<div class="quote_poster">illmatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Who gives a crap. If you're out with all your homies, and you always have that one dude out of your group is always talkin' crap and starting trouble, you still back him up, and you still get down for him. Then afterwards you tell that fool to stop messin around. I mean if that was Kobe instead of Smush? All you guys woulda been talkin sH!t about Raja, this that, but because it was Smush, you guys take Raja and D'antoni's side? **** THAT! Until Smush is no longer wearing the P&G, I will continue to support every Laker player.</div> I doubt Kobe would go for a dunk with the game sealed when he could just run the clock down. I've seen him dunk at the end of games (a game back in 2001 comes into mind), but that was when the opposing team was down by two, lost the ball, and Kobe got the outlet pass and finished with a 360. Totally different situation than Parker boneheadedly trying to show up Pheonix and rightfully failing. What the hell was he thinking? I'm not picking on Smush because it's Smush (although I can't stand the guy), I would have said the same thing for any other Laker that tried to do that. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Who gives a crap. </div> If you didn't give a crap, you wouldn't have got all ecstatic trying to defend an action pretty much everyone else sees as idiotic.
<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I doubt Kobe would go for a dunk with the game sealed when he could just run the clock down. I've seen him dunk at the end of games (a game back in 2001 comes into mind), but that was when the opposing team was down by two, lost the ball, and Kobe got the outlet pass and finished with a 360. Totally different situation than Parker boneheadedly trying to show up Pheonix and rightfully failing. What the hell was he thinking? I'm not picking on Smush because it's Smush (although I can't stand the guy), I would have said the same thing for any other Laker that tried to do that. If you didn't give a crap, you wouldn't have got all ecstatic trying to defend an action pretty much everyone else sees as idiotic.</div> Call yourself a Lakers fan? **** outta here. I'm fucking glad Smush was showing up the Pheonix Suns. Why? How about last game when they were blowing us out by 30 and were dunkin and alley-ooping all over us? Have some god damn pride and stick up for your team, you make me sick. And don't tell me "I don't think Kobe would have done that" You have no idea what Kobe would or wouldn't do, so don't speak on his behalf. Egotistical? Nah homie, this is about backing up your team, regardless. Let my balls breathe and go away.
<div class="quote_poster">illmatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Call yourself a Lakers fan? **** outta here. I'm fucking glad Smush was showing up the Pheonix Suns. Why? How about last game when they were blowing us out by 30 and were dunkin and alley-ooping all over us? Have some god damn pride and stick up for your team, you make me sick. And don't tell me "I don't think Kobe would have done that" You have no idea what Kobe would or wouldn't do, so don't speak on his behalf. Egotistical? Nah homie, this is about backing up your team, regardless. Let my balls breathe and go away.</div> You have to ask yourself, What does it accomplish? The answer is nothing, it's detrimental to the team. Just look at the downward spiral Smush has been on since he's become a Laker. His selfishness has interfered with his career and has prevented him from becoming a quality basketball player. He was a walk on for summer league games, and played with a lot of hunger. The Lakers didn't envision him even making the team, but he played with tenacity and earned a spot on the preseason roster. He continued to play well on defense, and with the injury to Aaron McKie, he worked his way into a starting job. Then his ego got the ahold of him and Smush's production has dipped dramatically. Now he's half-assing it and acting a fool because the Lakers wouldn't give him an extension. He's mad because players beneath him on the depth chart are earning more money than him. Who's fault is that? HIS OWN. Why? Because Smush was a cancer prior to becoming a Laker and had to settle for the contract you give a cancerous scrub. His recent play is the reason he's making under $1M per year as a the Laker starter. If he just shut his mouth and played out his contract, the Lakers would have rewarded him, they always reward their free agents. Brian Cook got a nice extension and raise, hell even Sasha was extended.
<div class="quote_poster">illmatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Call yourself a Lakers fan? **** outta here. I'm fucking glad Smush was showing up the Pheonix Suns. Why? How about last game when they were blowing us out by 30 and were dunkin and alley-ooping all over us? Have some god damn pride and stick up for your team, you make me sick. And don't tell me "I don't think Kobe would have done that" You have no idea what Kobe would or wouldn't do, so don't speak on his behalf. Egotistical? Nah homie, this is about backing up your team, regardless. Let my balls breathe and go away.</div> You make me laugh bro. I'm not a Lakers fan because I believe that Smush made an idiotic move? Great rationale man. It's one thing to support your team players, but it's another to support them when they clearly and purposely make themselves look stupid. It seems you're pretty much the only one in the thread who condones his boneheaded actions. According to your logic, I guess that makes you the only Lakers fan in here then.
