does anyone agree???

[podstock]

Well, I certainly had my doubts. But, for some reason, starting in 4th quarter of game 4 and through game 5, shots no longer fell for the Wolves.

And they stopped doing the pick-and-rolls

And KG wasn't shooting it as often as before.

Here's hoping Suns win game 6 and force game 7, triple or quadruple OT, even if Suns lose

[llcooljoe]

ya u guys are right the t wolves did have a pitiful game and kobe had a sweet dunk but as pod said kg has to do all by himself but there still is a chance that the twolves will force a game 7 which i hope they win

[podstock]

Joe...I think the Wolves made a HUGE mistake be re-signing Wally for that amount of money $63M.

Many Minnesotans, including probably yourself, know that Wally is just your average NBA player.

Wally can't dribble.

Wally can't penetrate, stop, and score a basket.

Wally's a bad defender, b/c he doesn't move his feet.

And if you can get to Wally's head early in the ball game, you take him out of his game entirely.

KG is the bomb!!!! He needs a Tim Duncan. And then you get the NBA title. Much like Shaq and Kobe have each other.

Imagine Duncan, Garnett, and Hudson all on the same team -- now that's one hell of a triple threat.

[leftyshan]

Note to KG.....Have your bags ready 'cuz you're going home tonight.

[podstock]

lol. Normally, I'd agree 100% with you.

But, after seeing Lakers play with such indifference this whole year, I wouldn't be surprise to see Lakers not play defense for the first 3 quarters, fall behind double digits heading into 4th quarter, and make a valiant rally attempt, only to lose the ball game.

Remember, there's still game 7. So tonight isn't do-or-die.

One would expect, after such a devastation in game 5, that the Lakers would come out tonight and just play total team defense for all 4 quarters, trying to snap the Wolves neck and end it now.

But, more than likely, Lakers will allow KG and Hudson to shoot, to see if they'll miss. Only when Hudson goes 7-for-7 on three point attempts or when KG is 12-for-12 in field goals, will the Lakers then start actually contesting shots.

I have thought, on many occasions this year, that I'd have no problem averaging 20 points against their defense. I love to play basketball. And if you don't defend me, I'll make most of my shots.

My problem is when you're near me. You don't even have to play tough defense; you just have to be near me for me to miss many shots. With the Lakers, they leave shooters wide open.

I am expecting the Lakers tonight to play their usual bullsh*t "ole" defense, where they just let the shooters a chance to shoot, without contesting shots.

[leftyshan]

I believe they're gonna come out and try to end this early. San Antonio is in a dogfight with Phoenix and there's a possibility that series could go 7. My boys are definitely gonna need some rest to get Kobe's shoulder feeling better for the next series. I expect to see that killer instinct tonight.

[podstock]

If Lakers will just contest those shots, and NOT allow Wolves to get into their comfort zone with the outside shots, it's an easy wire-to-wire victory, b/c the Wolves needed that game 4 or game 5 victory to stand any chance of winning the series.

I cannot wait for the game to begin!!!

Here's hoping the Suns extend it to game 7, and bring on a couple more overtimes!!!!!

Did you see Sacramento totally dismantle Utah? Boy, it's gonna be one hell of a series if Kings and Lakers meet. Might get highest ever ratings for a Western Conference Finals Series.

TNT must be drooling at that prospect.

Now, if only Lakers can get by San Antonio, who beat them 4-0 this regular season. San Antonio has gotten more experience and athleticism this year than in past 3 years.

[leftyshan]

San Antonio is gonna be a tough series. I love the way Parker has played this year and Stephen Jackson has come out of nowhere. However, they still have no answer for The Diesel. With Devean starting the Lakers get alot more athleticism. It helps that he is a solid defender. I think the wild card in the series is gonna be the play of Manu Ginobili. The Lakers can't afford to let him get off. I can't wait!!!

[podstock]

Not worried about Manu; if he's going to be face to face with Kobe, that's 2 quick fouls and a seat on the bench in the first half.
He guards Kobe well (almost as well as Kirilenkov of Utah).

My worry is Rose and Parker.

First, Fisher is too slow to guard Parker, who's so fast that even Pargo may not be able to keep up (Pargo's done an awesome job on Hudson with that baseline to baseline defense).

Second, we need Madsen and Horry to block out Rose from the offensive rebound; not to mention contesting his outside shot; b/c he's got a nice stroke. I can guarantee you Rose should make 6-9 perimeter shots b/c Shaq won't guard him outside the paint.

Duncan's had a horrible 4 games, shooting-wise, and the Spurs still took 4 straight. Imagine the damage Spurs will do if Duncan does just average.

Lakers cannot have a let-up in the Spurs series. Gotta play them tough every quarter.


I think, with the injury to Fox, that Devean is now the starter and Fox finishes out his career as a bench player. Which is how it should be; Fox has got about 15-20 good minutes a game left in him, but that's it.

And in a couple of years, I see Pargo replacing Fisher as the starter. Rush needs to be more reliable with that outside shot; he definitely can shoot it from inside/outside. Besides Kobe, he's the only one who can create his own shot.

Would be nice to see a team of Pargo and Kobe at guard, Devean and whoever at forwards (perhaps Howard? Malone? Keon Clark?), and Shaq. Should be a quicker, more athletic, better defensive team.

Then bring in Pippen to shore up the bench. Pippen's headed here to close out his final years. He's still got a good 10-15 minutes in him a game.

[llcooljoe]

i dont know if you can say duncan is playing bad any team(hoping twolves) playing them is going to have to watch out for him and it doesnt matter who wins this series the kings are going to win