This is the official "LAKERS" jumpoff page so if you dont like the lakers...."JUMP OFF"

News flash Spurs cry foul on the 0.04 second shot and the NBA laughs them out the office.

Tony parker over rated? Or is the little fella just not ready for the prime time?

Robert: The reality of jumping from a winner to a looser one year later...LOL

Is Karl Malone better than Tim Duncan? Naw but we still won..LOL

Reality check.... Does anyone really think anyone can beat the lakers in a 7 game series?

Could this team beat the Bulls of the past?
Kobie VS MJ
Malone VS Rodman
Shaq VS all 3 centers...LOL
Payton VS Paxon, or anyother point

This could be a matchup for the ages...... But I think the Jordan Factor is still 2 great!

Will Phill Jackson Be in LA next year?

Where is Kobie going?

Will Payton stay or leave if Phill leaves?

What player would like to see in the purple in gold next season and why?

Will Phill Jackson Be in LA next year? :rolleyes: don't know

Where is Kobie going? to Oz ....lolol

Will Payton stay or leave if Phill leaves? :rolleyes: no idea
I don't know about Phill, or Payton...but It lQQks like Kobe on his way to jail....lolol....jus a lil jokey joke

Will Phill Jackson Be in LA next year? :rolleyes: don't know

Where is Kobie going? to Oz ....lolol

Will Payton stay or leave if Phill leaves? :rolleyes: no idea
I don't know about Phill, or Payton...but It lQQks like Kobe on his way to jail....lolol....jus a lil jokey joke

I'm a Bulls Fan but, since we ain even in it, I would like to see the Pacers win. I don't care for some of Reggie Miller's off court antics but I greatly admire his character for the game of basketball. He has got to be the hardest working, dedicated basketball player in the NBA.

Now about Kobe...I believe he may be guilty, but he will do no time. I just can't imagine him being in prison.

Kobie wont do time the rap on the girl is a bad one and she has been exposed he will pay a fine and be the punching bag to be taught a lession for a bad decision.


Will Phill Jackson Be in LA next year? :rolleyes: don't know

Where is Kobie going? to Oz ....lolol

Will Payton stay or leave if Phill leaves? :rolleyes: no idea
I don't know about Phill, or Payton...but It lQQks like Kobe on his way to jail....lolol....jus a lil jokey joke

Yes I agree Kobie wont get jail time probation is another issue all together. So can Kobie ba a BUll next year? You never know!


I'm a Bulls Fan but, since we ain even in it, I would like to see the Pacers win. I don't care for some of Reggie Miller's off court antics but I greatly admire his character for the game of basketball. He has got to be the hardest working, dedicated basketball player in the NBA.

Now about Kobe...I believe he may be guilty, but he will do no time. I just can't imagine him being in prison.

Yes I agree Kobie wont get jail time probation is another issue all together. So can Kobie ba a BUll next year? You never know!


I hope so. We can use all the help we can get. :rolling:

I know......I said I was jokin yall geeesh. :uhoh: ...lolol

Kobie wont do time the rap on the girl is a bad one and she has been exposed he will pay a fine and be the punching bag to be taught a lession for a bad decision.

Yeah that was a bad decision that will cost him a lot in the long run. No doubt, had the girl not had a bad reputation for sleeping around, Kobie would have been gone for sure. Besides that, his wife is probably waiting for the right time to put him out of the house, plus the lost millions in future endorsements. This has proved to be a very expensive orgasm for the brotha. The bad thing about it...he could have got a free one with a little work. :nuts:

I know......I said I was jokin yall geeesh. :uhoh: ...lolol


I knew you were joking. I'm doing some joking around with this Kobie thingy myself. My husband thinks I take the joking a little too far sometimes...but hey. :spin: He's a little sensitive about this issue, believing that the girl just want some money. But the way I see it, Kobie is not stupid and nobody forced him to pull his :uhoh: draws down. With a beautiful wife and a wonderful baby, it should not have been that easy for him to fall for a girl that doesn't even compare to the woman he's married to...unless it is a pattern already formed. :angel:

THE REAL DEAL !!!!!!!
Parker was a little over rated he was MIA in the last three games

R.Horry move was not a loosing cause and he really with a great team
who can win a championship still next year if Kobe depart the Lakers
then you will see loosers

T.Duncan is one of the best forward/Center in the game Malone really is
wash up and seeking a shot at a ring before he retire he saw gold at L.A

yes yes yes !! their are teams who can beat the Lakers in a series on any
given night truely the Lakers are not unstopable yet they can get beat
spurs had winners but the team wasn't deep enough a deep depth team
can some that's not in the playoff can take them in 7......

The LAKERS of now with Kobe, Shaq , Malone , Payton , Fisher , Fox
could never beat the team of the past BULLS
Jordan, Pippen , Rodman , paxton , & cast these was the unstoppable BULLS
72 - 10 record 45 wins in a row Jordan would have took kobe to school
and as always Rodman would have gotten in malone head and shaq mentally
Pippen would have run malone & Fox to rags NO WAY THE LAKERS a team to
match the BULLS of the past the cast was deep strong and had depth

I think if they pay him right and the Lakers go on to win the championship
he will be around next year and really Kobe not going anywhere without him
the Lakers will drop fast shaq feed off him and if Jackson do leave i don't see
payton going anywhere as well he will finish his career in L.A

it really don't matter who play in L.A if Kobe is gone it will be a lost cost
i like to see Kobe leave and lead a team to a title L.A is shaq team it was
plan to see and kobe the second man but really the MAN
he will not go to jail but will get some kind of probation or supervision
cummunity service his future has been tap some but the Kid will rise again
if he get out of L.A............look for him next year in the purple & gold !

I would rather see him in the Red&White honey. The Bulls need him so that we can gits us one ah dem championships again...I'm selfish ain I? :tongue:

it will never happen true the Bulls need to start from the ground up
Paxton trying his best to piece together some players but Pippen now slow hurt and older and really the last two picks was bust so this will be years in the makings he can't help or save them right now he need to go where he can gel and make his career as sweet Chicago not one !
he won't be going no where anyway but L.A

I know sis.
That is so true, he should have known better. He has a beautiful wife...and so many things that were going for him...don't understand how you can just risk it all for what?????..Foolishness !!!!


