Why the Lakers are on the ropes :
(http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0406/10/f01-179796.htm)


Payton's play

Gary Payton is 35, but he has played as if he's 55. A few years ago, he was one of the best defensive players in the NBA, but he can't keep up with the Pistons. He had two points in Game 1 and three in Game 2.

Wear and tear

The Pistons are winning the small fights, the hustle plays. The longer the series goes, the more it becomes the Pistons' advantage. They can use their superior depth to wear down the Lakers.

Too tough

The Pistons, despite the nature of their loss Tuesday, will not, contrary to popular opinion, suffer a letdown in Game 3. Remember, they lost in triple overtime, at home, to the Nets in the second round, then won Game 6 in New Jersey.

Malone's pain

Karl Malone twisted his right knee in Game 2, aggravating an injury he suffered during the Western Conference finals. He might not play tonight, and the Lakers' bench is thin to begin with.

Two-on-five

Despite Luke Walton's 15 minutes of fame Tuesday, the Lakers still rely too much on Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who combined for 59 of the Lakers' 75 points in Game 1 and 62 of their 99 in Game 2.

where have i heard all this before? the Lakers are in trouble because:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G...

they've won 3 rings in 5 years & i think they're about to win another 1...

every year a team like the Pistons are supposed to knock them off, but they never do...unless you have an answer for Shaq & Kobe, forget it, it's not gonna happen.

look at the pistons, don't you think they look much more dangerous than any other team, to the exception maybe of san antonio, that the lakers have met ?

I think they look more dangerous than every team the Lakers have faced this year and than any team they faced in the finals in previous years. I'm glad Detroit gained the homecourt advantage. They couldn't have realistically asked for more (though they almost got it) when going into LA and I'm still predicting a Detroit win.

People are going to keep under-rating the Pistons until the Pistons are about ten seconds away from winning for the fourth time in this series.

Gary Payton is 35, but he has played as if he's 55.

I think that's an unfair insult to the average 55 year old!

like i said, i've been hearing the same stuff about at least 1 team the Lakers have faced every year they won the title, & each time, they have shown me that it's not good to doubt their chances, so i don't even bother anymore...i'll believe you guys if i see the Pistons raising that trophy above their heads, not when the series is still being played.