(1) Lakers VS (5) Rockets - 2ND ROUND SERIES

[Carmo]

That's beside the point I'm trying to make. The point is, Kobe shouldn't be throwing elbows in the first place. It's against the rule, it could hurt someone, and most importantly, it's dirty and fair players dont do it.

Do you honestly think that the elbow had anything to do with fair play and Kobe being dirty? If I was getting shoved in the back of the head and my arms basically being pulled off when I was FAIRLY boxing someone out I'd probably elbow them in the chest as well and I'm a fair player.

[dopeboy]

Then you would get flagrant-1 foul probably because you should react the same way, not elbow someone in the chest. I'm not saying Kobe was dirty on that play but NBA officiating is getting out of hands lately. What's wrong with physical game? Now they're looking to suspend everyone they possibly can, of course, except Rondo.

[Modifly]

That's more stupid than a cool bang by a cool player against a not so cool player like Luis Scola. Yeah, look how Fisher shoved Scola, that's more manly than Ron Artest's and Von Wafer's ugly hairstyles combined.

So you think Derek Fisher is a cool player. So you think shoving someone down to the floor and could have possibly broken their jaw as well is cool. You gotta be kidding me. Maybe Fisher was a cool player but he's not anymore after that filthy play. There's nothing manly about the way Fisher shoved Scola. That's gay right there. And you cant compare hairstyles to shoving someone down to the floor. It's a whole different thing.

Anyway, let's just wait if Artest can have a fluky night again just like game one or if he could even play on Sunday.

What's so fluky about scoring 21, 25 and 25 again? You're being totally biased against Artest. If Artest gets banned in game 4 because of that "hard foul" on Gasol then fuck Stu Jackson. That wasn't even a flagrant 1.

Do you honestly think that the elbow had anything to do with fair play and Kobe being dirty? If I was getting shoved in the back of the head and my arms basically being pulled off when I was FAIRLY boxing someone out I'd probably elbow them in the chest as well and I'm a fair player.

Of course it has. Elbowing someone when they were fairly boxing out too isn't dirty? If I was Artest I would slap Kobe in the head like Alston did to House. Who cares if suspension is on the way, if I get ejected for some bullshit reasons for two games straight I might as well do something that's really worth an ejection once and for all.

[AMenace]

Houston are going to be eliminated if Artest gets suspended.

It's that simple.

[Modifly]

Who cares? The NBA has already laid a red carpet for the Lakers and the Cavs to meet in the finals. It's all business. Just like Rasheed Wallace said, the NBA is like the WWE.

It's that simple.

[AMenace]

Fair enough.

[dopeboy]

If Stu Jackson won't suspend Perkins, then I'll have to say that this suspension thing affects everyone except Celtics. Either you suspend everyone for the same thing or nobody. It's pretty much that simple. Artest got 2 suspensions in a row... I guess, someone hates him pretty bad.

[Oakrhum]

Who cares? The NBA has already laid a red carpet for the Lakers and the Cavs to meet in the finals. It's all business. Just like Rasheed Wallace said, the NBA is like the WWE.

It's that simple.

Who cares about Rasheed and when did Rasheed said that? When they got swept by the Cavaliers? Sorry, I'm not following his twitter.

Now you're blaming the NBA. Sometimes you have to accept that a better team will always beat a not so good team. It's that simple. I know you're frustrated that your Rockets was defeated last night. All of this thoughts that the league is manipulating scenarios to get what they want is completely unfair and that's so childish.

Anyway. How could you judge this foul. Flagrant 1, 2 or just a hard foul?

That wasn't even a flagrant 1

But I do not think that it's indeed a flagrant 2

Judging from the picture, it's above the shoulders, he's not going for the ball, Pau's not bald to think it is, so the referees somehow got it right.

So apparently, Rasheed is a bit right that the NBA is like the WWE.

[Carmo]

Do you honestly think that the elbow had anything to do with fair play and Kobe being dirty? If I was getting shoved in the back of the head and my arms basically being pulled off when I was FAIRLY boxing someone out I'd probably elbow them in the chest as well and I'm a fair player.

Of course it has. Elbowing someone when they were fairly boxing out too isn't dirty? If I was Artest I would slap Kobe in the head like Alston did to House. Who cares if suspension is on the way, if I get ejected for some bullshit reasons for two games straight I might as well do something that's really worth an ejection once and for all.

