Thursday, June 11th, 2009 at 5:09 pm  |  375 responses

NBA Finals: Game 4 Live Blog

The Lakers put the Magic in a Choke-hold.

by Vincent Thomas / @vincecathomas

Big game tonight, SLAMfam.  Game 4s are pendulum games.  Either L.A. takes a decisive 3-1 lead, or Orlando ties up the series and takes an incredible amount of momentum into Game 5.

Readers, Facebook friends and Twitter followers have been asking me what I think is gonna go down tonight and I keep going back to two things I harped on immediately after Game 3. 1.) Orlando shot, like, 99.9% from the floor in Game 3 and only won because The Closer failed to closeout the game like he (Kobe) usually does.  When you shoot 63%, you should probably win easy.  Orlando will fall back to earth tonight.  They’d do well to even shoot 55%, which, to be honest, is a very accurate night under normal circumstances.  Which gets me to 2) L.A. needs to and will get Pau the ball more.  Orlando is helpless against Gasol and, to a lesser extent, an aggressive Lamar Odom. I can’t imagine that L.A. will ignore this advantage all series long.

One other thing.  We’re gonna do another edition of The Commish Comments.  Expect it Friday afternoon.  This time, though, I will cull comments/questions/opinions and tangents from this liveblog comment thread.  So be provocative, be smart, be funny and be thoughtful.

I’ll be headed over to Amway in an hour or so to catch the coaches’ pregame pressers and catch the vibe of the lockerrooms.  I’ll check-in here at tip-off.  Until then, feel free to start the discussion…

PREGAME

Sorry guys.  Had some trouble with the connection.  Before I move onto first quarter action, just wanted to update folks on the “Shard/Hedo defensive assignment” question.  Iasked SVG why he assigns Shard to the bigger player and he said, simply, that Shard is a better low post defender, that Hedo feels more comfortable defending on the perimeter.  He said he could tell this almost as soon as he became coach last season.  So, there you have it.  Shard is on Gasol and Odom because, of the two, he’s better equipped.

FIRST QUARTER

After four minutes, with Orlando up 7-6, this much is clear: Kobe has little interest in staying with Lee on the perimeter, roaming instead…and Kobe will be shooting a lot again. Meanwhile, Dwight is active with six boards and two fouls on Drew.

This Orlando crowd is locked in.  I think they are fueled by the same disrespect-complex that is motivating their squad.  It’s loud in here.  Not smart loud, like Boston or Chicago, but bottle-blonde, “go blue-white” loud.  But loud nonetheless.  It’s easy to see why role players thrive at home and struggle in more hostile environs.

Right this moment, there’s a group of geriatric WASPs, at midcourt, dancing to “Hot In Herr.”  That’s why I diss Orlando as souless.  That wouldn’t go down in Philly.

When Hedo learned of Kareem’s “Dwight’s O-game is predictable” comment, he responded “let’s see you play him with one man.”  And that’d be a nice snarky “touche” comment, if Dwight wasn’t so horrible coming out of double teams…like the one that just happened.

Realizing that D12 isn’t the smartest defender, but Gasol is one of the more crafty scorers, why not pound it to Gasol when Dwight is checking him?  Instead, Dwight is getting the night off and sending the Lakers bigs to the bench.  Maybe Zo is right and Phil isn’t actually coaching on the sidelines.

My man Bomani Jones just tweeted: “i’m starting to wonder if bynum fouls on purpose so he can go sit down.”

Ariza wasn’t slamming the ball in disgust.  At least it’s not clear.  He could have been trying to bounce the ball in the basket.  Players (and fans) try that all the time.  But, seeing as how easy it is to misconstrue that action, why be a complete mushroom-head and slam the ball on the court?

Orlando shooting 50%, L.A. shooting 33%.  Orlando 12 boards.  L.A. 5 boards.  But Orlando only up 3.  Hmmmm

Magic can do whatever they want in the pain for rest of the quarter now that Gasol, Bynum and Odom are all on the bench with two fouls.

Kobe may be jacking, but he’s keeping L.A. in it.  Strategic-jacking.

Redick shouldn’t be on the court during the Finals. It’s like will.I.am being in an Rap Armageddon battle.

end of 1st. Magic up 24-20.  Don’t see a trend, yet.  Anyone else spot something notable?

2ND QUARTER

Folks, unfortunately all of my 2nd Quarter thoughts were lost in a technical error.  I’ll say this about the 2nd Quarter.  Orlando is starting to look a lot like they did in CLeveland where it seems that they just have way more shot-makers than their opponent.

L.A. only shot 33% for the first half.  I’ll be shocked if that continues.  Orlando’s defense can be pretty stellar in bursts, but L.A. is a smart offensive team.  And Bynum and Odom played a combined 14 minutes due to foul trouble.  That SHOULD change.

I’ll be interested to see if Orlando can blow open a big lead to start the third (they are capable). Or, there’s a great possibility L.A. quickly gets the lead under 4 points and makes it a new game.

At any rate, Orlando 49, L.A. 37.

END OF 1st HALF

Here’s a question for you all to discuss, is Pau Gasol a better basketball PLAYER than Dwight.  I say yes.

3RD QUARTER

Let’s see if Bynum can stay on the floor for more than 150 seconds.  And let’s see if L.A. can get D12 in foul trouble.

I think Andrew Bynum might be his generation’s Nick Anderson.  I think these playoffs are scarring him.

Ariza needs to get back to that steal for the dunk.  L.A. within 10, 51-41.

Imagine if Hedo were explosive.  That shot he just dropped in was so friggin crafty.

Ariza for three.  L.A. has cut the Magic lead to 5, 54-49.  Ariza has seven points and a steal in the first four minutes.  This is NOT want the Magic wanted, obviously.  Bottle-blonde crowd is silent.

Ariza has been absolutely HUGE.  He’s pulling a Kobe.  Laers within one, 54-53

What did I tell you about the start of the 3rd?  L.A. takes the lead on two Bynum free throws, 55-54.  More importantly, Bynum has managed to stay on the floor for more than six minutes.  This is a first.  Howard has been silent.

The game has settled into a boxing match, now. Hedo having 4 fouls is big.

Reddick with the trey.  SVG must like the dude.  Orlando’s bottle-blonde crowd loves him.

Howard picks up his third foul on a loose ball.  Kobe responds like a jaded girlfriend wrestling her way out of an abusive boyfriend’s arms.

Kobe with a big shot at the end of the quarter.  Lakers take a 67-63 lead into the 4th quarter.  Odom (with his two threes) and Ariza (with his super-active start) were big in the 3rd, as was Hedo being on the bench.

4TH QUARTER

Hedo might have the dopest up-fake in the league.  Either him, Kobe, Paul Pierce or Scalabrine.

Did you see Ariza chase down Pietrus and change that gimme-layup.

Kobe’s up-fake is so ill that he has Pietrus deathly afraid to do anything OTHER than stay on his feet.  Because of that he just dropped a dagger-three on him. Lakers 75-70

Pietrus with the And1 to tie it up at 75-75 and chance to take the lead on his free throw.

Kobe can’t play fast break defense anymore.  He’s not capable.  Pietrus blew by him.  Look at how Ariza defends a charging defender.  That’s how Kobe used to be, but much better.  Kobe used to devour dudes.

Dwight Howard doesn’t seem to show any regard or discretion when it comes to blocking shots.  Hence that dumb goaltend.

Kobe just pointed for Ariza to dump it down to Pau. Why? ‘Cause after three straight posessions of going hard to the basket, the old man needed a rest.

It’s tied up 79-79. Magic not shooting free throws well.

L.A. shooting less than 40%.  Magic outrebounding them.  But game is close because Orlando has 14 turnovers to L.A.’s 6.  Magic have to take care of the ball.

Huge three by Ariza to tie it up at 82.

Bad misses by Dwight.  I at least expected one of two.

L.A. down 3, 87-84, with the ball and 11 seconds.  For the first time in nine years, I’m not confident Kobe will come through.

Uncle Fish with the CLUTCH pull-up three.  But Orlando has two assassins.  Lakers fans are peeing pants right now.  Magic crowd has an eerily confident buzz.

Great inbound defense by the Lakers on the last play.  Didn’t let Shard get it or let Hedo get it on the pass-back after the inbound.  Forced pietrus into an uncharacteristic shot.  But the really great defensive possession was on the first failed inbound, when Shard curled to the baseline for that SAME shot he hits at the end of the game all the time in these playoffs, except Ariza shadowed Hedo’s right shoulder and took the pass away.

We go to overtime, 87-87.

OVERTIME

Tied up 91-91. Nobody is taking control. I’ll tell you this, though.  Kobe needs this two day rest he has coming up.

SVG refuses to play Skip.  That will be a major question in the postgame pressers.

You know how continues to botch splitting that double team?  Here’s a quip from my girl Jemele Hill: “Message to Phil: That split-the-double-team-pick-n-roll doesn’t work”  It doesn’t.  If it were DWade or CP3 splitting the double team, maybe.  But not Kobe and not with Dwight being the big man getting split.

Uncle Fish with the HUGE 3 again!

Pau with open court dunk after the rebound deflection.  Lakers up 96-91 with only 21 left.  But with Magic three point shooting, they’re never out of it.

Also, Kobe’s pass to Fish was MJesque.

Pau with the And1 dunk.  Game over.  Lakers take that decisive 3-1 lead.

Discuss amongst yourselves.  I will have a few thoughts during/after the press conference.

And keep commenting, so I have a lot of good stuff to work with for the weekend’s Commish Comments.

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  • Jackie Moon Posted: Jun.11 at 5:12 pm
    Bennett Salvatore will be officiating this game. How will this affect the game, and who will benefit?

  • Myles Brown Posted: Jun.11 at 5:24 pm
    Somehow, Dwyane Wade.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 5:36 pm
    Can’t wait!

  • niQ Posted: Jun.11 at 5:45 pm
    come on orlando!

  • Jackie Moon Posted: Jun.11 at 6:04 pm
    The question on everyone’s mind is: was Game 3 a fluke? Was that the top of Orlando’s game? Or have they figured something out? Here’s Orlando’s FG% in each game from 1-3, 29.9%, 41.8%, 62.5% … will they shoot below or above 50% tonight? Maybe they shoot over 62.5%.

