2009 NBA Finals

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: anxi80
woooooooooo lakers! just got back from the staples center and left before it got really crazy. so hopefully the team rests up, enjoy their title, and get ready to defend next year in their bid for a back-to-back!

Mitch Kupchak won't get much rest. He's gonna have to figure how to keep odom and ariza.

there best bet is to get kobe to opt out and sign a new deal but for less than max. If Kobe wants a max deal and Ariza and Odom want max deals the lakers are gonna have a problem.

they are already looking at 74 mil for next year w/o odom and ariza.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: OCguy
Kobe gets #4 and all people can say is he shouldnt have had his family on stage? :laugh:


I guess if thats all anyone can say, he'd doin OK.


Good job Lake-show. Next year you may be facing a healthy BOS and a CLE w/Shaq, and an Orlando team that has tasted the finals.


Great time in the NBA right now.


If D. Howard gets a low-post game, and starts making 70%+ FT.....look out.

I'm not a Laker fan or a Kobe fan, I'm just a sports fan and Kobe with most people is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. He did it without Shaq and no matter how much he'll deny it, we all know it's a huge weight off his back. I hope everyone takes a good rest over the summer and Kobe gets his finger fixed finally. KG is going to be back with the Celtics so next season the Lakers need to be careful.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: jjsole
Anyone else think that was antisocial when Kobe kept his kids and wife by his side a few minutes after winning? I think that was stupid to bring them on the stage...he and his teammates went 'blood, sweat, and tears' the whole season, yet he turns to his wife and kids almost immediately after some quick hugs and a few words with his teammates. For some reason that bugged the sh!t out of me.

Maybe his family/kids are his biggest inspiration in life?

I don't criticize him for being a family man, but I guess there is a time for them, and holding on to them everywhere as closely as he did immediately after winning a championship seemed to distance himself from his team around him. The stage was a celebration of his team's accomplishments, not for everyone's family. It left the impression in my mind that the bond with his teammates isn't all that great. I've seen other players carry a child or two around, but not drag the wife around that quickly as well.

To be fair, Derek Fisher had his wife on stage as well.

I didn't know that, only what looked like Bynam's mom. Anyhow, its really not meant to be a rip...just wondering if anyone else got that impression.

I've been supporting him winning and rooting for the lakers to win. They deserve it, he deserves it, and it was awesome to see them win.

Imagine all the time he spends away from his family training and practicing and traveling with his team. I was watching the 2000 Finals before this and immediately after hugging Kobe, Shaq went over to the sidelines and hugged his parents. They came with him to the stage as he got the Finals MVP.

A lot of the players had their family with them, and to be honest, a lot of the players on the Lakers aren't married and don't have kids, or if they do, they have very young children who shouldn't be in that environment (Trevor Ariza's 1-year-old comes to mind).

 

[amol]

Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Amol
Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

The C's weren't lucky, they made the soft Lakers their little bitches and would have done the same this year if they hadn't of had those injuries.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Amol

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: jjsole
Anyone else think that was antisocial when Kobe kept his kids and wife by his side a few minutes after winning? I think that was stupid to bring them on the stage...he and his teammates went 'blood, sweat, and tears' the whole season, yet he turns to his wife and kids almost immediately after some quick hugs and a few words with his teammates. For some reason that bugged the sh!t out of me.

Maybe his family/kids are his biggest inspiration in life?

I don't criticize him for being a family man, but I guess there is a time for them, and holding on to them everywhere as closely as he did immediately after winning a championship seemed to distance himself from his team around him. The stage was a celebration of his team's accomplishments, not for everyone's family. It left the impression in my mind that the bond with his teammates isn't all that great. I've seen other players carry a child or two around, but not drag the wife around that quickly as well.

To be fair, Derek Fisher had his wife on stage as well.

I didn't know that, only what looked like Bynam's mom. Anyhow, its really not meant to be a rip...just wondering if anyone else got that impression.

