I hate the @#$%& Lakers (Nuggets/Lakers Conference Finals Preview)...

by Andrew Feinstein on May 17, 2009 6:11 PM MDT

I've hated the Lakers for as long as I can remember.

I hate that every stadium they play in (sans Boston) about 25% of the crowd is on their side.

I hate that they've been the beneficiary of controversial calls for as long as I can remember.

I hate that their fans are in complete denial of the NBA's favoritism towards them. (For more on my hatred of bandwagon Lakers fans, I encourage you to read last year's article "10 Reasons Why I Hate Lakers Fans".)

But most of all, I hate that they've always stood in the Nuggets way.

I hated them when they crushed the Nuggets 153-109 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in 1985 (after the Nuggets showed promise by winning Game 2 136-114 at the Forum). The Nuggets were an Alex English broken thumb and a phantom call on Danny Schayes in Game 4 away from making that a seven-game series.

I hated them when they swept us in 1987 (before that series Nuggets head coach Doug Moe famously said "We got no shot to beat the Lakers").

And I hated them when Magic Johnson hit perhaps his greatest all-time regular season shot when his 30-foot three-pointer sunk the Nuggets in double overtime at McNichols Arena on November 15th, 1988.

My hatred of the Lakers subsided a bit throughout the 1990s as both franchises struggled. My favorite 1990s Lakers/Nuggets moment was when Magic Johnson took the Lakers' coaching reigns in 1994, won five of his first six games and was threatening to overtake the Nuggets for the 8th and final playoff seed. The two teams met in Denver on April 8th of that year - a game that would decide the playoff fate of either team - and the Nuggets beat them soundly 112-99. The Lakers wouldn't win again under "coach" Magic, finishing their season with 10 consecutive losses.

The hatred has been renewed over the past two seasons, as the Lakers have won 10 of 11 against our Nuggets, including last year's first round playoff sweep. And not only have the Lakers beaten the Nuggets regularly, but they've hardly broken a sweat while doing so. Their most recent matchup was yet another example of this. With both teams fighting for home court advantage in the playoffs (the Lakers for overall home court advantage, the Nuggets for home court advantage through at least two rounds), the Nuggets came into the Staples Center on April 9th and lost by 14, even though the game was tied at halftime (due largely to an incredible last second three-pointer by J.R. Smith).

It's been fashionable for many in the national media to pick the Nuggets to defeat the Lakers in the upcoming Western Conference Finals. Most point out that this Nuggets team isn't the same team that lost three out of four to the Lakers during the regular season. That's mostly true, except that April 9th matchup discussed above took place in the third-to-last-game of the regular season on the heels of the Nuggets winning eight straight and 13 of 14. Are the May 19th Nuggets that different from the April 9th Nuggets? For our sake, I sure hope so.

I 100% believe that the Nuggets can beat the Lakers, but that doesn't mean I believe they will. But before we get to my prediction, let's break down the series...

THE REFEREES

We've had one intangible category in all our series previews this year. Against the Hornets it was health (advantage: Nuggets) and against the Mavericks it was momentum (also advantage: Nuggets). But against the Lakers, the intangible category has to be the referees. Simply put, you can't break down a series against the Lakers without acknowledging that the Lakers have a substantial advantage with the whistle. Throw in that we're in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression - meaning NBA gate and sponsorship revenue will continue to plummet into next season - and you have to believe that the NBA will do whatever it can within reason to get their coveted Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James NBA Finals. For all the talk of LeBron's popularity, remember that the 2007 NBA Finals, featuring the LeBrons vs. the San Antonio Spurs, had the lowest rating ever. Comparatively, the 2008 Lakers vs. Celtics NBA Finals were up 50% over the previous year. The Nuggets won't get any calls in this series.

ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

POINT GUARD

By appearing in his seventh consecutive conference finals, Chauncey Billups has joined some elite company in modern (i.e. post-1980) NBA history. Only Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (and those who gravy-trained on those 1980s Lakers teams like Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis) have done better when they appeared in eight consecutive conference finals in their heyday. Lakers great James Worthy also has seven straight under his belt. The most consecutive conference finals that Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen and Larry Bird/Kevin McHale/Robert Parish/Dennis Johnson/Danny Ainge went to was five.