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.11 at 6:08 pm
    come on lakers!

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.11 at 6:31 pm
    If Gasol doesn’t get about 25-30 touches tonight, I will be very disapointed/surprised.

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.11 at 6:32 pm
    *disappointed

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 6:38 pm
    Very excited for this game. Game 3 was a lot of fun, but this live blogging business is hardwork. While I plan to be an active commenter, I am not sad that Vince has live blogging duties for the evening. I’ve said Lakers in 6 all along, and I can’t say I’m surprised at all that it’s 2-1, LA. So, if these three have gone how I expected (at least in terms of who won, not what happened in the games), then do I expect Orlando to win Game 4 or 5 to push it to 6? And I think it’s Game 5. I like Lakers to win an exciting game tonight, the desperate Magic to stay alive in Game 5, and the Lakers to win the title in Game 6. Of course, I wouldn’t bet a dollar on any of my predictions, so I’m as excited as anyone to see what DOES unfold. Time to head to the arena…see you all back here in a couple hours.

  • B. Long Posted: Jun.11 at 7:23 pm
    Thank God they just fixed the powerlines next to my house, I thought I was gonna have to take my 2yr. old to the sports bar.

  • Jackie Moon Posted: Jun.11 at 7:32 pm
    KOBE BRYANT: I mean, I’m aware of bouncing back after a tough loss. Hopefully we can do it again.
    As far as me hitting the wall, so what if I did? I didn’t, but so what if I did? Q. What does it mean if you did?
    KOBE BRYANT: It means nothing. Q. Because?
    KOBE BRYANT: Because I’ll run straight through it. http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/02/koolaidman.jpg

  • andrew Posted: Jun.11 at 7:35 pm
    any ideas where i can stream this from? don’t have HD/cable..

  • james Posted: Jun.11 at 7:41 pm
    commish….im curious about where kobe will be ranked if he wins his 4th title this year…will he be top 10 all time…top 5 possibly?

  • kh Posted: Jun.11 at 7:44 pm
    I don’t know if this is legal or what but I don’t have cable either and these sites have been saving my @ss when my friends decline my self invite:
    http://www.channelsurfing.net
    http://www.atdhe.net
    http://www.justin.tv Andrew, hope that helps

  • Tenorca Posted: Jun.11 at 7:50 pm
    Man, Bynum’s playing bad tonight.
    Oh wait. We haven’t started yet. My bad.
    And andrew: go to “ATDHE dot net” or “Justin dot tv” They work alright.

  • ti-sizz Posted: Jun.11 at 7:51 pm
    Hey commish, why has kobe started doing this really ugly/evil rat face. It is a new thing that i’ve noticed this year in the playoffs, what’s up with that atrocious facial expression? Thanks.

  • AR Posted: Jun.11 at 7:54 pm
    Real Madrid just bought Phil Jackson.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.11 at 8:07 pm
    Real Madrid just bought the Lakers. (economic crisis eh? Not with the Galacticos)

  • DJR Posted: Jun.11 at 8:25 pm
    How big will it be if Kobe doesn’t close out this game? Especially after his “home court doesn’t mean anything to me” comment in last game’s press conference. Will the media go nuts (sorry but SLAM and its avid bloggers included) and realise that this is actually a series…or will they still underestimate Orlando like they did against the Cavs…and Boston…and…

  • J-O Posted: Jun.11 at 8:55 pm
    Lol 7-0 when she sings come on now we all know that doesnt matter

  • J-O Posted: Jun.11 at 8:56 pm
    and some bull that i have my final in 1 hour

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:05 pm
    Vince should be live blogging shortly…in the interim…I almost bumped into Hulk Hogan in the hallway. Couldn’t help but think of The Wrestler, though The Hulkster looks better than the Mickey Rourke character.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:06 pm
    Pregame atmosphere a lot like the other night: very electric outside, very dead in the locker rooms (at least when open to the media.) Arena is loud and hot.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:09 pm
    I think the Magic have already missed as many shots as they did in the whole first half of Game 3.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:11 pm
    Bennett Salvatore…

  • DJR Posted: Jun.11 at 9:13 pm
    Too many early open looks.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:13 pm
    Pietrus Time.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:18 pm
    Hedo: The Ultimate Driving Machine.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:19 pm
    Nice. Vince in effect.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:21 pm
    Did people read this Gortat story from Fanhouse? http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/reebok-to-marcin-gortat-jordan-tattoo-wont-fly?icid=main|main|dl7|link2|http%3A%2F%2Fnba.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F06%2F09%2Freebok-to-marcin-gortat-jordan-tattoo-wont-fly

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 9:21 pm
    baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:23 pm
    Bottle brunette too, Vince.

  • DJR Posted: Jun.11 at 9:23 pm
    7 boards and 2 blocks halfway through the Q1 – Dwight IS a beast.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 9:24 pm
    Bennett Salvatore sounds like the name of a Italian pianist who plays at some weird bar on weekends.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 9:24 pm
    ? @ the wearabouts of my comment

  • Fat Lever Posted: Jun.11 at 9:25 pm
    Orlando ball movement!

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 9:26 pm
    you guys need to let me know when someone dunks on someone. I will be counting on you!

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:30 pm
    The lakers are in trouble. I’m not going to be sleep walking at work for this garbage. But damn Orlando isn’t fouling anybody. Give me a break.

  • DJR Posted: Jun.11 at 9:31 pm
    ECHO: Bennett Salvatore…

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:32 pm
    If any of you blog about the lakers getting calls I’ll see on the playground at 3:00!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:33 pm
    Bynum really has put up some of the worst starter lines imaginable this postseason.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:35 pm
    First dose of the “celebrity cam”: Rihanna and Carlos Boozer (not together).

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:36 pm
    Offensive struggles thus far: Magic have 5 turnovers, Lakers are shooting 33%. One impressive statline so far: Dwight has 11 rebounds!

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 9:36 pm
    Any1 seen the Rihanna noodz. All i gotta say is dayum chris, why?

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:36 pm
    Mbenga!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:37 pm
    The Magic have GOT to chill on the turnovers.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 9:37 pm
    “Orlando shooting 50%, L.A. shooting 33%. Orlando 12 boards. L.A. 5 boards. But Orlando only up 3. Hmmmm” What team does Kobe play for? Case closed. And what did Ariza just do?

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 9:39 pm
    Ben: wouldn’t it be interesting to see Rihanna and Carlos together? They could play “who’s injured more often?”

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:39 pm
    I’m not holding back anymore, that damn Gasol is going to kill me I swear. Between him, fisher, ariza, farmar, BYNUM, and vujacic I’m going to lose it. I see why Kobe goes ham all the time.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 9:40 pm
    Vincent: whatever Ariza did, I don’t get T’s like that.

  • DJR Posted: Jun.11 at 9:43 pm
    If Orlando want to win just get it into Dwight. Was is Mbenga or Powell gonna do??

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:43 pm
    Can we talk about the game?

  • DJR Posted: Jun.11 at 9:46 pm
    How hilarious was that – Phil Jackson talking about his big men in foul trouble “Lamar, Pau, and DJ…ah sorry, Andrew.” Haha. Bynum you bum!!

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 9:46 pm
    Nice going there, Vince. Will.i.am and Redick. Get Sam Rubenstein on this for the next mag.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:48 pm
    Jameer spent this (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-sportsmagic-lakers-main-11061109jun11,0,1560040.story) story in today’s Sentinel talking about not shooting. Then he shot the first two times he had the ball.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:49 pm
    Mike brown in limbo?

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:51 pm
    The disappearance of Shannon Brown.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:51 pm
    The disappearance of Shannon Brown by Phil Jackson. In stores now!!!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 9:54 pm
    @Gerard: Nice Rihanna/Booze line
    @Mike: http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/06/a-look-at-mike-browns-job-security/
    @Mike: I don’t know what’s up with Shannon’s disappearance.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:55 pm
    I got em in the game! Go Mike!

  • Mike Posted: Jun.11 at 9:57 pm
    Damn that quick Phil?

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 10:00 pm
    Vince, doesn’t the best player in this series have a major impact on how the “second-best” is used?

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 10:18 pm
    Ahh, those good old technical difficulties. Sorry bout that.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 10:21 pm
    my cable company had some technical difficulties during Game 3 at the end of the third quarter (lasted about 15 minutes, so I was back in the fourth), now THAT was annoying.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 10:21 pm
    If the Magic had less turnovers and Dwight could make some free throws we’d be looking at a BLOWOUT right now.

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.11 at 10:23 pm
    Lakers shooting 33% and Orlando is only up by 12? Good sign for LA.

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.11 at 10:24 pm
    The above is sarcasm. Hahaha! Talking point for idiots at half time.

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 10:26 pm
    OK. Finally able to comment. For some reason I didn;t have a comment box before

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 10:31 pm
    @Mike: Mike, the Cavs have come out and said Mike Brown will be their coach next season. I guess he deserves it. But, if they had a chance to get a better coach (maybe Avery or if Larry Brown bolts Charlotte), I’d drop dude like a bar of soap.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 10:31 pm
    Vincent: no mention of Hulk Hogan? Vincent knows best!

  • Michael Posted: Jun.11 at 10:31 pm
    Kobe’s checked out already, usually Kobe Waits until the 3rd quarter to quit. I’m impressed. I guess he’s really trying to cement his status as the biggest choker in NBA History.

  • Papou Posted: Jun.11 at 10:32 pm
    Magic will win this, GO MAGIC!

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 10:33 pm
    @ti-sizz: I actually like the Kobe Grimace. Just looks like a dude focused on gettin’ down. But you know how it goes with Kobe. Anything he does is met with derision by most non-Lakers fans. That’s just how it is.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 10:35 pm
    I actually like Hedo “Crash” Turkoglu on Kobe. They need to go to that more often.

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 10:35 pm
    @James: really good question. I’ll save the answer for the weekend’s The Commish Comments.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 10:35 pm
    Oh crap I’m still BETCATS.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 10:37 pm
    Thats better.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 10:41 pm
    I really wonder what’s going to happen in the second half. The Magic are a team that can easily lose a lead, but if they start out gunnin’ (pretty save guess), who knows…. you wouldn’t hear me complaining if it will turn to a 2-2 series. As a fan of the game, I’d like to see it going to 7.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.11 at 10:42 pm
    Today is the first time ill complain about the refs in these finals. Its seriously pissing me off.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 10:44 pm
    Courtney Lee reminds me of Monta Ellis.

