Detroit Pistons (6-2) at Los Angeles Lakers (7-0)
This sure as hell promises to be an interesting game. Forget for a moment that over the past few seasons, LA has struggled against the Pistons, and look at the smaller, more intriguing stories that exist within the game.
Allen Iverson in a Pistons uniform. There’s a match I bet many of us didn’t think we’d see. The ultimate team concept with the ultimate non-team performer. Don’t get me wrong, Iverson’s a great basketballer – one of the best pure scorers ever… but he is a player who needs volume. AI’s never met a shot he didn’t like (Kobe detractors will point to Kobe now), and whilst Allen was a “good soldier” over in Denver, this is a contract year. I’m pretty certain that AI’s not going to maintain the even keel that Joe Dumars insists upon. For this season to succeed in any capacity, AI’s going to have to fit in with Detroit, not the Pistons fitting in around Allen Iverson.
For quite a while, the Pistons have had the ability to contain Kobe. At least slow him down. And up until recent times, beating the Lakers has been all about ‘containing Kobe’. Do that at your peril now – it’s more a case of pick your poison. There are 5 Lakers averaging double figures thus far. Kobe’s more than happy to pick his time, and he can rack up his 24 avg in very short shrift.
The Lakers. 7-0. Not only the record, but the way they’ve played to that tune. Highest scoring average (104.7) in the league. Lowest opponent average (86.7). Yes, only seven games in, and one thing’s for sure: sooner or later, LA will lose.
I just don’t see it being tomorrow. LA by 12.
With Malice... 
Well… that sucked.
Bit of an anti climax…
Well you’re telling me!
Oh well, first loss had to come sooner or later. Pity it came on homecourt.
Kobes last quarter made the score for the Lakers seem a little better than the actual difference between the teams. Can someone tell me why Fisher takes ridiculious 3 point attempts when the game is close rather than taking the occasional better option form the paint? I do realize hes a midget but i felt there was a couple of points there in the last few minutes were the better option was not the lob.
Also, AI seems to be fitting in quite nicely dont you think?
This didn’t help matters either
Yup… that was a brain-fade of the first degree. If he didn’t get a few raised eyebrows in the locker-room post game, I don’t know what’s up. Fish doesn’t need to do that, especially – as Mark pointed out – when the game’s close. Early on – get points, and stops.