2009 Western Conference Finals: (1) Lakers Vs. (2) Nuggets

[Andrew]

I still wouldn't say it's ruining the series though, both teams are winning and losing by themselves. The calls are just an irritant...as is the commentary of Van Gundy and Jackson, which is disappointing as I usually enjoy them in the booth.

[NovU]

If I was a coach, I'd be really frustrated with those unneccesary techinicals no matter if they were by your guys or opponents since the technicals can cost winnable games while they sometimes can spark the team or disrupts opponents' mentality. Anyways, Denver got the W and that's what matters the most. George Karl should be happy with his players.

[melo1523]

I think it would be a close and exiting game for these "bests in the west". But you see that Denver is a revelation for what they done last conference, they are now also invincible in the west and the arrival of new leader "Mr. Big Shot", Lakers is in a big trouble right now!

If Melo isn't 100% healthy, Lakers will win in game 6.

If they stop KB24 in the clutch situations, Nuggets will win either in game 6 or 7.

[Jackal]

Haha, invincible...

[Angelo]

A very very bad game from Lakers i do hope they could bounce back from their game 4 loss

[Andrew]

Dahntay Jones assessed flagrant-1 foul over trip

A day later, the NBA blew the whistle on Dahntay Jones for tripping Kobe Bryant.

The league assessed Denver’s defensive specialist a flagrant-1 foul for sending the Lakers’ star sprawling through the lane with a trip late in the third quarter that Bennett Salvatore’s officiating crew missed.

Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson complained about Jones’ “unacceptable defense, tripping guys and playing unsportsmanlike basketball” during a rant about the officiating after Los Angeles fell 120-101 to Denver to tie the Western Conference finals at 2.

Asked if he felt Jones went out of his way to trip Bryant, Jackson replied: “Yes. It’s not the first time it’s happened in this series.”

Bryant kept things light when asked if Jones tried to trip him.

“I just fell on my face for no reason,” he said. “I’m a klutz.”

Was Jones playing him dirty?

“Good defense,” Bryant said.

It's appropriate, it wasn't the dirtiest play I've ever seen (and Shannon Brown sticking his foot out under Chauncey Billups on a jumpshot later in the game is a tactic I really hate because someone once did that to me in the local junior league many years ago) but the replay showed it wasn't really accidental and I had a feeling the league would take action to make sure things don't get too out of hand. No harm in letting the series be physical, but it's been too fun to watch and with the exception of Game 4 too tightly contested, to be marred by dirty play.

[Moz]

So... Kobe will have 2 freethrows before Game 5's jumpball?

[Andrew]

Well that ties into the point George Karl goes on to make about assessing fouls that weren't whistled during the game, it's not like the Lakers get the benefit of the post-game flagrant foul being assessed nor do the Nuggets suffer from it unless Jones reaches the limit and is automatically suspended. It's more of a gesture to try and maintain order than a true make-up call, though it would be funny if they spotted Kobe a couple of free throws at the beginning of Game 5.

[Modifly]

Phil Jackson was fined for publicly criticizing the officials.

NEW YORK, May 26, 2009 -- Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. The Lakers were also fined $25,000 for their coach's comments.

Jackson and the Lakers have been fined for his comments made after Game 4 of the Lakers' series with the Denver Nuggets.

Source: http://www.nba.com/2009/playoffs2009/05 ... index.html


They'll fine anyone these days, I dont blame Phil at all since the officiating was really out of hands in game 4. Too many undeserving technicals and uncalled fouls. It's good that someone stood up and say it out loud so the refs finally know that they'll need to do a better job officiating.

[Oakrhum]

I think too may called fouls that aren't supposed to be fouls in favor of last game's winning team.

[MikeMan™]

Bring back the physicality of the 80's damn it !

[Oakrhum]

Guess this thread gon' be dead 'coz classes starts in Monday and I'll be enrolling tomorrow . . .

What do you know about the 80's?

[Stress Fracture]

Maybe he was referring to the physicality that L.A. and Boston had when they were really great rivals in the 80's.

[Oakrhum]

Maybe he was referring to the physicality that L.A. and Boston had when they were really great rivals in the 80's.

I know, everybody knows but he is talking like he lived in the 80's and he's still a schoolboy.

[MikeMan™]

Maybe he was referring to the physicality that L.A. and Boston had when they were really great rivals in the 80's.

I know, everybody knows but he is talking like he lived in the 80's and he's still a schoolboy.

I watched those 80's classic games from TV . . . ( NBA's Greatest Games show )

[Oakrhum]

I know you'll say that. WTF.

[Modifly]

I was expecting that too. I was also expecting that kind of response from you.


This is terrible officiating, again.

[Oakrhum]

All throughout the series, the referees are not doing well.

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The Brown Mamba is making the difference so far.

[Modifly]

Nene's 6th foul wasn't even worth being a blocking foul.

[Oakrhum]

Nene's 6th foul wasn't even worth being a blocking foul.

That's a no call. That's similar to LeBron's drive yesterday during the dying seconds of their game.

3-2

[Modifly]

Great team performance by the Lakers, especially Odom. Now see, when Kobe passes the ball well, LA wins. And Kobe is such a nice guy when he does that.

[Oakrhum]

Shannon Brown dunk over the Penisman is sick

[Stress Fracture]

Shannon Brown dunk over the Penisman is sick

Who the hell is Penisman?

Damn! Nuggets lost! Pressure is now on the Nuggets side.

[Modifly]

Birdman. Brown didn't really dunk over Andersen, he was already airborne when Andersen came close to him and he basically just finishes the dunk with Andersen approaching his body. I didn't get to see it from a great angle but that's what it seems like from the angle I saw the play from.

[Carmo]

Don't deny that it was awesomeness in a cup.