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Aussie
Rules
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NBA Final
More than a Hollywood movie Lakers are the Blockbuster of the Year. In a season which has produced as much drama off the court for the Lakers as on it, it’s somewhat of a surprise that the Lakers are really in the NBA Championship Series against Detroit. With Kobe up on rape allegations, Phil Jackson’s triangle offence looking more like a poorly shaped rhombus gone mad, Shaq having to repeat each night “this is My Team”, and two Future Hall of Famers Malone & Payton wondering why they ever came over to a team falling to pieces, it’s no wonder the Lakers got to a best price $4.80 with Sportsbook.com.au The Lakers were looking more like a bad Kevin Costner film, than possible champions. Yet even through the losses, the dysfunctionality and super egos, the Lakers finished 52-26 and topped the Pacific Division. With Kobe going Court-to-Court during the start of the playoffs, the $3.00 at the beginning of the Playoffs couldn’t entice the most ardent Lakers fan. But eventually “The Daddy” the “Diesel” started working and has had made the difference for the Lakers. When Shaq decides to play both ends of the court, it seems a question of how much the Lakers will win by, not if! In Game 6 of the Conference Finals, Shaq was twice called for 3 secs in the quay, more a signal to his team mates to get him the ball, rather than forgetting the rules. Shaq’s inside offensive almost makes him impossible to stop. Double team him and he will kick it out to the likes of fringe players such as Fisher and the 3 point “ace” Rusch, who went 6-6 in game 6. Double team him too early and the “support cast” will see Kobe (yeah I just said Kobe is a support-actor in this movie) operate an offence which will penetrate on the dribble, shoot open 18 footers by Malone or allow Payton to find the open Devean George & Fisher, who will bury the gift open shots. Just ask the Spurs who closed out Kobe & Shaq with 0.4secs to go, only for Fisher to get the inbound, turn and shoot the game 5 winner! No surprise that the deflated Spurs lost game 6 to the Lakers and some suggested that the Lakers won the Championship there. But hats off has to go to the director of this show, Phil Jackson. Though many say he has had it easy “coaching” Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, a team most of us would think we could coach to 3 championships. And now the star studded Lakers, but it’s how he manages the Lakers off court dramas, which demonstrates why he has nine championships. As for Kobe, he has dealt with being the best support actor for a long time. On any other team he would be the main man, he’s a franchise player who plays hard every night, and allows nothing to distract him. Some game days Kobe has had to fly 1920km from the court to the game, arriving 1hr before tipoff and he has still been on fire. Kobe is a clutch player, whose versatility makes him the consummate basketballer. Offensively, as potent as Jordan, an above average rebounder, his quick hands and foot speed make him tough on the defensive end. Unlike Shaq, whose legacy may be scarred by his free throw shooting, Kobe shoots even better at the line in pressure situations. So what does this all mean? It’s obvious the Lakers will win the NBA Championship 2004. Though Detroit play good defence, keeping their Playoff opponents to 80 points per game, they are still only scoring 86 points per game. Lakers have been averaging 90 points per game these playoffs, against teams such as the defending champion Spurs and MVP led Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pistons shot a mere 36% from the field in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and still won; the Lakers won’t be so easy to defend. The reaction of both teams at the end of the Conference Finals provided a telling contrast and explains why the Lakers are destined to lift the trophy. When Detroit won the East they celebrated like they had just won the Championship suggesting that they have overachieved just to get this far. When the Lakers won the West, there was a subdued celebration as if nothing has been achieved. Many believe that the Lakers will be broken up at the end of the season, as illustrated by the Mailman’s decision to take a 90% pay cut just to play in L.A. & win a championship. Payton did similar, but may still have a few seasons to get a championship if the blockbuster turns out to be a tragedy. If you listen to the NBA’s diminutive Commissioner David Stern, Detroit has a good chance and the East is just as strong as the West. That’s why the four favourites for the Championship has all been Western teams, in January the market looked like Sacramento Kings $4.00 LA Lakers $4.20 Spurs $5.50 Minnesota $6.50 New Jersey Nets at that stage were the lowest priced Eastern team at $10.00. In many ways the supporters of the two teams draw parallels to their on-court demeanour. LA Lakers have movie stars, such as including Jack Nicholson who is featured in every game, front row, dark sunnies and plenty of cool. Detroit have Kid Rock, who doesn’t mind jumping on the court during timeouts to wave a Pistons flag impromptely, no one seemed to be worried at that stage. The $1.15 for the Lakers seems a little short (Detroit are $5.65 with Sportsbook.com.au). So perhaps some value can be found in Lakers winning in 5 or 6 games. Correct Series Result - NBA Finals - To Win LA Lakers 4-2 3.00 LA Lakers 4-1 4.00 LA Lakers 4-0 5.00 LA Lakers 4-3 5.25 Detroit Pistons 4-1 14.00 Detroit Pistons 4-3 15.00 Detroit Pistons 4-2 19.00 Detroit Pistons 4-0 67.00 So no matter if you hate them or think they are just all hype, it seems crazy to back against the Lakers. But stranger things have happened and if David Stern has his way, then this will go all the way to 7 games only to see Detroit lose in a thriller. That way he will say there is nothing between the East and West and the NBA can continue on its dramatic exhilarating path, the movie goers will turn up to the Blockbuster, and each night will be ShowTime. Written by Brendon Dorff Senior U.S. Sports Analyst at Australian Sportsbook
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