Chauncey's counterpart in purple and gold is another longtime, gutty winner in Derek Fisher. But while Chauncey is the catalyst for all of his teams successes, Fisher has just been a piece of the puzzle.

ADVANTAGE: NUGGETS

SHOOTING GUARD

When one team's starting shooting guard is one of the best two players in the NBA while the other has had to make the roster by taking a one-year, minimum deal after fighting his way back into the NBA, you could consider this category a double advantage for the Lakers. I thought some of the criticism thrown Kobe Bryant's way regarding how the Lakers played against the Rockets was justified, but he remains - in my opinion - the most focused, best conditioned and most lethal player in the NBA. And while everyone in Nuggets Nation is enamored with what we've gotten out of Dahntay Jones defensively this season, he doesn't even use his six fouls well against Kobe.

ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

SMALL FORWARD

Just as no one on the Nuggets can guard Kobe with any sort of competency, no one on the Lakers can guard the Nuggets Carmelo Anthony. The big difference is: Kobe knows/believes this and Melo doesn't. At least not yet. Let's face it: Melo has sucked against the Lakers recently. Rather than take the ball to the rack to punish the Lakers soft interior defense (including when Andrew Bynum is on the floor, by the way), Melo often settles for ill-timed jump shots and fade aways with a defender in his face. During the 2008-09 season against the Lakers, Melo has had a 5-15 shooting game (including going 0-4 from the free throw line), a 5-19 (that's not a typo) night (including an inexcusable zero FT attempts) and a 4-17 affair (also with just four FT attempts). And of course we painfully remember his "We Quit" 36.4% shooting performance during last year's Lakers sweep.

As detailed here and elsewhere, in the 2009 playoffs Melo has grown into the cold-blooded killer/winner we always knew he could be. And with Trevor Ariza guarding him for much of the series against the Lakers, there's no excuse for Melo not to break out of his slump against this team.

ADVANTAGE: NUGGETS

POWER FORWARD

Pau Gasol has played well against the Nuggets since joining the Lakers in one of the most one-sided trades in NBA history (I'm still convinced that the Lakers/the NBA paid Grizzlies' "GM" Chris Wallace a million dollars under the table after consummating that deal). In his last two games against Denver, Gasol had 27 points/19 rebounds and 18 points/10 rebounds. Interestingly, either Nene and Kenyon Martin each missed one of those games. In the two regular games featuring Nene and K-Mart, Gasol put up much more pedestrian efforts, but the Lakers won each game.

It's been said a lot on this blog but it bears repeating: I've never seen a Nugget play with the defensive intensity of Kenyon Martin during the playoffs this year. And K-Mart's defensive effort against Gasol should be no different. But no matter how hard/tough K-Mart plays against Gasol, he can't change the fact that Gasol has about four inches on him.

ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

CENTER

Like the K-Mart vs. Gasol matchup, the Nene vs. Andrew Bynum matchup presents a big height advantage for the Lakers. Bynum weights a lot more, too. At 275 pounds, Bynum is similar in size to the Mavericks Erick Dampier but infinitely more skilled (that's not saying much). But Bynum is recovering from a torn meniscus and hasn't been the Bynum we saw prior to his January 31st injury. Lakers fans are jumping with joy over Bynum's Game 7 performance against the Rockets. But prior to Game 7, Bynum had a sub-par performance against a team that didn't feature anyone over 6'10" for four of the seven games.

Against a healthy Bynum, Nene played pretty well during the regular season. I suspect a more confident Nene vs. a still struggling Bynum gives the Nuggets a slight advantage here, even through Nene is grossly undersized compared to Bynum.

ADVANTAGE: NUGGETS

BENCH

If there's one thing that the Nuggets and Lakers have in common, it's that one of their top four players comes off the bench. That would be J.R. Smith for the Nuggets and Lamar Odom for the Lakers. Both teams also have a scrappy, energy-boosting guard off the pine (Anthony Carter for the Nuggets and Jordan Farmar for the Lakers) and a once potent European player who's now a shell of his former self (Linas Kleiza for the Nuggets and Sasha Vujacic for the Lakers). What the Lakers don't have is energy and defense at the center position off the bench, while the Nuggets have Chris "Birdman" Andersen to round out one of the more memorable benches in NBA playoff history.

