Comments on: Lakers 99, Thunder 96

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 20 May 2012 01:03:26 +0000

having trouble seeing the sensitivity; i have no problems admitting that the Thunder are a better team. However, if everyone here keeps wanting to assume that I’m being a troll then how about this; Thunder fans must know a lot about having to wait til next year. Or, the only team I want to see win the title less than the Thunder are the Clippers; hard to root for a team whose owner basically gave the finger to Seattle.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:40:22 +0000

Ian you seem a bit sensitive. Your team will lose. There’s always next year.

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:01:12 +0000

Wow BD, a little sensitive? You really think Westbrook was hurt by that play? Keep in mind that Artest is a big dude, had he actually kneed Westbrook, Westbrook wouldn’t have just popped up (also he probably would have had some type of ice pack on during/after the game). I get the need to justify a loss by pointing the finger elsewhere but to sit there and say that Westbrook was just an inncocent victim of the psycopathic Artest is a little disingenuous. Westbrook did overreact just a little, don’t you think. Also, didn’t think I was defending flagrant cheating. Series against Sacramento a decade ago, that was pretty flagrant. Last night’s game? Thunder were shooting jumpers and it’s hard to get calls when you shoot jumpers.
By time left in game
3:30 (ish) – Westbrook three misses
3:11 – Perkins fouled by Gasol, goes to line (at the rim)
2:53 – Bryant stripped, dunk
2:29 – Harden jump shot (no Laker near him)
1:50 – Perk stripped by Artest (maybe a foul but Artest has a rep as a good ball stripper)
1:33 – Bryant drives to rim for layup, no foul called
1:20 – Durant, uncontested jumper misses
1:09 – Bad call against Harden , Bryant two Fts
1:06 – jumper by Durant good
0:50 – Two offensive boards by Lakers (poor defense by Thunder)
0:33.8 – Bryant gets Westbrook in the air, foul, refs call that every time
0:15.6 – Durant passes to Ibaka, hesitates and then launches contested jumper (durant gets rebound but Artest is under him and so when Durant lands with ball the ball comes down directly onto Artest’s hand, knocking it loose; one of those that depending on fan base could be foul or not but certainly not something you’d expect ref to call).

Now in re-watching the last four minutes of the game (love NBA replay) the Thunder settled for jumpers constantly. Only one shot by Perkins at the rim which resulted in a Gasol foul. All the other shots were from 15+ feet. Lakers on the other hand continued to drive.

As for why Crawford was trending on Twitter, there’s a reason he’s the most hated ref in the NBA plus the fact that EVERYONE hates the refs. Oh, and you might also want to look at the NBA’s poster child for setting illegal screens in Perkins. If the refs actually called fair games, Perkins would average about four minutes a night before fouling out. Anyone that disagrees has no clue what a legal screen is (it’s certainly not extending you forearms and rotating during the screen).

By: BD

BD — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:27:47 +0000

Says Mr Jonny Troll Ian checking in at 5:01 and 5:03.

Sensitive Laker fans who cheer for a team with the most arrest warrants issued in the NBA, the most ejections resulting in unsightly bare chest spottings, and don’t even let me start on Metta World War. You losers WOULD defend flagrant cheating. I fully expect it from the same fans that boo James Harden and send death threats to Steve Blake.

PATHETIC COWARDS.

Joey Crawford was trending #1 on twitter last night. I wonder why.

By: Lori Brown

Lori Brown — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:26:56 +0000

Westbrook did not cause the kneeing, it was deliberate. My husband thought the same thing until he watched the replay several times. There were calls made last night that fans of all different teams are now saying the fix was in.

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:03:31 +0000

Curious if when watching the replay of the Westbrook-Artest scuffle you noticed Westbrook bringing his elbow into the back of Artest’s knee (which is what caused the kneeing). Not saying it malicious by Westbrook but that it didn’t appear as though Artest just decided to pull some MMA stuff.

Also, sort of makes sense about the free throw differential. Thunder were one of the worst teams during the season at sending the other team to the line while the Lakers were one of the best. It’s not as if the Thunder didn’t go to the line at all, they shot 28 FT’s (above their season average). Refs were swallowing whistles at the start of the game but after the Westrbook-Artest scuffle I think they started to call things a lot more closely.

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:01:36 +0000

Pathetic whining. You’re a coward if you believe what you wrote.

By: totalfan62

totalfan62 — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:48:17 +0000

As I’m watching the game and seeing foul calls go the way Darnell describes here, I’m thinking…”the NBA wouldn’t try to maneuver the Lakers into winning, would they?” Calls and non-calls in the last two minutes…yes, they would. Stern & Silver at the game…’nuff said.

OK, tonight the younger, faster, stronger, better-shooting Thunder plays so well that there cannot be any doubt about what calls to make and who should win. We are the better team, and we’re much more capable of playing back-to-backs, especially in the playoffs, vs. Lakers.

GO THUNDER!!

By: John

John — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:40:50 +0000

Well needed rant, Mr. Mayberry. Joey Crawford epitomizes the very worst of the NBA. He is a convicted felon, for crimes directly related to his NBA employment. He should have never been readmitted to the league in 1999 by David Stern.

By: Ann Parker

Ann Parker — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:22:52 +0000

thank you so much for your commentary. Jenni Carlson claimed there were bad calls on both sides and the refs didn’t give the game to the Fakers, I disagree, the fouls were called at times that benefited the Lakers to win, it’s that simple. I hope Scott Brooks read this, he needs to play some head games and find a way not to foul.