What the hell? Kobe was the one boxing out...you can't box out from behind. Like I said...Artest was pushing him in the back of the head and pulling his arms. If that is the definition of fair boxing out then you are 100% correct. But the problem is that it wasn't fair, it wasn't boxing out and you are 0% correct. The only reason you think Artest was the one being fair is because you go for his team.

[Modifly]

Who cares about Rasheed and when did Rasheed said that? When they got swept by the Cavaliers? Sorry, I'm not following his twitter.

Rasheed did said that years ago and he got fined a large sum of money for it because it upset David Stern that Rasheed stabbed him in the heart with his words.

Now you're blaming the NBA. Sometimes you have to accept that a better team will always beat a not so good team. It's that simple. I know you're frustrated that your Rockets was defeated last night.

Sorry but I'm not frustated that my team lost. Not one bit. True, I'm a fan of the Rockets but as I've mentioned earlier, I can accept reality. A lost is a lost and I wasn't frustated about it one bit. However, I dont accept that Houston is a "not so good team". They're not as good as the Lakers for sure, but they're a good team. I feel a little bit offended when you said I'm frustated because the Rockets lost though.

All of this thoughts that the league is manipulating scenarios to get what they want is completely unfair and that's so childish.

you may think it's unfair but money has definitely played a role in certain decisions made by the NBA. It's not childish to think this way. Remember, the number one goal of NBA is also to make profit, just like other businesses. They're not manipulating scenarios to get what they wanted because that's almost impossible in a game of basketball, but they can definitely make certain decisions that can affect the game.

Anyway. How could you judge this foul. Flagrant 1, 2 or just a hard foul?

Oh come on now, many of the Lakers player even said it themselves that the foul shouldn't have been a flagrant 2. If it was a flagrant then it was a flagrant 1 at most. You said Artest wasn't going for the ball. Of course you dont go for the ball when you're committing an intentional foul to stop the clock. I totally agree with you that it was a hard foul, questionable and almost unnecessary with the game already decided, but it wasn't that hard and many Lakers players said it themselves, including Kobe.


You know what, I'm really enjoying this friendly argument against you. Eventhough we disagree on many things but I think that it's completely normal for people to have different opinions and views, especially when we're rooting for different teams.

What the hell? Kobe was the one boxing out...you can't box out from behind. Like I said...Artest was pushing him in the back of the head and pulling his arms. If that is the definition of fair boxing out then you are 100% correct. But the problem is that it wasn't fair, it wasn't boxing out and you are 0% correct.

Then why cant Kobe do the same thing back to Artest instead of throwing an elbow? If Artest pushed him in the head and pulled his arms, then it is sensible to respond back in the same way. Kobe decided to throw an elbow instead and that says something about Kobe. I admit I was 0% correct because you were able to prove me wrong and I accept that, but can you please tell me why Kobe decided to elbow Artest instead of doing something else?

The only reason you think Artest was the one being fair is because you go for his team.

Hey, that's not right. The reason I thought Artest was the one being fair wasn't because I went for his team, which also happens to be my favourite team. If Artest did pushed Kobe's head and pulled on his arms then that wasn't fair, but this is the playoffs and you can almost expect that to happen in every game. What you dont expect though is an elbow in return instead of the similar push and pull thing. Artest is not a fair player, but Kobe is not a clean player himself. Get your facts right, I didn't went for Artest because he's on my team. If he's dirty I'll tell you he's dirty. I'm telling you now that Artest wasn't clean on that play but neither was Kobe. If Kobe didn't jacked his elbow out we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now but that's not the point.

[NovU]

Modify, no point in arguing here.

Playoff time, lakers fan boys flood in from somewhere at this time of the year.

[Modifly]

I dont look at it as an argument though, but a friendly way of exchanging opinions and explaining them to a further extend for full understanding of the point.

[bee-boy]

Sunday is a big game for both teams. Houston wants to stay in the series and LA wants to take a commanding lead going back home. Should be a good one.

[air gordon]

fisher earned an ejection. a suspension seems in line the way the rest of the games have been called. probably if fisher doesn't run over scola, the refs don't feel the need to "control" the game by overreacting and ejecting Artest after he was elbowed... and probably the same for the hard foul he gave on Gasol.

it's a shame the refs are ruining what could potentially be a good series

[Lamrock]

Artest won't be suspended thankfully. The refs are still a$$clowns though.

