Im getting rather frustrated with the Celtics...Instead of playing like team when they are losing, EVERYONE tries to be the hero and make the big shot but end up forcing it and taking a bad shot.
Chat with us There!
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The Lakers outplayed the Spurs last night. They outrebounded the Spurs, they outhustled the Spurs had a nice little comeback, but they should never have been in that position when playing at home in a crucial game 4.
Having said that, the Fisher no-call was BS. A lot of calls went the Spurs' way throughout the game, and they even got some charity near the end. But I just don't understand how the refs can watch a blatant foul at such an important moment and swallow their whistles. Forget what Pop and Barry said after the game--if you know anything about the Spurs, you'd know that they do all their complaining on the court during the game, and then shut their mouths off the court after the game.
Anyway, no healthy Manu, no championship. It's as simple as that.
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That would be nice. Do you think it could really happen?
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I've been sort of frustrated watching them for the entire season. They're truly a dominant organization but their Big Three all try to be heroes. Coming from different teams where they were the sole superstars, they're not used to focusing on winning and not individual statistics and individual accomplishments. It's unfortunate.
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I was shocked, as well. This isn't the only botched officiating instance that I have witnessed in the NBA. Reggie Miller, as you may recall, was known for crying to referees and pleading for some foul shots. As far as the Spurs go, I just hate them.
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yes cause lord knows the spurs are the only team in the nba who complain on the court during the game...
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There's a very real possibility that every series that Boston's in ends up going 7 games. That's freakin' crazy. I wonder if that's ever happened before.
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Im just glad that they have the 3-2 lead..And we have seen what they can do in Detroit in game 3..They need to win this next game so thay can get an extra day or 2 rest.
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The Lord knows everything - even how to defend Kobe Bryant effectively.
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I don't know, but it surely indicates that they're not as strong as they seem to be. They're sort of like one of those deceiving teams that look good on paper but are mediocre in real life. In fact, they are one of those teams!
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What are the odds (not betting-wise)? Both teams have been in a stalemate during this entire series.
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The Lakers have won and are heading to the NBA Finals!
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Congrats to them...Now LETS GO CELTICS...
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YES YES YES YES YES YES YES WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Lakers - Celtics Game 1 Thursday in Boston
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I think if the Hornets had beat the Spurs, the Lakers would still be playing and would have a really good possibility of not making it to the Finals.
The Spurs lacked a true quality player that can take over at any time and hit the big shots. And the fact that they dont run also killed them. They can hold off most teams when they get a decent lead but most teams dont have Kobe. No matter how well you run your game plan, a guy with Kobe's athleticism and skill set can always manage to find a way to score by either stretching out just a tad further on a well defended layup, or hitting that fade-away or making a last second pass to a wide open player after the defense committed to him. Once the Lakers clamped down on D, the Spurs just couldnt counter their runs.
The Hornets can run, they have a player that can take over any time, they have a lights out shooter, they can trade basket for basket. All they lacked was experience, it showed in that game 7.
Anyway, this is going to be a fun Final. I know the Celtics struggled but they have the players to give the Lake-show trouble. They have a sharp-shooter and they have two guys that can take over.
I honestly cant pick a winner. I wanna pick the Lakers but the Celtics match up better than any of the teams the Lakers faced so far.
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The Lakers should be able to win this series. The Spurs have some true quality players, but they couldn't perform under the pressure. It'll be an interesting series!
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Well the 2 best teams in each Confrence made it and i believe the 1 on 1 match-ups are equal..Perkins is Stronger than Gasol but Gasol has more scoring ability. Rondo is a good match-up agains Farmar.He's faster and has found his ability to score. Allen and Kobe, what can you say, Allens a sharpshooter that has finally starting hitting shot and Kobe is just Kobe.Garnett it more athletic than Odem but Odem has great size and plays like Garnett.Finally i think it would be Pirce and Fisher which i think Pierce will win that match-up no problem.
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Keys to the Series
In the last series, I felt that the Laker's ability to limit Tony Parker (you can't STOP a guy like him, but just hope to limit) was the key to the series. All in all, I thought the Lakers did an effective job against him. This time around, I think this series will be determined by how well Paul Pierce & Kobe Bryant are able to compromise the defense.
