The TB NBA Playoff thread

[Gard]

Kobe gets calls by driving to the hoop and being aggressive, nothing new there, it's part of the game. Meanwhile "Superman" could have fouled out on illegal screens alone last night. "Superstar calls" have been going both ways, i.e. Derek Fisher getting a foul for having the audacity to challenge Howard for a rebound.

The Magic won a game, how about some celebratory bragging? Are you guys actually fans or do you just hate the Lakers?

Yes, I'm a Magic fan, started being one in '89 when they got the franchise. Worked some minor construction on the O-rena while it was being built, tinted windows for several of the players in the early 90's and found all of them to be decent guys.

I have been bragging, but since this is a playoff thread, I've been doing it elsewhere (Maki's bet thread ).

As for calling Howard for moving screens, he DID get tagged for a couple. If the refs called every illegal screen on the court, NEITHER team would get a possession, just whistles on every play. Same with traveling, double dribbling, charging, etc.

The beef is that Kobe doesn't draw fouls with "hard play", he gets calls because he IS KOBE. The one that Chris and I were talking about was one of the cleanest blocks I've seen, but because Kobe is KOBE, no one is allowed to stuff the ball back in his face, clean or not.

The Fisher foul was indeed a foul, not just a "challenge for a rebound". Howard had the ball, Fisher grabbed his arm - foul.

Oh, and yeah, I hate the Lakers as well, they're the Dallas Cowboys/New York Yankees of the NBA, IMO. They have fans across the nation solely because they're well-marketed, and it's easy for a pseudo-fan to root for a team that appears to win more than lose.

I have earned my fandom with my teams: I grew up in New Orleans, so I'm a Saints fan, through and through; I lived in Orlando for 20+ years and was there when the Magic came into existance, so I'm a Magic fan, through and through; my only consistent exposure to baseball was through WGN on cable TV, so I became a Cubs fan, through and through.

Nothing is more disgusting to me than a front-runner "fan".

 

[bwv1013]

I'm a Jazz fan to the core. I neither like nor dislike the Magic. I have no problem being honest: I hate the Lakers. I dislike the franchise (in the same way I hate the Dallas Cowboys franchise), I loathe Bryant and Phil Jackson and their holier than though attitudes. Farmar, Walton, and Vujacic annoy me for unknown reasons. I have no opinion on Fisher, Odom, and Bynum. I like Pau Gasol.

I can respect that, there's plenty of teams/players i hate. I'm just surprised that after the Magic played a great game and won (they shot 62 percent from the field!) the topic of discussion is fouls on Kobe. If anything Magic fans should thank him, between his missed free throws and his epic fail turnover he won the game for you...

Here's my list of players/teams that annoy me:

Kenyon Martin: a thug who bullies smaller players. only good for uncontested dunks, after which he celebrates as if he put someone on a poster. the ultimate poseur.

Carlos Boozer: can't rebound anymore so he just pushes people. Talked about contract extensions while missing half a season with injuries. With any luck he'll be playing for TNT postgame next year.

Bruce Bowen: just plain dirty defensive player and I don't think his voice ever changed. Manu is guilty of this to some degree, but at least he has offense. I hate the Spurs as a team, but Tim Duncan has my respect.

Ray Allen: what is wrong with his mouth? I dry heave every time I watch him chew gum. I hate the Celtics for beating us last year, but I'm glad KG won a ring.

Lebron James: I was rooting for him this year until he went out like a buster after losing to the Magic. Showed his true colors, maybe now all the baby powder and fake photos will stop.

Thankfully for me this year, I don't hate the Magic and it's nice to play against a team that doesn't play chippy or whine about every call against them (ala the Spurs). Now, let's see if they can win another game so the Lakers can win it all at home!

 

[Joe Gress]

I could mostly care less as long as LA loses. I have never liked that team at all.

 

[bwv1013]

Yes, I'm a Magic fan, started being one in '89 when they got the franchise. Worked some minor construction on the O-rena while it was being built, tinted windows for several of the players in the early 90's and found all of them to be decent guys.

now THAT is a fan.

i'm with you, i grew up with my team. i can understand why other NBA fans hate the Lakers, they're consistently good, they've been to the finals 30 times, rarely miss the playoffs, etc. and the media hype around them is unnecessary at times. don't even get me started on the shaq/kobe feud...

as much as i like talking about basketball, laker hating just gets old after a while. there's some great games going on and people are talking about Laker fans waxing and tanning, meanwhile the players on their teams are doing just that on vacation right now...

