NBA FINALS: Game 1 Orlando Magic @ Los Angelas Lakers

[Libri]

good D by Lee

[baseline bum]

Courtney Lee with the heads-up steal!

[lefty]

Lee good Defense !


Nelson to Leeeeeeeeee!

[peskypesky]

Lakers are in trouble!! :)

[crc21209]

Nelson is a fucking beast out there right now!

[timtonymanu]

Damn Nelson looks like he never left.

[Ghazi]

wow jameer looks great

[024]

magic faked nelson's injury just so they can spring this trap on the lakers in the finals.

[Brazil]

my god this magic team is looking just fine

[me15lo]

Damn Nelson looks like he never left.

my thoughts exactly

[benefactor]

Nelson looks really good...which is really bad news for the Lakers.

[ffadicted]

Where the fuck are the Lakers fans? Not here, at Staples I mean. Crowd is absolutely quiiiiiiiiiiiiiet, in a finals game? Have they just gotten used to being here like, 700 times in the past 20 years?

This is ridiculous imo.

Also, Nelson already playing well :)

[Allanon]

Damn Jameer. Bring in Shannon Brown for Jameer, Phil.

[benefactor]

How about Gortat owning Gasol? Pull the trigger R.C.

[Libri]

The Magic offense is looking smooth with Nelson.

[baseline bum]

Where the fuck are the Lakers fans? Not here, at Staples I mean. Crowd is absolutely quiiiiiiiiiiiiiet, in a finals game? Have they just gotten used to being here like, 70 times in the past 20 years?

This is ridiculous imo.

Also, Nelson already playing well :)

I had a friend who went to game 1 of the 02 Finals and couldn't believe how quiet Staples was.

[Allanon]

Laker fans are crazy being on the internet here with a bunch of Spurs fans during this game. If my team's in the Finals and I can't be at the game, at least I'm going to sports bar to cheer with a bunch of other fans.

I'm stuck at work. Sunday I'll be at a Vietnamese Cafe watchin' the game while chicks in their underwear bring me coffee. :lol

[Libri]

Gortat blocks Bynum

[benefactor]

Gortat>>>Laker bigs

[crc21209]

Bynum clearly fouled Gortat...no call. :lol.

[ginobme]

that was a foul on bynum..bullshit

[baseline bum]

Walton murdering Courtney Lee.

[Cry Havoc]

Bynum with an extremely audible slap on Gortat on a layup, no call.

Hooooooome cookin'.

[benefactor]

If we throw 4mil at that Greek guy without even making a run at Gortat I am going to club a baby seal.

[baseline bum]

I'm stuck at work. Sunday I'll be at a Vietnamese Cafe watchin' the game while chicks in their underwear bring me coffee. :lol

LOL. I know that place. The girls all talk to you with that bad Full Metal Jacket accent.

[Allanon]

Bynum fouled Gortat, 3 guys fouled Kobe. No calls either way.

At least they're consistent.

[Allanon]

LOL. I know that place. The girls all talk to you with that bad Full Metal Jacket accent.

:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast :lmao

[ezau]

Why the fuck did we ever draft Mahinmi waaaaaaaaay before Gortat?

[benefactor]

Bynum fouled Gortat, 3 guys fouled Kobe. No calls either way.

At least they're consistent.
Yeah...and I'd rather them be a little lose anyway. No one wants to watch a bunch of free throws.

[ginobme]

Basketball teaches you don't need sportsmanship......if you're sponsored by Nike

[baseline bum]

:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast :lmao

I love the Lee's Sandwiches when I'm in that area. Cheap as hell and 100x better than Subway.

[Cry Havoc]

:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast :lmao

One of my exes is Vietnamese. She had a camouflage shirt that said, "I will NOT love you long time."

[Brazil]

kobe taking over

[baseline bum]

Kobe's lethal in the pick and roll. I can't believe Jackson didn't use it more during the three-peat era.

[timtonymanu]

Cmon Magic!!!

