Lakers vs. Phoenix Thread

[Male30Dan]

I can just see that little punk Bell jumping up and down............on a pecker!

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

You notice that fag Kobe didn't want the ball there, down eight.

No potential for self glory.

[Drbio]

We did this for Raja.
-Steve Nash in postgame interview

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

You notice that fag Kobe didn't want the ball there, down eight.

Looked like the Suns did a pretty good job of denying him the ball to me..

[Male30Dan]

Well if any good can come from this it is Jack Nicholson going home angry!

[chumdawg]

No, Spree, I'm talking about that last possession up the court. When the Lakers were in give-up mode. Kobe wanted NO part of that ball. He didn't want to look helpless, is what it was. He knew what kind of night he had, and he didn't want to do anything that could tarnish it at the end.

[chumdawg]

How about Steve Nash? 32 and 13. 9/14 from the field and 13/13 from the line.

Those free throws, of course, were particularly important. That was a classic confrontation between good and evil in the last minute of overtime. Something from the underworld was guiding home those bombs by Kobe. But the good, loving Spirit of the Lord was within Nash, as he banged home free throw after free throw to match the devil on the other team.

A game like this makes me want to go to church tomorrow.

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

How about Steve Nash? 32 and 13. 9/14 from the field and 13/13 from the line.

Those free throws, of course, were particularly important. That was a classic confrontation between good and evil in the last minute of overtime. Something from the underworld was guiding home those bombs by Kobe. But the good, loving Spirit of the Lord was within Nash, as he banged home free throw after free throw to match the devil on the other team.

A game like this makes me want to go to church tomorrow.

Sigh... Can you leave religion out of this great series please?

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

How about Steve Nash? 32 and 13. 9/14 from the field and 13/13 from the line.

Those free throws, of course, were particularly important. That was a classic confrontation between good and evil in the last minute of overtime. Something from the underworld was guiding home those bombs by Kobe. But the good, loving Spirit of the Lord was within Nash, as he banged home free throw after free throw to match the devil on the other team.

A game like this makes me want to go to church tomorrow.

That's almost poetry.

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by Drbio

That's almost poetry.

Why don't you put your pecker in Chum's ear already... You have been humping his leg all night.

[Evilmav2]

Originally Posted by Drbio

That's almost poetry.

The poetry of a Mavs traitor...

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Male23Dan

Sigh... Can you leave religion out of this great series please?

I don't know who's going to win Saturday, but I'm pretty sure someone will thank Jesus for his help once it's overwith.

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

I don't know who's going to win Saturday, but I'm pretty sure someone will thank Jesus for his help once it's overwith.

Haha... fair enough!

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by Male23Dan

Why don't you put your pecker in Chum's ear already... You have been humping his leg all night.

He pays better than you do.

[Drbio]

One thing I am glad for....the series in now 7 games. I am happy that the winning team will have one more game of tiring, body bruising, wear down under their belt.

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by Drbio

He pays better than you do.

Damn Chum... You actually PAY for his leg humping??? Tisk Tisk!

[Drbio]

I knew you were busy on that second book dan.

(semi-inside joke)

[Drbio]

Later peeps. The lightning is all over. Shutting it down.

manana.

[Male30Dan]

I don't know why I am joking... I really am frustrated and emotionally exhausted... I really did want Nash to walk his neck-herpes-having ass out of Staples Center with his FakeVP trophy in one hand and a fishing pole in the other.

Eh well... I guess he will have that opportunity in Joe Pool later in these playoffs!

[Evilmav2]

Originally Posted by Drbio

One thing I am glad for....the series in now 7 games. I am happy that the winning team will have one more game of tiring, body bruising, wear down under their belt.

That's a very, very good point. Hopefully the grind of this seven game series will leave whatever team is the winner as Clipper fodder, come the beginning of next week...

[Murphy3]

Steve Nash: "We're up 4-2 now, all we gotta do is win one more."

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Steve Nash: "We're up 4-2 now, all we gotta do is win one more."

Hahaha... What???

