So the league's dream matchup is finally here. Pretty irritating, but that's what everyone supposedly wanted to see, so let's see if this vaunted "casual fan" interest actually shows up or not.

Celtics were impressive down the stretch of Game 6 in the Palace, but I think the Lakers' youth and depth will be way too much for them. I think it might be L.A. in 5, with the screwy 2-3-2 Finals format. Lakers have yet to lose at home in the playoffs.

Do we have to pick?

I have a strong dislike for both of these teams, however, if you had to pick one, I would go with LA.

Boston will try to be physical with the Lakers perhaps, using Powe, Big Baby, and Perkins to bang Odom, Gasol, Turiaf and Radmonovich.

The bottom line is, there is no way on earth Kobe will let this championship get away, since Shaq won one in Miami.

Trust me!

If the Lakers steal game 1 or 2 its probably a five games series.

Oh that's what you said Dumars...:)

Yeah, the Celtics irritate me even more than the Lakers do.

Boston does have HCA again, but the Lakers have the best player on the floor and a considerable advantage in the coaching department.

I thought about rooting for the EC champion but then I looked at their stupid faces and i decided to be a Laker fan for the rest of the playoffs.

So now the Lakers will surely lose this series. :pound:

I'm pulling for the Celtics for several reasons. First, I'm not a Kobe fan or a Phil Jackson fan. Second, I'm rooting for Garnett, Pierce, and Allen to get a ring. If Phil wins, he will be the number one of all time. He's a great coach, but he has been pretty lucky too.

I hate these teams. I aint gonna watch finals. I'd rather watch PBA

I hate these teams. I aint gonna watch finals. I'd rather watch PBA
Is Darvin Ham still in the PBA?

Both teams were lucky enough to pull off both trades. The question was why couldn't we have traded Primo to Memphis and got Gasol if they were in a giving mood

I may become Boston Dre for a week as I have not loved the Lakers since 1988, (when they stole one) but I know my wife and her mother will be all over me with their laker colors.

Where are the Hornets when I need them:ohwell:

Both teams were lucky enough to pull off both trades. The question was why couldn't we have traded Primo to Memphis and got Gasol if they were in a giving mood

If anyone had been dumb enough to give Primoz a $10 million contract, maybe we could have done that...well, in that case, we wouldn't have been able to get him just for Nazr.

If Boston wins in 5, then Flip stays for sure...........:stirthepot:

Is Darvin Ham still in the PBA?
All this talk of Ham and PB & J is making me hungry...:hungry:

Is Darvin Ham still in the PBA?

Nope. But he was last tournament. Too bad he wasnt on my team (the one im rooting for here).

I changed my mind. Im gonna watch the finals. But i wont root for any of the 2 :MusicBigGrin:

No one should be watching this. Why would you want to contribute any ratings to these finals ??

I absolutely love NBA basketball but...

For the same reasons that I refuse to watch shows like American Idol, I won't be watching Lakers vs Celtics.

Boston will try to be physical with the Lakers perhaps, using Powe, Big Baby, and Perkins to bang Odom, Gasol, Turiaf and Radmonovich.
Oh yuck, another gross basketball colloquialism run amok!

No one should be watching this. Why would you want to contribute any ratings to these finals ??
I empathize, but technically, unless any of us are "Nielsen families", we aren't really contributing to the ratings. They can't monitor what we watch unless we're part of some special ratings group, right?

Lakers in 5 games all the way. Boston sucks and they are chokers under pressure. To be honest I think the Pistons are a joke for losing 2 home games to them when Atlanta and Cleveland didn't.

Kobe will put up 40 pts a game. He will not be denied!!!!!!

I can't believe the Lakers are back in the Finals. I know they cheated some how.
Bos. found another notch and blew the poorly coached Ps off the court on the road.
All of a sudden I like the Celts.
Their Defense is strickly EC. Bos. in 6

ethically there on equal footing.... boston got garnett gifted as the lakers got gasol.....

as much as i hate kobe for his off the floor stuff, its hard to not enjoy him on the court... i hate all 3 of bostons "stars" they are to big headed.....

so if it was any other team i would root against the lakers... but since there play the celtics... I'm rooting for the lakers, for the first time since i can remember when.....

Go Lakers. I can't believe I said that, but go Lakers.

To be honest I think the Pistons are a joke for losing 2 home games to them when Atlanta and Cleveland didn't.

Losing two home games to the Celts was embarrassing, and shows how far we have fallen from the glory days of 04 and 05.

Lakers in 5 games all the way. Boston sucks and they are chokers under pressure. To be honest I think the Pistons are a joke for losing 2 home games to them when Atlanta and Cleveland didn't.

Kobe will put up 40 pts a game. He will not be denied!!!!!!

It seriously makes me wonder if we would have beaten the Cavs this year.

I really can't hold anything against the Celts. They were the better team and they did not do anything wrong, they just beat us.

Not sure who I want to win this.

It seriously makes me wonder if we would have beaten the Cavs this year.

I really can't hold anything against the Celts. They were the better team and they did not do anything wrong, they just beat us.

Not sure who I want to win this.

My feelings about the Celtics are the same as yours. But having watched them closely for the past six games, and seen some weaknesses that I had expected the Pistons to exploit, I think they are going to have their hands full with the Lakers. Allen's jumpers do not fall with nearly the same consistency in playoff basketball as they do in the regular season, and his defense is spotty. I don't think Boston will rebound as well against L.A.'s front line as they did against Detroit's, and that will hurt them offensively. And the Lakers have a more potent offense than do the Pistons, and they have the go-to guy that the Pistons do not have.

Stern gets his wish, but we cannot blame any of the refs...the Spurs and Pistons just got beat by a better teams who were younger, more athletic and hungrier.


Media hype will grow at an all time frenzy the next few days as the ESPN and the NBA TV guys over analyze why the two best teams are playing and who will win. No one will discuss how both participants are there because both were beneficiaries of some backroom deals that no other teams were privy too. Rating were down the last two years despite Duncan, LaBron, Wade, Shaq and Nowitski, so there was no way Stern was going to veto either of these deals. Once the Gasol deal went down, it was a forgone conclusion what was going to happen.. we just had to play the games out for the rest of the season.

Now that the Celtics have gotten the road woes off their back, the 2-3-2 format does not look that bad as it did before.

KG will continue to shoot short range jumpers on Lamar or Radmoninvich. Gasol and Perkins will battle it out with Gasol getting ez dunks and Perkins getting ez rebounds. Kobe scored at will on short jumpers in the lane on the Spurs. He might not get that ez shot vs the Celtics, but he will still average either 30 points or 30 shots:)

No prediction here on the outcome, but the ratings will be high even if Piston nation ignores it. Oh yeah I got to live here in this over hyped market...

Oh yuck, another gross basketball colloquialism run amok!


I empathize, but technically, unless any of us are "Nielsen families", we aren't really contributing to the ratings. They can't monitor what we watch unless we're part of some special ratings group, right?

I'm not really sure how it works, but i think you might be right. I feel like they can tell if i watch it anyway LOL.

edited to add;

Go Lakers! I hope KG cries if they lose. (can't stand him)

Boston has been over-rated all year. Lakers will win this series because nobody can guard Kobe, not even Paul Pierce, who said he thinks he's always been one of the best defenders. I can't wait to see the smiles on the celtics faces get wiped off. Go ahead, Garnett, pound your chest and talk to yourself all you want. That won't help you win a championship against hungry veterans like the Lakers.

I'm not really sure how it works, but i think you might be right. I feel like they can tell if i watch it anyway LOL.

edited to add;

Go Lakers! I hope KG cries if they lose. (can't stand him)

I was part of Nielson back in 2000. They sent me a time grid where I was to fill in all programs watched and the duration. If you get a fair and even distribution that you can determine with accuracy the viewing habits of the nation on a sample size much smaller than the general population.

I was part of Nielson back in 2000. They sent me a time grid where I was to fill in all programs watched and the duration. If you get a fair and even distribution that you can determine with accuracy the viewing habits of the nation on a sample size much smaller than the general population.
Statistics are amazing. And creepy!!

Gooooooooooooo Lakers...Welcome Avery johnson!!

I won't actually watch the final games for this two teams remind me of fast meals and fast meals don't fit my stomach.

not only i don't know who route for... i hate both teams... i might not even watch those games... but if i have to... pls let the celtics lose

I think I have to root for Boston. I hate them less.

I am not happy about either team being in the finals, but the media loves it. The players are being asked questions about the rivalry even though most of them are to young to even remember the 10 prior match ups...Seven of the matchups were prior to 1969 so none of them were even born (although PJ Brown was already bouncing around Detroit in his mother's tummy.:)).

The last time they met for the title in 1987, I actually attended the clinching game six at the Fabulous Forum and openly cheered for the Lakers over the hated Celtics who had beaten my home town Pistons just two weeks before. That was the last time I cheered for the Lakers as they stole the series from beat the Pistons in the finals the following year.

I will watch this one to just to see who the refs favor, who gets the call and hopefully it is a sweep by one of the teams so all this hoopla can be over by Fathers day...

I think I am going to root for LA because I don't want those C's to get a ring and cheapen DET's ring if that is even possible anymore. Kobe already has 3 so it won't bother me as much.

If Bos. beats LA there's only 1 team better than us.
No need for major change.

I want to watch the best teams play in the finals, not the teams who were lucky enough to hit their shots in the conference finals.

So i turned it on to see the score, only to see PP dramatically have to be carried off the court because his teammate injured him, and be put in a wheelchair, only to come bouncing out of the lockeroom 2 min later. :pound:

And then promptly turned it off.

Shades of Wade

edited to add;

Although it is interesting how any team from the West besides the Spurs has trouble beating the defensive teams in the East. I guess that's why i lean more to the side of Pistons getting to the NBA Finals = title.