[crc21209]

Lamar Odom SUCKS again! :lol

[ginobme]

hahah no call for Howard

[baseline bum]

3 on Bynum.

[baseline bum]

Knucklehead foul from Bynum.

[rayray2k8]

My audio went out for awhile during the game.

[crc21209]

Gasoft and Walton hacking Howard no call...no problem...Howard goes right around them. :lol

[rayray2k8]

Came back, nvm.
Anyone else have that problem?

[baseline bum]

How the hell did Howard get to the basket when being trapped by two guys? Terrible defense.

[Brazil]

Bynum won't the 4th as usual lol

[Reeko_Htown]

All faker big men should have 4 fouls by halftime

[JoeTait75]

Damn, when did Dewey turn into Jack Freaking Sikma from the line? Dude has been money from there lately.

[Brazil]

wow kobe

[baseline bum]

Sick-ass shot from Kobe!

[ginobme]

atta boy pietrus

[Brazil]

Pietrus 3!!!!!

[crc21209]

Hell yeah Pietrus with the 3!

[crc21209]

What THE FUCK kind of shot was that from He-DONT? Idiot!

[baseline bum]

Kobe can't be guarded tonight.

[ginobme]

So..is the kobe bryant show a good or bad thing for the majic.

[dirk4mvp]

Aw shit. The last few minutes of this half will determine how the rest of the game will go. I hope the Magic can weather it.

[crc21209]

ABC with their biased ass music going to commercials. :lol

[Reeko_Htown]

can't stand when they play "I love LA" before every good faker timeout. Fucking stupid!

[armand0]

So..is the kobe bryant show a good or bad thing for the majic.

it wasnt good for Cavs

[Brazil]

Kobe can't be guarded tonight.

yep:depressed

[dirk4mvp]

DiCaprio! Mono just wet himself.

[baseline bum]

Nelson's starting to look a little rusty.

[Brazil]

Nice to see Jameer playing

[Reeko_Htown]

Damn, Jameer can't get a call

[baseline bum]

Nelson's starting to look a little rusty.

LOL. And then he hits a tough shot in the paint about 2 seconds after I post this. :lol

[baseline bum]

Gasol's got mad range.

[Bambililos]

Jameer is right back in rhythm! I love this guy

[JoeTait75]

Lake Show need to be careful. Orlando has a couple of eight-point plays in its arsenal.

[crc21209]

:lol that was clearly Magic ball. Wtf?!!?

[timtonymanu]

Rashard Lewis needs to show up.

[Brazil]

Lakers playing great gonna be hard for the magic

[ace3g]

like I've said , Nelson coming back could be a negative for the Magic, from effecting Alstons confidence, to rotations and chemistry, and right now SVG is playing Nelson too much

He needs to get Alston back out there, he brings a steady presence to the offense because he doesn't always look for his shot, he is more of a passing PG for the magic unlike Nelson

[01Snake]

Lakers playing great gonna be hard for the magic

Magic missing a lot of pointblank shots.

[baseline bum]

Good game so far. LA's just too much for Orlando.

[peskypesky]

goddamn Kobe...

[crc21209]

10 point lead at the half for the Lakers. Nothin really to worry about..Lakers have blown leads in the playoffs and the Magic have come back from defecits many times as well...

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Get Nelson out of there, he is clueless sometimes

[Reeko_Htown]

BULLSHIT! fakers fouling and getting out of bounds calls

[Libri]

Magic missing a lot of pointblank shots.

That's right.

[armand0]

Get Nelson out of there, he is clueless sometimes

this insecure Nelson aint good for magic, magic's offense doesnt work well with one less shooter on the ground

[benefactor]

Lakers coming out with a lot of defensive intensity. We will see if they can sustain it.

Anyone else having audio/video issues?

[me15lo]

i hate the lakers but there's no denying kobe's determination to get that gold

[baseline bum]

LMAO @ the Dwight Howard Vitmain Water commercial. :lmao

[ffadicted]

lol @ the D12 vitamin water commercial

[Brazil]

i hate the lakers but there's no denying kobe's determination to get that gold

+1 I found Kobe very concentrated well focused on the win not a good new for the magic

[TampaDude]

lol @ the D12 vitamin water commercial

Yeah, that shit was :lol

[Amuseddaysleeper]

There are at least 6 other Magic players who have taken either the same amount or more shots than Howard.

