The Celts can't play any worse than they did last night. They didn't show up all game. LA got every loose ball, too many offensive rebounds. Didn't help that Ray Ray was in foul trouble all game. Tony Allen was gawd awful. They will find a way to fix things before Game 2, and pull that one out.
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
<< <i>And so, it finally is Boston vs. L.A.! This should be a great series. It will be interesting to see how they match up with Rondo this time around - I agree that the Lakers are going to have their hands full with him. >>
NO ONE is a bigger Celtics fan than me. I watched all 67 losses in 1997 with only Tommy Heinsohn's hilarious homer-ism to comfort me...
but I think the Lakers win in 5, and there is a very simple reason:
Rondo living in the paint is the Celtics best weapon, clearly. Anyone who watched them all year would have to agree with that. He can get to the rack, dish it off and get offensive boards in the paint as good as any guard playing today
BUT
He always gets tentative doing it against good big men. Notice how his stats were off from the previous two series against Orlando? It was because of the fear of Dwight Howard. Now, the Lakers don't have Howard, but the combination of Gasol, Odom and Bynum plugging up the paint will take away options for the C's.
CAN THEY WIN?
Sure, but it'll be because Garnett shoots over 50% for the series and Ray Allen is over 45% from 3. I might even try some crazy defensive schemes where Rondo plays Artest and you drop Allen on Fisher (always a C's killer). You need to live with Artest jumpers and if you entice him enough, he'll shoot them.
Go Celtics! >>
Mike, I always enjoy reading your honest thoughts on a series. As a Lakers fan, I think Boston scares me more than any team, even after game 1. They might be an older team, but they know how to win and they know how to trust each other. Its amazing how they really turned it on during the playoffs. Going into the series I feel the Lakers should pull it out, but I still think it will go down to the end of game 7.
What, nobody mentions Ray Allen and his absolutely torrid shooting? The man hit his first seven 3 point attempts, on route to setting a single game finals record. Freakin' amazing!
<< <i>What, nobody mentions Ray Allen and his absolutely torrid shooting? The man hit his first seven 3 point attempts, on route to setting a single game finals record. Freakin' amazing! >>
Sorry! I am a HUGE Ray Allen fan (ever since he played for UConn, of course). Those shots were amazing -- 6 or 7 out of the 8 had nothing but the middle of the net. Any game he can pour in 20 or more points is usually a lock win for the C's -- let's hope it continues if KG continues to struggle.
<< <i>Gasol and Kobe seemed like they couldn't miss most of the game. Wonder why they didn't just give the ball to those two guys every single time. >>
Partly becuase Tony Allen was all over Kobe, and Gasol ran out of Gas in the 4th quarter.
If Bynum is out or is limited, I can't see how LA wins this series.....they were dominated on the boards in Game 4. I never realized how much Bynum meant to that team.
<< <i>Gasol and Kobe seemed like they couldn't miss most of the game. Wonder why they didn't just give the ball to those two guys every single time. >>
Partly becuase Tony Allen was all over Kobe, and Gasol ran out of Gas in the 4th quarter. >>
True, but
Kobe and Gasol were worn out because of poor bench play. If the bench doesn't step up I don't see Kobe and Gasol being able to carry the Lakers, especially without Bynum.
<< <i>If Bynum is out or is limited, I can't see how LA wins this series.....they were dominated on the boards in Game 4. I never realized how much Bynum meant to that team. >>
Bynum is very effective when he's healthy and out of foul trouble. Keep in mind the Lakers won the championship without Bynum which means they could do it again. Of course that was against Orlando and now its against the Celtics who must have some big time confidence going into game 5.
i hate to see kobe with the ball, he doesn't miss. i still don't think the C's have put together a copmplete game
Fred
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
Tough to see a path to winning Game 7 in LA. Perkins injury is huge. He can limit Gasol. Pau ran all over the C's tonight after he went out. All four all stars and Davis would have to play big to win - hasn't happened often this season. Plus, tough to see Kobe wasting this opportunity. Bummed out.
I keep thinking that Boston has one more game left in them like Game 5 vs. CLE or Game 3 vs. ORL where they put it all together for 48 minutes. Their defense was suspect last night, but that's to be expected when one of your best defensive players goes down with an injury. I thought that brought the whole team's energy down. Offensively, it looked ugly at times, but I thought they were getting good looks for the most part, just couldn't knock anything down.
