Comments on: For Those Of You That Were Curious, Thoughts On The WCF http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/ Unbiased opinions from extremely biased people Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:30:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: mike http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-11078 mike Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:51:05 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-11078 did u even watch any of the games? the nugs played anderson cause nene was in foul trouble most of games 5 n 6.. the lakers didn't win because they pushed the pace of the game.. but because they learnt to control it.. to be patient and slowly probe denver's defense to find the holes.. they won with brilliant ball and player movement.. and denver did switch back to single coverage on kobe in the 2nd half.. at which point kobe destroyed his defender to seal the series.. did u even watch any of the games? the nugs played anderson cause nene was in foul trouble most of games 5 n 6.. the lakers didn’t win because they pushed the pace of the game.. but because they learnt to control it.. to be patient and slowly probe denver’s defense to find the holes.. they won with brilliant ball and player movement.. and denver did switch back to single coverage on kobe in the 2nd half.. at which point kobe destroyed his defender to seal the series..

]]> By: Perfundle http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-11053 Perfundle Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:42:59 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-11053 "Additionally, what analysis was I going to provide in this series that would have been both genuine and interesting? What, “Wow, when Lamar Odom plays to his potential, the Lakers are nigh unstoppable!” ? That’s not rocket science. How about “You know, Pau Gasol is clearly taller than the Nuggets and has great touch.” Again, this is nothing to post on. I could go with “J.R. Smith sure is a streaky shooter!” or “Nene dunks hard!’ But I knew the truth. The Nuggets were this year’s Jazz. A good team that found itself in the Conference Finals through fortune and momentum, truly outclassed by a better team." Wow, when Dwight Howard plays to his potential, the Magic are nigh unstoppable! You know, Rashard Lewis is clearly taller than the Cavaliers and has great touch. Mo Williams sure is a streaky shooter! James dunks hard! Hey, but you didn't provide that analysis, did you? Considering that the Nuggets almost won game 1, did win game 2, and routed the Lakers in game 4, you could've mentioned why the better team was struggling so much, why the team with no focus is losing to the team with just-as-bad focus, why Denver was holding their own in rebounding, etc. I really enjoyed your analysis of the Cleveland-Orlando series, and see no reason why you couldn't have do the same with the LA-Denver one. "I’ve tried my best to give them credit for their success without lying to Lakers fans and feeding them talk of the “resiliency” they’ve faced. Let’s be honest. They haven’t." No, they haven't. Nor have any other team in the league. I'm not sure how one "faces resiliency." Perhaps you mean face adversity and overcoming it with resiliency? If so, we have Bynum getting injured again in the middle of the season, and still managing a pretty good record without him, just like Cleveland did without West and Ilgauskas, Orlando did without Nelson and Boston did without Garnett. If you think the Lakers didn't face adversity, or alternatively didn't overcome that adversity with resiliency, what kind of adversity/resiliency are you looking for? “Additionally, what analysis was I going to provide in this series that would have been both genuine and interesting? What, “Wow, when Lamar Odom plays to his potential, the Lakers are nigh unstoppable!” ? That’s not rocket science.

How about “You know, Pau Gasol is clearly taller than the Nuggets and has great touch.” Again, this is nothing to post on. I could go with “J.R. Smith sure is a streaky shooter!” or “Nene dunks hard!’ But I knew the truth. The Nuggets were this year’s Jazz. A good team that found itself in the Conference Finals through fortune and momentum, truly outclassed by a better team.”

Wow, when Dwight Howard plays to his potential, the Magic are nigh unstoppable!
You know, Rashard Lewis is clearly taller than the Cavaliers and has great touch.
Mo Williams sure is a streaky shooter!
James dunks hard!

Hey, but you didn’t provide that analysis, did you? Considering that the Nuggets almost won game 1, did win game 2, and routed the Lakers in game 4, you could’ve mentioned why the better team was struggling so much, why the team with no focus is losing to the team with just-as-bad focus, why Denver was holding their own in rebounding, etc. I really enjoyed your analysis of the Cleveland-Orlando series, and see no reason why you couldn’t have do the same with the LA-Denver one.