He's only got one FG.

[ace3g]

I wonder how Rafer will respond to pretty much being benched for leading his team to the finals. They might lose him.

exactly this might very well be the difference in the series, and I knew this was going to happen when I first heard the news about Nelson playing in the finals

basketball is all about matchups, confidence, rotations, and chemistry: Nelson returning affects all of those in a negative way

[flipcritic]

Lakers have a big size advantage at every position. Laker length and strength is bothering them all game long. If it continues at this pace, there will be no chance.

I wonder if Van Gundy will opt for Rafer more. I liked seeing Nelson again, but Game 1 is not an optimal time to have your first game back.

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

Pretty decent 2nd quarter, but the fouls need to be cleaned up a bit. Orlando should be down by more if it weren't for that big FT difference!!!!!

[lebomb]

Orlando looks completely different than they did against the Cavs............ Congrats LA on your 14th ring or whatever it is.

[JoeTait75]

Shocked that Jameer is playing so much. Rafer helped get them to the Finals and gets kicked to the curb in Game One? I don't know about that strategy...

[TampaDude]

The Magic were looking good at the end of the 1st quarter, then Kobe started taking over in the 2nd. He wants that ring. You Lakers fans better enjoy this, because without Kobe, the Lakers are a .500 team.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Alston leads Orlando in +/- with +2

[TampaDude]

Shocked that Jameer is playing so much. Rafer helped get them to the Finals and gets kicked to the curb in Game One? I don't know about that strategy...

+1 SVG shooting himself in the foot, perhaps???

[peskypesky]

Shocked that Jameer is playing so much. Rafer helped get them to the Finals and gets kicked to the curb in Game One? I don't know about that strategy...

i agree. stay with what's been working for you...

[Indazone]

+1 SVG shooting himself in the foot, perhaps???

Typical Van Gundy weakness. Go with the Vets even if they are washed up and a misguided loyalty to certain players.

[baseline bum]

The Magic were looking good at the end of the 1st quarter, then Kobe started taking over in the 2nd. He wants that ring. You Lakers fans better enjoy this, because without Kobe, the Lakers are a .500 team.

That team is stacked. They'd make the playoffs in the West without Kobe.

[BRHornet45]

sons LOL nothing new ... Kobe has to shoot the ball 18 times to score 18 points.

[flipcritic]

Perhaps SVG is trying to work the same strategy that won them 2 against the Lakers in the regular season where Nelson was still in the lineup. That's the only reason why I think he's been in for so long.

He better find something else the way this is going.

[Brazil]

nothing wrong about giving Jameer some minutes but SVG needs to define quick who is PG and who is the back up

[Cant_Be_Faded]

It's beyond easy to win games when the Lakers can outrebound every time they ever play at every position.

[Budkin]

Magic have gone cold and it seems like the Jameer experiment is messing up their chemistry. They've dug out of much bigger holes but this Laker team is tough. Going to be difficult.

[Allanon]

Jameer was good there in a spurt but then Rafer got totally buried. Not sure if this is the time and the place to make Jameer the go to PG.

[TampaDude]

That team is stacked. They'd make the playoffs in the West without Kobe.

True, the Lakers are stacked, but Kobe really drives this team...they might make the playoffs, but NFW they would win the :lobt: without Kobe. I gotta root against the Lakers, but you can't deny how unbelievably fucking good Kobe is on both ends of the court.

[JoeTait75]

Magic getting outrebounded 24-17. Even at the best of times nobody on that team outside of Dewey rebounds the basketball, and this is not the best opponent for a poor rebounding team.

[Allanon]

Stan still doesn't have an answer for Kobe/Pau screen and roll. This is a somewhat new play for Phil, haven't seen it much this year at all.

