True dat.

To quote a famous Los Angelean: “Can’t we all just get along?”

Nah. I guess you’re right.

Now, should a guy with -skeels- know better than to tomahawk a guy who’s in full extension 30 inches off the ground? Oh hell yeah. If he does catch the arm the guy goes down in a heap, possibly hurting himself.

So I’d say his intention was within the bounds of the game, but his judgement and execution were, at best, overheated, and at worst, reckless. Should have gotten a suspension.

BTW, it won’t be much of a rivalry until we can scare them in the second season. But it sure was fun seeing Oden vs. Bynum and Kobe vs. Roy and thinking ‘I may get to see this for a lot more years…’

In the minds of thier fans, the Lakers do no wrong. It was Rudy’s fault for having the audacity to try to score and easy buckets against their Royal Highnesses the Lakers. He ought to have stopped and handed the ball to Ariza in tribute.

C’mon Igor. Rudy wasn’t “in traffic” as you said. It was a breakaway dunk. The only player within 10 feet was Ariza.

I suspect you didn’t actually see the play. Yet you feel strongly enough that you know what you’re talking about that you’ll actually post a comment about the play.

Sadly typical of Laker fans. Arrogance that has no shame.

Oh, yeah, Blazers win…Blazers win.

It also should be noted that Pau Gasol and Rudy have spent many years playing together as teammates, and when Rudy went down, Gasol instantly got up and starred nonstop at his FRIEND laying on the floor. Gasol’s concern was echoed on the Laker bench. ALL players can relate to seeing a teammate go down. No matter how the play evolved between Rudy and Trevor, the idea that the intent was to injure Rudy is the thought process of someone who has not seen Trevor play much, or else is out of touch with reality. Athletes are not soldiers in a war, even if they use a lot of the same lingo.

I understand why Blazers fans wanna get hyped up and yell. PLEASE DO! Frankly, that’s one of the best parts of games at the Rose Garden, THE FANS! The energy and crowd noise of Blazer home games (along w/ Jazz fans) is consistently loud and exciting, a stark contrast to the lethargic LA crowds. Boo Kobe, boo Ariza. And since Phil Jackson’s health is keeping him from making the trip, boo Kurt Rambis, too! There is zero doubt that the Rose Garden and its fans are far superior in their support of their team versus the Staples Center and all the too-cool-to-care SOBs sitting in their corporate seats.

But keep in mind the difference between “real” dirty players, and players competing. Sometimes the results of a play can blur the line. I’ve seen many a Laker fan scream bloody murder when Kobe ends up in a heap on the floor as a result of strong competition.

I’ve been a hoops fan nearly 40 years. I love the Lakers, always have. But I’m a hoops fan first. High school, college, womens. I love the game, even it it’s distorted NBA form. Frankly, I don’t consider the NBA to be “real” basketball. If you watched the recently concluded NCAA tournaments (including the womens), it would be impossible for the typical NBA fan to not wonder over and over how the refs didn’t call what were CLEARLY fouls. Oh wait, that’s right. It’s because in the NBA, with it’s long 82 game season, system that protects shooters and mish-mash of goofy rules fans learn to accept stuff that is nonexistent in every other basketball league. I’m not about to condone nor lambast Ariza’s foul on Fernandez, but I do recognize how and why it happened, and dirty play or malicious intent it was not.