How bad do you want LA to lose again in Finals?

[mr_sunshine]

I'm indifferent honestly. I'd prefer Orlando to win, but I don't really hate that Lakers, like I hate that Cavs. LeBron is just such a douche.

On the other hand though, I go to school two hours north of LA and people here HATE the Celtics. Absolutely despise them. I've had several people yell at me for wearing my Pierce jersey around. Apparently P2 is the #1 scumbag in the universe because he bested LA in the finals last year.

[meatball sub]

I predicted Lakers in 5, and now I wish I'd predicted a sweep. Dwight Howard absolutely forgot to show up in Game 1. Orlando might be able to win one at home, but...yeah...they really aren't that good, and I think we've all known this since we played them. If they hit their shots, they're unstoppable. When they don't, they look terrible. That is not the sign of a championship caliber basketball team, IMO. Great teams don't rely on jump shots.

They were making a ridiculous amount of threes ever since Big Baby knocked down that buzzer beater. They had to stop falling at some point. The series isn't over and anything could happen, but I'd bet on them remaining cold.

[IEcelticfan]

stan van jeremy's tactic/strategy for the next 3-6 games should be:

double team bryant, put d-ho on gasoft/bynum, shard cover odom when he's on the floor and leave fish or ariza open - make them beat you, orlando, preferably fish. whatever it is, do not let bryant beat you 1-on-1. cover him like glue with 2 guys, take the ball outta his hand, do not let him score more than 10pts for the rest of the series, no matter the outcome. prevent him gettin the finals mvp. let someone else be the hero, ie. fish and be finals mvp should they win. i wanna see his egoistical true self come out ....

[Jajwanda]

That's a pathetic strategy considering Howard can't cover both Gasol and Bynum at the same time.

Leave Fisher open? Go ahead. As a set shooter he's pretty damn good. Don't let him score more than 10 points? The Celtics vaunted 2008 Finals defense threw the kitchen sink at Kobe and were happy when Kobe scored less than 25. 10, are you kidding me?

[Celtsfan1980]

It's very very very very bad because if they win the championship it become narrow the gap between the Celtics and Lakers in championship title.

Yeah, the gap will go from C's 17, Lakers 9 to C's 17, Lakers 10...

According to the NBA, Lakers have 14. You can be in denial all you want..Gap is closing.

According to the way I look at things, the Celtics have earned 7 out of 17. On the other hand, the Lakers have earned 0 Championships. Being given Mikan, the lopsided Jabaar trade, getting Shaq for nothing, and of course Kobe going to the Lakers when he obviously should have been a New Jersey Net. People have their different ways of looking at things. As long as there is consistency. It doesn't make one person wrong.

[Celtsfan1980]

Lets face it CF, you dispise Kobe and the Lakers PERIOD. It is very obvious. Your actually comparing a player who has juiced and lied over and over about his steriods abuse which he is still denying to Kobe.
I actually had this conversation with this new girl that I have been dating for a month and when I brought up Kobe and all the hate he recieves her reply was "People hate Kobe because of his success and what he has achieved as a player" and " Everytime they bring up his past or anything negative is to only put him down and bash him for who he is and what he is to the game" "Who cares what he has done off the court?" He is a nobody to me and all I care about is what he does on the court" "And that is winning championships".
I think Im in LOVE brah...........

I consider Jabaar, Jackson, and Kobe as being classless for different reasons. I've had respect for all of the Lakers' other stars throughout their history. It depends on what time period you're looking at. I will admit I despise the way they've won Championships, and I still laugh at their 13,300 attendance. It depends on what era you're looking as to whether I hate them.

I'm not a big baseball fan so I could be wrong, but I don't recall A-Rod lying under oath. Most people in this world have lied, so I don't expect a person to be 100% honest their entire life. We all have different ways of judging people and mine are obviously different than yours.

[sunshinekids99]

I'd actually prefer the Lakers to win. Atleast the Lakers have a championship team and as much as I dislike him Kobe is the best the game has to offer. I would have a hard time seeing Stan Van Gundy getting credit for being a good coach and the Magic being an elite team which they are not.

[celticfan42487]

I like the new Lakers sig then the old one.

I mean they wore it all last season [I think a few the season before last as well]. Then, when every ESPN analyst picked them last year... they had one of the most embarrassing Finals appearances in awhile. I think only the CLE/SA sweep come close. Unlike CLE, LA had a chance... they're players just don't play tough so they let records of "pathetic" be attached to them.. a Kobe lead team. Biggest lead given up [also that was a collapse on their own court], biggest loss in a finals ever... just terrible.

If that's their "destiny"... well there is a reason you don't see Clipper fans bragging about destiny.

Now with the new sigs, you got the countdown and the marketers who favor their team and are a big reason why they get favorable treatment from the refs. It just makes more sense to rep them.