I'd say some of this lead is due to coaching.

[FREEDOM]

Lakers are owning the Magic..

what will happen in the second half, will the Magic get blown out and embarassed...?

[Capt Bringdown]

Lakers win game 1 and they win the series.

[spurscenter]

The Magic were up by 2 then Orlando Center gets fouled they dont call it, he misses it

fast break, lakers score, then

Lakers score 4 straight, then take over

Refs know momentum.

either way

this totally feels like a regular season game


BORING

[benefactor]

SVG definitely let his erection get a little too big when he saw Nelson playing well. He needs to continue to ease Nelson back into the rotation...mostly because he is probably far from game shape and that will effect his playing ability as he tires out.

[FREEDOM]

Magic are disoriented

[Libri]

Lewis 3

[timtonymanu]

LA's got this. Kobe wont let Orlando come back!

[kromediablo]

get jameer out of there...it is totally messing with the chemistry, a few points and assists from jameer but they are playing slow post and not the slash and throw out around the perimeter games in the earlier series.

[FREEDOM]

Stan Van Gundy just cracked open a 24oz. beer in brown paper bag..LOL

[Allanon]

Bynum has to dunk that shit, none of that sissy layup.

[TampaDude]

WTF is wrong with the Magic? They are sucking eggs at the rim.

[Libri]

Bynum picked up his 4th foul

[Bambililos]

lol Bynum

[Allanon]

How was that a foul on Bynum?

[FREEDOM]

van gundy just cracked open a Natural Light..

[Brazil]

How was that a foul on Bynum?

i agree seems to be a bad call

[Libri]

Kobe is overpowering Lee

[spurscenter]

Magic up by 2 end of 1st quarter

cant let that happen

[Brazil]

Pietrus needs to come back

[crc21209]

Let the Laker cock sucking begin...Woo hoo! :P :lol

[sammy]

Man, are they bailing out the rapist! He throw elbows and they call the foul on Courtney Lee! BS!

[lefty]

SVG killed their playoff momentum by keeping Nelson on the court for too long :pctoss

[crc21209]

LATE call on Lewis wtf?!

[TampaDude]

Gasol traveled there.

[FREEDOM]

van gundy spilled his beer

[Brazil]

Come on Magic !!!

[Brazil]

fucking kobe

[crc21209]

Anyone here still want Alston over Nelson? No! Alston is missing shots all over the place right now. And Breen is now creaming himself all over Kobe...

[TampaDude]

Orlando is just missing their 3s...live by the 3...die by the 3...

[kamikazi_player]

Is this what they mean when they said, "live by the 3, die by the 3?"

[timtonymanu]

damn Orlando, you're making this so boring.

[Indazone]

ahh yes that's the Rafer Alston that we all know and love. 2-11, 3-12, 3-14 shooting. I'm glad we don't have him anymore. Streaky shooter.

[resistanze]

Only chance the Magic have in this series if they are piping hot the ENTIRE series. Don't see that happening.

[MiamiHeat]

Refs are in complete home cooking mode right now

[crc21209]

How is THAT an offensive foul WTF? Refs are doing their job now for sure....

[lefty]

Gasol you soft pussy

[Indazone]

SVG, JVG, Pat Riley ball is always boring.

[sammy]

That's bull shit! Offensive foul by Gasol! Typical bull shit and give the rapist a 3 point play! Bull shit! Fucking refs and the foul on Gasol on Howard and they call the foul on Howard WTF! Fucking bullshit!

[TampaDude]

Lakers will sweep.

[kamikazi_player]

Magics are getting outplayed, not really necessary to blame the refs

[crc21209]

How does that Laker cock taste Refs? :lol

[lefty]

As soon as I saw Danny Crawford, I knew this game was over :flipoff

[Brazil]

wow magic is lost

[resistanze]

:lmao Put Jameer in.

[crc21209]

Get Alston the fuck outta there! Nelson>Alston right now.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

That's game

On to game 2

[Indazone]

18 pt lead...this game is over.

