Lakers win Game 1 by 5.
The Lakers looked very solid at the beginning of the game, leading by 20+ at some points in the first half. But the Nets clawed back into it, but the Lakers held them off. Shaq had 36pts. and Kidd notched another triple-double!
Good Fight by the Nets in this one...they came back...now to work on NOT giving a 20 point lead to the Lakers...
Lakers take a 3-0 series lead.
They cannot be denied.
Kobe was great again late in the game!
The best post player(and the games most dominant player) in Shaq, the best all around player in Kobe and excellent role players. This coupled with the fact they are willing to get down and dirty on defense, makes this team a great one!
I would take Iverson over Kobe anyday.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Terpy:
I would take Iverson over Kobe anyday.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I wouldn't. Iverson is one of the top 5 players in the game today; he is so quick and he can score. But Iverson also brings a lot of extra baggage along with him that usually is negative energy and distracting.
On the other hand, Kobe comes to play every day. I don't think that he is the ball hog that Iverson is, plus he has experience when it comes to winning championships. Kobe will score when he wants and needs. In addition, late in games Kobe will be there to finish off a game and win it; he is more clutch than AI IMO.
I may take Iverson over Kobe but not anyday.
AI very nearly does by himself what Kobe needs Shaq to do. The only reason it didnt happen this year is because half the team was injured.
You would take Iverson over Kobe?
It is safe to say that your next employment will not be as an NBA GM?
Is there any one single area of Iverson's game that is better then Kobe's? Maybe spot up shooting from the 3 point line, but Kobe has a better mid range jumper that he gets off much esasier because of his superior size. I'll also take Kobe's ability to get good shots off over Iverson's ability to take more bad shots then anyone else in the game. But I'll give AI a break on this one, because of the make up of his team. Defensively? Mismatch here. Kobe plays a variety of players and plays it well. Iverson? nope. Creating shots for others? Kobe by a mile here. That is without discussion. They both break down whoever they want to, but Kobe is a better finisher around the rim. What else? Let's see, Kobe is one of the best and hardest practice players in the game. Iverson, well we know his rep there.
Anyway, you can keep Iverson and believe it or not I love Iverson's game, but over Kobe no way. the only player in the game I would think about taking over Kobe is Shaq. I still might take Kobe though because of his age.
I couldn't have said it better myself MPhilo#47, even thought I tried. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" />
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree but let me just say that there is no way that Kobe does a better job at creating shots for his teammates than AI, Shaq does that for the Lakers, even when he doesnt have the ball, Shaqs presense alone helps get other guys open. If Shaq wasnt there and it was just Kobe you may be right but that isnt how it is. Iverson means so much more to his team than Kobe does to his, without Kobe the Lakers would at worst make the playoffs every year, without Iverson the Sixers would be absolutely nothing.
Actually the triangle offense creates the shots that Shaq appears to create, but when things break down or when the shot clock is running down or it's the 4th quarter of a tight game, it is Kobe who has the ball in his hands, because he has the ability to create both a good shot for himself or for the others. If Shaq was able to create shots better then Kobe, then the offense would run thru him late in games, it doesn't. The majority of late games are run thru Kobe. If you put Kobe on the Sixers right now, he would do a far better job of creating open shots for others. Iverson very rarely does any of that.
I should add one thing. I know Shaq does obviously create shots for others, as does any good post player, but to say he creates more then Kobe does, just isn't true. Shaq ceates open jumpers, although very rarely for Kobe because they don't leave him when doubling Shaq. Kobe creates open jumpers and layups for his teammates and often creates dunks for Shaq because Shaq's man has to step up to stop Kobe on his penetrations.
I realize that is how it works during close games in the fourth quarter, but for the other three quarters of every game it is Shaq is the one that makes everything happen.
edit: I guess you just said all of that in your post while I was posting this one.
<small>[ June 12, 2002, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: Terpy ]</small>
Lakers sweep the series and 3-peat. They Lakers are champions again.
Whoop-de-freakin-do. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />
Did anyone see Derek Fisher's postgame comments? Seems like all these guys talk about right after they win consecutive titles is how they're going to win it again next year. For once, I'd like to see a team thrilled to win this year's title....
-JD
JD-
I am not any happier that the Lakers won than you are, I just thought I should post how the series ended.
Oh, that wasn't aimed at you hoops. I'm just tired of watching players get less and less excited about winning the title....
-JD
Actually, that is a great side to the Lakers. Three in a row means they have not gotten complacent. As a Laker fan, I love the fact there looking forward to next year.
Seems to me, thats more of a credit to there dedication that there focus is on winning more.
I like that!
Boy, it sure was exciting, watching the Lakers throw the ball to Shaq then Shaq dunk. What strategy! Do you think if they ever start calling offensive fouls on the big guy, the NBA might be more competitive? I don't have anything against Shaq, its the refs that get me fired up!
Late - TheDude <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />