What was Artest Thinking!?!?
With the Pacers losing Game 6 tonight, 69-65, the 2004 NBA Finals will be the Lakers vs. the Pistons. I watched most of Game 6 tonight, and it was a pretty exciting game after the first quarter. Of course, as the score reflects, it was not a shootout, but rather a battle of defense. There were some very impressive blocks and steals this game, including several big time swats from O'Neal, and a couple from Prince.
What really hurt the Pacers in this game was Ron Artest's play in the final few minutes. With the game tied, Artest got bumped by Rip Hamilton, which he took as a cheap shot, I guess. Ron responded in the only way he knew how - by giving a blow to Rip right across the chops, resulting in a prompt flagrant foul call. Rip hit both shots, giving the Pistons a two point lead. Then, a few possessions later, the Pacers were down by 4 with 18 seconds left. All they needed was a quick 2 or 3, and then to foul. Unfortunately, the Pacers had no timeouts, so they couldn't collect their thoughts before proceeding, but what was frustrating was to see Artest bring the ball down the court and then, without passing or trying any other option, launches up a three pointer a good 8 feet behind the three-point line. He missed, of course, and the Pistons got the rebound, sealing the game.
I'm not saying Artest is the sole reason the Pacers lost, but he definitely decreased their chances of winning with his low basketball IQ late in the game.
So it's going to be Lakers versus the Pistons, with Game 1 of the Finals on this coming Sunday. The Lakers will have home court advantage, meaning the first two games will be played in L.A., with the next three in Detroit. My prediction: the series will go 6, with the Lakers winning the NBA title. The X-factor will be injuries: the Lakers have a very shallow bench. How many minutes have Russell, Walton, or Fox played in these playoffs? It's pretty much just Shaq, Kobe, Malone, Payton, George, Fisher, Slavo, and Kareem Rush (who had one hell of a Game 6, by the way). The Pistons, on the other hand, have a much deeper rotation, and can weather an injured player better than the Lakers. The Lakers, I think, are the favorites because of Shaq and Kobe. Those two guys have really been the core reason the Lakers won their first three championships to kick off the 21st century.
Game 1 on Sunday! Go Lakers!