Pistons/Lakers game 3

[George O'Brien]

So much for west coast dominance as protrayed in the media.

GO Pistons!

Two favorite teams in basketball: The Suns and whoever is playing the Lakers.

It is a good thing for basketball that there returns some balance, even if it is only at the top.

But before we get carried away on this balance thing, remember that 5 of the Eastern Conference playoff teams would not have even qualified for the playoffs in the West. Indee, one of them will be going to the West this coming season (the Hornets). At the same time, four Western Conference teams that did not qualify for the playoffs had better records than the #8 seed in the East (Boston with only 36 wins).

New Jersey won the Atlantic Division with 47 wins, which would have made them the #7 seed in the West.

I'm terribly impressed with the Pistons, but their great series does not change the overall balance.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Two favorite teams in basketball: The Suns and whoever is playing the Lakers.

Too funny.

You're almost always pulling for the latter, I guess...especialy when it counts...late in the playoffs/finals.

Go Lakers!!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

BTW: Game 3

 

[KingofCards]

It is a good thing for basketball that there returns some balance, even if it is only at the top.

But before we get carried away on this balance thing, remember that 5 of the Eastern Conference playoff teams would not have even qualified for the playoffs in the West. Indee, one of them will be going to the West this coming season (the Hornets). At the same time, four Western Conference teams that did not qualify for the playoffs had better records than the #8 seed in the East (Boston with only 36 wins).

New Jersey won the Atlantic Division with 47 wins, which would have made them the #7 seed in the West.

I'm terribly impressed with the Pistons, but their great series does not change the overall balance.

It only counts in the end my friend. It appears, so far that the best in the West will lose.

Over analyzing.

Will you change your opinion if Detroit wins?

 

[KingofCards]

I hope you didn't type all that for my benefit. I don't care.

Down with the Lakers!

 

[Joe Mama]

I have to keep reminding myself that this series is only 2-1. The San Antonio Spurs, who most of us would have considered a better team than the Pistons, and the Lakers down 2-0. I really hope Detroit can pull this out, but what the NBA truly needs is a classic seven-game series.

Eric, I was just joking about the offer you gave me. I still believe it was more than fair. At the time I thought it was very generous.

Joe Mama

 

[playstation]

the difference here is that the pistons proved that they can win in LA. I still think the chances of dtown winning the series is 50-50, but thats more than i thought before the series began!

in fact, prior to the series, i predicted that detroit would win 2 games, but they would win them because shaq would take 2 nights off (like he has done in the other rounds). It has become apparent that detroit is winning because they are out-playing LA, no other reason.

 

[justAndy]

...

Brown seems to have adjusted for Luke Walton, Kareem Rush had a couple moments - but not enough. The other Laker scrubs were ineffective - they are key if the Lakers are going to have a shot in this series.
Detroits defensive rotation on the perimeter is EXCELLENT - they maintain contact all game long - seem to be in better condition and have more DESIRE...

 

[schutd]

Too funny.

You're almost always pulling for the latter, I guess...especialy when it counts...late in the playoffs/finals.

Go Lakers!!

Kind of like you come march madness, eh?

 

[LakeShowMan]

Gotta tell you, LSM, you are definitely in a different class from most Laker fans.

Thanks, I call 'em as I see 'em. A lot of Laker fans are over the top, but usually they are the type who were Bulls fans not to long ago, if you know what I mean. If you can't look at your team objectively, you are not really a fan, IMO. Plus, being a fan of the Cleveland Browns and L.A. Dodgers, helps me with being humble.

LakeShowMan, what have you thought of the officiating so far, think we have learned that we can count on you for an honest, objective opinion?

Well, I think that the refs have been alright, but Detroit has definetly gotten the lion share of the calls (Last night at one point we had 26 fouls to their 11). However, most of that is because they have been the aggressor, which is the reason a team gets the benefit of the doubt. The only time I got upset at the refs was in the 4th quarter of game 2, where I felt that it may be "unfair", but in reality I think the games have been officiated pretty well. Nothing to the point of giving one team an advantage over the other.

Right now Detroit is the better team. I thought game one, the Lakers played with a lack of energy and a lack of purpose, and felt they could turn it on and pull out the game. They couldn't.

Game 2, I think the Lakers played better than Detroit for most of the game, especially when Luke was in the game. Once they were up by 12 I thought they would coast, but there is no quit in Detroit and they fought back (like I said in that stretch they seemed to get the benefit of the doubt on calls, but it can probably be more attributed to aggresiveness than any bias). We were forced into a position where we had to find a way to win the game, and that is when having Kobe Bryant on your team gives you and advantage over everyone else in the NBA.

Game 3, I knew it was going to be bad. The Lakers looked like an old tired team, and more importantly played like one. Its tough to get things going on the road, and especially so without the extra travel day. I think the Lakers will play much better on Sunday with some extra rest and no travel, but unfortunately they may have to play much better just to be in the game. I really believe they'll win Game 4, and in all reality they have too.

 

[elindholm]

Plus, being a fan of the Cleveland Browns and L.A. Dodgers, helps me with being humble.

I'm in the same Dodger boat with you, unfortunately (for me). I left the Phoenix area before the Diamondbacks existed, and since Dodger games were on the radio when I was growing up, they were an easy team to adopt. Also, they were good then...

