Originally Posted by dba

I think this guy is an absolute moron. Let's see, Tay is no longer a defensive stopper because Rip played in position and guarded the opposing shooting guard. Something he's done pretty much every game since the Finals meeting. Sure.

Anyway...

Wow, great game. Lots of intensity, lots of energy, and Kobe doing what Kobe does. Some fairly dubious calls against the Pistons, but come on Dyess, what are you complaining about? That must have been an aggregate thing.

This was maybe the bench's best game. And I think it's at least partly because they came into a game that already had a high level of energy. It's got to be a lot easier coming in off the bench into an intense game than coming in the other night after the world's most boring first quarter. Starter intensity brings more energy and intensity from the bench.

Sheed didn't score much and shot badly, but he was embarrassingly good on the defensive end in the first half. It was like a cat toying with mice.