If Bynum is out, that offsets Perk a bit. I don't see why a veteran C's team can't pull this out.
That game was disturbing form tip-off. I didnt see the end because I called my sister in Vegas to wish her a happy birthday. She told me the spread was up to 16 by game time...looks like someone knew something nobody else did?
She text me in response to me asking how they could be down 20 in the first half..or however bad it was
"Hard to say! Leroy's (self service betting, kind of like an ATM) opened at -6 and closed at -15. Hilton closed at -16. Everyone else, including the offshore books, held steady at -6. Sounds like someone knew something we don't know.."
<< <i>Perkins has torn MCL and PCL. Going to need the entire team to step up in order to compete. Lakers owned the boards in game six. >>
If 'Sheed can live up to his potential for just ONE game, this should be the one, and all his past laziness will be forgiven (except by Bill Simmons, will probably still rank on him, but less).
Here's why...the Celtics haven't wanted to play in the 100's with the Lakers in this series because they relied on lock-down defense. Without Perkins that ends and they become a perimeter team. The Laker bigs haven't been drawn out on defense all series. Now, Rondo will be able to make up some of the difference on the boards and Davis' energy becomes a bigger factor. I still think they marginally get outshot at the line and out-rebounded...but the Celtics have made a living hitting 3's in big games all year. They CAN make them. They WILL make them and they WILL win.
Unless they don't
but it won't be because of me. I went to church, got a gift of authentic Native American sage and will be saging the whole house before the game. Have the champagne on ice. I'm freaking ready!
Remember too, that Bynum will be limited (I wouldn't be surprised to see him only play 12-15 minutes), so the Lakers rebounding advantage will be minimized. The C's guards HAVE to rebound.
I can see Sheed pouring in 20+ tonight.
For me, the key is Rondo....if his assist/TO ratio is 3-1 or better, they will win. They can still win if he plays worse than that, but that probably meant that they shot 50%+ from 3-pt land or something crazy like that, and Kobe had an off-night.
Rondo played pretty well, Kobe shot awful and the Celts still lost....23 offensive rebounds has to be some sort of record. 37-17 FT disparity didn't help either.
I like how Kobe stole Jordan's "5" celebration on top the scorer's table. Just like he steals every other Jordan celebration. He's such a putz, I can't stand him. I'm more pissed that he won a ring than I am sad that the Celtics lost.
Comments
lets hope game 2 goes better
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
<< <i>
<< <i>And so, it finally is Boston vs. L.A.! This should be a great series. It will be interesting to see how they match up with Rondo this time around - I agree that the Lakers are going to have their hands full with him. >>
NO ONE is a bigger Celtics fan than me. I watched all 67 losses in 1997 with only Tommy Heinsohn's hilarious homer-ism to comfort me...
but I think the Lakers win in 5, and there is a very simple reason:
Rondo living in the paint is the Celtics best weapon, clearly. Anyone who watched them all year would have to agree with that. He can get to the rack, dish it off and get offensive boards in the paint as good as any guard playing today
BUT
He always gets tentative doing it against good big men. Notice how his stats were off from the previous two series against Orlando? It was because of the fear of Dwight Howard. Now, the Lakers don't have Howard, but the combination of Gasol, Odom and Bynum plugging up the paint will take away options for the C's.
CAN THEY WIN?
Sure, but it'll be because Garnett shoots over 50% for the series and Ray Allen is over 45% from 3. I might even try some crazy defensive schemes where Rondo plays Artest and you drop Allen on Fisher (always a C's killer). You need to live with Artest jumpers and if you entice him enough, he'll shoot them.
Go Celtics! >>
Mike, I always enjoy reading your honest thoughts on a series. As a Lakers fan, I think Boston scares me more than any team, even after game 1. They might be an older team, but they know how to win and they know how to trust each other. Its amazing how they really turned it on during the playoffs. Going into the series I feel the Lakers should pull it out, but I still think it will go down to the end of game 7.
-brian
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
But I'm not crazy about the 2-3-2 format.
Beating the Lakers 4 times in a row seems like a tall task.
It's the episode from 6/6/10
Would love to know what you guys think if anyone has time to check it out.