I knew you were joking. I'm doing some joking around with this Kobie thingy myself. My husband thinks I take the joking a little too far sometimes...but hey. :spin: He's a little sensitive about this issue, believing that the girl just want some money. But the way I see it, Kobie is not stupid and nobody forced him to pull his :uhoh: draws down. With a beautiful wife and a wonderful baby, it should not have been that easy for him to fall for a girl that doesn't even compare to the woman he's married to...unless it is a pattern already formed. :angel:

I think Kobe will leave L.A. I think he will because he wants to have his own team and create his own championship run without Shaq. I think he wants to be the man and the only man. I think he wil still go to Memphis. They made it to the playoffs and with him they will soar. Plus he'll already be playoff bound. He won't have to totally rebuild, but it will still be his team from day one. Seeing Memphis this year, if they get Kobe...watch out. That's if they keep the same Roster intact. As far as his trial goes, I don't think he'll get time. That girls a ****. If he gets convicted it will be out of racism....nothing more. She slept with numerous men before and after Kobe hit it. Threre no telling who tore it up.

Hey Python... T-Wolves VS the Lakers is the next show how do you feel about this one? :geek:

Scorpio.... :geek:

the "Lakers are rolling, and although Phil Jackson hasn't come right out and said so, drawing the top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals -- even without home-court advantage -- is not such a bad thing." After all, "one of Jackson's core beliefs is that NBA teams wanting to ascend must go through a process, which usually means trying but failing late in the postseason tournament before winning big." Minnesota just recently won its first-ever "playoff series."

:ohmy:

How will the Timberwolves guard Shaquille O'Neal and will the Wolves go to a zone to try stop him?





Michael Olowokandi and Co. will need to make Shaq work on both ends of the floor.


Stop Shaquille O'Neal? Many have tried and few, if any, have ever stopped Shaq, especially in the postseason, where he has three NBA Finals MVPs to his credit. Some coaches have employed the "Hack-a-Shaq" method, using multiple post-players to whale away on Shaq and forcing him to the free throw line, where he shoots a collar-tightening .537 for his career. O'Neal has been even less proficient from the charity stripe in these playoffs, hitting a mere .377 from the line.

But here the Lakers are in the Western Conference Finals despite Shaq's free throw shooting. The difference between Shaq this year compared to last season is that he is healthy. And according to former NBA star Trent Tucker, that's bad news for the Timberwolves.

"As far as Shaquille, that's a bad matchup for anyone," Tucker told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "He's the most dominating player in the game today, and now he's feeling good, his team is healthy and he's playing with a lot of confidence."

One of the Timberwolves you'll see more of in this series is center Michael Olowokandi. The Wolves 7-0, 270-pound center, who has averaged 2.0 ppg and 2.7 rpg in nine playoff games, gives up two inches and 70 pounds to O'Neal.

"Michael's going to have to play," Wolves coach Flip Saunders told the Los Angeles Times. "Last series was a bad matchup series [for him]. This can be a series where it's a building block not only for us and for him in the playoffs, but for him as far as next season."

And while they still have the option of going to a zone to possibly slow Shaq and the Lakers, it looks as if the Wolves will go with the center by committee approach and keep their objectives modest.

"The Wolves aren't blind to what's in front of them," writes Mike Wells of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "The coaching staff didn't lock itself in an office trying to come up with a plan to shut O'Neal down because that won't happen. Among [Oliver] Miller, [Mark] Madsen, Ervin Johnson and Michael Olowokandi, the Wolves don't have a center who can compare, and no team has been able to stop O'Neal."

"Instead, the Wolves have smaller goals -- such as not letting O'Neal average 30 points and 20 rebounds a game. They will try to do that with a center-by-committee system. That means players such as Miller and Olowokandi, who didn't play much in the last round against Sacramento, are going to play significant roles in this series." Or, the Wolves can follow this five-point plan, which includes everything and the kitchen sink, lest they see their most successful season go down the drain.
-- Minneapolis Star-Tribune

On defense, should the Lakers let Karl Malone handle Kevin Garnett by himself or will the Lakers double team the league's MVP?




One of the keys to the Lakers climbing out of an 0-2 hole to win four consecutive games against the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals was 40-year-old Karl Malone's chippy defense on two-time league MVP Tim Duncan.

Malone, who has had a chance to rest his injured ankle for a week, gets to face another league MVP in this series in Garnett, as well as face a different set of challenges.
-- San Antonio Express-News

While Duncan plays with his back to the basket like a traditional post player, Garnett likes to face the hoop. Garnett is also longer and quicker than Duncan. Still, it is unlikely that Lakers coach Phil Jackson will call for a double-team on Garnett.

"Though Jackson doesn't like to double-team, he will do it if he feels a guy is going off," one Western Conference scout said. "He's more likely to put people in help positions than to double team in order to force the player to give the ball up right away."

The biggest difference in this series, however, is if he can get past Malone like he did Chris Webber, Garnett will run into Shaq in the paint. Shaq will be able to provide help defense because he doesn't need to guard anyone of offensive consequence on the Timberwolves.

Cassell is injured. Will the Lakers break out of the triangle and let Gary Payton work on Cassell on the blocks?

Basketball players do a lot of starting and stopping, and cutting and jumping during the course of a 48-minute game. Timberwolves point guard Sam Cassell has injuries to his back and hip that hinder his ability to do those basic movements. He even has a ruptured ear drum.

Those ailments didn't stop Cassell from scoring 23 points, dishing seven assists and pulling down four rebounds in the Wolves' Game 7 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Still, Cassell and the Timberwolves have had no time to recover from Game 7 and the Lakers could use Payton on offense to get them off to a fast start.

"Jackson decided to have Payton initiate the offense by running the screen-and-roll, a staple during his days in Seattle," wrote David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. "Instead of bringing Malone out to the wing, which is his spot in the triangle, he was moved inside to what Jackson calls a pinch post position. Malone and O'Neal came farther away from the basket to set picks.

"Jackson argues he has done this before with the triangle, but the changes have never been this dramatic, and never to accommodate one player: Payton."





Despite multiple injuries, Sam Cassell needs to come up big for Minnesota.


"This is a way to let him find his way back into the offense," Jackson told the paper.

What about Cassell's effectiveness on offense?

