As I tried to stte earlier, Gasol is the Best European player at the moment with Dirk and Parker gone. He's enjoying another playoff run that is nothing short of phenomenal. I agree Indianwhite that Bryant has ballhogged in several occasions despite Gasol's outstanding performance. I'm really looking forward the Suns-Lakers Western Finals.
2010 NBA Playoffs
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foobar75
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Pau Gasol is an absolute stud. He literally took over that game down the stretch in the 4th quarter, scoring 9 straight points at one point as the Lakers opened a 20 point lead on their way to sweeping the Jazz.
I expect him to have a huge series against the Suns, as no one will be able to guard him down low.
I'm going to break from all the fellow CF'ers here and root for the Lakers in the conference finals. I know folks like to point out the Suns have 3 whites who contribute regularly and that is true. But so would the Lakers, except for some unforeseen circumstances. It would be superstar Gasol plus Walton, Vujacic, and mulatto Farmar getting their usual minutes.
Right now, it's only Gasol and Farmar because Walton is just now returning from his almost season long injury and it's not easy to get back in the rotation in the middle of the playoffs. As for Vujacic, he was a solid contributor until last year, but this season, he basically played himself out of the rotation with his poor play and attitude. Phil Jackson has always had a decent number of white players in all of this teams with the Bulls and the Lakers.
It should be a very good series, and my initial prediction is Lakers in 6.
I expect him to have a huge series against the Suns, as no one will be able to guard him down low.
I'm going to break from all the fellow CF'ers here and root for the Lakers in the conference finals. I know folks like to point out the Suns have 3 whites who contribute regularly and that is true. But so would the Lakers, except for some unforeseen circumstances. It would be superstar Gasol plus Walton, Vujacic, and mulatto Farmar getting their usual minutes.
Right now, it's only Gasol and Farmar because Walton is just now returning from his almost season long injury and it's not easy to get back in the rotation in the middle of the playoffs. As for Vujacic, he was a solid contributor until last year, but this season, he basically played himself out of the rotation with his poor play and attitude. Phil Jackson has always had a decent number of white players in all of this teams with the Bulls and the Lakers.
It should be a very good series, and my initial prediction is Lakers in 6.
indianwhite
Guru
Your opinion, but Dirk is bar none the greatest of Europeans players. Weak team support has been a constant curse for Dirk, and I have this gut feeling it's bound to come to an end. Dirk deserves a title, and his chances are much better than most assume.j41181 said:
Like Dirk, Nash has been a victim of weak team support, and this looks to be the best Suns team he's ever had. Nash deserves a title, and this is his best chance ever.
foobar, I agree! Gasol is a stud, I've become quite a LaKer fan since his trade, and I knew it's the only way for Gasol to gain serious attention. Gasol was rotting in the stink-hole called Memphis, and now he's living a dream world called LaLa Land.
indianwhite, I still like Dirk, but my support for him has been strained with all the playoff shortcomings. I don't him, I'm just frustrated like Many Dirk fans are in fact. We'll just wait and see what Dirk's offseason will be like.
As much as I like Nash and the Suns, Imma gonna root for Gasol & LA. Gasol's gonna make mince meat of Stoudamire, the same he destroyed Boozer. Gasol is a stud, a superstar, the best European player.
indianwhite, I still like Dirk, but my support for him has been strained with all the playoff shortcomings. I don't him, I'm just frustrated like Many Dirk fans are in fact. We'll just wait and see what Dirk's offseason will be like.
As much as I like Nash and the Suns, Imma gonna root for Gasol & LA. Gasol's gonna make mince meat of Stoudamire, the same he destroyed Boozer. Gasol is a stud, a superstar, the best European player.
indianwhite
Guru
Suit yourself pal, but I sense a surprise upset for the Suns. The Lakers have no lead PG, Nash will overpower Fisher, Brown, and Farmar, Amare will trouble Gasol with perimeter game and great mobility. Bryant is getting beaten up and fatigued, so is Bynum. Odom and Artest aren't real offensive threats and LA overall defense will eventually be figured out. Bryant will have to guard Nash to disrupt the Suns offense, Nah ain't your ordinary PG, he's the league's best and has too many tricks up his sleeve to go with a furious competitive drive. Lakers had better what out I tells you. Still, it's gonna be a great series to watch.j41181 said:
white lightning
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Gasol deserves all the praise he is getting! He is a stud but even if him and Kobe have a great series, they will not hang with the Suns! The Suns can beat you in so many different ways. They have at least 4-5 guys that can consistantly hit the threes and they are the greatest shooting team in nba history from behind the arch.
Nash is a warrior. Nothing will stop him this time! I guarantee they beat the LaLa Boys. I will feel sorry for Gasol but don't give a damn about the majority of their team. Kobe is a baby who gets away with everything on and off the court. Time for their season to end.
