Tonight's game may go down as one that could end the Spurs' dynistic run, albeit in controversial form. The champs fought valiantly, but the Lakers won the game 93-91 and can now wrap up their first conference title (and make their astounding 29th trip to the NBA Finals) at home on Thursday (my birthday; cheap plug, I know). The Lakers nearly blew a seven point lead by allowing Brent Barry to hit a three, and Tony Paker getting a goaltend, while Kobe Bryant threw up bad shots on successive possessions. However, let's get to the end-of-game controversy.
I'll ask the universal question; was Barry fouled at the end? I like the analysis of ESPN's Tim Legler, who said if Barry had kept moving, he would have gotten the call. Essentially, if Barry had pulled a Billups, or something closer to Spurs fans, a Ginobili (we'll get to him in a moment), he would have gotten FTs and likely won the game for the champs. If you ask me about the play, yes, Derek Fisher fell on him, but Barry intended for contact to occur (not a bad idea), and the refs didn't give him the contact. So, I say the call wasn't incorrect.
And for all you Spurs fans who will undoubtedly say something on every post-game blog like "That was an obvious foul, you no good Laker lover!!", or "We told you Joe Crawford has a bias against us!" (btw, wasn't Crawford refereeing a game against the Spurs a method I gave for the road team to win back in my "Does anybody want to win a road game? Solutions to fix the problem!" blog?), the Spurs had a substantial advantage at the foul line, so don't give me that. Look at the real reason your team lost; Manu stunk, and stunk big time!
The Spurs have proven they are only as good as Manu's play; he played terrific in game 3 with 30 points, only to revert to games 1-2 form with only 2 FGs. Granted, Barry was huge off the bench with 23 points, but there is a tangible difference between Manu going off and Barry going off; when Manu goes off, the Spurs' energy level rises, and it inspires the team to do well. When Barry goes off, only he gets pumped up by it. The team's inability to shoot straight (they played like the Celtics did last night, missing often from the field but getting a lot of FTs) cost them tonight.
So, after all of that has been said, are the Spurs done in this series? I've learned not to count them out until it's over (although I picked L.A. to win in six before this series began). 3-1 down is a hard mountain to climb, but the Spurs are the champs until that title is taken from them. So I'll hold final judgement until after game 5. But if L.A. wins, they'll have a tremendous advantage in the Finals since Boston and Detroit will have hurt each other in a brutal series.
Final thoughts:
Sasha V (I can't spell his name) needs to know when to not shoot. he could have been the goat of the game if they had lost.
Wasn't it nice to hear just straight commentary most of the night? You don't hear Doug Collins imitate Al Pacino, do you, Jeff?
Kobe didn't close late with those two bad shots at the end. Bet ya he comes out with a vengence in game 5.
I though Robert Horry was "Big Shot Bob". Now he "I Don't Want The Shot Bob"!
There were a lot of no-calls for both teams. And complaints by the players and the fans were rampant. I thought the fans would riot "Frankenstein"-style after the game!
This game was nothing short of exciting to watch. I'm happy the Lakers pulled it off though. I think one reason Barry didn't get that call is maybe the refs looked at it as he initiated the contact. Things happen fast and we've seen that call go either way hundreds of times over.
Just as point of conversation Fox is running a poll on their page about the game asking if you think Fisher fouled on the last play and 67% say no.
don't you kind of wonder what the hell is the matter with the Laker bench? They haven't been much of a help since the first series to any degree of consistency. Barry outscored the entire Laker bench.
Admittedly I almost reached for the Pepto whenever Luke Walton (who has been the most invisible, along with Farmar, in these playoffs) took any shots. The bench is a problem, but I don't see Barry going off again; his prior high in these playoffs was 14, so he was just hot tonight. The Lakers kept the Big 3 from making a huge impact, and if they don't, the Spurs don't win, so I'm not worried yet about the Laker bench, Nique.
Gambit, that was the point I was trying to make here, but I didn't want a #### to appear. The refs saw contact, but according to Legler, since he stopped, he didn't get continuation. So, I agree with you.
I'll admit that I initially didn't call them a dynasty, and I think that not winning back-to-back will hurt their legacy immensely, but I put that there as a safeguard to Spurs fans who would grill me for saying they aren't a dyansty. Thanks for replying, worst.
3 1/2 rings (first was a 1/2 season) in 10 years with another team hitting a 3-peat in the middle of it.......? Hmmmmm...sounds like a really lame dynasty to me.
Kobe took 2 free-throws in both games. Take that Spurs fans. Two damn freethrows!!! So who get's the calls???????????? Yeah, that's what I thought. Your dirty team is at it's end.