[Male30Dan]

Am I really watching Kenny talk about decorating his house??? Shoot me please.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Steve Nash: "We're up 4-2 now, all we gotta do is win one more."

When asked if the momentum was going the Suns way or if it was more like "all-square," Nash paused for thought and then replied: "Well, it's certainly not going their way."

[rabbitproof]

Man, hats off to the Suns. I really thought they were finished at 3-1 but they're defintely showing their heart. The scramble for the Thomas 3 was vintage helter-skelter Phoenix - shoot from outside til you make with an assist on top.

Lakers blew their chance. Suns take Game 7 without mercy.

[vjz]

Yup, the Lakers are done. Suns win Game 7 easily.

[WayOutWest]

What a game by the Suns. They did everything they wanted. Lakers D was awful, putting the Susn in the bonus early way too many times. The TO's were a joke, careless and stupid plays by the Lakers.

My only complaint was Kobe's shot selection for the potential game winner, he should have gone to the rim or at least done more than watch the clock then hoist up a prayer.

Mad props to the Suns, momentum is on their side, game 7 should be in their back pocket.

[dude1394]

It's a no-win situation for dirk fans.

Today's Foxsports:
Still doubt he's MVP?
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5572602

Or if the Lakers had won
Still doubt he SHOULD have been MVP?


Can they both lose?

[dude1394]

I didn't know where to post this with all of the kobe-love going on so here it is.

Some folks have said that Raja flopped on the kobe elbow and the angle seems to show it...HOWEVER...this shows really the exact opposite.

It was definitely NOT a flop, the rapist catches him in the face with an elbow. I'm waiting for the flagrant. But I assume I'll be waiting just as long as the girl he raped for justice.

http://p073.ezboard.com/fdallasbaske...ID=20901.topic

[bernardos70]

I see. So the elbow took place before the previous videoclip posted on this very thread.

[Arne]

I didn't see anything in that second clip, but if it did show how Raja got an elbow from Kobe, after he tried to act like he did get an elbow from Kobe a couple of plays before, than I find it kind of funny...

And for everyone who is on Raja's side on this one - check this one out, that was exactly as funny as Raja's action was:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nIHCR--Bg&search=Mavs

[orangedays]

Wow - Nash, Najera, Nellie...

Makes me feel a bit nostalgic and reminds me how much I loved Nash as a Maverick.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Arne

I didn't see anything in that second clip, but if it did show how Raja got an elbow from Kobe, after he tried to act like he did get an elbow from Kobe a couple of plays before, than I find it kind of funny...

And for everyone who is on Raja's side on this one - check this one out, that was exactly as funny as Raja's action was:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nIHCR--Bg&search=Mavs

Really? It's the same clip that has been posted here but from another angle. It looks pretty clear that he got an elbow from kobe, I was just posting it because the other clip was being used to call that play a flop job.

[Arne]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Really? It's the same clip that has been posted here but from another angle. It looks pretty clear that he got an elbow from kobe, I was just posting it because the other clip was being used to call that play a flop job.

It doesn't really work for me, so I can't really tell. But the first clip clearly doesn't show any contact. The second ist just not working for me.

[orangedays]

From dude's link:



EDIT:

Just noticed that Raja is shooting substantially better from beyond the arc (.429) than he is total (.404).

Geez.

[dude1394]

So I read that barbossa also got 4 stitches from the rapist last night.

[rabbitproof]

Originally Posted by Evilmav2

This statement kind of sums up my late-series feelings about this business. I really, really hate Kobe, and I really, really hate the Lakers franchise, and that won't ever change, but I also detest those stinking Suns (particularly after the Mavs v. Suns debacle last year), so I've actually turned around (I initially wanted the Suns to humiliate Kobe & co. because I didn't think they would really have a chance in this series), and I'd now be happy if the Lakers advanced so that the talent-superior Clippers will have an opportunity to gut them on their mutual home floor, and dispell 30+ years of inferiority-complex demons on the big stage of the Western conference semi-finals.

That said, in reference to the above argument, I haven't noticed any ref biass (one way or the other) in this fella tonight...

I am in 100% compliance.

My long-term hatred of the Lakers is secure and stronger then any other team hatred in the Association (partly due to their fanbase, many friends are filthy Laker fans) but due to the recent ousting of my beloved Mavs at the hands of the dirty Suns, I want to see the Suns waxed and embarassed. Whereas, that possibility has already passed for the surprising Lakers team, I will settle for a neighborhood second-round beatdown from the Clipshow for them.

That said, this series is in the bag for Phoenix.

[Rhylan]

The telling thing about the video Erica posted is that after Kobe makes contact with Raja's jaw, what does he do? He swings the elbow again, trying for a second blow. He whiffed, and it's the video of that whiff that has everyone thinking Raja flopped.

So not only did he give Raja an elbow to the face, but he was pleased enough with himself that he tried to give him a second one.

[vjz]

Link

By Skip Bayless
Page 2

This series was over. It appeared that was what the league office wanted. What the refs wanted. What Kobe Bryant had willed.

No Raja Bell for Phoenix. No hope for the Suns.

Clear the Staples stage for L.A. vs. L.A., Lakers vs. Clippers, Jack Nicholson vs. Billy Crystal. Go ahead, Kobe, dismiss the Suns in Thursday night's close-out Game 6 the way you dissed "that kid" Raja in a Wednesday interview.

Kobe sniffed and said, "I don't even know that kid."

No? The "kid" who's two years older than you? The "kid" who had made you work harder for your points than any defender all season, including Ron Artest? The "kid" who, ironically, had made you start involving your teammates, which finally allowed you to go Steve Nash and boast that the Lakers are finally a team.

Oh, the royal-purple irony.

We should have known from Wednesday's rather childish "who-the-heck-is-he" reaction that the new Kobe was about to turn back into the old one. You know, the one Raja Bell called an "arrogant, pompous individual." The one who thinks he can outscore Phoenix by himself.

The one who fell ego-first into the Suns' trap on Thursday night at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant scored a career playoff high 50 points. The Lakers lost in overtime 126-118.

Justice prevailed.

I must admit, it has been a long time since I rooted harder for a team than I rooted for Nash's.

"We did this for Raja," Nash told TNT when it was over, knowing full well that the suspended Bell was watching on TV. Nash ended the interview with, "All right, Rah Rah."

Guess who'll be waiting Saturday in Phoenix for Kobe? Guess who'll be rested and revved for revenge? That kid.

Can't wait.

Remember the scene in "Caddyshack" in which Danny Noonan is running things until caddymaster Lou gets back, so Noonan is locked safely behind the screened-in counter of Lou's office? Noonan is mouthing off to tough-guy D'Annunzio because he's protected by the screen.

But Lou unexpectedly returns and shoos Noonan out of the office ... where D'Annunzio is waiting with fists clenched.

That's going to be Raja in Saturday's Game 7. That's Kobe Noonan.

And Kobe thought he wouldn't have to deal with "that kid" until next season.

"A monumental upset," Lakers coach Phil Jackson called Game 6, "...we had it all done except crossing the t."

Could that have been "T" as in all the technical fouls that weren't called on the Lakers in the first five games? If you hadn't known better, you would have suspected that the league office had suggested to refs that they, uh, maximize the chances of the series everyone wants to see -- Kobe's team vs. L.A.'s basketball stepchildren, the Clippers.

So, for five games, the refs allowed Kobe's team to get away with almost as much thuggery as Tony Soprano's crew. The new Kobe got away with throwing cheap-shot elbows and constantly taunting Bell.

Yes, the refs watch "SportsCenter" and they're quite aware that the tougher new Kobe -- Phil's Kobe -- has had a sensational season and that the Suns can be softer than old Kobe, who had no more street cred than Barney Fife.

But should that even subliminally sway the refs? Should they have looked the other way while the Lakers flat-out stole last Sunday's Game 4 to take what appeared to be an insurmountable 3-1 lead?

No, Nash isn't Kobe. He wouldn't have a prayer against Kobe in a game of one-on-one. And he'll never be the tabloid or TV draw that Kobe is.