In the Nuggets lone win in their last 11 tries against the Lakers, Birdman owned the energy of the game with a remarkable 11 point, 12 rebound and seven block game. Combined with J.R. and A.C., Birdman gives the Nuggets a boost off the bench unlike any other team left in the playoffs and could be the X-factor that takes the Lakers down.

ADVANTAGE: NUGGETS

COACH

While George Karl has been doing his best coaching job in the playoffs since taking over the Nuggets, the Lakers Phil Jackson has been doing one of his worst for the Lakers, considering the talent they've assembled. Jackson was thoroughly out-coached by Doc Rivers in the NBA Finals last summer and almost presided over a historic upset had the Lakers lost to the Rockets today. As we derided Karl for all last season and given him credit for this one, it's the coach's job to motivate his players and keep them focused. And you could hardly call the Lakers recent performance against the Rockets focused.

That being said, Jackson has had Karl's number and it's been Karl who's been unable to get the Nuggets motivated against the Lakers for two seasons in a row now. Until that changes, the edge here goes to Jackson.

ADVANTAGE: LAKERS

THE VERDICT

I'll get right to the point: as much as it kills me to say this, I can't objectively pick the Nuggets to beat the Lakers.

Yes, the Nuggets are playing the best basketball in the Western Conference right now. Yes, the Lakers have stumbled and fumbled their way into the Western Conference Finals. Yes, Carmelo Anthony is playing with a killer instinct/energy level we've never seen in the postseason. Yes, Chauncey Billups has won a championship ring more recently than Kobe Bryant has. And yes, the Nuggets defensively are far superior to the Lakers.

But even though it was a regular season game, I just can't shake that April 9th loss in Los Angeles. Similar to what we're seeing now, the Nuggets were playing their best basketball of the season entering that game and yet that contest might as well have been a repeat of their November 21st meeting, when the Lakers also won by 14 points (notably featuring Chauncey for the first time).

With the exception of the Nuggets 90-79 victory over the Lakers in late February, the Lakers have owned the energy of the game in all of their matchups for two seasons now. That being said, for the first time since 1985 the Nuggets can actually beat these Lakers. And in the Game 1 Preview post, I'll explain why and how.

But for now, my hatred of the Lakers cannot overtake my attempt at objectivity. And therefore, I'm predicting the Lakers to win in seven games.

More than ever, I hope I'm proven wrong.

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Comments

Here's my recap from seeing how many Lakers fans were at Pepsi Center the series last year. While I want and believe we can get the victory, I'm at least hoping the atmosphere will be better.

All of the LA fans would have normally embarrassed me except that I came to terms with this state being overrun by Californians about ten years ago.

Plus we were sitting in the nosebleeds, which meant most LA fans up there were only about two generations removed from walking on all fours.

Best exchange:

Idiot Lakers Fan in Kobe Jersey stands up during the 3rd quarter massacre: What's up now you bitches?! (He pops out the Lakers part of his jersey and points across the isle to . . .)

Idiot Nuggets Fan in throwback Alex English Jersey: You couldn't afford this jersey! This jersey costs more that your house! (He also pops his jersey too.)

Kobe Fan: F- you bitches!

English Fan: You couldn't afford this jersey!

And they went on like that for about three minutes. Classic .Go Denver!

by Brosephus Maxiumus on May 17, 2009 7:14 PM MDT reply actions

Great analysis, Andrew. I will point out that the Nuggets have one thing they've NEVER had against the Lakers- a belief that they can win. They've seen some success in this playoff, something they've not had before. More importantly, I believe these Nuggs can honestly see where their "story" now takes precedence over the Lakers'. Never has this team held the storybook narrative- its always the Lakers who've dictated the narrative. Noew this squad actually has a tale of their own. ie: rejects, outcasts, injuries/illnesses, you name it!Well, guess what? This time around the Nuggs have a dream of their own- one that they can hang on to. That 1st game will be pivotal obviously, but Melo's approach to that game will be whats really significant. if he falls back to the "Timid Melo" who hoists jumper after jumper, instead of driving to the hole- then we have no chance. If he brings the "new" attitude, then we'll win....no question. Nuggs in 6!

by KaiserSoze on May 17, 2009 7:56 PM MDT reply actions

I hate those f*ckers too. And their hollywood celebrity fans and their plastic cheerleaders and (well OK, I kinda like their cheerleaders).

