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!"

[Pennywise]

Originally posted by BIG_DADDY
LA should beat San Antonio but they have to bring their best game every night. San Antonio swept the series but Shaq was only in two of those games and a gimp in one of the others. These Lakers are different than anything the Spurs have faced all year. I expect a very physical series with the LAkers winning in 6.

I bet you are right. I'm taking L.A. for the whole shootin match.

[California Injun]

Looks like there are two sets of fans getting worried about the JailBlazers forcing a Game #7.....

1. Those defenseless Cuban Cigars AND
2. Those soon to be grape Kool-aid drinking Farmers.

Wouldn't it be SWEET to see the Euros facing a HOT Portland team in the semi-finals instead of these pansy-assed Mavs that are on the brink of a Titanic CHOKE job?

All the greatest play-off seed planning in the world from the Sactown Euros could not have predicted this, eh? The Lakers had the sack to line up against the Boot Accessorizors by pounding the Warriors for the #5 seed.

Portland has more talent (when their heads are screwed on correctly) and more experience in big games. Cheeks and Pippen know what it takes to win a ring. Wells and Wallace are wired for the comeback and get this!!!

They can actually play DEFENSE!!!!

As for the soon to be 4 time Champs you ask?

I look to see them make a statement in Game #1 with a win. San Antonio continues to clank FTs in the clutch. Shaq-Diesel and Kobe are clicking so bring on the winner of the Blazer/Euros series.

[AJKCFAN]

Cal:

I assume you're joking about the Kings being worried about Portland.

It won't matter who wins Game 7, the Kings will rip apart the winner in 5 games, like they did the Jazz.

Meanwhile, let's take Round 1.

(1)Spurs over (8)Suns in 6: Spurs didn't have it easy and had to get going to avoid the huge upset. They should be ready for the Lakers now.

(2)Kings over (7)Jazz in 5: The only team in the playoffs to win a short series, yet the Jazz pushed them. From this series, few thoughts. Peja is the best spot up jump shooter in the NBA (Kobe is even more dangerous, but his game is different in that Kobe will drive and stop or drive and penetrate, we're talking pure shooting... Peja is great at catching and shooting). You know you're good when the only thing Cal_Injun can rip you on is being unshaven. Webber is still horrific at the charity stripe, but he is shooting the jumper much better than he ever has before and has the "I'm obsessed with winning an NBA Title this year" attitude. Bibby is not yet playing 2002 ball, but we just started May. If Hudson can torch the Lakers like that, well I'm salivating over what Bibby has in store for them. Bobby Jackson is the glue to this team and plays so well. Adelman won't be foolish to leave him off the floor in the big spot again. What I've seen so far is these 4 Kings wanting the ball when the game is on the line, 5 perhaps if Jim Jackson is in at a big spot. Kings are better than they were a year ago, Circle Jerkers. Can you say the same for your team?

(3)Mavs vs (6)Blazers in 7: Cuban will erupt if they lose this series. It won't happen. Mavs will find a way to win, but the damage will be done. They'll have their confidence questioned and shot. They'll be tired from this series and will blow homecourt vs the Kings and will be down 3-1 going into Game 5. If the Blazers win, they're going to realize how much of a big jump up in class the Kings are to the Mavs. Guess I'm here to say thank you to both teams for playing right into our hands next round.

(5)Lakers over (4)Wolves in 6: not as easy as expected. Lakers get through. The fact that it was somewhat in doubt during Game 4 should be very alarming. The Wolves have no postseason winning history to speak of, so for the Lakers to have been extended to 6 here... let's put it like this to all you. The Lakers of the past 3 seasons sweep the Wolves. They don't lose Game 3 after forcing OT and fouling out Garnett. They don't get slaughtered in Game 2. That's not the Lakers of the past. Yeah, sure, they then trounced the Wolves in Games 5 and 6, but you know what? The Lakers of the past would have done the same, but in Games 1 and 2, or at the very least Games 3 and 4. Plus, there's no Rick Fox to defend Peja later.... aw shucks. All I'm saying is this... the Lakers better step up their game or this Dynasty is over even before they reach Sacramento.

Where is the action on the wagering Big Daddy and I got going a couple of weeks ago? Cal_Injun, put something creative at work.

P.S. Big Daddy: Keep posting the Horry pic. Before this spring is out, Circle Jerkers like you will be fondly reminiscing on that the way Celtics fans remember Bird to Dennis Johnson layup off the fluke Isaiah Thomas pass to win the Pistons series. As in, fortunate to have won that series, but getting their asses handed to them for lunch the following year by a vengeful team in the rematch.

