NBA Finals 2008 - Lakers vs. Celtics

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I wonder what the odds of the series going seven is now?

I doubt it.... but if the Lakers can win game 6, they'll take game 7.  The pressure will be too much for Boston.

[MaineDolFan]

I wonder what the odds of the series going seven is now?

Decent, maybe.  Perkins being hurt is going to be huge.  I always thought the key match up of this series was Gasol and Perkins.  With Perk in the game Gasol got pushed around and didn't do much defensively or on the boards.  Different story last night with Perk out, Gasol was a monster.  I think that was the difference in the game.

[SportsChick]

I couldn't disagree more Tommy. I don't see the Celts not winning this series, only having to win 1 of 2 at home (oh yeah, and not once this season did they lose 3 in a row)

[gocowboys31]

I doubt it.... but if the Lakers can win game 6, they'll take game 7.  The pressure will be too much for Boston.

Do you think before you actually speak? There is pressure on everyone. Yeah, Kobe has no pressure to win a title without Fat Shaq. Phil Jackson dosent want that 10th championship to surpass Red Auerbach........no PRESSURE. I guess you missed the way the celtics responded to the PRESSURE in those prior 7 game series.

The game was there for the taking, but the lakers made a few more plays than we did. We did our job. We got one game in LA. Let's see if Gasol and Odom have those kind of games in Boston. The celtics bench has outperformed the laker bench even on the road and i don't expect the lakers bench players to play as well in boston either.

The lakers just saved face last night, Paul Pierce wont be denied tuesday night.

[MaineDolFan]

The one thing about your posts that bum me out, Cowboys, is that with your knowledge of the sport you could really add some serious objective discussion to this.  I'm not piling on for being a homer and being excited about Boston doing well, but statements like "Paul Pierce won't be denied" make me roll my eyes.  Paul had a great game last night, yes.  But I notice that no one is taking him to task for the sloppy ass ball handling that allowed Kobe to steal the ball and then finish with a thundering dunk that put the game out of reach.

Boston was down by 1 when Pierce had the rock at the top of the guy.  Kobe slams it 8 seconds later and now Boston is down by 3 and then they foul on the inbounds.  Fisher hits both and now the lead is 5, bye bye game.

All due to one sloppy play that should have been avoided.

I love Pierce as much as the next guy, I have even worked with him on some of the charity events he's done in Southern Maine.  But let's not ride the guy's jock so tightly we forget reality.

[gocowboys31]

The one thing about your posts that bum me out, Cowboys, is that with your knowledge of the sport you could really add some serious objective discussion to this.  I'm not piling on for being a homer and being excited about Boston doing well, but statements like "Paul Pierce won't be denied" make me roll my eyes.  Paul had a great game last night, yes.  But I notice that no one is taking him to task for the sloppy ass ball handling that allowed Kobe to steal the ball and then finish with a thundering dunk that put the game out of reach.

Boston was down by 1 when Pierce had the rock at the top of the guy.  Kobe slams it 8 seconds later and now Boston is down by 3 and then they foul on the inbounds.  Fisher hits both and now the lead is 5, bye bye game.

All due to one sloppy play that should have been avoided.

I love Pierce as much as the next guy, I have even worked with him on some of the charity events he's done in Southern Maine.  But let's not ride the guy's jock so tightly we forget reality.

The guy had 38 pts 6 rebounds and 8 assists. If it werent for Pierce the game would've long been decided. How about giving Kobe Bryant some credit for a great defensive play. Kobe's only made all defensive team 8 or 9 times. Pierce is the last guy im finding fault with. The guy has been the best player in this series.

How about throwing some blame on Garnett who missed two critical free throws down the strecth and a easy tip in over farmar. 13 pts isn't enough from garnett to win a close out game on the road. How about Rondo who's acting like a 15ft jump shot is some kinda of sickness. Maybe he'll have a different mentality coming back to boston, but he was a detriment on the road. Like i said give the lakers credit the did want was necessary, but their supporting players even at home are inconsistent and i don't see them all of a sudden have 2 great games on the road in boston. If im wrong i'll be here to take my medicine.