Not so sure I agree that AC and Farmar match up. Farmar is a much better shooter (even though AC thinks he's a good shooter). Vujiflop and Kleiza, fair match up.

I think Odom is the key for the Lakers against us. Kobe will get his. Gasol will get his. We've got to limit Odom.

If Nene can hit his 12 - 15 footers and keep Bynum out of the paint and Melo stays the course and takes the ball to the rack, we have a decent chance to beat this team.

I do think we'll need to see Ronaldo Balkman in this series though. His hustle and slashing to the hoop without the ball will be very disruptive to the Lakers. And I do not think they will consider him in their game plan. I also think he'd disrupt Kobe if he were tasked with guarding him.

Finally, the lanes at the Forum should have the letters KOA etched into them considering how much camping is done by the Lakers.
I will be counting how many 3 second violations are not called in each game and will report back dutifully in each post game session.

by My3Cents on May 17, 2009 8:27 PM MDT reply actions

Nice analysis Andrew, but this is what I don't understand... Why is that the April 9 game so meaningful when it was the second of back to backs for the Nuggets? When we beat the Lakers on 2/27, all anyone could talk about is how it was the second of back to backs for them. When we lose to them on 4/9, no mention of it anywhere.

Nuggets in 6.

by Bee on May 17, 2009 8:57 PM MDT reply actions

Im counting on Kobe to get T'd up at least two more times and a game suspension that totally dismantles the lakers morale.

by Anonymous on May 17, 2009 9:04 PM MDT reply actions

Unfortunately I agree with the blogger. The Lakers are just plan more talented and bigger than the Nugs. It would take the Lakers to treat this series as they treated the Rockets series to lose to us. I do think that the Rockets laid out a pretty good game plan to beat LA. Stay in front of Kobe, and form a wall in front of the hoop at the 2nd line of defense. Make Kobe take jumpers, while staying between Pau and the hoop. Staying in front of Kobe being easier said than done.
The Nuggs need a huge series from Melo, Chaunce, JR, and post players to pull this off. Basically, we need 4 perfectly played games.

by Robin Z on May 17, 2009 9:30 PM MDT reply actions

Chauncey is the x-factor here. Remember his Pistons against the same Lakers and with Shaq. Karl lost 96 finals to Jackson; this is his time - along with Chauncey and a well rested and healthy and hungry team; against tired and injured Lakers this is the time. I say double-team Kobe and let the others beat you. It is going to be between Orlando and Denver for the championship - somewhere in the cemetery - NBA Commish just turned over.

by Anonymous on May 17, 2009 9:42 PM MDT reply actions

My3cents: Before you go counting those uncalled (offensive) three second violations, be sure you know the rule and the exceptions. All savvy big men look like their getting away with 3 second violations when they aren't.
In a nut shell the rule is that you can't be in the lane for MORE than three seconds while your team is in possesion of the ball in your front court. So the three second count stops when a shot goes up. If there are a lot of putback attempts on one play, the player could be in there for a very long time without a three second violation. The three second count doesn't happen when the ball is in the backcourt or if the ball is being held on an inbounds play. A player could be in the lane for all 4.9 seconds of an inbounds play and continue to be there another three seconds making 7.9 seconds in the lane without a violation. He could be in the lane for all 7.9 seconds (backcourt)plus another three after a made shot by the opponent for a total of 10.9 seconds without a violation. The rules also state that allowances will be made for a player who is making an effort to get out of the lane at the end of the three second count. I don't mean to insult your basketball knowledge but I have found that most people who complain about three second calls don't know the rule.
Also referees hate to make that call if there's no clear cut advantage. I reffed a game where a little guy went to the floor on a play and was slow to get up, but getting up. His team retained possession of the ball out by the three point line. He stayed in the lane for quite a while and I wasn't going to call 3 seconds on him so he could get his bearings and then get out. His team suddenly realized he was alone in the lane and passed him the ball. Then I had to call the violation. It's that advantage/disadvantage thing.