“I’ve tried my best to give them credit for their success without lying to Lakers fans and feeding them talk of the “resiliency” they’ve faced. Let’s be honest. They haven’t.”

No, they haven’t. Nor have any other team in the league. I’m not sure how one “faces resiliency.” Perhaps you mean face adversity and overcoming it with resiliency? If so, we have Bynum getting injured again in the middle of the season, and still managing a pretty good record without him, just like Cleveland did without West and Ilgauskas, Orlando did without Nelson and Boston did without Garnett. If you think the Lakers didn’t face adversity, or alternatively didn’t overcome that adversity with resiliency, what kind of adversity/resiliency are you looking for?

]]> By: WildYams http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-11023 WildYams Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:33:32 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-11023 Is nobody else writing here anymore or is it just you? I understand real life taking precedence and all that, but aren't there like 3-4 other authors for this blog? In any event, that Lakers-Nuggets series was plenty competitive, IMO, and was not the dull affair you are trying to say it was. Most people though the outcome was in doubt, myself included. But like I said above, the point is that you guys are running an NBA blog here, and at a time when there were only two series going on you ignored one of them. At a time when there was only one game a day, you went silent for half the time. If the Finals turns out to be lopsided one way or the other will you guys blow it off too for not being interesting enough? If you can't muster enough interest in a Conference Finals that went 6 games after being 2-2, why are you writing about the NBA in the first place? See, but since I've been reading your stuff for a while, I know you guys are real passionate about the NBA, you in particular, so I really don't think you were so bored by the WCF that you had nothing to say. I think it really was just that you don't like having to write positive things about the Lakers (you're strongly hinting at that in your above comment anyway). I get that, and it doesn't really bug me. I come here with that understanding, and honestly I like reading the detracting point of view. Frankly it would be more upsetting to hear that you didn't write anything because you're so bored with the NBA at this time of year that there was no point in making a comment. I mean, if the NBA is losing the authors of a TrueHoop network blog as an audience, then the league is really in trouble. Is nobody else writing here anymore or is it just you? I understand real life taking precedence and all that, but aren’t there like 3-4 other authors for this blog?

In any event, that Lakers-Nuggets series was plenty competitive, IMO, and was not the dull affair you are trying to say it was. Most people though the outcome was in doubt, myself included. But like I said above, the point is that you guys are running an NBA blog here, and at a time when there were only two series going on you ignored one of them. At a time when there was only one game a day, you went silent for half the time. If the Finals turns out to be lopsided one way or the other will you guys blow it off too for not being interesting enough? If you can’t muster enough interest in a Conference Finals that went 6 games after being 2-2, why are you writing about the NBA in the first place?

See, but since I’ve been reading your stuff for a while, I know you guys are real passionate about the NBA, you in particular, so I really don’t think you were so bored by the WCF that you had nothing to say. I think it really was just that you don’t like having to write positive things about the Lakers (you’re strongly hinting at that in your above comment anyway). I get that, and it doesn’t really bug me. I come here with that understanding, and honestly I like reading the detracting point of view. Frankly it would be more upsetting to hear that you didn’t write anything because you’re so bored with the NBA at this time of year that there was no point in making a comment. I mean, if the NBA is losing the authors of a TrueHoop network blog as an audience, then the league is really in trouble.

]]> By: Matt Moore http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10984 Matt Moore Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:49:07 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10984 Yams, I can understand your frustration, and I wish I'd had more time to cover the series. I had to make a tactical decision to cover one while real life demands sucked my energy away. I opted for Orlando-Cleveland, because for me, it was the more interesting series. Additionally, what analysis was I going to provide in this series that would have been both genuine and interesting? What, "Wow, when Lamar Odom plays to his potential, the Lakers are nigh unstoppable!" ? That's not rocket science. How about "You know, Pau Gasol is clearly taller than the Nuggets and has great touch." Again, this is nothing to post on. I could go with "J.R. Smith sure is a streaky shooter!" or "Nene dunks hard!' But I knew the truth. The Nuggets were this year's Jazz. A good team that found itself in the Conference Finals through fortune and momentum, truly outclassed by a better team. If the Lakers come out and blast the Magic, which they could well do, I'll cover it. I covered the Lakers all season, including when they drilled the Cavs twice and shoved crow down my throat. I've tried my best to give them credit for their success without lying to Lakers fans and feeding them talk of the "resiliency" they've faced. Let's be honest. They haven't. But they're the most talented team in the NBA, and that could very well be enough. But don't be mad just because one outlet elected not to find "Wow, Kobe Bryant is good' to be an interesting story. Yams, I can understand your frustration, and I wish I’d had more time to cover the series. I had to make a tactical decision to cover one while real life demands sucked my energy away. I opted for Orlando-Cleveland, because for me, it was the more interesting series.

