I am sick of the Lakers and the Heat on Christmas...

[zocool16]

But I'm just one fan... :bang

[Burn531]

Here's 2. :tu

[TDMVPDPOY]

we all know whose goin to win,

i hate this cockriding shit from the media

there are better games that can be sceduled!

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Kobe and Shaq buried the hatchet so there's zero drama, it would just be a blow out with no emotion. If I were running the show it'd be Heat/Cavs in the first game so they can continue building the Lebron/Wade rivalry, plus get the defending champs from a big market on the air. Second game Mavs/Lakers. Dirk vs. Kobe isn't exactly a head to head matchup but you get the Lakers plus the defending WC champs (who are easily the second or third highest profile team in the west.) I'm not saying these are games that I'd want to see personally, but if you're just going for ratings this would snag a pretty broad viewership coast to coast.

[zocool16]

this may be a little biased but i think a spurs vs. mavs christmas game would have been very deserved hence from all that 'greatest series of all time' talk i heard some say...

but meh...

[NorCal510]

the nba doesnt care what u think

[Burn531]

the nba doesnt care what u think

Atleast you're typing more like a white boy.

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

Kobe and Shaq buried the hatchet so there's zero drama, it would just be a blow out with no emotion. If I were running the show it'd be Heat/Cavs in the first game so they can continue building the Lebron/Wade rivalry, plus get the defending champs from a big market on the air. Second game Mavs/Lakers. Dirk vs. Kobe isn't exactly a head to head matchup but you get the Lakers plus the defending WC champs (who are easily the second or third highest profile team in the west.) I'm not saying these are games that I'd want to see personally, but if you're just going for ratings this would snag a pretty broad viewership coast to coast.

The LAL vs MIA games are always close and the real matchup is between Kobe and DWade who haven't buried any hatchets! DWade is constantly coming at Kobe like no one else has probably in his entire career(with the exception of MJ)! I like the Heat vs Cavs games but only if Shaq ain't playin because we usually kill the Cavs and those games are boring! The only real exciting one was when Shaq and Zo were out and DWade and LBJ both went for 40+. Plus last year for y'all Spurs fans didn't they have y'all vs. the Pistons? I'm not trying to hate on the Spurs because I love y'all but that game was boring as hell!!

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Assuming spurs_fan_in_exile and TDMVPDPOY also hate it, that 5 right here!

[sa_butta]

There is always Monday night football
Jets VS Dolphins

[StylisticS]

The LAL vs MIA games are always close and the real matchup is between Kobe and DWade who haven't buried any hatchets! !!

No it's not. It's still Shaq and Kobe. The media will portray as it is, David Stern will do the same, and so will the majority of fans. As much as you like for it to be another storyline. Their thinking is still, Shaq and Kobe. Which is becoming sickening. If the Heat must play on Christmas, let them play the Cavs. I'd rather much see Wade and Lebron if Wade is involved in something anyway.

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

No it's not. It's still Shaq and Kobe. The media will portray as it is, David Stern will do the same, and so will the majority of fans. As much as you like for it to be another storyline. Their thinking is still, Shaq and Kobe. Which is becoming sickening. If the Heat must play on Christmas, let them play the Cavs. I'd rather much see Wade and Lebron if Wade is involved in something anyway.

The league may hype it as Shaq vs. Kobe but the real matchup is Kobe vs. Wade! The way the play and what they have done or not done has determined who's won their 4 games! Last year DWade took over Kobe's spot in the league as far being the premier 2-guard and then Kobe came back this season and took that back over only to be trumped by Wade's Finals MVP! Their last game in MIA almost came to blows because Wade wasn't havin Kobe's little slick elbows he likes to throw! Kobe never tries to punk DWade like he does Ray Allen, Vince or LeBron! DWade is the one player that Kobe can not guard! I love to see DWade go at the best and right now it's Kobe Bryant at the 2 guard with DWade coming in at 1b. Great must see tv in my book! :worthy:

[L.I.T]

Kobe vs. Wade? That's just not too compelling.

