Laker fans, what happened?

[not so fast]

I can remember being told how this laker team was so good it wasn't even fair, I was told on this message board how they, the lakers, would win more games than any team in NBA history, and they had these four hall of famers, etc..etc,...etc.....blah blah blah........


WHAT HAPPENED?

If you just would have looked at Gary Paytons season last year in milwaukee, you could have seen he was washed up. But laker fans are like packer fans and cub fans: State of Denial!!


And how weak was the eastern conference? Well the 41-41 Milwaukee Bucks played the detroit pistons tougher than the powerful western conference champions lakers.

The lakers remind me of the john kerry Presidential campaign: A Myth created by the media.

[patmc16]

I know this is supposed to be a minor league board, but this one sucked me in.

As a Pistons fan, here is my take:

1. The Fakers assumed they were the champs once they knocked off the Spurs.

2. Phil Jackson is a fraud. Sitting on the bench filing his nails during games didn't win all those championships. Having the best player in the league, and probably all time, did. Heck I could have won 4 or 5 if I had Jordan playing for me. He has been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

3. O'Neal was exposed as the most 1 dimensional star of all time. If the slug can't sit under the basket and slam it, he can't do anything except make bad jokes that only he really thinks are funny.

4. Payton and Malone are OLD. While they both may end up in the Hall, neither are HOF caliber players now.

5. Bryant is no Jordan, although he thinks he is. I have to give it to him, though. He is the only thing that kept it from being a sweep.

6. The Pistons are deep. The Pistons bench could beat the Lakers bench 9 times out of 10, with the 10th game being close. The Pistons are much more even. LA is a couple of superstars and a bunch of scrubs.

With all of that being said, the only people predicting a Piston championship were doing so only for the reaction. That includes the media in Detroit. Going in, I thought it was great that they made it to the finals. Any wins in the finals were just icing on the cake.

All in my opinion, of course.

[not so fast]

Great observations and analysis of detroit and the lakers.

Actually speaking of minorleague, this plan could work there as well, if you can get 8 or nine guys to play hard together, and are focused on a common goal to win a championship, not just get there numbers and get a ten day call-up.

This detroit team reminds me of the 77 Trailblazers, the best 1 year championship team of all time, with there only star being Bill Walton, who really wasn't a superstar just a solid NBA center.

Actually the Detroit Pistons are the first team to win an NBA championship without one of the top ten players in the league on it, since the 77 Trailblazers.


(Here's the top ten by the way: kobe bryant, shaq, tim duncan,iverson,garnett,jason jidd,tony parker,tracy macgrady,nowitzki,paul pierce.)

Larry Brown and Joe Dumars...., genuises!!!

[patmc16]

Dumars must have made a pact with the devil or something. Pretty much every thing he does turns to gold, especially the deals that look more questionable at the time.

Grant Hill for Ben Wallace & Chucky Atkins ??? Ben who? For the one time co-rookie of the year and the only star on the team!! He must be nuts right?!?!?! Atkins for Rasheed Wallace? Well, that one made sense from the beginning. So, in the end it is a broken down Hill for both of the Wallaces.

Jerry Stackhouse for Rip Hamilton? Once again trading away the only star on the team? Now we know he's nuts, right? What has Stack done since? Played in Jordan's shadow for a year and done nothing.

Right about now, Dumars is the smartest man in basketball.