Thursty

by Anonymous on May 17, 2009 9:48 PM MDT reply actions

One other key to the series is Offensive rebounds. Something the Nugget's have given up this year, and something the Laker's live by.

by jbmmlang on May 17, 2009 10:34 PM MDT reply actions

As much as people hate the lakers and LA, they would trade everything they had to live the life that we fellow californians live. with that said, the lakers will have a tough time with the nuggets, but this series shouldnt go further than 6 games. The lakers are too long, if you think melo will out of nowhere get out of his LAKER SLUMP, you have another thing coming to you..look at MELO's stats againts the lakers in recent years, he is abismal when LO is guarding him, length seems to bother him consistantly. The nuggets dont have the type of defenders the rockets have, they have 2 guys who can keep up with kobe, who gave him his toughest task in his career and he still averaged close to 30 ppg. Kenyon martin and JR smith thought they could guard him last year, and all that yapping they did ended with a 4-0 sweep. the nuggets have a good team, and if they werent playing the lakers they would be my pick, but they are picking a team who is from top to bottom WAY better than they are. As much as you people think chauncy is your savior, he will get his, but who else will show up for the nuggets?...LAKERS IN 6...

PS. our cheerleaders are actually non plastic, every cheerleader the lakers have have no silicone,they actually despise that look to be a laker girl..

by mbitious on May 18, 2009 12:29 AM MDT reply actions

For the first time in a long, long time, it is not painful to watch the Nugs in playoff games. Chauncey has changed the picture.

I now believe we can take the Lakers to 7 games or even better, get one of the first two in L.A. So we might be able to take it in 6, but if it goes 7, we're probably screwed (see Refs).

I don't think past performances against the Lakers are indicative of what will happen this time. Our team is on fire and they have something to prove.

I've never been prouder of a Nuggets team, and I've been following them since about 1986.

Go Nuggets!

by Dave on May 18, 2009 6:24 AM MDT reply actions

if nene gets his head out of his ass (maybe he could start by not giving the ref's his "come one ref that was a foul" face every time he's fouled and get up the court) and suddenly realizes his true potential, and Andersen is not marginalized like he was the past couple of games, i don't see any reason why the nuggets cannot win this series.

by SpokenWar on May 18, 2009 7:42 AM MDT reply actions

I think we have to be wary of the Lakers "turn it on when we need to" strategy and overlook how hard the Rockets played them.

They went into that series thinking they'd do just enough to get by, and they did. Rather than wear his team out in the losses, it's almost like they succumbed to defeat and held back their ammo to fight another day. All the games in that series were a blow out and Phil Jackson has coached enough playoff games to know that early rounds against inferior opponents can be played as a marathon instead of a sprint.

I believe there'll be similar strategies in this series too. If we get up big, they won't fight back unless it's a crucial must win. So if we win a game by 20+ I'm not going to go anointing us the champs based on that. They play rope-a-dope as well as anyone in the league.

The key will be, can we make them pay for it and take games despite the Lakers putting forth monstrous efforts in whatever game they decide that's what they want to do against us.

by Eric K on May 18, 2009 8:19 AM MDT reply actions

I agree with the blogger, but I think Lakers in 5. They are too strong for us. It was a good year, but it is over.

by Davidfishberger on May 18, 2009 8:41 AM MDT reply actions

nice reverse psychology...won't work...

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 8:47 AM MDT reply actions

You don't have to be objective. Nuggets in 6 and they will have to win the 6th game by 15-20 because the refs won't let them win a close one with the Lakers on the brink.

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 8:50 AM MDT reply actions

you see now that is just unfortunate. i have been a laker fan for 29 years, going to my first games at the forum when i was barely old enough to realize it. but i like the nuggets. i think chauncey is one of the most underrated players in the history of the game, and the birdman might be my favorite player in the nba (next to artest)... i don't hate... i guess if you guys have a few successful seasons in a row you will feel the way i do and stop all the hating... not really necessary to a good rivalry... also shows that you have nothing good to cheer for (though now you do)... that is what seperates the good franchises from the bad...

