ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 18, 2004 9:14:05 GMT -5
Basketball thread: the playoffs are sure heating up
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 10:52:53 GMT -5
Kevin Garnett apologized Tuesday for making references to guns and saying he was "ready for war" in Game 7 between Minnesota and Sacramento.
"Sincerely, I apologize for my comments earlier," the Timberwolves forward told reporters after practice. "I didn't mean to offend anybody."
The Wolves and Kings play Wednesday night in Minneapolis for the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. On Monday, the league's Most Valuable Player was asked about the magnitude of a game that will decide a series marked by trash talking and hard fouls.
"This is it," he responded. "It's for all the marbles. I'm sitting in the house loading up the pump, I'm loading up the Uzis, I've got a couple of M-16s, couple of nines, couple of joints with some silencers on them, couple of grenades, got a missile launcher. I'm ready for war."
Afterward, Garnett said he met with the team's public relations staff and discussed his remarks.
"It was one-sided thinking on my part, but I'm man enough to admit it," he said. Garnett specifically mentioned veterans and families with loved ones serving in Iraq in his apology.
"I'm a young man and I understand when I'm appropriate, and this is totally inappropriate. I was totally thinking about basketball, not reality."
League spokesman Tim Frank said the NBA wouldn't discipline Garnett.
"Kevin understood he shouldn't have said some of things he said," Frank said. "We're just glad he set the record straight today."
Wolves coach Flip Saunders said Garnett used a poor choice of words, but attributed them to his competitive nature.
"Anyone who knows him knows he has great passion for the game," Saunders said.
Point guard Sam Cassell said any sports fan would know Garnett didn't mean any harm by his comments.
"Violence is not one thing that's on his mind," Cassell said.
In Sacramento, Kings coach Rick Adelman said he told his players to worry about themselves and not about Garnett's comments.
"I'm more worried about what he's going to do out there without any ammunition," Adelman said.
Nevertheless, center Brad Miller -- who's sparred with Garnett at times this series -- poked a little fun.
"I'm bringing my shotgun, my bow and arrow, my four-wheel drive truck and four wheelers and run over him," Miller said Tuesday. "It's going to be the ultimate battle. He's a warrior, and that's how I like to play when I step between the lines."
Garnett has been at the center of controversy a few times this postseason. In the first round against Denver, Nuggets forward Francisco Elson called Garnett "gay" for hitting him in the groin during a game.
The comments drew the ire of some gay and lesbian groups and Elson issued an apology through the team.
In Game 6 against the Kings, Garnett got into a physical confrontation with Sacramento guard Anthony Peeler. After taking an elbow to the midsection from Peeler in the third quarter, Garnett retaliated by throwing his shoulder and elbow into Peeler's chest.
Peeler, a friend and former teammate of Garnett's, responded by elbowing Garnett in the face. The NBA suspended Peeler for two games Monday and fined Garnett $7,500. --------------------------
It is so stupid that he has to apologize for what he said. He wasn't saying those comments literally so why do all these people go ballistic when somebody uses a war analogy. Gimme a fucking break, god some people are fucking stupid
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Post by NdY on May 19, 2004 11:23:20 GMT -5
Yeah, it's just plain stupid, the whole thing. I don't understand how anyone in their right mind could be insulted by what KG said. Doesn't matter though. It's gonna be a great game tonight, though I think I'm leaning towards the Twolves. Not like either team has a shot against the Lakers (unless Shaq hurts his toe again). Man, I really wanna see an Indy/Twolves final. Not like that will ever happen.  |
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 15:47:41 GMT -5
I can't figure out this game 7 between the T-Wolves and Sac. I guess I'll just have to watch it w/o betting the game
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Post by NdY on May 19, 2004 21:59:37 GMT -5
K fuckin' G
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 22:03:19 GMT -5
KG is playing amazing ball right now! Wow! I'm happy for him
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 22:04:31 GMT -5
He has done everything right in this game. And the way he held back againstb Peeler last game shows how much he has matured as a player. maybe Webber can get some pointers from KG
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Post by NdY on May 19, 2004 22:05:24 GMT -5
Yeah, it'd be a fucking shame if they don't win this one. I swear, if Madsen drops one more ball I'll drive up to Minny myself and beat his ass.
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 22:08:26 GMT -5
Yeah, it'd be a fucking shame if they don't win this one. I swear, if Madsen drops one more ball I'll drive up to Minny myself and beat his ass. Haha, he's got some bad hands and coordination in general but he's actually played a very good series. |
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 22:12:16 GMT -5
oh boy, feeling the pressure now
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ClubberLang
Struggling Artist
think for yourself, question authority
Posts: 288
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Post by ClubberLang on May 19, 2004 22:30:41 GMT -5
wow, Webber was so close to sending that shit to OT. All that said.....Lakers in 6
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Post by NdY on May 20, 2004 13:04:06 GMT -5
Wow, how bad was Peja last night?
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phaet
Streetcorner Musician
Posts: 60
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Post by phaet on May 20, 2004 19:18:53 GMT -5
Peja was pretty much a whole different person in the playoffs. KG and the Wolves deserved this series though, I think there's gonna be some seriously good games in the Conference finals. But like Clubber, I'm taking Lakers in six.
Speaking of the Lakers, how cool is it that the playoff misfortunes of two different teams - Portland and Sacramento - over the last 4 years can almost be directly attributed to LA delivering a heartbreaking game 7 loss at some point? Every time one of those teams is bounced, everyone starts talking about how they collapsed in the fourth against the Lakers. Heh, I think it's pretty neat anyway.
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Post by NdY on May 20, 2004 20:21:30 GMT -5
And the new question is:
Will the last couple of seconds of Game 5 send San Antonio down the wrong path too?
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phaet
Streetcorner Musician
Posts: 60
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Post by phaet on May 20, 2004 20:38:16 GMT -5
That's a good question. My guess right now would be no...San Antonio has had very few problems in any area the last three years, with the only real exception being the Jason Kidd fiasco last year. They might indeed miss David Robinson, but honestly what really stopped them in this series was the Fisher shot. Reverse the roles in game 5 and I really think San Antonio wins in six instead. The Spurs just strike me as a much more stable team all around, and that game 5 was a fluke more than anything else; the other two instances were final games that both teams really should have won but they blew it. Much more mentally devastating than losing on a last second shot like that.
Portland was always a time bomb ready to explode way before that game seven ever happened; the Lakers were just the last straw. The Kings have been much more gradual I feel, but Stojakovic's crunch time problems seem to be getting worse - certainly not lessening at this point - and C-Webb just can't buy a break anywhere these days. Will this lead to a dismantling of the roster and the coaching staff this summer? I'm pretty sure at least something big is gonna go down in Sacromento this offseason.
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