First Half-Lakers Game 4

[gerry]

I would have never thought I'd say this, but Ezor SHUT THE FUCK UP.

[Ezor]

Well, Ben Wallace's 'do IS straight out of the jungle..

Honestly though, the main reason it's all about to be over is because the refs aren't letting Shaq and company waltz all over the opposition. For better or worse, they're calling tight (at times excessively so) games. So it should be in the Finals. If you want a no-rules bloodbath, check out any Lakers game in the regular season. The refs wear blinders during those games.

Before I go on, triceratops, Kobe seems pretty emotional for someone who doesn't want to win, whining to the refs because they've tightened up on his team's pathetic excuse for a defense. *slap slap slap* gg.

Moving on, let's not forget Detroit's suffocating defense. Game 5 will determine the MVP, be it Billups or Hamilton. Both players are damn near even across the stats page in the Finals:

Hamilton - 21.5 PPG, 41.9% from the field, 66.7% from downtown, 87% from the line, 5.8 RPG, 4 APG
Billups - 22.8 PPG, 50% from the field, 50% from downtown, 91.2% (!!) from the line, 3.3 RPG, 5 APG

Billups has a slight edge offensively, but Hamilton has completely shut Kobe down, so I can't make a call yet. If Rip has a decent showing Tuesday, he ought to be the MVP. IMHO, Chauncey will need a 30-point game as a counterpoint to the way Rip has had Kobe locked down ever since Game 2. Both players have busted their asses though, and both have made strong statements as to why they should be the MVP. This is to say nothing of the rest of the team. Looks like the Eastern Conference's role as doormat is over. Rock on, Bad Boys. :up:

[Battlecat]

I agree with the MVP thing, except that Tayshaun is the one gaurding Kobe, not Rip.

[ConcreteSchlyrd]

The Lakers are a bunch of primadonnas. Karl Malone can end his career without a championship and it would be alright by me. (Grab your walker and sit down, old man.)

PS - Rick Fox is a chump bitch.

[Ezor]

I agree with the MVP thing, except that Tayshaun is the one gaurding Kobe, not Rip.

If you go by the lineup, yes. But Kobe thinks he's Superman, so he tries to play both 1- and 2-guard AND small forward. With the way Jackson's been playing him, he's had Rip in his face most of the time. Leave him at 2-guard where he can keep hurling 20-foot blind prayers.