How Dallas swept the Lakers

[brisbaneman]

I'm not sure if anyone follow the regular season as closely as I do, but before New Year's the Bucks came into Staples and Earl Boykins handed the Lakers asses to themselves. I am 100% certain the Mavs coaching staff took note of it and inserted JJB into the Boykins role during the 2nd round.

[Deuce Bigalow]

poor defense
Gasol disappearing
Kobe not playing up to par
no bench help
not closing out games (game 1 and 3)

[AlphaWolf24]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/21/xin_24120221153605102051.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/21/content_505376.htm

[Micku]

poor defense
Gasol disappearing
Kobe not playing up to par
no bench help
not closing out games (game 1 and 3)

Yeah.

And nobody being able to stop Dirk. He shot the lights out.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Yeah.

And nobody being able to stop Dirk. He shot the lights out.

not just Dirk, it was literally everybody
LA defense gave up wide open 3 after wide open 3, it was hard to watch

[Inception28]

Yeah.

And nobody being able to stop Dirk. He shot the lights out.
Lakers could have still won the series whether they stopped Dirk or not. Those games were all pretty close outside of Game 4. I think Gasol playing like a high schooler was the biggest reason why the Lakers got swept though.

[Hondo]

not just Dirk, it was literally everybody
LA defense gave up wide open 3 after wide open 3, it was hard to watch

They lost because Dallas are better.

[Inception28]

They lost because Dallas are better.
That's not true. If both of those teams played the way they were expected to the Lakers would have won. Lakers played like crap and the Mavericks played well, hence why the Mavericks won the series. Upsets don't occur because the underdog was more talented all this time otherwise they wouldn't be the underdogs.

[brisbaneman]

That's not true. If both of those teams played the way they were expected to the Lakers would have won. Lakers played like crap and the Mavericks played well, hence why the Mavericks won the series. Upsets don't occur because the underdog was talented all this time otherwise they wouldn't be underdogs.

You don't get swept because you had an off day and the other team got lucky. They got their asses beat by the Mavs.

[SpecialQue]

They lost because Dallas are better.

You're better than that.

[AlphaWolf24]

jesus....the Lakers were coming off of 3 straight Finals.....are you people for real???


you think teams that win just keep the same level of focus and never lose....for ****s sake ...how many teams went to 4 straight NBA Finals???

answer that you basketball illiterates.....




Great teams lose focus and don't have the edge.....do Kobe haterz really expect him tp win every year???.....after all it's not like he retired after 3 Titles because he lost the "love of the game" like other superstars did....




next

[lilgodfather1]

The real reason Dallas swept the Lakers is because they scored more points in four consecutive games.

[Micku]

not just Dirk, it was literally everybody
LA defense gave up wide open 3 after wide open 3, it was hard to watch

This is true. Dallas did shoot the lights out overall with the 3s. Barea broke the Lakers D in a several plays. Dirk did had a great series and added mismatches, but the Lakers couldn't close it out on those close games.

It's still amazing that they got swept though. They could've won a couple of games, but Dallas pulled it off in the end.

[SuperPippen]

jesus....the Lakers were coming off of 3 straight Finals.....are you people for real???


you think teams that win just keep the same level of focus and never lose....for ****s sake ...how many teams went to 4 straight NBA Finals???

answer that you basketball illiterates.....




Great teams lose focus and don't have the edge.....do Kobe haterz really expect him tp win every year???.....after all it's not like he retired after 3 Titles because he lost the "love of the game" like other superstars did....




next

Nobody was arguing with you, stop being so damn insecure.







Subsequent.

[brisbaneman]

The real reason Dallas swept the Lakers is because they scored more points in four consecutive games.

Nah, you could score more points over four games and still lose at least one game. Your attempt at being a smart ass doesn't work.

[AlphaWolf24]

Nobody was arguing with you, stop being so damn insecure.







Subsequent.


:lol 3rd thread from the OP wondering how the "Lakers Lost"....


cot damn....serious???

[G-train]

It was amusing to watch as majority of ISH Laker fans talked all season about how they would be champions and would turn it on come the playoffs.

However I honestly believe if Pau had not had his personal issues the Lakers would have won that series. He is an extremely important player to go missing in the playoffs.

