Official Laker-Hater Championship thread. Whining encouraged!!

[California Injun]

Leave it to the JailBlazers to tank their game against the lowly Clippers to avoid meeting the San Antonio Spurs in their bracket.

Leave it to the 3-Time Champs to exude class by whomping up on the lowly Warriors to secure the #5 seed and eventually match-up with the Spurs in the next round.

That "whoosh" you hear is from the Cowtown Euros as they get a cakewalk to the Western Finals by playing the Utah Greybeards and then the defenseless Cuban Cigars.

The Staples Crew will EASILY dispatch those toothless T-Cubs before a BIG match-up against the Boot Accessorizors. This will be a huge test for the Champs but they will eventually prevail before the long awaited match-up with the Farmers.

Once past the Spurs, the Lakers will throttle the Kings and send that franchise reeling. Rumor has it that Brittney Spears is already scoping out Mark Madsen for a date to the NBA Finals.

Unlike the Detroit Red Wings complete choke job in this years NHL Finals, the Big Aristolte has his crew all primed for a Quatro.

Long live the Lakers dynasty and their loyal fans.

Long live the venomous hatred of those unfortunate souls who continue to slander this great organization.

As Kobe said tonight in the post game interview;

"It's time to dance, baby!"

[RealSNR]

Originally posted by steve_minor
Who cares when the T-wolves advanced last, the have never. But if you use that as an example no one could. The Lakers went many years without advancing..a long time ago, but that argument is invalid. Yes the T-wolves don't match up against the lakers that well. Yes Shaq gets a unfair amount of calls his way in the playoffs. Yes Kobe is scoring more than he ever has.

But!!!

KG had his MVP season this year, and he will not settle for a first round loss. People who think the have seen KG's heart, will be shocked when they see his play and ability to rally his team!!!

Go Timberwolves

Twolves in 6!!!!

Well said
Many people are doubting the T-Wolves again this year and they have the right to. I guess that just means we'll have to prove them wrong, and there's never been a better time.

GO WOLVES!!

[RealSNR]

KG Does It All


by Troy Young

In a league where players often speak before they think, Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett bit his lip.

While fans and media howled, and some Timberwolves management hinted they needed to be the beneficiary of even more from the team's lone superstar, Garnett stood tall but silent, and accepted the newfound role of being the dartboard of criticism.

Garnett could have lashed out through the newspapers. In other cities, NBA superstars might have called a press conference and begun firing verbal missiles in all directions at teammates, team management, reporters and even fans. In other cities, if a player gets criticized too "harshly" he exercises a bunker-down mentality that makes him Public Enemy No. 1.

From a public relations standpoint, Garnett had myriad options.

But in the offseason, Garnett worked on what he could control — himself — and through his silence showed an allegiance and never-ending faithfulness rarely seen in all of professional sports.

"At the end of the year, when they start pointing fingers, it's always going to be pointed at me first. I don't have a problem with that," Garnett said. "I've heard all those things before. At the end of the year, things go bad and they say, 'Kevin Garnett ain't doing blah, blah, blah.' It's very unfair. But like I've said, you control the things you can and not the stuff you can't."

Garnett couldn't control what was being said about himself and the Timberwolves, but he could have responded. Garnett is the top reason the Wolves are in the postseason every year. Ironically, when they were eliminated in the first round, he became the most convenient excuse for why they didn't move on.

But last spring the criticism took on a deeper tone. Last spring, when Garnett and the Wolves were ousted from the first round of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, people began to wonder aloud whether the Wolves were better off with or without Garnett.

The economic factor kicked in. The business side of sports always weighs heavily on most personnel decisions. Garnett could not do it alone, analysts said. But with his enormous salary, the team could ill afford to sign another superstar. Bottom line: Could the Wolves go deep into the playoffs with or without Garnett?

It was more a question of business and economics than an indictment on Garnett's ability. Still, for the first time since he came to Minnesota from Farragut Academy, people wondered if Garnett was a sail or an anchor.

"It did bother me," Garnett admitted. "Some of the criticism was in-house and some of it was coming from management, and I thought that was tough. When things aren't going great, you have to stick together, so I took it very personal."