Y'all don't scare me and your team doesn't scare the Kings either.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

IMO, the Lakers will beat the Spurs in 6. They seem poised again. Phil Jackson said something like, "Kobe said, 'hey they sweeped us in the regular season, so we should sweep them now; in the playoffs.'"

[BIG_DADDY]

AJKCFAN wrote:

P.S. Big Daddy: Keep posting the Horry pic.

Per your request, no problem. BTW, even if the Lakers fail to win their fourth straight it is far from the end of this dynasty. Kobe is only 24 and Shaq Daddy has a long time left as well. The Lakers are one strong power forward away from being unbeatable and don't be surprised if you see Malone in purple and gold next year. I will agree that your Queens played one hell of a series against the Grey beards and will not have to play a real team until they meet the Lake show so this next series you should close out in 5. I do believe you will be playing the Blazers as opposed to the Mavs though. I believe you are wrong there. This playoffs has been perfect being a Lakers fan as I would like to see them beat all the best teams to shut all the traps that are flapping out there. Championships are always sweeter like that anyway, so make sure your Queens win the next one as I would have it no other way. I will bet you the series when they meet no problem. Anywho, just dropped by work so I got to get out of here. Talk smack with ya monday.

[AJKCFAN]

Originally posted by BIG_DADDY
don't be surprised if you see Malone in purple and gold next year.

So you think... he may be in purple and be playing in California, but...

On the NBA: If Malone leaves Utah, he'll stay in the West
By Scott Howard-Cooper -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Friday, May 2, 2003
Farewell ... and see you soon?
The maze of possibilities that serpentined through Arco Arena late Wednesday came with the greatest twist of all: Sacramento thinking it was giving John Stockton and Karl Malone a classy send-off in the final moments of the Utah Jazz season but actually, and unknowingly, beginning the push to deliver Malone on a full-time basis. Your turn, Kings.

Although Texas and Southern California have been the most-publicized potential landing spots when Malone becomes a free agent July 1, Sacramento is "definitely" a strong candidate, according to one person with knowledge of his thinking. It's also known the Kings have been high on Malone's list all season, rather than a late consideration to leverage the three other Western Conference contenders, and that the NBA's second-leading all-time scorer would come even as a power-forward backup to Chris Webber.




Malone will not comment, except with the general disclaimer that "I feel that I can play anywhere that guys compete." Sources, however, describe him as someone who'll decide soon about whether to leave the Jazz but will take until mid-June to decide his order of preference between the Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. The team that wins this season's championship will drop down on his list for July 1.
That Malone doesn't want a destination where it's perceived he's jumping on coat tails says everything about the emotional nature of his decision and his personality. But Malone has four serious candidates and the home-state New Orleans Hornets as a longshot if he leaves Utah, and, it has been learned after conversations with current and former members of the Jazz organization and people close to Malone, that the Lakers are the current No. 1 pick.

"Without a doubt," one source said of Los Angeles being at the top of the list, pending the outcome of the playoffs.

Malone has said he would be willing to take a massive paycut from his 2002-03 salary of $19.25 million and accept the mid-level exception of approximately $4.5 million next season to sign with a contender, as would be required to join Los Angeles, Sacramento or Dallas, all over the salary cap. San Antonio will be able to outspend any of them but might use its envious financial flexibility to sign a point guard (Jason Kidd) or a replacement for retiring center David Robinson, leaving the Spurs the same exception to offer Malone.

A two-year contract, with the second season worth approximately $5 million, will take Malone to age 41 and likely be the last of his career. The lure to stay longer would come if Malone was still chasing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record of 38,387 points, which would require 98 more games at this season's rate of 20.6 points per outing, an especially tough pace to maintain if he goes to the Kings or Spurs as a backup or the Lakers as the third option on offense.

The plan is for Malone's wife, Kay, to do most of the legwork in the free-agent process, traveling to the select cities to consider everything from housing to schools for their four kids, ages 4 to 11. Eighteen seasons have given the Mailman more than enough time to form his own impressions, and the financial negotiations will be simple since most teams will be locked into the same offer. The opinion of his wife and kids, Malone said, will account for 75 percent of his decision, although another potentially strong factor was eliminated when his 21-year-old daughter, Cheryl Ford, was a first-round WNBA pick by the Detroit Shock, rather than the Monarchs, Los Angeles Sparks or San Antonio Silver Stars.

