1st Game NBA finals

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 6, 2004, 4:23 pm

What a bunch of idiots. I can't believe they scheduled the first game of the NBA finals to start the same time as the Season ending episode of the Sopranos and Deadwood right after.

There's zero chance I'll be watching basketball tonight. Those tools could have increased their ratings by starting the game at 3pm PST/6pm EST.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 7, 2004, 12:55 am

Anyone notice the lakers just got their collective asses handed to them?

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 7, 2004, 12:59 am

I noticed in the 4th quarter after Sopranos/Deadwood. If it's not fixed, the Pistons have a shot!

Post by **Sylvus** » June 7, 2004, 1:03 am

The Pistons have always had a shot. Perhaps you guys weren't paying attention during the regular season but our defense is ridiculous, and Larry Brown is a pretty smart coach. Hell, we had a five game streak this season holding opponents under 70 points, when no other team has ever done that three times in a row.

The Pistons certainly proved a shitton of people wrong tonight by showing that they actually have a chance in this series.

noel · Post by **noel** » June 7, 2004, 12:32 pm

Larry Brown is familiar with what happens when you beat the Lakers in the first game of a finals series, so it will be no surprise to him when the Lakers come back with a vengeance over the course of the next 4-5 games.

That was the worst game the Lakers have played over the course of the playoffs. It was good to see the Pistons get a win, but the Pistons are goingto have their hands full come Tuesday night. All in all, it's still a very disappointing loss in a game the Lakers should have won. Horrible offensive efforts from everyone on the team save Shaq and Kobe... Some of the worst shot selection I've seen them take.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 7, 2004, 12:44 pm

I'm sure their poor shooting, shot selection, and overall performance had nothing to do with the defense that they were playing against...

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 7, 2004, 1:58 pm

The Pistons have a style the Lakers hate to face. It's the opposite of their free flowing showtime style.

I hope Shaq gets frustrated and loses his cool.

I hate the Pistons which stems from the original Bad Boys..Isiah Thomas (yuck), Rodman, Dumars, Aguire (spelling) I don't have a legitimate reason to hate them except I really didn't like Isiah Thomas as a player.

I'll be rooting on the Pistons this series and will try to put my hatred behind me!

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » June 7, 2004, 2:43 pm

Aranuil wrote:All in all, it's still a very disappointing loss in a game the Lakers should have won. Horrible offensive efforts from everyone on the team save Shaq and Kobe... Some of the worst shot selection I've seen them take.

The Laker's should have won because the Piston's gave them 19pts off turnovers, blew easy layups all game, shot 70% from the line, and got a mediocre performance from their best scorer. Every article I have read today or last night attributed the Laker's performance to being unprepared and flat footed. I say bullshit, no team comes to the finals on six days rest and is unprepared especially with Phil Jackson as their coach. IMHO, the Pistons could have easily blown them out by 25-30 points. If the Pistons can win/steal/whatever and go up 2-0, what will all these analysts say then? I love when these guys are made to look like tools especially Tim Legler.

noel · Post by **noel** » June 7, 2004, 2:48 pm

Sylvus wrote:I'm sure their poor shooting, shot selection, and overall performance had nothing to do with the defense that they were playing against...

I never said it wasn't. I've said it before. The Pistons are by far the best team in the Eastern Conference, and they deserve to be where they are far more than Indiana, or *gag* New Jersey. Saying that the Lakers will win does not mean that I disrespect the Pistons.

The best team in the playoffs was San Antonio, and they were already eliminated by the Lakers.

The point I was trying to make was that every Laker save Shaq and Kobe had an off night, and they were still only down by 6 with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. How many games in a row do you think the Lakers will all have an off night?

Post by **Sylvus** » June 7, 2004, 4:40 pm

espn.com wrote:Payton and Karl Malone , the Lakers' ringless duo, both went scoreless in the first half. Malone had the worst playoff game of his 19-season career, scoring four points on 2-of-9 shooting, and Payton -- who had three points -- bettered his career playoff-low by one point.

"Four points is terrible," Malone said. "My little boy can do that."

I've always hated Karl Malone, and I hope that he retires without a ring.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 7, 2004, 5:16 pm

Every article I have read today or last night attributed the Laker's performance to being unprepared and flat footed. I say bullshit, no team comes to the finals on six days rest and is unprepared especially with Phil Jackson as their coach.

Nobody is couching the Lakers but the Lakers themself. You can't control 4 superstars like that, they have to get themself going. They were unprepared, didn't take Pistons seriously and took the game for granted.

I will be HIGHLY surprised if it happens in game 2, but we will see. Pistons defense is good, but imho the real final was Lakers - Spurs.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 7, 2004, 7:20 pm

Kobe played stupid, he killed the run with 2 missed 3 pointers instead of pounding it inside to the big man who was, I beleive 10-12 from the feild at that point, there is certainly times when Kobe should shoot and doesn't, but when the big guy is shooting like that, give him the fucking ball

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » June 7, 2004, 8:46 pm

Kelshara wrote:
Every article I have read today or last night attributed the Laker's performance to being unprepared and flat footed. I say bullshit, no team comes to the finals on six days rest and is unprepared especially with Phil Jackson as their coach.
Nobody is couching the Lakers but the Lakers themself. You can't control 4 superstars like that, they have to get themself going. They were unprepared, didn't take Pistons seriously and took the game for granted.

I will be HIGHLY surprised if it happens in game 2, but we will see. Pistons defense is good, but imho the real final was Lakers - Spurs.

Will you be saying the same things if the Piston's win the championship?

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 7, 2004, 9:26 pm

Considering Spurs match up better against Pistons (imho) than Lakers.. heh.

And if Pistons win the championship I declare NBA dead.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 7, 2004, 10:43 pm

Kelshara wrote:And if Pistons win the championship I declare NBA dead.

What? If anything, I'd say that the Pistons winning the championship would prove that the NBA is healthier than it has been in a while. It'd bring some much needed parity back to the league, and end the West's stranglehold.

At any rate, the Pistons haven't gotten any respect all season for anything they've accomplished and I really hope they can pull off three more wins against the Lakers just to show all their critics that they are legit.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » June 7, 2004, 10:54 pm

Oh I would love to see an Eastern team win.. I just can't stand watching games ending 60-56. Good defence can be fun to watch, but for the love of everything basketbally score some too!