Let me start by saying, I'm not a Laker-hater. I'm not a huge L.A. supporter or anything, but I like Kobe Bryant. Now, I don't agree with some of the stuff he's done over the years, but I like him as a basketball player. The guy is clutch, and anyone that says or thinks otherwise is just totally ignorant.
Having said all that, what transpired today in Game 4 against the Mavericks was nothing short of flat out pathetic.
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| Photo by: Raj Skalij |
The whole charade reminded me of the 1991 playoff series between the two-time defending champion Detroit Pistons and an up-and-coming Chicago Bulls squad led by, you guessed it, Phil Jackson. The Bulls would go on to sweep the series and in the closing seconds of Game 4, Chuck Daly pulled his starters and they proceeded to walk off the court and into the locker room without shaking hands with the Chicago players. Instead of going out with some dignity, they walked off like a buncha toddlers throwing a hissy fit.
Now, fast-forward to today's game. It all came full-circle.
The Lakers are the two-time defending champions. This is their legendary coaches swan song season. But instead of going out and trying to salvage something out of the series, they lay down like a buncha losers and get swept all the way back to Los Angeles. Nice. I've never once thought Kobe lacked in the heart department, but the entire team played today like a squad that was just ready to call it a season and go home. So not only were they totally heartless, they were gutless as well.
Don't get me wrong, Dallas deserves loads of credit. Obviously they did some things right to win by a final score of 122-86.
Jason Terry tied a playoff record with nine 3-pointers, and the Mavs matched NBA postseason marks with eleven 3's in the first half and twenty for the game. Dallas made 63% of their shots from behind the arc (20 of 32) and 60% of their total field goals (44 of 73).
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| Photo by: Ronald Martinez |
Show up.
I like the comparison to the '91 Pistons. I remember them walking off the court. The Lakers are officially done. Kobe can't carry them by himself anymore, and the rest of the team is too old. Plus Phil Jackson leaving will really hurt them.
ReplyDeleteHATE the Lakers. Glad theyre out of it. Hope Dallas wins it all.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine if Caron Butler would've been healthy. This Mavs team would be incredible.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I read the series wrong, but it looked like the team hated either Kobe or Phil. Odom hogged the ball when he shouldn't have - even with Kobe or Derek Fisher wide open. Also, when Phil was screaming at Gasol and Bynum, it didn't seem like they even cared - they just kind of stared off into space. Just my .02!
Spot on comments on Kobe though, the guy's a huge competitor.
Funny you should mention that.
ReplyDeleteRumor has it, the team was pissed at Kobe because his wife supposedly told Gasol's girlfriend that he's cheated on her with multiple chicks, so she broke up with him.
Guess Kobe's wife is the Lakers version of Yoko. Lol
Great series for Dallas. They finally got over the hump and beat the Lakers. Unfortunately, it wasn't very fun to watch. I was impressed by Kobe's professional act after the game.
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