Don't forget I told you about the Suns. They will take out the Lakers. My fear is is they play the Cavs or the Magic, they will have alot more trouble beating them due to matchup problems. I will worry about that later. For now it's time to end the Fakers Title Run. Hey Kobe. Say aaa GOODBYE!
Nash is a warrior. Nothing will stop him this time! I guarantee they beat the LaLa Boys. I will feel sorry for Gasol but don't give a damn about the majority of their team. Kobe is a baby who gets away with everything on and off the court. Time for their season to end.
Don't forget I told you about the Suns. They will take out the Lakers. My fear is is they play the Cavs or the Magic, they will have alot more trouble beating them due to matchup problems. I will worry about that later. For now it's time to end the Fakers Title Run. Hey Kobe. Say aaa GOODBYE!
I am rooting for a Suns/Magic final for three reasons, it would be the most white friendly of all the teams still playing, Nash hopefully gets his ring and it would be entertaining matchup full of fast breaks, dunks and bombs away three pointers.Edited by: guest301
FootballDad
Hall of Famer
The difference between Gasol and Nowitski is that Pau has the killer instinct and knows how to close teams out and play his best when the chips are down. In big games when all of the cards are on the table, I'd take Gasol every time over Dirk.
FootballDad said:
I wouldn't. Gasol has the fortune to play with the game's greatest closer and clutch player in Kobe Bryant and Dirk has never had even close to such a luxury. When the game is on the line, Gasol will often have one guy guarding him while Kobe has two defenders and so that helps Gasol tremendously. Nash didn't become a MVP consistently everyday All-Star until he left the Mavs and what great teammate has Dirk had to play with since. This was meant as no disrespect to Gasol but Dirk is a better all-around player at this point in time. By the way, I have seen Dirk hit plenty of clutch shots in the playoffs and regular season. Nobody wins a ring singlehanded, not MJ, Bird, Magic, Kobe and not Dirk as well.
Deadlift
Hall of Famer
Pau is the SUPREME Caste-buster in the league; his fluidity, grace and athleticism (and ability to tip-in baskets) puts the affletes to shame on a regular basis!
He MAKES these affletes look STIFF and tight-hipped, and some of them are those things. He's also an excellent passer. I really haven't seen such an alpha-male since Larry Bird and Tom Chambers. Just stone-cold, wicked athletes...
He MAKES these affletes look STIFF and tight-hipped, and some of them are those things. He's also an excellent passer. I really haven't seen such an alpha-male since Larry Bird and Tom Chambers. Just stone-cold, wicked athletes...
whiteathlete33
Hall of Famer
Deadlift said:
Not to mention his brother, Marc Gasol, is a pretty good player himself. He's not as athletic as Pau but he still snags down rebounds with authority. He may be an All-Star in the future if he continues to improve.
Deadlift
Hall of Famer
Marc apparently has a neck issue, that sidelined him at the ending part of the season. I hope he gets it straightened out.
Bogut was stone-cold this season as well. I hope he gets his injuries straightened-out.
Bogut was stone-cold this season as well. I hope he gets his injuries straightened-out.
white lightning
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Ok guys. I love Gasol as well but we need to stay behind Nowitzki. Let me give you guys one more example. According to most nba experts, Lebron is the best player in the game or tied with Kobe at the least. So why hasn't he won a championship? Why do they not criticise him the way everyone jumps on Dirk. The Cavs had the best record in the nba this year and were heavy favorites to win the championship. Why are they down 3 games to 2 in the east. conf. semi finals? Think about it. Is is Lebrons fault? Is he a choker too like Dirk? I would take Dirk over Lebron. Call me crazy but Lebron is the ultimate ball hog. Despite this, it still is also Lebrons teammates that are also not playing up to their best ability.
So it is not all Dirks fault! Never has been and never will be. Are you going to blame Gasol when the Suns beat the Lakers? Will he be a choke artist then too? It's all about the talent you have around you. Jordan found that out years ago and it wasn't until he had guys like Pippen, Harper, Rodman, Hodges, and others that he started to win his rings. Get off of Dirks case. He played his ass off in the playoffs! Edited by: white lightning
So it is not all Dirks fault! Never has been and never will be. Are you going to blame Gasol when the Suns beat the Lakers? Will he be a choke artist then too? It's all about the talent you have around you. Jordan found that out years ago and it wasn't until he had guys like Pippen, Harper, Rodman, Hodges, and others that he started to win his rings. Get off of Dirks case. He played his ass off in the playoffs! Edited by: white lightning
foobar75
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I do not at all question that Dirk is a phenomenal player, one of the best of this generation. He's a first ballot HOF'er, and that's all anyone needs to know.
