Lakers/Pistons Game 5

[LakeShowMan]

Well I enjoyed the last thread so much, I decided to start the new one. Most of the last two days I have been pretty down and dejected. No team has ever come back from this deficit to win the Finals, and the previous 4 games haven't given me a boatload of reasons to believe this one will be any different.

With that said I am calling my shot: Lakers win tonight by 9. I think we give ourselves a shot by going home. Big game from Shaq, and I believe Kobe comes out and has one of those 25+pts, 7reb, and 8ast games that he is capable of. GO LAKERS!

 

[Chaz]

Somone besides Shaq will have to make some baskets for Kobe to get 8 asts.

From the first four games it looks like the Lakers don't have the players to beat the Pistons in this series.

The Lakers will have to get some energy and confidence to get a win. They looked horrible in the last game, like the walking dead.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

As much as I hate to say this, but I believe that LA will win tonight. I think that they have to much experience to lose three in a row. I sure hope I'm wrong though.

I would love to see Malone retire without a ring...

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Great thread.

As much as I dislike the guy (definitely an adulterer, possibly guilty of sex assault)...I wish #8 would blow up for 45-50. He's capable of it and he's going to be a free agent. Go all out. Attack the basket. Will the team to win.

And, when all else fails...get the ball to Shaq!!

Go Lakers !!!

 

[F-Dog]

I think Detroit will probably win this game if they come out sharp--they've looked like the better team since Malone re-injured his knee in game 2, and they're at home. The Lakers will be desperate, but they were close to desperate in game 4, and they'll have less rest for this game than they did for game 4.

Every game is different, of course, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the officiating turn against the home team tonight. If that happens, the Pistons might get flustered, and Rasheed Wallace is always at risk for one of those Ron Artest Memorial Flameouts. Even if the officials help the Lakers somewhat, I think the game should be close to the end.


Kobe is the key to this game for the Lakers, of course--he's probably the only Laker who can disrupt Detroit's defense, since the Pistons are so committed to giving Shaq his points and taking away his passing game. A lesser key would be getting a positive contribution from Gary Payton. The other Lakers should go along for the ride if Shaq and Kobe do enough to get them open.

For the Pistons, I guess Rip Hamilton is the biggest key--he has to be effective to keep Kobe working on defense, and he'll need to score points for the Pistons to get up to 90 again. I also think Ben Wallace has to make an impact on this game, although that's most likely to happen on the boards and in help defense.

There's going to be a Mehmet Okur sighting at some point tonight, IMO. We'll see whether Okur bails Larry Brown out the way he did in the Nets series, or whether he looks like he did in game 2 of this series.


Should be a good one...

 

[Renz]

I think that maybe, just maybe, Detroit might be feeling some pressure tonight. The Pistons do not want the series to go back to L.A.

The Lakers will be loose, playing like they have nothing to lose. This will be their best game of the series.

Lakers by 6.

GO LAKERS!!!

 

[Evil Ash]

Great thread.

As much as I dislike the guy (definitely an adulterer, possibly guilty of sex assault)...I wish #8 would blow up for 45-50. He's capable of it and he's going to be a free agent. Go all out. Attack the basket. Will the team to win.

And, when all else fails...get the ball to Shaq!!

Go Lakers !!!

Funny I thought you'd go the opposite way. Getting the ball to Shaq early and often was what gave the Lakers a shot during the last game but for some reason Phil Jackson (in his infinite wisdom) decided to go away from that.

From that point the Lakers had no set offense at all except give the ball to Kobe with 6 seconds left on the shot clock and hope for a miracle.

The key again for the Lakers is to have someone besides Kobe and Shaq play well in this game. Besides the big two, nobody on the Lakers has scored double digits in a game.

 

[SweetD]

Should be a good game to watch and listen to.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Lakers win tonight by 9. I think we give ourselves a shot by going home.

...ABC is happy with that!

 

[Evil Ash]

Karl Malone will not play tonight. Things just got tougher for the Lakers

 

[pokerface]

Maybe its just me but doesn't that song they play "Lets get it started" sound like some trendy arrogant Laker bandwagon song? They can take that la la la junk and cram it cuz LA IS GOING DOWN!!!

 

[Gnomad]

I think it's great to see Detroit pulling a David v Goliath on LA. I'm gonna cheer when i see LA fall tonite. Proof once again that all the stars together do not always the best team make.

 

[Yuma]

Lakers down by 10! I STILL believe!

 

[Yuma]

Lakers down by 10! I STILL believe!

Every team, EVERY TEAM, gets a run during the game. The Lakers have yet to have their run. Detroit has already had theirs. Is 10 points ahead enough? We'll see!

 

[Renz]

Maybe its just me but doesn't that song they play "Lets get it started" sound like some trendy arrogant Laker bandwagon song? They can take that la la la junk and cram it cuz LA IS GOING DOWN!!!

Huh? The Lakers are responsible for the annoying network anthems now too?

Man, they just can't catch a break.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Detroit is definetely due for a HUGE drought in the second half - this team doesn't shoot 60 percent - let's hope their D keeps 'em in it and they don't get too overconfident at half-time - 24 minutes - come on MO TOWN!

 

[WaywardFan]

I think that if the Pistons end up with a higher score than the Lakers, they stand a good chance of winning tonight.

 

[Red Dawn]

Dayum, David Stern has big ears. Anyone catch Aretha? I cant believe she was lip synching.

Pistons look good tonight!

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think that if the Pistons end up with a higher score than the Lakers, they stand a good chance of winning tonight.

thanks Magic! Gotta come out HARD in the thrid!

 

[NickelBack]

Lakers down by 10! I STILL believe!

LA LAkers Down 13 with three minutes left in the third.

 

[Yuma]

LA LAkers Down 13 with three minutes left in the third.

OK, I am starting to doubt... Let's change the thread into Suns trade for Ben Wallace. Why would Detroit do this? They have the GREAT Darko Milicic on the bench! That's a waste of big men!

 

[Yuma]

One thing I gotta say, is the Lakers are NOT getting the foul calls Detroit is getting! They are losing faor and square in my opinion!

 

[scudney]

This is what you call total dominiation.

Lets see if guys like Payton, Fox, etc start pulling some cheap shots.

 

[Yuma]

This is what you call total dominiation.

Lets see if guys like Payton, Fox, etc start pulling some cheap shots.

NO WAY! Mrs. Williams doesn't want to come home with all his teefers knocked out by Big Ben!

 

[Red Dawn]

Looks like the riot this year will be in Detroit, not LA.