"That's Minnesota's bread and butter," said our Western Conference scout, "Sam and the pick-and-roll. The trouble with that is, Minnesota doesn't have a center that can nail an open jumper, so Shaq doesn't need to extend himself on defending it. The biggest thing is Shaq doesn't have to guard anyone, unlike San Antonio where Nesterovic could actually make a shot once in a while. Shaq's free to roam.

"Traditionally, Shaq doesn't like to 'show' [jump out and meet the perimeter player with the ball] on pick-and-rolls, but in the playoffs, he shows more than he usually does."

The Timberwolves seem to have a bench advantage in this series. Will it make a difference?

The Timberwolves' bench, which features sharpshooter Fred Hoiberg and big bodies in Michael Olowokandi, Oliver Miller and Gary Trent, are hurt by the loss of Troy Hudson, who torched the Lakers in last year's playoffs with 23.5 ppg and 5.5 apg.

But, the Wolves may have someone who could partially fill that void: Wally Szczerbiak.

Szczerbiak, who only played 28 games this season due to injury, has averaged 8.8 ppg in these playoffs, but has scored 22 points in his last two playoff games. The Wolves will need this and more from Szczerbiak and the bench if they expect to stick with the Lakers.

"That's a key to the series," said our Western Conference scout. "The Timberwolves have to make ground when Kobe and Shaq take a seat. The matchups aren't the best when you put the Wolves' first five against the Lakers' first five."

Can Wolves defensive stopper Trenton Hassell slow down Kobe Bryant?

"No," our Western Conference scout said. "It's as simple as that. There isn't anyone on that team that can stop Kobe."

Bryant averaged 26.6 ppg, including a 42-point outburst in Game 4, against San Antonio in the Western Conference semis.

Even Hassell acknowledges that this assignment will be his toughest.

"Kobe is a way bigger challenge [than the Kings' Peja Stojakovic]," Hassell told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "He isn't a jump shooter. He doesn't use a lot of screens. He's the best one-on-one player in the league.





Trenton Hassell knows he will have his hands full with Kobe Bryant in this series.


"He keeps coming. He shoots tough shots, but they are easy for him. He has been playing great."

Our scout agrees.

"The only one on that team who could possibly slow Kobe down would be Latrell Sprewell," our scout said, "and I don't think he's the athletic player that he's been in seasons past. He's the same height and he's still shown some athletic ability on the defensive end, but I don't see anyone on that team stopping Kobe."

Conventional wisdom has the Lakers winning this series. Do the Wolves have a chance?

"The Timberwolves don't match up very well in this series," our scout said. "It hinges on two things. One: How much can Kevin Garnett dominate? He'll probably be the best player on the floor, but not by much. If he can carry the team, the Timberwolves have a chance to stay with the Lakers.

"And two: If the Lakers lose, it will be because the Lakers lost the series and not because the Wolves have beaten them. This is a Lakers team that can self destruct."

If anything, Wolves fans can look at this silver lining if their mood is dampened by a cloudy outlook.
-- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Predictions, please

"Lakers in six," said the Western Conference scout, "and I don't think Minnesota's home-court advantage matters."

Los Angeles Times: Lakers in six

Dallas Morning-News: Lakers in six

Orange County Register Lakers in five

San Antonio Express-News: Lakers



We are the truth Don't hate! :teach:


Become A Laker fan Today 2 membership is growing fast! :grouphug:


:grin:

P-MOB, they call themselves.
It's an acronym that sounds cool. Sounds hip-hop. And it also takes the first letter from the last names of Payton, Malone, O'Neal and Bryant, and gives the quartet a nickname they've needed ever since the union took place (c'mon... Fab 4 or Big 4 just ain't creative enough).






While it's been a tough ride, P-MOB will be all smiles if they emerge victorious in The Finals.


There, in the hallways of the Lakers' El Segundo practice facility, the jolly giant Shaq freestyles: "I don't know what you heard about me/ Four Hall of Famers, maybe three/ Cadillacs, Maybachs and Bentleys/We're the P-dash-M-O-B."

Payton, the 6-4, 180-pound 35-year-old future-Hall-of-Fame point guard, just smiles. "If the Big Fella likes the nickname, then I like it," as the 6-9, 256-pound 40-year-old future-Hall-of-Fame power forward Malone concurs, "It's got Shaq's blessing, it's got mine."

It may or may not be catchy, but it only exists when the P and the M joined the existing OB duo last summer. Explaining the P-MOB pseudonym, the three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaq says, "Poison Mob. P stands for Poison because when you play us four together, you have to pick your own poison. Some nights, Malone will have [it going] so we're going to him. Other nights, Payton will have [it going] so we're going to him. I always got [it going]. So pick your poison. P-MOB. It's hot."

In the 21 games P-MOB was together, the Lakers were 16-5, but it's in the games where they weren't together that seemingly has defined the Lakers season thus far.

Instead of a year of dominance, the theme of '03-04 has been perseverance—playing through adversity, with O'Neal and Bryant missing a dozen-plus games and Malone missing three-dozen-plus. Compound that with a year of momentary bickering and nonstop casualties and you've got one crazy campaign for the Lakers, who despite the mess have played 65-percent ball for most of the season, and have come together for this playoff run.

When he sits down to reflect on the season, GP is in a contemplative mood.

"I've never gone through a season like this," says Payton, the one Laker starter who has not missed a dozen-plus games (he actually hadn't missed any of the team's first 64 games). "Never gone through a season where so many players lost so many games to injuries and other things. It's been tough, but we're a tough team, and we ain't gonna let adversity get to us. Sure, there's been times I've said stuff I need to say to get it off my chest. But once I've said it, I've moved on and tried to make the best of things."

And make the best he has. There have been games where the only member of the P-MOB on the floor was P. He has been the one who has been the point man on the floor and off, dealing with a larger-than-normal media contingency.

He has made the sacrifices financially (playing for half his worth), statistically (his scoring average dropped from 20 to 15 and assists from 8 to 6), popularity-wise (the nine-time All-Star didn't make the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in the last four years).

"But that's OK," says Payton. "I knew that was gonna happen. I came here for one reason, and that's to win a ring. If I make sacrifices to help us win that ring, I don't mind that. What I don't want to sacrifice is anything that might hurt our chances at winning the ring."




