hahaha...seriously....you would think that after what? 11 or 12 years in the league...dude could hire someone like an ex player or coach to show him how to hold the ball right and let it roll out of his hands instead of trying to shotput it to the basket off his fingertips....amazing.

He just hates the team and everyone on it, what else are you going to say? We need to close out in LA now. I don't think any other team has a very good chance against the Lakers if we win this series. To me there is only one series after this. The East has a snowballs chance in hell of beating the Lakers and I think I am being generous saying that.

THats what everyone thought about the Afc until the broncos broke the NFC winning streak. The East has a legitamate shot.

Well, when all you are use to doing is sticking that huge ass of his into other peoples guts to move em off and throwing down BB's with force, what do you expect.

I have heard Rick Berry proclaim on TV, that if he would just follow one of his principles, he could make him a 70% FT shooter, and that would open up his game from all the Hack a Shaq that he endures now.

Exactly!! So what does that tell you? He is lazy. He knows that he can get by on just using his big butt to move people around...when he could strive to become even better...but he doesnt care...

No, not sweating really. For me, I'll just pick another team to BEAT L.A. if the Spurs can't. I really don't care who just as long as the LAKERS LOSE. :thumb:

Really though - I must admit I did not give the Lakers much of a chance against the Spurs in the series. Congrats on sticking with YOUR team (even though they $UCK!) ;)

It will be interesting to see how the protest goes. If I'm not mistaken a rule was established saying it takes a minimum of 0.7 seconds to catch, turn and shoot. I also thought the ruling states it takes 0.4 seconds to catch and shoot while in the air. The basis of the protest is the Lakers where given more then 0.4 seconds to get the shot off because the clock started late.

Either way, I would be surprised if they win the protest.

They wont win...its pretty stupid really.....you have to think....it takes a slipt second for the ref to react to seeing the ball hit the guys hands....it takes another split second for im to hit the button to start the clock.....of course there will be a delay! There ALWAYS will be due to the human element involved....the protest is stupid.

I am sure that the Refs are instructed not to foul out the likes of a Jordan(I know he is retired but I am making a point), Kobe, Shap, IOW marqee players get the close ones. Just like Barry Bonds gets about 4 or 5 strikes.

NBA Denies Sours' Protest
May 14, 1:57 PM (ET) Email this Story

NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA denied the San Antonio Spurs' protest of Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, which ended with a buzzer-beating shot by Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs contended the clock did not start quickly enough after Fisher caught an inbounds pass with 0.4 seconds remaining. Fisher made 18-foot turnaround to give the Lakers a 74-73 victory on Thursday night in San Antonio.

The protest was denied Friday by NBA commissioner David Stern. The league said a video tape review showed the game clock "started appropriately" and confirmed the determination of the referees, using instant replay, that the shot was released before time expired.

One of the three officials triggers the start with a wireless device on his belt. A neutral scorekeeper does, too, as a backup.

"I think it definitely started late," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said after the game.


Fisher's shot came after Tim Duncan made an off-balance basket from the top of the key to give the Spurs the lead with 0.4 seconds left.

After three timeouts, Gary Payton was ready to pass to Shaquille O'Neal or Kobe Bryant. The Spurs had them covered, leaving Fisher free. He caught the ball, sank the shot over Manu Ginobili, then ran off the court in celebration.

"I just wanted to get out of there and not give them an opportunity to think that we didn't believe it went in," Fisher said.

The Lakers lead the series 3-2, with Game 6 in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The East sucks. All you got over there is Reggie Miller.

The Nets playground BB don't work when there is a ref and a team that can shoot.

There is also a bit of human reaction time that needs to be allowed for. And even at that, I have seen the play (saw it live too) over, and over, and over, and it does not appear there was any gross delay in the official starting the clock. It appeared to be in motion right after DF caught the ball, which is the way the rule works.

Anybody find that picture of the final shot by Fisher out there somewhere?

Yeah..i found it right here Big Daddy!

unfortunatly yes!