 away with missed free throws, forced plays, commited free turnovers all down the stretch.

Again tonight in game 4, horrible 2nd half. Especially in the 4th. Forced plays and turnover the ball again. Fisher saved him. If they didn't win the game at the end, it would've highlighted kobe's mistakes again.

I've never seen all time greats play this bad. I'm not saying he was the worse player on the floor. But his play is certainly not what legends do.

The main difference between Kobe and Mike is in between the ears. It took Jordan a while to understand the team game and when he got "it", he became unstoppable -- compare the FG% between these two. I'm surprised that Kobe, a great student of the game, doesn't get "it" yet. Kobe has made some strides in the right direction but still has some ways to go. Bad habits die hard and you revert back to them when you're in trouble.

 

[DerekJ]

Finals are done.. congrats Lakers. I haven't seen a choke job this bad since Dallas in the 06 series.

Well, I'm done watching basketball this season. I'll see you guys on June 25th for the Kings draft.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

The main difference between Kobe and Mike is in between the ears. It took Jordan a while to understand the team game and when he got "it", he became unstoppable -- compare the FG% between these two. I'm surprised that Kobe, a great student of the game, doesn't get "it" yet. Kobe has made some strides in the right direction but still has some ways to go. Bad habits die hard and you revert back to them when you're in trouble.

After game 3, the local LA media were discussing on why kobe kept of forcing the issue and ended up turning the ball over or take very bad shots down the stretch.

Couple of them stated that kobe knows this may be his last finals. He wants to try to impose some iconic games and iconic plays and game winning shots for his own legacy sake. He knows he has nothing comparing to MJ right now as far as being remembered as a finals performer even though we know he will be given the finals mvp if he wins.

It made a lot of sense. kobe will never admit it, but these personal achievement thing matter to him so so much.

 

[mac]

After game 3, the local LA media were discussing on why kobe kept of forcing the issue and ended up turning the ball over or take very bad shots down the stretch.

Couple of them stated that kobe knows this may be his last finals. He wants to try to impose some iconic games and iconic plays and game winning shots for his own legacy sake. He knows he has nothing comparing to MJ right now as far as being remembered as a finals performer even though we know he will be given the finals mvp if he wins.

It made a lot of sense. kobe will never admit it, but these personal achievement thing matter to him so so much.

And tell me who in their right mind given that amount of talent wouldn't want to try to leave a legacy as well? I forgot which player it was in the past but he I heard/read he would take shots on his own backboard just to pad his rebound stats in order to break records and stuff.

Anyway I don't think this board is the place to complain about Kobe MJ comparisons because as far as I can see, the majority here doesn't even like Kobe and practically everyone has the common sense not to put Kobe on the same level as MJ. Comparisons are fine, you can compare and find that Kobe is way lower. But I don't recall seeing a kingsfan member saying that Kobe is better than MJ.

 

[Jerryaki]

isn't the kobe to MJ comparisons pointless anyway? wouldn't vintage jordan DESTROY teams if they had the hand check rule in place???

***
too bad howard couldn't hit at least one of those free throws; i was hoping this went to a game 7. now, game 6 at best.

 

[mac]

isn't the kobe to MJ comparisons pointless anyway? wouldn't vintage jordan DESTROY teams if they had the hand check rule in place???

***
too bad howard couldn't hit at least one of those free throws; i was hoping this went to a game 7. now, game 6 at best.

with regard to the MJ point, exactly. Everyone with half a brain knows that MJ was way better than Kobe, the only reason why the media makes comparisons is ... well for publicity and entertainment.

 

[4cwebb]

I posted earlier in the Boston-Orlando series how happy I was not to be an actual fan of the Magic. I've enjoyed watching them struggle to beat the defending champs (but ultimately prevailing), and I enjoyed the King's coronation being delayed at least another year (I generally enjoy cheering on the underdog). But this finals has been unbearable for me to watch, largely because of my great disdain for Kobe and my dislike of the Lakers as a result of the Kings not being able to get past them and win one title earlier in this decade. I can only imagine what it must be like for an actual fan of the Magic.

And for everything that has been written in the last two or three weeks above SVG exercising his Shaq-panic demons, I think it is all now one more Magic loss away from being completely irrelevant after his use of Jameer Nelson in the finals. STICK WITH WHAT WAS WORKING, for crying out loud. If Anthony Johnson was capable of playing 10 to 15 minutes per game against Cleveland, he certainly could give you the same minutes against the Lakers, or potentially more if Alston isn't playing well on a given night.

 

[Rookie]

I have to give the Lakers credit plus PJ. They made the Magics look lost and confused.

 

[rexb_kings]

I have to give the Lakers credit plus PJ. They made the Magics look lost and confused.

Yep, just reminds of PJs teams even from the Bulls. He always has that extra shooter ready that hits those big shots (Paxson, Kerr, Fisher, Horry)

 

[Oskor]

But this finals has been unbearable for me to watch, largely because of my great disdain for Kobe and my dislike of the Lakers as a result of the Kings not being able to get past them and win one title earlier in this decade. I can only imagine what it must be like for an actual fan of the Magic.

Oh we can imagine... and we had it worse. I hate to admit it but the Lakers are the better team in this series (thanks to Memphis ). Back in the day WE were the better team and had it taken away.

Ok, back on topic now. How clutch is Kobe... every time it's needed he pulls out his best clutch move... the elbow to the face. Man, what a move!

 

[kennadog]

Ok, back on topic now. How clutch is Kobe... every time it's needed he pulls out his best clutch move... the elbow to the face. Man, what a move!