KG Among NBA Leaders
Through Feb. 4
#1 Double-doubles (39)
#1 Efficiency Ranking (30.37)
#2 Defensive Reb. Per Game (10.1)
#2 Triple-doubles (3)
#3 Rebounds Per Game (12.8)
#11 Minutes Per Game (40.6)
#14 Points Per Game (22.0)
#14 FG Percentage (.488)
#16 Assists Per Game (5.7)
#20 Blocks Per Game (1.51)

While other superstar athletes have crumbled in their communities, Garnett has not. While some professional athletes see their name frequent police reports almost as often as the morning newspaper's box scores, Garnett stays clean. He does that because he feels a responsibility not only to the Timberwolves organization and its fans, but the entire community.

It's a rare attitude for an athlete, especially one who had no ties to the community before he came here to play basketball.

"I feel like this city is mine and I wear Minneapolis on my sleeve," Garnett said. "I don't mind being the poster boy for the Twin Cities — I like that — but I don't like when you take shots that are inappropriate. I think you should always evaluate yourself in the mirror first."

That's what made the criticism last spring sting.

Admittedly, Garnett could improve on aspects of his game. In some ways, he has this season. Just watch his post-up moves underneath. Some of the new weapons Garnett added to his offensive arsenal are triggered by footwork reminiscent of a certain Boston Celtics forward who grew up in Hibbing, Minn. But what may have annoyed Garnett most was that some even dared to question his desire.

"I took it very, very, very personal because I work very hard," Garnett said.

In the offseason, Garnett focused on improving his game, and it shows. On Sunday, Garnett will play in his sixth career All-Star Game, his fifth as a starter as voted by fans. He is averaging career-high rebounds and assists and has led the team in scoring 36 times, rebounding 38 times and assists 18 times. To go along with his NBA-leading 39 double-doubles, Garnett has three triple-doubles and several near-misses this season. He tied his own team record with 24 rebounds and set a franchise mark with 19 defensive boards Nov. 7 vs. Milwaukee. On Opening Night, Garnett scored his 10,000th career point; he followed that with his 11,000th point last Thursday at Dallas.

The Timberwolves should consider themselves fortunate. In Garnett, they not only possess one of the game's elite, but a player who is devoted to the cause. For better or for worse, Garnett insists, he will be a Timberwolf.

"My mom's a big, big, big loyalty person and she stressed loyalty to people who've been loyal to you," Garnett said. "I've got loyal friends. I've been burned a couple times, but you learn from that. I think my support group I have around me is very solid and great. It's not something you take for granted. You surround yourself with loyal people and it spreads."

At the All-Star break, the NBA's unofficial halfway point, the Wolves hold the fifth spot in the Western Conference. Kendall Gill, Troy Hudson and Rod Strickland have been pleasant surprises, and without them, the ship might have sunk. But Garnett is quietly having perhaps the best season of his career.

"I wouldn't trade him for anybody in this league," NBA analyst Trent Tucker said on a Wolves postgame radio show. "He's the most versatile player in the league. He plays every single night with 100 percent energy. Kevin Garnett will give you an honest effort every night. And you also have a guy who, on the defensive end, can do so many things.

"He's a 10-position player. On offense, he can play all five, and he can defend all five positions. In my mind, I wouldn't trade Kevin Garnett for anybody in the league, not even Shaq."

"I control what I can," Garnett said. "I come out and focus on me and the guys. I love everybody in this (locker) room.

"Do I need to be more aggressive? Yeah, I think so. But I think I'm doing okay."

[Hydrae]

I feel badly for the T-Wolves. They had a very good shot at advancing until my Blazers took a dive against the (gasp) Clippers. They just need to get better support for KG.

As for my Blazers, although Mo has done a decent job of getting this team to play together, I just don't see them getting past the Mavs. All the talent in the world but they can't get it together. And to think, Pippen thought he should get more credit for the Bulls run.

Lakers, on the other hand, will not even make the conference finals. Sorry but the Spurs will take them out in 6 in the second round. Bank on it.

My take on the Western Conference finals: Kings/Spurs with the Spurs taking a championship to end the Admirals career.

[Logical]

Twolves
Euros


Oh and you are wrong on the Lakers having trouble advancing. All the way back to their days as the Minnesota Lakers they have been able to make the Championship Series in fact the Minnesota Lakers won the first of the many, many Laker NBA championship. The Lakers were frequently the Celtics opponents in the 60s in the Championship round. Sorry Mr Minor I do not know where you got your bad information from. In fact they won the first of their 14 NBA championship in the 48-49 season. By the way 1948/49 was their very first NBA season There is a reason the Lakers have been in 27 Championship in theire 55 year history consistency and the ability to move on.

