It's that time of year. Time to hail the mighty Lakers for the 8th time since 1980.

I'm glad the fugly, choke-under-pressure Kings have been dismissed. Bobby Jackson looks like Dobby the house elf of Harry Potter fame and Hedo is one of the 5 ugliest players in league history. Don't even get me started on Floppy Divac.

The Nets might be able to take a game or two since Derek Fisher won't be able to stop Jason Kidd, but there's NO WAY the Nets can win the series.

Lakers in five.

Let the Laker-hating begin.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Answers

Begin? The Laker-hate's been going on here for a long time!

For one second ... one brief second ... on Sunday, I thought the referees were actuallt going to call six of Kobe Bryant's 437 fouls and actually foul him out of the game. Alas, that was horribly naive, although it did amuse me when he whined and complained after being whistled for essentially mugging Bibby in the final seconds of regulation in front of all three officials and 9 billion TV viewers.

But what can you do? The Kings have only themselves to blame, both for not hitting free throws or three-pointers in Game 7 and not bribing the refs as much as the Lakers did in the atrociously- officiated Game 6.

The Nets have no chance unless the officiating is much, much better than it's been throughout the playoffs. As long as the Stars Do No Wrong system is enforced, New Jersey can't match up. But I think they'll win at least one, and probably two games.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Everyone likes to talk about the calls in Game 6, but have a look at the free throw stats for the other games.

Game 1: L.A. 22 Sac. 17 (L.A. wins) Game 2: Sac. 38 L.A. 25 (Sac. wins) Game 3: Sac. 35 L.A. 15 (Sac. wins) Game 4: L.A. 27 Sac. 26 (L.A. wins) Game 5: Sac. 33 L.A. 23 (Sac. wins) Game 6: L.A. 40 Sac. 25 (L.A. wins) Game 7: L.A. 33 Sac. 30 (L.A. wins)

Overall - Sac. 204 L.A. 185

You liked Game 6's lopsidedness? Have a look at Games 2, 3, and 5.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Yes, but aren't those numbers for free throws made, not free throws attempted?

It's interesting that the team who scored the most free throws won the game, every time.

In any case: This just in! I still hate the Lakers!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Naw, it's free throw attempts. Otherwise the Kings total for game 7 would be about 15 lower. HA!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Well, everyone mentions Game 6 because the Game 6 calls were an absolute joke.

In Games 2 and 3, the Lakers were fouling in the fourth quarter to stop the clock. Nobody's disputing that the referees will call fouls on the Lakers when Phil Jackson tells them to.

Game 5's close calls went Sacramento's way, which likely prompted the frantic David Stern phone calls to the officials that led to the Game 6 debacle.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

I suppose you can soften it about Game 5 by saying the close calls "went Sacramento's way" (as opposed to calling it a joke), but the fact is that Shaq shot one free throw in the whole game. One. Apparently he was only fouled one time in the act of shooting. That's a pretty good joke too.

So if the refs stole Game 6 for L.A. (a 4 point win for them), then it was just evening the score for Game 5 (a 1 point win for Sacramento). Throw those games out and L.A. still wins 3-2.

And the Lakers were down 10 or more for most of Game 3. They only fouled two or three times intentionally at the end of the game.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

If the officials are going to let Shaq turn around and bull his way past people, they have to let the defense be equally physical in standing their ground. I had no problems with Game 5.

And you're just defensive because you have to cheer for a team with Robert Horry and Rick Fox on it -- not to mention Mark Madsen, who isn't really worth mentioning since he never plays.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

And furthermore, if "Hedo is one of the 5 ugliest players in league history", what does that make Medvedenko?

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Can we please never mention Rick Fox again? Because his name alone...

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

"I had no problems with Game 5"

Well that is certainly a big surprise to me; that someone who hates the Lakers and Shaq didn't see anything wrong with Shaq shooting one free throw the entire game.

Just admit that biased fans are going to see the same action in different ways. Throwing out the personal bias, the fact remains that Sacramento shot more free throws over the course of 7 games.

And the most important fact of all remains as well; the Lakers (with Rick Fox and Robert Horry) play tonight while the Kings watch from home.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

Throwing out the personal bias, the fact remains that Sacramento shot more free throws over the course of 7 games.