Game 1 final>> Celtics 98- Lakers 88

KOBE went into Piston mode thinking he could turn it on in crunch time but the Celtic defense went into league leading defense mode and shut he and the Lakers down. Kobe was 9 for 26 shooting (24 pts on 26 shots):brick:

KG and ET (Sam Cassell) almost gave it away missing key shots prior to Kobe's return where they could have put it away earlier.

I am sure with 2 days off, Phil will come up with another game plan, but really the Lakers plan was to just take at least one and then go back to Staples for possible 3 game sweep and title on their home court ala the 04 Pistons. At least that is what local TV commentator Micheal Cooper said hopes will happen:sssh:

The one thing that Celtics did was duplicate what the Pistons did in 2004 which was to take game 1, and prevent Phil from extending on that streak of winning 41 straight series when his team wins game 1.

Pierce looked hungrier than Kobe as he went down with a knee injury and was carried off the floor only to come back later on in the the third qtr to hit two straight threes and seize control of the game...for awhile anyway. PJ Brown was huge as the Celtics were beating the lakers to every rebound (46-33) just like they did that team at the palace...:sssh::tape:

That my friends is a recap of game 1 for those who chose to ignore it. It will be rerun on ESPN at 3AM this morning and sometime tomorrow on NBA TV.

I am not sure about Doc's coaching skills, but he says the things that I would want to hear in his huddles and in the locker room if I was one of his players..

Now it's time to sign off and comfort:inlove: my wife the longtime :lalala:laker fan who was screaming her head off in the other room ..for awhile anyway..:crying:

I am not sure about Doc's coaching skills, but he says the things that I would want to hear in his huddles and in the locker room if I was one of his players..:crying:

The Power of Ubuntu!!

Now it's time to sign off and comfort:inlove: my wife the longtime :lalala:laker fan who was screaming her head off in the other room ..for awhile anyway..:crying:
I have so much respect for you. Mrs. Dre is very lucky to have such a caring and sensitive husband.

If Lakers are smart they won't try and win game 2.
As soon as Celts are threatened at home they will take 2 games in LA.
As they did with us.
Lakers can win 3 at home then steal game 6 or 7.:)

So i turned it on to see the score, only to see PP dramatically have to be carried off the court because his teammate injured him, and be put in a wheelchair, only to come bouncing out of the lockeroom 2 min later. :pound:

And then promptly turned it off.

Shades of Wade

edited to add;

Although it is interesting how any team from the West besides the Spurs has trouble beating the defensive teams in the East. I guess that's why i lean more to the side of Pistons getting to the NBA Finals = title.

I know, what drama. How could someone be that hurt and come back in 5 mins later.

So i turned it on to see the score, only to see PP dramatically have to be carried off the court because his teammate injured him, and be put in a wheelchair, only to come bouncing out of the lockeroom 2 min later. :pound:

That was an insult to Willis Reed, Isiah Thomas and every other athlete who has ever overcome an injury during a game to put forth a heroic performance.

It looked like something that Vince McMahon would orchestrate.

Stern should step down and let McMahon take over to run the WBE - World Basketball Entertainment.

Phil Jackson in his presser likened PP's injury to breaking a shoelace or draw string in your shorts. What a total joke. Paul should be completely embarassed by the whole thing. I only saw the highlights.

When Paul went down; were they winning or losing. Just wondering if he was looking for an early exit.

Next year that will be a fine.

If the C's continue to play such great defense, the Lake Show will be in for a long series. As I watched Game 1, I tried to root for someone. I found that I'm completely neutral on this series. Hate both teams. Can't root for either one. I do like Doc better than Pill Jackson though. I looked up "smug" on dictionary.com and there was a picture of Phil there with the written definition.


:hoops:

Phil Jackson in his presser likened PP's injury to breaking a shoelace or draw string in your shorts. What a total joke. Paul should be completely embarassed by the whole thing. I only saw the highlights.

When Paul went down; were they winning or losing. Just wondering if he was looking for an early exit.

Next year that will be a fine.

When it happened, Kobe was semi-going off, the Lakers were up 4, and they had the momentum.

Paul felt a sharp pain in his knee and got it checked out. He's going to be gimppy til it's over. But he'll play.

Kobe's monster year will be spoiled.

I know who I am rooting for: the Lakers and not team NBA, that fabricated team. It is not good for the game for the Celtics to win. Take a 24 win team add a couple of super stars and a role player and talk about tradition that happened over 20 years ago. I am not buying.

The Lakers looked like a poor version of the Pistons. They too got out boarded. Gasol and Odom played down a notch. Odom has never played at this level so not a good sign.

The Lakers actually had a game plan for Pierce. They made Perkins play to his real level. But they let Allen have way too much room. And while Cassell was run off the court by the Cavs and Pistons, he actually produced against the Lakers. Bad sign. Might mean they are too weak at the guard position. And they let Brown play 20 minutes.

They have Phil and Kobe. Phil is the best so maybe he can figure something out.

I know who I am rooting for: the Lakers and not team NBA, that fabricated team. It is not good for the game for the Celtics to win. Take a 24 win team add a couple of super stars and a role player and talk about tradition that happened over 20 years ago. I am not buying.



Wow, I agree 100%. Although I'm no Lakers fan, at least they are a real team. Boston has 6 or 7 new players this year. Team? Storied franchise? Please.

So i turned it on to see the score, only to see PP dramatically have to be carried off the court because his teammate injured him, and be put in a wheelchair, only to come bouncing out of the lockeroom 2 min later. :pound:


Seeing this on TV made me sick. Now I want the Lakers to win even more.

So i turned it on to see the score, only to see PP dramatically have to be carried off the court because his teammate injured him, and be put in a wheelchair, only to come bouncing out of the lockeroom 2 min later. :pound:

and hit b2b 3s :pound:

I know who I am rooting for: the Lakers and not team NBA, that fabricated team. It is not good for the game for the Celtics to win. Take a 24 win team add a couple of super stars and a role player and talk about tradition that happened over 20 years ago. I am not buying. Ha Ha Ha LAP, The league dynamics are specifically made to do this kind of trading/manipulation. The guaranteed contracts make the players go where they are told. Or they don't get their big dough. Ainge went from dolt to genius in 3 seasons. The Lakers completely jumped the WC Finals with the pick-up of Gasol. Mean while JD plays it safe pick-ups like C-Webb and Rattler. JD will punch his way out of this one upmanship. He didn't like getting punk-ed.

The Lakers looked like a poor version of the Pistons. They too got out boarded. Gasol and Odom played down a notch. Odom has never played at this level so not a good sign.

The Lakers actually had a game plan for Pierce. They made Perkins play to his real level. But they let Allen have way too much room. And while Cassell was run off the court by the Cavs and Pistons, he actually produced against the Lakers. Bad sign. Might mean they are too weak at the guard position. And they let Brown play 20 minutes.

They have Phil and Kobe. Phil is the best so maybe he can figure something out.
-
Sheed aut to feel punk-ed too.

Wow, I agree 100%. Although I'm no Lakers fan, at least they are a real team. Boston has 6 or 7 new players this year. Team? Storied franchise? Please.

They won most of those titles back in the 50's and early 60's. Since then I think its only been 3.

When you think about it they really did not have that great of a post-season until they faced the Pistons. So I think the Pistons propped them up and made them look better than they really are.

Lakers will win.

I thought the Lakers would win going into the series, but after game 1 I am a little less sure. LA was flat in the second half and could not make stops. When they sat Kobe, LA looked quite beatable. And Boston's defense was frustrating Kobe, just as the Pistons did in the 2004 finals.

One of the Lakers huge problems is that Odom no longer has a mismatch in this series.

I'm not positive who's guarding who, but from the brief part of the game i saw, Odom was on KG. KG is quick enough to guard Odom, and Lamar doesn't have a bulk advantage against him.

Switching Pau onto him could work, but then LO is stuck playing against Perkins.

Odom won't likely have any huge rebounding games.

Also if PJ doesn't play Ariza against PP in this series, i will question his sainty. I know he's rusty but PP is too big for Kobe, and while Vlad did an OK job once he sits Luke Walton will come in and proceed to let PP go off.

edited to add;

The ratings of the 1st game are at an 8.7, significantly up from last year, but very low compared to what was probably expected by Stern and his cronies.

For lack of a better place to put this (no need to start a new thread), here is a really nice article on the late Dennis Johnson.

D.J.'s greatness extended to his final team - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AihmBnFpwV4gTxRgCISfxtW8vLYF?slug=aw-dennisjohnson060708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

The ratings of the 1st game are at an 8.7, significantly up from last year, but very low compared to what was probably expected by Stern and his cronies.

I was a surprised by that. It was also well below Pistons/Lakers game 1 of 04. They should be concerned. I don't how the Pierce incident will effect the ratings as it could be a little too WWF for most fans.

I was a surprised by that. It was also well below Pistons/Lakers game 1 of 04. They should be concerned. I don't how the Pierce incident will effect the ratings as it could be a little too WWF for most fans.

It may prove that only the media love the matchup and the rest of the people won't care unless it goes 3-0 or 3-3. It will never match the ratings for A Idol, Dancin with the stars, CSI or even the Bachelor.

For lack of a better place to put this (no need to start a new thread), here is a really nice article on the late Dennis Johnson.

D.J.'s greatness extended to his final team - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AihmBnFpwV4gTxRgCISfxtW8vLYF?slug=aw-dennisjohnson060708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
DJ was my favorite Celtic. Thanks DT.

I was subjected to the 1st half of this game at a friend's house, and damn are the Lakers getting absolutely raped by the officials.

I guess we know now who the league really wants to win . . .

