Why Pro Basketball NEEDS Detroit to Win...

[Dave2112]

Heavy underdogs going into the NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons are one game away from giving the Eastern Conference thier first title since Jordan's Bulls in 1998.

Why is it so important for the Pistons to win this series?

One: Basketball needs to regroup as a team sport. Detroit has done this throughout the playoffs. Teams with one or two superstar players have fallen by the wayside. Even team owners have been guilty of marketing whichever star they have that appeals most to the hip-hop crowd at the expense of the team.

Two: Basketball needs to show that they are not the indoor version of baseball, with a single team buying a championship before the season even starts, ie: the New York Yankees.

Three: Declining fan base. Other than the aforementioned followers of a certain star player, people are getting tired of seeing the Lakers unchallenged with thier host of highly-paid, selfish superheroes. A win by the Pistons could very well jump start the flagging interest in pro basketball.

Four: If the Pistons can win with a team of relative unknowns playing as a unit, we may perhaps move away from the recent image of the basketball court being an extention of the 'hood. Sportsmanship has gone out the window in recent years, having been replaced by the "this is my house, bitch" attitude that's actually encouraged by the NBA to sell more Sprite.

I'm not the biggest fan of basketball in the world, but that's probably due to the way the NBA has been carrying itself since the golden days of Magic, Larry, Micheal and Kareem. Hopefully a Pistons win will be a step in the right direction for the redemption of professional basketball.

Just my 2 credits. 😎

 

[toyou444]

I just want the Piston's to win because:

a: I was/am a Celtic fan and dislike LA

b: I want to hear the Lakers after they loose:

Shaq: Well they didn't beat us we beat ourselves...we'll get them next time.

Kobe: It certainly wasn't my fault...and we don't need to get the ball back to Shaq more.

Malone: I miss John Stockton.

Shaq: What? We don't get another game? [explitive][explitive]

~ toyou

 

[Mitchell]

I agree with this post. For me, Iam just sick of hearing about the Lakers and Phil Jackson already. The guy is nine for nine in his NBA finals appearances. I feel like I did with the Yankees in 2001, where I think the Lakers and Jackson need to experience the finals from the other side. I know my good friend Kurch roots for the Lakers, but hey, there's always next year. Remember, I would know how Lakers fans feel if they do lose, as I'm a big fan of the bridesmaid Atlanta Braves, losers of 4 of 5 World Series that they appeared, and also losers in the playoffs at some point in every year from 1991 to 2003, with the exception of 95 when they won it all, and the 94 strike season.
It will be good for basketball to have a different champion, one from the Eastern Conference, and a team besides the Lakers to shine the spotlight on. I also happen to like Larry Brown, who was Sixers coach a for a couple of years since I've lived here. As someone said, this series will prove that one can win a championship playing team basketball, like the Knicks did in 1970 and 73, where there was no big superstar, but just a team that meshed well, instead of the recent champions where you had Jordan/Pippen or Shaq/Kobe or Robinson/Duncan. Good luck to the Pistons. I hope they finish the Lakers in Game 5, as I dont want it to go back to LA, because as history has proven in the past, a team can win two games in a row at home down 3-2 in a series to win a title.

Mitch

 

[primetime]

wait a minute!!!!! i knew the Laker haters would come out eventually. the NBA does NOT need Detroit to win the finals. the rest of the country WANTS Detroit to win. why? everyone outside of LA hates LA. think about it, is there any other chant in ANY sport like "Beat LA"? NO. this dates back to the Showtime era with Magic, Kareem, and Worthy. face it, the country hates LA. because of the glitz and glamour and stars, other cities are jealous because their cities are nothing like it. New York is the only other city like LA and just like the Lakers, people HATE the Yankees. people are jealous. now i know i am sounding like an LA homer, but hell, i AM from LA. how come we didnt see this same kind of "we need someone else to win" type of talk when Jordan's Bulls won 6 championships in 8 years? why? because they are Chicago, NOT New York or LA. so stop all this "the NBA needs Detroit to win" talk, because it aint nothing but jealousy. what if the Minnesota Timberwolves were in the finals? would we see this same kind of talk? HELL NO. face it folks, the NBA NEEDS the Lakers to be in the finals for ratings. pure and simple.

