Originally posted by Dr. Strangelove
On the Kobe three there was a couple terrible moves and non moves by Brown1. Why didn't the Pistons have Prince on Kobe instead of Rip. I don't understand this Prince is bigger and has long arms to contest Kobe's shot. Kobe might still make the shot but it wouldve been a tougher shot.
2. UHHH Larry did you know that Shaq and Malone were on the floor, maybe a double team on Kobe might of helped to free up Shaq and Malones amazing three point ability 😉 .
3. I know coaches don't like to foul, but there was a chance with 5 second Kobe was still dribbling. If you foul it becomes 1 point game but the Lakers wouldn't have a timeout so there would pretty much be a half court heave for the tie or win.But on the rest of the series, even though Kobe's shot hurt the Pistons mentally this game, but I don't see it carrying over. The Pistons are built on defensive and any lasting thoughts coming over to the next game won't hurt their defense and really I think momentum is overrated. One last thing, as the series goes on I think the Pistons have a better and better shot, because they have pretty much out played the Lakers for two games and with Malones and Fisher's injuries and Payton acting more and more like a baby who needs a pacifier the Lakers will pretty much be reallying on their two stars because I don't know if Luke Walton will give them that kind of game again, but who knows they are the Lakers.
Ummmm.....we'll try this one on for size.
1.) Prince was guarding Kobe before the ball was inbounded. If you watch the replay, Shaq sets a pick for Kobe making it so that Prince had to switch with Hamilton. If there wasn't a switch Kobe would have had an open three pointer from the top of the key instead of a 28 footer from the wing.
2.) Brown didn't say anything about fouling Shaq because honestly....as a pro, some things should be understood by all players without saying. Who would you have double team Kobe? Sending either Wallace out to double Kobe would result in Kobe pump faking, the big guy jumping, Kobe drawing a foul and then getting 3 free throws. (always a possibility with Kobe)
3.) When exactly were they supposed to foul Kobe? He never had his back turned to the basket, so he could have flung up a three pointer at anytime. What if fouling him results in a 4 point play? then you don't go into overtime....you just lose the game.
I think Detroit did the right thing by not fouling Kobe. He's shooting like 24% from 3 point land in the 4th quarter of this years playoffs. He launched a missle of a three pointer in the closing seconds of the game and got a pretty damn lucky make. As a coach, I'd rather have Kobe heaving 28 footers than shooting 3 free throws. If Detroit screwed up anywhere it was by not fouling Shaq, but who really expected him to get the ball anyway?
Besides...the refs gave LA the game when they were down by 6 because Rasheed Wallace DIDN'T foul Shaq on that 3 point play. But oh well, you don't hear me complaining. Go Lakers. I still say you take this in 6.
And as a Laker fan, I'm not worried about this series at this point at all. Actually I think Detroit is still at a disadvantage because the Lakers won't lose to them 3 games in a row regardless of whether it's home or away. Staples Center isn't much of a home court to LA anyways. Everyone at those LA games is just a fake fan, a huge number of people from the crowd left the game with 45 seconds left because LA was down 6. Who the hell dishes out hundreds if not thousands of dollars for seats only to leave because you "didn't want to hit traffic"???? for christ sakes...it's the finals.
That all said. Detroit doesn't stand a chance of winning the finals. Yes Detroit is good enough to compete with the Lakers, and yes they are good enough to beat the Lakers. But I've come to the conclusion that God is a Laker fan after watching Kobe and Fisher hit shots like they have in this years playoffs. The divine presence can't be stopped by any defense.