When he has ballhandling issues with Bryant, on who should bring it up the court, they've dealt with it behind the scenes. Where some thought there might be conflict, Payton dismisses any notion of that by affectionately bellowing out "Baby Boy!" to Bryant, when he sees his teammate return to the locker room ready to play one week after a shoulder injury that was supposed to keep him out one month. When he had issues with Coach Phil Jackson cutting back his minutes in March, they had a closed-door meeting then, too.

"I just want to make sure we're all on the same page," says Payton. "I came to win a championship. And even though things may go wrong from time to time, I want to make sure we keep our focus. That's my job.

"I talked to Phil and he told me he likes to keep me at 35 so that I'll be fresh for the playoffs," says Payton, who averaged 40 minutes a game last year with the Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks. "He says he's a playoff coach—he coaches for the playoffs, so he wants me ready for the playoffs, too. And now that we on the same page, I've got to make it work.

"I've played a lot of games with Shaq missing or Kobe missing, and most games with Karl missing. If we get all four of us together, people will remember how I was playing early in the season," back when he was a fast-breaking, jaw-dropping dynamo leading P-MOB and company to an 18-3 record. Malone remembers.

"We were still learning the triangle and winning games," says Malone. "Gary was playing great, running, and I was getting comfortable, learning to play in the triangle with the Big Fella. It was fun. Unfortunately, we got hurt, and it's been a tough season. But I remember what it was like when we were all on the floor together, so I know we can get through this."

If Gary is the mouth of the team, Karl has become its soul, in more ways than one. Once reviled in the city of Los Angeles, he has become one of its favorite icons. As an 18-year-Utah Jazzman, the distaste for Malone went back to the days of his rivalries with the Magic Johnson Lakers and extended into the Shaquille O'Neal era. Not that either man disliked Malone—they both say they "love him"—but many Laker fans didn't greet the Malone signing with open arms.

However, his genuineness at the press conference—sacrificing money and the retired Magic Johnson No. 32 jersey he was offered—made many points with fans.

A bond likewise has been formed between Malone and Kobe Bryant—a friendship that hearkens back to 25-year-old Kobe's relationship with past "Laker oldheads," as Bryant liked to call Ron Harper and Brian Shaw.

"Kobe's going through a tough year this year," says Malone, "and I've just let him know from Day 1, that I'm his teammate and I'm there for him. And more importantly, I am his friend."

Malone's relationship with O'Neal was a given—it was Shaq who made The Mailman "feel like a superhero" in the way Shaq called his cell phone every day during the recruiting period ("I need you and you need me. Together, we can rule the world.").

Until December 21, when Malone tore a ligament in his right knee that would keep him out almost three months, O'Neal's words seemed prophetic. The Lakers were 20-5 and Malone was averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds, in contrast with last year's average of 21 and 8 with the Jazz, but "I was happy and we were playing good together as a team, and we were only gonna get better."

He was grabbing several national magazine cover stories and dropping hints how he'd like to be the next Hollywood action star, a la The Rock, when his playing career is over—though that day may not come soon "because I might just play 'til I'm 45. You never know."

Then the injury happened to the man who never gets hurt...or, at least, never stays hurt. In 18 seasons in Utah, Malone sat out only 10 games because of injury/illness (6) or suspension (4).






Payton and Malone quickly emerged as leaders on the Lakers.


He's had trying moments in his career, but nothing in comparison to this summer. He gave up a chance to play with the USA Olympic Team this summer when his mother passed away. Shortly after signing with the Lakers, his daughter, Cheryl Ford, won a WNBA championship with the Detroit Shock. Talk about taking the good with the bad.

"Now I see life differently," says Malone. "My mom always told me to enjoy the moment. Enjoy today. Enjoy the times we have together. Do whatever you want to do. Don't let circumstances get you down.

"People don't know this about me, but I've changed since I moved out here to L.A., to Newport Beach. I've become a writer, thanks to my mom. I'll sometimes spend hours just writing, writing, writing. I'll be at the beach and just feel so inspired. I know that comes from my mom. Just being out there, you feel close to God, and I can feel my mom's inspiration, too. I'll just be writing, and feel things so strongly in my heart. Before, I would've said I'm too busy to do this or too busy to do that. Now I know what's important."

Kobe and Shaq have a public dispute. Karl's there soon after whispering words into both their ears. Argument squashed. GP's upset—Karl's there, too. Karl's fighting in rehab to get back in the lineup—"They're there for me, too," says Malone.

"Life's too short for us to be fighting," says Malone. "I love these guys. They love me. We all love each other. So can you imagine what it'll be like when we all get on the same floor together? I mean, you can't double all four of us."

Malone has that twinkle in his eye. He's the Samwise Gamgee in this Lord of the Rings quest. And if he has to put Frodo on his back to get the Lakers to the final destination, you already know he's more than willing.

"We came here to win a ring," said Malone at that summer press conference. "And we're not gonna let nothing stop us."

Hobbits and P-MOB. It's all about the ring. And as every NBA fan knows, April-May-June is when the king returns.

Man python......you are a serious Lakers fan!

:geek: Yes I am I stand by my team! :toast:

Man python......you are a serious Lakers fan!

i still hold hope that the Lakers crumble if not the T-wolves then
who every take the EAST for a title shot !

da not so Laker fan !!!

Ain't gonna happen Rich.

:toast: Panafrica... Lakers have this thing on lock.

u guys might see a rude awakening
the Lakers no monsters just bully their way
but i guess it's time i face it .....not yet i have
one game left and the EAST to hold hope in

Laker whacker the T-Wolves roll but can they hold up next game
I sho hope so !!!!

Not so Laker fan

LOS ANGELES, May 31 (Ticker) -- Kareem Rush took over the role of the hobbling Derek Fisher, making every big shot to help lift the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals.

Rush made six 3-pointers en route to a playoff career-high 18 points as the Lakers reached the title round for the fourth time in five years with a 96-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Six of the Western Conference finals.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are heading back to the NBA Finals.

Fisher has made a habit out of making huge shots for Los Angeles in the postseason but was limited to just 27 minutes due to a knee injury, giving Rush the opportunity to have the best game of his career.

"I just have to stay ready," he said. "I know I didn't get a lot of playing time in this series. After I made my first shot, I knew it was going to be a good night. It just kept going in for me."