You can take all that warm , fuzzy & furry nostalga and place it where the sun doesn't shine Commisionner Stern! Did J.Crawford sign a letter or something to be officiating this year, I thought he was suspended? Oh, his feelings changed towards Timmy and it's ok. Let's get that slow , fat , blind , incompent senior citizen off the court. I think it is time for another letter to my congressperson (referees and gambling and whose pockets got full because of these things that have already been admitted?!) mustangtommy
oh, by the way, SPURS IN 7 Never underestimate the HEART of a CHAMPION and it gonna hurt more than any PAIN Kobe has inflicted on anyBODY in his life - YOU KNOWWWWWWWWWW!
People seem to think denying the Spurs the title of a dynasty is a hard blow to them. They seem to think that the Spurs have this obsession with their legacy.
But the funny thing is that it is not the Spurs or their intelligent fans, who care about it. It is the people who do not like the Spurs who have the obsession. More often than not, Laker fans. No one else really seems to care. But the Lqker fans seem to think that if the Spurs are labeled a dynasty, it somehow takes away from their own glory, and they don't like to share the glory.
But since there is no clearcut definition of a dynasty in basketball, the term means absolutely nothing. So in the longrun, who cares? Championships are clearly defined, dynasties are not.
It seems as though the Spurs can't repeat as Champs. They win, but not in a row. I hope they prove me wrong. I just hope that the Spurs and Detroit make it so the SI cover with Kobe and Garnett will be wrong. Oh well, may the best teams go and the BEST team WIN it ALL!
tchdog, you have to hand it to Greg Popovich. He may complain TO the officials during the game if he thinks they messed up, but he does not complain ABOUT them to the media afterwards. Unlike some other coaches we can name.
And stop with the flopping talk. I saw quite a few of the Lakers hitting the floor for no apparent reason. Oh, but that's OK isn't it. When it is the Spurs, they are flopping, when it is the Lakers, then the mean old Spurs have played dirty and knocked them down. Now you sound like the Suns' fans.
Danfan, excuse me if I have somehow forgotten, but it seems to me that all of the teams played the same schedule in 99. I think 50 games is a pretty good indicator of who the best teams are.
And since the Spurs had the best record and went 15-2 in the playoffs, including sweeping the Lakers and the Blazers, I would say they earned the title.
And I do not remember one player, one fan, one coach, or one member of the media saying that was not a legit season until it was all over and they didn't win. If they really believed that, something would have been said before the seaon instead of afteward. And then it was not unitl Phil Jackson made his pronouncement. Then it suddenly became a half season. Hypocritical garbage.
The lakers arent as consistent as the Spurs at flopping,lol.. And last night i never saw a team whine and cry as much over calls than the Spurs. Duncan looked like it was an insult to call a foul on him...
lakersfanforlife, Why are you whining about it? You won. From all the whining and crying by the Lakers today, you would think the refs cost the Lakers the game. Memo guys: you won.
Peronally I think the Spurs have been a dynasty. Four titles and in the hunt every other time. The got beat in 7 once and lost to the Lakers who either won the title or played in the finals every other time. Those 4 titles and only losing otherwise to the finals team from the west says dynasty to me.
Many Lakers fans seem to think that to show any kind of respect to the Spurs or their accomplishments somehow takes something away from the Lakers and their history.
Lakers fans are way more into the "legacy" thing than the Spurs fans. They seem to feel that to grant dynasty status to the Spurs is disrespectful to the Lakers' legacy. They want to keep that name just for themselves and the Celtics.
Spurs fan know they are way behind the Lakers and the Celtics as far as championships go. Probably could never catch up, so the whole thing of who has the most is kind of mute for us.
We are just happy to have been so successful the last decade. The Spurs have given their fans a lot of pleasure and joy, and that is enough for most Spurs fan. We are not looking for dynasty status. Only young Spurs fans who did not go for nearly 30 years without a title are so impatient.
It has always puzzled me why Phil Jackson who has accomplished so much seems to begrudge any success that comes to Pop or the Spurs. He was the one who started the asterisks talk about the 99 season and several other times he has made snotty remarks about the Spurs. I just have to wonder what his problem is to be so ungracious.
I am David Downs, and I'm a sports nut who loves basketball and football and am open to good discussion about any sports subject. I am a Detroit sports fan, but I not a homer. Expect frequent vents on subjects that irritate me, and also expect the utmost respect for anybody's opinion, even if they disagree with me. Because, after all, that's what these blogs are all about, aren't they?