I'm with Illmatic here. Phx seems to have very little respect for the Lakers, as they showed on their home court, so why should the Lakers respect them? Basketball is as much about having an emotional advantage as it as a physical one, and the Suns and their fans don't seem to think much of the Lakers. So f**k 'em.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm with Illmatic here. Phx seems to have very little respect for the Lakers, as they showed on their home court, so why should the Lakers respect them? Basketball is as much about having an emotional advantage as it as a physical one, and the Suns and their fans don't seem to think much of the Lakers. So f**k 'em.</div> Why stoop down to their level though? The advantage the Lakers have at Staples, is that Lakers mystique. That sense of class and historic dominance over the rest of the league. I'd like any player wearing P&G to preserve that image and represent the franchise with class. I can understand Illmatic taking exception to Raja's hard foul. I understand why he did it, but I don't support him trying to send a message to any Laker, even if Smush was in the wrong. If your friend instigates a fight and gets punched, aren't you going to still defend your friend? I'm sure any of us would, and I think that's what Illmatic and yodawgsup are trying to get across. I can relate to that, but at the same time, what Smush did was idiotic.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Why stoop down to their level though? The advantage the Lakers have at Staples, is that Lakers mystique. That sense of class and historic dominance over the rest of the league. I'd like any player wearing P&G to preserve that image and represent the franchise with class. I can understand Illmatic taking exception to Raja's hard foul. I understand why he did it, but I don't support him trying to send a message to any Laker, even if Smush was in the wrong. If your friend instigates a fight and gets punched, aren't you going to still defend your friend? I'm sure any of us would, and I think that's what Illmatic and yodawgsup are trying to get across. I can relate to that, but at the same time, what Smush did was idiotic.</div> Against any other team (and outside of the playoffs), Smush's action would not have been condonable. But the Suns thrive on making the Lakers feel like crap, which wouldn't be a problem except that this particular Laker team does not have the emotional composure to withstand that. They fold under that kind of pressure, as they did in game 2 and as we've seen all year. The Lakers are a classy organization that's dominated the league for many years, and you're right, that should be a source of inspiration, but this team lacks the maturity and cohesiveness to understand and appreciate that. If they stand any chance of prolonging this series, they need to up their physical play and that includes not being punked around.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Against any other team (and outside of the playoffs), Smush's action would not have been condonable. But the Suns thrive on making the Lakers feel like crap, which wouldn't be a problem except that this particular Laker team does not have the emotional composure to withstand that. They fold under that kind of pressure, as they did in game 2 and as we've seen all year. The Lakers are a classy organization that's dominated the league for many years, and you're right, that should be a source of inspiration, but this team lacks the maturity and cohesiveness to understand and appreciate that. If they stand any chance of prolonging this series, they need to up their physical play and that includes not being punked around.</div> Yeah, but do you really think Phoenix is going to be intimidated or feel any worse by Smush dunking the ball after the game is out of reach?
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, but do you really think Phoenix is going to be intimidated or feel any worse by Smush dunking the ball after the game is out of reach?</div> No, but it's not about them. It's about the Lakers upping their own emotional intensity and investing more of themselves into the game (and not just in spurts as they seem to do), and as meaningless as the play was, I think it was at least somewhat successful at doing that.
I am with illmatic also. Smush wanted to dunk it and carry some emotion onto the next game. I am sure the Lakers were laughing on Smush's dunk attempt in the locker room after the game. This make them play better as a team. It also show others how much the lakers want to win the game. Even Smush is hungry, so are the other Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">TopLake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I am with illmatic also. Smush wanted to dunk it and carry some emotion onto the next game. I am sure the Lakers were laughing on Smush's dunk attempt in the locker room after the game. This make them play better as a team. It also show others how much the lakers want to win the game. Even Smush is hungry, so are the other Lakers.</div> Well when you put in those terms then fair enough. If that's what gets Smush going then so be it. However, you have to also see the otherside of the argument, where some people question why that's what it takes to get you motivated to play at a high level. For me, winning the series and outplaying the guy opposite of me is more of a motivation to bring my A game, than throwing down a dunk when the outcome is already decided.
<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't see the play</div> I can't believe this whole time I was arguing with this guy about a play that he didn't even see? Jesus...what a waste of time. Shape, I see where you are coming from, and this is a case of just backing up your peoples. Even though I was at the game, I just finished watching the game on TV, and I still don't see any wrong on either Raja or Smush. Raja was trying to defend the dunk, and Smush was trying to put an exclamation point on the game. Karma wants to say Smush was trying to show them up, but Phoenix was doing the same thing in the 4th quarter last game trying to rub it in our face. This isn't a big deal, and I'll end the argument here. All I'm saying is, Defensively I was very satisfied by Smush and I don't fault him at all for attempting a dunk on a complete break away. Him and Raja even shook hands after the play, it's not a big deal.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well when you put in those terms then fair enough. If that's what gets Smush going then so be it. However, you have to also see the otherside of the argument, where some people question why that's what it takes to get you motivated to play at a high level. For me, winning the series and outplaying the guy opposite of me is more of a motivation to bring my A game, than throwing down a dunk when the outcome is already decided.</div> I didn't say he should do it. I just say he did it "maybe" because he wanted to send a statement to the Suns as well as the other Lakers so I don't think it was stupid for him to do that. Also, if it is just one game that matters, i bet he wouldn't do it too at the end with the game already decided. Hwoever, we are actually losing 1-2 in a long series, it is not a bad idea to do it.
Just saw the game and the play at the end. Smush did nothing wrong. It was a fullcourt bailout pass by Odom to prevent the ball going out of bounds, and Smush caught it in the paint on the other side, with like one second or half a second left. Why not dunk it? It's not like they were standing at half court waiting for the time to expire... But they were correct in not calling the foul, it would have been unnecessary.
<div class="quote_poster">illmatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I can't believe this whole time I was arguing with this guy about a play that he didn't even see? Jesus...what a waste of time. Shape, I see where you are coming from, and this is a case of just backing up your peoples. Even though I was at the game, I just finished watching the game on TV, and I still don't see any wrong on either Raja or Smush. Raja was trying to defend the dunk, and Smush was trying to put an exclamation point on the game. Karma wants to say Smush was trying to show them up, but Phoenix was doing the same thing in the 4th quarter last game trying to rub it in our face. This isn't a big deal, and I'll end the argument here. All I'm saying is, Defensively I was very satisfied by Smush and I don't fault him at all for attempting a dunk on a complete break away. Him and Raja even shook hands after the play, it's not a big deal.</div> Well I'll put it this way, I don't like the Suns or Smush. I'm sure that's the way many Laker Fans feel.
Lol, you guys are aruging about Smush Parker's attempted dunk.. I would say that was very boneheaded for him to try to do that on a mad Suns team, i wish Raja Bell fouled him harder, so he could have gotten susupened again.
