Comments on: Rafer Alston “Shocked” Over 4th Quarter Benching

By: IrishBaller

IrishBaller — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:26:20 +0000

By: Promoman

Promoman — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:23:27 +0000

Overall, Skip secured a spot somewhere in the league in the aftemath of the trade. He’ll likely e out of Orlando, but he’s sealed a spot.

By: Kobe Fan

Kobe Fan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:25:55 +0000

I think the reason that we were able to come back in the final stretch of the game is because SVG messed up his team’s chemistry. I admit that with the way Rafer was playing against Fisher, I feared the match up problem that he was delivering. But when SVG brought in a lukewarm Nelson, I breathed a sigh of relief. When he was out on the floor in the 4th quarter, it was almost as if the Lakers were playing 5 against 2. Dwight wasn’t really getting the ball and when he did, he wasn’t capitalizing. Jameer Nelson took it upon himself to not be an offensive threat in the least bit, but instead play “robot basketball” by giving it to Hedo when he crossed half court. And Rashard Lewis was invisible all night. The only players that were SOMEWHAT of a threat to the Lakers were Pietrus and Turkoglu. So I do want to thank SVG for making that blunder in the 4th. He brought us one step closer to getting Kobe his 4th ring.

By: buffaloballa

buffaloballa — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:30:21 +0000

Rafer’s ass is gonna be really shocked when he is on the AND ONE tour next year….

By: jhuff

jhuff — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:50:04 +0000

i agree with the cynic 100%

By: me

me — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:54:22 +0000

Not so much that Fisher was “clutch”, Nelson should have come out to keep Fisher from shooting that 3. Coaching, why not foul and put them on the line for 2 they were up by 3? Mental mistakes cost them the game. If superman lets one more player take the ball from him in the post~what is that? I thought the Magic would match up better with the Laker’s then what they are showing. Where is the pride? I just don’t get it. Oh not to mention the Lakers can complain foul after foul. They have never committed a foul according to them…and Bynum, can he stay out of foul trouble. I mean the Lakers set the table for the Magic to take advantage of them and take this game, but the Magic gave it back to them.

I don’t blame Alston for complaining. I mean they used him to get there, why throw him under the bus now. How many turnovers did Nelson have? Come on now!

By: the cynic

the cynic — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:49:12 +0000

@lakeshow

Alston is a way better defender then Nelson, why do you think the Magic haven’t missed Nelson at all since Alston arrived. What they lost in offense from Nelson, they gained in defense (in no way am I saying Alston is an all world defender). To make matters worse Nelson isn’t even conditioned enough to be the terrible defender he was before. Van Dumbdy is a good coach, but he is second rate. While Jackson stood fast with Fisher all year, letting his best players play; Van Dumdy jerked around his QB position at the most critical time of the year. Maybe if Van Dumdy had been a real player he would understand the flow of the game

By: Dukesman2000

Dukesman2000 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:49:10 +0000

F*ck the Magic, they don’t belong in the Finals

By: LakeShow84

LakeShow84 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:57:17 +0000

Damn i was liking the Magic but they are acting like kids at this point..

Calling superstar calls out?? They just played Lebron and his 18 FT’s per game without making much of a peep.. but they won so thats the difference..

And they blaming they accomplished coach.. F what Shaq says.. Van Gundy is good coach.. So what he shows his emotions.. what player doesnt??

Magic need to man up or grow up.. i wouldve rather have played the Celtics.. at least there wouldve been animosity but no excuses IN THE END..

By: bookkwormmaster

bookkwormmaster — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:50:08 +0000

I’ve been reading through all these posts and the one common theme seems to be the game was lost because of SVG. I think the only thing you can question SVG on was whether or not he should have had Alston in the game instead of Nelson (i personally think that he should have). Other than that let’s not forget that the Magic were up by as much as 12 going into halftime. Let’s not forget that Howard got all the Laker bigs into foul trouble with like 3 each before halftime and couldn’t use that to his advantage, Let’s also not forget that the Magic had a five point lead with like thirty-two seconds left in the game. Let’s not forget that it was Howard and Turkoglu (the Magic’s MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER according to Jon Barry) that were bricking free throws not to mention the team as a whole. It was the Magic PLAYERS not the Magic COACH that lost them the game.

But also give credit to the Lakers in particular Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher. Ariza TOOK OVER that third quarter scoring like 11 straight points and swinging the momentum to his team. Also Derek Fisher was CLUTCH down the stretch and took matters into his own hands. That was a ballsy decision he made to pull up for that three after having missed his first five and then CRUSHING the Magic souls with that cold-blooded three from the top of the key in overtime. Credit also to Phil Jackson for going with the decision to inbound the ball from the backcourt instead of advancing it and credit to Kobe also for trusting his teammates to make plays instead of forcing the issue.