Latest news with #RobertHorry
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers legend Robert Horry on what went wrong with the Boston Celtics title defense
The Boston Celtics probably could have done a better job defending their 2024 NBA title, and former Los Angeles Lakers star Robert Horry thinks he knows how it all went sideways for the Celtics. The University of Alabama alum knows a thing or two about what it takes to win multiple titles in close succession as one of the only players in league history to have won multiple titles with three different teams (the Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets), so his words should perhaps carry more weight than most. The Andalusia, Alabama native sat down with the folks behind the "WEEI Boston's Sports Original" YouTube channel, who put together a clip of Horry's talk with the eponymous hosts of the "Jones and Keefe" show, Adam Jones and Rich Keefe. The trio took a deep dive into what went wrong for Boston's title defense, among several topics. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say!
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers' X-factor joins Robert Horry in extremely exclusive NBA Finals club
The post Pacers' X-factor joins Robert Horry in extremely exclusive NBA Finals club appeared first on ClutchPoints. The NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers will come down a deciding Game 7 following the Pacers' 108-91 win in Game 6 to even the series at three games apiece. As the Pacers prepare for Game 7 of the NBA Finals, they'll take solace in the fact that they have quite the X-factor in Obi Toppin on their roster. Advertisement Obi Toppin has been crucial for the Pacers off the bench during the NBA Finals, and he joined another great playoff performer in Robert Horry with his performance in Game 6. Toppin and Horry are the only two bench players in NBA Finals history to amass at least 70 points, 30 rebounds and 12 made three-point shots, as per StatMuse. In Game 6, Toppin finished with a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes off the bench. He shot 6-of-12 from the field, 4-of-7 from the three-point line and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Toppin is in his second full season with the Pacers after being traded by the New York Knicks ahead of the 2023-24 season. Toppin has emerged as one of the better role players in the NBA, and has played a major role during the Pacers' run to the NBA Finals. Coming into Game 6, in 21 playoff games, Toppin had been playing a little over 18 minutes per game and taking around seven shot attempts. He had been averaging 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists with splits of 49.7 percent shooting from the field, 30.9 percent shooting from the three-point line and 70 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Advertisement During the regular season, Toppin appeared in 79 games, including four starts, at a little over 19 minutes per game. He averaged 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists with splits of 52.9 percent shooting from the field, 36.5 percent shooting from the three-point line and 78.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and the Thunder is scheduled for Sunday, June 22. Related: Pacers passing stat vs. Thunder will absolutely blow your mind Related: Tyrese Haliburton warns Pacers about Game 7 'poison'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kobe Bryant-Shaq Lakers championship teammate makes Hall of Fame pitch
The post Kobe Bryant-Shaq Lakers championship teammate makes Hall of Fame pitch appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the Los Angeles Lakers' season recently coming to an unceremonious end, fans would be forgiven for reminiscing about the days of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, when the team's dominance over the NBA landscape was unparalleled. While O'Neal and Bryant were the clear two best players on those teams, the Lakers also had an impressive supporting cast, including Robert Horry. Advertisement Horry recently spoke with TMZ about why he believes he should be an NBA Hall of Famer. 'It's about your basketball career, not what you did in the NBA,' he said. 'I know what I did throughout my career as a basketball player, those are Hall of Fame stats.' Horry was indeed a star at the collegiate level, making a name for himself with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He went on to wear a variety of hats during his 16 years in the NBA, during which he won an astonishing seven championships, three of which came with the Lakers. Horry developed a reputation for knocking down clutch shots throughout his career, earning him the nickname 'Big Shot Bob.' One of those shots came during the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings, in which Horry hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lakers a crucial series lead. Advertisement Horry had previously won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets during the 1990s and went on to win two more with the San Antonio Spurs as part of their dynastic run. While he may not have had the counting statistics of a traditional Hall of Fame player, there's clearly no denying Horry's impact on winning, as he played a variety of different roles throughout his career and had no problems delivering during crunch time. Meanwhile in the present, the Lakers are looking to find a way to build around their new superstar in Luka Doncic while simultaneously maximizing the time that LeBron James has left. The Lakers failed in those efforts this past postseason with a five-game loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, though there is hope that this offseason could give Rob Pelinka and company a chance to restructure the roster and get the team back in contention.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers fans will mock Mike Bibby's 2002 Western Conference Finals claims