[PPAW4Life]

They should just cancel the NBA Finals.

Neither the Lakers or the Magic are true championship teams.

[Damir]

Lakers in 5

[TonyMontana]

"People hate Kobe because of his success and what he has achieved as a player"

that's swell. But your g/f is hardly an authority on what makes people tick.

Kobe has an "I am a prick" vibe going for him - the whole rape thing didn't help. Even if he didn't rape that girl he pretty clearly acted like a POS..

So no I don't think people hate him for what he has accomplished.. They hate him because his "nice guy" personality is at odds with reality. People don't like hypocrits. You want to play the nice guy family man? Don't screw around with some bimbo.

You want to play the perfect teamate? Don't bad mouth Shaq and then later deny that you even care about showing him up.

Ya Im sorry but I dont live my life and look at athletes or anybody else as role models or a father figure or a icon or anything else other than who they are, I have my dad to thank for that.
He is my father and my role model and if he was the one that cheated on my mom which I thank God that he never has or he never will.
So with that being said I fail to see what an athletes does off court in his personal life and who he cheated on or how much liquor he drinks and who much cocaine he uses has anything to do with what he does on a basketball court. I just cant see that. So, I dont really care about Kobe and his cheating or Shaq and his antics or anybody else for that matter.
As far as what happened in LA and Shaq, what you know is what the media feeds you and I'll be honest I dont want to go back and forth and derail this thread about something that happened years ago since me and the majority of the Laker fans (99.9% of them) have moved past that, we are living in a world that its all hear say anyways.

Everybody in this world has made a lot of mistakes and it takes a bigger person to forgive and forget, but thats just me. But lets be honest here, your hate for him isnt solely based on his actions off the court and if you say it is then your kidding me as well as yourself and we all know that.
If it thats why you dispise him so badly then you should be on a mission to a third world country on a religious missionary instead of basketball board.

[TonyMontana]

I consider Jabaar, Jackson, and Kobe as being classless for different reasons. I've had respect for all of the Lakers' other stars throughout their history. It depends on what time period you're looking at. I will admit I despise the way they've won Championships, and I still laugh at their 13,300 attendance. It depends on what era you're looking as to whether I hate them.

I'm not a big baseball fan so I could be wrong, but I don't recall A-Rod lying under oath. Most people in this world have lied, so I don't expect a person to be 100% honest their entire life. We all have different ways of judging people and mine are obviously different than yours.

Your killing me CF (in a good way) so now there was trade conspiracy and we got Shaq for nothing and we are classless??? Too long and too many things to touch that will seriously derail this thread so Ill take your word for it.
One more thing a lier is a lier no matter what. Whether he lied under oath to everybody or to one person its still a lier and you cant believe a lier.

I like the new Lakers sig then the old one..

Ya me too, yours truly Netsforce was the creator and the desinger of that sig, aka the O.G poster that started "The did the Lakers destroy the Cs Swag"

I mean they wore it all last season [I think a few the season before last as well]. Then, when every ESPN analyst picked them last year... they had one of the most embarrassing Finals appearances in awhile. I think only the CLE/SA sweep come close. Unlike CLE, LA had a chance... they're players just don't play tough so they let records of "pathetic" be attached to them.. a Kobe lead team. Biggest lead given up [also that was a collapse on their own court], biggest loss in a finals ever... just terrible..

OUCH that was cold Brahhhhh, I cant believe your still discussing how suckish we were last year, I mean it was very obvious we SUCKED in the finals, but there is that what if so and so was playing, you know the same thing with the what if K.G wasnt hurt the Cs would be in the fianls this year thingy, but I dont live in the past and the what ifs I believe and I have said this many many times, YOU GUYS WERE THE BEST TEAM Lassssssssssssst year and we did lose to the best team Lassssssssssssst year, but this year I think we all know who the better team is and hopefully we can prove that in the next three games.

If that's their "destiny"... well there is a reason you don't see Clipper fans bragging about destiny..

You got me on that, I didnt even know we had clipper fans in LA .............

Now with the new sigs, you got the countdown and the marketers who favor their team and are a big reason why they get favorable treatment from the refs. It just makes more sense to rep them.

Come on brahhhh, YOU KNOW I GOT MAD LOVE FOR YOU and YOUR BOARD but you sound like a pissed of ex boyfriend who just saw his ex girlfriend driving away with Brad Pitt in his Red Lambo after leaving an expensive restaurant that you have been promising to take her when she was dating you. Its not that bad, nobody claimed us champs yet, its only game 2 and your already calling favoritisim from the reffs. Also if you recall Netsforce has always been a Laker fan as well as a Nets fan. I knew that the day I joined this board.
But honestly no matter what happens I cant wait for us to meet again, but thanks for all the Laker love Mangs.