I try to be objective about the Suns, too, which often puts me out of favor with the faithful. But oh well!

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I really didn't see the lack of hustle. In the first game I thought that argument might have held some water, but the Lakers knew what was at stake in this game. I think the Pistons have a bunch of long players that really bother the Lakers.

Am I the only one who felt the Lakers didn't play up to their level and showed absolutely no heart during Game 3? I suppose I'll let the stats try and illustrate my point for me:

Offensive Rebounds (rebounding is mostly effort, especially on the offensive end, although size and technique do play a part)
DET - 15
LA - 7

Total Rebounds (same as above)
DET - 51
LA - 39

Steals (product of good defense, which is a product of high energy level)
DET - 11
LA - 7

FG % (defense, like rebounding is mostly effort)
DET - 40%
LA - 35%

Free throws (shows that the Pistons were generally more active on the offensive end)
DET - 30
LA - 13

The Lakers, as awful as they have played, are still very much in this series. They were playing this bad when they went down 0-2 to San Antonio and came back with a vengeance, dominating what many of the experts thought was the best team in the NBA. Also, if the Lakers over the past five years have shown us NBA fans anything, it's that they play their best with their backs against the wall. I originally said Lakers in 6, but I'm going to change that to Lakers in seven only because LA has the better crunch-time players (Kobe).

 

[LakeShowMan]

Am I the only one who felt the Lakers didn't play up to their level and showed absolutely no heart during Game 3? I suppose I'll let the stats try and illustrate my point for me:

Offensive Rebounds (rebounding is mostly effort, especially on the offensive end, although size and technique do play a part)
DET - 15
LA - 7

Total Rebounds (same as above)
DET - 51
LA - 39

Steals (product of good defense, which is a product of high energy level)
DET - 11
LA - 7

FG % (defense, like rebounding is mostly effort)
DET - 40%
LA - 35%

Free throws (shows that the Pistons were generally more active on the offensive end)
DET - 30
LA - 13

The Lakers, as awful as they have played, are still very much in this series. They were playing this bad when they went down 0-2 to San Antonio and came back with a vengeance, dominating what many of the experts thought was the best team in the NBA. Also, if the Lakers over the past five years have shown us NBA fans anything, it's that they play their best with their backs against the wall. I originally said Lakers in 6, but I'm going to change that to Lakers in seven only because LA has the better crunch-time players (Kobe).

I don't think it is a heart thing, I think it is that they were worn down. Honestly, they looked tired, and their age and injuries caught up with them a little bit. They will be much better on Sunday with the extra day of rest and no travel. I agree with you, I still think they'll win in 7.

 

[Billythekid]

LA is a rabble!

Rush
Walton
Cook
George
Medvadenko

... These are players who are on the court for LA. They are TRASH!

The top 3 wouldn't have gotten a sniff in the previous titles runs with LA.

Like this quote from the game recap... "With the rest of the roster providing what it usually does -- next to nothing -- "


Go Pistons!

ps WTF was Fisher doing trying to dunk the ball? Moron.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The Lakers are one miracle shot away from being down 0-3. They know it and the Pistons know it.

The Lakers look beatable to me. They miss the healthy, not-to-old vets on their bench--players like Robert Horry.

Maybe its Kobe just being dramatic again--like the old HS games where he allowed his team to get down, so he could bring them back from behind and win--maybe?

 

[George O'Brien]

The question is, "did WE underestimate the Pistons and overrate the Lakers"?

To a degree I am sure I did, but then I did not expect that Malone's injuries would turn him into a stumbling old man. Malone was part of the reason the Lakers got into the finals, but by all accounts he shouldn't even be playing.

Without a healthy Malone, I'm not sure this team is as good as last year's team that lost to the Spurs.

BTW, one of the ironic aspects of Payton's poor play is that he is likely to return to the Lakers next season. He has a player option at $5.4 million and would struggle to find anyone willing to give him that much after this post season.

 

[Errntknght]

I think the WC dominance is on the wane... Detroit, Indiana and Miami are youthful and already competetive with the best of the west. The EC also rans are not as good as those from the WC or as numerous but that's not of great significance.

When the playoffs started I thought the Spurs would prevail in a hotly contested finals over the Pistons. As the playoffs progressed I realized the EC teams were better than I'd thought and may well win the title if the WC team went into the finals thinking they had already won the tough series. LA has learned they're in a dogfight now but it may be too late for them to get themselves mentally geared up for it. I think game 2 did them in - they came out of thinking they could still turn it up at the end of games and win, as usual... no problemo. Now they know they have to turn it up all game long and that's harder.

I'm not saying it's over because Detroit is no longer in the comfortable role of underdog and it doesn't take much tension to throw off shots just enough to rim out... especially jumpers and Detroit has been depending heavily on them. I picked Detroit in 6 when the series started thinking that if it went 7, LA would most likely win... that still looks pretty good but hopefully I'll be wrong and Detroit will win in 5.

I'm wondering if the Zenmaster didn't err in letting the team drift away from the triangle in order to accomodate Payton. One could argue that they wouldn't have gotten this far if he hadn't done that - and people have so argued - but at this point I think they'd be better off with a well polished triangle as it is designed to combat aggressive defense.