"He played the game of his career, obviously," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We know a lot about him as a shooter. I'm sure not too many people know of that ability that he has. So we encouraged players to get the ball to him."

Rush, who scored just 11 points in the first five games of the series, made his first six shots from the arc. After sitting on the bench for the entire third quarter, he buried a 3-pointer 84 seconds into the fourth to give Los Angeles a 69-68 edge.

The 23-year-old guard sank a shot from the arc with 6:50 left for an 80-74 cushion and all but put away game with a another from the top of the circle with 3:24 left.

"Guys were looking for me," Rush said. "Shots were there and I continued to take them."

The Lakers dominated the final period, overcoming foul trouble that plagued stars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant throughout the first three quarters.

The Timberwolves took advantage of Los Angeles' foul problems, making 24-of-26 free throws. They led much of the third but fell apart in the final 12 minutes, making only 9-of-21 shots and turning the ball over seven times.

"The fourth quarter was a lot like the first," Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett said. "They applied a little more pressure. You could feel the energy in the building go to a different level. (The Lakers) were just a lot more aggressive than we were."

O'Neal had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Bryant scored 20 for the Lakers, who will open the NBA Finals against the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and Detroit on Sunday.

Latrell Sprewell scored 27 points and Garnett collected 22 and 17 rebounds but committed eight of the 19 turnovers for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota played its second straight game without point guard Sam Cassell, who was hobbled by back and hip problems throughout the series.

"The fact that we did not have our general out there with us sure took us off a little bit," Garnett said. "Guys were asked to do things they don't normally do. We all took up the responsibility and ran with it. We still had a chance to win."

It was a disappointing end to the season for the Timberwolves, who finished the regular season with the best record in the West and advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in eight tries.

"It's an empty feeling when you go home a loser," Sprewell said. "Whether you lose in the Finals, the conference finals, the first round ... it doesn't matter. Guys really bonded together and were doing whatever we could there and it hurts."

yes the Lakers did it behind Rush flood and drop my T-Wolves
NOW come the EAST !

Pistons are a team I can relate since 2of it's former players were with the wizards, But The lakers are just on a roll and the out come seems dim for detroit. :cry:

hope the PISTONS can give a nice showing to beat the LAKERS
but i know they are very strong and full of depth pistons need to show
up every night and play with heavy tight D"

Pull the curtan closed for the Pistons.......... this is their final act! My only question is will Karlmalone retire after he get's his ring? :grin:

nope because he's not going to get it this year !
The defense of the Pistons will be too tight and heavy
watch the Lakers crumble .....SORRY Lakers going down
it's their final act to a nice season and troublesome times
with Kobe and the mess he face

not so Lakers fan .....

Brother Python looks like u might get to eat this thread if ya boys dont win...LOL :ohmy:

I think the Pistons have a good shot

nope because he's not going to get it this year !
The defense of the Pistons will be too tight and heavy
watch the Lakers crumble .....SORRY Lakers going down
it's their final act to a nice season and troublesome times
with Kobe and the mess he face

not so Lakers fan .....

I hope you are right Rich. Oh how I love your words. :jumping: The Pistons are hungary and so are the Lakers but a lot of frustration has settled in since the blow...88-68. Phil says it's the referee's fault with the bad calls and all. If the Pistons win tonite, they will come away with the whole thang. I just not see the Lakers winning 3 straight if they don't win tonight. What you think???

If the Lakers don't win tonight....it's over! :uhoh:

hey python where are u? LOL Ya boys are loosing :eek:

the Lakers will come out banging i hope the Pistons can
withstand the beat and stay focus and drop it on them
if they pull this one out yes it's over for the LAKERS & CO.

Pistons in 6 to win the title.

I know it looks bad 4 my boys but I hope we try to make it a competitive series in the end. Kobie seems to have settled for the jumper... (this is why he is no jordan) :( Karl malone cant move (sheed is killing him) :maddd: The Glove has the love but he seems lost in this system (wont be here next season) :wave: Devin george wont step it up (looks like a soft sucker) :smash: ONLY SHAQ is playing like a true champ! (sorry big fella) :crying: Phil jackson seems to have no motovation or answers (??????) :cuss:

and u know what?
THE REF's SUCK!

ALL DETROIT bruh da LAKERS a done deal less they do a full sweep
something never done before yet !

why the Pistons have the upper hand -- and a 3-1 lead -- on the Lakers.

Speed
Plain and simple, the Pistons have more team speed than the Lakers. Ben Wallace moves better than Shaquille O'Neal. Gary Payton can't catch up with Chauncey Billups. Karl Malone and his balky knee can't stay with anyone.

The Game 4 numbers bear this out. The Pistons scored 21 fastbreak points to the Lakers five. No sequence showed the difference between the two teams better than the end of the second quarter when the Pistons scored their final six points on Tayshaun Prince driving layup, a Ben Wallace finger roll and a Mike James lay up that Kobe Bryant goaltended. Easy buckets, all.

Health
In the Western Conference finals, the Lakers raced past a wounded Timberwolves team.

In The Finals, the Pistons have give the Lakers a taste of their own medicine. Detroit has exploited an injured Karl Malone. Not having the 18-year veteran is hurting the Lakers as much as Malone's knee is hurting him. Even on a gimpy knee, Malone grabbed five boards in 21 minutes. But Malone has only played 39 minutes combined in Games 3 and 4. He played 39 minutes in the Lakers' only win in the series.

Not having Malone has hurt the Lakers on defense as well. After helping slow Tim Duncan in the West semis and Kevin Garnett in the West finals, Malone hasn't been able to be as aggressive on defense in this series. And while they were able to weather Malone's limited mobility in Game 3, the Lakers were hurt by in Game 4 as Rasheed Wallace went off for 26 points against Slava Medvedenko and Luke Walton.

More Aggressive
Throughout the series, the Pistons have been more aggressive on both ends of the floor. They've dictated tempo with the ball and they've thrown the Lakers out of their rhythm when they don't. They've pushed the Lakers and the Lakers have tried to push back. The Pistons, however, have shown in the first four games, they won't cede an inch.

More Cohesive
When you see the Pistons play, you feel that they're playing like a team. Everyone seems in sync, so much so that Detroit can win although they shot .426 in Game 4.