by patrick in la on May 18, 2009 10:04 AM MDT reply actions

If you want to talk about a bandwagon, lets talk about the hate people have against LA and the Lakers. People who have never been to LA hate it. Everyone takes this one opinion to heart from total strangers or ex-residents. The Lakers are a good team and have a true legacy. Use a search engine and look up the Lakers accomplishments. There was something special about the showtime Lakers. The palatable tension of the opposing team trying to defend a Lakers fast break and the hush that came over the crowd. No other team had it at the time. Few teams since then can still consistently create those moments when amazing happens. Those Lakers made basketball fun to watch and made me a fan for life. I was still a Lakers fan in the 90's and never jumped on the Bulls/Michael Jordan bandwagon. All of this changed when I was at the 04 playoff game when the Nuggets played game 4 against the Timberwolves. When the vintage footage on the screens showed the old nuggets players I grew up watching. Then the spotlight and cameras focused on the players in the seats, I never cheered so loud in my life. My memories of growing up in Denver came flooding back. I remember when Alex English came to our school, when his movie "Amazing grace and chuck" premiered at the continental on hampton, how excited I was when my little sister said she got autographs of players who came to her school, and I remember when they played my Lakers in 85 how crushed I was when they lost. The Nuggets were always my sentimental favorite but I was a Lakers fan. This season is different. I was cheering for the Rockets to get a game 7. I don’t think the teams match up well but the Nuggets are hungry. We gobbled up the Hornets and the Mavericks and we are not done yet. I keep thinking of how sure the Packers were going to win Super Bowl XXXII. I knew the Broncos were going to win we were due and it came as no surprise to me they won. This is our second WCF and I look forward to many more. I don’t think we are due yet but it will come as no surprise to me if we beat the Lakers. Ill end this comment with what the announcer kept screaming at the last Nuggets playoff game I attended.
do you believe?
Do You Believe?
DO YOU BELIEVE?!

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 10:13 AM MDT reply actions

I believe. I believe in this team and I know the rest of you do too. You can't imagine how much more hungry this Nugget team is than the Lakers... that is key hunger. Take it from them!

CB

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 10:57 AM MDT reply actions

Andy, Regarding the recap. . . You give no credit to Lamar Odom who will match up with Melo. Can Melo guard Odom? Probably not. And on the other end, the lakers have a lot of guys to throw at melo, Ariza, Walton, and Odom. Also, what about Nene vs Gasol in the middle? That could get ugly for Nene, fast. KMart on Bynum (or Gasol) is not a good matchup for you either. Basically anyone on KMart gets to roam and clog up the middle on defense, and that is a problem when that extra roaming defender is Gasol or Bynum.

The bottom line is that your advantage is Chauncy. If he can do what Brooks, or any other fast guard out west can do to the Lakers, then you have a shot.

Please add a Lakers in 5 games to your poll so that us Laker fans can call the truth.

But taking one from the Lakers this year will be improvement on last year's embarassment. And remember, improvement is important too. baby steps. Just like getting out of the first round. . .

-Matt

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 10:59 AM MDT reply actions

The Nuggets have a HUGE advantage at point guard and I hope they exploit it. Fischer has some games left but his legs are gone. Billups should have his way with him and Farmar. The best advantage the Rockets had after Yao went down was their penetration. I disagree with your assessment on Nene/Bynum, the kid has talent. But on the other hand, Bynum is soft as hell and if you can keep him in foul trouble and w/o confidence he turns into garbage. Same with Odom, get the Lakers bigs in foul trouble and out of sync, and keep pressing their bench. Vujacic/Walton are also garbage and have no business being on the floor and they will get exposed. They more playing time they have the better.

by Tobin on May 18, 2009 11:10 AM MDT reply actions

The worst thing about Laker fans is that they are everywhere, both the true fans and the pretenders, including this blog. They are like Yankees fans and lice, annoying and hard to get away from.

Nuggets in 6

by Pusherman on May 18, 2009 1:16 PM MDT reply actions

The good news for us is that the Lakers peaked about 6 weeks ago and have struggled off and on since, and we're peaking now. If we jump on them right out of the gate and go up 20-5 or so like the Rockets did, I don't see them recovering.

My fingers are crossed so hard they're cramping up!

by keeperdesign on May 18, 2009 1:29 PM MDT reply actions

"Can You Feel It?" Not "Do You Believe?" It was loud, I know, but the phrase being repeated was "Can You Feel It?"