But that doesn't mean the refereeing was equal, or unbiased. I mean, if the Lakers foul twice as often -- which is clearly the case -- don't expect me to be all happy that the Kings shot a couple of more free throws.

No comeback to the Medvedenko thing, huh?

BTW, I don't hate Shaq at all -- Kobe, yes, and Fox and Horry. But I like Shaq.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

"I mean, if the Lakers foul twice as often -- which is clearly the case..."

Now that's not unbiased at all. Don't be silly. See, that is exactly what I'm talking about. To you, it appears as though everything L.A. does is a foul; to me it's the other way. I think Shaq gets fouled almost every time he touches the ball. He's just so big that he doesn't move and the refs don't notice.

I'll grant you that Kobe grabs a lot on defense, but then again so does every player who is considered a good defender. You can't tell me Christie wasn't grabbing Kobe when he denied him the ball at the end of regulation. And Bobby Jackson (Dobby) got Kobe's elbow on the final shot of Game 5.

Medvedenko is ugly, and Madsen looks like a geek. But they don't play enough to talk about. Hedo ranks up there with Popeye Jones and Sam Cassell in terms of ugliness. We're talking 1st team all-NBA.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

droogie, why you gotta break my heart and be a Lakers fan? Why, droogie? WHY?

However, I do agree with you that Shaq gets fouled every time he turns around, but how else is anybody going to guard him? It's not like you can just stick your hand up, or box him out or do anything to keep him from going where he wants to go. You have to leap on him and swing from his arms.

And don't be all casual about Kobe being grabby. It's not only that. Any time he gets called - and I know they all do this, but it's particularly offensive with Kobe - he makes his big play for the Best Actor of the Year award, complete with arm waving and eye rolling and the incredulous faces.

I notice you have not even attempted to defend the evil that is Rick Fox and his eyebrows...

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

Any time he gets called - and I know they all do this, but it's particularly offensive with Kobe - he makes his big play for the Best Actor of the Year award, complete with arm waving and eye rolling and the incredulous faces.

The worst since Rony Seikly at Syracuse ... he'd beat the crap out of someone with a chair, get whistled, and turn around with the "Me? What did I do?" face.

I was really amused when Bryant did that on the foul on Bibby in Game 7, where he effectively fouled him with every single part of his body.

Shaq is a tough case, because if they called everything that should be called, he'd shoot 20 free throws a game -- but he'd also foul out in 20 minutes because he shoves people around to get position. That's why I don't like to hear him complain. He gets the benefits of the silent whistles as well as the costs. If you'll recall, last year he'd spend the entire NBA Finals hipchecking Mutombo, MacCulloch and ... who am I forgetting? Oh yeah, Geiger ... out of the paint, dunking the ball, and then complaining that no foul was called on the defense.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

Well finally we agree on something concerning Shaq. I would not like to call a game with him in it. Sometimes he initiates contact, sometimes he doesn't. It's not always clear-cut how the call should go. I will say that when Shaq lowers a shoulder and leans in, the other guy falls, usually because Shaq is so big (exception being Vlade who falls down 100 times a game). But when someone does the same thing to him, he barely budges. Both should be offensive fouls, regardless of the defenders' reaction. You can't punish Shaq because he's bigger and stronger. What's next, telling Vince Carter not to jump so high because it creates a mismatch?

I'm sorry Al, I'm 28 and have been cheering for the Lakers since 1985. Magic Johnson was and is my favorite player. Other than that, I'm a decent person. Really.

I like Rick Fox. I don't really have an opinion on his eyebrows. I like his hair better shaved than all floppy and crazy like it was. I can even forgive him for being a Celtic for a while. However, I'm not sure how he focuses on the game, considering who is waiting for him at home.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

The problems is that the NBA has sort of become like football -- where infractions are committed on every play, but not everything is called. Obviously, NBA refs can't whistle everything the rulebook prohibits, or games would be baseball-esque in length.