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 10:52 pm
    @Simmy Sosa: Lee is a lil Monta’ish. But not as explosive offensively. Monta can hit you for 40. I say Lee’s current ceiling is 25.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 10:52 pm
    VIP Bar at halftime included: Chris Brown, Rihanna, Gilbert Arenas, Tiger Woods…

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 10:53 pm
    Not that I was in there. And yeah, I don’t see much Monta in Courtney Lee.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 10:54 pm
    4 on Hedo?!

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 10:57 pm
    Vincent: the crowd is indeed pretty quiet, can you blame them? It’s happening all over again.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:00 pm
    Vince jinxed Bynum. I’m not even sure where the foul was there but he sure us good at getting called for them.

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 11:01 pm
    Ben…do you hear the large Laker contingent here in the crowd?

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:02 pm
    Both Ellis and Lee ultra quick and extremely athletic. I think Lee will blossom into a Monta Ellis with perhaps better defense in a couple of years.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:03 pm
    Vince, I do. I’ve seen a lot of Laker gear too. I think there are more Laker fans than Game 3 (perhaps in town for the gms 4+5 weekend?).

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:06 pm
    Simmy, I hear you on the Monta/Courtney athleticism, but Courtney’s ballhandling isn’t in the same world as Monta’s. Monta has complete point guard skills PLUS the ability and mindset to score. Courtney Lee is not a point guard in any fashion. Speaking of point guards, that was some nifty passing between Rafer and Pietrus on the fast break.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:06 pm
    Lamar Odom has never shot this well from three in his life!!

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:08 pm
    luckily, no T’s, since both Kobe and Dwight got 5 already.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:11 pm
    I really hope Orlando wins this game….

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:13 pm
    I want to see the movie where Mike Tyson punches the white dude in the face. Actually, I think thats the title. Mike Tyson Punches the White Dude in the Face.

  • Vincent Thomas Posted: Jun.11 at 11:14 pm
    Ben, I don’t know if I’d trust Monta as my PG…don’t think he has the instincts to run an offense. I like him just where he is, in that combo guard role.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:17 pm
    Vince, mentally Monta is not a PG, agreed. Courtney Lee couldn’t do it skill-wise. I think this is a weird discussion—they really are quite different players IMO.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:18 pm
    More to the point: what are Magic made of right now?

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:18 pm
    Turkoglu looks like Crash Bandicoot.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.11 at 11:19 pm
    “Kobe responds like a jaded girlfriend wrestling her way out of an abusive boyfriends arms” now that’s some funny sh*t. Hahahaha.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:20 pm
    Sometimes I think Hedo is Orlando’s hero, and sometimes he’s just doing nothing for 12 seconds, and making a dumb play. And sometimes…. he gets 3 FT’s out of it.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:21 pm
    what is Dwight thinking sometimes?

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:23 pm
    That didn’t look like very much from Howard. People don’t realize the subtle flopping Gasol does…

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:26 pm
    a mention of Veal, nice one.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:27 pm
    I like Pietrus when he’s aggressive. He’s got a lot of game.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:28 pm
    Pietrus is more important to a team than Corey Maggette. You heard it here first.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:28 pm
    Phil is really working refs right now.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:29 pm
    Can’t hear the Laker fans right now.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:30 pm
    Phil knows: hips don’t lie.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:30 pm
    PIETRUS!!!!!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:31 pm
    We should do an In Your Face on Pietrus.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:32 pm
    MP! Nilitary Police in the house!

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.11 at 11:32 pm
    Ben, that was not a foul. Can you hear us now?

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:33 pm
    oh snap, I meant Military.
    Anyway, it seems like sometimes that when Hedo has the ball, the other Magic players have no clue what play they’re running.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:34 pm
    Is John Madden still announcing games this season? If not, can we have Frank Caliendo as his replacement?

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:35 pm
    Zee, I was referring to the people in the building, not taunting anyone on the site. As for Kobe on Pietrus, shouldn’t be a foul but they have called this game annoyingly tight so I wasn’t surprised by it.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.11 at 11:36 pm
    Shush phil shut your lips do the helen keller and talk with your hips.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:36 pm
    Another Simmy exclusive. Kobe shaved his afro because of his receding hairline. You heard it here first.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:36 pm
    You know who is super due to hit a big shot? Rashard.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.11 at 11:39 pm
    Two things.. I wish jameer nelson would keep his f*cking mouth piece in his mouth. Its getting really f*cking obnoxious. And second, the refs just refuse to give the lakers a call right now. Its unreal.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.11 at 11:39 pm
    Ben I’m at the game. Typing on my iphone.

  • ber Posted: Jun.11 at 11:39 pm
    Seriously, where is Lewis?

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:39 pm
    There it was (or should have been). Interesting that Jameer is playing 4th quarter now. SVG is so unpredictable.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:40 pm
    Zee, nice. No I can’t hear you though.

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.11 at 11:42 pm
    Where the hell is Rashard Lewis? He’s playing like he sold this game.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.11 at 11:44 pm
    That’s probably due to me being WAAAAAYYYY up section 219.

  • u wish Posted: Jun.11 at 11:45 pm
    The commish wants a game 7 or at least 6…kobe is gettin paid off to make sure it goes the distance!

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.11 at 11:45 pm
    Hedo is the turkish Jordan. Self-proclaimed of course.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:46 pm
    Shard doesn’t have to do shit if Hedo keeps doing.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:46 pm
    Bryan: we’re watching an epic game here, and you’re talking about a mouthpiece? Sigh….

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:48 pm
    Bad 3 attempt by Kobe. Sick pass to Pau, though.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.11 at 11:50 pm
    This is going 6.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.11 at 11:50 pm
    One foul in the 4th? No team plays that good of defense. And don’t let anyone say the league stacked this series for the lakers because that’s garbage.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:50 pm
    ouch Dwight….

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:51 pm
    Dwight! That trip to the FT line was emblematic of the Magic’s whole night at the line (14 misses in 35 attempts)

  • matt Posted: Jun.11 at 11:51 pm
    what happens next yearto the offense when hedo is out of orlando’s price range?

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.11 at 11:52 pm
    Vince / Ben: do you guys think Kobe should’ve gotten a Flagrant? The Dutch tv commentators are livid that they didn’t call it. But as I’m watching the replays, I don’t know, I don’t know think it was….

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.11 at 11:53 pm
    I hate Fisher.

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.11 at 11:54 pm
    Derek Flukn Fisher!

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.11 at 11:54 pm
    What a shot. This is a great game for real. I have a newfound respect for the magic , especially rashard. A much better series than I anticipated. And rashard lewis might show up in this last 4.6.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:55 pm
    No, I don’t think Kobe should have gotten a flagrant (though keep in mind that at least where I’m sitting I have no access to TV replays, which is annoying). As for Fish, I guess that’s why Phil has given him so many minutes. (too many, IMO, though that shot was HUGE).

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.11 at 11:56 pm
    Real quiet up here….

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:57 pm
    Pietrus is not one of the assassins Vince was referring to. To quote my man Shannon “L.O.N.” Booher: Free basketball!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.11 at 11:58 pm
    There are people leaving the seating bowl. For the love of God please let them be going to the bathroom and not home.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.12 at 12:00 am
    Where is SKIP?!?

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:00 am
    There’s Lewis…

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.12 at 12:02 am
    if people are leaving already, they shouldn’ve have been there at all. That’s weird.

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.12 at 12:02 am
    Lewis! Kobe! Where’s Skip?

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.12 at 12:03 am
    Zee: that’s what I wondered.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.12 at 12:03 am
    My last comment got lost which sucks it was a good one. But is it just me or is kobe more subdued tonight?

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.12 at 12:04 am
    Kobe airball….like rookie year in utah. Full circle he hath come.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.12 at 12:05 am
    These refs are a joke for real.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.12 at 12:05 am
    Totally agree that Skip should be in the game, blazing past Fisher.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:06 am
    Another subtle flop by Gasol. Glad they didnt call it…

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.12 at 12:07 am
    Orlando doing EVERYTHING to give this game away.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.12 at 12:08 am
    You know it’s a long game when the new Kick of the Day goes up before it’s over…

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:09 am
    Pau was all over Nelson’s back!!!

  • HangTime Hec Posted: Jun.12 at 12:09 am
    De Ja Vu?

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.12 at 12:10 am
    and now we know why Nelson wears a mouthpiece.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.12 at 12:10 am
    REAL quiet now…..PESCADO!!!!!

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:10 am
    I HATE the Lakers!!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.12 at 12:11 am
    Wow Derrick Fisher.

  • tk Posted: Jun.12 at 12:11 am
    HAHA WELCOME BACK J-NEL!

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.12 at 12:11 am
    The last 6 minutes of this game is among the biggest CHOKES in NBA Finals history.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.12 at 12:12 am
    Zee, you guys are running this place now.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.12 at 12:12 am
    Let’s…..GO!!!

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.12 at 12:12 am
    Gasol….is so ugly. He looks like a rat. He can’t play on my team.

  • baba g Posted: Jun.12 at 12:14 am
    ur mom

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.12 at 12:16 am
    Ovahhhh.Peace.

  • Bryan Posted: Jun.12 at 12:16 am
    Poor taste pau.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.12 at 12:16 am
    why the f*ck is Kobe getting into the Gasol-Pietrus thing? Kobe already has 5 T’s, what is he thinking?

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.12 at 12:16 am
    Drive home safe folks.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.12 at 12:16 am
    There will be LOTS of analysis over the too-long three days until Game 5, but really, it’s pretty simple: If Dwight and crew had made their free throws, this game ends in regulation and we’ve got a 2-2 series.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:18 am
    The Magic continue to give games away with missed free throws and turnovers.

  • Z Posted: Jun.12 at 12:19 am
    This one is on Dwight. I don’t care what else happened in the game. I don’t care about Jameer giving up the 3. I don’t care about D-Fish hitting two freaking ballsy shot. You got two chances to ice the game at the line, you failed. End of.