now for the series. i will admit, the Pistons are playing like they WANT to win the championship, whereas the Lakers are still loafing through it. BUT, and i dont want to sound like Sacramento fans from 2002, you have to admit, the officials arent calling shit on the Pistons. they can be as aggressive as they want, but the Lakers cant. Detroit has shot twice as many free throws as the Lakers and the Pistons are the more aggressive team on defense. that is some serious home cooking there. let them play basketball and i guarantee you, Detroit cant stop the Laker offense. Shaq, because of his dominance, goes to the free throw line a lot. that's a fact. in game 3, he goes to the line ONCE. ONCE??? explain that to me.

as for the Lakers "buying" a championship. okay experts, HOW did they "buy" at least a championship appearance? "they have Karl Malone and Gary Payton, that's not fair" you cry. hello? Karl and Gary BOTH TOOK PAYCUTS to be a part of the Lakers. how is that "buying" them? i have always said, a superstar can go to ANY team they want to if they dont go after the money. that is EXACTLY what they did. how is that the Lakers fault? Malone and Payton dont have big contracts. they are taking veteran minimums!!!!! again, outside of LA, people are jealous because the Lakers have a GREAT franchise that WANTS to win, whereas other cities dont. the reason why the Bulls failed is because of their management. if the management of your team doesnt want to try to win, then stop being jealous of other organizations that do.

again, if it wasnt for the Lakers, NO ONE would watch the NBA. remember last year's finals? the Nets and Spurs? did anyone care? NO. but if you put the Lakers in the finals, despite everyone "hating" LA and tired of hearing about them, they tune in like lemmings, if only to watch them lose. Detroit BETTER win game 5, because if the Lakers can make it back home, then they still have a chance to win the finals. and wouldnt that PISS everyone off? i hope it happens....

 

[The Sean Man]

I just think Detroit has shown a lot of class and sportsmanship during this series so far, while the Lakers are acting like a bunch of primadonnas. The Pistons are keeping their cool, and keeping their minds on their game.

The Sean Man

 

[P50]

I agree with everybody here. It's not the same game as when Michael Jackson was playing in the NBA.

 

[The Sean Man]

I agree with everybody here. It's not the same game as when Michael Jackson was playing in the NBA.

Jackson played basketball? I thought he just sang and danced😕

The Sean Man

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Phil Jackson's still the biggest crybaby I've ever witnessed. I remember all those years ago when he ran out of Kleenex bawling about the Knicks, even though he won. Now, he's getting his butt reamed, and he's still crying, complaining about the lack of whistles and the too many whistles ad infinitum ad nauseum.

I remember when he was playing for the old, wonderful Knicks. It was really funny. Bradley would elbow Elvin Hayes in the nose so hard that it flattened out like a manhole cover, and the refs would blow the whistle on Phil Jackson.

Every championship he won as a coach, he won with a pre-fabricated champ. Never lose sight of that, folks! Now, Larry Brown's a real coach...

 

[the_Baron]

give em' sticks and put em' on the ice, and let it be settled canadian style!

 

[phfttklr]

Why Detroit Needs To Win

Why, because Detroit hasn't had a riot lately?

I'll never understand why people have a need to destroy things when they win a championship
They should be happy, not flipping cars and smashing windows.

Ahh well, this is my first post in a while, figured I'd just throw
in my 2 cents worth.😀

 

[steph]

Hope no one minds a girl's P.O.V...😀

I was lucky enough to live in Boston during the Larry/Kareem era (watched a hundred games at the magical Garden) and unlucky enough to lose my first big bet ($100 in 1986) when "my boys" lost to the Lakers. Hated 'em ever since. Their arrogance is why I hope they lose the series. Someone needs to take 'em down a peg or two (or 90)...