When you watch the Lakers play, you feel that it's Shaq and Kobe and no one else. Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, you name them, haven't been on point in The Finals. Luke Walton, who had six fouls and no points in 12 minutes in Game 4, had his one shining moment in Game 2.

The disconnect appears to be the greatest between the Lakers' two superstars -- Shaq and Kobe. Shaq slammed home an alley oop to bring the Lakers within eight at the 3:40 mark of the fourth quarter. Shaq's name does not appear again in the official play-by-play for an offensive play until he grabbed an offensive board with 9.2 seconds left in the game. For three minutes and 30 seconds, a 7-2, 360-pound man disappeared from plain view.

In the same time frame, Bryant was 1-for-3 from the field, hit two free throws and turned the ball over. Kobe took four more shots than Shaq, but made eight fewer. All of which, brings us to this...

The Pistons Play Smarter
When your big man goes 16-for-21, feed him the ball until he pukes. Feed it to him until Bill Laimbeer and Bob Lanier foul out. Feed it to him until the final buzzer.

But that didn't happen. It's hard to say a guy didn't get to shoot enough when he got 21 shots, but with Shaq in Game 4, that was the case.

On the other hand, when Rasheed Wallace was hot, the Pistons went to him. When he went cold, the Pistons fell back to their safety net -- the backcourt. They ran the break when they had numbers and they were patient in the halfcourt offense. The Pistons made each situation work for them.

But the Lakers can't seem to get their heads together. When asked why he was shooting so poorly and what he could do to improve it, Kobe remained steadfast.

"I just gotta shoot through it."

Famous last words.
:maddd:

so true brutha and while kobe shooting through it the Lakers and getting in a jam
but look for the Lakers to come out playing better ball and kobe will rack most of the shots he take shaq will be a force and they need 2 more to step up we know malone
won't be anygood and payton too slow for the quickness and smart play of the pistons
but can they hold up to win one more on the road ??

so true brutha and while kobe shooting through it the Lakers and getting in a jam
but look for the Lakers to come out playing better ball and kobe will rack most of the shots he take shaq will be a force and they need 2 more to step up we know malone
won't be anygood and payton too slow for the quickness and smart play of the pistons
but can they hold up to win one more on the road ??


it would be nice if they could bro. It's put up and go home with a ray of sunlight or Loose anf go home and think where will we be playing next season..lol

DONE DEAL L.A OUT FOR THE COUNT
ROCKED BY THE PISTONS TO TAKE THE TITLE 100 - 86 I THINK
BUT IT'S OVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

not so lakers fan win

:smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:

LOL.. alright the Bad boys of 2004 did it up and it's time for my Lakers to deal with the on and off court issues, Who stays and who goes! It's not looking good but this is what is real.

gary payton more than likey wont leave because he is supposed to make around 9.9 million next season and after this season his proformance wont draw any big pay deals for any outside source, he wont opt out in my opinion.

Karl malone is injured and a injury to his knee at this stage in his career is almost more likely to be a career ending one he is (40) once the wheels go the truck stops moving. His reture depends on his health

Phil jackson is the Zen master but in order to improve this team he has to come up with some better game plans and better roll players.....
Now here comes the problem the lakers dont have the $$$$ to bring in any real serious talent so they got karl malone and The glove at a bargan Basement price of around 15 million... nobody would haved passed up on that.
Phil wants more money to stay.. front office wants to rebuild I think. Problem I see nobody who can coach this team out here right now.

Kobie Bryant he has to deal with his court stuff before he can thnk of basketball again. the other fact is nobody and pay him more than the lakers can he is looking to get around 140 million if he stays in LA. Kobie also has to realize he needs shaq more than he need to get a new team and try to build with another Superstar. yes Kobie takes some bad shots but so did Jordan at his age kobie is 26. Thoose who are true fans know how it was with the Bulls then.

Shaq, Big fella cant do it alone and he knows he needs Kobie on the floor they have chemestry and know oneanother. Shaqs downfall is he looses stammina down the streatch of games id he is forced to run plus his foul shots hurt the lakers for the 1st time in playoff history with the lakers.
Problem is O'neal is thinking of opting out of his contract in 2 years if Phil goes and Kobie goes. This scares me!

well that is al for now so check back later im still licking my wounds! :laugh:

Drama Lakers .....
great point made i think phil is done in L.A
Malone to retire and payton will hang around for one more year but again
the GM always play the game of switch & shift players chess shaq is in
trouble and alone Kobe might run to who ever pay the top price for him
but surely wants a contender team , to rebuild now around shaq without
kobe & phil is a lost cost move
watch the GM and how they move in the offseason.

This is what you call the Domino effect.

Ok, Phil is gone............ :bawling:

Kobie is not a lock to return even though he will get more $$$$ if he resigns.
malone says he wants to return but he opts out of his contract?
Payton resigns for his 5.5mil
Fisher is looking at the front door.... I don't see hem returning unless he finds the free agent market untasty.
Rudy T looks like a lock as the new coach for the lakers
Shaq wants to be traded.... :eek: Ok now here comes the drama!

1st we all know that you cant replace his physical presence in the middle
2nd anywhere he goes makes that team a contender for the championship
3rd Lakers will recieve at least 3 quality players for Big daddy
4th Kobie will learn hard and fast life without shaq is a cold hard world

Where is my team going I ask myself because this looks like the Bulls when they disbanded. :bawling:

Rick fox is out the door heading for a full time acting job.. No loss there!
Devin George is not stepping up and going to the hole.. 2 much talent 2 be this soft.
kareem Rush? He will never be what we want him to be.. just a shadow of kobie if that much. he is not a game breaker.