[Libri]

Alston is ice cold

[timtonymanu]

yeah quit blaming the refs. Magic are just getting outplayed.

[sammy]

Alston pass the ball! You are not making shots!

[TampaDude]

Congrats, Kobe...you finally did it... :toast

[Allanon]

Stan sat Rafer way too long.

[me15lo]

ima play my xbox now

[ace3g]

Alston is missing shots because he got benched for leading the Magic to the Finals? if that doesn't mess with someone's confidence I don't know what will

[crc21209]

I just turned it off...forget it.

[TampaDude]

damn Orlando, you're making this so boring.

Does this remind y'all of the 2007 Finals? :D

[Amarelooms]

The only question is will the Lakers sweep :elephant

[Indazone]

I had to endure many a night when Rafer would take that gawdawful teardrop of his. I'd always stand up and yell noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Every 3rd or 4th game he'd be hitting them. But tonight he's laying a stinking mess out there.

[baseline bum]

LA in 5.

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

:lmao TOOOOO EASSYYY.........

[peskypesky]

zzzzzzzzzz

[Allanon]

Stan totally screwed up Rafer I think...not that he wasn't streaky but sittin' him that long messed up his mojo.

[lefty]

Stan sat Rafer way too long.

I agree

Nelson made some good plays, but SVG killed their playoff momentum and chemistry

You have to stick with the group that has been successful

[sammy]

Sick of ABC and their ass licking the Fakers! Did you see that BS picture of the rapist with the trophy! This is ridiculous!

[Brazil]

Man if Raf cannot handle to not play 6 min in the first fuck him.

[sammy]

Finally a call against the Fakers! Wow!

[TampaDude]

The only question is will the Lakers sweep :elephant

Before this game started, I would have said NFW the Lakers would sweep, but now I'm not so sure...it's a distinct possibility now.

[lefty]

Man if Raf cannot handle to not play 6 min in the first fuck him.

It's not that

It's just that by playing Jameer for too long, SVG has fucked their momentum/chemistry

[JoeTait75]

Lake Show won't sweep. Orlando will have at least one night where they're insane from three-point range.

[kamikazi_player]

I didn't expect the Magic to win this game, but not play this badly

[TampaDude]

Kobe is HUNGRY...that humiliation last year has him fired up...he will not be denied.

[Amarelooms]

Momma there goes that man :elephant

[lefty]

Before this game started, I would have said NFW the Lakers would sweep, but now I'm not so sure...it's a distinct possibility now.
Premature ejac?

Magic will turn things around, could be a long series

[Indazone]

hate to say this but this could be a sweep

[timtonymanu]

it's the 07 finals all over again!

[sammy]

Lewis is getting hacked by Odom and Ariza and no call! WTF!

[kamikazi_player]

LOl one game and people saying it's a sweep. wow

[01Snake]

Where the fuck was the foul?

[lefty]

LOl one game and people saying it's a sweep. wow
I agree


That's retarded

[Brazil]

It's not that

It's just that by playing Jameer for too long, SVG has fucked their momentum/chemistry

I don't buy it, magic is just outplayed by the lakers with or without jameer or raf

[Libri]

Bs!

[timtonymanu]

wow... people waiting for the finals to start and Orlando just shits.

[lefty]

Wow

a 3


Fucking finally

[Brazil]

I like Pietrus whatever the circunstances he shoots the same way

[JoeTait75]

Kobe is shitting all over the Magic.

[baseline bum]

LA in 4. Series over.

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

Before this game started, I would have said NFW the Lakers would sweep, but now I'm not so sure...it's a distinct possibility now.

Nah, first games mean nothing, its still going to go 6.

Because of the finals silly 2-3-2 format, It all really hinges on game 2 for the away team. IF you get that game, your golden, you only need to win 2 at home to froce seven, or win all 3 to clinch without ever letting the other team see home court again.

By the same tolken if the home team gets game 2, The series is almost a lock for them since they guarantee themselves a game seven and two bites at the apple if they win one away.