  • dwight_sucks Posted: Jun.12 at 12:20 am
    haha

  • baba g Posted: Jun.12 at 12:20 am
    mother fu(kers

  • Reflex Posted: Jun.12 at 12:20 am
    So THAT’s why Fish gets all these minutes… p.s will Dwight be known as the new Nick Anderson?

  • alexchuck Posted: Jun.12 at 12:21 am
    amazing stats by dwight. he almost had a quadruple double. anyways glad lakers won. the game was too much, too close for my liking so i went out to buy ufc undisputed.

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Jun.12 at 12:21 am
    Damn, it’s 6:20 am over here, and now I need to go to bed, but feel really awake. Now what?

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.12 at 12:23 am
    Every single Magic player and coaching staff member choked in the last 6 minutes. You could not count all the stupid moves if you tried to.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:23 am
    You know everyone will talk about Skip not being in the game. Jameer is great when healthy but he’s a liability on offense because he’s not shooting and on defense because of his size. I understand loyalty from SVG but if it aint workin you gotta change that sh%t up…

  • doyouwantmore Posted: Jun.12 at 12:28 am
    I hate Kobe’s elbows. What a cheap-shot artist. Lakers won fair and square but Kobe deserves all the hate for those bull&&it pointy elbows he throws around. Rich kid cheap-shot artist.

  • Reflex Posted: Jun.12 at 12:29 am
    Pietrus should really have a flagrant for the dumbest play of his great series, like to see how they’ll assess that

  • Joey Jo Jo Posted: Jun.12 at 12:29 am
    That smile on DFish’s face is gold! Also, the facial expression on both Gasol and Pietrus…funny as hell! All Dwight Howard had to do was make 1 free throw and the game could’ve been theirs. Nick Anderson’s ghost lives!!!

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.12 at 12:29 am
    Any doubts I once had about Phil Jackson as a coach were quelled as soon as he drew up that backcourt inbounds play. My goodness, that was a beauty.
    Any doubts I once had about Fish were quelled as soon as, like the veteran he is, he drilled the 3 off the well-executed Philly play.
    The Lakers p!ss me off, but I give credit where its due.
    And its due.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.12 at 12:33 am
    The Magic could have won this won. My goodness, the freebees were atrocious. How can Dwight Howard not make at least 1 free throw in crunch time? I like Superman, but come on!
    Also, Kobe DID throw a huge ‘bow at Nelson, I’m surprised that wasn’t called. I mean, I’m glad they’re letting the players play with some physicality, but come on…

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.12 at 12:33 am
    One more thing:
    WHERE IN THE WORLD WAS SKIP TO MY LOU AND WHY WAS HE NOT PLAYING?

  • jrich Posted: Jun.12 at 12:35 am
    derek fisher is good as a player. two clutch shots. but ever since that elbow to Luis Scola, i thought of him as a dirty-a$s player. they say he has class? class is having the discipline to hold your emotions in check. also, everyone on the lakers takes on the conceited persona of Kobe Bryant. even adam morrison.

  • Zee!! Posted: Jun.12 at 12:37 am
    @doyouwantmore: Things fall apart.

  • Z Posted: Jun.12 at 12:38 am
    I’m not talking about Skip/Jameer, I’m not talking about Kobe’s elbow, I’m not even talking about Fisher’s 3s. Dwight hits one of those 2 fts and it’s a wrap. He failed.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:40 am
    I now hate all Lakers. Even players who dont play there now. I hate Magic Johnson, and i hate JR Rider for his stint there. Where is that guy?

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 12:42 am
    Anyone watching post-game interview? SVG just shat a brick on life television…

  • MeloMan22 Posted: Jun.12 at 12:42 am
    its games like this that make me wonder if the NBA is just a big “show”. like the WWE

  • Z Posted: Jun.12 at 12:45 am
    Stick a fork in ‘em. They can’t even beat LA when Kobe goes 11-31. I can’t feel sorry for Orlando when they continue to blow opportunities to win games. LA is doing what they have to do. They deserved the win.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.12 at 12:46 am
    Van Gundy is amazing in these press conferences.

  • kevingarnettslegs Posted: Jun.12 at 12:56 am
    turkoglu is a JOKE. he wouldn’t get a shot off if the refs didnt allow his redonckulous push-offs with that off-arm. also copping the jordan tongue might be twice as cursed as the cassell big ball dance. those two tongues might have cost orlando the series. that and the fact that the road team goes to disneyworld could explain the orlando curse. still one to go though… great game. anyone who hates on laker fans has never been to los angeles during the play-offs. it is a city united and people of every sex, creed and occupation are wearing a d-fish smile right now. out there hate is queen, out here the game is king, the great game and the lakers play it with determination, grit and pj’s zen magic.

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 12:58 am
    SIMMMMMMYYYYYY SSSOOOOOSSSAAAAAA … EEEEBBBBOOOOYYYYYYY … MMMEEEELLLLLOOOOMMMMAAAAANNNNNN … Yeah if denver wins it’s great. If Lakers win it’s a big show. F()ckouttahere.
    Terrible game, refs sucked for both teams. Lakers played terrible. In reality we could be looking at 3-1 Orlando. But that’s the way the finals roll. Every year. One team get lucky and guess WHAT… KO-BE, KO-BE, KO-BE!!!!!

  • ti-sizz Posted: Jun.12 at 1:00 am
    Yep, got me there. What can i say, I’m a huge Kobe/Lakers hater. But do you know if there is any reason behind why Kobe is doing that face all of a sudden this year? Just wondering.. Anyways, it’s quite a shame the Magic choked and lost this game.. One freethrow, that’s all they needed, what a shame.. I guess my most-hated team wins the Finals and the rings this year sigggghhhh….. always next year

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 1:01 am
    I agree … Hedo is and offensive fouling machine.

  • bbaby Posted: Jun.12 at 1:03 am
    The refs basically gave Orlando the game and they still blew it. This was an awful game from Orlando. They really don’t deserve to win at all. I guess J.J. Reddick will have to keep waiting for a ring.

  • bbaby Posted: Jun.12 at 1:04 am
    oh, and FREE SKIP!!

  • madamerica Posted: Jun.12 at 1:04 am
    kglegs wtf are you talking about? hedo made 2 huge shots in 30 seconds to put his team up by 5, and you’re blaming him for sticking out his tounge? that’s idiotic. blame no-show lewis and choke artist howard.

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 1:04 am
    The moajority of Laker fans I’ve met don’t actually know basketball. They don’t know they were given an all-star center for absolutely nothing. They don’t even know the names of the players on the opposite team. I have no respect for your casual fans or the championship that is being handed to you.

  • sho nuf Posted: Jun.12 at 1:05 am
    Is this the time where the haters start thinking of excuses to make this 15th/4th ring null?

  • Logan Posted: Jun.12 at 1:06 am
    Great win for the Lakers tonight….Ariza was huge, so was Fish. Some of the comments on here are hillarious and not in the ‘ha ha’ way. Orlando was getting all the calls tonight….Kobe is being mugged on his drives, even that ‘airball’ was a foul as the replay indicated….the elbow to Nelson, well when you have not been getting calls all night, you are due to get one. And in all fairness, Nelson did rush into him…and got smacked good…he got hit by the elbow, but I don’t think thats a flagrant at all…Michael Peitrus on the other hand, dude was getting away with all kinds of bs all through the game…i’m just glad the Lakers pulled this out…onto game 5 now…

  • sho nuf Posted: Jun.12 at 1:06 am
    btw I think it’s hilarrrrious that people think the Lakers got all the favorable calls. Can someone remind me how many foul shots LA had in the fourth quater and OT? Who got called for more PFs?

  • Diogo Posted: Jun.12 at 1:16 am
    Yo, Skip kills it in Game 3 and SVG doesn’t play him on 4th and OT? WHAT? By the way, Pietrius has to be suspended. That push on Gasol is a 1-game, at least. Kobe made some bad choices down the stretch…I’d expect more from him.

  • Harrell Posted: Jun.12 at 1:18 am
    Orlando had It they have NO excuses and Pietrus roughing Gasol up at the end was truly out of line. Commish we got another situation!

  • kevingarnettslegs Posted: Jun.12 at 1:25 am
    @madamerica. really? get off the ibm and go buy yourself a sense of humor. my favorite ‘huge’ shots by turkoglu were the missed free throws. great job there frosty tips.
    @simmysosa. its hard to swallow but laker fans are as great as they come. as an example: there’s a youtube of a couple of congress ladies talkin friendly smack to each other. the orlando chick doesnt know squat, the la lady cold names the entire team– even has her own nicknames for everyone. and if you think this championship was handed to us, you are the one who doesnt know a thing about this beautiful game we call basketball. your lack of respect for that is why you are a textbook sore loser.

  • rainman10 Posted: Jun.12 at 1:30 am
    Its the NBA, Gasol should know if he’s gonna disrespect a man on his court, dude might take notice.

  • kevingarnettslegs Posted: Jun.12 at 1:39 am
    disrespect? its a playoff game. you take any and all easy points in overtime. this was no blowout. pietrus should have to sit one. he endangered a guys career and he knew he was doing it.

  • Sean B Posted: Jun.12 at 1:39 am
    @ Simmy Sosa: the championship that is being handed to the lakers? did you not watch the 4th quarter & ot? magic got all the free throws, they choked its as simple as that

  • Mack Posted: Jun.12 at 1:52 am
    Lakers won, fair and square. Magic made critical mistakes down the stretch, Lakers were efficient and executed (not to mention Fish and Ariza stepping up in the second half.) Howard’s shooting is still a problem, and I really hope no one complains about that Kobe elbow, that was not a deciding factor in this game.

  • K-NiKE Posted: Jun.12 at 1:59 am
    where was Rashard Tonight??

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 2:06 am
    Exactly, the Magic handed them the championship. And I can’t respect LA the same way I can’t respect BOS because they are cases of the rich getting richer with Garnett/Gasol and the poor getting poorer w/ Minnesota and Memphis jockeying for lottery position. Add that to the fact that Jerry West, who probably bleeds purple and gold was willing to give Gasol away for nothing in return. And don’t think I forgot about McHale helpin his boy Ainge out. No franchise in their right mind makes the trades those two franchises did. It doomed the losing teams and set the recipients up for dominance for a long time. And you know Stern about jizzed his pants when he found out his 2 most historic franchises had a chance to be powerhouses again. NBA is so fake, but I watch for teams that groom talent like Golden State, Magic, and of course the Spurs. No lop-sided trades, just great organizations with great players.