Don't worry, it'll change on the left coast. I'm surprised that the Lakers aren't taking this one, though.

:toilet: Celts?

WELL SHUT MY MOUTH! Down 24 and now with 38 secs left they are down 2!

^

i checked the score and it was 104-100, i was like WTF?! I remember checking in the 4th quarter and LAL was down like 22 . . .

Can't underestimate the choking powers of KG, and the Celts i guess. The fact that we lost to these guys is such a disgrace seriously.

The FT count is going to end up being like 38 to 10 or something and one of the Laker FT's was a technical :pound:

If this game was called fairly, the series would be tied at 1-1

edited to add;

PJ went off in his post-game; I don't even know why i'm so pissed. I'm not even a Laker fan.

Yeah I was watching the game at the Yard House and when we left there the Lakers were down 19 with about 8 mins left. Got in the car and drove home and they had it down to 102- 88. Got home took the garbage out to the curb thinking the game was over, come in turn on the TV and Kobe is at the line shooting free throws with the Celtics leading by on 3 and then 2 with 38 seconds>>> I said wtf!!!

No way I can have the Laker coming home with a chance to sweep at home ala the 04 Pistons....

Agree that the Celtics got every call Red Auerbach could muster from the grave and I am sure that's all I will hear on local radio the next two days.

10,000 people showed up at Staples to watch game on the jumbotron with Laker girls getting most of the cheeers...over half were gone by the time the game was over as the large lead send most to exits early.

Beat LA:sssh:

Who was the nobody that came off the bench for Bos., scored 21 pts in 15 min. Think Amir could've done that...given the chance ?

Who was the nobody that came off the bench for Bos., scored 21 pts in 15 min. Think Amir could've done that...given the chance ?

Yep! Don't get me started...

My hate for Kobe exceeds my dislike of Boston. I do like Odom & Gasol. Geez, this is a tough series to stomach. Thanks a lot Pistons. :mmph:

If Bos. wins we got done in by the best. 66 wins is for real.

Who was the nobody that came off the bench for Bos., scored 21 pts in 15 min. Think Amir could've done that...given the chance ?

Yep could have been Amir, Afflolo, Hayes or even Dixon, but Flip will never - ever know...in fact if either of them had done it in game 1, 3, 5 or six, one of them could have done it tonight too because tonights game would have been at the palace.

Yea Leon Poe would not have even made our team. Amir is so much more talented and there is only a year difference in age.

As Dumars said in his press conference. Young guys can bring something different to the table. I think that would be a factor this deep in the playoffs when some of the vets are running on fumes.

Still it's kind of double talk coming from JD, through Lb4LB, which favored heavy veteran minutes. Often because there was no real talent coming off the bench or at least none they want to develope, including:
Okur
Fino
Flip
Ham
Evans
Dupe
YKW

Still it's kind of double talk coming from JD, through Lb4LB, which favored heavy veteran minutes. Often because there was no real talent coming off the bench or at least none they want to develope, including:
Okur
Fino
Flip
Ham
Evans
Dupe
YKW

but you can't play youth to just say you play youth... we underplayed okur for sure, but the rest of the players you listed never earned anything....

Now saying that..... I think we have 4 young kids that have earned there right to have mins..


Even though amir and aa made tons of mistakes when given mins in the regular season they still seemed to make more positives then negatives. I am one that always says you will win/loss with your starters I will agree that AA getting lost out of the rotation even more when billiups got hurt was a major mistake, and with amir.... do you throw him into the game with 2 mins left in the game? no, but throwing him out there in the 2nd and 3rd quarter for energy and then maybe if he's showing the "special" qualities we think he's go then ride him.... aka prince from 03. taking stuckey and max out of the game in the 4th quarter of game 6 when they were playing so great was my final breaking point with flip to the point there was NO WAY he could be allowed to return.

Ham wasn't much help.
That was a good summary Round.
But my point was - don't say we should of when you looked the other way, Mr. Dumars.

^

i checked the score and it was 104-100, i was like WTF?! I remember checking in the 4th quarter and LAL was down like 22 . . .

Can't underestimate the choking powers of KG, and the Celts i guess. The fact that we lost to these guys is such a disgrace seriously.


Not only did we lose, it wasn't that close.

Who was the nobody that came off the bench for Bos., scored 21 pts in 15 min. Think Amir could've done that...given the chance ?

You mean that nobody with a raw offensive game who hangs around the offensive glass? :sssh:

Powe semi-went off against us as well. I remember being irate that we didn't match up with Amir.

taking stuckey and max out of the game in the 4th quarter of game 6 when they were playing so great was my final breaking point with flip to the point there was NO WAY he could be allowed to return.

This is why the argument that that everything falls on the starters makes no sense to me. If you have bench players that are playing well, and the starter's are not, leave the bench in. The starters having to be lights out or at their "peak" production all the time to win is not only unrealistic, but it very rarely happens.

Ham wasn't much help.
That was a good summary Round.
But my point was - don't say we should of when you looked the other way, Mr. Dumars.

I really would like to know what goes on behind the scenes.... how much rope does Dumars give the coaches... everything we heard last summer was amir was going to get his time and then he played and then would stop... and then "the meeting would happen" and amir would play more...

sounds like dumars likes to be a hands off GM to a point... he gives you the goods and expects you to play them...

Dumars is classy to a fault and won't bad mouth a coach after he leaves... but we the fans would really like to know the truth about the lack of playing time by amir this last year.... I thought a telling comment from Dumars was saying flip was handed a really good team and they didn't get it done.

Just as we were exposed for lack of speed in the starting unit, the Lakers have been exposed. Weak front line without Binum. Powe allowed to do that much damage.

Laker guard rotation very weak.

Lakers weak at small forward.

The West was trumped up. Celts, Pistons and even Cavs (Le Bron) are tougher and are the 1,2 and 3 teams in the NBA.

The calls: We know all about it (Wade and Le Bron) in back to back years. The Celts know how to play the Stern system.

This is why the argument that that everything falls on the starters makes no sense to me. If you have bench players that are playing well, and the starter's are not, leave the bench in. The starters having to be lights out or at their "peak" production all the time to win is not only unrealistic, but it very rarely happens.


I differ from what alot of "kid fans" though here.... alot of folks say we have to play them and play them when the game is on the line. At the end of the day we are going to win with the starters but you have to have a feel for the game and flip lacked that... most games I want the starters to be in there to finish... but you have to look at the game and if the kids are bringing it..... ride them

The game is about runs. How can you find the hot hand if you are working 5 guys ?
The balanced attack may keep a Dee guessing. But if you can't stop 1 guy, some one is in deep doogy.
-
g26, you weren't expecting Flip to adjust on the fly were you? He couldn't adjust his fly on the fly.

You know this series does show one thing. Team D is not overrated at all, and ours sucks.

I mean the Celtics are guarding Kobe with Ray Allen. Ray freakin' Allen. It's beautiful what cutting off penetration will do.

Tom Thibbedou (sp?) for President!

Just as I suspected the Laker afternoon radio guys are complaining more than the Piston Forum guys did after game 3 and 6 of the Piston series..

They are relying of Flea (of the Red hot Chili Peppers) to rally the team and fans...
Most suspected that game 1 was a a fluke and the Lakers would rebound and take games 2-6...:sssh::)

AM 570 KLAC K-Los Angeles California/Orange County (http://www.xtrasportsradio.com/pages/streaming.html)

Even James Worthy went off on some Laker postgame show.

And it's all over the media. The Power of the Phil Jackson press conference. :gun1:

They are relying of Flea (of the Red hot Chili Peppers) to rally the team and fans...

accompanied by jack and de caprio = :pirates:

I LUV THIS GAME!!!! Anyone want to dig up the posts from 4 years ago and see the exact same rhetoric from Phillip when the Pistons were trouncing them?

Kendrik Perkins stats against the Odom- Soft Gasol frontline make me :swear2:

Stupid perimeter defenders.

edited to add;

I realize what makes the Celtics so great. It's the fact that KG holds moves, shoves, grabs ON EVERY SINGLE SCREEN HE SETS. All they have to run is the pick and roll with KG/PP or KG/Allen, and they will always get a good attempt.

Lakers `bout to get Swept!!!!!!!!!!

Lakers `bout to get Swept!!!!!!!!!!

Time to fire Phil Jackson, blow up the Lakers, and trade Kobe Bryant for Deron Williams and a late 2nd round draft pick.

^

So much for that.

KG 6-21
PP 2-14

The Lakers are a better defensive team than us :sssh:

KG got called for a moving screen at the end of the game!! And the announces mentioned how he got away with several illegal screens earlier, but at the time they were happening called them great screens KG. :stooges:

edited to add; i feel dirty for watching it, but i only watched the last 6-7 min so i guess thats a little better.

KG got called for a moving screen at the end of the game!! And the announces mentioned how he got away with several illegal screens earlier, but at the time they were happening called them great screens KG. :stooges:


You don't think Sheed could get away with those screens?

^

So much for that.

KG 6-21
PP 2-14

The Lakers are a better defensive team than us :sssh:

KG got called for a moving screen at the end of the game!! And the announces mentioned how he got away with several illegal screens earlier, but at the time they were happening called them great screens KG. :stooges:

edited to add; i feel dirty for watching it, but i only watched the last 6-7 min so i guess thats a little better.

Lakers have to win one more to match us, and two more to claim to be better.

You don't think Sheed could get away with those screens?

Maybe if he changed his name to Kevin, went tanning, and lost some weight. . . :)

Maybe if he changed his name to Kevin, went tanning, and lost some weight. . . :)

Don't forget the #5 jersey........

Phil won the game. He studied the Celtic offense and they got out on the shooters at all cost. The Celts had trouble scoring. We never made adjustments like that. Can the Lakers keep it up? Doubtful as their personnel is just not that good after Kobe.