Additionally, what analysis was I going to provide in this series that would have been both genuine and interesting? What, “Wow, when Lamar Odom plays to his potential, the Lakers are nigh unstoppable!” ? That’s not rocket science.

How about “You know, Pau Gasol is clearly taller than the Nuggets and has great touch.” Again, this is nothing to post on. I could go with “J.R. Smith sure is a streaky shooter!” or “Nene dunks hard!’ But I knew the truth. The Nuggets were this year’s Jazz. A good team that found itself in the Conference Finals through fortune and momentum, truly outclassed by a better team.

If the Lakers come out and blast the Magic, which they could well do, I’ll cover it. I covered the Lakers all season, including when they drilled the Cavs twice and shoved crow down my throat. I’ve tried my best to give them credit for their success without lying to Lakers fans and feeding them talk of the “resiliency” they’ve faced. Let’s be honest. They haven’t. But they’re the most talented team in the NBA, and that could very well be enough.

But don’t be mad just because one outlet elected not to find “Wow, Kobe Bryant is good’ to be an interesting story.

]]> By: WildYams http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10981 WildYams Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:15:13 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10981 "There have been several comments over the last few days questioning why it is that I haven’t commented on the NBA Western Conference Finals. This could very easily be construed as me petulantly refusing to acknowledge the Lakers. In fact, its’ quite the opposite." Come on, you really think anyone buys that? Look, you guys run an NBA blog here, and at a time of year where there were only two series going on, you ignored one of them. Yeah, I'm sure that the fact that the team that was winning the one you ignored happens to be your most hated team never factored in... If the Lakers start off strong in The Finals should we expect similar amounts of silence? “There have been several comments over the last few days questioning why it is that I haven’t commented on the NBA Western Conference Finals. This could very easily be construed as me petulantly refusing to acknowledge the Lakers. In fact, its’ quite the opposite.”

Come on, you really think anyone buys that? Look, you guys run an NBA blog here, and at a time of year where there were only two series going on, you ignored one of them. Yeah, I’m sure that the fact that the team that was winning the one you ignored happens to be your most hated team never factored in…

If the Lakers start off strong in The Finals should we expect similar amounts of silence?

]]> By: losdela http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10945 losdela Sun, 31 May 2009 20:13:10 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10945 I agree with everything you wrote except that the Lake Show lacks resiliency. This team has shown that all year. With all the injuries and lack of cohesion on the offensive AND especially defensive side, this team still won 65 games and has done ok in the postseason (relative to other Lakers squads). Nothing has come easy and they're still standing. I would love this team to have more focus and attention to details. Heart is in the eye of the beholder. But rolling with the punches that come your way is the definition of resilient. I think... :0) I agree with everything you wrote except that the Lake Show lacks resiliency. This team has shown that all year. With all the injuries and lack of cohesion on the offensive AND especially defensive side, this team still won 65 games and has done ok in the postseason (relative to other Lakers squads).

Nothing has come easy and they’re still standing. I would love this team to have more focus and attention to details. Heart is in the eye of the beholder. But rolling with the punches that come your way is the definition of resilient.

