The Clips, and every team in the league, don't have Shaq and Kobe. You give Shaq and Kobe better talent around them, they'll win again, and again. It's not the same thing, because no other team has those two players.

So Oprah, when are you going to have your thread about them being abused as children? I mean that would help explain there folding under pressure ROFL

agreed... my point is that they had the talent.

Maybe if they hadn't treated the regular season like a half-assed scrimage... and Shaq wasn't 30 lbs over-weight... and they hadn't lost their fire.... etc etc

They got fat and happy. The only reason I was rooting agianst them was the fact that they (or their fans at least) acted like the championship was owed to them.

btw... why weren't the "Lake Show" fans complaining about this lack of talent before they got punked by 30 on their own floor?

They didn't fold under pressure, IMO. They couldn't carry the team. No one was helping them out. It was like 2 on 5 basketball out there for most of the playoffs and the regular season this year. They will improve the supporting cast, and then watch out.

You wanna find out more?...then tune into next Thursday's Oprah.

I suspect you're right... what was Horry.. like 3 for 30-something in the playoffs?

They just came off as prima donas... and I was happy to see 'em get slapped back down to earth. Hell, look at the title of this thread? Don't you think you Laker fans had a little of this comin'?

all in good fun though, Code... :toast:

I agree that the Lakers were overconfident. Almost like denial, or something. Shaq and Kobe (and the front office) thought they could carry that team. They got a wake up call. They can't do it on their own anymore.

I don't think it will be quite that easy Cal......
 

........ with the retirement of David Robinson the spurs have mucho money to spend also.

The Spurs should be given credit for fielding a roster that was put together specifically to beat the Lakers. Robinson, Rose and Willis gave them 18 fouls to use each game on Shaq.
Parker is better than any guard on the Lakers roster. Ginobilli played some very good basketball, Bowen had Bryant crying to the officials from the opening whistle of Game 1 with his chest to chest defense.
The Lakers will need somebody at the point to clamp down on Parker. That's in addition to finding a PF. Will they have the $ to do that and stay under the cap?
The Surs will likely keep Rose and maybe Willis will return too. There was an interesting thought of them signing Jermaine O'neal which would again put the Lakers behind the eight ball talent wise.

Anyway all this speculation and the Spurs have yet to win the West. Although they are prohibitive favorites there is still a long way to go.

Precisely what I spoke with Jim earlier this year on how to beat O'Neal - use the old Chicago Bulls tactic of using 3 players in rotation to get the fouling necessary to make a player less effectual than he actually is.

Something which Jim stated (if I remember right) would never work as Phil should know how to counter such strategy since he incorporated it so well.

Obviously you weren't paying too much attention to the NBA right?:rolleyes:

The Hack-A-Shaq was created by Don Nelson (not Jackson) when O'Neal was clanking FTs miserable earleir in his career. That all went out the window as Diesel's FTs rose above 62% and went even higher down the stretch in the 4th quarter.

Factor in the other Lakers who could stroll the the charity stripe after 5 team fouls made this a non-issue.

There is no strategy to "beat" Shaq. You design a defense that linits his supporting cast from going off. Shaq had plenty of touches in Game #6 because (are you following here?)...

Popovich didn't want the other role players to get into a rhythm by hoisting open jumpers.

The Spurs were able to play Shaq AND Kobe one-on-one
this series. THAT was what turned the tables and not 18 fouls to waste on Diesel.

But then, you "precisely" figured that out?:rolleyes:

Look deeper in this thread, I said the lack of talent was going to due them in.

To the top!!!!!!! ROFL

When does the NBA season start?

I thought you guys would never talk about NBA

basically I root for the Kings
like to watch Chris Webber play, which haven't happened yet this season... :banghead:

The Lakers got OLD fast. No way they come out on top in the West. The Timberwolves, Kings, Spurs, and Mavs can take them out. Shoot, Shaq got schooled by Yao a few days ago. That wasn't supposed to happen yet... :hmmm:

But WHO the F cares anyway as it's only the NBA... ROFL