It's one of the reasons i dislike 2-3-2, I like 2-2-1-1-1 a whole lot better, keeps more of the drama alive.

[Indazone]

Why doesn't SVG try the Nelson/Alston backcourt? That might actually work. They are different type of guards. They need to push the pace.

[lefty]

LA in 4. Series over.
:rolleyes

[MiamiHeat]

LA in 4. Series over.

LOL

Pre-mature ejaculate much?

It's only Game 1.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Magic can't miss these wide open shots all series long, but this Championship is still the Lakers to lose.

[sammy]

How is it the rapist elbows Pietrous and gets an and 1! On to the next game! Sick of this shit! Refs bailing out the assholes and Orlando can't get a call! Seeing the rapist face and making that ugly face makes me want to reach into the TV and punch the crap out of him! Ugly ass rapist!

[peskypesky]

Kobe has the look Mike Tyson used to have

[lefty]

Fuck Danny Crawford

[lefty]

Kobe has the look Mike Tyson used to have
:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[Ghazi]

Awesome performance by Kobe!

[Allanon]

Nice 3 by Pietrus...Lamar was totally in his grill.

[lefty]

Awesome performance by Danny Crawford!

This.

[JoeTait75]

Why doesn't SVG try the Nelson/Alston backcourt? That might actually work. They are different type of guards. They need to push the pace.

That's a pretty good idea offensively. Problem is you're left with no one that can even make a pretense of guarding Kobe. Not that Courtney Lee is guarding him anyway.

[Brazil]

Kobe is playing great with the refs or not

[TampaDude]

LA in 4. Series over.

^ this

Home or away means nothing...the Lakers are CLEARLY better than the Magic...this is 2007 all over again. Kobe still feels the pain of that humiliation in Boston last year, and it's driving him...he's pissed off and wants redemption...he wants that :lobt: and nobody...NOBODY...is gonna stop him.

[Libri]

My 1000th post! :toast

[Ghazi]

Refs? Kobe only has like 4 free throw attempts.

[kamikazi_player]

remember people after this game theres going to be a rap battle(i'm just trying to hype it up)

[ace3g]

the sad thing, ESPN and all the rest of the basketball media will not pick up on how this game changed, they will talk about Kobe being great offensively , etc, but they will never seriously comment write articles on psychological edges, confidence, chemistry, that actually affect a game. For instance tonight, it wasn't kobe going off or the Lakers defense picking up, the game changed when SVG benched Alston the rest of the 1st half for Nelson.

This is why I hate listening to commentators now, because both those with knowledge of the game and former players who commentate on TNT, ABC, ESPN, etc never talk about these topics:

The True Game Changers

[lefty]

Kobe is playing great with the refs or not
Yeah but if you don't count all the phantom "and 1", it's a lesser gap to close for Orlando

[Allanon]

This isn't about the Refs, this about the Magic missing WIDE OPEN 3 pointers.

[Kriz-Maxima]

Kobe had 18 in the first half with 6 assist. No FTs.

Its not the refs, he is that good.

[lefty]

Refs? Kobe only has like 4 free throw attempts.

Not just the numbers; it's the timing of the calls

[Brazil]

magic can't hit a shit

[timtonymanu]

what happened to JJ Reddick? I thought he was the "Ray Allen stopper."

[JoeTait75]

Magic have only eight assists. :wow

[Budkin]

You miss all your wide open shots you lose. Doesn't hurt that Kobe is playing out of his mind.

[Armando]

Whats with Kobe making the stupid faces? Is he trying out for Shining 2? I guess I chalk it up to stage fright by the Magic.

[lefty]

Magic have only eight assists. :wow

? Huh ? How did he do that?



Oh, I thought you meant Magic Johnson, he is with the ABC crew :D

[dirk4mvp]

40% Finals Kobe will be back.

[Brazil]

Bench Kobe I'm gonna loose my vbookie !!!!!!

[mavsfan1000]

Lakers defense is very underrated. Magic can't get in a flow.

[Brazil]

CIA Magic they give away the first game on purpose ! Magic in 5 !