  • Joey E. Posted: Jun.12 at 2:17 am
    Simmy Sosa, Jerry West was out of being Memphis Gm for a year. He didn’t do the trade. Quit freaking hating

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: Jun.12 at 2:20 am
    West was still in office when that deal went down.

  • Sean B Posted: Jun.12 at 2:30 am
    @ simmy sosa: “teams that groom talent like golden state”…?????? you can’t be serious, golden state is a joke and has not been relevant for much of the past 30 years.

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 2:41 am
    The refs were trying to screw the lakers this game. baby touch fouls against the lakers all game long and then when kobe and ariza gets hacked they dont called crap. Magic get 37 Free Throw attempts vs Lakers 20 . Sick. Good thing the refs didnt see Kobe elbow JAmeer the refs would have put the final nail in the coffin for the lakers. Mickael Pietrus, your a coward for punching Gasol on the back while he was up in the air. You should have got suspended for that coward. Magic are unsportsmanlike when they lose. They just dont deserve to win.

  • Reflex Posted: Jun.12 at 2:49 am
    For every overzealous/overenthusiastic supporter ala James the balla or Eboy you have a self aggrandizing, hoiler than thou characters like Simmy Sosa…fact is, the refs (them again) did all they could to help out Orl, but they still managed to blow it, be it through Lewis only getting 6 pts, Dwight channelling his inner Anderson or Jameer not fouling out , they blew it, and fairplay for Lal in taking advantage. I’ve been a big critic of Fisher but he showed his worth when it mattered and I’m happy to eat humble pie on that. The Lakers/Kobe hate on here is ridiculous, they win a close battle such as that and people want to talk about Kobe’s elbow like he was going for Jameer like that but say nada about Peitrus’ deliberate non-flagrant…

  • Joey E. Posted: Jun.12 at 2:49 am
    Simmy, he retired in 2007 from the Griz. He had nothing to do with that deal. SMFH

  • Joey E. Posted: Jun.12 at 2:50 am
    Lakers shot 0 FT’s in OT and 4th Q I believe. Definitely can’t put this on the refs. It’s not like the Lakers weren’t atacking. Dwight and Hedo get away with so much

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 3:05 am
    4th quarter free throws
    Magic = 17
    Lakers = 0 Lakers still win.

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 3:09 am
    The refs should be fired for this un fairness. This is the first game were i really believe the Refs had it in to make the Lakers lose. Worst officiating i have ever seen. Like i said they would have called the Kobe elbow to Jameer foul but the refs did not see it.
    And the Lakers still win.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:15 am
    Hmm, how to put my feelings right now into words.. oh i know, how about some German swearing? VERDAMMTE MIST, SCHEISSE NOCHMAL! (whew, that felt good).
    So Dwight is superman hmm, and soooo much improved in his offensive repetoire (according to the talking heads on tv), THEN MAKE A FREAKING CLUTCH FREETHROW!!!!!! How is it that these men, these freaks of athletic nature, FAIL at shooting Freethrows. It’s not like they hang around a hoop most of the day, scratch that, most of the year… Up 3, 11 secs to go, you ice 1 of 2 and the Lakers go for desperations 3′s after their Timeout. You ice 2-2 and it’s essentially game over! All your blocks, rebounds a’int sheeit tonight DA-Whight, you missed maybe the biggest FT’s of your career. Keep smiling about that, you big buffoon!

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:20 am
    I agree with whoever said something about Hedo sticking his tongue out. I guess we all have cases of premature celebration, but these guys have just played LA 4 times in the past 10 days, you do know they ALWAYS have a trick up their sleeve to whittle down leads, right? You had 5 points in a row, yayyyy…now simmer down, and get your butt back on D, instead of these stupid displays of utter arrogance. What, we don’t know you are quite clutch? Really, you haven’t hit bigger shots in your career? THIS is the time to stick the tongue out, with time left on the clock and Mambiatch on the opposing bench? REALLY?

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 3:22 am
    Well can everyone finally lay to rest the debate on whether or not to foul, up 3 with 5 seconds left? A 2pt foul puts them to the line for the loss, a 3 pt make (great shot Fish no doubt) loses the game – way to gamble and lose the game you should have won Magic – see ya next year. PS. Great defense by LA.

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 3:28 am
    Lakers 99, Salvatore/Callahan/Foster 91 OT

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:28 am
    SVG really is an IDIOT. You give Rafer a boost in game 3, he helps re-ignite your offense. So whatcha gonna do late in game 4? Oh, i know, i know….PLAY JAMEER AGAIN!!! Am i in Bizarro world again? What is this rubbish? With Skip in his face, Fish would have slightly altered that Shot late in regulation, and it might have been a miss, with Skip in there, Fish might not even have played, cause he can’t keep up on D anymore. No disrespect to Derek (who is maybe the only Laker i can “respect”),but Jameer is a fool for giving him so much space in that situation! Orlando is a strange team! They are great and spreading the floor, but are terrible on defensive rebounds (watch the end of game 3 again) they live (and die) by the outside shot, their low post “threat” can’t really play all that well against legit 7footers (on Offense) and they bring back an undersized PG who hasn’t had straight up comp. in Months to steer the ship IN.THE.NBA.FINALS. Did Stan lose a Bet or something? i can’t believe Kob’s is one win away from a ring? What the HELL, God? You gonna reward this guy? really?

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:30 am
    My apologies to Seth and Amy for stealing their “really” skit on SNL. I’m just too agitated to think of anything else right now.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:34 am
    Mickael, i love ya dude, but that was just ugly what you did to Pau. Two fist slam in the back on a dunk? You should thank the lord that wasn’t a regular season game, cause i saw Pau’s eyes go “crrrazy” for a sec there, until he remembered he was still needed. You deserve an ass whupping for that move. No question.

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 3:34 am
    ORL looked shell-shocked too much in the 3rd and 4th – is it cuz of Nelson at the point, I dunno, but have to say that LA played mad crazy gonzo D and did not let up. ORL just couldn’t find a way (but letting that 3 go in at the end of reg….. GRRRrrrrrr dopey a$$ mafahs)

  • Eric Posted: Jun.12 at 3:43 am
    I saw Skip snap at Van Gundy on the way to the bench in the second half. It’s well known that Rafer is a hot-head. He started plunking shots after that. Maybe he didn’t play because he started to go cold or because Van Gundy took offense to his sass.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:44 am
    i so did not want to invest any energy in these finals (even stopped reading the Site for a while), but damnit i hate Mambiatch too much to not get into it. Way to pee it all away Orlando, nice run dudes, but let’s be realistic now, the way you guys have played in games 2 and 4 (both games you shoulda won) you’re done for this Series. And it’s a damn shame too, cause you are giving the Lakers fits. Just watch Kob’s elbow, claw, foul, lament, headshake, glower and whatnot his way around the court.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 3:46 am
    In the vein of Phil Jackson (after he was asked if Mambiatch’s methods bothered his teammates): IF STAN CAN’T DEAL WITH SKIP SNAPPING AT HIM, QUIT! He’s a bloody NBA coach, there are no bigger headcases in the basketball universe than Nba players. Deal with it!

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 3:59 am
    Will the NBA sit down with the Refs on Friday and watch video of Thursdays game to go over all the blown calls? This is a serious question.

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 4:02 am
    Oh well, I think I’m done with these finals – it would have been great to see 2-2 for the suspense, tension and drama. Now the only thing to hope for is that LA ends this in ORL – ie. NOT in LA in front of the Diva’s groupies. Good job Fish, Pau, Trevor, Odom (bynum wtf?!?! Still trying to set world records for fastest fouling out?) – and KB maybe one day you’ll go to the wiz and get a heart – but for now I guess a ring is what you’d prefer.

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 4:05 am
    Ps. Phil eff you and all the BS you think you stand for, Red is still better than you even if you sold your soul to the devil to cheat Red out of his record. Now go grab some other rich owner’s daughter (is this where KB got the CO idea?), retire and get the flug outta heah already

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 4:11 am
    Stop hating on Phil. Phil is the man.

  • adam t Posted: Jun.12 at 4:12 am
    Darksaber, get over it man…seek a new vice, an uh, an outlet in another realm. Mambiatch? “Both games you shoulda won”….talk about an oxymoron – nobody is supposed to win a game. Please, no more quipping at the adult table.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:18 am
    Oh i’m sorry adam t, i care about what you say because…?

  • Reflex Posted: Jun.12 at 4:20 am
    Darksaber, you’ve been drinking way too much Haterade, stick to small doses

  • J Dizzle Posted: Jun.12 at 4:21 am
    Simmy Sosa: who cares what the majority of laker fans you have met know? That is not a representative sample of all Laker fans. And who cares? I love the fact that everyone in southern california gets pumped up and excited for the lakers when the playoffs come. Is it bandwagoning? Maybe, but there are a ton of die hard laker fans who love the game of basketball, and we welcome casual fans with open arms. What’s wrong with rooting for your home town team just because you don’t “know the game?” Get over yourself and stop being a sore loser. I love coming here and reading all the Laker/Kobe hater’s comments. It is very entertaining. The game was great. Laker’s played a horrible first half but they showed up in the end. The refs didn’t help, and I’m not surprised a lot of people here are saying the refs almost gave it to ORL. Kobe had a sub par shooting game, but Ariza was a beast and D-Fish came through with some clutch shots. Howard needs to grow up. Instead of doing that half court shot before the game, he should have been practicing free throws! (i was saying the same thing in the pre-game, what a chump) And the elbow Kobe gave Nelson, that’s collateral for all the calls ORL got and the hook he gave Gasol on the play before. Good thing he was actually wearing his mouth piece at the time, LOL! What really made me mad was that foul by pietrus. That’s gotta be a flagrant, and I’m glad Pau got his face and told him off. He’s lucky he didn’t get clocked. Oh well, watching pietrus walk off the court when they lose in the final game will be sweet. What a dirty play. Anyway, wouldn’t be surprised if Magic took game 5. Then the Lakers can close it out in LA, but I really hope they just put their foot on the gas and take it sunday. Anyone wanna meet up at the parade in L.A.? I’ll be there for sure, partying it up and celebrating.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:23 am
    Reflex: thanks for the tip, but i prefer to gorge on it.