Just to correct the record the Lakers firrst five NBA titles were

48/49
49/50
51/52
52/53
53/54

thats right they won 5 titles out of their first 6 NBA seasons.


So you want to tell me again

Originally posted by steve_minor...
But if you use that as an example no one could. The Lakers went many years without advancing..a long time ago, but that argument is invalid.
...

Logical
Laker lover and BB Laker historian




For more detailed information go to http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/history.html

[steve_minor]

I stand corrected, but you missed my point completely. First its sad that you put that much time into a response, second my point was only to say if a team has lost in the first round, that does not mean they will instantly lose forever, otherwise teams would never advance.

I can't wait till the Wolves win and you Laker Fans will shut up!!

I love the Chiefs, but if we won 3 Super Bowls in a row I hope I don't turn out to be like a Lakers fan

Go Wolves!!!

[Logical]

Originally posted by steve_minor
I stand corrected, but you missed my point completely. First its sad that you put that much time into a response, second my point was only to say if a team has lost in the first round, that does not mean they will instantly lose forever, otherwise teams would never advance.

I can't wait till the Wolves win and you Laker Fans will shut up!!

I love the Chiefs, but if we won 3 Super Bowls in a row I hope I don't turn out to be like a Lakers fan

Go Wolves!!!

First the respone did not take that much time as I know most of that stuff and I have the site bookmarked for Lakers history. So no big deal. I am fortunate to have seen a couple of Chiefs AFL championships and their two Superbowls so I do not think there is a correlation between my love of the Lakers and their championship as I have ridden out the bad times with the Chiefs as well as the great times.

[steve_minor]

Hey we both love our teams!!! In the end thats all that matters!!

Twolves over the Lakers

[Logical]

Originally posted by steve_minor
Hey we both love our teams!!! In the end thats all that matters!!

Twolves over the Lakers

The key for you is whether Garnett disappears in the playoffs and if you can find anyone to at least slow down the diesel.

On slowing down the diesel you have no hope, so you really need Garnett to not only not dissappear but to step it up.

[WilliamTheIrish]

................. Even though I didn't participate in last years hating thread?

To be honest I do in fact hate the Lakers... so ... if there's room....
can I get a seat on the hatewagon???

[Logical]

Originally posted by WilliamTheIrish
................. Even though I didn't participate in last years hating thread?

To be honest I do in fact hate the Lakers... so ... if there's room....
can I get a seat on the hatewagon???

Well what are your qualifications as a Lakers lover we do not want to see people who will willy nillly hop on board as haters.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally posted by Logical


Well what are your qualifications as a Lakers lover we do not want to see people who will willy nillly hop on board as haters.

... Since the loss of the Kings I've had no NBA team to call my own.
Being an Irish kinda fellow I hooked up at one point with the Celts. Keep in mind that I follwed the Celtics as kid before we had the Kings here in the area.
They had Cowens, and Havlicek, and Cheney and I even found some goodness in my heart for that KU guy Jo Jo White.
(For all the Jhoax out there I'm still happy he stepped on the out of bound line in the 66 West Regional vs UTEP)
But now I wander aimlessly through the NBA season, just waiting to hop upon a hatewagon that one day will be big enough to crash the Lakers party.
Also, I hated Magic (as a player) and Byron Scott. Michael Thompson?? Hated him. Wes Matthews... why that ssniveling little coward... X Man shoulda strangled him for real.
Like Norm Nixon. And Kareem.

Do I qualify?? Huh? Please???

[Logical]

Originally posted by WilliamTheIrish


... Since the loss of the Kings I've had no NBA team to call my own.
Being an Irish kinda fellow I hooked up at one point with the Celts. Keep in mind that I follwed the Celtics as kid before we had the Kings here in the area.
They had Cowens, and Havlicek, and Cheney and I even found some goodness in my heart for that KU guy Jo Jo White.
(For all the Jhoax out there I'm still happy he stepped on the out of bound line in the 66 West Regional vs UTEP)
But now I wander aimlessly through the NBA season, just waiting to hop upon a hatewagon that one day will be big enough to crash the Lakers party.
Also, I hated Magic (as a player) and Byron Scott. Michael Thompson?? Hated him. Wes Matthews... why that ssniveling little coward... X Man shoulda strangled him for real.
Like Norm Nixon. And Kareem.