A trade with dallas wont bring everything we need but it might be a start twards rebuilding
A trade with new jersey wont bring quality players in my eyes.
A trade with Orlando wont happen they cant afford shaq and they want alot fot T-mac (* peep the Houstion tradelines *)

It's time to rebuild only problem is we dont even know who the building blocks will be.... Plenty of what if's that's all. :oops:

I think a trade with Dallas will be good for Dallas if they end up getting Shaq. Dallas has a team of gunners and the only thing they're missing is an inside presence. Shawn Bradley just isn't cutting it and never will. Lakers with this deal (no matter who they get from Dallas) will be incredibly vulnerable in the inside. They will have more fire power....but look what alot of fire power and no defense or inside presence is doing for Dallas? Lakers would be making a mistake. They're best bet in that trade might have been Antawn Jamison, and he's gone now to Washinton. At least he takes the ball inside. What ever the Lakers do if they move Shaq, they better get a big body for him along with a scorer. Maybe a Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson or something. Even that's not enough for Shaq. I don't know. They better make Shaq happy. I mean, like you said, like without Shaq is a cold world. They can't win a championship without Shaq. They can withoout Kobe.
Trade Shaq to Portland for Zach Randolf, Theo Ratliff and Darius Miles. Portland wouldn't dare. I think T-Mac will be in Houston next season. I would not give up Cattino Mobley and Steve Francis for him though. Definately not Yao Ming. Maybe Steve Francis and Maurice Taylor or Kelvin Cato. Houston should not make too many moves though...they are a good team. Lakers will be a completely new team though. Too much drama.

I wonder how many people out there are still loving the corny Lakers? I bet a lot start claiming Miami. Silly Laker lovers.

EAGLE, Colo. -- The Kobe Bryant case collapsed Wednesday as prosecutors abruptly dropped the sexual assault charge against the NBA star, saying his 20-year-old accuser no longer wanted to participate after a series of embarrassing courthouse gaffes.



The dramatic turn in the case against one the NBA's brightest young stars came in the middle of jury selection and less than a week before opening statements were scheduled to begin. Prosecutors insisted they had enough evidence to win a conviction despite losing a key series of pretrial rulings.





Kobe Bryant's apology:
"First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure ..."
Read the complete statement.

District Attorney Mark Hurlbert's statement:
"Today, I have reluctantly made the difficult decision to dismiss the case of People of the State of Colorado v. Kobe Bryant. This decision was made after several meetings with the victim, her family and her attorney ..."
Read the complete statement.
Listen to Hurlbert




"This decision is not based upon a lack of belief in the victim -- she is an extremely credible and an extremely brave young woman," District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said outside the courthouse. "Ultimately, we respect her decision 100 percent."



In a statement from his attorney, Bryant apologized for his "behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year."



"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did," said Bryant, a married father of one who still faces a civil lawsuit filed by the woman that seeks unspecified damages.


In court, one of the woman's lawyers, John Clune, said Bryant's apology factored into her decision to drop out of the case.


"Kobe was facing life in prison for a crime he did not commit," Bryant attorneys Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon told ESPN's Jim Gray. "The accuser insisted on that statement as the price for his freedom. The statement doesn't change the facts: Kobe is innocent and now he is free."



Prosecutors spent at least $200,000 preparing for what was expected to be one of the most closely watched trials in the nation, and one that had gripped this mountain town and much of Colorado for 14 months. Yet the case would have ultimately rested on the testimony of a young woman the defense suggested was a promiscuous, attention-seeking liar. And after mistakes that revealed her identity, at least two death threats and relentless media attention, she apparently had had enough.



"The difficulties that this case has imposed on this woman the past year are unimaginable," said John Clune, one of her attorneys. He said she has been through a difficult time and was particularly disturbed by mistakes including the release of her name on a state courts Web site and her medical history to attorneys.



With the parents of the woman looking on, District Judge Terry Ruckriegle threw out the case under a deal that means charges will not be refiled. He said he took full responsibility for the gaffes, but blamed Colorado lawmakers for slashing the budgets of the judicial system.



Kobe Bryant, with his attorney Pamela Mackey on Wednesday morning, won't have to return to Eagle, Colo.



Ruckriegle also said the case ended without full resolution.



"It will of course always leave a question in the mind of everyone because as several of the [prospective] jurors have stated, only two people know what happened," he said.



Legal experts said court rulings hurt the prosecution's case, including a decision allowing her sex life in the days surrounding her encounter with Bryant to be admitted as evidence. This was expected to bolster the defense contention that she slept with someone after leaving Bryant and before she went to a hospital exam -- a potentially key blow to her credibility.



"You can't make a case when there is no case," said attorney Lisa Wayne, who has defended clients in numerous sexual assault cases. "The prosecution has to take responsibility."



The pending civil case would also allow defense attorneys to argue the woman had financial motive to accuse Bryant of assault. Bryant's defense team has long argued she falsely accused him to gain the attention of a former boyfriend, and that she was given nearly $20,000 from a victims' compensation fund.



Bryant, 26, tearfully admitted more than a year ago that he had consensual sex with the then-19-year-old employee of a Vail-area resort where he stayed last summer. If convicted, the Los Angeles Lakers star would have faced four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine up to $750,000.



Like the criminal case, the civil suit accuses Bryant of attacking the woman in his room at the Cordillera resort, causing her emotional and physical problems that linger to this day.



Her attorneys accuse Bryant of flirting with the woman, a front desk employee, during a tour of the resort. After the two ended up in his room, they began to kiss.



The woman's attorneys said at some point during the kissing "Bryant's voice became deeper and his acts became rougher" as he began to grope the woman. She asked him to stop, but Bryant allegedly blocked her exit, grabbed her and forced her over a chair to rape her. Bryant's hands were around the woman's neck, the attorneys said -- "a perceived threat of potential strangulation if she resisted his advances."



An attorney for the woman, L. Lin Wood, said the civil case was still on.



"There has been no settlement of the civil lawsuit and there have been no discussions concerning a

This might very well be the most expensive 1 night stand in history!

LOL, You ain't never lied......... :wink:

I'm so glad that the reign of the sorry Lakers is OVER! :ref:

:eek:
[B][I]Did you say over??? :shutup: SIKE! You might be right because the state of the team is a sad one. we go from a powerhouse to baby farm! :killpc:

hey python don't feel bad look what happen to my BULLS from sports power house and
dream team to the NBA record holder of worst play only won a few games but they did
beat them sorry Lakers & Kobe a big win over the JAZZ and suprise the T-Wolves lol
i don't think they will win 15 all together less a magical wand is waved .
i see some goodness in them and next year will be brighter......

No matter how far the Lakers have fallen....they still have the Sacramento Kings number. Did anyone see that game last night. How is it that the Kings are the one team that they Lakers are always going to be able to dominate? I still hate the Lakers. Like I said before, Kobe will lead the league in scoring but the team will suffer...and that is what's happening even though they are above .500 RIGHT NOW.