I've been supporting him winning and rooting for the lakers to win. They deserve it, he deserves it, and it was awesome to see them win.

Imagine all the time he spends away from his family training and practicing and traveling with his team. I was watching the 2000 Finals before this and immediately after hugging Kobe, Shaq went over to the sidelines and hugged his parents. They came with him to the stage as he got the Finals MVP.

A lot of the players had their family with them, and to be honest, a lot of the players on the Lakers aren't married and don't have kids, or if they do, they have very young children who shouldn't be in that environment (Trevor Ariza's 1-year-old comes to mind).

I understand it, not question the family makes huge sacrifices etc., it just seemed it cut short his celebration with the guys who were as instrumental in winning as he was (collectively). Sounds like others didn't get the same impression I did...I'm fine with that and will leave it at that.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Amol
Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

Any team that makes it thru the playoffs w/o major injuries is very lucky afaic. But the lakers would have smoked the cavs and taken the celtics as well, even if they didn't have injuries. We'll never know tho. To think that Mike Brown couldn't handle stan van gundy but would have been able to handle phil in the finals? lol, not a snowball's chance. As for the celtics, pierce and allen are a year older, and played like it (in a bad way.) KG and powe couldn't have saved them.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Amol
Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

The C's weren't lucky, they made the soft Lakers their little bitches and would have done the same this year if they hadn't of had those injuries.

This. The Cs might be too old next year but they were easily 5 notches above any other team in this league. Hell they won the close-out game by 39 points.

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Amol
Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

Any team that makes it thru the playoffs w/o major injuries is very lucky afaic. But the lakers would have smoked the cavs and taken the celtics as well, even if they didn't have injuries. We'll never know tho. To think that Mike Brown couldn't handle stan van gundy but would have been able to handle phil in the finals? lol, not a snowball's chance. As for the celtics, pierce and allen are a year older, and played like it (in a bad way.) KG and powe couldn't have saved them.

Yeah but rondo is a rising star. Plus BIG BABY DAVIS :laugh:

To be honest, nobody would know who would win between Celts and lebrons and Celts and fakers.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Amol
Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

The C's weren't lucky, they made the soft Lakers their little bitches and would have done the same this year if they hadn't of had those injuries.

Yup, LA wasn't even the best team in the league IMO.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Yeah but rondo is a rising star. Plus BIG BABY DAVIS :laugh:

Nobody wants to play with Rondo and his moodiness. And until Davis shaves that stupid looking mohawk, I refuse to acknowledge that he even plays in the NBA period.

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: wkabel23

Originally posted by: hbui

what i am referring to is how shitty they performed in those finals. and how i am expecting a similar outcome vs. the lakers.

That is just like saying if you act like a moron one day, I can expect you to be a moron for the rest of your life?
It's been 14 years. This is a completely different magic team.

way to read into it way too much. :roll:

i'm expressing my discontent with the finals matchup.

congrats magic fans, magic outplayed the cavs and certainly deserve the trip. i just think theyre going to lose.

What do you know, the magic choked in the finals again. At least a few of the games were entertaining.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: wkabel23

Originally posted by: wkabel23

Originally posted by: hbui

what i am referring to is how shitty they performed in those finals. and how i am expecting a similar outcome vs. the lakers.

That is just like saying if you act like a moron one day, I can expect you to be a moron for the rest of your life?
It's been 14 years. This is a completely different magic team.

way to read into it way too much. :roll:

i'm expressing my discontent with the finals matchup.

congrats magic fans, magic outplayed the cavs and certainly deserve the trip. i just think theyre going to lose.

What do you know, the magic choked in the finals again. At least a few of the games were entertaining.

At least the Magic won their first ever Finals game and weren't swept.

Small victory, I know.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

It is good to see Kobe finally escaping from Shaq's shadow and cementing himself as one of the premier players ever in the NBA.

The best team in the league won the title, and rightfully so: they fought tooth-and-nail against some serious competition to get there. They got lazy and cocky last year because of their fairly easy road to the Finals (kind of like the Cavs did this year). The Lakers finally had some true tests and showed some toughness. They earned it!