Paul Pierce vs. Lakers
Because he's been on below average to bad teams for so long, I think that Paul Pierce is really underrated. He's a superb scorer, has excellent court vision, and is a very solid defender. He takes some ill-advised jump shots sometimes, and that's what the Lakers need to do to stop him.
The problem for the Lakers is that they don't have anyone that can really defend him that's been in their rotation so far. He's a bit too big and physical for Kobe, and we need #24 on the offensive end...not chasing around and bodying up a guy like Pierce. I expect Ariza to finally get some minutes for this reason. Thet haven't faced a high scoring wing player since Melo, & Trevor wasn't healthy then.
Anyway, with Radmanovic guarding him, at least to start, Pierce needs to exploit that. The Lakers need to rotate well enough to force him into jump shots.
If I know Phil Jackson, expect him to match Kobe Bryant up with Rajon Rondo so he can roam, play help defense, and rest when he needs to. Just watch.
Kobe vs. Celtics
Penetration, penetration, & penetration. You WILL NOT beat the Celtics without it. They're sooooooooooooo good at rotating & helping that simply running your offense is gonna result in somebody taking a contested 20 footer with 3 seconds left on the shot clock. Kobe's the only guy on our team that can compromise their defense, and thankfully the Celtics don't have a guy that can prevent him from doing that. The Spurs were able to stick Bruce Bowen on Kobe and make him a jump shooter. Sure, Kobe shot 53% from the field, but he didn't get to the Free Throw line. I don't care about FG%, I'm a TS% guy. Getting free throw>>>>>>>>>>>any other shot in basketball. I think Kobe can do that here.
Also, there's the Gasol/Odom factor. Being that Kobe's going to beat his man off of the dribble, Gasol & Odom need to make the proper cuts & convert when their man comes over to help on Kobe. If nothing else, this dribble penetration is going to lead to open 3 pointers for Fisher, Machine, & Vlad. I like my chances there.
Anyway....whoever's does a better job at exploiting the matchup (Pierce or Kobe) is going to be the team that wins this series, IMO.
In the last series, I felt that the Laker's ability to limit Tony Parker (you can't STOP a guy like him, but just hope to limit) was the key to the series. All in all, I thought the Lakers did an effective job against him. This time around, I think this series will be determined by how well Paul Pierce & Kobe Bryant are able to compromise the defense.
Paul Pierce vs. Lakers
Because he's been on below average to bad teams for so long, I think that Paul Pierce is really underrated. He's a superb scorer, has excellent court vision, and is a very solid defender. He takes some ill-advised jump shots sometimes, and that's what the Lakers need to do to stop him.
The problem for the Lakers is that they don't have anyone that can really defend him that's been in their rotation so far. He's a bit too big and physical for Kobe, and we need #24 on the offensive end...not chasing around and bodying up a guy like Pierce. I expect Ariza to finally get some minutes for this reason. Thet haven't faced a high scoring wing player since Melo, & Trevor wasn't healthy then.
Anyway, with Radmanovic guarding him, at least to start, Pierce needs to exploit that. The Lakers need to rotate well enough to force him into jump shots.
If I know Phil Jackson, expect him to match Kobe Bryant up with Rajon Rondo so he can roam, play help defense, and rest when he needs to. Just watch.
Kobe vs. Celtics
Penetration, penetration, & penetration. You WILL NOT beat the Celtics without it. They're sooooooooooooo good at rotating & helping that simply running your offense is gonna result in somebody taking a contested 20 footer with 3 seconds left on the shot clock. Kobe's the only guy on our team that can compromise their defense, and thankfully the Celtics don't have a guy that can prevent him from doing that. The Spurs were able to stick Bruce Bowen on Kobe and make him a jump shooter. Sure, Kobe shot 53% from the field, but he didn't get to the Free Throw line. I don't care about FG%, I'm a TS% guy. Getting free throw>>>>>>>>>>>any other shot in basketball. I think Kobe can do that here.
Also, there's the Gasol/Odom factor. Being that Kobe's going to beat his man off of the dribble, Gasol & Odom need to make the proper cuts & convert when their man comes over to help on Kobe. If nothing else, this dribble penetration is going to lead to open 3 pointers for Fisher, Machine, & Vlad. I like my chances there.
Anyway....whoever's does a better job at exploiting the matchup (Pierce or Kobe) is going to be the team that wins this series, IMO.
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