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 2:37 PM MDT reply actions

I am with you Andrew, there is no team/organization I hate more in all of sports right now than the FAKERS!!! I can't stand them. Like they say "I hate them with a passion" and I can't say that about a lot of things since I just am not a hater. I really hate how two of my best friends whom I trust dearly have the misjudgment and bad taste to root for a franchise like the Lakers when they both have grown up in Colorado basically their whole lives. But there are 3 main reasons I hate this Lakers team in particular. Kobe, Phil and the current fans. It just seems as though there is nobody in the world who I hate more than Kobe and Phil. They are in a separate category of my hate bracket along with Nancy Grace, Rush Limbaugh and other ridiculous people who I can't understand for the life of me why they have as many followers as they do. I just can't stand the arrogance of their personalities, tackiness of their jokes and worst of all I hate that they win!!! Why is it that people as unclassy as Kobe and Phil are so successful? I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. I especially hate how even last year when the Lakers got beat down in the Finals everybody still, still has the audacity to pick the Lakers to win it all this year, and this is all before KG went down with the injury.

So, there are many reasons, as you can see, why I want the Lakers to get beat down and it almost seems too perfect that we of all teams have the opportunity to do so. WE CAN DO IT! I am telling you. I have always been sceptical of this team, even when we were winning by 50 in the playoffs, I have always been sceptical. But no longer to I maintain that position. After reading about Chauncey on ESPN I am convinced he has changed us for good, and that is all we have ever needed to win. I think it is going to be hard to win on the Lakers court but Chauncey did it already once in his career and there is no reason why we can't do it again as this Nuggets team is almost just as talented as the Pistons team of 04. I am going to say Nuggets in 6 but I won't be surprised if it goes 7 and turns into an epic battle. The only thing that really worries me is the refs. If they have a script to follow, they are going to follow it and we can't do anything about it. I just hope Stern (another person I am beginning to hate) has the brains to realize the NBA loves this Nuggets team and another Billups appearance in the Finals wouldn't be bad at all for the NBA, especially when you have Melo and all his connections with Lebron in there too. I can't wait for this thing to get started. This is probably, already, the best memory I have, being somewhat of a young sports fan, of Colorado sports. I just hope it gets better. GO NUGS!!

by Goldennugget on May 18, 2009 2:46 PM MDT reply actions

mbitious,

Jealous of the L.A. lifestyle? Perhaps in N.Y., but not in Colorado. A lifestyle that includes 4.5 hours per day sitting in traffic just won't work here. And we have more sunny days than San Diego. In the time it takes someone in L.A. to drive to McDonalds, people in Denver are in the mountains skiing, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and living the good life.

Oh, and the Lakers are going down. They don't have a Robert Horry anymore to save their bacon. I disagree with Andrew on one point, and it's a big one coming from me. The Nuggets have a coaching advantage in this one. I include Chauncy as part of the "Coaching". Nuggets in 6!

by KarlSucks on May 18, 2009 2:49 PM MDT reply actions

In the 1985 series, my memory from watching the game from behind the basket was that Kareem threw a cheap elbow deliberately on English's forearm when English was reaching for a loose ball. Is my memory accurate, or is this something my brain created to help me cope with the disappointment?

by magster on May 18, 2009 3:06 PM MDT reply actions

Good Post GN,

Love the line about Nancy Grace. I watched her for about five minutes a few years back with the whole "missing bride" story. She's on there talking about how there is no way the bride ran away and anybody who believes that is basically an idiot that doesn't understand women.

Couple of days later the missing bride shows up and says she ran away.

Nancy Grace is an idiot.

by KarlSucks on May 18, 2009 3:07 PM MDT reply actions

How's life out in LA treating the FAKER fans now with just having an earthquake. Gee I really wish I lived in CA with the highest housing prices and crazy traffic and polluted air. That sounds so great. Been to LA, and it is a giant pile of crap. Couldn't pay me enough to live out there. We don't have earthquakes in Colorado, have much nicer people living here (except for the Californians moving here constantly, and Texans)and have great scenery that we can actually see. Plus we have killer skiing, some of the best skiing in the world. Nuggets in 6, with a couple of big wins.

