[This message was edited Thu Jun 17 16:53:35 2004 by July]

Game 1
Pistons 87
Lakers 75
Final

Pistons take Game 1, 87-75 over Lakers

By CHRIS SHERIDAN
AP BASKETBALL WRITER

LOS ANGELES -- Controlling the tempo and shocking a star-studded crowd, the Detroit Pistons pulled off a stunner in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 87-75.

Forget about the NBA Finals being a mismatch or a walkover.

The Pistons, with their sometimes ugly and often unorthodox style of play, proved they're going to be anything but easy to solve.

There was no way to make much sense of what happened to the Lakers, prohibitive favorites whose own indifference and inconsistency have often been their worst enemies. Los Angeles got an enormous effort from Shaquille O'Neal - 34 points on 13-for-16 shooting - but didn't get the ball into his hands nearly enough.

Kobe Bryant was as much to blame as anyone, playing a poor fourth quarter in which he sapped the energy from the Lakers' only rally by missing consecutive 3-pointers just when it appeared O'Neal was about to bring Los Angeles back from a 13-point deficit.

But there were others equally at fault, most noticeably the ringless due of veteran newcomers Karl Malone (four points on 2-for-9 shooting ) and Gary Payton (three points, 1-for-4).

Chauncey Billups scored 22 points for the Pistons on a night when their usual main offensive weapon, Richard Hamilton, was held to just 12 points. Rasheed Wallace added 14 points and Tayshaun Prince had 11 for the Pistons, who showed little joy at the final buzzer as many in the disgusted home crowd were already out the exit ramps and racing to the parking lot.
[This message was edited Wed Jun 9 17:42:09 2004 by July]

Go Detroit!!!!!

the BAD BOYS

Netball for overpaid boys.
.

langebleu said:

althom said:

Word!

Lakers will rebound and win the series...

GO LAKERS!

Revolution said:

Co-sign! They will come back... this isn't the first time they lost Game one in a finals series - they lost Game one to the 76ers (who were coincidentally coached by Larry Brown) and went on to win 4 games straight to take the championship!

I think that this series will be hard fought though, and could go down to game 7. Man, and did anyone see that bit about Karl Malone's mom? The Lakers should show this clip to the Pistons and they'd probably give them the series just for Karl

GO LAKERS!!!!

I LOVE THE DETROIT PISTONS!


The Detroit Pistons shut down LA with suffocating defense and they are only 3 games away from the NBA Championship. Games 3,4, and 5 (if needed)are in Detroit so game 2 is a pressure filled "must win" for the Lakers!
GO PISTONS!

to all Lakers fans!

dreamfactory313 said:[quote
to all Lakers fans!





And you wonder why peeps don't like the Pistons with you representing...
[This message was edited Mon Jun 7 16:50:05 2004 by DiminutiveRocker]

NBA Finals: Game Two 6/8/2004 TONIGHT!
By: Associated Press

(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Lakers are looking at tying the NBA Finals Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons won Game One 87-to-75.

The Pistons won in LA thanks to great defense and shot blocking. They also shot 47 percent from the floor and dictated the pace of the game throughout.

Game Two in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever won the finals when losing the first two games at home.

althom said:

Revolution said:

applekisses said:

OUCH!

You knocked some sense into me...

Prediction for game 2: Lakers by (only ) 10

Take that 2 the bank!

DiminutiveRocker said:

Lakers fans are so arrogant and irrational, I guess I got carried away. I couldnt help myself. GO PISTONS!

Detroit reprsent!

L E T S G O P I S T O N S! B E A T T H E L A K E R S!

For some reason the picture above reminded me of this:

The Superfriends vs. the Legion of Doom

GO LAKERS!!!!!

Come on, L.A., beat motor city's ass so that Karl and Gary can finally get their rings.

NWF said:

Co-sign!

NWF said:

My sister used to work at a bank in Utah that Malone did his business with, and he was just an ass to her or whoever had to wait on him whenever he had to come in. Screw him and his potential ring.

Game 2
Pistons 91
Lakers 99
Final (OT)

Bryant's 3-Pointer Sends Game 2 Into OT

By KEN PETERS, AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left, sending the Los Angeles Lakers into overtime tied 89-89 with the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night. The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 36 seconds, desperately staving off a second straight shocking upset at home.

Lakers Even Series After Bryant's Big Shot

By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant came through in the clutch, saving the Lakers at the end of regulation and carrying them in overtime. In the type of performance that cemented the star's status as one of the great performers in NBA history, Bryant tied the game with a 3-pointer late in regulation and helped them pull away for good at the start of overtime to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Detroit Pistons 99-91 Tuesday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals
Seconds away from facing a 2-0 deficit with the series headed to Detroit, the Lakers evened it at a game apiece behind Bryant's 33 points and seven assists.

The teams will go at it again Thursday night, each having earned a greater level of respect for their opponent. The Lakers now realize more than ever that the Pistons are anything but a pushover, while Detroit now knows that no victory is ever secure when the ball can end up in Bryant's hands for the biggest shot of the game.
[This message was edited Wed Jun 9 17:42:46 2004 by July]

FUCK! Detroit had that shit in the bag - would'a went home w/ 2 IN LA!!!! Fuckin' Kobe

Detroit in 7!!!!

I say Lakers in six. Perhaps Lakers in five, if LA wins Game 3.

Don't put too much stock in the Lakers losing Game 1. They lost Game 1 in 2001, and went on to win in five. And Phil Jackson lost Game 1 at home in the '91 Finals. It is going to be very hard to beat LA in what is now a best-of-five series. San Antonio is probably the most complete team in the league, and the Lakers beat them FOUR IN A ROW. After seeing that, I can't see the Pistons beating them in the Finals.

Of course, as a Laker fan of 20 years, I could be wrong, Detroit has been underrated all season, get three straight at home with an ultra-juiced crowd, and has yet to play a great offensive game. But I still see LA winning its 15th title.

Ok, GP and Malone came to get their rings...now, when will they show up?
GP is being outplayed by sorry-ass Billups. Time to step it up GP!
If Malone is hurt, then "coach" has to take him out and play Walton more
minutes...when he makes that move, throw Shaq on Rasheed and move
Walton to Ben, cause he can't score.
See, it's an easy game folks.

I love it that the Pistons are blaming each other for the loss...LOVE IT!

*Chauncy said Rip should have been closer to Kobe on that 3 pt shot...

*Prince blamed Coach Brown for the incorrect call NOT TO FOUL, saying it
"was not my decision".

*Asst coach Brown also laid into Rip for not closing in on Kobe.

It's started...dissention is a MOTHA!!!

namepeace said:

Detroit has no offensive game...you've seen all they've got.

LA is the team that hasn't played to their offensive potential...
Where's Malones 15?
Where's Payton's 12?
Where's Fisher's 8?

He's old news, for sure. But, don't dismiss his career. He was a shut-down
guard for a long time.
He's got enough in his tank to play better this series. Really, it's not gonna
take a huge game by him to beat these Pistons, but he's got to play better.

*He needs to push the ball more
*He can shut down Billups
*DRIVE n' DISH...that'll get you some open 3's.

Revolution said:

I totally agree. It seems that Gary is playing in the "I" zone... he needs to get in tune with the team. He's had a nice career though, no doubt about that. It was nice to see Lil' Walton step up with the assists... Bill shed a tear, I think.