I think…

:0)

]]> By: wj http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10918 wj Sun, 31 May 2009 16:16:18 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10918 I disagree with your view that the Lakers won with no input beyond athleticism, length and ability. True enough, they are a team that is more talented than the nuggets (though Kenyon Martin would beg to differ), but I saw signs in the games that showed the lakers had heart. Lamar Odom fighting through back pains to put in an incredible performance in game 5, and a decent but invaluable performance in game 6, Trevor Ariza hitting the threes that many said was his biggest weakness, Pau Gasol becoming a defensive presence, Kobe being his usual passinate ultra-competitive self that many people take for granted, etc... To discount the wins as pure talent and height is to discount these performances where the lakers pushed beyond themselves. If the Lakers had Brian Cook, Kwame Brown, Smush Parker or even Vladimir Radmonovic, I might agree with you that the lakers might not have that much heart, but they are not there anymore. True, they had many lapses, mainly mental. But it is who they are (and I wish they would improve upon). I, however, do not believe this is a result of arrogance, or a lack of heart. I disagree with your view that the Lakers won with no input beyond athleticism, length and ability. True enough, they are a team that is more talented than the nuggets (though Kenyon Martin would beg to differ), but I saw signs in the games that showed the lakers had heart. Lamar Odom fighting through back pains to put in an incredible performance in game 5, and a decent but invaluable performance in game 6, Trevor Ariza hitting the threes that many said was his biggest weakness, Pau Gasol becoming a defensive presence, Kobe being his usual passinate ultra-competitive self that many people take for granted, etc… To discount the wins as pure talent and height is to discount these performances where the lakers pushed beyond themselves. If the Lakers had Brian Cook, Kwame Brown, Smush Parker or even Vladimir Radmonovic, I might agree with you that the lakers might not have that much heart, but they are not there anymore.

True, they had many lapses, mainly mental. But it is who they are (and I wish they would improve upon). I, however, do not believe this is a result of arrogance, or a lack of heart.

]]> By: . http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10870 . Sun, 31 May 2009 04:15:19 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10870 If the Lakers consistently played with "no heart" they wouldn't have won 12 games in the playoffs. It takes heart and focus to win on the road, in denver none the less. maybe they didn't play with heart in the utah series or in the rockets series, but in the denver series they did. no matter how you slice it they played with heart. in game 6 they were unstoppable because they were focused and tried to find the open guy. they made buckets and hustled for rebounds and loose balls. all of that takes heart, no matter how much you want to say they dont have heart or focus.. they do. If the Lakers consistently played with “no heart” they wouldn’t have won 12 games in the playoffs. It takes heart and focus to win on the road, in denver none the less. maybe they didn’t play with heart in the utah series or in the rockets series, but in the denver series they did. no matter how you slice it they played with heart. in game 6 they were unstoppable because they were focused and tried to find the open guy. they made buckets and hustled for rebounds and loose balls.

all of that takes heart, no matter how much you want to say they dont have heart or focus.. they do.

]]> By: Mark Pereira http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10842 Mark Pereira Sat, 30 May 2009 23:27:38 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10842 Mr. Moore, I can't say how many times I have read one of your game/series recaps and felt smarter about basketball afterward. They are always in-depth and always nice angles to view things from. And of course, very well written. Mr. Moore,

I can’t say how many times I have read one of your game/series recaps and felt smarter about basketball afterward. They are always in-depth and always nice angles to view things from. And of course, very well written.

]]> By: Justin N. http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/2009/05/30/for-those-of-you-that-were-curious-thoughts-on-the-wcf/comment-page-1/#comment-10837 Justin N. Sat, 30 May 2009 22:25:09 +0000 http://www.hardwoodparoxysm.com/?p=2792#comment-10837 I think Denver beat themselves after game 5 before game 6 even started. Some player anonymously commented on the officiating and how the Lakers had bought a win. It was clear that their mindset was that they played correctly and the refs gave the game to the Lakers. They came out in game six with the same crap defensive scheme and unorganized offense expecting some different result because it'd be a different officiating crew on their turf. JVG commented somewhere in the first or second quarter about how often times teams think that home-cooking will save them in the playoffs. The Nuggets thought it as did Portland and Boston this postseason. I think Denver beat themselves after game 5 before game 6 even started. Some player anonymously commented on the officiating and how the Lakers had bought a win. It was clear that their mindset was that they played correctly and the refs gave the game to the Lakers. They came out in game six with the same crap defensive scheme and unorganized offense expecting some different result because it’d be a different officiating crew on their turf. JVG commented somewhere in the first or second quarter about how often times teams think that home-cooking will save them in the playoffs. The Nuggets thought it as did Portland and Boston this postseason.

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