Do I qualify?? Huh? Please???

Say no more, say no more, a Celtics lover from any era is an Automatic entry onto the haterwagon.

[California Injun]

Hot Damn!!!!!!!

The Lakers complete domination of the T-Cubs temporarily left me speechless last night. (That and the fact my employer screwed me over by mandating an OT)

So I adroitly set up the VCR to catch the action late last night and WHOA!!!! The Staples Center Crew became possessed and just killed the poor bastards from Minneapolis.

It looks like D-Fish has regained his nasty touch from the arc.

Rick Fox nailing threes? Stop the presses!!!!!

Gotta love Madsen getting "busy" with those bruisers underneath despite the horrid Hulk Hogan takedown by those frustrated canines.

Kobe and Shaq? (heh-heh)

Anyone notice the defensive intensity displayed by Los Angeles? It's the play-offs so everything is coming together.

As for that anticipated match-up against San Antonio? Seems they are getting another case of "Spur-itis" down the stretch with those missed FTs.

Speaking of the team that misses FTs down the stretch.....

Seems those pesky NoCal Farmers are struggling (AGAIN!) against the over-matched Jazz. Leave it to the local fish wrap (i.e. Sacramento Bee) to rationalize the Kings latest effort.

The media likes the fact that the Kings will get "bruised and battered" early to prepare them for future match-ups in the play-offs. "The Utah series in 2002 primed the Kings for their epic 7 game series against the Lakers".

15 more wins and the Lakers trophy case gets another piece of hardware........

[Chief Faithful]

It will be interesting to see if the Lakers can beat the Kings on the court this year. We have already seen how the refs can give it to the Lakers based on reputation alone. The Kings beat the Lakers on the court last year and can do it again this year.

The real mystery is whether or not the Lakers can beat the Spurs.

Where else besides the NBA can you find such a dominate player that doesn't move his feet and can't pass or shoot (Shaq). As I tell my son, "Shaq is worthless beyond 5 feet." If the refs inforce the 3 second rule then the Lakers would not make the playoffs much less win a championship.

So what does the league do in response to Shaq's lack of game? They create the "Shaq Zone" where there is no charging foul. No problem for the Phil Jackson genius. Just place Shaq on step from the Shaq Zone and let him dunk the ball on every play.

[California Injun]

Originally posted by Chief Faithful
It will be interesting to see if the Lakers can beat the Kings on the court this year. We have already seen how the refs can give it to the Lakers based on reputation alone. The Kings beat the Lakers on the court last year and can do it again this year.

The real mystery is whether or not the Lakers can beat the Spurs.

Where else besides the NBA can you find such a dominate player that doesn't move his feet and can't pass or shoot (Shaq). As I tell my son, "Shaq is worthless beyond 5 feet." If the refs inforce the 3 second rule then the Lakers would not make the playoffs much less win a championship.

So what does the league do in response to Shaq's lack of game? They create the "Shaq Zone" where there is no charging foul. No problem for the Phil Jackson genius. Just place Shaq on step from the Shaq Zone and let him dunk the ball on every play.

This is some excellent Laker-hater stuff!!!

I really love how a majority of the Kings (players, fans, media) feel entitled to boast how the NBA, referees, and the planets alignment all conspired to take the Championship away from the annoited Kings.

Here's some simple stats....

Game #1 - Kings got torn up on their own floor.

Game #4 - Kings BLEW a 24 point lead ("Horry for 3.... YES!!")

Game #7 - Kings blew FTs down the stretch AT HOME!!!

Was Game #6 slanted in the Lakers favor? Say hello to Home Court advantage. The Kings shoulda NEVER put themselves in that position to get screwed (if that is your opinion).

But guess what the Lakers did with those calls? Uh, they MADE the FTs?

As for enforcing the 3 second rule?

When the refs start calling;

A- Travelling
B- Palming (or carrying over)
C- Lane violations on FTs
D- Flagrant fouls (i.e. just about every time Shaq shoots)

THEN you can whine about the Diesel camping out in the key.

And instead of typing "Phil Jackson genius" each time, just shorten the keystrokes and hit;

ZENMASTER!!!!!!!