The finals

[Freddie]

It looks like Kobe is trying to win the MVP award in the first game.

 

[Billythekid]

Pistons up 13!

You gotta luv it!

 

[sunsfn]

I am picking the Pistons by 12...........!

 

[slinslin]

Yes! Pistons by 12 at Staples despite RIP shooting 5-16 and Shaq shooting 13-16.

 

[Goldfield]

Awsome, the Pistons are doing a good job sofar.

Lets hope they can make it a good series!

Pistons in 4???

 

[AmareFan]

Go Pistons, one down...three to go!!

 

[AmareFan]

 

[KloD]

Joe, don't write that check just yet...

 

[elindholm]

Pistons in 4???

Heck, if you'd called that before the series started, I know of an on-line site that was offering 100:1....

 

[arthurracoon]

I have been guarnteeing (I've been BIMMED) that the Pistons will win the series.

Everyone laughed at me.

Even some of my Laker-hater friends laughed at me.

Muhahahaha!!!!

YOU HEARD IT HERE. THE PISTONS WILL BEAT THE LAKERS IN THE SERIES.

Beautiful game!

 

[ASUCHRIS]

The Pistons dominated the game, beginning to end. It was a beautiful thing to watch. This just shows what a joke team the Lakers are. Kobe and Shaq, and a bunch of crap. The intensity and defense of Detroit was definitely the key to this win. Hate to beat a dead horse, but can you imagine if Detriot had Carmello? Sheed looked good, there is something hilarious about him...(someone can finish off why)

 

[cly2tw]

Defense wins championships!

Defense-wise, only JJ of the current Suns team could play on the finals as a starter. Sigh.

 

[Billythekid]

That was me that picked the pistons in 4 on that poll

Billups is a big time performer. I can't believe that in most preview they say LA has the better bench. Detriot's bench is one of the best in the NBA imo. They really controlled the game. Defensively they were all over LA!

Great to see.

 

[George O'Brien]

I really hope the Pistons win, but remember the Spurs had the Lakers down two zip. Let's not get too giddy.

That said, I was very impressed with the Piston's discipline. Larry Brown went with a plan to play straight man defense and not double team Shaq and Kobe. Those two put up impressive numbers, but not enough to make up for the poor shooting by other guys who always get open shots when their stars are doubled.

Shaq went 13 of 16 and scored 34 points. But Kobe only shot 10 of 27 and the rest were terrible: Malone 2 of 9, Payton 1 of 4, George 2 of 5, Fisher 1 of 9, Rush 0 for 3, Medvedenko and fox did not even take a shot.

For the Lakers to compete, they may have to figure out a way to get Shaq even more shots or hope Kobe gets hot. If Kobe shoots only 10 of 27 in other games against that style of defense, the Lakers will be in trouble.

I hope.

 

[Billythekid]

I agree George. I think though the Pistons aren't at all satisfied with just taking game 1. As you stated they are VERY well disiplined.

Spurs though didn't win on LA's home court. I just think Detriot presents so many options, especially of the bench. guys like Elden Campbell, Corliss Williamson, and Memo could be starters else where. LA's bench is very spotty.

The Pistons i think are mentally stronger than Minn, Spurs, or the rockets. They really are a complete team that shares the wealth, unlike LA where Kobe and Shaq decide everything in most cases.

Gonna be a very interesting Game 2. i hope the Pistons can bring the same intensity as game 1.

Pistons 2 sip. That would be nice.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

On the same lines as what George said, I LOVE what Larry Brown did with playing Shaq straight up.

Other teams double him, and then he kicks the ball outside for the three pointer, which is what kills them.

Larry is taking everyone else out of the game, besides Kobe, and making Shaq make his shots and free throws.

Gotta love it...worked like a charm last night. And I think having to guard Rip Hamilton made Kobe a little tired...thus affecting his shot.

Can't wait to see game 2.

Mike

 

[Freddie]

On the same lines as what George said, I LOVE what Larry Brown did with playing Shaq straight up.

Other teams double him, and then he kicks the ball outside for the three pointer, which is what kills them.

Larry is taking everyone else out of the game, besides Kobe, and making Shaq make his shots and free throws.

Gotta love it...worked like a charm last night. And I think having to guard Rip Hamilton made Kobe a little tired...thus affecting his shot.

Can't wait to see game 2.

Mike

I agree with your assessment, Mike.

I am interested in seeing what adjustments Phill Jackson will make in game 2.

 

[F-Dog]

I don't think Phil Jackson will make any major adjustments tomorrow--as in the Spurs series, he'll probably wait one more game to make sure Detroit's game 1 performance wasn't a mirage. The main things he'll try and work on are Kobe's unselfishness and the team's energy.

(It looks like Kobe wants a finals MVP more than a championship at this point.)


One thing I expect (eventually) is more minutes for Kareem Rush, possibly in a big lineup with Devean George and Kobe. The Lakers will want to match Kobe on Prince, so he can make plays off the ball and save his energy for offense; George and Rush seem like the best defenders left for Billups and Rip, respectively. The Lakers might even go four guards to try and dare one of the Wallaces to attack the mismatch.

