NBA Discussion Thread

[M.O.T.H.]

And we have life. :)

Game balls all around.

[thetedginnshow]

Well, if the Magic win the next game, I can consider myself a Burns-level prophet.

[D-Unit]

WE GOT 1! The monkey is off our back! Yay.

[M.O.T.H.]

So can we now agree that Lee/Pietrus can atleast slow Kobe at times? :) Lee shut him down. I'm proud of my boy.

[Brodeur]

Originally Posted by iowatreat54

Kobe, you sir, are no Michael.

He missed two free throws the game before the shot against Cleveland that would have won the series.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by M.O.T.H.

So can we now agree that Lee/Pietrus can atleast slow Kobe at times? :) Lee shut him down. I'm proud of my boy.

I was happy with their defense today. The last 2 games, Kobe has made crucial mistakes at the end of regulation. But Kobe is still God. Lee can't stop Kobe if Kobe goes into Black Mamba mode.

[dabears10]

Originally Posted by M.O.T.H.

So can we now agree that Lee/Pietrus can atleast slow Kobe at times? :) Lee shut him down. I'm proud of my boy.

No. We can agree that throwing different looks at him, especially doubling the ball screen slows him down. He is not looking to pass out of them and ruins his rhythms.

[M.O.T.H.]

I was talking third quarter when it was Lee/Kobe man on man and Kobe went 0-6. And was so frustrated that he started throwing elbows.

[dabears10]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

He missed two free throws the game before the shot against Cleveland that would have won the series.

That is when he was young. Not when he was a veteran.

[dabears10]

Originally Posted by M.O.T.H.

I was talking third quarter when it was Lee/Kobe man on man and Kobe went 0-6. And was so frustrated that he started throwing elbows.

Even then you could tell perimeter defenders were slacking off their guys taking away the drive and allowing Lee to get up closer to Kobe. If Kobe trusts his teammates the Magic would have to change but he is too stubborn or distrusting of his teammates to do it.

[JHG722]

Why is Van Gundy such a supreme douchebag? Nichols asks him what made everything go well offensively for the Magic and he responds 'the ball went in the basket'. Astute analysis, Stan. Douche.

[M.O.T.H.]

meh. I wouldnt take so much credit away from Lee. He played him as good as you can. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. But there was a difference between Lee and Pietrus' defense today. Lee gave him fits. I couldnt be happier w/ their effort.

[Chucky]

Stan Van Gundy comes off as quite the prick in his press conference.

[M.O.T.H.]

Stan is Stan...I love him personally. I liked him when he wasnt here but, I've grown to love him.

[CC.SD]

The Magic just set a record for shooting percentage in a finals game. Knowing that, pretty happy it went down to the wire. Don't choke next time Kobe.

[ShutDwn]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

He missed two free throws the game before the shot against Cleveland that would have won the series.

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
-MJ

People tend to confuse resiliency for never failing in Jordan's case.

Great game by the Magic, loved that dunk by Lee. I'm glad this isn't a bad series like last year.

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by Chucky

Stan Van Gundy comes off as quite the prick in his press conference.

That's putting it nicely, too.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by JHG722

That's putting it nicely, too.

The guy has no class, but he tells it like it is and I can appreciate that. I only like him sometimes, hate him sometimes. I definitely don't love him, but he's better than a lot of other guys out there and that's the truth.

[TACKLE]

The Closer was at it again tonight.

[RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES]

If I am the Lakers I am still confident going into next game because the Magic barely won the game shooting an amazing percentage.

[M.O.T.H.]

That's what everyone is saying but, I wouldnt buy into that too much. Considering the Lakers also shot the hell outta the ball. Every game is different from game to game. Orlando could have won last game, struggling all 1st half.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES

If I am the Lakers I am still confident going into next game because the Magic barely won the game shooting an amazing percentage.

The series all of sudden got serious eh?

Each game has been very different, but the biggest difference between winning this game and losing last game was Free Throws at the end.

[M.O.T.H.]

Originally Posted by D-Unit

The series all of sudden got serious eh?

Each game has been very different, but the biggest difference between winning this game and losing last game was Free Throws at the end.

Last game's problem was turnovers by far. Plus they didnt start playing something that resembled their game until the 2nd half. Tonight's game was pretty much the first one the real team showed up to. Granted they wont shoot like that all the time, I mean from a tempo/pacing/scheming stand point. You watch the tempo of this team in the first two, compared to tonight, you'd think you were looking at two different teams.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by M.O.T.H.

Last game's problem was turnovers by far. Plus they didnt start playing something that resembled their game until the 2nd half. Tonight's game was pretty much the first one the real team showed up to. Granted they wont shoot like that all the time, I mean from a tempo/pacing/scheming stand point. You watch the tempo of this team in the first two, compared to tonight, you'd think you were looking at two different teams.

Not saying TO's weren't the problem last game, and I know we cut down on them today, but there were still plenty enough mistakes on our part. Rebounding was also a problem today. But what was noticeable to me was the fact that we nailed our FTs in the 4th quarter today, when we didn't on Sunday.

[thetedginnshow]

ORLANDO -- There is good and bad to the bright lights of the NBA Finals -- even for a relatively unknown backup center like Marcin Gortat of the Orlando Magic.

Gortat, in just his second NBA season, and the only player in the league from Poland, becomes a restricted free agent this summer. He has helped himself immensely with consistent performances during this playoff run, attracting attention from other teams around the league.

He also received an uncomfortable phone call last weekend from Reebok, with whom he has a shoe contract. Representatives of the company were not happy to see a picture of him from Game 1 in a Polish newspaper that prominently displayed his Michael Jordan/Nike logo tattoo on his lower right leg.

Reebok asked him either to wear higher socks tonight to cover up the tattoo, or to apply makeup so it will not be noticed through the rest of the NBA Finals.

"They called and said I had to do something about it, but that ain't going to happen,'' Gortat said after Tuesday morning's workout.

Gortat tattoo"I've been wearing it 4-5 years now, and it helped me get to the NBA," said Gortat. "They didn't say anything about it when I signed the contract, so it's not going anywhere. I don't think they are paying me enough to take it off.''

Gortat would not say how much his Reebok contract is worth beyond the shoes he is provided to wear, but he said it was minimal compared to what the stars of the league receive.

"I've heard from other people that even other players, if they don't know my name, they know I'm the big white guy with the Jordan tattoo,'' he said. "I like that. Reebok will have to get used to that.''

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/09/r...ttoo-wont-fly/

great quote