Haven't watched any ball until the play-offs. Really surprised that Kidd can stay in front of Bryant that well. Kobe is still great, but he's lost a step, hasn't he? Going to that Jordan jump-shooter phase of his career, isn't he?

i only watched the 4thQ (stupid finals), but I didnt see Kidd stay in front of Kobe, I just saw good help defense

I think he's been in that stage for a couple years now.

Either way, he's still a stud scorer. I did enjoy watching him wag his finger and do all that "look at me ****" and then make a bonehead turnover, trip over his own feet, and then miss the wide open game winner though.

Kidd had been an elite 2 guard defender the last 3 years. This year he really fell off the map though - just too old. Kobe is also showing his age this season, but he saves his energy for the 4th quarter. Both of them are such great competitors that they can turn it on when they need to.

No one stays in front of Kobe when he's fully engaged. Kidd did an excellent job playing the angles, making him work, giving little space

agree IF.

and, kidd has his hands wrapped around kobe on the last possession. it couldve been a foul call, but porbably a good no call. kobe did just trip over his own feet, but as a result of kidd's good defense.

Bynum's blatant moving screen was also the only reason Kobe got as good a look as he did on the last shot.

Kobe aint got the MJ fade away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdS_J97y7K8&feature=related

Poor Simplebay. Poor little internet little mans syndrome guy.

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No one stays in front of Kobe when he's fully engaged.

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This isn't really true any more. Kobe is one of the top 10 players to ever play the game, but there has been a noticable decline. The dude has been playing like 15 years. His body just isn't what it once was. I think it will be interesting to see how the series plays out due to this. Phil got some criticism for sitting Kobe too long in the 2nd half, but I think he's doing because he knows he's got to do it to have Kobe well for the whole series.

What I saw was a great player who can get his shot off any time he wants, but he no longer has the ability to get to the basket or the FT line at will when defended by a good defender. His continuing greatness is all the more impressive when you consider LA's lack of a PG who can penetrate.

If LA loses to Dallas, I predict a Simplebay meltdown that will be similar to the infamous Muy meltdown of '06.

I don't think it will happen, but I'll appreciate it if it does.

ILL FREAK THE HELL OUT

nah in all honesty, i won't. remember....3 straight finals appearances, back to back nba champions.....what do i have to complain about?

the lakers have been the best team of the past 10 years.

you will **** a brick

calling it now

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nah in all honesty, i won't. remember....3 straight finals appearances, back to back nba champions.....what do i have to complain about?

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How about the fact that your team didn't back up your 9 months of constant smack talk and smugness?

Having been the fan of a pretty decent team myself, I know that the more trophies they win, the more you come to expect them, and the more disappointed you are when they don't get them.

The fact that the Spurs were just a couple plays short of championship perfection between 03-07 is no consolation for the fact that they won't be winning one this year. I don't care what anyone says.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 5/4/2011 3:15p).]

LA - signed free agent center and won 3 championships.

...traded bag of Valencia oranges for another center and won 2 more.

SA - won draft sweepstakes with HOF center available.

Dallas - can't compete with that LA star power/trade magic, or with San Antonio luck. That's fine with me - I'd just like to win a title some day. Wish '06 had worked out...

San Antonio luck. I like that. Given the draft status of Parker and Ginobili, I'd say there was more to their drafts than "luck". Given the fact that Dallas is just now realizing the benefit of having defensive stoppers like Bruce Bowen in their regular lineup, I'd say San Antonio has about a 10-year head start on skill as well.

More starpower has gone through Dallas in the past 10 years than just about any other NBA team (Nash, Finley, Dirk, Harris, Kidd, Walker, Jamison, Stackhouse and Howard were all of them all-stars at one point or another, if I'm not mistaken). Terry won a sixth man award. There's a few rookie awards and MVP's in there as well. All the while Cuban is blowing luxury tax on the latest and greatest free agents.

I'll turn it around on you and "wonder" just how great the Spurs could have been if they were able to blow money on free agents and not give a rat's backside about payroll.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 5/4/2011 4:37p).]

Marc Gasol was one of the oranges...based on 2011 and the near future, I think it's going to work out OK for them...

The Mavericks failures are pretty well chronicled. The Spurs have drafted/acquired/developed talent better than almost every team in the league for the past decade.

Having a historically great center get injured, tanking the season, and having the greatest PF of all time fall in your lap as the first pick was a pretty significant stroke of luck/blessing in disguise.

Wish it would have been us, that's for sure.

I still wonder how good Roy Tarpley could have been.