[Haymaker]

Lakers lost to the better team. TEAM.

[Nick Young]

Peja murdered us just like he always murders Phil Jackson teams because Phil always decides to leave the corner wide open for some reason in his stupid rotation schemes.

JJ Barea also murdered us, but midget PGs always murder us and always have, PGs dont win titles, and never have, Phil knows this.

Dallas just exploited our shitty perimeter defensive rotations.

[RazorBaLade]

You don't get swept because you had an off day and the other team got lucky. They got their asses beat by the Mavs.

asses beat?it was VERY close from being 2-2. lakers coulda lost anyways cuz they were so tired and gasol was a b!tch but it was a hair away from 2-2

[Tha Catalyst]

Nah, you could score more points over four games and still lose at least one game. Your attempt at being a smart ass doesn't work.
Unfortunately for you, your attempt at being a dumb ass is working perfectly. He said score more in 4 consecutive games. Which means 4 games in a row they scored more. Each of the 4 games the scored more, and therefore won. Well done, you can't read. :cheers:

[Nevaeh]

Nah, you could score more points over four games and still lose at least one game. Your attempt at being a smart ass doesn't work.

He may have gave a "Smarty Pants" answer, but it was indeed factually correct:


The real reason Dallas swept the Lakers is because they scored more points in four consecutive games.

Key word being "consecutive". Yep, he had it covered. :oldlol:

Edit: Thank you Catalyst

[brisbaneman]

asses beat?it was VERY close from being 2-2. lakers coulda lost anyways cuz they were so tired and gasol was a b!tch but it was a hair away from 2-2

Games 2 and 4 the Mavs won convincingly. Still you don't don't swept out of bad luck.

[brisbaneman]

He may have gave a "Smarty Pants" answer, but it was indeed factually correct:


Key word being "consecutive". Yep, he had it covered. :oldlol:

No, he did not say "in each of four consecutive games." Therefore there is a possibility than over those four consecutive games they could have lost despite having scored more over those four games.

[OmniStrife]

I'm sure this game was even more relevant...
Suns win at Staples nailing 22 threes
(http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=301114013)

[bdreason]

Mavs were just making it rain. There is no defense for that.

[Jacks3]

how did dallas need kobe/pau and lebron to play the worst ball of their careers to barely win it all?

how did dallas lose to a 8th seed that lost 25 more games than them?

how did dallas go up 2-0 in the finals and manage to lose to the worst champions of the decade?

how did they manage to choke year after year after year for about a decade?

how has dirk managed only 1 title in 11 years despite playing with amazing talent year after year after year?

how did they lose with HCA time and time and time again?

how is dirk being called top 20 when he's never been close to best player in the league and only top 5 for about 3 seasons?

how can a 7-footer only grab 8 RPG?

how can a 7-footer be so horrible as a defender, re-bounder, and a mediocre play-maker?

how?

discuss.

[JohnnySic]

Chandler, Dirk, Haywood = 3 7-footers. Take away the Lakers' size edge and they are beatable. And if you make 3's, it gravy.

[Jacks3]

Have Kobe play injured, Pau the worst ball of his career, and Odom badly... and they're beatable. They got lucky. Won't happen next year.

[icewill36]

mavs were on a mission.... bunch of vets who all fell short of a title painfully at some point who knew this was probably going to be their last title run and best chance to get it done before the reign of bron and wade. (very difficult to win it your first year together, celtics probably the only team to do it)

they flat out wanted it more than anyone else. they say jump shooting teams dont win titles, well, the mavs destroyed everyone in the 4th q of games shooting mostly jumpers.

[greensborohill]

how can I be such a jackazz all the time?

how come my mommy no like me?

how come my daddy touch me in my special spot?

how come bone around my neck so do play w/ me?

how?

how?

somebody, please. . . HOW!!!! :cry:

discuss.

