That was the most pathetic game I've ever watched

[HarlemHeat37]

Did you watch the same game as I did?

Dirty plays by Matt Barnes AFTER his 1st technical
-Dunking the ball and then practically landing on Kobe to taunt him.
-Fake-throwing the ball into Kobe's face
-Setting an unnecessarily hard pick on Fisher--which incidentally was the exact same thing that caused a fight between the Suns and Rockets last year. Barnes set a ridiculously hard pick on Alston, which caused the two teams' tempers to flare.
-Continuously trash-talking and bumping into to Kobe during deadball situations in order to antagonize Kobe into fighting

Not one of these is major enough to eject a player, but each one is enough to warrant a 2nd technical... which is an automatic ejection.

LOL are you serious?..how is any of that dirty?..

[DPG21920]

-There was absolutely no reason why Matt Barnes should have been in that game in the 4th quarter. That dude is the biggest in the NBA.

I started out rooting for the Magic, but as the game went on and Matt Barnes continued to do more and more -ass things with impunity, I became indifferent to the outcome.

I hate the Lakers, but seriously... the Magic. I really hope that team gets beat early in the playoffs.

I can't believe I'm defending the Lakers, but the bias against that team has clouded Spur Fan's judgment.

Spurs fans are biased?

[pauls931]

LOL are you serious?..how is any of that dirty?..

My only beef with barnes was the fake throw at the face and the constant bumps. I think the refs did a ty job this game overall allowing it to get so physical. when you see Gasol trying to play rough, you know you're doing something wrong.

Kobe with elbows, gasol wrestling, fisher pushing, barnes taunting, jesus, they must've really wanted ratings.

[HarlemHeat37]

I understand being annoyed by Barnes' actions, but none of that is dirty..

There's nothing the refs can really do about the fake throw though..he could just argue that he was faking the inbounds pass, they can't really do anything about it..

[DPG21920]

That was playoff intensity. Why kill it? Let them play. Let them play.

[pauls931]

I understand being annoyed by Barnes' actions, but none of that is dirty..

There's nothing the refs can really do about the fake throw though..he could just argue that he was faking the inbounds pass, they can't really do anything about it..

Had your avatar been Bruce Bowen, I'd be rolling right now.

[j.dizzle]

My only beef with barnes was the fake throw at the face and the constant bumps. I think the refs did a ty job this game overall allowing it to get so physical. when you see Gasol trying to play rough, you know you're doing something wrong.

Kobe with elbows, gasol wrestling, fisher pushing, barnes taunting, jesus, they must've really wanted ratings.

Mo Money, mo problems. Ppl gonna keep watching if Barnes/Kobe keep annoying each other so no point in throwing out barnes. Die hard fans will watch the game either way but they make it more fun to watch for the casual fans.

[hitmanyr2k]

that's how I'd know the game was over with the suns/lakers playoff series a few years back... Kobe goes into chucker mode, game over... Kobe shared the ball, LA won.

I know Barnes is a , and the announcers said he couldn't get into kobe's head, but I think he did by making the challenge personal. Once that happened, Kobe forgot about his team.

I disagree with that. I actually made a comment in the game thread about it. Even after Barnes was antagonizing him Kobe stayed with the team game all through the 3rd qtr which I saw as a sign of maturity because 2-3 years ago Kobe would have ended up taking at least 40 shots in that kind of game. The 4th qtr was nothing new. Kobe always goes into "hero" mode...especially in nationally televised games.

And there was never a time where I thought Matt Barnes should have been ejected. Kobe was hitting players with little sneaky cheapshots all through the game. He does it all the time. This time he just ran into someone that didn't back down from him and even started giving him a bit of his own medicine. I like to see emotion in games. The NBA has been desperately trying to take emotion out of the game since the Pistons/Pacers brawl which I think neuters it. I can't name one true "rivalry" in the NBA today and that's sad.

[HarlemHeat37]

Had your avatar been Bruce Bowen, I'd be rolling right now.

I acknowledge that Bruce was a dirty player, I obviously can't deny that..I'm just saying that while Barnes' might be a dirty player, he didn't really do anything "dirty" in the game today or the entire season so far for that matter..I do understand why he would annoy you guys though..

[DPG21920]

I don't like Barnes, but as long as no punches are being thrown and the physicality is within "the unwritten rules", I am ok.

[pauls931]

I can't name one true "rivalry" in the NBA today and that's sad.

I think the last one was the Suns/Spurs, been a long time since there's been a real good West vs. East rivalry.

[BadOdor]

I think the last one was the Suns/Spurs, been a long time since there's been a real good West vs. East rivalry.

How is that a rivalry when only 1 team wins?

