Classic Game: Spurs 117 - Lakers 120 (OT2) Nov. 6, 2003 [Videos]

[DeadlyDynasty]

That 2004 Lakers team was such a ing joke too.

The bull Lakers-biased refs let Karl Malone practically punch and kick Duncan when defending him, they needed 0.4 to beat us, and had Troy Hudson not got hurt in the second round the Timberwolves would have obliterated that Lakers team.

Minnesota was the best team in the west that year IMO, and a healthy wolves team vs that pistons squad would have been an AWESOME finals.

Course I still think we could have given Minny a run for their money, they wouldn't have got pampered by the refs like LA.

those big meanies!

[emanueldavidginobili]

I do, but I don't know if it's legal but you can download it with torrents. Otherwise just PM and we'll see.

sent you a PM

[MmP]

In the end I think LA got with the win because Minnie was hugely inexperienced in that stage of the PO. Otherwise it would have been tougher for LA.

Watching this game again makes me realize Malone and Payton combo was pretty much useless. Just good passers, that's why Pistons won it all. I really enjoyed those Finals.

[DeadlyDynasty]

In the end I think LA got with the win because Minnie was hugely inexperienced in that stage of the PO. Otherwise it would have been tougher for LA.

Watching this game again makes me realize Malone and Payton combo was pretty much useless. Just good passers, that's why Pistons won it all. I really enjoyed those Finals.

I'm sure you enjoyed the 2008 Finals too. I rooted for the Spurs in 03, 05, and 07, and the Mavs in 06, because they were the WC representative. But hey, I also don't have an inferiority complex when it comes to our rival WC team, unlike some fans I know...

[MmP]

I really did enjoy all those finals you mention. But that 2004 Piston team to me it was great, really balanced and more fun to watch. Rasheed, Ben, Prince locking Kobe, Rip and Chauncey. I was pretty happy to them defeat the most talk about team in the league, and by far playing as a team. 2004 was fun.
I couldn't stand Payton stupid little face either and right after that finals Shaq took off the outta LA.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I really did enjoy all those finals you mention. But that 2004 Piston team to me it was great, really balanced and more fun to watch. Rasheed, Ben, Prince locking Kobe, Rip and Chauncey. I was pretty happy to them defeat the most talk about team in the league, and by far playing as a team. 2004 was fun.
I couldn't stand Payton stupid little face either and right after that finals Shaq took off the outta LA.

Correction, Mitch sent his ass packing. I was admittedly pissed at the time, but in hindsight it was w/o question the right move. We'd be the Spurs right now if we held onto Shaq

[MmP]

Yep, pretty much although Shaq's decline came really fast. His last good season was 04/05

[dunkman]

DAMN travel

That was ridiculous. Kobe took 3 steps with the game 117:117, few seconds to go.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...311060SAS.html

nobody mentioned that Rasho stepped up in his 39 minutes. He didn't slow down Shaq, but he almost got a double-double.

Rasho always played well when Duncan was out.

[Sean Cagney]

yeah but he kinda disappeared after the first q. he started off great with 8 points and in the second half he kinda went francisco elson type of game.

if you see the whole game though he made a great job in the paint. he was a great presence back then. too bad he was useless in the offense.

Yep he did dissapear, he was soft as thats probably why nobody mentions him because Manu broke out then and this was one of Rasho's best games and after that not much but here or there.

Manu was sick in this game! He was definitely a player and proved it to us.

Correction, Mitch sent his ass packing. I was admittedly pissed at the time, but in hindsight it was w/o question the right move. We'd be the Spurs right now if we held onto Shaq

You would be worse than the Spurs right now. But you guys might have won another one or two with him there? Maybe maybe not.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Yep he did dissapear, he was soft as thats probably why nobody mentions him because Manu broke out then and this was one of Rasho's best games and after that not much but here or there.

Manu was sick in this game! He was definitely a player and proved it to us.

You would be worse than the Spurs right now. But you guys might have won another one or two with him there? Maybe maybe not.

We "might" have won in 04-05, but that's it...and even then Shaq, Payton, and Malone would all be a year older and the Spurs and Pistons were the same if not better. Good move by Mitch. It was an unpopular one, but that's why they get paid the big bucks--to make the big decisions for your team.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

In the end I think LA got with the win because Minnie was hugely inexperienced in that stage of the PO. Otherwise it would have been tougher for LA.

???????????

The emergence of Troy Hudson was the main reason the TWolves reached a new level. He got hurt in the 2nd round played entire WCF on one leg.

[Sean Cagney]

We "might" have won in 04-05, but that's it...and even then Shaq, Payton, and Malone would all be a year older and the Spurs and Pistons were the same if not better. Good move by Mitch. It was an unpopular one, but that's why they get paid the big bucks--to make the big decisions for your team.

I agree........ I think the Spurs would have won it regardless in 05 but this is a damn good post. No Gasol then nor any other les sides maybe one more they squeak in (06 I am thinking over Dallas and then Miami, but miami would not be there so Pistons I am guessing IF they beat them!). Good call, they did the right thing then.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

Damn, I remember this game like it was yesterday--the part where they panned to Tim Duncan's face late in the game and you could just see the look in his eyes still gives me chills. Has it really been 7 years?