Now, a Lebron vs. Wade Christmas game like one of the previous posters mentioned, that is compelling basketball and a taste of the future of the Eastern Conference.

And by the way, there are a bunch of players that Kobe cannot guard, Wade is just the best of the bunch.

[jmard5]

Here's another fan.

How about a Christmas wrestling special between Cuban vs The Maloof Brothers for crying out loud.

[mavsfan1000]

Mavs vs. Heat is what should've been or Spurs vs. Heat. Anyways I am also sick of this matchup and never really cared for it from the start.

[carina_gino20]

this is what? the third time in a row they're pulling this sh**.

[zero signal]

this may be a little biased but i think a spurs vs. mavs christmas game would have been very deserved hence from all that 'greatest series of all time' talk i heard some say...
That would make an awesome X-mas game.

[dougp]

Kobe and Shaq buried the hatchet so there's zero drama, it would just be a blow out with no emotion. If I were running the show it'd be Heat/Cavs in the first game so they can continue building the Lebron/Wade rivalry, plus get the defending champs from a big market on the air. Second game Mavs/Lakers. Dirk vs. Kobe isn't exactly a head to head matchup but you get the Lakers plus the defending WC champs (who are easily the second or third highest profile team in the west.) I'm not saying these are games that I'd want to see personally, but if you're just going for ratings this would snag a pretty broad viewership coast to coast.
Phoenix vs. Dallas ... Nash vs. Dirk. I like watching Phoenix beat them, but that's me ...

And I hate the Heat vs. Lakers thing because I have to cheer for Kobe, I hate Shaq ... fatass should have never gotten the Taco Bell endorsement because it just added to his lard.

[StylisticS]

The league may hype it as Shaq vs. Kobe but the real matchup is Kobe vs. Wade! The way the play and what they have done or not done has determined who's won their 4 games! Last year DWade took over Kobe's spot in the league as far being the premier 2-guard and then Kobe came back this season and took that back over only to be trumped by Wade's Finals MVP! Their last game in MIA almost came to blows because Wade wasn't havin Kobe's little slick elbows he likes to throw! Kobe never tries to punk DWade like he does Ray Allen, Vince or LeBron! DWade is the one player that Kobe can not guard! I love to see DWade go at the best and right now it's Kobe Bryant at the 2 guard with DWade coming in at 1b. Great must see tv in my book! :worthy:

That's all fine and dandy. But it's still Shaq and Kobe. That's the only reason this game is on Christmas again this season. ABC wanted this game, ABC got it.

[Pistons < Spurs]

You may not like all the media hype that circles a Lakers - Heat X-mas day game ... but you have to admit that they have been good games.

Last year you had a 97-92 Heat win that was close the whole way through.

Kobe- 37, 8 & 6
Wade 18, 4 & 5

And 2 years ago, we saw a great game that needed overtime to decide the outcome. (Miami won 104-102)

Kobe 42, 3 & 6
Wade 29, 3 & 10


In comparisn, the 'JV' game each of those years were by far, less exciting games.


Last year was the Spurs vs. Pistons (85-70)

And 2 years ago saw the Pistons face the Pacers (98-92) in a matchup that didn't have Ron Artest.


I too would rather have other teams showcased on Christmas, but you can't really argue that the Lakers vs Heat has been a good product for the viewers.

[alamo50]

It's realy so ridiculous.
The Fakers are has beens.
Done and over with.

[SenorSpur]

Quick, someone pass me a barf bag.

Clearly, the league is trying to "squeeze out" ratings from an imaginary rivalry where there really isn't one.

Seems to me the league could've scheduled a Spurs/Mavs game for the same day. By now, anyone who watched the NBA playoffs knows that this is clearly the best rivalry. I would venture a Spurs/Mavs game would provide better ratings than the "canceled" Kobe/Shaq soap opera - but then maybe not.