I only saw the last 4 mins, but you cannot leave Sasha open outside the 3 point arc...that is his game...The Lakers may have won a lotta of games with kobe and Gasoft, but it was Sasha that would get them back in it or keep them in it with those timely threes and he would shoot more than Sheed if he started.

Looking at the box score, the Celtics won every category with the exception of the shooting %. so the difference in the game was Pierce not hitting anything and Sasha more than expected. What happen to Rondo, was he injured?? Do the Celtics comeback and Pierce plays better in game 4 or do the Lakers take this win as a momentum changer?

rondo looks retard wearing that head band with nba's logo upside down

Isn't Turiaf supposed to be the Lakers version of Maxiell?

In 19 minutes last night, he had 0 point, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, and 3 fouls. Nice playing!

Also, it is pretty ridiculous to think that Kobe had only 1 assist last night, considering how many touches he got. He really needs to work on his passing.

I had the side right but completely wiffed on the Dee.
game 4:
Lakers 90
Celtics 91
it's ohva Lakers !

Isn't Turiaf supposed to be the Lakers version of Maxiell?

In 19 minutes last night, he had 0 point, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, and 3 fouls. Nice playing!

Also, it is pretty ridiculous to think that Kobe had only 1 assist last night, considering how many touches he got. He really needs to work on his passing.
But they steal still won and the folks here in LA are not only ecstatic, but are now thinking Lakers in six. I think they were just lucky as the Celtics still had a chance to win this game with less than 90 seconds to go, If not for the Sasha corner bomb..

Dre, I agree with you. Yes, everyone is happy again here. I really would love to see the Celts melt down but if you look at it, the Lakers players are now playing at maybe their true level. Odom has slid back, they are weak at guard, very weak at small forward and no Bynum on the front line. Personnel-wise, no it doesn't look like Kubchek did that great of a job.

Phil Jackson made an adjustment that stopped the Boston offense. If only our staff could have made such adjustments.

2008 finals ratings (and for comparative purposes the 2004 series)

1st game 8.7 - Lakers/Pistons 9.8
2nd game 8.5 - L/P 10.7
3rd game 9.2 - L/P 10.5

Ironically, the ratings went up after the whole "game was fixed for the Celtics, 38-10 thing" dominating the media coverage the days before.

Phil Jackson made an adjustment that stopped the Boston offense. If only our staff could have made such adjustments.

Maybe they should have picked up Theo Ratliff and Won Dixon. Then pulled in a 38yr old guard who sat on the bench all year and promoted him to 3rd guard during the 2nd round.

No, I am not bitter. May actually watch one of these games before its over.

One coach I often hear criticized in the media is a coach I really admire. Doc Rivers. I love how he talks to his team. He is the antiFlip. You could just tell that nobody ever listened to Flip. I only had to endure him a few seconds a game and I was already pulling my hair out, thinking, would you please shut up. I can't imagine having to endure his pep talks for 40 minutes each game. No wonder our Pistons lost. Doc is cool. He may not be a deep person but he is a practical one. He says what needs to be said and he says it with authority and passion. I may be in the minority on this one but I'm a Doc guy.

My favorite coach is Byron Scott. Just by looking at him you can see the intensity and confidence oozing from him. Flip always looked like a scared rabbit to me, even when he was winning. I hope Curry is a winner. At least Dumars gave him a short contract. That's good. Since you never have a coach, coach his last year of his contract and be a lame duck coach, really, Curry's contract is only for two years instead of three if you think about it.

Curry's contract is only for two years instead of three if you think about it.
ROTFLMAO.

ROTFLMAO.


One thing I will never figure out. Why is it that when I try to be funny, I am the only one laughing; and when I am serious, I find someone rolling on the floor, laughing their tushies off?

I understand the first part. I'm not funny. It's the second part that worries me.:MusicBigGrin:



I hope the moral of this little story is that my opinions cannot be taken seriously. Ouch!

So who is going to lose tonight? I think Stern and the Celtics will.

2008 finals ratings (and for comparative purposes the 2004 series)

1st game 8.7 - Lakers/Pistons 9.8
2nd game 8.5 - L/P 10.7
3rd game 9.2 - L/P 10.5

Ironically, the ratings went up after the whole "game was fixed for the Celtics, 38-10 thing" dominating the media coverage the days before.

Wow. That boring blowout of a series with the unexciting Pistons got better ratings that the NBA's dream Finals? That's hard to believe.

Wow. That boring blowout of a series with the unexciting Pistons got better ratings that the NBA's dream Finals? That's hard to believe.

The uber-intense LA v BOS rivalry is killing off viewers.

The uber-intense LA v BOS rivalry is killing off viewers.

"Making love for... making love for 2... making love for 2 minutes. When you're with me, you only need 2 minutes, cause I'm so intense." Jemaine- Flight of the Conchords.

One thing I will never figure out. Why is it that when I try to be funny, I am the only one laughing; and when I am serious, I find someone rolling on the floor, laughing their tushies off?

I understand the first part. I'm not funny. It's the second part that worries me.:MusicBigGrin:



I hope the moral of this little story is that my opinions cannot be taken seriously. Ouch!

ROTFLMAO!!!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!

Kind of reminds of one of my favorite Get Smart shows where Max tells a really corny joke and the 10 agents in the room with him don't even crack a smile; and it shows Max trying go from splitting a gut at his corny joke to no laughter. Trying to do it and save face at the same time. Then a few minutes later someone enters the room and says the exact same joke and all 10 guys are rolling on the floor with laughter. Then the camera zooms in on Max's face and his reaction is priceless. Been there. Done that! I love that show!

Anybody watching this game will know exactly what i'm talking about.

Trevor Ariza = Amir Johnson aka F you Flip Saunders.

Trevor i've been injured since mid-way through the season, haven't played in any other round, but my coach understands the match-up advantage i have Ariza.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to address/fix the rebounding deficit.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to figure out how to stop BOS offense and make neccessary adjustments.

It took Phil Jackson ZERO GAMES to realize he needs to stick to his all season rotation/use the bench.

The Lakers' bench looks like ours use to, creating havoc, oppurtunistic offense, the occassional WTF foul. Within 5 seconds Flip would have had a palpitation and put in Juan Dixon or Jarvis Hayes.

BOS is now back to it's retarded WTH do we do on the road or against defense look they had it the ATL/CLE series. Only the Pistons can make them look like world beaters on the road. I knew there was a reason i was trying to avoid watching this series.

And at the risk of editing to death;

I'd just like to add that i love that they started addressing KG's NFL screens in a game. Now if only they did it in the Pistons' series . . .

:swear2:

Anybody watching this game will know exactly what i'm talking about.

Trevor Ariza = Amir Johnson aka F you Flip Saunders.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to address/fix the rebounding deficit.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to figure out how to stop BOS offense and make neccessary adjustments.

It took Phil Jackson ZERO GAMES to realize he needs to stick to his all season rotation/use the bench.

The Lakers' bench looks like ours use to, creating havoc, oppurtunistic offense, the occassional WTF foul. Within 5 seconds Flip would have had a palpitation and put in Juan Dixon or Jarvis Hayes.

BOS is not back to it's retarded WTH do we do on the road or against defense look they had it the ATL/CLE series. Only the Pistons can make them look like world beaters on the road. I knew there was a reason i was trying to avoid watching this series.

:swear2:

This is one reason Lp why Phil has nine rings and Flips has four chokes...yeah Phil has had a few HOF's in his back pocket, but still he knows who and when to play the scrubs... With as much raw talent as Stuckey, Amir, max and AA appear to have on the surface you think they could beat Sasha, turiaf, Walton and Ariza on a 4 on 4 matchup, but I don't know about that based how much PT and experience these laker scrubs have over our guys.

Meanwhile, Celtics have not shown up to this game yet falling behind by as many as 24 in the first half....but there is plenty of time and now it is down to 12...

This is one reason Lp why Phil has nine rings and Flips has four chokes...yeah Phil has had a few HOF's in his back pocket, but still he knows who and when to play the scrubs... With as much raw talent as Stuckey, Amir, max and AA appear to have on the surface you think they could beat Sasha, turiaf, Walton and Ariza on a 4 on 4 matchup, but I don't know about that based how much PT and experience these laker scrubs have over our guys.

Meanwhile, Celtics have not shown up to this game yet falling behind by as many as 24 in the first half....but there is plenty of time and now it is down to 12...

Jackson puts in Farmar with 5.2 and he hits a three. :pound:I feel like the basketball Gods are trying to add to the misery LOL.

It's so funny how ordinary Pierce looks is when you just STAY IN FRONT OF HIM!

^

Looks like PP heard what i said.

This is like the who can choke more series.

:pound: Ha Ha Kobe!!! :P

The talent disparity is just too big esp w/o Bynum, and esp defensively in favor of BOS. I had BOS winning game 5 so i guess it's irrelevant anyway. LAL can't come back.

Tom Thibodeou made some great defensive adjustments. But all in all BOS just has better players even with KG's choking. Most of the Laker's players are pretty one dimensional which normally wouldn't be awful, but their leaning towards the wrong side.

And will teams ever learn to not leave James Posey open? This is like the 3rd game he's won for them. It's like watching a horror movie in slow motion.

LA Dre will be happy :pound:

Remarkable comeback by the best team in the NBA...( we couldn't get by them).

At the end of the first quarter I was looking other channels to turn to as the C's were down what seem like an insurmountable 35-14 or something and then 24 pts midway thru the 2nd, then 18 at the half.

It took them until 5 mins left in the game to finally take the lead afer being down 2 at the end of three.