But he's about to be the NBA MVP for a second straight season, and he deserved a little more respect from the refs than, say, Smush Parker or Kwame Brown or Luke Walton got in Game 4. They're Kobe's teammates.

Kwame got away with knocking down Nash's teammate, Boris Diaw, and standing over Diaw with, as Nash said, his crotch in Diaw's face. No fine, no suspension, no nuthin'.

Then, near the end of regulation, as the Suns struggled to inbound the ball near midcourt, Nash had to dash for the sideline and try to outfight Parker for a desperate pass. MVPs almost always get the foul call there. Nash didn't.

Parker stole it. And Kobe sent the game into overtime by making the most difficult 3-footer you'll ever see -- a running baseline floater.

But the Suns had just enough time to create one last shot off an inbounds lob from inside midcourt. James Jones fooled the Lakers defense and broke free down the lane for what looked like would be a game-winning dunk. But Walton reached out and yanked the back of Jones' jersey, breaking his momentum and throwing off the timing of his jump. Play aborted.

Robbery.

That foul had to be called. That same jersey-grabbing, game-deciding foul was called on the Nets' Nenad Krstic, at New Jersey, and it cost the Nets Game 1 against Indiana.

Please don't tell me none of the three refs saw Walton's grab.

And please, please, don't tell me that I actually heard analyst after national analyst criticize Nash for "dribbling into trouble" with a one-point lead with under 10 seconds left in overtime.

Obviously, Nash dribbled past half court and immediately covered up because he had absolutely no intention of passing to a teammate. Obviously, he wanted to be fouled! He wanted to shoot the free throws that could give his team a three-point lead! He led the NBA in free-throw percentage! He's the two-time MVP!

And guess what? The Lakers had no choice but to foul Nash. Walton and Lamar Odom were trying to body-foul Nash -- and it was up to referee Bennett Salvatore to anticipate that.

But Salvatore let 'em play, let them mug Nash. When Nash realized he wasn't getting the routine foul call, he tried to yell for timeout. So did Diaw. But Salvatore wasn't listening.

Salvatore allowed Walton enough time to reach in and begin wrestling for the ball with Nash. Tweet! "Jump ball," Salvatore called.

At that split second, Walton's foot appeared to be on the out-of-bounds line. But none of the three refs saw that, either. Yes, Walton was allowed a center jump against Nash, which Walton easily won.

Commissioner David Stern said the other day that his refs are wrong only about 5 percent of the time. On that play, they were 300 per cent wrong. No foul. No timeout. No out of bounds. Outrageous.

And of course, Kobe retrieved Walton's tap and almost routinely made the jumper that won the game. That clinched it for many people -- Kobe should have been MVP.

Or maybe not.

On Thursday night, Kobe forced up a potential game-winner over Shawn Marion that hit nothing but floor. Air ball.

Kobe forced up a lot of shots -- and he made a lot of those. He went 20-of-35. But without Raja hounding him, Kobe figured he could score over Leandro Barbosa any and every time. He shot too quickly and too often. He was too careless with the ball, committing seven turnovers. He had only five assists. He failed to control the tempo the way he had in the three Laker wins.

Too-cool Kobe got in a run-and-gun game with Nash's team, and predictably, Nash beat him. Nash had 32 points and 13 assists, with only three turnovers. Five of Nash's teammates scored in double figures.

MVP! MVP!

Justice.

In Game 5 in Phoenix, the refs let Kobe get away with twice elbowing Bell in the face. And the league office took away the Suns' most valuable defender -- their only defender -- for one game because Bell finally stood his ground and showed the Lakers he wouldn't take it any more.

Bell yanked down Kobe by the neck. He didn't elbow him or punch him in the face. He slung him down. Kobe was not hurt.

No way should Bell have been suspended -- not in the bully-ball context of this series. Bring on the Clippers? No, maybe the league office inadvertently did the Suns a favor.

It inspired them.

Raja D'Annunzio is waiting.

[WraithXx]

I hate Skip Bayliss. So much.