I'm rooting for a Laker loss and Dallas win

If you really believe that then why do you even watch...maybe, just maybe, we have really good players on our team....I stopped watching wrestling when I was 10

 

Maybe I don't watch? Maybe I just follow box scores like Kingspeed and Maris

 

Well, for my part, I don't think it's literally rigged. I think the league encourages different standards for officiating, which biases games. That doesn't fix the results, it just gives some teams better chances than others. There's no question that the Lakers have really good players. Market plays into that. I think if the same "franchise" (same owner and personnel) existed in Vancouver or Oklahoma City, they wouldn't be contenders for most of NBA history. So there are some baked-in advantages that exists for various teams in all sports.

Mostly I watch because I enjoy watching good basketball players play. I'm not hugely invested in the results, though I'd like Portland to win.

 

If Portland had another professional team from the NFL, MLB, or even NHL, I would probably follow the Blazers less.

 

lol...you guys

 

LOL. DaRizzle wants to believe that the Lakers have accomplished everything with no inherent advantages at all and (secretly) that he shares in their success.

Don't worry, DaRizzle. I'm sure you'll accomplish things in your life you can be proud of! Meanwhile, the Lakers sure have won a lot, no question.

 

my penis is larger because of the Lakers awesomeness...I dont know how that is even debatable

That inherent advantage is called "superstar calls"....it happens around the leauge with "superstars"...I dont like it either but it is what it is.
Portland has no "superstar" hence your problem

 

I think that's most of it, and market is why the Lakers almost always seem to have one.

I do think referees get sucked up into narrative, for example that an elite Lakers team can't lose in the first round. In 2003, when Kevin Garnett, a superstar, got fouled out in an overtime playoff game against LA for Robert Horry running into him...that couldn't be explained by "superstar calls" since Garnett was the superstar. That game featured some other pretty egregious calls too, going in the Lakers favor. While I know bad calls happen to every team, I think officials (consciously or not) suffer bias towards teams who aren't "supposed to lose" due to their talent level.

 

How the Lakers will fair in the playoffs, according to fans at ESPN. LOL at the state of Oregon.

 

It's funny you mention that series, as it often comes to my mind when thinking about the corruption of the NBA. It is a series that is seldom mentioned, but one that featured so many absurd calls when the upstart T-Pups starting threatening to actually win that series, that is still stands to me as "proof" that the NBA is corrupt and favors the Lakers, among other teams.

There was a particularly hilarious call that went against Wally Z who was separated by feet of air between the Laker, when the nervous and corrupt official (omg! this game is getting out of hand - ie, Lakers losing) called him for a foul. Maybe he was breathing too hard.

 

Yep and like I've said. What's more rewarding?

1.) Taking the Lakers to game 7 and losing the series

or

2.) Beating Dallas in game 6-7, then get swept by the Lakers in the following round?

Personally, I want a championship and will only be happy if we get it. The only way to do it is face the Lakers. Yeah odds are Lakers will win out; but if Blazers win, talk about confidence booster!

 

The hatred is deep!

 

Bah, now they've flip-flopped. They're saying they'll win it all. I'm ashamed.

 

I agree. I want the Lakers.

I love the enthusiasm and activity but don't you think you're starting a few too many threads, magnifier? Merge your ideas in a few less threads. I'm one to talk but it's just a suggestion.

 

I'm super excited for whoever we play. They all have great unique challenges.

LA would be sweet because they've caused so much pain to our franchise nothing feels better then beating the Lakers. They are tired and beat up from playing more games than any franchise the previous 3 season, they will be looking forward to future series and overlooking us as an opponent. With Gerald we cause matchup problems for them as evident by the fast break points in our last home game.

Dallas is a team that is easy for us to defend, they are small and Dirk doesn't step up his game in the playoffs. We can punish them in the post and get back on D.

OKC is the young darling of the league that all the experts love, we can shut them up and show that even while getting zero from Oden, our team can overcome a great scorer like Durant. We can show that Durant is the new McGrady, an impressive scorer that can't win a playoff series.

 

Sorry King, just a little excited right now. I truly think this season we can beat the Lakers. I can't stop talking about it. :O

 

THIS! Repped...

 

ALL DALLAS! OK winning their game as well! Can't wait to play the Lakers!

 

Wouldn't that be assuming a Laker loss? I believe with Dallas looking like they're going to win, that if Lakers win we play Dallas and if Lakers lose then we play LA.

 

yes