It's still not certain if Malone will leave the Jazz, with the idea of spending an entire career with the same franchise having held a long-standing appeal, and because he loves Utah. Much depends on whether Jerry Sloan, for whom Malone has great trust and appreciation, returns as coach, and Sloan said he has no timetable on his decision.

Much of what Malone likes about Salt Lake City are the same features that draw him to Sacramento -- a smaller market for the country kid from Summerfield, La., who plans to someday live on his Arkansas ranch. He also likes the outdoors, wide spaces to ride his motorcycles and fans as passionate and supportive as the Jazz had during its years among the elite. The Kings themselves have followed the Utah model of a stable franchise, with consistency in the front office, coaching staff and roster.

It's not an easy call for the Kings, though. It's impossible to overstate how much some roster decisions will depend on the level of this season's playoff success, and the issue beyond that is whether Keon Clark will opt out of his contract and become a free agent. If Clark leaves, the Kings will lose an athletic inside presence and a candidate to eventually replace Vlade Divac at center but get a shot at Malone, who could have a greater immediate impact. He would be an ideal fit as one of the best passing power forwards and a scoring threat from the low post or perimeter. His strength also will allow him to defend most centers.

And if Clark doesn't opt out? The Kings could look for an offseason trade, but, based on their current roster, it's tough to imagine investing almost $10 million in Malone when they already have Webber, Divac, Clark and Scot Pollard at power forward and center. But it's even tougher to imagine them not pushing for Malone with the awareness he could sign with L.A. and answer the Lakers' one consistent need, a power forward. The Maloofs' choice might be to take on another contract, the last thing the ownership group wants, as a defensive move rather than see him sign with You Know Who.

The Lakers have long held a special attraction to Malone. The only other time he gave serious thought to leaving the Jazz was to push for a trade to Los Angeles during the 1998-99 lockout season, even if it never came close to happening beyond his imagination. And while it would be the most dramatic shift of surroundings, Kay has already signed off on living there, making it, beyond anything, the Lakers' turn.

[AJKCFAN]

Originally posted by Cody
Phil Jackson said something like, "Kobe said, 'hey they sweeped us in the regular season, so we should sweep them now; in the playoffs.'"

Someone needs to investigate that funny smell coming from the Lakers lockerroom...

That prediction will ring hollow after Game 1, as the Spurs are on a mission of their own to destroy LA.

LA needs a split in San Antonio desperately in the first two.

[AJKCFAN]

Well, we'll see how much Dallas learned from their spanking last year. Apparently, if the Portland series is any indication, very little. Still, I give the Mavs enough respect to split the first two in Dallas (likely winning Game 2) and then possibly winning Game 4 to regain homecourt and make the series 2-2. From there, the Kings will take them out in 6, but I can see the series end with the Kings advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 5.

[AJKCFAN]

What a year for poor Rick Fox

First, he gets KO'd by Christie (which, by the way, has been the only thing Christie actually connected on all year). Now, he's out the year and possibly next year with the foot problem.

Well, they do say things come in 3's. There's 2 right there.... maybe ol' Rick needs to pay attention to the lust Vanessa has in her eyes for Jim Jackson, like Toni Braxton once did....

[BIG_DADDY]

AJKCFAN wrote:

the NBA's second-leading all-time scorer would come even as a power-forward backup to Chris Webber.

That's the reason he will NOT become a Queens fan. He could start on the Lakers, make more points, make an impact and get his title.

Good luck with your Queens, GO LAKERS!!!

[ROYC75]

Originally posted by BIG_DADDY
AJKCFAN wrote:


That's the reason he will NOT become a Queens fan. He could start on the Lakers, make more points, make an impact and get his title.

Good luck with your Queens, GO LAKERS!!!

Again I say, Cal Injun would have a cow !

[|Zach|]

Whoa Whoa....watch the ball play on Robinson....Spurs up 1-0

[CASHMAN]

87-82 SPURS WINN GAME 1!!!!


CASHMAN.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

I just can't believe Duncan got MVP, again. That dudes game is softer than toilet paper.

[Mile High Mania]

I'm not exactly a Spurs fan... but, you have to like Duncan. He stayed his full term in college, plays a solid game, overall good guy and his team is 1 up on the Lakers.

Suh-weeet!

I'm anxiously awaiting the Mavericks/Kings series - THAT will be some exciting basketball.