Chill out bro

[Nash-tastic]

I'm sure this game was even more relevant...
Suns win at Staples nailing 22 threes
(http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=301114013)
:applause:

[Dave3]

how did dallas need kobe/pau and lebron to play the worst ball of their careers to barely win it all?

how did dallas lose to a 8th seed that lost 25 more games than them?

how did dallas go up 2-0 in the finals and manage to lose to the worst champions of the decade?

how did they manage to choke year after year after year for about a decade?

how has dirk managed only 1 title in 11 years despite playing with amazing talent year after year after year?

how did they lose with HCA time and time and time again?

how is dirk being called top 20 when he's never been close to best player in the league and only top 5 for about 3 seasons?

how can a 7-footer only grab 8 RPG?

how can a 7-footer be so horrible as a defender, re-bounder, and a mediocre play-maker?

how?

discuss.
:applause: :applause: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Way to lose with dignity. Absolutely amazing!:applause: :applause:

Representing Lakers fans so well here. Well done.

[greensborohill]

I'm sure this game was even more relevant...
Suns win at Staples nailing 22 threes
(http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=301114013)

They already changed his name to Metta World Peace. . . lol

[Jon_Koncak]

Peja Stojakovic' walking corpse,at 34 and after a series of back surgeries shitted on Kobe"9 times NBA all defensive team member" Bryant..:lol you couldn't make that stuff up..

[Duncan21formvp]

I'm not sure if anyone follow the regular season as closely as I do, but before New Year's the Bucks came into Staples and Earl Boykins handed the Lakers asses to themselves. I am 100% certain the Mavs coaching staff took note of it and inserted JJB into the Boykins role during the 2nd round.

1. Dirk was the best player on the floor and outplayed Kobe for the series
2. Lakers lost game 1 and Dallas came back from 18 to take that game and that changed any momentum the Lakers had.

[DirtySanchez]

The Lakers lost this series in the first game.

Really how motivated do you have to be with Phil going for his final hooray.
They looked like a joke of their former selves all the way up and down the roster.

It was disrespectful of Phil's legacy.

[DMAVS41]

a bunch of reasons.....but the 2 biggest in my opinion:

1. dirk absolutely was the best player in the series. not even close. dirk severely outplayed kobe and kobe came up really small in the 4th qtrs while dirk was a beast.

2. gasol sucked....

[DirtySanchez]

a bunch of reasons.....but the 2 biggest in my opinion:

1. dirk absolutely was the best player in the series. not even close. dirk severely outplayed kobe and kobe came up really small in the 4th qtrs while dirk was a beast.

2. gasol sucked....

THIS

[kentatm]

a bunch of reasons.....but the 2 biggest in my opinion:

1. dirk absolutely was the best player in the series. not even close. dirk severely outplayed kobe and kobe came up really small in the 4th qtrs while dirk was a beast.

2. gasol sucked....


Dirk pretty much always beasts on Gasol.

He is 8-0 vs Pau in the playoffs.

During that Lakers series Phil Jackson himself started complaining that Dirk was defending Pau too roughly. :oldlol:

[SpecialQue]

I'm sure this game was even more relevant...
Suns win at Staples nailing 22 threes
(http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=301114013)

I was there, and PISSED.

[Jacks3]

Just like how Kobe was far better than Dork in 2010,2009,2008,2007,2006,2004,2003,2002,2001,2000, 1999?

Just like how Kobe's career>>>Dork's.

But I'm sure Dork must be proud to outplay a old,fatigued 33-yr old dude who is well past his prime, playing with a busted knee, and busted hands,and is not even close to what he was once was?

Congrats Dork. :oldlol:

Only 4 more to catch Kobe. LMAO

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Jacks3]

how did dallas need kobe/pau and lebron to play the worst ball of their careers to barely win it all?

how did dallas lose to a 8th seed that lost 25 more games than them?

how did dallas go up 2-0 in the finals and manage to lose to the worst champions of the decade?

how did they manage to choke year after year after year for about a decade?

how has dirk managed only 1 title in 11 years despite playing with amazing talent year after year after year?

how did they lose with HCA time and time and time again?

how is dirk being called top 20 when he's never been close to best player in the league and only top 5 for about 3 seasons?

how can a 7-footer only grab 8 RPG?

how can a 7-footer be so horrible as a defender, re-bounder, and a mediocre play-maker?

how?

discuss.
how is dork so horrible defensively?

how is dork not even a top 25 player all-time?

how does dork shoot 37% over the final 3 finals game and his team still wins?

how is dork shooting 9-27 and his team still wins comfortably?

how did dork find himself owned defensively by dudes 6-7 inches smaller?

how mad are dork fans that he consistently calls bryant the best in the game?

how mad are dork fans that kobe's career>>>>dork's?

discuss.