[photoguy]

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/chris_ballard/02/20/all.star.game/tx_kobe.shaq.jpg

[photoguy]

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/gallery/d/1045-1/kobe-shaq-21471044.jpg

[photoguy]

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/arash_markazi/01/17/hot.read/tx_kobe.jpg

[photoguy]

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/5563370_36_5.jpg

<--- ?? --->

[JamStone]

there are better games that can be sceduled!


Better games? Sure.

But, not many better match-ups that will draw national interest, and ratings is what matters. Even with Shaq and Kobe "supposedly" burying the hatchet, there's still some tension. And, Dwyane and Kobe don't necessarilly like each other either.


I would rather have the Heat/Cavs match-up as well.

But, as for the late game, I'd rather see Suns/Mavs, not Spurs/Mavs, and I think most people outside of Texas would rather see the Suns over the Spurs as well.

[Obstructed_View]

I'd rather not have the Spurs on TV on Christmas. My parents don't get local channels and the Spurs are .500 on Christmas day.

[phxspurfan]

nobody would watch the spurs on xmas.

[cecil collins]

At least it makes it less likely that Kobe is at a Colorado day spa.

[rascal]

Spurs don't pull up ratings. So they won't be on.

It doesn't matter anyways with so many nba games on throughout the year.

Back in the early 70's they had one game a week on, then it mattered. You never got to see some teams play.

[Beer is Good]

The Spurs played on Christmas last year and never showed up. They looked like they just wanted to get it over with to go home, and I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to play a measly regular season basketball game on Christmas day. Maybe football, where every regular season game is important, but not basketball. I think the lack of national exposure is great for this team. They had it last year and I think they tried too hard to make a big regular season push from the start and were worn down come playoffs. This team needs to win about 57 games and go into the playoffs fresh with no attention. That's how they win.

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

No it's not. It's still Shaq and Kobe. The media will portray as it is, David Stern will do the same, and so will the majority of fans. As much as you like for it to be another storyline. Their thinking is still, Shaq and Kobe. Which is becoming sickening. If the Heat must play on Christmas, let them play the Cavs. I'd rather much see Wade and Lebron if Wade is involved in something anyway.

Check what Kobe thinks about this matchup!

Posted 07 August 2006 09:37 AM
J.A. Adande interviewing Kobe Bryant:

Did watching Shaquille O'Neal win a championship stoke any competitive fires within him?

"Nahhh," Bryant said. "You know what I mean? It's fine."

I told him my first thought after the Heat won the championship is that it's no longer Kobe vs. Shaq, it's Kobe vs. Dwyane Wade.

"I think that's what a lot of people want to see, really, more so than the Shaquille O'Neal-and-me story," Bryant said. "I think it's Dwyane Wade being a young player and doing his thing."

On watching Wade and LeBron James keep playing after the Lakers were eliminated in the first round:

"I think it's great for the game," Bryant said. "People ask me that, they think I should feel some negative type of way about that. It's so silly to me. Because … the way it is nowadays, they try to pit players against one another. I think it's fun, because it raises up the level. You see LeBron playing well, Dwyane playing well, I love that stuff, man. I love it.

"It keeps the game going. When I was a kid growing up. Magic, Bird, Michael, Isiah, Charles — that's what it's supposed to be about. Chris Paul is now coming into his own. There's a lot of young talent."

Even at 27-going-on-28, we can still group Bryant in with the young crowd. But as he used to say, it's not the age, it's the mileage. The odometer shows 707 career games and 126 playoff games, so how's the car doing?

"It feels great," Bryant said. "I got my tuneup, had the mechanic go in, clean my joint out, I'm oiled up, I'm ready to go."

Not quite as good as the refrigerator door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard and the Jell-O is jiggling, but I'm sure it's a metaphor that sounds good to Laker fans.
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