And the greatest thing is, the Lakers are poised to repeat for the next few years. Only two players on their championship roster are 30 or greater: Kobe (30, still in his prime) and Derek Fisher (34, just a roleplayer at this point). If they are willing to pay the luxury tax and keep Odom and Ariza around, the Lakers could be contenders for the next few years. Unlike the Celtics, who's main players are on the wrong side of 30...

And Phil Jackson takes his rightful place as the best coach in NBA history.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer

And Phil Jackson takes his rightful place as the best coach in NBA history.

Seriously. Next ring goes on his toe :Q



...or his cock.

 

[Phokus]

Congrats to the lakers, kobe's elbows, and the refs

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Phokus
Congrats to the lakers, kobe's elbows, and the refs

Congrats to Orlando, their supporters, P&G stock holders (for the run on pampers), and the Kimberly Clark company (for the run on kleenex)...?

 

[cheezy321]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
It is good to see Kobe finally escaping from Shaq's shadow and cementing himself as one of the premier players ever in the NBA.

The best team in the league won the title, and rightfully so: they fought tooth-and-nail against some serious competition to get there. They got lazy and cocky last year because of their fairly easy road to the Finals (kind of like the Cavs did this year). The Lakers finally had some true tests and showed some toughness. They earned it!

And the greatest thing is, the Lakers are poised to repeat for the next few years. Only two players on their championship roster are 30 or greater: Kobe (30, still in his prime) and Derek Fisher (34, just a roleplayer at this point). If they are willing to pay the luxury tax and keep Odom and Ariza around, the Lakers could be contenders for the next few years. Unlike the Celtics, who's main players are on the wrong side of 30...

And Phil Jackson takes his rightful place as the best coach in NBA history.

Ariza is gone man. Face it, he played his ass off during the playoffs and he is going to get a BIG paycheck on another team. I think the Lakers will sacrifice to keep Odom around. They arent going to pay the money Ariza is going to get on the free market. There is just no way

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Amol
Great day for LA ... but I'm not satisfied. I want MORE!

PS, I'm kind of pissed off about all these sportswriters saying that the Lakers were "lucky" to win this year, since the C's had injuries with KG and Powe and that LeBron didn't meet them in the Finals and whatnot. Trevor Ariza's performance today and in the series, especially guarding Turkoglu, makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would have a Finals MVP, let alone a ring, if Ariza was guarding him last year. So maybe the C's were lucky, too!

The C's weren't lucky, they made the soft Lakers their little bitches and would have done the same this year if they hadn't of had those injuries.

Yup, LA wasn't even the best team in the league IMO.

Honestly, nobody could beat the Celtics the way they were playing in the beginning of the season. Everyone got lucky when KG got hurt.

I'm not saying the Lakers didn't deserve it. When they focused and Kobe shared the ball (esp to Gasol), they were playing great. They also won when that didn't necessarily happen.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: cheezy321

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
It is good to see Kobe finally escaping from Shaq's shadow and cementing himself as one of the premier players ever in the NBA.

The best team in the league won the title, and rightfully so: they fought tooth-and-nail against some serious competition to get there. They got lazy and cocky last year because of their fairly easy road to the Finals (kind of like the Cavs did this year). The Lakers finally had some true tests and showed some toughness. They earned it!

And the greatest thing is, the Lakers are poised to repeat for the next few years. Only two players on their championship roster are 30 or greater: Kobe (30, still in his prime) and Derek Fisher (34, just a roleplayer at this point). If they are willing to pay the luxury tax and keep Odom and Ariza around, the Lakers could be contenders for the next few years. Unlike the Celtics, who's main players are on the wrong side of 30...

And Phil Jackson takes his rightful place as the best coach in NBA history.