[MaineDolFan]

Tell you what - say Dallas is in a Super Bowl.  Emmit Smith carries the rock 32 times for 160 yards and two scores.  End of the game is looming and Dallas is down by 5.  Sweep right and Smith breaks into the clearing.  70 yards, no one around him...or so he thinks.  He's carrying the rock like it's a loaf of bread.  Suddenly someone swats his arm, ball pops loose and it's recovered and four plays later you're watching the Dolphins dance around the field as champions?

Are you taking the 'we wouldn't have been as close as we were without him' stance?  I doubt it.

It was NOT a great defensive play.  It was possible because Pierce got sloppy with the ball.  Period, end of discussion.  You can lay the blame on KG, or Rondo, or Powe or Johnny Most for being dead...none of those guys had the ball in their hand and had it stripped in a critical junction of the game.

Yes, KG needs to step up.  His shot has gone cold since game 6 of the Eastern Finals.  Rondo is what he is, he isn't a shooter.  But at the end of the day I'm putting last night on Pierce - and those reasons are legit.

[landlocked]

At least the Celtics will win the title at home.Boston should be making preparations for all the extra cops they will need,lol.

[gocowboys31]

Tell you what - say Dallas is in a Super Bowl.  Emmit Smith carries the rock 32 times for 160 yards and two scores.  End of the game is looming and Dallas is down by 5.  Sweep right and Smith breaks into the clearing.  70 yards, no one around him...or so he thinks.  He's carrying the rock like it's a loaf of bread.  Suddenly someone swats his arm, ball pops loose and it's recovered and four plays later you're watching the Dolphins dance around the field as champions?

Are you taking the 'we wouldn't have been as close as we were without him' stance?  I doubt it.

It was NOT a great defensive play.  It was possible because Pierce got sloppy with the ball.  Period, end of discussion.  You can lay the blame on KG, or Rondo, or Powe or Johnny Most for being dead...none of those guys had the ball in their hand and had it stripped in a critical junction of the game.

Yes, KG needs to step up.  His shot has gone cold since game 6 of the Eastern Finals.  Rondo is what he is, he isn't a shooter.  But at the end of the day I'm putting last night on Pierce - and those reasons are legit.

 It's not the end of story. Emmitt Smith's fumble could've been avoided with proper ball security. In basketball a great offensive play can been counteracted with a great defensive play. Sloppy ballhandling is dribbling the ball off you're foot or leg or dribbling between 2 or 3 defenders. You can spin the argument in any direction you'd like, but Pierce didn't fumble the ball into Lamar Odom's hands. kobe had to make a play and cause the turnover. Bottom line is Garnett missed 3 free throws in the 4th quarter and a makeable tip in late. If Garnett converts those free throws Kobe's dunk only puts the lakers up by 2 instead of 4. Paul Pierce is the last guy im blaming for the loss last night.

13pts and 14 rbs is a great game for a player like Kendrick perkins, but for the highest paid player in the league it's rather underwhelming. How about Garnett committing stupid fouls knowing that we needed his presence on the floor with Perkins being sidelined.

The only reason Garnett isn't getting blasted is because the celtics are up 3-2. If we were down 3-2 Garnett wouldn't be getting off so easily. With the exception of the first half of game 1 his offense has gone south. He continues to settle for outside jumpers, instead of posting up and either getting a high percentage shot or drawing a foul. Is Pau Gasol some great defensive stopper all of sudden.

I know what Rondo is, but in the previous three series he at least attempted those DARE shots. Kobe Bryant starts to defend him and he wants to become hesitant. When Eddie House enters the game i see a guy who thinks he can make every shot. If he misses he first 3, he feels he can make the next 3. Rondo needs to make Kobe Honor him.

A performance like that from your superstar player on the road should been enough to win if you can get a little help from your other STAR player.