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 3:42 PM MDT reply actions

alot of you fans are delirious. kenyon martin is already saying their going to win both games out here in LA, if i remember correctly he was talking shit last year as well, that didnt turn out so great...as far as someone here saying you guys have a coaching advantage, if my memory serves me correctly chauncy and karl have a combined 1 title..where kobe and phil have a combined 12.. im not including the titles phil won as a player..denver the city is really great, thats why everyone in the world dreams of living in denver..cant handle the fast life out here.. ;) denver fans are in for a rude awakening.

by mbitious on May 18, 2009 4:10 PM MDT reply actions

mbitious - You are the exact reason I hate Laker fans. You have no buisness being on this blog yet you and your parisitic freinds go out of your way to heckle us over stuff you and I already know is true. If living in LA was so spectacular why are you wasting your valuable time on the internet hating on opposing teams bloggers? The statement about giving up the CO lifestyle to live in LA was just stupid on so many levels, kind of like you and your fellow fans. LA is a big melting pot of selfish, stuck-up people who care only about their looks (which are usually garish and sythetic anyways) and their next appointment at the plastic surgeons office. I admit the Lakers cheerleaders are hot (again, something you and I already know) but the last thing you materialsitic people frown upon is internal forein items.

by Goldennugget on May 18, 2009 4:45 PM MDT reply actions

GN,

Are you suggesting he should insert something foreign into a certain body part? I'm pretty sure mbitious has time to be on our site because he's sitting in his car for hours on end, not moving. Love that fast L.A. lifestyle - 3 miles per hour fast! Maybe he meant the Lakers are fast - especially Fisher.

Derrick Fisher is so slow, my 90 year old grandmother with a walker just drove the lane for a layup. I look forward to about 400 pick and rolls with Fisher. Either Billups open from the free throw line, or a rolling big for a dunk, or a pass into the corner for a J.R. Smith 3. If the Lakers had trouble guarding Hayes, imagine what Nene is going to do to them. This series will be just like the Mavericks - the star - Bryant - will be allowed to go off for 30+ each game, while shutting down the role players. Unless Bryant gets in the 40's, the Nuggets have a great chance to win.

by KarlSucks on May 18, 2009 4:57 PM MDT reply actions

mbitious - your a fucking loser posting on the opposing teams website. Maybe you can get out of your mom's basement and get a life. Why the fuck do we have so many people leaving California to come to Colorado if CA is so great? I really wish it was that great so all CA residents would stay the fuck in their own state and stop fucking up ours.

Myself, I am a Colorado native, and have visited CA many times for business. LA is the shittiest place in CA aside from Bakersfield. There aren't any good qualities in LA whatsoever. The residents are assholes, the air smells like shit, the view is of a giant brown cloud, the traffic totally sucks complete ass, and did I mention the local sporting teams fans are all bandwagon fans. Who the fuck cares what you think about our state. Get a fucking life and go comment on a "I love Kobe" blog or something.

by FUCK THE LAKERS on May 18, 2009 5:12 PM MDT reply actions

I actually think this Laker fan should stay so we can rub it in when we win.

Just remember what the Lakers were after Shaq to before Gasol. The key is Birdman on Gasol the whole game.

The rest need to stay out of foul trouble as much as possible, then we should be alright.

Nuggets in 6

CB

by Anonymous on May 18, 2009 9:39 PM MDT reply actions

It doesn't look at the moment like the Nuggets have the energy at Staples to pull this shit out. If Nene and Martin could make a lay up, maybe we would have a chance. I just watched game 5 and couldn't watch past half way through the 4th. Why can't the Nuggets play with that back-to-the-wall attitude every night? Even if I wasn't a Nuggets fan, I would still think that they are the better team. So WHY THE F*ck can't they show up when they really need it? Why can't we have two good games in a row? Is THAT TOO MUCH TO F*&KING ASK? Seriously I have had a lot of trouble watching this series, because of the stupid mistakes made CONSECUTIVELY when we have a big lead. NENE, GET YOUR F*CKING HANDS UP!!!! Jesus Christ.

I'm Done.

Fuck the Lakers.

by itssidgdit on May 28, 2009 12:48 AM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.