[shadowgrin]

I dont look at it as an argument though, but a friendly way of exchanging opinions and explaining them to a further extend for full understanding of the point.

I hope the same can be said to the person to which you wish to explain your point.
Don't be surprised if you hit your head against a brick wall.

[Andrew]

Unfortunately, a familiar problem has raised its head for the Rockets.

Yao out for remainder of postseason

Yao Ming is out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken left foot.

The Houston center limped off the court late in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 108-94 victory over the Rockets on Friday night. Yao missed Saturday’s practice to get treatment and the team said the 7-foot-6 All-Star would be re-evaluated on Sunday.

But the Rockets announced later Saturday night that further examination of Yao’s injury revealed a hairline fracture. The Rockets say Yao will need 8-12 weeks to recover, though no surgery is required

You don't want to count a team out before it's all over in an environment where the unthinkable does happen but to say it's unlikely the Rockets will recover to take the series with Yao out would be put it mildly.

[bee-boy]

Houston really has no chance now.

[Carmo]

What the hell? Kobe was the one boxing out...you can't box out from behind. Like I said...Artest was pushing him in the back of the head and pulling his arms. If that is the definition of fair boxing out then you are 100% correct. But the problem is that it wasn't fair, it wasn't boxing out and you are 0% correct.

Then why cant Kobe do the same thing back to Artest instead of throwing an elbow? If Artest pushed him in the head and pulled his arms, then it is sensible to respond back in the same way. Kobe decided to throw an elbow instead and that says something about Kobe. I admit I was 0% correct because you were able to prove me wrong and I accept that, but can you please tell me why Kobe decided to elbow Artest instead of doing something else?

The only reason you think Artest was the one being fair is because you go for his team.

Hey, that's not right. The reason I thought Artest was the one being fair wasn't because I went for his team, which also happens to be my favourite team. If Artest did pushed Kobe's head and pulled on his arms then that wasn't fair, but this is the playoffs and you can almost expect that to happen in every game. What you dont expect though is an elbow in return instead of the similar push and pull thing. Artest is not a fair player, but Kobe is not a clean player himself. Get your facts right, I didn't went for Artest because he's on my team. If he's dirty I'll tell you he's dirty. I'm telling you now that Artest wasn't clean on that play but neither was Kobe. If Kobe didn't jacked his elbow out we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now but that's not the point.

So you wanted Kobe to turn away from the ball and push Artest's head? You can't seriously tell me that you wouldn't just try to get someone off you if they were doing it to you. Watch it again from a good angle and if you still think Kobe is just a dirty player rather than a dude that is just getting pissed off and wants someone to get the hell off him then I guess we have to agree to disagree.

Modify, no point in arguing here.

Playoff time, lakers fan boys flood in from somewhere at this time of the year.

Yeah I'm just a Lakers fan boy that comes out every year since like 2000... Maybe address me instead of saying it to someone else.
Do you actually think that there is a good argument? If so, explain it to me.

[T-Time3]

Houston really has no chance now.

with Yao to miss rest of playoffs, it might be true...

[Oakrhum]

Tough one for the Rockets. Very tough.

[Lean]

All of this thoughts that the league is manipulating scenarios to get what they want is completely unfair and that's so childish.

Like the Heat on the 2006 Finals?

[NovU]

What about 2006 Heats?

[Modifly]

I hope the same can be said to the person to which you wish to explain your point.
Don't be surprised if you hit your head against a brick wall.

sorry but I dont think I understand what you meant there.



I sensed something happening the minute Yao limped off the court. Rick Adelman obviously knew what was coming since he ran the practice like Yao wasn't going to be OK. Definitely a big blow to the Rockets, with Mutombo also out I guess the lineup will go something like this:

C - Scola
PF- Artest
SF - Battier
SG - Wafer
PG - Brooks

Hopefully Yao will fully recover before training camp, I thought Yao wont get injured again this season since he's been healthy all year long.

[mshooter24]

..i know that this is going happen to Yao, as you can see in the late of game 3 he cannot run very well and yet he still playing..too bad for the rockets..the lakers will gonna take this series...