So I don't so much care what the refs choose to call or not call -- as long as things are consistant for every player and in every quarter over the course of a game. It irritates me when Kobe, for example, can't seem to foul out (except once) no matter what he does, while Doug Christie seems to spend every game in foul trouble, but I don't much care if they let Shaq run over people as long as they let the defenders be equally physical -- and as long as Shaq doesn't whine about it.

Lest that be taken as more anti-Laker bias, it pisses me off even more when John Stockton gets those calls every postseason. That guy can't even sweat without fouling, and yet it seems like referees are contractually prohibited from calling that sixth foul on him. It's the old star system, except that in this postseason the Lakers are the team with the stars.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

Amen on the John Stockton thing. He's as dirty a player as there is. I was stunned when he fouled out in one of those first round games this season against Sacramento. It was the first playoff game he's ever fouled out of.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

Poor Sam Cassell. He gets nothing but hate, doesn't he? I don't think he's ugly at all; odd-looking, sure, but he wouldn't make me run away screaming.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

I can even forgive [Rick Fox] for being a Celtic for a while.

That must never be spoken of again, though I consider it to be his only redeeming quality.

All Hail the power of the Celtics. One day they will be back. (OK, I've been saying that for a long time... but I can dream, right?)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

It was the first playoff game he's ever fouled out of.

I remember hearing that, and thought it was absurd. Last year the Jazz played Dallas in the first round, and after awhile I was wondering if they'd actually let Stockton bring out a baseball bat on defense to help him guard Nash, being as they were letting him do everything else.

As far as the Finals go ... the more I think about it, the less shocked I'd be if New Jersey makes it a series. A lot would have to happen -- Van Horn would have to dominate Fox, and Martin would need to do the same to Horry -- but apart from Shaq-MacCullough, none of the matchups are all too terrible for them, and Kidd should dominate Fisher.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2002

Game One:
Shaq: 21 FTs
Kobe: 11 FTs

Lakers: 45 FTs
Nets: 26 FTs

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

As I looked at the box score this morning, I knew you'd bring this up.

You must not have watched the game if you think these stats are telling. The Nets were intentionally fouling Shaq all through the 4th quarter.

Not even the Nets are complaining about the calls last night.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

The Nets may not be complaining about the calls, but I bet they're kicking themselves for letting the Lakers spank them in the first quarter, and then outscoring LA every quarter thereafter.

Did y'all hear Barkley's prediction of the Nets in 7? That's criz- NAZY, especially considering he's been right about everybody else this whole playoff series.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

I'm not blaming the refs at all. I just thought the numbers were interesting.

Game 2 will be telling. I really think the Nets can take them if they cut the nerves and start stronger, and if that happens...

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

The numbers were pretty interesting. Did you notice how little foul calls there were in the 1st half? The 1st half went really fast because there weren't a lot of play stoppages for fouls.

The Nets won't shoot like that again and should be able to take one of the next two. The thing that should concern the Nets is that Shaq missed a lot of gimmes. He's getting the ball waaay too low for Macculloch to defend him.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

The thing that should concern the Nets is that Shaq missed a lot of gimmes. He's getting the ball waaay too low for Macculloch to defend him.

I was really shocked that the Nets didn't give him some more help. Macculloch can't possibly defend Shaq on his own, and if he gets the ball that close in, New Jersey has no chance at all.

On a random note, it's a little sad to see that Mitch Richmond's finally getting a chance to play for a championship team ... but he's not actually playing. That's not to say I think he should be, because he's just not that good any more, but I wonder how much the ring will mean to him. He was so good for so many years without anyone noticing because he played for such crappy teams, and now he gets the big stage and doesn't even get to take off his sweats.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

I agree about the Nets not helping T-Mac (the 2nd).

They helped a little, which is why Van Horn picked up 6 fouls. And a few times Kidd came below the free throw line to swat at the ball when Shaq made his move. Kidd should do that more since Fisher hasn't been making much of anything beyond the arc.

Phil Jackson says that Richmond might get some minutes in this series. It's like a Catch 22 with him; he doesn't get the minutes because he's rusty and he's rusty from not getting the minutes.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002

Yeah, well, you ask Keith Van Horn to play defense and he's going to foul out. He's not in the league because he can stop anybody bigger or stronger than he is, and there's no way he can slow down a guy like Shaq.

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2002