[Celtsfan1980]

Your killing me CF (in a good way) so now there was trade conspiracy and we got Shaq for nothing and we are classless??? Too long and too many things to touch that will seriously derail this thread so Ill take your word for it.
One more thing a lier is a lier no matter what. Whether he lied under oath to everybody or to one person its still a lier and you cant believe a lier.

To me it's all a matter of how a team earns their Championships. Jabaar wanted to play in NY or LA and the Lakers had the better trade package. Shaq went to the Lakers because of Hollywood. And of course Kobe should have been a Net rather than a Laker. I'm not even going to go into the Chamberlain and Magic acquisitions.You're entitled to have a different opinion, but I know I'd be embarassed to be a Laker fan considering how they've built their history.

[TonyMontana]

Your killing me CF (in a good way) so now there was trade conspiracy and we got Shaq for nothing and we are classless??? Too long and too many things to touch that will seriously derail this thread so Ill take your word for it.
One more thing a lier is a lier no matter what. Whether he lied under oath to everybody or to one person its still a lier and you cant believe a lier.

To me it's all a matter of how a team earns their Championships. Jabaar wanted to play in NY or LA and the Lakers had the better trade package. Shaq went to the Lakers because of Hollywood. And of course Kobe should have been a Net rather than a Laker. I'm not even going to go into the Chamberlain and Magic acquisitions.You're entitled to have a different opinion, but I know I'd be embarassed to be a Laker fan considering how they've built their history.

Seriously CF the same could be said about every franchise I mean the word TANK was used in a lot of your so called teams in the past, teams like Spurs Duncan and they went on to win multiple championships after the got Duncan and if you recall a couple of years ago you guys were being accused of tanking and I recall all these threads about your teams being questioned for tanking all season trying to get a better draft pick as well as well as an old Cs legend helping out his old teammate and franchise by trading an unhappy player (K.G) to his former team for a decent trade.
So its really unfair to sit there and question trades and teams tanking or claiming players wanting to play for big market teams.
Do you honetly think that Lebrons not going to N.Y in 2010? Sure he is, thats whats sad about this world, it revolves around money and unfortuantly there is corruption in everything, but you cant sit here and claim that THIS GUYS IS A THIEF when your stealing money from wellfare (example).
Everybody can use something negative against you no matter how dumb and stupind or truthful it maybe and they will try their hardest to discredit someone character at any cost. Im not saying thats what your doing, but we all have our reasons why we hate somebody or something.

Ask me why I dont like the Cs and Ill be honest with you, but I wont go around deverting attention to why I really dislike the Cs, Ill come out and say it as I feel it and why I feel that way.

Yet peps cant seem to do that, they always want to say I hate the Lakers because Kobe rapped a girl, or Phil Jackson rode MJ and Shaq coattail. If your going to bash someone at least be honest about it.

[celticfan42487]

Tony I only write my posts for you <3

^ see that right there was about as ghey as the man hug sig with "our" destiny on it.

The new ones are suave and to the point. Updated too, puppets are just something this year. Game countdown is sweet. Film is a nice touch and I'd like to say it was thought out enough to pay respects to the past and "showtime" but I just can honestly give Netsforce that much credit. (where you at Netsforce?)

But real talk. I like the new sigs better then the last one for the reasons above not for the reasons in my last post, ha.

[celticfan42487]

Oh and I'm going to be talking about last years Finals for a long time! It's record books man. Game 4 and 6 are record setters.

[bballcool34]

They should just cancel the NBA Finals.

Neither the Lakers or the Magic are true championship teams.

I despise the Lakers- but they look like a championship team this year.

The Magic though? Definitely not.

I'm hoping the Magic pull out a miracle and beat the Lakers, but Game 1 really didn't do much for my confidence.

The only team out of the East that can consistently compete with the Lakers are the Celtics.

The Magic can't unless they're hitting their shots- and the Lakers played some great defense on them.

The Cavs wouldn't be able to- Lakers have far too balanced an offensive attack for the Cavs.

[DEEP3CL]

To me it's all a matter of how a team earns their Championships. Jabbar wanted to play in NY or LA and the Lakers had the better trade package. Shaq went to the Lakers because of Hollywood. And of course Kobe should have been a Net rather than a Laker. I'm not even going to go into the Chamberlain and Magic acquisitions.You're entitled to have a different opinion, but I know I'd be embarrassed to be a Laker fan considering how they've built their history.

You know CF1980, I'm not going to jab back and fourth on the history of both teams. Cause your C's wasn't exactly doing things on the up and up either. But your insistence that Kobe should a Net is way way off, you do realize he was drafted by the Hornets and only worked out for one team..............the Lakers. He and his agent from Day 1 told everybody in the league he only wanted to play in L.A.

And you're always questioning the suspicion of trades and all.............the Boston/Phoenix trade that brought Dennis Johnson to the Celtics was one of the most lopsided trades in history.