[StarJordan]

by not giving them any hope

[cortices]

how is dork so horrible defensively?

how is dork not even a top 25 player all-time?

how does dork shoot 37% over the final 3 finals game and his team still wins?

how is dork shooting 9-27 and his team still wins comfortably?

how did dork find himself owned defensively by dudes 6-7 inches smaller?

how mad are dork fans that he consistently calls bryant the best in the game?

how mad are dork fans that kobe's career>>>>dork's?

discuss.

http://www.gifsoup.com/view5/2440405/dirk-dance-o.gif

[Gotterdammerung]

During that Lakers series Phil Jackson himself started complaining that Dirk was defending Pau too roughly. :oldlol:
:oldlol:

'nuff said!

[Balla_Status]

how is dork so horrible defensively?

how is dork not even a top 25 player all-time?

how does dork shoot 37% over the final 3 finals game and his team still wins?

how is dork shooting 9-27 and his team still wins comfortably?

how did dork find himself owned defensively by dudes 6-7 inches smaller?

how mad are dork fans that he consistently calls bryant the best in the game?

how mad are dork fans that kobe's career>>>>dork's?

discuss.

How is it that you're so gay?

[DMAVS41]

Just like how Kobe was far better than Dork in 2010,2009,2008,2007,2006,2004,2003,2002,2001,2000, 1999?

Just like how Kobe's career>>>Dork's.

But I'm sure Dork must be proud to outplay a old,fatigued 33-yr old dude who is well past his prime, playing with a busted knee, and busted hands,and is not even close to what he was once was?

Congrats Dork. :oldlol:

Only 4 more to catch Kobe. LMAO

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

What does that have to do with how the Mavs beat the Lakers in the playoffs last year?

I also wonder what Dirk's legacy would look like playing 8 years with prime/peak shaq....Dirk would have at least 3 or 4 titles right now....at least.

And did you really just say 9-27? LOL.....Dirk went 8-15 and made clutch shot after clutch shot in the 4th. Kobe stans bringing that up...LOL. 6-24.....6-24.....6-24....in a do or die game 7....LOL

[catch24]

What does that have to do with how the Mavs beat the Lakers in the playoffs last year?

I also wonder what Dirk's legacy would look like playing 8 years with prime/peak shaq....Dirk would have at least 3 or 4 titles right now....at least.

'03, '04 and possibly 2000. You would be hard-pressed to find a better all-around player than Kobe at the time. Dirk gives you that incredibly scoring - does he give you the playmaking and defense though?

[Jacks3]

What does that have to do with how the Mavs beat the Lakers in the playoffs last year?


Why has the OP started 3-4 topics on the exact same topic? :oldlol:

Anyway, Kobe's career>>>>Dork's.

Lakers franchise>>>>Mavs

Kobe and the Lakers will always be superior. Must sting.

lol @ a Dork fan bringing up Snaq when dude has played with Nash (All-Star), Finley (All-Star), J.Terry (6th Man of the YR), Jamison (All-Star), Kidd, Marion,Chandler,great benches year after year etc etc.

And his career still isn't close to Kobe's.


:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Jacks3]

Give Prime Kobe the talent Dork has had and he'd have 3-4 titles...at least.

See? I can play that game too.

Best to stay in reality.

Kobe: 5 Time NBA Champion
Dork: 1 (:oldlol: )

Kobe: Top 10 Player ever
Dork: Not even top 20

Kobe: Better in 2010,2009,2008,2007,2006,2004,2003,2002,2001,2000, 1999
Dork: Once?

Kobe: One of the greatest all-around players ever.
Dork: One-dimensional chucker who sucks as a defender,rebounder, and play-maker.

Must hurt. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[amfirst]

Out coach
Horrible defensive coaching by the lakers, no safety defender to be found
gasol and odom couldn't defend Dirk at all
No legit three point shooters on the Lakers
Bad rotation
Gasol no where to be seen offensively
No other ball creator besides Kobe
Artest bricking like no tomorrow
There was just too many holes in the Lakers game
Too much pressure for Kobe to fill in for the the Lakers weakness with his injuries and age.