 

[Eric Perry]

...Here's my list of players/teams that annoy me:... Carlos Boozer: can't rebound anymore so he just pushes people. Talked about contract extensions while missing half a season with injuries. With any luck he'll be playing for TNT postgame next year...

I used to love Boozer, and still want to like him, but it's difficult for all the reasons you mention. Oh how I miss Karl Malone! You can imagine my disdain when he signed with the Lakers!!!!

 

[bwv1013]

I used to love Boozer, and still want to like him, but it's difficult for all the reasons you mention. Oh how I miss Karl Malone! You can imagine my disdain when he signed with the Lakers!!!!

Malone was the man dude, it sucks that he never won a title. For that, I can understand him taking a chance with the Lakers last year he played. Hall of Famer either way.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I've always existed with the Lakers winning titles. They've won several in my lifetime. I guess after all those years, you guys in other parts of the country grew a little bitter. I can live with that.

 

[bwv1013]

I've always existed with the Lakers winning titles. They've won several in my lifetime. I guess after all those years, you guys in other parts of the country grew a little bitter. I can live with that.

it may even make the beer taste better...

 

[GregC]

as much as i like talking about basketball, laker hating just gets old after a while. there's some great games going on and people are talking about Laker fans waxing and tanning, meanwhile the players on their teams are doing just that on vacation right now...

I said earlier that I'm a longtime Magic fan--I like the Bulls fine, but they're not my team. Laker-hating persists because, like the Yankees, they're a magnet for front-runners (especially the celebrity variety). I do follow the NBA less these days because of how out of control the "star foul calls" have gotten. I like college hoops better, and not just because I'm a Florida alumnus.

 

[bwv1013]

I said earlier that I'm a longtime Magic fan--I like the Bulls fine, but they're not my team. Laker-hating persists because, like the Yankees, they're a magnet for front-runners (especially the celebrity variety). I do follow the NBA less these days because of how out of control the "star foul calls" have gotten. I like college hoops better, and not just because I'm a Florida alumnus.

...and, like Maki said, the Lakers keep winning. i'm with you though, when i'm watching my team play i could care less if Andy Garcia or Denzel Washington is there, it get's annoying but that's what sells broadcasts i guess.

the Lakers are literally my only team. i don't mind watching college ball but far too many teams/conferences for me to keep up with.

 

[Jared Lash]

as much as i like talking about basketball, laker hating just gets old after a while. there's some great games going on and people are talking about Laker fans waxing and tanning, meanwhile the players on their teams are doing just that on vacation right now...

I think the Greg's right. The argument is that Lakers have almost entirely bandwagon fans. And while I don't necessarily believe that's true, the fact is that the team has been so consistently good over the last three decades that there's no way for anyone to prove that's not the case.

The Lakers have been in the lottery just twice in the 24 years it has existed, both times at #10 taking Eddie Jones and Andrew Bynum. TWO times not making the playoffs in 24 years. That makes them an amazing franchise in every sense. It also makes it all but impossible for someone to convince me that they are a die hard fan.

After all, this is the second largest sports market in the nation and it lost not one but two NFL franchises and is still without one. That's quite an indictment for the city's level of fan support.

 

[bwv1013]

After all, this is the second largest sports market in the nation and it lost not one but two NFL franchises and is still without one. That's quite an indictment for the city's level of fan support.

USC football is so big out here, i wonder if someone somewhere is making it a point to keep an NFL franchise out of L.A...

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I think the Greg's right. The argument is that Lakers have almost entirely bandwagon fans. And while I don't necessarily believe that's true, the fact is that the team has been so consistently good over the last three decades that there's no way for anyone to prove that's not the case.

The Lakers have been in the lottery just twice in the 24 years it has existed, both times at #10 taking Eddie Jones and Andrew Bynum. TWO times not making the playoffs in 24 years. That makes them an amazing franchise in every sense. It also makes it all but impossible for someone to convince me that they are a die hard fan.

After all, this is the second largest sports market in the nation and it lost not one but two NFL franchises and is still without one. That's quite an indictment for the city's level of fan support.