Having said that, I agree with Deadlift that Dirk lacks that certain "It" factor when it comes to that final bit of mental toughness and what makes an alpha male truly stand out. Old school guys like Bird, Chambers, Majerle, and Stockton certainly had it. Today, it's players like Nash, Gasol, Ginobili, Bogut, etc. Dirk is just a level below them in that department, not skill-wise by any stretch, but that mental edge-wise, which is really something you're born with. I've known this for years, and it's not a knock against Dirk. Black or white, very few players have this killer intinct. I can name plenty of HOF-caliber black players (Karl Malone, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, etc, etc) who simply did not have it. Jordan had it, Hakeem had it, Kobe has it. It's a very rare commodity, if you will, and that's the way it ought to be.Edited by: foobar75
Having said that, I agree with Deadlift that Dirk lacks that certain "It" factor when it comes to that final bit of mental toughness and what makes an alpha male truly stand out. Old school guys like Bird, Chambers, Majerle, and Stockton certainly had it. Today, it's players like Nash, Gasol, Ginobili, Bogut, etc. Dirk is just a level below them in that department, not skill-wise by any stretch, but that mental edge-wise, which is really something you're born with. I've known this for years, and it's not a knock against Dirk. Black or white, very few players have this killer intinct. I can name plenty of HOF-caliber black players (Karl Malone, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, etc, etc) who simply did not have it. Jordan had it, Hakeem had it, Kobe has it. It's a very rare commodity, if you will, and that's the way it ought to be.Edited by: foobar75
I just cannot agree that Dirk lacks any mental toughness or "killer instinct". I've watched him for years and he always shows up, competes hard, and takes and makes big shots. I don't know what else anyone could expect. He is a consistent, proven winner. Maybe he'll get a couple of rings at the end of his career, like Elway, and shut everybody up.
whiteathlete33
Hall of Famer
Dirk needs a better supporting cast. No one on the Mavs came through during the series except Dirk.
FootballDad
Hall of Famer
Interesting article today about Queen LeBron. Of course he's completely full of himself and his delusions of grandeur, but I found the article surprising in that a member of the worshipping media wrote it.
whiteathlete33
Hall of Famer
You beat me to it again FootballDad. I was just on Yahoo and read that article and was going to post it. At least not all the media is in love with this arrogant spoiled brat.
foobar75
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The Cavs-Celtics series is one where you hope they can both lose, somehow, and I think it can happen. First, Africa's team (Celtics) need to come out and win the game tomorrow because they will not win a game 7 on the road. The collapse of the selfish, narcisist, and overhyped LeBron will be a good thing to watch for sure.
Then, I think Orlando will make quick work of Boston, which will set up a Lakers/Magic re-match in the finals. I will be looking for Pau to win the Finals MVP in that scenario.
Then, I think Orlando will make quick work of Boston, which will set up a Lakers/Magic re-match in the finals. I will be looking for Pau to win the Finals MVP in that scenario.
white lightning
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The Magic should be there but the Lakers won't. Everyone has been writing the Suns off all year. Mr. Nash will have the last laugh as he takes the Suns to the championship. I'm so confident in a Suns Victory that I have some nice change on the series with an off shore account. Not to late to jump on board. The Suns will beat the Lakers. Count on it.
Deadlift
Hall of Famer
I hope you don't end up broke and on the streets....
white lightning
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Haha. Not that much money. I'm not stupid. I would never bet money that I couldn't afford to lose. Having a mortgage, car, etc. is alot more important. Thanks for the concern. I really believe I'm going to win and at +250 for the series, it would be a nice payout. Vacation money if I win. If I lose, no big deal.
Let's go Suns. I think they are going to go after David Lee in the off season among a few other names I've heard. We shall see what happens. I do know one thing. They would love him here unlike in NY. He is underappreciated there.
Let's go Suns. I think they are going to go after David Lee in the off season among a few other names I've heard. We shall see what happens. I do know one thing. They would love him here unlike in NY. He is underappreciated there.
Deadlift
Hall of Famer
Like has been said before, the series is likely to go at least 6 games.
There's no doubt that Pau can score on whoever is guarding him, so I think that the series outcome will depend on how Kobe plays. If he bricks a bunch of shots, the Suns' will need to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them. This series should be interesting.
There's no doubt that Pau can score on whoever is guarding him, so I think that the series outcome will depend on how Kobe plays. If he bricks a bunch of shots, the Suns' will need to take advantage of the opportunity presented to them. This series should be interesting.
FootballDad
Hall of Famer
No, no, no, you guys have got it all wrong. Kobe will suffer an injury that keeps him out for a few games, then in desperation, coach Jackson will look down his bench, and rolling the dice, inserts Adam Morrison into the game! Morrison then goes on to score 40 points a game in Kobe's absence, Lakers beat the Suns! We can dream, can't we??