Okay, plenty of posts have been posted by Laker bashers and "anybody but the Laker posters". I understand, during the Bulls run, I wanted nothing but to see them lose which they never did.
I posted in a thread earlier that I layed -550 on Lakers before game 1 when the line first opened. I guess I'll take my medicine like a man. I still believe that laying that kind of chalk in the right spots isn't a bad play if you pick selectively. Unfortunately, this selection wasn't that great. The lakers are by no means out of it. But for the first 3 games, they got their collective asses handed to them in every aspect, coaching, and every position. Even the crowd was better for Detroit. The Staples center crowd is full of celebrities and rich folks in LA LA Land, but in my opinion, not many real rowdy type fans which make basketball fun. I don't mean rowdy as in get in fights, but I mean get in the other teams head. I wasn't there, but just from TV the atmosphere in that arena was NUTS. They've got great fans in Detroit.
PHIL JACKSON: I know you are an avid reader of madjacks when you aren't banging Jeanie Buss, or doing ZEN meditation or watching game film. Scrap the game film, let the Lakers play however they want, it really is your only hope to live or die by them. But by all means, your ONLY chance to get back in this series is put Payton on the bench. And I mean for good. Don't start him, don't substitute with him, don't even let him carry the gatorade into the arena. I said this in an earlier post, he is a cancer to the team, and who cares what his problem is, be it physical or mental, he is a major hinderance to the team. If he sits, you have a chance. You really only need to win one in Detroit to have a shot, but that's a big IF. If he continues to play, its gonna be a long ride home to start the summer.
As for me, I bit the bullet and hedged as best I could out of my bet. Best I can do now is lose 4k, but its much better than 11. I can handle it, 10% of the roll won't kill me, but I will admit I was dead wrong on this one. Its' actually the Lakers who are outclassed at least so far in this series. If the lakers can get it back to LA, I can still play individual games, and maybe have a nice opportunity to get closer to even.
As for the referees in this series, I have every game on TIVO, and watched the majority of them back. I will agree with Ticali, that the Lakers aren't getting the best job of refereeing. But I guess I'll say it in a better manner. The disparity really is there. Stats do show that Detroit is getting the majority of the calls. BUT, they are doing much more to earn free passes. They are driving the lane, and playing super physical even on offense. They deserve most of the shots they are getting. The Lakers are getting the obvious ones, but they are NOT getting the close one's they got in the past. The previous three years, if you even brushed KOBE or SHAQ, guaranteed free throws. So basically, its not that the Lakers are getting screwed necessarily, its that the refs aren't giving them the calls they always got in the past. This creates an equal playing field. Apparently the Lakers weren't ready for that, and the best team will win this series.
I don't think the Lakers are out of it quite yet, if they can (big question) steal one in Detroit, its gonna be tough to win two games in LA throughout the series(already won 1 and should have been 2).
From a gambling standpoint, I would advise all of you with those juicy +600 piston tickets to at least hedge some of it so you can book a profit. I'm a firm believer in booking any kind of a win when given a freeroll opportunity. The Lakers are a storybook team and for them to come back from this would just about cap the NBA storybook season and wouldnt surprise me. I'm not saying they will, but that it wouldn't surprise me. Remember, I'm not much of a Laker fan, just saying that when you get the freeroll opportunity take it. Others might differ, but thats my philosophy.
Basically the point of this post is to say congrats Detroit backers at least so far. I'm still not 100% convinced that you will win, but I like your chances. The Lakers can still win the series though, Detroit is not a foregone conclusion. I'll eat my words that the Lakers would outclass the Pistons, because the exact opposite has happened.
Hope everyone else makes some money during these playoffs.
Good luck.
I posted in a thread earlier that I layed -550 on Lakers before game 1 when the line first opened. I guess I'll take my medicine like a man. I still believe that laying that kind of chalk in the right spots isn't a bad play if you pick selectively. Unfortunately, this selection wasn't that great. The lakers are by no means out of it. But for the first 3 games, they got their collective asses handed to them in every aspect, coaching, and every position. Even the crowd was better for Detroit. The Staples center crowd is full of celebrities and rich folks in LA LA Land, but in my opinion, not many real rowdy type fans which make basketball fun. I don't mean rowdy as in get in fights, but I mean get in the other teams head. I wasn't there, but just from TV the atmosphere in that arena was NUTS. They've got great fans in Detroit.
PHIL JACKSON: I know you are an avid reader of madjacks when you aren't banging Jeanie Buss, or doing ZEN meditation or watching game film. Scrap the game film, let the Lakers play however they want, it really is your only hope to live or die by them. But by all means, your ONLY chance to get back in this series is put Payton on the bench. And I mean for good. Don't start him, don't substitute with him, don't even let him carry the gatorade into the arena. I said this in an earlier post, he is a cancer to the team, and who cares what his problem is, be it physical or mental, he is a major hinderance to the team. If he sits, you have a chance. You really only need to win one in Detroit to have a shot, but that's a big IF. If he continues to play, its gonna be a long ride home to start the summer.
As for me, I bit the bullet and hedged as best I could out of my bet. Best I can do now is lose 4k, but its much better than 11. I can handle it, 10% of the roll won't kill me, but I will admit I was dead wrong on this one. Its' actually the Lakers who are outclassed at least so far in this series. If the lakers can get it back to LA, I can still play individual games, and maybe have a nice opportunity to get closer to even.
As for the referees in this series, I have every game on TIVO, and watched the majority of them back. I will agree with Ticali, that the Lakers aren't getting the best job of refereeing. But I guess I'll say it in a better manner. The disparity really is there. Stats do show that Detroit is getting the majority of the calls. BUT, they are doing much more to earn free passes. They are driving the lane, and playing super physical even on offense. They deserve most of the shots they are getting. The Lakers are getting the obvious ones, but they are NOT getting the close one's they got in the past. The previous three years, if you even brushed KOBE or SHAQ, guaranteed free throws. So basically, its not that the Lakers are getting screwed necessarily, its that the refs aren't giving them the calls they always got in the past. This creates an equal playing field. Apparently the Lakers weren't ready for that, and the best team will win this series.
I don't think the Lakers are out of it quite yet, if they can (big question) steal one in Detroit, its gonna be tough to win two games in LA throughout the series(already won 1 and should have been 2).
From a gambling standpoint, I would advise all of you with those juicy +600 piston tickets to at least hedge some of it so you can book a profit. I'm a firm believer in booking any kind of a win when given a freeroll opportunity. The Lakers are a storybook team and for them to come back from this would just about cap the NBA storybook season and wouldnt surprise me. I'm not saying they will, but that it wouldn't surprise me. Remember, I'm not much of a Laker fan, just saying that when you get the freeroll opportunity take it. Others might differ, but thats my philosophy.
Basically the point of this post is to say congrats Detroit backers at least so far. I'm still not 100% convinced that you will win, but I like your chances. The Lakers can still win the series though, Detroit is not a foregone conclusion. I'll eat my words that the Lakers would outclass the Pistons, because the exact opposite has happened.
Hope everyone else makes some money during these playoffs.
Good luck.
