Hyping the Pistons is a lipstick on a pig job. Ugly, ugly game last night. If Kobe and Shaq both break their legs, even then I don't know if Detroit would win.
LOL!!!!....I must admit, Steven A. Smith deserves credit for being honest as an analyst last night and saying it was a pathetic and sickening display of basketball!!! There was nothing good about it at all and i can't remember the last time a team shot 30% from the field...AND WON!
Heart without talent is useless in a 7 game series. If the Lakers were so inclined, they could sweep this series. However, since the Lakers are prone to periods of laziness and boredom, it probably goes 5 or 6 games. I love Larry Brown and think he did a great job, but this is a mismatch anyway you look at it. Any one of the top 5 or 6 teams in the Western Conference would blow away Detroit. The only real hope I see for the Eastern Conference is King James, and Miami if they can get a true center. There is one other interesting possibility, and that would be if David Stern makes a deal with Kobe to go to a major market team in the East, like New York or Boston, to engineer a rivalry with the Lakers.
A) Dont tell this to lets say a MARLINS team; underdogs who went up against the best....The lakers are a fav and a lock in VEGAS, but this wont be played in Sin city. B) From your mouth to God's ear....who do u think it will eventually be??? C) How about Miami??
Sorry, a 7 game series in baseball is much different than a 7 game series in basketball. As Arizona proved with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, 2 hot pitchers can win you a world series. That doesn't happen in pro baskeball. In hockey, an obscure but hot goalie can win you a championship, but show me one NBA championship that was won in the past 20 years where there wasn't at least one or two hall of famers on the team. Think about it.... Michael Jordan was the only player who achieved greatness for his team without a serious center, do you remember the 3 headed monster? Detroit had Bill Lambier who was a better than average center, and also had Joe Dumars, Vinne Johnson, and a fellow named Dennis Rodman Go over the past champions in the NBA, and find out how important a dominant center is, and the value of real superstars. Look at the list below, see the pattern of Superstars there? See any Superstars on the current Pistons? 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan 1997-98 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan 1996-97 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan 1995-96 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan 1994-95 Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon 1993-94 Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon 1992-93 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan 1991-92 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan 1990-91 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan 1989-90 Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas 1988-89 Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas 1987-88 Los Angeles Magic Johnson 1986-87 Los Angeles Magic Johnson 1985-86 Boston Celtics Larry Bird 1984-85 Los Angeles Magic Johnson 1983-84 Boston Celtics Larry Bird 1982-83 Philadelphia Moses Malone 1981-82 Los Angeles Magic Johnson 1980-81 Boston Celtics Larry Bird 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson As far as Miami goes, they need a dominant presence in the paint, and Brian Grant aint it.
Good points ...also, Detroit had a little point guard named Isaiah Thomas ( sure fire hall of famer) and Rick Mahorn who would beat up his mom for a nickle....Regarding Jordan....i think Bill Cartwright is one of the all time most underrated players of his time....he was a rookie the same year as Magic and Bird...If he came into the east today with his turnaround J...he'd avg 24 and 10 and be a perennial all star...same with Laimbeer...
Look at the revised list: 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan+David Robinson 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal+Kobe Bryant 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal+Kobe Bryant 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal+Kobe Bryant 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan+David Robinson 1997-98 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan+Scottie Pippen+Rodman 1996-97 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan+Scottie Pippen+Rodman 1995-96 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan+Scottie Pippen+Rodman 1994-95 Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon+Clyde Drexler 1993-94 Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon 1992-93 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan+Scottie Pippen 1991-92 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan+Scottie Pippen 1990-91 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan+Scottie Pippen 1989-90 Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas+Rodman+Dumars 1988-89 Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas+Rodman+Dumars 1987-88 Los Angeles Magic Johnson+Worthy+Jabbar 1986-87 Los Angeles Magic Johnson+Worthy+Jabbar 1985-86 Boston Celtics Larry Bird+McHale+Parrish 1984-85 Los Angeles Magic Johnson+Worthy+Jabbar 1983-84 Boston Celtics Larry Bird+McHale+Parrish 1982-83 Philadelphia Moses Malone+Dr. J 1981-82 Los Angeles Magic Johnson+Worthy+Jabbar 1980-81 Boston Celtics Larry Bird+McHale+Parrish 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson+Worthy+Jabbar
I love Ben Wallace. He is Rodman without the craziness, simply the best rebounder and defensive player in the game. Only nondrafted player ever to start in the All Star game. He comes to play every night, every quarter, every minute he's in there. But he gives a lot of size away to Shaq, as does Rasheed Wallace, plus the ref's no doubt will call a foul every time anyone breathes on shaq as he bulls his way to the rim. Potentially interesting matchup though, as Big Ben's nonstop motor and athleticism might wear Shaq down. The rest of the matchups seem to me to favor the Lakers. Perhaps if Rasheed Wallace can have a big scoring series or if Prince or Corliss Williamson can generate some offense, the Pistons can win. I look for Kobe to dominate Rip Hamilton at both ends, but again Kobe may get tired of chasing the nonstop Hamilton. On paper, this one looks like a Lakers cakewalk, but that's why they play them. that and the TV revenue.