So uh, what are you saying, that I'm not a fan? I've been a fan since the days of Kareem.

 

[bwv1013]

you've awakened the beast. i say any beer bets should be doubled!

 

[Jared Lash]

So uh, what are you saying, that I'm not a fan? I've been a fan since the days of Kareem.

I'm saying that just like for the first 22 or so years of my life it would have been hard for me to make the case that I was a diehard 49ers fan. They won their first Super Bowl when I was 3 and were not just playoff contenders, but Super Bowl contenders pretty much every season until the late 90's. There was no test of faith.

Now it's pretty easy for me to claim that I'm a true fan since I still watch every game I can waiting vainly for the team to come around again.

I'm not saying there aren't dyed-in-the-wool Laker fans. I'm saying the team is so good that it's impossible to distinguish them.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I neither like nor dislike the Magic. I have no problem being honest: I hate the Lakers. I dislike the franchise (in the same way I hate the Dallas Cowboys franchise), I loathe Bryant and Phil Jackson and their holier than though attitudes. Farmar, Walton, and Vujacic annoy me for unknown reasons. I have no opinion on Fisher, Odom, and Bynum. I like Pau Gasol.

+1 to all of it.

 

[bwv1013]

i haven't been alive for all of it, but the lakers have been the best game in town since they got here. with all the titles, the 33 game winning streak, jerry, wilt, kareem, magic, etc. it's easy to see how most people have at least a passing interest in them (and some of us an obvious obsession).

bandwagon fans are everywhere, who cares? Lakers in 5!

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Here's my list of players/teams that annoy me:

Kenyon Martin: a thug who bullies smaller players. only good for uncontested dunks, after which he celebrates as if he put someone on a poster. the ultimate poseur.

Carlos Boozer: can't rebound anymore so he just pushes people. Talked about contract extensions while missing half a season with injuries. With any luck he'll be playing for TNT postgame next year.

Bruce Bowen: just plain dirty defensive player and I don't think his voice ever changed. Manu is guilty of this to some degree, but at least he has offense. I hate the Spurs as a team, but Tim Duncan has my respect.

Ray Allen: what is wrong with his mouth? I dry heave every time I watch him chew gum. I hate the Celtics for beating us last year, but I'm glad KG won a ring.

Lebron James: I was rooting for him this year until he went out like a buster after losing to the Magic. Showed his true colors, maybe now all the baby powder and fake photos will stop.

Agreed, except for Allen. Your reasons for your dislike of all the other players are detailed and on point. But to not like a guy because his mouth's crooked when he chews gum?

Ray's a great shooter and a really fine player, but not "superstar" physical talent. He's one of the hard working variety, and seems to be a real team player in Boston (I only saw highlights when he was in Seattle). He's one of the few players in the league I can honestly say "I don't think I've ever seen him trash talk anyone, ever" about. Just show up and play. I like that, and wish there was more of that going around.

 

[bwv1013]

Agreed, except for Allen. Your reasons for your dislike of all the other players are detailed and on point. But to not like a guy because his mouth's crooked when he chews gum?

Ray's a great shooter and a really fine player, but not "superstar" physical talent. He's one of the hard working variety, and seems to be a real team player in Boston (I only saw highlights when he was in Seattle). He's one of the few players in the league I can honestly say "I don't think I've ever seen him trash talk anyone, ever" about. Just show up and play. I like that, and wish there was more of that going around.

a fair bit of my observations were tongue in cheek i don't think bruce bowen's voice has anything to do with basketball either, but i'll take chuckle points if i can get them...

ray is one of the best pure shooters in the league, very quick release and can hit from anywhere on the floor. average defender, not much for creating his own shot, but (especially in his seattle years) decently capable of attacking the rim. how's that for bandwagon

 

[jazzy grille]

Kobe gets calls by driving to the hoop and being aggressive, nothing new there, it's part of the game. Meanwhile "Superman" could have fouled out on illegal screens alone last night. "Superstar calls" have been going both ways, i.e. Derek Fisher getting a foul for having the audacity to challenge Howard for a rebound.

The Magic won a game, how about some celebratory bragging? Are you guys actually fans or do you just hate the Lakers?

Dude.

I did that, fan since '94.

I don't hate Kobe or the Lakers, I like the Magic.