Ariza is gone man. Face it, he played his ass off during the playoffs and he is going to get a BIG paycheck on another team. I think the Lakers will sacrifice to keep Odom around. They arent going to pay the money Ariza is going to get on the free market. There is just no way

I agree, Odom is a requirement to keep. Not as good an on-ball defender as ariza, but can be an insane rebounder and can do everything else when needed. (and knows how to negotiate Kobe-centricity). Ariza played out of his mind, but is a support player who hasn't proved he can produce on both sides of the court when more is expected of him every day. Not sure what Ariza will be looking for but imo is a $6-8m/yr player.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Yeah but rondo is a rising star. Plus BIG BABY DAVIS :laugh:

Nobody wants to play with Rondo and his moodiness. And until Davis shaves that stupid looking mohawk, I refuse to acknowledge that he even plays in the NBA period.

I'm surprised by the Rondo comment...maybe you meant "Rafer Alston"?, lol. Rondo's teammates rave about him being their engine all season. Didn't he have something like 18 assists with 0 turnovers in the playoffs? That's insane, almost any team would love to have him.

 

[cheezy321]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Yeah but rondo is a rising star. Plus BIG BABY DAVIS :laugh:

Nobody wants to play with Rondo and his moodiness. And until Davis shaves that stupid looking mohawk, I refuse to acknowledge that he even plays in the NBA period.

I'm surprised by the Rondo comment...maybe you meant "Rafer Alston"?, lol. Rondo's teammates rave about him being their engine all season. Didn't he have something like 18 assists with 0 turnovers in the playoffs? That's insane, almost any team would love to have him.

Every time I read anything about Rondo I get so pissed off that the Suns traded him away.

Oh what could have been.....

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: anxi80
woooooooooo lakers! just got back from the staples center and left before it got really crazy. so hopefully the team rests up, enjoy their title, and get ready to defend next year in their bid for a back-to-back!

Mitch Kupchak won't get much rest. He's gonna have to figure how to keep odom and ariza.

there best bet is to get kobe to opt out and sign a new deal but for less than max. If Kobe wants a max deal and Ariza and Odom want max deals the lakers are gonna have a problem.

they are already looking at 74 mil for next year w/o odom and ariza.

giving ariza a max would be stupid. they need to resign odom. you can find another ariza, you can't find another odom.

ariza is the james posey of the lakers. someone is going to overpay him and he's gonna leave. it won't really matter because if the front office does its job, they'll find a replacement.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: cheezy321

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: peritusONE

Originally posted by: Barack Obama
Yeah but rondo is a rising star. Plus BIG BABY DAVIS :laugh:

Nobody wants to play with Rondo and his moodiness. And until Davis shaves that stupid looking mohawk, I refuse to acknowledge that he even plays in the NBA period.

I'm surprised by the Rondo comment...maybe you meant "Rafer Alston"?, lol. Rondo's teammates rave about him being their engine all season. Didn't he have something like 18 assists with 0 turnovers in the playoffs? That's insane, almost any team would love to have him.

Every time I read anything about Rondo I get so pissed off that the Suns traded him away.

Oh what could have been.....

After he set the FIBA World Championships record of 27 steals in the tournament, Suns obviously realized he would be a poor fit for their 'system'.

 

[cheezy321]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: anxi80
woooooooooo lakers! just got back from the staples center and left before it got really crazy. so hopefully the team rests up, enjoy their title, and get ready to defend next year in their bid for a back-to-back!

Mitch Kupchak won't get much rest. He's gonna have to figure how to keep odom and ariza.

there best bet is to get kobe to opt out and sign a new deal but for less than max. If Kobe wants a max deal and Ariza and Odom want max deals the lakers are gonna have a problem.

they are already looking at 74 mil for next year w/o odom and ariza.

giving ariza a max would be stupid. they need to resign odom. you can find another ariza, you can't find another odom.

ariza is the james posey of the lakers. someone is going to overpay him and he's gonna leave. it won't really matter because if the front office does its job, they'll find a replacement.

You mean there arent any consistently inconsistent lengthy big men in the NBA?