It's obviously his signature move.

Nelson was lucky. He could've been called for fouling Kobe's elbow with his face, just like Bibby. I can still clearly see Bibby's red nose and tearing eyes.

 

[Oskor]

It's obviously his signature move.

Nelson was lucky. He could've been called for fouling Kobe's elbow with his face, just like Bibby. I can still clearly see Bibby's red nose and tearing eyes.

The best part were the ABC announcers "Kobe elbowed him in the face but this is the finals... they don't call fouls like that". WTF? If it were anybody else it'd be 2 free throws for the other team.

 

[Aenadin]

they better add that signature move in the next 2k10 game... kobe elbow shots..

That and when you use the lakers you can have the luxury of picking the refs... and at home your crowd chants we want tacos instead of defense...

 

[Jerryaki]

That and when you use the lakers...at home your crowd chants we want tacos instead of defense...

only as the score approaches 100 though. i gotta admit, that would be fantastic attention to detail on the programmers' part.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

with regard to the MJ point, exactly. Everyone with half a brain knows that MJ was way better than Kobe, the only reason why the media makes comparisons is ... well for publicity and entertainment.

Yes, and with choke jobs by kobe in the 4th qtr in the last 3 games, the comparisons to MJ need to stop. I'm not even sure if he can be compared to Magic, Bird or those guys that are ranked below MJ. Magic and them didn't have choke jobs like in game 3 in the finals. Even if they didn't have a good game, they didn't choke.

 

[Peter_Gibbons]

The best part were the ABC announcers "Kobe elbowed him in the face but this is the finals... they don't call fouls like that". WTF? If it were anybody else it'd be 2 free throws for the other team.

Yea that was crazy. And again, NOT EVEN A MENTION OF A POSSIBLE SUSPENSION FOR KOBE BY THE MEDIA.

 

[hrdboild]

All I can say about that game is

 

[VF21]

Oh we can imagine... and we had it worse. I hate to admit it but the Lakers are the better team in this series (thanks to Memphis ). Back in the day WE were the better team and had it taken away.

Ok, back on topic now. How clutch is Kobe... every time it's needed he pulls out his best clutch move... the elbow to the face. Man, what a move!

It's gotten so bad and so obvious I got a phone call last night from a Laker fan to tell me about it. He hated admitting that it was clearly a foul, and that the officials simply looked the other way.

 

[TheFifthMookie]

I'm so glad I'm not watching this.

If any NBA official is listening: Your officiating is suspect, appears biased/influenced, and it's turning away your audience. Do something about it, at least make it LOOK like you care. Establish accountability, establish review, do something.

 

[Oskor]

If any NBA official is listening: Your officiating is suspect, appears biased/influenced, and it's turning away your audience. Do something about it, at least make it LOOK like you care. Establish accountability, establish review, do something.

Exactly! I'm a huge NBA fan and watched almost every playoff game this year. Hell, I even ordered HD just to get the nice picture for the playoffs. But after last night I vowed not to turn back on the Finals unless it gets forced to game 7.

 

[VF21]

Question about HD... Is there really THAT much difference?

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Question about HD... Is there really THAT much difference?

In a word, yes.

HD is beautiful. You'd be surprised at the difference, side-by-side.

 

[RKid]

Yes, and with choke jobs by kobe in the 4th qtr in the last 3 games, the comparisons to MJ need to stop. I'm not even sure if he can be compared to Magic, Bird or those guys that are ranked below MJ. Magic and them didn't have choke jobs like in game 3 in the finals. Even if they didn't have a good game, they didn't choke.

Yes Magic did Choke. The Lakers should have won the finals in 84 but Magic Johnson and choked game 2 in Boston and LA went on to choke game 4. That year the better team lost.

 

[VF21]

Oh no...not gonna buy that one. The Celtics deserved to win...and they did. Whining about choking some 25 years after the fact is just silly. The better team didn't lose.

 

[Oskor]

Question about HD... Is there really THAT much difference?

Oh yea, but I'm a tech guy and compare things like this down to each pixel. If you have an HDTV it's the only way to fly or view or whatever you wish.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Question about HD... Is there really THAT much difference?

Capt. Factorial is wrong. You can certainly tell the difference between SD and HD, but it's not THAT big a deal. Definitely not an "OMG, how did I ever watch TV without this?" kind of a difference. The picture is noticeably clearer, but it's not the sort of difference that changes your whole TV-watching experience, unless you're more interested in the clarity of the picture than the actualy quality of the game; it's just kind of there.

HD will not make bad basketball look good. And, in my opinion, it doesn't even really make good basketball look better; it's just easier to see some things.

 

[Oskor]

Capt. Factorial is wrong. You can certainly tell the difference between SD and HD, but it's not THAT big a deal. Definitely not an "OMG, how did I ever watch TV without this?" kind of a difference. The picture is noticeably clearer, but it's not the sort of difference that changes your whole TV-watching experience, unless you're more interested in the clarity of the picture than the actualy quality of the game; it's just kind of there.

HD will not make bad basketball look good. And, in my opinion, it doesn't even really make good basketball look better; it's just easier to see some things.

True, but it all comes down to what you are used to. I used to be just fine with the speedlimit being 55 but now if I'm under 65 I'm only thinking about how slow I'm currently going (lol, 75 really).

I can't enjoy a ball game half as much without it. Seeing the sweat and all the small details is very nice!

It also depends on the size of your screen. Trying to watch SD on a 50 inch TV sucks. The low detail is puffed up and more noticeable. But if it's on a 32 inch it's not as noticeable.