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If Peeler had head-butted, kicked, slapped, or did just about anything directly to the face of another player, he would be suspended. Its not like punching is the only illegal thing or the only one that would cause damage. So if KG and Brad Miller started fighting next game using open palmed hits to the face, double technical, no suspensions? I think not. You're just trying to pick apart little discrepincies that don't have any relevance right there.
I don't think that its just coincidence that the Timberwolves have lost four games in the past month, and three of those losses have all been reffed by Danny Crawford or whoever he is. The NBA doesn't want to see the Timberwolves succeed after that whole Joe Smith scandal. I'm not going to say thats the only reason we haven't swept both round one and round two, but obviously it is more than just a coincidence. And when Flip Saunders told Crawford that statistic in the last game, he got a technical. Typical.
The Lakers would kill the Kings, no doubt about it. Chris Weber can't play defense, and he would have to be on Malone. Brad Miller would get his shit rocked by Shaq, who is much bigger, stronger, and better than him. Peja or Christie guarding Kobe? Laughable. Once again, Bibby would be the only player Sacramento could count on, besides Doug Christie throwing up air balls to tie game 7. The way the Lakers are playing they would have a huge advantage over the Timberwolves, but it would be a much closer matchup. Shaq would have the potential to go wild, but Kobe would top off real fast with Trenton Hassell on him, Spre on Payton, Garnett on Malone. The Timberwolves are deeper than the Lakers but not as dominant. The key to the whole thing would be defense, which Sacramento just does not have.
I think the Nets will probably come out of the East again, which is kind of a shame. IMO it would even be a shame if it was the Pacers, because neither of those teams has the personnel to deal with the Lakers. The Pacers and Timberwolves would be a great matchup on paper, but Garnett would blow away O'Niel, and so on. The Nets, they have the experience and ability to be dominant in the East, but what do they think they're gonna do, have Kenyon Martin trying to stop Shaq or Malone? Kerry Kittles guarding Kobe Bryant? Until the Nets get an established power forward or center they will never win a championship. In my opinion, the only team out there with any chance of beating a Western team in the finals would be Detroit. They have the defense to shut down even the Lakers for at least one game, and the big men in the Wallace's to play with the West, Rip Hamilton has been hot too, but their offense just doesn't seem to cut it. I will have to predict Lakers win the finals in 5 anti climactic games.
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