[ace3g]

Man if Raf cannot handle to not play 6 min in the first fuck him.

You get use to a routine as player, playing certain minutes in the entire playoffs, then when you finally lead your team to the finals, you are benched the rest of the 1st half for a player coming off a shoulder injury and see if that doesn't affect your play?

[Amarelooms]

Momma there goes that man :elephant

[ace3g]

time for the Magic to focus on game 2, hell maybe one of the Magic players will "accidently" injure Nelson's shoulder during practice, it would be the best thing for the team the rest of the series if Nelson doesn't play

[crc21209]

I bet people are wishing LeBron was in the Finals now...the refs and the NBA would've LOVED to hand it to him instead of Kobe.

[jacobdrj]

A) Stan was right to play Jameer
B) Stan was wrong to leave him in for longer than 5 minutes when Rafer was playing well. He should have been in there to shake things up only. Now, the team is completely out of rythem.
C) Gortat needs more PT.

[Libri]

Magic shooting 31%

[spurscenter]

when the magic were up by 2 points, the refs did 3 momentum calls not calling a foul for Orlando for them to extend their lead

the players minds are so fucking fragile, they gave up after that

But Magic sucks, they dont have the star calls to compete with Lakers

its all about Star calls.

[jacobdrj]

You get use to a routine as player, playing certain minutes in the entire playoffs, then when you finally lead your team to the finals, you are benched the rest of the 1st half for a player coming off a shoulder injury and see if that doesn't affect your play?

Bingo.

[Brazil]

You get use to a routine as player, playing certain minutes in the entire playoffs, then when you finally lead your team to the finals, you are benched the rest of the 1st half for a player coming off a shoulder injury and see if that doesn't affect your play?

Pop players survived at much worst, see TP

[FREEDOM]

van gundy just spilled his beer

[TampaDude]

I bet people are wishing LeBron was in the Finals now...the refs and the NBA would've LOVED to hand it to him instead of Kobe.

Yeah, that's it...Stern is so pissed at Orlando for fucking up his dream finals, he will make sure they get swept. :lol

[Indazone]

Kobe had 18 in the first half with 6 assist. No FTs.

Its not the refs, he is that good.

Or all the teams in the Eastern Conference are just that bad.

[kamikazi_player]

when the magic were up by 2 points, the refs did 3 momentum calls not calling a foul for Orlando for them to extend their lead

the players minds are so fucking fragile, they gave up after that

But Magic sucks, they dont have the star calls to compete with Lakers

its all about Star calls.
Dude, this team was playing just horrible. I would like to blame the refs, but the refs did not make the Magic's shoot poorly.

[TampaDude]

This isn't about the Refs, this about the Magic missing WIDE OPEN 3 pointers.

^ this

[Allanon]

Magic chose a bad time to lose their hot shooting streak. I haven't seen the Magic miss this much since Philadelphia series.

[Indazone]

It'd be funny if Kobe scored over 70 pts sometime in this series.

[Many PackYao]

What's with Kobe making those rat faces after hittin' a shot?:lol

[spurscenter]

no of course the Magic suck

but they were playing hard up by 2 pts when the refs decided to not call more fouls for the magic so they can go up by at least 6

thats when the lakers took over.

Magic just gave up after that point.

[Indazone]

I just think the East is just that bad.

[timvp]

Don't people ever get tired of blaming the refs? The Lakers are by far the superior team.

Got damn.

[Libri]

If Gasol dunks on Howard during this series, that would be the ultimate insult.

[Indazone]

looks to me like the Magic are slow to the ball, they aren't diving for loose balls and they aren't playing championship defense.

[Brazil]

don't people ever get tired of blaming the refs? The lakers are by far the superior team.

Got damn.

+1

[Indazone]

The Magic are gonna get drilled in the next three games. They might win one at home but this shit will be over in 5.

[timtonymanu]

Don't people ever get tired of blaming the refs? The Lakers are by far the superior team.

Got damn.

i agree. That's the excuse everytime the Lakers play well. Give it up already.