Laker faithful who were partying at halftime, go home stunned with the most disappointed fans being Magic Johnson, Will Smith and David Stern..:sssh:

The talent disparity is just too big esp w/o Bynum, and esp defensively in favor of BOS. I had BOS winning game 5 so i guess it's irrelevant anyway. LAL can't come back.

Tom Thibodeou made some great defensive adjustments. But all in all BOS just has better players even with KG's choking. Most of the Laker's players are pretty one dimensional which normally wouldn't be awful, but their leaning towards the wrong side.

And will teams ever learn to now leave James Posey open? This is like the 3rd game he's won for them.
LA Dre will be happy :pound:
Yeah but I have to be cool, cause my wife is in the other room sobbing:Cry:

Like you and me said the other day, we should have waited to see if Thibideau would be available for our HC job..

Yeah but I have to be cool, cause my wife is in the other room sobbing:Cry:

Like you and me said the other day, we should have waited to see if Thibideau would be available for our HC job..

I would be too if i was a LAL fan LOL

Definitely at least an interview, but i'm not disappointed with Curry. Now if only we could pry him away from BOS somehow and make him head assistant . . .

I would be too if i was a LAL fan LOL

Definitely at least an interview, but i'm not disappointed with Curry. Now if only we could pry him away from BOS somehow and make him head assistant . . .

Now that is an interesting thought, but but he will not leave for another assistant's job. He and Doc might be the best combo coach in the league ...holding the Lakers to 36 points in the second after giving up 35 in the first qtr was a remarkable within itself. I like Doc's pre game, in game and post game comments "we are the better team, so just play like it"

The Bulls should have held out too instead of going with Del negro. The Mavs still have an opening right??? He may wind up there if Cuban offers him the world and the C's let him interview/go.

Now that is an interesting thought, but but he will not leave for another assistant's job. He and Doc might be the best combo coach in the league ...holding the Lakers to 36 points in the second after giving up 35 in the first qtr was a remarkable within itself. I like Doc's pre game, in game and post game comments "we are the better team, so just play like it"

The Bulls should have held out too instead of going with Del negro. The Mavs still have an opening right??? He may wind up there if Cuban offers him the world and the C's let him interview/go.

They definately compliment each other. What Doc lacks in know how/adjustments Thibbodeou brings, and Doc's got the motivational thing down to a T. His contract situation was only for a year IIRC, but it's just wishful thinking.

Mav's hired Rick Carlisle.

They definately compliment each other. What Doc lacks in know how/adjustments Thibbodeou brings, and Doc's got the motivational thing down to a T. His contract situation was only for a year IIRC, but it's just wishful thinking.

Mav's hired Rick Carlisle.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that hire..:frusty:

hey you and I should have gone in the chat room earlier..:), Kim was in there looking for conversation.

Phil's magic ran out. No he couldn't make players with half-skill sets like Turiat, Shasha, Farmar, Odom, etc. into champions. The fact that they are there shows how far Jackson is above his coaching peers and how far our staff (plural) was from mixing a championship blend.

You can't give a team Garnett, Posey, and Allen, let them keep Pierce and not expect big trouble. The league went down to them--not surprisingly.

The bar has been raised at least for another year until the big three show age. Joe has to get to work...

We may have been the second best team in the league but we will not go forward without a change in the starting unit.

BOS is now back to it's retarded WTH do we do on the road or against defense look they had it the ATL/CLE series. Only the Pistons can make them look like world beaters on the road.

Yeah, well, maybe not.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that hire..:frusty:

hey you and I should have gone in the chat room earlier..:), Kim was in there looking for conversation.

Yea, i saw that. I went into the chat once too and was the only one there LOL. Definitely next game, although i don't know when that is.

Pistons could have been in the Finals if not for laying an egg in Game 3 and choking away Game 6. What a shame. :frusty:

This is atleast 1 Championship they could and should have one.

Phil's magic ran out. No he couldn't make players with half-skill sets like Turiat, Shasha, Farmar, Odom, etc. into champions. The fact that they are there shows how far Jackson is above his coaching peers and how far our staff (plural) was from mixing a championship blend.

You can't give a team Garnett, Posey, and Allen, let them keep Pierce and not expect big trouble. The league went down to them--not surprisingly.

The bar has been raised at least for another year until the big three show age. Joe has to get to work...

We may have been the second best team in the league but we will not go forward without a change in the starting unit.

I'm kind of expecting Boston to be the next fat-cat Detroit Pistons. We'll beat them in the ECF in six.:whip: Whipping smiley unrelated.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to address/fix the rebounding deficit.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to figure out how to stop BOS offense and make neccessary adjustments.

It took Phil Jackson ZERO GAMES to realize he needs to stick to his all season rotation/use the bench.

Alas, and it only took the Celts one quarter to make it all worthless. I was with you though, sitting there at the end of the first half thinking that there was no way Boston can win if they allow the Lakers to score 58 points in a half. We were right too, just didn't anticipate them only scoring 33 in the second half. No doubt the Celts can play some D, but they can score too, putting up 57 of their own in the second half.

KG is being KG. Allen played all 48, shot over 50%, had nine boards, some assists and steals, and only one turnover. But, like against the Pistons, it was Pierce making the difference. Who could imagine that one day an NBA coach would look at his bench and say, "hey boys, we need to slow Kobe down this half. Pierce, you get on him and take him out of the game". It's his transformation that is making the Celtics what they are. Sure, some of KG must have rubbed off on him, but he still had to do it, all while playing on a bad wheel.

Last night was the Lakers chance to make it a series and Pierce said no. He's the guy who must be thinking, sure, bring these guys in, but this is still my team and I'm going to be the one leading it. I for one didn't think he had it in him. I stand corrected. MVP when it matters.

Amazingly astute analysis of the series. :MusicBigGrin:

SportsPickle.com - Bird, Magic Scoreless So Far in NBA Finals (http://www.sportspickle.com/features/volume7/2008-0611-birdmagic.html)

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to address/fix the rebounding deficit.

It took Phil Jackson ONE GAME to figure out how to stop BOS offense and make neccessary adjustments.

It took Phil Jackson ZERO GAMES to realize he needs to stick to his all season rotation/use the bench.


Looks like Phil Jackson is another has-been coach who can go sit down next to Pop. Like the way he got a 24 point lead and then promptly blew it. I wonder if his players pulled the "Mutiny" ploy like Sheed and Billups did in game 6..........Our starters need to goooooooooo...:gun1:

Notice how in crunch time, KG went right into the paint and attacked Gasol. Sheed should just watch a tape of the last 2 minutes of that game over and over. Shooting is cool too, but there are times when you need your big man to play like one.

Who could imagine that one day an NBA coach would look at his bench and say, "hey boys, we need to slow Kobe down this half. Pierce, you get on him and take him out of the game". It's his transformation that is making the Celtics what they are. Sure, some of KG must have rubbed off on him, but he still had to do it, all while playing on a bad wheel.

I remember laughing my butt of when we had the 4 all stars a few years back and it was pierce that was paired with them on the court and he made mention of it to the effect that he was a piston for the day? or something like that... and saying you don't know the concept of det defense....

I take it back... with some real talent around him... he's a real good talent.... (wow i hated typing that)

I take it back... with some real talent around him... he's a real good talent.... (wow i hated typing that)

It is tough. I'd written him off as a typical cash the checks and try not to worry too much kind of player.

But to be fair, it might have been tough to get highly motivated with Fatoine as your running buddy.

How good could the C's be if they had a stud like Hayes off the bench instead of Posey?

How good could the C's be if they had a stud like Hayes off the bench instead of Posey?


And they got Posey for pratically nothing...

He's a man with ring that still hungry for another...he may be a Robert Horry type?? Somebody check to see if sign a one year deal...maybe we can sign him this summer to replace that arvis bum..plus he can play D!!

And they got Posey for pratically nothing...

He's a man with ring that still hungry for another...he may be a Robert Horry type?? Somebody check to see if sign a one year deal...maybe we can sign him this summer to replace that arvis bum..plus he can play D!!

And he's a better 3 point shooter than Hayes which is supposed to be his specialty. I'm getting sick watching the Finals. Why can't DET get there?

Game six comments

Did anybody catch Kobe' post game comments...we pissed in the bed and the spot was so big, we could not even cover it with a big towel

Trevor Ariza playing like a young allstar ..(just like Lee said he could )in the first half, but literally being nailed to the bench in the second half.

Lamar Odom starting off the game 7 for 7 and then sitting on the bench for too long and not getting back in rhythm

Ray Allen waiving off the screen in the end of the game and them blowing by both Sasha and Gasoft for the game clinching layup...and playing all 48 mins..

Did anyone see Sasha V...swinging and cursing at someone at the end of the game while he was sitting on the bench?? Obviously his emotions have got the best of him

Laker radio guys are now saying that the conspiracy is in...this is Kobe's year...he wins the MVP, the gold medal and he leads the Lakers back with 3 wins to make the unbelievable come history making comeback...:confused:

Guys,

JUST

STOP

IT

Do not make me interested in this series or there will be hell to pay. :gun1:







(just kidding, the Loch Ness Monster couldn't make this series interesting for me)

(just kidding, the Loch Ness Monster couldn't make this series interesting for me)
It's so weird, I feel the same way. Sometimes I tell myself that maybe I would like to watch a game after all, so I turn it on and then this feeling of disgust and utter boredom hits me within about 5 seconds. I'm doing what I can to keep the '04 Pistons Finals ratings from being topped! I just can't stand to watch either of those teams win.