Payton has a fork sticking out of his back, Malone is choking as expected, and Fisher seems to be hurting, which is a major problem for the Lakers if he doesn't recover. The Lakers are hurting right now and the Pistons aren't, so LA might have a tougher time than in the Wolves series.

 

[LakeShowMan]

Detroit played very well, and made a lot of jumpers that they haven't made lately. Lakers looked lacadazical (sp?), and did not get the ball to Shaquille enough.

Lakers will win Tuesday by 15-20 points. Lakers still win in 6.

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't think Phil Jackson will make any major adjustments tomorrow--as in the Spurs series, he'll probably wait one more game to make sure Detroit's game 1 performance wasn't a mirage. The main things he'll try and work on are Kobe's unselfishness and the team's energy.

(It looks like Kobe wants a finals MVP more than a championship at this point.)


One thing I expect (eventually) is more minutes for Kareem Rush, possibly in a big lineup with Devean George and Kobe. The Lakers will want to match Kobe on Prince, so he can make plays off the ball and save his energy for offense; George and Rush seem like the best defenders left for Billups and Rip, respectively. The Lakers might even go four guards to try and dare one of the Wallaces to attack the mismatch.

Payton has a fork sticking out of his back, Malone is choking as expected, and Fisher seems to be hurting, which is a major problem for the Lakers if he doesn't recover. The Lakers are hurting right now and the Pistons aren't, so LA might have a tougher time than in the Wolves series.

The straight up defense took away the Laker's three point shooting: 3 of 13 won't get it done (Kobe was 1 of 6). It appeared that Kobe was forcing too many of his shots, which reflects the fact that he was not getting open.

It will be interesting to see what changes Phil Jackson makes, because the triangle may be too predictable to play a team like the Pistons. The Lakers did not run a lot of screens and picks to get Kobe open. I watched the second half and did not see the Lakers run a single pick and roll with Malone - possibly the greatest pick and roll big man in the history of the game.

Of course the simple answer for Jackson will be to insist on pounding it in to Shaq very time down the court. Kobe may not like that, but the Lakers will need 50+ from Shaq if the Pistons keep playing straight up defense.

 

[elindholm]

I didn't see the game, but from the looks of the box score, this seems like one of the few cases where the Kobe-bashers really do have evidence on their side. O'Neal shot a very high percentage from both the field and the line, while Bryant indulged in a brickfest. I think if you had asked 100 random fans what the outcome would be if O'Neal got 34 and 11 on 13-16 and 8-12, with Detroit scoring "only" 87 points, at least 95 of those fans would assume an easy Laker victory.

The Lakers will try to go into O'Neal more, but realistically, he's not going to do much better than last night's numbers. During the season, he was at about 0.9 points per shot, meaning that to get 34 points he'd need roughly 37 or 38 shots -- not a mere 28. He could easily get 10 more shots in Game 2 and post numbers that are no better.

I still consider it inevitable that the Lakers will win the series, but I confess it will be interesting to see how.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I didn't see the game, but from the looks of the box score, this seems like one of the few cases where the Kobe-bashers really do have evidence on their side. O'Neal shot a very high percentage from both the field and the line, while Bryant indulged in a brickfest. I think if you had asked 100 random fans what the outcome would be if O'Neal got 34 and 11 on 13-16 and 8-12, with Detroit scoring "only" 87 points, at least 95 of those fans would assume an easy Laker victory.

The Lakers will try to go into O'Neal more, but realistically, he's not going to do much better than last night's numbers. During the season, he was at about 0.9 points per shot, meaning that to get 34 points he'd need roughly 37 or 38 shots -- not a mere 28. He could easily get 10 more shots in Game 2 and post numbers that are no better.

I still consider it inevitable that the Lakers will win the series, but I confess it will be interesting to see how.

Actually, the numbers on Kobe were somewhat decieving. While he didn't have an excellent game, he was making some really tough shots. Prince was all over him the entire game, and the Pistons were almost mechanical in their defense.

Lakeshowman mentions that he thinks that Detroit made an excessive amount of jumpers. This series really reminds me of the San Antonio series, from the defensive standpoint, with the Pistons looking stronger than SA defensively. The major difference, which is why I believe the Pistons have a real chance, is that both San Antonio and Detroit had a ton of wide open shots; San Antonio just plain missed them. If Detroit can stay consistent, make their wide open shots, and play with the hustle and the stifiling defense they did in the first game, I can see Detroit winning this series.

 

[arthurracoon]

The straight up defense took away the Laker's three point shooting: 3 of 13 won't get it done (Kobe was 1 of 6

The Lakers had ONLY ONE wide open three point attempt, which they made.

That was unlike other games I've seen where the Lakers players are left open over and over again.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

The Lakers had ONLY ONE wide open three point attempt, which they made.

That was unlike other games I've seen where the Lakers players are left open over and over again.

Again, as Sheed alluded to, they knew that Kobe and Shaq were going to get theirs, but they were going to clamp down on the scrubs, who all they can do is make wide open shots. This defense exposed the Lakers for what they are; two unbelievable talents, and a bunch of idiots who can't do anything except hit wide open shots.

Anyone else derive great pleasure from Corliss Williamson making Rick Fox look like a bitch?

 

[arthurracoon]

Anyone else derive great pleasure from Corliss Williamson making Rick Fox look like a bitch?