Do the Lakers totally suck?

[bif]

Are they going to win another game? Man did they look terrible last night. Pisons by 20! Ya gotta love it!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I'd get excited

but the Lakers have a bad habit of coming back once they get motivated. I fear they're going to wake up now...

[afraid_of_the_dark]

2. The only thing that keeps me going

Is that many Philly fans are rooting for the Lakers (they don't want Larry Brown to win a championship after what he ditched the Sixers for Detroit). If the "Philly curse" holds, Detroit may emerge victorious.

Other than that, I think Detroit winning it all is a long shot. The Lakers were embarrassed, so I think they'll be extra motivated from here on out. But Shaq and Kobe - I'd love it if you proved me wrong!

:nuke: the Lakers!

[Spinzonner]

3. No, but ...

They're getting older and two of their starters and first-line substitutes are hobbled.

With Detroits speed and work ethic just being step slower means less rebounds and less effective defense.

Unless they can get spectacular games out of Shaq and Kobe its hard to see how they can win the series, even if they can get another game (or two). And I dont think Kobe will able to break free of the Pistons defense for that much so that pretty much leaves Shaq. And the refs dont seem to want to call many fouls that are committed on Shaq, but that's nothing new in the league.

[northzax]

4. it's a function of Kobe

of course. when he does his MJ impression, they win. when he falls back to earth, they lose.

By the way, did MJ ever have that bad of a game in the finals? if Kobe really wants to be mentioned in the same breath as MJ, Magic and the like, he needs to step it up in every pressure situation, not just the ones at home. maybe the trial distracted him.

on edit: this is not a knock on the Pistons, who are playing fabulously and with serious gumption, they deserve to win, but in all honesty, a Lakers team with Kobe firing on all cylinders is one of the best five ever.

[sidwill]

5. WRONG<WRONG<WRONG>>>>>

You are all wrong, this is not about the Lakers.

It is about DEtroits defense.

68 Points! The lakers can play horribly and score 90-100, but 68?

Defense baby, defense.

Lakers are going down.

[bif]

6. Isn't that a record for the Lakers?

The lowest score in a playoff for them?

[1gobluedem]

7. Yes, why is it all about the Lakers?

Maybe, just maybe they're a little overrated? Read Mitch Albom's column in the Detroit Free Press today (www.freep.com); he writes about teamwork and depth being better than superstars and glitz.

Go Pistons!

[bearfan454]

8. No, not really.

They are in the finals. I just don't like them because they 3-peated just like my Bulls did, but they think they are better than the Bulls were. I will concede to almost as good, but my Bulls with Michael Jordan were unstoppable. Huh ?