Guys,

JUST

STOP

IT

Do not make me interested in this series or there will be hell to pay. :gun1:







(just kidding, the Loch Ness Monster couldn't make this series interesting for me)
Oh Come on, I know you were giving up TV, but if you are true basketball fan and your TV is still working and there is nothing else to do or watch, it does get interesting to see another team can have the same frustrations our Pistons had....We blew a 10 point lead and the Spurs blew to 20+point leads...Piston and the Spurs fans are smiling about the Laker misfortunes...and so are the fans in Sacramento:nerd2:

I listen to WDFN's Stoney and Wojo cry for a two days last month after the Pistons lost game 6. I know they and the local Piston fans who called in were in an uproar, but it was minuscule compared to the fallout here....these radios guys are having a fit....and I am enjoying it:MusicBigGrin:

Alas, and it only took the Celts one quarter to make it all worthless. I was with you though, sitting there at the end of the first half thinking that there was no way Boston can win if they allow the Lakers to score 58 points in a half. We were right too, just didn't anticipate them only scoring 33 in the second half. No doubt the Celts can play some D, but they can score too, putting up 57 of their own in the second half.

KG is being KG. Allen played all 48, shot over 50%, had nine boards, some assists and steals, and only one turnover. But, like against the Pistons, it was Pierce making the difference. Who could imagine that one day an NBA coach would look at his bench and say, "hey boys, we need to slow Kobe down this half. Pierce, you get on him and take him out of the game". It's his transformation that is making the Celtics what they are. Sure, some of KG must have rubbed off on him, but he still had to do it, all while playing on a bad wheel.

Last night was the Lakers chance to make it a series and Pierce said no. He's the guy who must be thinking, sure, bring these guys in, but this is still my team and I'm going to be the one leading it. I for one didn't think he had it in him. I stand corrected. MVP when it matters.

In the 2nd half, Phil Jackson had a Flip Saunders moment. His rotations were puzzling to say the least. He benched Ariza in favor of Vlad who did absolutley nothing and played like 29 min. He took Odom out to match up w/ BOS going small which was stupid since this was the one game Odom was doing something, and left Farmar out there instead of Fisher.

But what really lost the game IMO was the Laker's youth, and lack of defense. They've overachieved which you can credit Jackson with; probably wouldn't be in the finals if Ginobli hadn't been hurt.

edited to add;

Dre i just read your post. Should have put an ITA at the end of that. We're on the same page.

Looks like Phil Jackson is another has-been coach who can go sit down next to Pop. Like the way he got a 24 point lead and then promptly blew it. I wonder if his players pulled the "Mutiny" ploy like Sheed and Billups did in game 6..........Our starters need to goooooooooo...:gun1:

The Lakers have overachieved to the max degree. And they're young, besides two players they are all new to the finals. And although Jackson made some questionable moves, "bad coaching" but what Kobe said they "wet the bed". BOS is just more talented and more experienced.

And Gasol is still soft.

Sad that Kobe walked off the floor with a few seconds left. Just headed for the tunnel while the final seconds ticked off. Really wanted to see his image make the full turnaround. I expect to see these two teams battling again in the finals next season. I think Gasol just felt overwhelmed this series because of the immensity of it, cause he seemed to play Duncan so well. Kobe has had to do it alone at times and that's hard to do while wearing a Pierce blanket.

I can't really blame Kobe for going off on his teammates after this series. They, Gasol especially, have been awful.

The sentiment seems to be brewing that DET would be champs if only they could have gotten by BOS. I don't think they could get by CLE or LA though. Somehow, someway Gasol would look like Shaq against the Pistons.

I can't really blame Kobe for going off on his teammates after this series. They, Gasol especially, have been awful.

The sentiment seems to be brewing that DET would be champs if only they could have gotten by BOS. I don't think they could get by CLE or LA though. Somehow, someway Gasol would look like Shaq against the Pistons.

One thing that's been really irritating about this series is the large # of people/spprtswriters saying "Oh well, Kobe's not as good as we thought he was; Lebron James is the best player in the NBA now".

Short-term memory anyone? Sans game 7, Lebron was awful against the Celtics. The difference is his team was defensively just as good if not better than BOS.

One thing that's been really irritating about this series is the large # of people/spprtswriters saying "Oh well, Kobe's not as good as we thought he was; Lebron James is the best player in the NBA now".

Short-term memory anyone? Sans game 7, Lebron was awful against the Celtics. The difference is his team was defensively just as good if not better than BOS.

I wouldn't go so far as saying Bron Bron was awful against the C's, but MJ would have a tough time winning in Kobe's spot. Comparing the 2 the one thing I never hear brought up is how much stronger MJ is. If Kobe had a little help it could be 3-1 the other way. BOS is not that good. If there is a team that can blow a 3-1 lead it is them.

Emotions and changes in attitude occur after every game...When the Lakers won game 3, people out here thought and believe they would win three straight home and then take game 6 in Boston. As soon as they lost some have blame everyone from Kobe to Phil to Gasoft to Sasha to Walton or to Fish and Odom for not being in there at crunch time...oops that's on Phil again.

Others are reacting to the way they lost and still others think because the took out the defending champs in 5, that are the superior team despite Boston having the better league record and sweeping them during the regular season.

I may have to go back to the LA Times archives to see if the local media was more upset when the Pistons had the Lakers down 3-1 in 2004 or now when the Celtics have them down 3-1 now. Expectations were probably higher then and there was more of shock of what was happening....

Expectations were not as high at the beginning of the season, but the local fans are so starved for a title, they are just can't believe that came this close and maybe denied. Sure this team is explosive and had a good run after they acquired Gasoft, but in the end their other so called young weapons just didn't have it in them....I mean they can still win game 5, but if they do, I think the Celtics end it in game 6.

Back to Boston. Lakers pulled it out, but like JVC said, that was not the type of win you should have there. Boston wins Tuesday night.

Basketball is supposed to be entertaining. This series just gives me a headache. Between KG's choking, Gasol's choking, the general choking, and stupid plays i feel like i'm watching 5th grade teams.

Jackson seems to be having senile moments w/ his rotations/coaching, and Doc is drawing up plays for Ray Allen after he hasn't touched the ball since the 1st quarter.

Why won't this series end?! :frusty:

The Lakers just barely hold on again after blowing big leads...They can't win in Boston playing this way. But they were suppose to win this one to set up the big celebration in beantown with all of the ESPN guys in the arena Tuesday to share in the bubbly.

Basketball is supposed to be entertaining. This series just gives me a headache. Between KG's choking, Gasol's choking, the general choking, and stupid plays i feel like i'm watching 5th grade teams.

Jackson seems to be having senile moments w/ his rotations/coaching, and Doc is drawing up plays for Ray Allen after he hasn't touched the ball since the 1st quarter.

Why won't this series end?! :frusty:


You should have come into the Chat room and vented your frustration me and Kim. For awhile she was in there chatting all by her lonesome...:sssh:

You should have come into the Chat room and vented your frustration me and Kim. For awhile she was in there chatting all by her lonesome...:sssh:

I tried, but i kept getting kicked out. The only time i could get in was after the game was over LOL.

I think I'm done with this series anyway. I've watched quarters here and there, but Game 5 was actually the 1st time i watched the whole game. I don't have any desire to see BOS win which is likely next game.

I've been having trouble watching this series mostly because neither team is Detroit, but the fourth quarter last night was pretty fun. It was serious do or die stuff and Boston blinked. Despite JVG's constant harping that LA was totally incompetent on defense the Celts only shot 7 for 17 in the fourth. I generally like JVG, but he does need to admit that turning Paul Pierce the way you want him to go isn't as easy as he lets on.

I also thought that stuff about Farmar (may have been someone else) fouling Pierce on a late trip down the lane rather than trying to take the charge was just nonsense. There wasn't any way the Laker player could have gotten into position, and I'd rather see a good foul that stopped the layup (which was delivered) rather than trying weakly for a charge and possibly giving up a three point play in that situation.

And what about Farmar's speed? Two for three in the 4th, both hits on sheer speed - turn the corner and race to the hoop stuff. Nice.

The Celts play also makes we wonder if we'll see a new rule next year about contact after a foul. Posey makes a living delivering cheap shots off the ball after fouls have been called. That's something I think ought to be cleaned up.

Anyway, I think I'll hang around for game six. Come on roscoe, you know you want to see it too...

The series should have been over yesterday, but KG choked on a couple of FT in crunch time, the Lakers got a couple of key steals that led to hoops. The key to the Lakers actually winning was the Kendrick Perkins injury. Without him on the inside pressuring Pau Gasoft and Lamar O'dum, the Lakers probably got more on the inside than they should have and as me & Kimmie agreed in chat, Paul Pierce could have dumped off to him for the ez dunks instead of penetrating and throwing up prayers in the end. To bad Perkins is not availvable tommorrow either.

The problem with the Lakers is that they could not stop the penetration of pierce. Throwing Chris Mihm in there in the second qtr almost cost them the game as he could not stop anyone..

I am hoping this thing is over tomorrow so that we can get over with this NBA season and move on to the draft and Free agency.

Bos. is pretty beat up. But with their stupid cockiness they might want to go dramatic and win it in 7. Another game for them to prance around. If they go straight to the whole with 30 or more FT's, that means they're serious about winning. Less than 25 FTs and they're just coasting.
Then again Lakers could just lay down and give up free chili all nite.

Anyway, I think I'll hang around for game six. Come on roscoe, you know you want to see it too...
I might do that. But honest, I don't care who wins. A 1-0 game quadruple overtime game would suit me just fine. Would look good on Pierce, Kobe and Stern.