  • adam t Posted: Jun.12 at 4:24 am
    So dark, are you a bitter Cavs, Celts, or non-contending fan?

  • adam t Posted: Jun.12 at 4:25 am
    So dark, are you a bitter Cavs, Celts, or non-contending team fan?

  • JoNaBo Posted: Jun.12 at 4:29 am
    I can’t believe how that sick pass by kobe in the final minute of the fourth is getting overlooked by everyone.

  • Jackie Moon Posted: Jun.12 at 4:32 am
    Kobe can’t win a title without Derek Fisher.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:32 am
    I see adam t, you not knowing which team i root for (as an extension really, since i root mostly for their star), shows how relatively new you are here, compared to me (that adult line’s doubly funny now). That or you just hang around Laker posts. It’s all good, playuhh.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 4:32 am
    I checked out after tech. difficulties. My laker fans, how you feel this morning compared to last years game 4? Remember how you felt last year after we blew that lead? Orlando wins game 5 I concede that and we close out in game 6. I hate Dwight Howard now!!

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:34 am
    @JoNaBo: credit where it’s due, that was a sick pass. But did you notice the earlier one where he did a contested spinmove in transition then a no look to Pau in the paint? That was one of those “oh my gosh” moves, from Kob’s.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:37 am
    Oh damn, i think we both meant the same pass. My bad, JoNaBo.

  • adam t Posted: Jun.12 at 4:37 am
    Dark, I apologize for not respecting your superiority as a devoted Slam Poster. I should have known better. I hope that youtube highlights of your Mr. Bron can fill the void.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:40 am
    as if i give a damn tooting about Lebron…sure he’s great at what he does, not feeling him though.But hey, keep bashing him in an effort to irritate, like the “adult” you are.

  • adam t Posted: Jun.12 at 4:44 am
    Now you’re making me blush in your attempt to win a meaningless argument… :)

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 4:45 am
    It’s getting boring anyway, LA won game 4…yayyy… I’m sure whitehot and some dedicated Lakerbashers will be around sometime later, to add their opinions. What did Jack Black say in that animated movie? ….. skadush!! (and i’m gone)

  • Sean B Posted: Jun.12 at 5:49 am
    J Dizzle ill be seeing you at the parade

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.12 at 7:50 am
    Ahhhhhh… That Biblical Old Testimant double fist Pound Pietrus gave to Gasol’s back was HILARIOUS. My friends and I laughed for about an hour after the game ended. My question still stands to many of these SlAM posters; What are you gonna do after the Lakers win? Are you going to start Harlem-shaking and melt wherever your standing or sitting?

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.12 at 7:51 am
    *SLAM posters

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 8:52 am
    Well……….let’s see……….another s*it performance by Kobe(of course)……Van Jeremey reverted back to his late-game sh*t calling ways……Pietrus pulled a stupid move when the games out of reach……Pau is still a huge pus*sy…..Andrew Bynum has completley ruined any chance of the Lakers getting stronger in the offseason by stealing the money they payed him……Derek Fisher again shut the Laker nation up (and EVERY idiot that supports the Lakers on this site, including it’s incredibly insightful writers)by making the most cluth shots at crunch time…..Kobe’s blatantly obvious offensive elbow to the face foul leads to the most important win of the series, yes?!…..no one will ever rememeber this team 10 years from now, they’re that uninspiring, well except to the girls that follow them here, so that’s a good thing…..Phil finally decided to coach a game, and guess what, the team won a game they had no right winning. Amazing! So yeah, congrats to the Laker fans for the remarkable win and taking complete control of the series. As someone I spoke with last night told me “Kobe will finally get his solo ring, but he’ll never see another one.” I believe that too. Oh….and hurrah to Stern and the officials…..if you need to create a teams destiny any further, let us know if there’s anything we as fans can do, ’cause you know, we pay your salary so we should have some input.

  • wall st. Posted: Jun.12 at 8:55 am
    Lakers hit a new 52 week high ! Sell all your Eastern conference stock ! Laker haters are neurotic, immature children who got cut from varsity.

  • mookie Posted: Jun.12 at 9:04 am
    They showed Vincent Thomas on EspnNews during the post game news conference.

  • riggs Posted: Jun.12 at 9:08 am
    what a bullsh*t last minute, way to go refs once again deciding the outcome of the game with your blatant no-calls. morons.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 9:22 am
    wow, now the espn fastbreaks guys are calling Dwight’s choke job a “Nick Anderson moment”. How do you like that legacy, Nick? Also, Kob’s telling Dwight to “shut the f* up and play” (when Dwight wrapped him up from behind) was freaking hilarious. He of the facial expressions and nonstop Ref talk/whining telling the most fouled player on both teams to stfu & “play”. Nice

  • Myles Brown Posted: Jun.12 at 9:38 am
    “We goin Sizzler, We goin Sizzler….”

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 9:43 am
    wow, way to ruin “WMCJ” for me, Brown. (funny line though, gotta hand it to ya)

  • Ciolkstar Posted: Jun.12 at 10:06 am
    Wow, total choke fest by Orlando. Man, I hate Fisher.

  • Ciolkstar Posted: Jun.12 at 10:10 am
    Kobe played like sh1t.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 10:13 am
    Freedom fries: STFU!!!

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.12 at 10:15 am
    SVG coached liked sh1t. It evened things out.

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.12 at 10:21 am
    And that elbow to Jameer’s face was extra-tasty. Have you ever been playing ball and someone is either guarding you or playing defensive help that you KNOW isn’t really trying to make a defensive play… But rather is just going to “involuntarily” hit you? Of course you don’t.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 10:22 am
    All of these haters on this site, I guess all of us “casual” laker fans are getting ready for a casual party rather deal with the hate. Simmy Sosa, freedom fries guys like that know it all, they have all the answers. How can blame a team for making moves to benefit the team regardless of who traded for who? If you experts were a GM your a$$ wouldn’t make it out of the interview. Butt keep hating though, because either game 5 or 6 the Rose’ will be flowing. (moet for the losers) LOL

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.12 at 10:22 am
    Or, of course you haven’t, rather.

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 10:26 am
    Sorry Mike, I couldn’t understand what you said. Please say again but this time remove kobe’s greasy balls from your mouth, maybe it won’t sound like “SllrpTlllrpFffffUUUUuuuuuu”

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.12 at 10:29 am
    We kill you ants with a sledgehammer.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 10:30 am
    E boy: did jerry buss molest you or something? Damn man get some pu$$ please and chill the f ck out. Take a smoke break, go to the bar do something!

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:30 am
    Omg I love this Dark and freedon fries. Hate boy hate … mmmmm lol!!!

  • Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.12 at 10:35 am
    LOL at Freedom Fries

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:37 am
    Mike, go back to your boy’s hairy as*hole and type to someone else that could give a fu*k what you say.

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:38 am
    Darks man, you were talking to Dwight after the game??? That is crazy you know what he said to him … Kobe is a d1ck!!

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:41 am
    Oh and James, you should have sacked up last week and made the bet with me…..you could have had me at your mercy, but you pus*ed out, my man. Oh well……next year then.

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:42 am
    Ebooooyyyyyyyyyy … issss souuurrrrrrrrrrrr
    … Daaarrrrkkkkkkkssss issss souurrrrrrrrrr … Freedommmmmmm issss soouuurrrrrrrrr… EBOY EBOY EBOY EBOY EBOY!!!! lol ya’ll are awsome. Hate baby hate. You guys know all the stats. Kobe for his 4th. Buuutttttt Orlando still isn’t done. It has got to suck being a fan like eboy and dark and freedom. When the refs give the game to the Magic and still lose. These guys that are mad like this is awsome lol. Keeping commenting ladies lol, I love reading it.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 10:43 am
    E-boy yeah BOY you talk like someone who had unfortunate experiences when you young that’s all BOY!!

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:44 am
    WHat bet? lol … do you know my number or facebook? Because I don’t get an alarm or e-mail when you post on here. As much as you think you are GOD on here … Eboy I was told why you don’t like Kobe. Because your wife was the one Kobe had in Colorado. She is his biggest fan, correct?

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:44 am
    WHat bet? lol … do you know my number or facebook? Because I don’t get an alarm or e-mail when you post on here. As much as you think you are GOD on here … Eboy I was told why you don’t like Kobe. Because your wife was the one Kobe had in Colorado. She is his biggest fan, correct??

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:45 am
    Mike, I’m sure your mom needs the phone. Get off the internet before you’re grounded. James, you still didn’t answer why you never sacked up for the bet?

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:46 am
    Oh…..ok…..it’s fine James…..I only asked for you about 10 times and many other regular’s asked about the bet too so I assumed you knew. No problem.

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 10:47 am
    James the magic are done and done. If you’ve read my posts, you know what I think about Kobe (ie. the good and the bad) – you can’t really think that anyone likes Phil can you? How old is Jeannie? He’s like a borderline pedophile – ok a “Zen” pedophile if you prefer

  • Bishop1405 Posted: Jun.12 at 10:50 am
    To me its just amazing how Kobe can play so poorly and still have those kind of stats! The dude is sick no doubt but that menacing stare and gritting of the teeth has to go! Also come on Orlando…how you going to let Jameer get one on the nozzle like that….

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 10:51 am
    Eboy please man. I’m at work on my iPhone so this ain’t what you used to!

  • Michael Posted: Jun.12 at 10:52 am
    jesus how old are you guys?

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:53 am
    Then your job is as sorry as your insults. iPhone? Oh, scary techno boy know’s how to post from his phone. Cool bro……you’ve got the world by the balls. Do what you do.

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:54 am
    11.

  • MeloMan22 Posted: Jun.12 at 10:57 am
    @ James: i never said anything about the Nuggets. It just seems that more often than not, a team that is facing the Lakers seems to make ridiculous mental mistakes at the end of a close game without really being forced into it by the Lakers Defense. this game is an example, both games against the Nuggets when we threw the ball away are also examples. stuff like that doesnt happen in any game unless it involves the Lakers…I’m just sayin

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 10:57 am
    Is my imposter doing his thing again?

