I'm not shocked about the Lakers. NO TEAM has EVER gone to the Finals 4x in a row. So, to think the Lakers were, was hopeful thinking by LA fans like myself, but also not surprising they didn't with that odd against them. To say the Lakers suck, or they weren't good enough to do it, isn't right because any team that went 3 straight fucking years, is never 'not capable' of winning it again. They simply had problems outside the court, it was obvious since New Orleans... I don't know if they were starting to feel the end of the season nearing with Phil Jackson for good, or just the chemistry in general lost in translation. But this is still the team that won 17-18 not long ago.
LA is not a firty team either. Neither player involved in those incidents has a reputation for being dirty, they simply handled a high pressured situation in an immature matter. That's it... pure frustration. I think this Laker team really really really believed they were better then Dallas, but for some reason cannot get it going when they needed too. Which made it worse, to think or know your better then the dude your fighting, but your losing. Especially for a kid who's what, 22 in Bynum? That's a lot of pressure for someone who was just like me & you before NBA.
Those two players made poor decisions, don't discredit the rest of the team for THEM. I didn't see Kobe, Fisher, Gasol, or anyone else act in that matter, they are vets with respect for the game, an understanding for the game, because they have been in the game for long enough.
Dallas' defense meets Miami's in the Finals... sorry but, I don't see Miami pulling through. Chicago stands a much better chance.