The Lakers won an amazing game last night!
To foul or not to foul? That is the question that is buzzing in the sports world today. The Lakers were facing the possibility of going down 2-0 in the NBA finals last night. There were just over 12 second left in the game. The score was 89-86 Detroit, and the Lakers had the ball. The inbound pass went to Shaq (a horrible free-throw shooter), who quickly dished to Luke Walton. Walton got the ball to Kobe, the man that everyone knew was going to take the last shot. Kobe dribbled around and with 2 seconds left hit a long threek-point shot to tie the game. The Lakers eventually won in overtime.
Commentators everywhere are asking whether or not the Pistons should have fouled Kobe. Larry Brown, the Pistons' coach, has been criticized for giving Bryant the opportunity to tie the game. I completely disagree. I think Brown made the right call in not fouling Bryant. If Richard Hamilton fouls Kobe beyond the three-point arc, Kobe is a good enough player to know when he is going to get fouled. He also is quick enough to launch a quick shot that would get him at least three free throws. If he makes the desperation three, the Lakers win the game in regulation. It was the right call not to foul Kobe.
The possible mistake that Brown and the Pistons made was not to foul Shaq when the inbound pass went to him. Even if Shaq makes his two free throws (which is not likely), the Pistons are still up by one point with 10 seconds left in the game. The Lakers would have had to make a quick foul. Detroit would have had the opportunity to make its free throws, and L.A., who had already spent its last time out, would have had to go the length of the floor with probably around 5-7 seconds left. Even in this scenario, however, I think Brown was justified in thinking that they should not foul. When you have a lead late in the game, it is usually the best strategy to not extend the game any longer than you have to (if you are behind, the exact opposite philosophy is true). The only way that the Lakers stay in last night's game is if someone hits a three-point shot, something that most players will fail at 70% of the time. Even if a Laker hits a miracle three-point shot, which Kobe did, the worst thing that happens at the end of regulation is that your team goes into overtime.
Brown and the Pistons are only being second-guessed today because Bryant made the shot. If Kobe would have missed, the sports reporters again would be praising Brown and the Pistons for their upset of the Lakers. There are always too many Monday morning quarterbacks.
Posted by Frank Yamada at June 9, 2004 02:59 PM