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 10:57 am
    OMG iFone FTW – IMHO BTW ROTFL – my apologies Mike, I had no way of knowing that you knew how to roll like that

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:58 am
    Man it won’t let me comment again. SLAM is getting bad here lol.

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 10:59 am
    All I know is that, does anybody call Hugh Hefner a ped … nope, just a pimp. Phil’s a pimp. When your 60, and have the chance to date a 40 year old. I would like you to reason yoruself to say no when you have another 10 years on this planet or so. I would f()ck these a$$ off here with a handful of viagra!! I don’t know what bet brother. Never heard of it, what was it? And I am not washing you car with my shirt off!!!!

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 11:00 am
    Melo, don’t act rational now. I like you better foaming at the mouth.

  • Freedom Fries Posted: Jun.12 at 11:03 am
    Ok Ladies, it’s happy hour time in Freedomland – l’heure de l’apéro. Have a good summer, get out and get some fresh air and don’t suck too much laker schlong – or you’ll go blind.

  • Jackie Moon Posted: Jun.12 at 11:03 am
    And once again, the comments section has degenerated into personal insults, petty grievances, and puerile rants … Thanks guys. Later.

  • MeloMan22 Posted: Jun.12 at 11:06 am
    and i agree, the Lakers have alot of ride or die, knowledgable fans, but for everyone of them, thers an equally ignorant and obnoxious James tha baller

  • wayno Posted: Jun.12 at 11:10 am
    Cosign Jackie…this is sad…

  • Myles Brown Posted: Jun.12 at 11:14 am
    BEST COMMENTERS ON THE WEB!

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.12 at 11:17 am
    Gasol played smart defense on Howard late. He made of point of getting the refs to notice how Howard likes to get his arms up high when he establishes post position, and after a few calls, Dwight chilled on that.
    Why are people surprised that Dwight missed two pressure packed free throws? He’s a bad free throw shooter, that’s what they do.
    Hedo is both cluth, and boneheaded. He makes shots that are crazy clutch, but he also makes plays that cause his team to suffer throughout the game.
    Jameer Nelson doesn’t have his burst, and at the end of the game the Lakers kind of forced him to be a scorer on the pick and rolls, and he couldn’t do it consistently.
    Kobe’s elbow was not egregious. Jameer needs to keep his distance, that’s ball homie. Unlike some of his dirty elbows, I had no problem with that one.
    Bynum’s leg isn’t right. After an offseason working on it, I think he’ll be back to his old form next year.
    When the Lakers lock in on defense, the Magic are in trouble.
    Derek Fisher has balls like watermelons. That first three was incredibly ballsy. Everyone knows that if he misses that shot, he’s the most hated man in LA, but he still took it, and took it without hesitation. That’s clutch right there.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 11:19 am
    E boy you’re right I’m not an insult guy. I’m a dot your eye kind of guy okay. Just leave it alone seriously, you’re killing my haze high!!

  • The Seed Posted: Jun.12 at 11:22 am
    Lakers won, get over guys, The Magic choke away another game. Kobe averages 33 points and 8 assists a game, but he is choking. People, Kobe can not win a title by himself. Jordan did not win anyone one of those by himself. I love the Lakers grit, intensity and the Lakers kept playing. Orlando and Hedo tongue wagging, thought the game was over. Just give the Lakers credit for playing .

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 11:23 am
    I wish my comments would come up and not someone else using my screename.

  • AR Posted: Jun.12 at 11:27 am
    Wow.

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 11:27 am
    Oh…..(if this goes through, I guess) Myles, stay the fu*k out of here then if you’re going to insult. IT’S A FORUM FOR COMMENTS! Write something instead of criticizing if you hate the place so much. Seriously. I don’t know who wrote half the sh*t under my stupid screename today, but you made a generalization and that’s straight bullsh*t. Whatever man, your boss at the mag like’s the traffic here, so take it up with him. Or not, you’re a big boy, you’ll figure it out.

  • MeloMan22 Posted: Jun.12 at 11:29 am
    @ Jukai: of course youuu would like me better Foaming at the mouth. it seems John Amechi has rubbed off on u

  • Mike Posted: Jun.12 at 11:31 am
    I don’t mean to come off like that jackie but some if these guys just I don’t know. I apologize to all of you. People got me hating on the King when that’s my man for real! I like everybody because I’m a ball freak. I just don’t know where people get their insight from but that’s me trying to rational. I love NBA, NCAA, high school and playground so if you compete on any level you respect the game and how hard is to play. These lazy boy a$$ comentators write anything because they don’t know or appreciate the game. If you did you notice good ball when you see it.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Jun.12 at 11:34 am
    Thats the spirit!

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.12 at 11:36 am
    A wise man said don’t argue with fools, cause from a distance you can’t tell who’s who.

  • AR Posted: Jun.12 at 11:39 am
    Meloman22:The blistering indepth insight of your basketball knowledge is only surpassed by the originality of your John Amaechi jokes.

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 11:41 am
    Is that the real AR or a fake one? I can’t keep this sh*t straight.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Jun.12 at 11:43 am
    Come to think of it, where’s Russ? Or Ryan? Or Jake? Or Holly? Or any other contributor who used to make the comments enjoyable? Maybe they just decided to stay the f*ck out too, huh? Actually, I know they did.

  • wayno Posted: Jun.12 at 11:44 am
    Why isn’t there a login or something for this site…this is getting stupid.

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.12 at 11:45 am
    Next year, everyone who pops so much junk on here needs to get in a tourney against the other posters. SLAM can ya’ll organize that? If not can we get a SLAM organized fantasy basketball league? That way all this so-called knowledge people claim they have about the game can be/ will be put to the test.

  • Michael Posted: Jun.12 at 11:46 am
    maybe they should work on getting a login/registration thing going on here, might clear a lot of this up

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.12 at 11:51 am
    Sometimes the comments are good, sometimes they aren’t.
    Sounds like life.

  • MeloMan22 Posted: Jun.12 at 11:51 am
    it seems that AR is a little sensitive to the subject of homosexuality… the closet door is closing my friend

  • Joe R Posted: Jun.12 at 11:52 am
    did anyone notice the song played at the end of the game when Kobe was being interviewed? Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger “So Sally can wait, she knows it’s too late as she’s walking on by.
    My soul slides away, but don’t look back in anger
    I heard you say”

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 11:55 am
    Melo.. I said you should be foaming at your mouth, not Jukai. ANNNDDDD it’s balla, not baller. Speak my name right when you speak it in the street!!!

  • wayno Posted: Jun.12 at 11:57 am
    ^^ Did he REALLY just say that….wow…

  • AOCPR Posted: Jun.12 at 11:57 am
    Fish’s OT three is the new ‘elbow jumper’

  • Eboy Posted: Jun.12 at 11:57 am
    Man fu*k this, Ben/Ryne, if you can shoot me an e-mail when the site issues are over, I’ll head back. I’ve typed out 4 comments today and there’s about 20 with my name attached, and the others are all inflamatory (well, moreso than normal, I guess)Myles, I didn’t write that long derogatory one. This is so dumb.

  • AR Posted: Jun.12 at 11:59 am
    Meloman:I’ll quote a song I just listened to:”If I’m in the closet,then you are below me,taking the B-A-T outta ‘basement’,homie”.
    I’m changing back to Izzo….

  • B. Long Posted: Jun.12 at 12:02 pm
    What a game. Quite possibly the most inconsistently officiated game of the series. I just can’t believe the RZA isn’t getting more love for the W. Dude had just as big as an impact if not bigger than D-Fish did, not taking anything away from D, I’m just saying that no one is talking about Trevor’s 13 in the 3rd and the huge clutch 3 he hit too. The Lakers are like Jason from Friday the 13th, you can’t just shot the motherfu(ker in the chest and think he’s dead, you have to dismember him, burn his remains and pour holy water all over his ashes or he’s gonna come back and cut your head off with a machete.

  • AOCPR Posted: Jun.12 at 12:10 pm
    I wish Van Gundy would’ve used that analogy on air.

  • Zee! Posted: Jun.12 at 12:13 pm
    Well said B.

  • Antwonomous Posted: Jun.12 at 12:23 pm
    Eboy, you should be happy you have an impostor. You know they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I wish I had an impostor.

  • AOCPR Posted: Jun.12 at 12:46 pm
    I wonder what Mike Bibby’s reaction to Kobe’s elbow was.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.12 at 12:47 pm
    Regarding the poor Freethrow Shooting by Dwight and other big men in the league, it’s crazy how well they tend to shoot it in practice. I spent last Saturday and early monday morning shooting around with Andrew Bogut and his Manager. (He was in town for a camp i helped coach) and dude was hitting shots from allover and when we (4 guys) got down to shooting Freethrows, he was downright amazing in stretches. At the same time, he tells me that the crowds behind the staunchion are blocked out by most Players anyway and they usually stick to the same routine, Reggie Style. Kinda like their Mantra. So i asked him, why have you been shooting around 65 percent (i was guessing at the time) through your career? He had no answer.

  • Michael Posted: Jun.12 at 1:06 pm
    Last NIghts game was one of th ebest games I’ve ever seen. It reminded me of Game 7 between The BUlls and Indiana in 97 whe the bulls couldn’t shoot straight but gutted it out and won on sheer will. Kobe was awfull shooting the ball but he kept fighting and made plays for others in the second half. Ariza was just amazing in that third and D-Fish is a freaking miracle worker.

  • B. Long Posted: Jun.12 at 1:11 pm
    Kobe Bryant joined Jerry West and Michael Jordan as the only three players to ever score 30 and drop 8 assists or more in 6 consecutive playoff games. Yep, he played like complete sh!t.

  • Ciolkstar Posted: Jun.12 at 1:17 pm
    ^he also shot 11-31 had atleast 4 fourth quarter turnovers

  • Michael Posted: Jun.12 at 1:22 pm
    Jordans Shooting % in his last 3 finals: 96- 41.5%
    97-.45.6%
    98-42.7%

  • Michael Posted: Jun.12 at 1:22 pm
    Kobe had 3 turnovers in the game.