XOXO

 

[giantfan121262]

I agree that the Pistons have to win this Championship. he East needs to reestablish itself. they haven't won a title in 6 years so it will be good to start to even the score. I can't say I hate LA but I am tired of hearing the publicity about Kobe and Shaq and how they can't get along because they have egos that won't fit into the Panama Canal. It will be good for them to learn a little humility and that basketball is a team game which Detroit has demonstrated throughout this series. I wqant to see the Championship go to a group of kids who play their hearts out. Outside of Rasheed Wallace, there is no asshole on that team

 

[primetime]

yep, everyone outside LA wants Detroit to win. they want to see the "crybaby" Lakers lose, they want the Eastern Conference to get better, Phil Jackson is a crybaby, etc, etc. now i know how the Yankees feel. Detroit HAS to win game 5. they dont want to risk having to go back to LA where LA is 9-1 in the playoffs so far. never question the heart of the Lakers. it wouldnt be a complete shock if they do rally to win the series. everyone says no one has come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. why cant the Lakers be the 1st one? now, if the Lakers decide to focus and play ball, there is nothing and i mean NOTHING Detroit can do to stop them. a focused Laker team is hard to beat.

as for the Shaq-Kobe controversy, a LOT of it is media hype. my theory is that no one wants to see LA dominate and having the 2 best players in basketball hurts their wishes. so, why not cause controversy? i know they arent the best of friends, but they dont hate each other as much as the media makes it out to be. in Shaq's book, BEFORE the Lakers won the title, he said he was glad Kobe was his teammate. before game 6 of the Western Conference finals against Sacramento in 2002, Kobe called Shaq to see if he was ready to do battle. now, if the two hate each other, they damn sure wouldnt be calling each other in the middle of the night. New Year's eve in 2000, Kobe Bryant was at Shaq's New Year's eve party. again, if they hate each other, why would Kobe spend his evening with Shaq and his crew? face it, if Kobe and Shaq stay together, the Lakers are perennial contenders and the rest of the nation cant bear that. again, dont be surprised if Kobe Bryant STAYS with the Lakers. you heard it here first.

now, Detroit is a hard working team, no doubt about that, but let's see how well they defend if they are whistled for fouls early. they better win tomorrow, otherwise they are in BIG trouble. dont ever give the Lakers a chance to breathe....

 

[giantfan121262]

I agree Primetime

Go for the juggular!!

 

[Dave2112]

Just to clarify my position, primetime. I'm not really THAT big a fan of basketball, and wasn't trying to "LA bash" as much as I was lamenting the state of the game in general, which the Lakers unfortunatly personify. They're not the only team that pushes a single player down our throats with Sprite commercials and hosting appearances on MTV Hip Hop Live or some such shit.

The Lakers, to be fair, aren't the ones who draft high-school players and worm them into 190 million dollar Nike endorsement contracts before they've ever stepped foot on an NBA court. This of course gives an 18-year-old no incentive to have to actually play well. However, give LA time and they'll fall victim to the practice as well.

My overall point was that Detroit's team ethic is a welcome relief from the braggado that runs rampant in the NBA. If it had been another star-filled team playing the Lakers I probably wouldn't even have made the post. Or if it had been Detroit playing against one of the other celebrity-run teams instead of LA, my point would still stand.

 

[tommytikl]

Well you got your wish Dave2112!!

Pistons win..no CRUSH LA!!

I hope all is well with you Dave2112(remembering your heart attack from last fall)...

Oh and I can't wait for your "Football Pool" to start up again!

 

[natural tickler]

Well, Dave, hope you're happy. You got your wish. Now you and the rest of the country's crybabies can celebrate that the Lakers lost. This will not happen next year, you can count on that😀

 

[venray]

Dont be bitter NT...they were out played and out classed....and no doubt that several of the Lakers will not be back with LA next year, so perhaps with a new team they will fare better...