This is how we can solve the problem.

I believe with Brown and the new assistant coach knows the proper defensive scheme. They can finally teach the Lakers how to rotate properly with a safety defender that they never seem to utilize.

Running more screens would definitely make the game easier to cut, so there is not too many isos with Kobe or Gasol.

To tell u the truth I don't think Phil is that great of a defensive coach and screen coach. He is just good at the triangle, but people are figuring it out.

[AMISTILLILL]

Give Prime Kobe the talent Dork has had and he'd have 3-4 titles...at least.

See? I can play that game too.

Best to stay in reality.

Kobe: 5 Time NBA Champion
Dork: 1 (:oldlol: )

Kobe: Top 10 Player ever
Dork: Not even top 20

Kobe: Better in 2010,2009,2008,2007,2006,2004,2003,2002,2001,2000, 1999
Dork: Once?

Kobe: One of the greatest all-around players ever.
Dork: One-dimensional chucker who sucks as a defender,rebounder, and play-maker.

Must hurt. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

We get it, you're a Kobe troll. Move along.

[Dave3]

We get it, you're a Kobe troll. Move along.
He's not aware that the number of ":oldlol: " he has per post directly correlates to how insecure he is about the thread. The more someone pretends to laugh on the internet, the more nervous they are in real life.

[Deuce Bigalow]

What does that have to do with how the Mavs beat the Lakers in the playoffs last year?

I also wonder what Dirk's legacy would look like playing 8 years with prime/peak shaq....Dirk would have at least 3 or 4 titles right now....at least.

And did you really just say 9-27? LOL.....Dirk went 8-15 and made clutch shot after clutch shot in the 4th. Kobe stans bringing that up...LOL. 6-24.....6-24.....6-24....in a do or die game 7....LOL

:facepalm
Kobe was much better than Dirk in 2000-2004 and Kobes defense, scoring, playmaking, and clutch plays were huge and Dirk cant replace that

[knickswin]

The Lakers' perimeter defensive rotations were really unimpressive during that series. You can't do that against a team that has Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojackovic, and Jason Terry.

[DMAVS41]

Give Prime Kobe the talent Dork has had and he'd have 3-4 titles...at least.

See? I can play that game too.

Best to stay in reality.

Kobe: 5 Time NBA Champion
Dork: 1 (:oldlol: )

Kobe: Top 10 Player ever
Dork: Not even top 20

Kobe: Better in 2010,2009,2008,2007,2006,2004,2003,2002,2001,2000, 1999
Dork: Once?

Kobe: One of the greatest all-around players ever.
Dork: One-dimensional chucker who sucks as a defender,rebounder, and play-maker.

Must hurt. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

but its not true.....kobe has 5 titles total playing with at least 10 teams better than dirk's best team.

i could see kobe winning 2 or 3 titles perhaps in dirk's shoes if everything fell into place, but its not likely.

put dirk next to shaq for 8 years and then give him a top 2 or 3 supporting cast for 4 more years after that......and its logical to think 3 or 4 titles.

kobe leading a team to a title without another all nba player or all star and the likes of nellie or avery coaching? not nearly as likely. not to mention having to go through shaq on the Lakers and Duncan on the Spurs from 99 through 07...again...just not that likely. Certainly possible because he's a truly great player. But there is no doubt that Kobe would have had a much harder time winning titles if he had to play against shaq for those 8 years rather than play with him.

And again, you still have the Kings and Suns as well...and the Wolves in 04.

It doesn't really matter to me because titles are simply much more of a team accomplishment then you and your fellow stans acknowledge....but we all know Kobe has been blessed by playing with around 12 top 3 teams in the league around him. Often times he's had the best supporting cast in the league throughout his career. So lets not pretend that its all him.

[DMAVS41]

:facepalm
Kobe was much better than Dirk in 2000-2004 and Kobes defense, scoring, playmaking, and clutch plays were huge and Dirk cant replace that

And? How does that impact winning the title each year? I agree that Kobe was better, but Dirk would have still had a much better shot than Kobe to win if they traded places.