The post Lakers fans will mock Mike Bibby's 2002 Western Conference Finals claims appeared first on ClutchPoints. Over two decades after the contentious 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers, Mike Bibby has revisited the series on his podcast, reigniting one of the most polarizing debates in NBA playoff history. But his emotional recollections are likely to be met with ridicule from Lakers fans who remain steadfast in the legitimacy of their team's championship run. Advertisement During a recent episode of the Straight Game Podcast with co-hosts Eddie House and Ty Ellis, Bibby reflected on the series that many consider one of the most controversial in league history. He claimed the Kings were on the verge of celebrating a Western Conference title and that the series was effectively stolen from them. 'We like they were getting our champagne ready in the locker room to celebrate winning the Western Conference and you know we kind of sh*t the bed,' Bibby said. 'I still, the Robert Horry shot… I still can't watch it.' Mike Bibby recalls missed chances, Game 7 collapse, and rare postgame interview with Kobe Bryant Bibby referred to Game 4 of the series, where Horry hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer that tied the series 2-2. The Kings had led the game late, and Horry's shot shifted the momentum back to the Lakers. Advertisement 'That was our championship and we went to game seven. It just shows you that we are a better team,' Bibby continued. 'If you watch some of those highlights, you could see like Shaq's face, Kobe's face, rest in peace, they're like it's over.' The Kings lost Game 7 at home in overtime after shooting just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc and missing 14 free throws. Bibby acknowledged their struggles, saying, 'We kind of sh*t the bed in Game 7… under 50% from the free throw line.' He also recalled the postgame interview that featured both him and Kobe Bryant, expressing surprise that a losing player would be asked to speak alongside the series victor. Kings' lingering frustration over 2002 WCF clash meets firm pushback from Lakers fans Bibby's retelling reflects a broader sentiment among Sacramento fans that the series was marred by poor officiating. Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals remains a flashpoint in NBA history, with widespread criticism of the officiating. The Lakers attempted 40 free throws to Sacramento's 25, including a 27-9 disparity in the fourth quarter alone. Former referee Tim Donaghy, who was later imprisoned for his role in a betting scandal, alleged that the game was manipulated to force a Game 7. Advertisement Despite the controversy, the Lakers went on to win the series and complete a three-peat by defeating the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. To many Los Angeles fans, the Kings' complaints amount to little more than excuses for a team that couldn't finish the job at home in Game 7. Bibby's remarks are unlikely to shift public perception in Los Angeles. For Lakers fans, the 2002 run remains a symbol of dominance during the Shaq-Kobe era — while Sacramento's continued grievances are seen as the echoes of a dynasty that never was. Related: Key LeBron James, Luka Doncic Lakers teammate undergoes surgery Related: Stephen A. Smith calls out Lakers' Luka Doncic for 'lacking leadership'
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Robert Horry had some blunt comments about Luka Doncic's defense
Robert Horry had some blunt comments about Luka Doncic's defense There has been plenty of criticism directed at Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic lately, and a good amount of it has centered around his lackluster one-on-one defense. While he can be an effective team defender at times (he averaged a career-high 1.8 steals a game this season), he has trouble staying in front of an opponent who has the basketball in his hands. Some of his defensive troubles could be attributed to his lack of conditioning, but there is also a feeling that he simply needs to adopt a different mentality on that end of the floor. Former Laker Robert Horry went on "The Dan Patrick Show" and not only said that the Slovenian needs to improve his defense, but that unless he does, his problems on that end of the floor will negate his greatness on offense (h/t Fadeaway World). "It's so weird that people talk about his weight, but yet he's still giving people 30 points," Horry said. "I tell people, I don't care about his weight. You need to get him in a gym and teach him how to play defense. "You know, that's the thing, because you can give someone 40 points, but if you're giving up 35 on the other end, those 40 points don't mean anything. "Because it's about wanting to. You know, he's never had to because he's always had people behind him to erase his mistakes. You think about now, there was no AD, no center. Nobody erased his mistakes in L.A. "He getting blown by, you know, they're getting layups. You know, if you watch stretches of games where Luka just stayed in front, because he's a big body, the offensive players are bouncing off him. You just stay in front. "And I think that is the key. And I think also he needs to want to play defense, because so many times he saves his energy for the offensive end. "I tell people all the time, if you can move your feet and get past and blow by people, that means you have some fast-twitch muscles. You can move pretty fast. So there's no reason you cannot play better defense on the other. You just got to want to. And I think a lot of times he doesn't want to. He'd rather just point." Opposing teams have taken to targeting Doncic when he's on defense, especially ever since he came to the Lakers, since the Lakers lack rim protection behind him. This was especially apparent in the first round of the NBA playoffs, when the Minnesota Timberwolves manhandled them in five games. He did average 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game as a member of the Purple and Gold during the regular season. But the team was lacking defensively, not just in the paint but also on the perimeter. Improving that defense seems to be a priority for the franchise this offseason. While it could acquire better perimeter defenders, everyone will need to adopt a defensive mentality if L.A. is to become a legitimate championship contender. That begins with Doncic and LeBron James, who have the luxury of sharing the burden of facilitating the team's offense and scoring, which frees them up to expend more energy on the defensive end.