Ray

 

[giantfan121262]

I am just glad to see the tide turn towards the East for a change. Being a Knicks fan, I have always rooted for the Eastern Conference. Look out for Detroit, they have some good young talent which should stick around for a while and can only get better.

*Sigh* As long as the Knicks have the payroll that they do, they are destined for failure. I know Thomas is doing a good job but there is only so much he can do under the cap.

 

[primetime]

hey Dave, i'm not necessarily saying YOU are LA bashing, it is just that the thread sounds like a lot of the media and the fans around the nation are saying. the country wants to see the Lakers fail. that has been happening since the Showtime Lakers, maybe even West's Lakers in the 70's.

people have been saying the Lakers tried to buy the title. they didnt because Malone and Payton took paycuts. that isnt the Lakers fault. the only problem is, i think Phil and the players assumed they were going to win, which would lead to complacency and laziness. that was evident in the Finals. the funny thing is, if the 4 stars stay together, the Lakers would actually be better because they spent a year together. Payton needs to stop whining and play. Malone surprisingly turned out to be the emotional leader of the team. Shaq is Shaq and Kobe is Kobe. if the Lakers keep all 4 guys, keep Phil Jackson and improve their bench, the Lakers WILL win next year. this was only their first year. when the Lakers won in 2000, it was overnight success. that team was together for a while, then Phil put them over the top. the likelihood of that happening next year, 50-50. the Lakers love suspense so watch them all stay together when everyone thinks everyone will bail. think about it, why would you bail when you were 3 wins away from a world title, have the most dominant big man in the league, the BEST player in the league and veteranship by two others, plus the best coach? this summer is going to be interesting.....

 

[Dave2112]

Thanks for understanding my point, primetime. You and I have had many serious discussions about sports over the last couple of years, and I respect your opinion.

Like I said, I'm happy that Detroit won, but I'm not one to rub it anyone's face. The better team won. Such is the way of sport. That's why we play.

You're right about the media picking up on the Laker-bashing, though. Remember all the Cowboy and Niner-bashing they were doing when those franchises were winning left and right? That's what happens when a team becomes a dynasty. Probably another reason why football continues to gain popularity while baseball breaks even and basketball and hockey are in trouble. League parity makes for great fans. In thier nature, people like to see the underdog win or the team with no shot make the Super Bowl.

 

[primetime]

no problem Dave, besides that's what sports bring, a lot of talk. i'm still quite upset that those guys in the Motor City had a damn parade.......

as for the Lakers, it looks like the dawn of a new era. Phil Jackson is gone. wow. makes you wonder who the next head coach will be. the crazier thing is the Laker GM, Mitch Kupchak, has said under no circumstance will he trade Kobe Bryant. that pissed off Shaq, qho is now asking for a trade. my stance is this, keep Kobe, dump Shaq. i love Shaq as he is a dominant big man, BUT Kobe is the future. Shaq over the last few years has gotten fat and lazy and he keeps missing those free throws. Shaq has also said he has been about "team", but almost every post game news conference he says "i need the ball". Kobe Bryant has bailed the Lakers out on several occassion, when was the last time Shaq did that? i got tired of Shaq whining and crying every year about not getting the ball, why he shouldnt have to work hard in the offseason, his injuries, so on and so forth. Kobe Bryant never cries to the media, just goes out, works hard and wants to win. i believe Kobe should stay and trading Shaq could give the Lakers a plethora of much needed people who we cant sign because of salary cap restrictions. it is time to build the Lakers under Kobe Bryant and go from there.

the only snag? if the Lakers trade Shaq, then worst case scenario, Kobe goes to jail, then the Lakers are going to have problems. it is a major gamble to try to build around Bryant because of his legal problems. but if Kobe is acquitted, then the Lakers (depending on who's the coach) will still be a top contending team. if Shaq goes to another team, in that first year he will be dominant because a fire would be lit under him, but we will once again fade off and become lazy again. those three rings made him that way.....should be a very interesting Laker summer...

 

[AphxA]

muahaha lakers got smoked. Shaq cant do it all by himself. That was a great series.