Anyway I enjoy the convo with you because it's always intellectual and digs into the history of the league a lot. Something you really don't get with a lot of guys on GM.

[Celtsfan1980]

Your killing me CF (in a good way) so now there was trade conspiracy and we got Shaq for nothing and we are classless??? Too long and too many things to touch that will seriously derail this thread so Ill take your word for it.
One more thing a lier is a lier no matter what. Whether he lied under oath to everybody or to one person its still a lier and you cant believe a lier.

To me it's all a matter of how a team earns their Championships. Jabaar wanted to play in NY or LA and the Lakers had the better trade package. Shaq went to the Lakers because of Hollywood. And of course Kobe should have been a Net rather than a Laker. I'm not even going to go into the Chamberlain and Magic acquisitions.You're entitled to have a different opinion, but I know I'd be embarassed to be a Laker fan considering how they've built their history.

Seriously CF the same could be said about every franchise I mean the word TANK was used in a lot of your so called teams in the past, teams like Spurs Duncan and they went on to win multiple championships after the got Duncan and if you recall a couple of years ago you guys were being accused of tanking and I recall all these threads about your teams being questioned for tanking all season trying to get a better draft pick as well as well as an old Cs legend helping out his old teammate and franchise by trading an unhappy player (K.G) to his former team for a decent trade.
So its really unfair to sit there and question trades and teams tanking or claiming players wanting to play for big market teams.
Do you honetly think that Lebrons not going to N.Y in 2010? Sure he is, thats whats sad about this world, it revolves around money and unfortuantly there is corruption in everything, but you cant sit here and claim that THIS GUYS IS A THIEF when your stealing money from wellfare (example).
Everybody can use something negative against you no matter how dumb and stupind or truthful it maybe and they will try their hardest to discredit someone character at any cost. Im not saying thats what your doing, but we all have our reasons why we hate somebody or something.

Ask me why I dont like the Cs and Ill be honest with you, but I wont go around deverting attention to why I really dislike the Cs, Ill come out and say it as I feel it and why I feel that way.

Yet peps cant seem to do that, they always want to say I hate the Lakers because Kobe rapped a girl, or Phil Jackson rode MJ and Shaq coattail. If your going to bash someone at least be honest about it.

I'll be the first one to admit that the allegations regarding Kobe were likely false. The Celtics tanked for maybe 5-8 games three seasons ago. It is a complete exaggeration to claim they tanked for an entire season like you just did. The list goes on and on of teams that tanked. Didn't the Lakers tank when they got Bynum? There should be rules put in place to stop it, but I don't see how it's not legitimate. Obtaining players through the draft lottery(which the NBA likely fixes for the team they choose), free agency, and lopsided trades are not legitimate ways to build your team, but teams can still build a team the proper way. It is very rare these days though. And, yes, I expect Lebron to be a Knick. Probably D. Wade as well. It's certainly not legitimate, but based on my previous comments you should know I feel that way anyways. Also, why does the guy have a Yankee hat in your sig?

[Celtsfan1980]

To me it's all a matter of how a team earns their Championships. Jabbar wanted to play in NY or LA and the Lakers had the better trade package. Shaq went to the Lakers because of Hollywood. And of course Kobe should have been a Net rather than a Laker. I'm not even going to go into the Chamberlain and Magic acquisitions.You're entitled to have a different opinion, but I know I'd be embarrassed to be a Laker fan considering how they've built their history.

You know CF1980, I'm not going to jab back and fourth on the history of both teams. Cause your C's wasn't exactly doing things on the up and up either. But your insistence that Kobe should a Net is way way off, you do realize he was drafted by the Hornets and only worked out for one team..............the Lakers. He and his agent from Day 1 told everybody in the league he only wanted to play in L.A.

And you're always questioning the suspicion of trades and all.............the Boston/Phoenix trade that brought Dennis Johnson to the Celtics was one of the most lopsided trades in history.

Anyway I enjoy the convo with you because it's always intellectual and digs into the history of the league a lot. Something you really don't get with a lot of guys on GM.

I did a thread on this a while ago, and according to the articles he wanted to play for the Lakers, 76ers, or Bulls. I thought those were the three choices, but I could be wrong on one of them. My understanding is that a few of the New Jersey Nets players were talking about Kobe and the Nets were looking at drafting him before Kobe told them he wouldn't play for them. There has to be rules against doing something like that. Just my honest opinion. Dennis Johnson was starting to get older at that point and I do take age as a big consideration. I don't think it was one of the most lopsided, but I do agree that it's lopsided.

It's a joy talking to you too. We've had our disagreements(the Jabaar trade, for instance) but you and I both enjoy talking about the history of the league. I'd rather talk about 1980's basketball rather than today's unfortunately.