  • bulldog Posted: Jun.12 at 1:30 pm
    I wrote a little song and it goes a little something like this…(mee-meee-mee-mee):
    Smile- though your heart is broken; Smile when Dwight Howard’s choking..Clanking crucial free throws.did you see Jameer’s broken nose?..You just smile when Ariza punks you..Smile..when Gasol just dunked you..Fish raining threes to save the day; See youuuuu at the victory parade!
    (thank you..thank you veddy much)

  • Myles Brown Posted: Jun.12 at 1:32 pm
    And not one of those three turnovers came in the 4th or OT. I may have no credibility, but the boxscore and play by play sure do.

  • Lakers Showtime 1987 Posted: Jun.12 at 1:36 pm
    4th quarter and OT free throws
    Magic = 21
    Lakers = 0 Is this fair? And you Magic fans cry about jameer getting elbowed when he did not give Kobe any space. Oh and you think Pietrus should not be suspended for punching Pau in the back? Thats was deliberate. Pietrus is a coward little cry baby.

  • Austin Posted: Jun.12 at 1:39 pm
    100% agree with what Lakers Showtime said. They can’t complain about kobe’s indeliberate elbow when howard purposely uses his elbows down low on pau almost every time to move him out of the way. Why don’t you complain about ur team just not being as good as the lakers.

  • bulldog Posted: Jun.12 at 1:42 pm
    That cheap shot that Peitrus did on Pau at the end of the game was pathetic. If a Laker would have done that to a Magic player the entire arena would have erupted in a riot and he would have been suspended if not hung from the rafters. Even biased officiating couldn’t offset the Lakers determined winning attitude. Bynum got 2 fouls during warm up. When Dwight shoved Paul to the ground the referees conveniently looked the other way. No excuses, the Magic had every opportunity and CHOKED.

  • bulldog Posted: Jun.12 at 1:53 pm
    Oh, and I just loved it when Hedo stuck his tongue out like Roman Emperor Commodus reveling in his own glory after hoisting a couple of lucky baskets. Ooooh look at me! Now compare that to the countenance of Ariza – cold deadpan shark stare. I’ll take the shark over the dancing, tongue wagging poodle any day!!

  • wayno Posted: Jun.12 at 1:54 pm
    Man, all the Kobe hate is insane! He had an “off” night and still got 32pts 7rebs 8ast 1blk 1 stl. I’m anything but a Kobe lover, but for everyone in the NBA not named LeBron or Kobe that’s a GREAT night despite the not so great shooting percentage. Show a little respect, he’s gettin it done.

  • Stan Posted: Jun.12 at 1:56 pm
    I have to admit that I thought it’s going to be 2-2 after the second quarter, I didn’t even watch the game when Trevor was scoring all those points in the 3rd. If I have to pick between him and Fish to be the player of the game, I would say that it’s a tie. Kobe shouldn’t have been interviewed after the game at all. That last Laker play in regulation is comparable to the magic’s game 2 play, like who thought of this play, it’s beyond amazing how anyone could come up with that. That alone was worth $12M. I was wrong about Fisher, as I have been wishing for him to die during the Denver series, but I’d still want Vujacic to drop dead, I don’t understand why Brown is not playing ahead of this joker. The difference between Shaq and Howard is, Shaq makes his free throws when his team needs it =)(Game 3 Heat/Dallas series). Howard seem to be excited to slap hands with his teammates after he shoots his free throws. After all the talk about Lewis earning his rediculous salary during the playoffs, he should return some of it back after yesterday’s game. Skip should be playing instead of Nelson so i don’t know what’s up with that. If Pietrus does not get suspended for what he did, I suggest that Pau do the same the next game just to make it even. Pau kept a cool head there not because he’s soft.

  • Z Posted: Jun.12 at 2:34 pm
    Myles, you have no credibility when you criticize Bron. Everything else is A1. Exagerating what people say IS a good defense mechanism to. It makes the argument seems weaker.

  • Z Posted: Jun.12 at 2:39 pm
    Stan, that’s Shaq’s genius: say anything over and over again and it’ll be thought of as true, eventually. Exhibit A) I always make ‘em when they count. No, he’s a bad ft shooter. All the time. His own teams RUN AWAY FROM HIM in a foul situation because they don’t want him at the line. Exhibit B) I’m the most dominant ever. What does that even mean? He knew he couldn’t say he was the best big, let alone best player, ever so he invented most dominant. How was he more dominant than Wilt or Kareem?! Exhibit C) Kob and I are the best big man / little man combo. That sounds so gay that I don’t even want to comment on it. Looked even weaker when Kobe wouldn’t give that story the time of the day.

  • Tariq Al Haydar Posted: Jun.12 at 2:43 pm
    The difference between Shaq and Howard is like the difference between Kobe and Kevin Durant.

  • B. Long Posted: Jun.12 at 3:03 pm
    Tariq is on point.

  • Joey Posted: Jun.12 at 4:07 pm
    That elbow by KB is the reason why lakers are going to win the chip this year. If the foul was called… different outcome. But the officiating was absolutely horrendous for both sides. Shady…

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.12 at 4:15 pm
    why everyone so hostile? orlando had a good season know one expected them to be here… everyone knew the lakers were going to win since october calm down

  • Marco Posted: Jun.12 at 4:15 pm
    First of all, I can’t understand SVG!!! Why is Skip’s a** on the bench while he’s been really good and Jameer Nelson is on the court. I don’t wanna hate on Nelson. Not at all, but right now he ain’t even close to the player he’s been during the season and who made himself an (deseverved) All Star! Yeah I know, he had two or three good moments, but other than that he looked lost and confused on the court…I don’t even know what he or his coach were thinking on that play where Fish hit the trey to tie the game at the end of regulation…If Van Gundy told his players not to foul before the Lakers could get a shot of he’s stupid! And Nelson? He even waits behind(!) the threepoint line. BEHIND!!! And they lead by three!!! How is that possible??? If you act this stupid, you certainly don’t deserve to win a game in The Finals!!! For the comparisons of Shaq and Dwight. I love both guys, but Superman ain’t even close to the young Shaq! At least not offensively. Sorry, but I ain’t never seen Shaq (especially at a young age) getting stripped of the ball so often. Although I gotta admit that the Lakers are doing a great job of double and triple teaming Dwight. As for Kobe. I don’t like him, but say what you want, he’s the best player in the game right now. If that was on ‘off night’, I’d love to be an ‘off player’…One thing I gotta say though is that his verbal leadership and comunication on the court doesn’t seem to be ‘real’ at all. So after the finals they can give him not only a finals MVP trophy, but also an Oscar…You’ll never be like Mike! Accept it!

  • Marco Posted: Jun.12 at 4:19 pm
    deserved all star that is!

  • comets Posted: Jun.12 at 4:36 pm
    why does everyone hate on kobe?

  • comets Posted: Jun.12 at 4:37 pm
    why does everyone hate on kobe?

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.12 at 4:37 pm
    why does everyone hate on kobe?

  • wayno Posted: Jun.12 at 5:09 pm
    why does everyone hate on kobe?

  • James the balla Posted: Jun.12 at 5:11 pm
    why does everyone hate on kobe?

  • Z Posted: Jun.12 at 5:21 pm
    why would anyone root for kobe?
    the talent is unquestionable and is really only questioned by idiots, but i don’t see much in him that makes me want to root for him. that’s just me, though. i don’t wish him to fail, though, that’s borderline crazy. indifference to his success. admiration for his game.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.12 at 5:30 pm
    “BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 10:35 pm
    I actually like Hedo “Crash” Turkoglu on Kobe. They need to go to that more often.” “BETCATS Posted: Jun.11 at 10:35 pm
    Oh crap I’m still BETCATS.” If slam doesnt fix this i am leaving. I dont need a imposter (no matter how harmless/cool he is) impostering me.

  • Stan Posted: Jun.12 at 5:42 pm
    I’m only comparing Shaq and Dwight on free throw shooting. They were playing the Heat/Dallas Finals series on BTV and there was this game where the Heat was down 0-2, it was the last 2 minutes of game 3 and the Heat was on the comeback but they were still down by 2, Shaq had to make both free throws and he did. The Lakers/Portland WC Game 7 Finals also had Shaq in a situation where he had to make 2 free throw and he did. I know he missed a lot that counted but it was amazing that he was able to make some notable ones.

  • B. Long Posted: Jun.12 at 5:47 pm
    ^Stan is smart.

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.12 at 5:47 pm
    The posts being attributed to me are not in fact from me.
    It’s cute though.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.12 at 7:04 pm
    ^same thing here

  • Holiday Posted: Jun.12 at 7:42 pm
    Anybody that thinks Kobe shouldn’t be suspended for that elbow is a hack, and so biased! Why should this be any different than any other game? That game was way more important than any regular season game, Karl Malone was constantly suspended for elbow’s why should Kobe have immunity?

  • tealish Posted: Jun.12 at 7:57 pm
    Sigh, Nelson lost this one for them. Dwight’s misses sucked, but that’s expected. He’s a horrible FT shooter and was shooting the biggest FT’s of his life — he’ll miss.
    But Jameer’s defense on Fisher was inexcusable. Was he trying not to get blown by for a layup when they were up 3 with 4seconds left? Really? Oh what, he was an All-Star?

  • Holiday Posted: Jun.12 at 10:45 pm
    tealish, I simply can’t hate! he’s totally right!

  • doyouwantmore Posted: Jun.13 at 5:07 am
    On Kobe; Yes, the elbow was deliberate.
    On Dwight: Bring your elbows up when you shoot free-throws dude.
    On Stan V G: Panic at the disco.
    On Peitrus: French guys aren’t scary
    On Derek Fisher: I would want to go out like that. Retire after this ring.
    On Jameer: He came back before he was ready so he could say he played in the finals. Well, Jameer, was it worth it?
    On Phil Jackson: New nickname – Morpheus
    On Skip-to-my-lou: You are a champion already, homie.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.13 at 5:25 am
    Morpheus. I like that

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Jun.13 at 7:07 am
    Other than maybe with Eboy a few weeks ago, there are no “imposters,” just a site that is struggling with labeling its commenters probably. Sorry that this is still ongoing.

  • Darksaber Posted: Jun.13 at 10:19 pm
    That Eboy imposter was plenty gross!

  • Anton Posted: Jun.14 at 5:03 am
    There was an imposter of me, although I could have just been drunk.

  • goto Posted: Jul.25 at 10:08 am
    although I could have just been drunk.

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