Not to mention that there would be no off court or ego problems between Dirk and Shaq. I see could them winning in both 03 and 04 for that very reason.....

There is simply no way that Dirk and Shaq wouldn't win 2 or 3 titles in 8 years playing together.

Then add at least 1 more as Dirk just proved he's good enough to lead a good but not great team to the title.

That gives you 3 to 4 titles really at minimum logically.

[OmniStrife]

He's not aware that the number of ":oldlol: " he has per post directly correlates to how insecure he is about the thread. The more someone pretends to laugh on the internet, the more nervous they are in real life.
I was just about to post this.

[tpols]

And? How does that impact winning the title each year? I agree that Kobe was better, but Dirk would have still had a much better shot than Kobe to win if they traded places.
.
Because the Lakers were far from dominant in that stretch. They should have lost to Portland in 2000, they would have lost to the Kings in 2002[as Kobe was a better player than Dirk at that point.. in pretty much every basketball area including clutch play], there's no guarantees in 2003 with Shaq coming into the season out of shape and unmotivated and with a lot of stiff competition in the West, and anything beyond 04 is featuring a non prime Shaq and at that point you cant really know how many they would win. From 2000 to about 2005 I could see them winning a maximum of two titles based on what we've seen.. still pretty good. Dirk could still win after with other teams later on though.

Honestly though, you could plug in any allstar/semi-superstar into those LA teams and see a ring or two.. just like you could put AI or Tmac on the mid 90s bulls and see a title or two.Doesn't put them on Kobe or Jordan's level though.

[OmniStrife]

Because the Lakers were far from dominant in that stretch. They should have lost to Portland in 2000, they would have lost to the Kings in 2002[as Kobe was a better player than Dirk at that point.. in pretty much every basketball area including clutch play], there's no guarantees in 2003 with Shaq coming into the season out of shape and unmotivated and with a lot of stiff competition in the West, and anything beyond 04 is featuring a non prime Shaq and at that point you cant really know how many they would win. From 2000 to about 2005 I could see them winning a maximum of two titles based on what we've seen.. still pretty good. Dirk could still win after with other teams later on though.

Honestly though, you could plug in any allstar/semi-superstar into those LA teams and see a ring or two.. just like you could put AI or Tmac on the mid 90s bulls and see a title or two.Doesn't put them on Kobe or Jordan's level though.


:roll: @ you for sporting an avatar of that bandwagonning fool...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8xBx7ApEPCY/TPwRgBR6rxI/AAAAAAAAdnk/jaXMuoeK9pk/s1600/snoop1.jpg
http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/05/07/dd_oak21nba.jpg
http://rapradar.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/snoopdogg4.jpg

[DMAVS41]

Because the Lakers were far from dominant in that stretch. They should have lost to Portland in 2000, they would have lost to the Kings in 2002[as Kobe was a better player than Dirk at that point.. in pretty much every basketball area including clutch play], there's no guarantees in 2003 with Shaq coming into the season out of shape and unmotivated and with a lot of stiff competition in the West, and anything beyond 04 is featuring a non prime Shaq and at that point you cant really know how many they would win. From 2000 to about 2005 I could see them winning a maximum of two titles based on what we've seen.. still pretty good. Dirk could still win after with other teams later on though.

Honestly though, you could plug in any allstar/semi-superstar into those LA teams and see a ring or two.. just like you could put AI or Tmac on the mid 90s bulls and see a title or two.Doesn't put them on Kobe or Jordan's level though.

totally agree. don't think they have much of a chance to beat the kings in 02....might lose to portland. all possibilities.

i think 2 or so rings is likely in 8 years though.....

on the flip side, if you stay consistent....its easily within reason that kobe might not win 1 ring with the teams dirk has had.

doesn't make dirk better than kobe.....kobe is the better player in my opinion. i'm just shooting down the rings argument. at most kobe is winning 3 titles with the kind of teams/coaching dirk has had throughout his career. and that would be a truly amazing accomplishment and wouldn't make kobe any worse a player having 3 rings rather than 5.

and i'm still not sure the relevance of this to the discussion about what happened last year in the playoffs. but as usual, somehow 5 rings comes up in a kobe conversation about what happened in 2011 (not saying you brought it up of course) just speaking in general terms.