I'm back from vacation now, so I plan on hanging out in the chat during the game. I was on a plane all night, but the possibility of me "pulling a Roscoe" and claiming to be too tired to watch the game is probably very low, since I slept for about 4 hours this afternoon. :laugh:

Damn Bos. just finish it already. We don't need a dramatic game 7.
Celts 95
Lakes 82

The ratings for 4 and 5 (for anyone who's following)

Game 4 - 8.7 ------- Lakers/Pistons - 14.4
Game 5 - 10.1 ------- L/P - 13.8

D4, myself and LA Dre are in chat.

http://www.pistonsforum.com/misc.php?do=flashchat


~

Interesting how big the difference is in the ratings. Maybe Kobe + Shaq was just a unique combination of star-power that can't be equaled by any other team now in terms of TV ratings.

Gasol would need to score 40 PPG to offset all the bad things he does vis a vis his softness.

Lakers were overrated. just a part of stern's masterplan that did not work out. THis series has been a snoozer.

Lakers were overrated. just a part of stern's masterplan that did not work out. THis series has been a snoozer.

Of course it has to take three superstars to team together to win a Championship. Too bad it has to be Celtics. While the Lakers is still a one man army. How else can people explains the Celtics that was the worst team last year to come back to win a Championship.

4 thoughts on the "after show"

David Stern is giving a monologue. Seriously, he won't STFU. And this is after he got booed.

KG is on drugs, and embarrassing himself

Kobe was crying, and i feel awful for him

Why am i watching this ??

edited to add; The Celtics are all emotional wrecks. I don't remember one Pistons crying after we won. Not that there's anything wrong with crying, but KG esp has taken it to a whole new level.

And is it really good for the NBA to have a team go from the worst to the best ??

Not sure how many of you tuned into this game but it was over at halftime as much as the NBA title was decided last summer when they acquired Allen and KG.

The Celtics turned it into a Globetrotter drill in the 4th qtr as the Lakers were embarrassed more so in this game than any of the losses the Pistons put on them in 2004.

The Celtics were the best and we have to give them credit for it. Maybe we could have beaten the Lakers if we had gotten the shot, but guess what the C's were destined and they played better defense, they were hungrier and they had a better coach...who for the first time that I can remember got the gatorade shower on an NBA basketball floor for winning the title.

At the beginning of the season nobody gave them any chance because they figured that they had no bench, no defense and no decent coach...well not only did he out coach Flip, (so did Pat Riley and Mike Brown), but he out coached the zen master Phil Jackson.

4 thoughts on the "after show"

David Stern is giving a monologue. Seriously, he won't STFU. And this is after he got booed.

KG is on drugs, and embarrassing himself

Kobe was crying, and i feel awful for him

Why am i watching this ??

edited to add; The Celtics are all emotional wrecks. I don't remember one Pistons crying after we won. Not that there's anything wrong with crying, but KG esp has taken it to a whole new level.

And is it really good for the NBA to have a team go from the worst to the best ??

What is up with kg? Wow.

It was apparant after game 2. No, it was apparant after looking at the Laker's players vs. the Celtic players. No, it was apparant as soon as Garnett joined Allen and then came Posey last summer. It stinks. The Celtics have raised the bar. They are as good as expected. It was not great management and had nothing to do with tradition. That is pure NBA story line.

The best three teams in the league: Celts, then Pistons and Cavs. The west was weak and over-hyped.

The Pistons will have to make changes in the starting unit as the bar has been raised. The Celts will come back at 31, 32 and 33 for their 3 all stars meaning they will have another year anyway.

4 thoughts on the "after show"

David Stern is giving a monologue. Seriously, he won't STFU. And this is after he got booed.

KG is on drugs, and embarrassing himself

Kobe was crying, and i feel awful for him


I thought they were booing Stu Scott from ESPN. I turned it off quickly after that to bang my head against the wall.

What a classless bunch of ace holes on the C's.

This, to me, is one of the worst days as Piston fan lately. DET seems miles from wining a title. Melo...Melo...Melo.....

It was apparant after game 2. No, it was apparant after looking at the Laker's players vs. the Celtic players. No, it was apparant as soon as Garnett joined Allen and then came Posey last summer. It stinks. The Celtics have raised the bar. They are as good as expected. It was not great management and had nothing to do with tradition. That is pure NBA story line.

The best three teams in the league: Celts, then Pistons and Cavs. The west was weak and over-hyped.

The Pistons will have to make changes in the starting unit as the bar has been raised. The Celts will come back at 31, 32 and 33 for their 3 all stars meaning they will have another year anyway.


I concur LAPiston... I may even put Orlando in there at number 7 behind the lakers Spurs and Hornets , The rest of the west were 50 win frauds.

In terms of three stars, they probably have four as Rondo was surely the star of tonights game with 21 pts, 8 dimes, 6 steals and 7 boards. No allstar yet, but obviously he can only get better next year so.

here are a couple of meaning less stats... Koe -35 and Pierce +35. The lakers got only 2 offensive boards and those two were in the 4th qtr. Kobe made 4 baskets in the 1st qtr and three the rest of the game

Pau Gasoft lived up to his name and right now the Laker management is only praying that Bynum will return to form and help him out next season.

Ernie,

You are doing what I am sure Joe is doing. We may have been second best or maybe it was le Bron, but we are not that close in a critical sense. The bar has been raised. We have to wheel and deal. Standing pat will not get us out of the east. It is better to know what you are dealing with than live on false hope...

Ernie,

You are doing what I am sure Joe is doing. We may have been second best or maybe it was le Bron, but we are not that close in a critical sense. The bar has been raised. We have to wheel and deal. Standing pat will not get us out of the east. It is better to know what you are dealing with than live on false hope...

and yes Joe was living on false hope and so were we:yellowprison:

Dre,

Funny, but I too have Orlando breaking into the overall top 8.

You have been right on on your posts of the Lakers. My Laker friends had the team overrated. And why not, with the Lakers coasting out of the West and the experts drooling over them. But with the decline this year of the Spurs, the West was weak.

The Lakers have to make significant changes. Assuming Bynum gets back, they can then get value for Odom to upgrade at small forward and point guard.

You know, Tay, would be a perfect fit with them. But we don't need any of their players. (Kobe untoucheable).

These final made me think maybe pistons wasn't THAT bad as in this forum they were. But again, as lapiston said, bar has been raised so changes are necessary.

I'm actually on the side of the Pistons being fairly close. We were pretty awful against the Celtics and still took it 6, 7 barring the team emotionally checking out. We had a flawed game plan, an idiot for a coach, and internal drama yet we still made the Celts look beatable as did the Cavs.

With more rebounding, FOCUS on defense, intensity, attention to the little things, and better coaching (variable at this point), we are potentially right there. We could have run the Celtics, and we are not the Lakers defensively. They still weren't very good on the road sans the miracle comeback which had as much to do with them as the Lakers.

Do we need to make a move? Yes. Does it have be a starter? Maybe. Could it just be an Artest or Magette? Possibly.

All in all just shows you that the East is better than the West.

People shouldn't take this series for any indication. The Celtics are not as good as the Lakers made them look. Not even close. In fact i think the best indication of where they are as a team was against the Cavs, a team who could hang with them on the boards and defensively.

KG is still a choker.

Allen can still be controlled.

And while PP is great. He played against 1 good defensive opposite (Sorry Tay!) in LBJ and maybe you can count JJ and while he had a breakout game or two, for the most part his production wasn't insurmountable by any means.

Will the Pistons beat them next year? Who knows, but they are not far away at all. There is no need for any panic moves with the Celts in mind.

edited to add;

I forgot to add a hobbled Billups. Stuckey's production does not negate the fact that we needed a healthy Chauncey esp w/ all the min Flip played him.

I believe that we'll find that Curry next year will have a rough season. If Joe keeps the starters and makes no changes, I don't see this crew turning it on and even gaining the ECF. Even with new players, they'll have to mesh with the leftovers and a new coach. Gotta expect no more than 52 wins next season. The days of Flips high regular season win % are over..........I'd prefer to start fresh with a new attitude. Rolling only the coach won't accomplish that...

Well, one thing for sure, it wasn't quite what I expected.

- The ultimate anti-Stern series. Yeah, top names and storied rivalry, but what Stern has always pushed is local (divisional) rivalries and home grown talent. The league has worked for years to make it hard for players to switch teams with the intent that fans will get to know the players.... And what does it get him??? A finals filled with hired guns. And lesser teams so strapped by the cap that they can't make moves. The league needs to do some thinking.

- So much for building up your European scouting organization. Bring in the best of the best and all they do is complain about how hard the other team is playing. So much for all those fears that American players were on the way out.

- You kind of expected Gasol, Radmanovich, and Sasha to fade when the going got tough, but Kobe??? The Jordan legacy is intact.

- And for the Pistons. Seems pretty clear now the best two teams were in the East like that pesky regular season record always showed. Either Boston or Detroit could have taken LA out. A better coach, a better gameplan, a point guard who could move, a little more bench play and who knows. Move a piece if you need to Joe, but don't discount the big move you've already made.

- And for the Celtics. Those guys can't play those kind of minutes for another season. Look for some time lost to injury and a very slow start they will spend the rest of the season trying to recover from - say 7-15. Not sure they win without Posey this year, and he won't be back. He's got a couple of rings and will be looking for a payday somewhere, and someone will give him one.

And for the Celtics. Those guys can't play those kind of minutes for another season. Look for some time lost to injury and a very slow start they will spend the rest of the season trying to recover from - say 7-15. Not sure they win without Posey this year, and he won't be back. He's got a couple of rings and will be looking for a payday somewhere, and someone will give him one.

Would we be willing to give him a few bucks? He is what I thought Tay would turn out to be after his break out off the bench. Stingy on defense and able to shoot consistently. Willing to get after the ball whether it is on the glass or the floor.

Would we be willing to give him a few bucks? He is what I thought Tay would turn out to be after his break out off the bench. Stingy on defense and able to shoot consistently. Willing to get after the ball whether it is on the glass or the floor.