[monosylab1k]

Matt Barnes is easily the biggest punk got in the NBA. He's the only player in the NBA who I truly detest.

[HarlemHeat37]

I disagree with that. I actually made a comment in the game thread about it. Even after Barnes was antagonizing him Kobe stayed with the team game all through the 3rd qtr which I saw as a sign of maturity because 2-3 years ago Kobe would have ended up taking at least 40 shots in that kind of game. The 4th qtr was nothing new. Kobe always goes into "hero" mode...especially in nationally televised games.

And there was never a time where I thought Matt Barnes should have been ejected. Kobe was hitting players with little sneaky cheapshots all through the game. He does it all the time. This time he just ran into someone that didn't back down from him and even started giving him a bit of his own medicine. I like to see emotion in games. The NBA has been desperately trying to take emotion out of the game since the Pistons/Pacers brawl which I think neuters it. I can't name one true "rivalry" in the NBA today and that's sad.

plus 1..

I always love watching the "chippy" games..today's game entertained me, even though the refs were horrible..I've rarely played in basketball games that didn't involve some jawing and physical play, it's just what happens in physical sports..it makes the games more interesting and appealing when you watch the entire struggle and the intensity from the players..I'm not condoning fights or anything, but it would be nice to see players not backing down and getting in each others faces without being scared of picking up a T or getting ejected..

A lot of outsiders might dislike Matt Barnes after this, but Magic fans love him even more now..every team needs a guy that stands up for his team and doesn't back down, it energizes the entire team and gives them confidence..

[Fabbs]

The OP leaves out what really happened when Barnes was hanging on the rim.
Bryant thows an elbow at him. Should that allow Barnes to land down in Komes space? No, but don't sweep under the rug the instigator s actions.

2. Derek Swisher getting picked of by Barnes hard pick. Derek Fisher has done so much to bring down the integrity of the NBA with his flopping and other drama queen floor antics that the sooner he leaves the NBA, the better. When he is on the floor, it's not basketball.

Like others have posted, hard pick was not dirty.

[san antonio spurs]

Matt Barnes is easily the biggest punk got in the NBA. He's the only player in the NBA who I truly detest.

JT is worse.

[j.dizzle]

plus 1..

I always love watching the "chippy" games..today's game entertained me, even though the refs were horrible..I've rarely played in basketball games that didn't involve some jawing and physical play, it's just what happens in physical sports..it makes the games more interesting and appealing when you watch the entire struggle and the intensity from the players..I'm not condoning fights or anything, but it would be nice to see players not backing down and getting in each others faces without being scared of picking up a T or getting ejected..

A lot of outsiders might dislike Matt Barnes after this, but Magic fans love him even more now..every team needs a guy that stands up for his team and doesn't back down, it energizes the entire team and gives them confidence..

True dat son..Every team has a couple players that opposing fans cant stand.Its a part of the game, most of em are probably good guys off the court except JR Smith lmao

[Goran Dragic]

Matt Barnes is easily the biggest punk got in the NBA. He's the only player in the NBA who I truly detest.

him and Carlos Boozer

[j.dizzle]

Boozer? See i have no problem with him..Everybody has their list of players they dont like I guess hahaha

[DPG21920]

KG is so much worse than Barnes.

[HarlemHeat37]

Boozer? Why?..I can see why he's annoying, but a punk?..

Barnes really hasn't been that bad this year..he's only gotten in like 1 or 2 small incidents this season..I've seen all their games for the most part this season, he hasn't really been on the dirty so far..

[Goran Dragic]

Boozer? Why?..I can see why he's annoying, but a punk?..

Carlos Boozer epitomizes all that is evil on Earth. You can blame him for 9/11 and the Holocaust. He is the anti-Christ.

[j.dizzle]

KG is so much worse than Barnes.

Atleast barnes starts with ppl his own size & not euro guards that are a foot shorter hahaha

[ElNono]

Did Barnes rape somebody today? I missed the game, only saw the last shot...

[TampaDude]

plus 1..

I always love watching the "chippy" games..today's game entertained me, even though the refs were horrible..I've rarely played in basketball games that didn't involve some jawing and physical play, it's just what happens in physical sports..it makes the games more interesting and appealing when you watch the entire struggle and the intensity from the players..I'm not condoning fights or anything, but it would be nice to see players not backing down and getting in each others faces without being scared of picking up a T or getting ejected..

A lot of outsiders might dislike Matt Barnes after this, but Magic fans love him even more now..every team needs a guy that stands up for his team and doesn't back down, it energizes the entire team and gives them confidence..

Yup...today's game was very entertaining, even though the reffing was flat out awful. Heck, about the only thing missing was Sheed saying "ball don't lie!"