:cry: Rudy T is gone so now we get to see who the real Lakers are. :gossip: Talks of Phil returning next season and please tell me why Lamar Odom plays like a cream puff? :1on1: I'm still a fan but it hurts to see my team like this. I find I'm watching more Miami Heat games...hummmm :zipit:
I think we will be back stronger next season and I'm looking for major trades to happen! :callme: Holla At Ya Boy 1.

please tell me why Lamar Odom plays like a cream puff?


He plays like a cream puff because he's high. They need to test that boy because I think he's still smokin'. The Lakers are done. If the T-Wolves weren't playing sooooo bad they wouldn't even make the playoffs. They will need to trade Lamar Odom and try and get someone that can score about 15 pts and grab 8-10 rebs. They're too soft. All of their big men shoot jumpers and no one rebounds because Brian Grant is injury prone. They need to get someone that can push people around. Unfortunately, there aren't many people like that on the market. Once Kobe gets back the rest of the team will begin to sit and watch "The Kobe Show" again. They'll be out in the first round if they make it to the playoffs at all.

with the T-wolves playing so poorly and most likely will miss the playoffs
less they turn it around fast the LAKERS will get in but will be beaten in the first
round it's up to the T-Wolves to let them in or out right now they jast as bad .

Odom can't carry a team a trade is need for both LAKERS & T-WOLVES

4 some reason i think kobe is going to play phenomenal basketball in the post season. i see them winning at least one round. even though he is a snitch, the boy is bad u gotz to admitt.

4 some reason i think kobe is going to play phenomenal basketball in the post season. i see them winning at least one round. even though he is a snitch, the boy is bad u gotz to admitt.

I agree, Kobe will come back and be the best "scorer" in the game hands down. He has the knack for scoring. The problem is, once he comes back the rest of the team is going to be alienated. Lamar Odom is getting a taste as a leader right now. Chucky Atkins is averaging 20 pts a game without Kobe. Coron Butler is playing better. They are playing more as a team right now than when Kobe was healthy. When he comes back that will stop. Lamar will go back to 10-15 pts. a game. Chucky Atkins will be reduced to a 8pt a game point guard and Coron Butler will barely get any shots off. The can't win like that. Unless Kobe looks at the big picture and plays team ball, they will not pass the forst round. They will probably be matched up against San Antonio, Phoenix or Seattle in the first round, and I doubt they'll beat those teams 4 out of 7. Not even on their best day can they beat those teams in a series. They don't have the defense or the fire power. It doesn't matter if Kobe shares the ball here and there, once every 5 games he has a good assist night. The team needs to have that mindset every game so they get comfortable playing together.

I just stopped in to renew my hate for Kobe and the Lakers.

So Kobe is gonna alienate his teammates out of the of the playoffs or to being ran over by da Suns

I think Kobe is quickly finding out he cant be a one man team....bet he dreams of begging Shaq to return to the Lakers!

In the meantime they may never see the playoffs again....LMAO!

I think Kobe is quickly finding out he cant be a one man team....bet he dreams of begging Shaq to return to the Lakers!

Yeah, I bet he is wishing he never allowed Shaq to get traded. I'm glad though. Everyone knows Kobe is the problem with the chemistry. He couldn't get along with Shaq, Phil Jackson, Karl Malone, Gary Payton and now a current teammate Chucky Atkins.http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2023629

You can't build a team around a selfish player. The Lakers will find that out the hard way. Maybe Kobe will get tired of losing and start passing the ball. Probably not, he hasn't started yet and they aren't even going to make the playoffs.


Lakers-Shaq= Lottery bound team

Miami Heat+Shaq= Playoffs, maybe Eastern Conference Finals and maybe NBA Title.

You make the choice.

Not only is Kobe learing a lesson, Jerry Buss is as well. You don't build a team around a selfish player, I couldn't have said that any better myself Kente417Mojo!

No one player is greater then the team. Basketball is a team sport and its obvious by the winning record that they need to rethink the decision on Kobe. Dont be surprise if they ship Mr. Crybaby out with the :garbage:

No one player is greater then the team. Basketball is a team sport and its obvious by the winning record that they need to rethink the decision on Kobe. Dont be surprise if they ship Mr. Crybaby out with the :garbage:


As much as I think the coach and management would love nothing more than to have Shaq back instead of Kobe, who else would take on his contract along with the headaches it takes to have Kobe on their team? Not to mention there are only a handful of players that will make that trade beneficial for the Lakers talentwise. I could only think of a few players that would equal Kobe's talent:

1. Kevin Garnett
2. Tim Duncan
3. Shaq


Those teams would not trade away those players for Kobe because Kobe brings headaches and bad press along with his selfish attitude. The one thing that seperates these players from Kobe is the fact that they are willing to work with their teams for the betterment of the team. The reason Kevin Garnett's Timberwolves suck this year is not because of him, it's because of selfish players on his team. The other two teams (Spurs and Heat) have great chemistry so they wouldn't dare trade that away for Kobe/ Drama Queen. I think Kobe will be staying put because the Lakers made their bed now they better sleep in it. The threw away their chance to remain dominant when they picked Kobe over Shaq.

No one player is greater then the team. Basketball is a team sport and its obvious by the winning record that they need to rethink the decision on Kobe. Dont be surprise if they ship Mr. Crybaby out with the :garbage:

I wish they would...but I honestly don't see him changing. None of the past 4 years' events have prompted a change in him, doesn't seem like one is on the horizon.

the end of the LAKERS if they want to rise again
trade Kobe away and rebuild !
kobe needed Shaq to be completed he all alone now !

Can't we just go back to the old school Laker days? Back when Kobe had the fro he was a different person. He was Shaq's lil bruh, and he liked it. But then he started to get a big head when he started to have more spotlight.Now, other players he was drafted with like Ray Allen are finally being noticed. Let's forget what could have been, and focus on other great players like Larry Hughes, who suffered through being on bad teams and now gets to see the playoffs for the first time with the Wizards.

Wizards have a good chance and some great players
this team is on the rise while the Lakers going under !

Yeah, finally the Golden State crew (Larry Hughes, Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison) gets to go to the playoffs instead of watching at home.