If the celtics win,Paul Pierce is going to have to drive us over the finish line. Posey and Eddie House have Pierce's confidence, but they aren't going to take over the game. This will all be a moot point come Tuesday night, because i believe we close it out.

Maine you wanted be to be objective......you said celtics in 5, i said celtics in 7. Who's the homer here?

[Dave Gray]

Tell you what - say Dallas is in a Super Bowl.  Emmit Smith carries the rock 32 times for 160 yards and two scores.  End of the game is looming and Dallas is down by 5.  Sweep right and Smith breaks into the clearing.  70 yards, no one around him...or so he thinks.  He's carrying the rock like it's a loaf of bread.  Suddenly someone swats his arm, ball pops loose and it's recovered and four plays later you're watching the Dolphins dance around the field as champions?

It's not the same thing at all.  A single steal in basketball is practically nothing.  It's 1/50th of your scoring.  In the grand scheme of a game, it's pretty unimportant.

However, in football, fumbles are very, very, very costly, and scoring of any kind is at a premium.  In a regular game, a fumble on an otherwise TD drive is about 1/3rd or your points.

You can't really compare a steal in basketball to a fumble in football.

[MaineDolFan]

It's not the same thing at all.  A single steal in basketball is practically nothing.  It's 1/50th of your scoring.  In the grand scheme of a game, it's pretty unimportant.

However, in football, fumbles are very, very, very costly, and scoring of any kind is at a premium.  In a regular game, a fumble on an otherwise TD drive is about 1/3rd or your points.

You can't really compare a steal in basketball to a fumble in football.

Dude, lighten up.  It's an analogy, not a scientific debate on the difference between the difference in the two sports.

Cowboys - I also said C's in 5 based on almost nothing.  My exact words, really, it was just a feeling.  It was based more on my feeling that the East is such a better conference overall than the West.  I also said that Detroit would have beaten the Lakers in 6 and Cleveland would have given them a run for their money as well. 

I'm not disagreeing with you that Pierce is the engine making the C's machine go right now and that KG looks...well...ordinary.  And as a "superstar" he shouldn't look ordinary. 

I am making a flat out simple point about one instance in one game that cost Boston a chance to rap it up in five.  Re-watch that play.  Pierce assumed that KG had cleared the screen and didn't double check his defender.  Even he admitted it - that he got sloppy - and that it cost them. 

If you're going to give him all the credit in the world you also need to assign blame when appropriate.  When the C's need to come back, time and time again, from 15+ point deficits - you do realize Pierce was on the floor when they managed to fall behind, right?  Kobe scored 15 in the first quarter.  The difference in score was, what?  17?  Who was guarding Kobe in the first quarter?  Pierce.  As impressive as Boston's comeback win in game four was, they never should have been in a position to be down by 24 in the first place.

I'm not hating on Pierce at all - but if you're going to look at the picture make sure you look at it all.

[stinkfish]

One game at a time, Lakers. Go get 'em.

[Dave Gray]

Dude, lighten up.  It's an analogy, not a scientific debate on the difference between the difference in the two sports.

I'm not ranting or anything.  I just think it's a bad analogy and doesn't help you make your point.

[MaineDolFan]

You're probably right.  I'm basically saying that if a guy gets you close to a win but costs you that same win in the long term -- it's fair to look at his entire performance. 

Dear Paul,

Thanks for the 36 points and eight assists, Paul.  I appreciate it.  I also would have appreciated better defense in Q1 and less sloppy ball handling at the end of the game.  I know you can't do it all, and I'm not trying to be unfair.  You need help.  But as long as you are doing it all yourself, try to do it ALL. 

Love,
A casual fan that would love to see you win.

[Dave Gray]

I think that your assessment, Maine, is part of a bigger question that plagues sports nerds:  Can an otherwise great performance be negated by a single bad play at a specific time?  ....on the flipside, can a terrible performance be salvaged by a single big play when it counts?