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
Wait, not sure that's a good thing.
<< <i>What, nobody mentions Ray Allen and his absolutely torrid shooting? The man hit his first seven 3 point attempts, on route to setting a single game finals record. Freakin' amazing! >>
Sorry! I am a HUGE Ray Allen fan (ever since he played for UConn, of course). Those shots were amazing -- 6 or 7 out of the 8 had nothing but the middle of the net. Any game he can pour in 20 or more points is usually a lock win for the C's -- let's hope it continues if KG continues to struggle.
<< <i>pierce says We ain't coming back to LA!
that would [also] be true if boston lost three straight >>
Keep yapping -- we also heard a lot of "the Celtics are finished" talk after Game 3 in the Cavs series.
That being said, Ray Allen must have had some SERIOUS jet lag to go 0-13.
Nice job by the C's bench!
<< <i>Gasol and Kobe seemed like they couldn't miss most of the game. Wonder why they didn't just give the ball to those two guys every single time. >>
Partly becuase Tony Allen was all over Kobe, and Gasol ran out of Gas in the 4th quarter.
<< <i>
<< <i>Gasol and Kobe seemed like they couldn't miss most of the game. Wonder why they didn't just give the ball to those two guys every single time. >>
Partly becuase Tony Allen was all over Kobe, and Gasol ran out of Gas in the 4th quarter. >>
True, but
Kobe and Gasol were worn out because of poor bench play. If the bench doesn't step up I don't see Kobe and Gasol being able to carry the Lakers, especially without Bynum.
<< <i>If Bynum is out or is limited, I can't see how LA wins this series.....they were dominated on the boards in Game 4. I never realized how much Bynum meant to that team. >>
Bynum is very effective when he's healthy and out of foul trouble. Keep in mind the Lakers won the championship without Bynum which means they could do it again. Of course that was against Orlando and now its against the Celtics who must have some big time confidence going into game 5.
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
they are playing well now, hope it continues
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
If Bynum is out, that offsets Perk a bit. I don't see why a veteran C's team can't pull this out.
"Hard to say! Leroy's (self service betting, kind of like an ATM) opened at -6 and closed at -15. Hilton closed at -16. Everyone else, including the offshore books, held steady at -6. Sounds like someone knew something we don't know.."
<< <i>Perkins has torn MCL and PCL. Going to need the entire team to step up in order to compete. Lakers owned the boards in game six. >>
If 'Sheed can live up to his potential for just ONE game, this should be the one, and all his past laziness will be forgiven (except by Bill Simmons, will probably still rank on him, but less).
<< <i>Pierce has to step up and come up big tonight. >>
he can't do it alone. If he and Rondo and Garnett don't all play well, Celts lose. Anything added by Ray Allen would be a bonus.
Celtics 111
Lakers 102
Here's why...the Celtics haven't wanted to play in the 100's with the Lakers in this series because they relied on lock-down defense. Without Perkins that ends and they become a perimeter team. The Laker bigs haven't been drawn out on defense all series. Now, Rondo will be able to make up some of the difference on the boards and Davis' energy becomes a bigger factor. I still think they marginally get outshot at the line and out-rebounded...but the Celtics have made a living hitting 3's in big games all year. They CAN make them. They WILL make them and they WILL win.
Unless they don't
but it won't be because of me. I went to church, got a gift of authentic Native American sage and will be saging the whole house before the game. Have the champagne on ice. I'm freaking ready!
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
Remember too, that Bynum will be limited (I wouldn't be surprised to see him only play 12-15 minutes), so the Lakers rebounding advantage will be minimized. The C's guards HAVE to rebound.
I can see Sheed pouring in 20+ tonight.
For me, the key is Rondo....if his assist/TO ratio is 3-1 or better, they will win. They can still win if he plays worse than that, but that probably meant that they shot 50%+ from 3-pt land or something crazy like that, and Kobe had an off-night.
Rondo played pretty well, Kobe shot awful and the Celts still lost....23 offensive rebounds has to be some sort of record. 37-17 FT disparity didn't help either.
I like how Kobe stole Jordan's "5" celebration on top the scorer's table. Just like he steals every other Jordan celebration. He's such a putz, I can't stand him. I'm more pissed that he won a ring than I am sad that the Celtics lost.