Posey could be one of those guys that only the fans of his team ever like or appreciate. He's part Rodman, part Artest, but with real jump shooting range. You would need to find minutes for him besides backing up Prince, and Max would be the obvious odd man out.

It could be tough to get over hating him for years from the Heat and now from the Celtics though.

I liked Posey when he was in Memphis. He's become the sort of role player off the bench that McDyess was for us in 2005.

The gap between a Posey and a Jarvis Hayes is enormous. Grand Canyon-esque.

Joe hasn't been able to upgrade the team's talent in FA since 2005. And that year, it was at the loss of Corliss, Memo and Mike James, so it's hard to argue that there was a net gain from signing McDyess.

I don't know if Posey is available or not, but Ainge got him for nothing. Which means he may ant more to sign this year...

The Celtics has the big three, but it was Posey off the bench that shut down some of the Lakers bench fakers and his long ball and defense in games 4 and 6 were the difference in the comeback and last night's taking them from 4 lead to a 23 point lead by halftime. Of course of the players stepped up, but with Ray Allen in the lockeroom the whole second qtr, he was their catalyst.

He may have been more valuable to the Celtics than he was to the Heat in 2006.

If he is reasonable, Joe should take a look as he as Roscoe said a better upgrade than we have gotten with Jarvis Hayes, Mo Evans, Delk etc, that we have had the during the Flip era. If Joe passes on him, Mitch Kupchak surely won't. (This of course if he is FA.)

I don't know if Posey is available or not, but Ainge got him for nothing. Which means he may ant more to sign this year...

The Celtics has the big three, but it was Posey off the bench that shut down some of the Lakers bench fakers and his long ball and defense in games 4 and 6 were the difference in the comeback and last night's taking them from 4 lead to a 23 point lead by halftime. Of course of the players stepped up, but with Ray Allen in the lockeroom the whole second qtr, he was their catalyst.

He may have been more valuable to the Celtics than he was to the Heat in 2006.

If he is reasonable, Joe should take a look as he as Roscoe said a better upgrade than we have gotten with Jarvis Hayes, Mo Evans, Delk etc, that we have had the during the Flip era. If Joe passes on him, Mitch Kupchak surely won't. (This of course if he is FA.)

This is one of the big problems I have with Joe. He has already made it known he won't spend the whole MLE on 1 player. He says teams nowadays prefer "breaking it up". For the Pistons, I think this is a terrible way to look at things. We need ONE good player WAY over 2 fringe rotation guys. Our last decent free agent signing was Dice (Full MLE). Before that was Chauncey (Full MLE). We have never gotten a rotation mainstay by "Breaking up the MLE". Guys like Mo Evans, Flip Murray, Jarvis Hayes, etc. That's what happens when you go shopping in the bargain bins. Throw the MLE (or close to it) at a sure thing in a guy like Posey (should have done last year), and the backup Small forward issue is completely over.

This is one of the big problems I have with Joe. He has already made it known he won't spend the whole MLE on 1 player. He says teams nowadays prefer "breaking it up". For the Pistons, I think this is a terrible way to look at things. We need ONE good player WAY over 2 fringe rotation guys. Our last decent free agent signing was Dice (Full MLE). Before that was Chauncey (Full MLE). We have never gotten a rotation mainstay by "Breaking up the MLE". Guys like Mo Evans, Flip Murray, Jarvis Hayes, etc. That's what happens when you go shopping in the bargain bins. Throw the MLE (or close to it) at a sure thing in a guy like Posey (should have done last year), and the backup Small forward issue is completely over.

Agreed. I may hate him now, but i could get over that real quick.

One thing i noticed about that probably goes unnoticed is he always within the offense, and within himself. You never really see him take a bad shot. He knows what his role is, when to defer, and when to step.

He hustles, he's a better defender than Tay, and he plays hard all the time.

I can't believe i just extolled the virtues of James Posey. :sssh:

edited to add; if our team stays pretty much the same, this (or Artest, but he brings all kinds of crazy) is the move that MUST be made. BOS can't match the MLE right?

Who else on a potential title contender can? The Lakers maybe . . . Other than that there's not much out there.

Imagine this bench next year . . . Stuckey/AA/Posey/Amir/Max or Dice depending on who starts. That's sick defensively.

See how they panic....local LA media

Although they supposedly came within 2 W's of the title, some of local media are ready to throw Lamar and Turiaf under the bus as well as let Sasha walk. They hope Bynum will make the difference, next year, but that does not mean they get back. Bottomline this team could have been swept this year and as they did not even look good in their 2 wins...


On another note, Tim Colishaw said on Around the Horn that this Celtics team was better than any champions in the last 4 years including our beloved Pistons....anybody want to comment on that :stirthepot:

The fact that no veterans have come to DET on the cheap for the shot to be a key part on a championship squad stuns me. You all are right about breaking up the MLE. It has reaped a cadre of one dimensional players who's one dimension isn't that good. Juan Dixon was a H-U-G-E pickup though.

A lot of what Posey did on O was off of ball movement/dribble drives. I am not sure he would get the same opportunities playing with the "Slow 3".

On another note, Tim Colishaw said on Around the Horn that this Celtics team was better than any champions in the last 4 years including our beloved Pistons....anybody want to comment on that :stirthepot:


I saw the show and it was Woody who made the comparison first saying that specifically, the 2004 Pistons were better than these Celtics. Cowlishaw is still upset that the Dallas Stars lost to the Red Wings. (He's out of Dallas) I would take the 2004 Pistons in a heartbeat. Just wonder how much Zenmaster's stock has fallen. He really had a bad series.

See how they panic....local LA media

Although they supposedly came within 2 W's of the title, some of local media are ready to throw Lamar and Turiaf under the bus as well as let Sasha walk. They hope Bynum will make the difference, next year, but that does not mean they get back. Bottomline this team could have been swept this year and as they did not even look good in their 2 wins...


On another note, Tim Colishaw said on Around the Horn that this Celtics team was better than any champions in the last 4 years including our beloved Pistons....anybody want to comment on that :stirthepot:


BS. No way possible. Not even in someone's dreams. That 04 Pistons defense would shred BOS. LB would kill Doc Rivers in the coaching department. KG's choking would be on full display. Ben would scare the crap out of him. Prince would be effective on Pierce because we'd actually keep him out of the paint. I could go on . . .

BOS is so overrated. Just because they were the best team THIS year means nothing esp w/ the weak competition the played in the finals.

Ppl are nuts.

Joe hasn't been able to upgrade the team's talent in FA since 2005. And that year, it was at the loss of Corliss, Memo and Mike James, so it's hard to argue that there was a net gain from signing McDyess.

Correction. Joe has not upgraded the bench since the Championship. Every year since then he has had an assortment of scrubs coming off the bench, or in case of this year, playoff rookies as the main bench support. IMO he has lived off the Championship legacy and done pretty much nothing to take the team over the top in terms of talent and depth. Let him put his money where his mouth is and actually show meaningful roster changes this off-season.

Yeah some one said the Celts Dee was as good as the '96 Bulls, ESPN.
Right now they are BOSS.
I realize the LakeShow came up flat, but offense would bring a tear to Flips eye.

Well, one thing for sure, it wasn't quite what I expected.

- The ultimate anti-Stern series. Yeah, top names and storied rivalry, but what Stern has always pushed is local (divisional) rivalries and home grown talent. The league has worked for years to make it hard for players to switch teams with the intent that fans will get to know the players.... And what does it get him??? A finals filled with hired guns. And lesser teams so strapped by the cap that they can't make moves. The league needs to do some thinking. I don't see that dba, Ainge pulled off the deals of the decade. That's how I see it's meant to work.

- So much for building up your European scouting organization. Bring in the best of the best and all they do is complain about how hard the other team is playing. So much for all those fears that American players were on the way out.

- You kind of expected Gasol, Radmanovich, and Sasha to fade when the going got tough, but Kobe??? The Jordan legacy is intact. For now Kobe aint done.

- And for the Pistons. Seems pretty clear now the best two teams were in the East like that pesky regular season record always showed. Either Boston or Detroit could have taken LA out. A better coach, a better gameplan, a point guard who could move, a little more bench play and who knows. Move a piece if you need to Joe, but don't discount the big move you've already made. Right

- And for the Celtics. Those guys can't play those kind of minutes for another season. Look for some time lost to injury and a very slow start they will spend the rest of the season trying to recover from - say 7-15. Not sure they win without Posey this year, and he won't be back. He's got a couple of rings and will be looking for a payday somewhere, and someone will give him one.
-
I thought they would break down this year, and their bench would fail them. Didn't happen. Eat the rich. :ohwell:

Correction. Joe has not upgraded the bench since the Championship. Every year since then he has had an assortment of scrubs coming off the bench, or in case of this year, playoff rookies as the main bench support. IMO he has lived off the Championship legacy and done pretty much nothing to take the team over the top in terms of talent and depth. Let him put his money where his mouth is and actually show meaningful roster changes this off-season.

With the tradition of the old school Celtics hanging over their heads, this years champions will be back next year to defend and the Pistons have to make moves to counter it or gulp!, keep up with them.

Picking up a scrub to add to an aging core, will not do the trick this summer. The C's have the big three, but the other guys 21 year Perkins and 22 year old Rondo matured during the season and should be better next year. The six man Posey was the man off the bench. Don't expect Cassel or PJ to be there next year, but some other FA may sign there with the chance to get the riing...

Listening to Laker radio all day today, they realized that even though they got to the finals, they need to get tougher next season and their listeners proposed more trades today than I have read on our forum pages since we were eliminated... OK I am fibbing here., but bottom line they want to move Odom and they are shooting for Brand, Artest and even Posey. These are the guys we need to be targeting too for toughness. Mello and Tmac are scor