NBA FINALS THREAD

[hoyarooter]

A little late to this argument, but I agree with MCI about Kobe, and I definitely don't have anything against him. He's a great player, but if I were putting together my all-NBA roster, he would be borderline. In fact, he doesn't even make my all-time Laker team, as the guards would be Magic and the Logo, aka Mr. Clutch, aka Jerry West for those of you who don't go back that far.

Just a couple of asides on last night's game - the first thing I thought when KG bricked those free throws and missed that tip was that RDF was going to have a field day. When Sasha pulled that flop on the jump ball play and then laid on the floor like a dead fish, I thought he was trying out for a Euro soccer team. Just too funny. Finally, I heard Jon Barry on the radio this morning, and he was dumping on the Lakers big time. He said that the only reason that Gasol and Odom put up good numbers yesterday was that Perkins didn't play and KG was in foul trouble, and I think there is some truth to that. He also said that Kobe was deferring to Gasol in the fourth quarter because he can't get good shots against the Celtics defense and he didn't want the team to lose with him taking bad shots, and I think there is a lot of truth to that. Kobe has now had one good game and one good quarter in seven games. I guess there's always a chance he could explode in game 6, but I think it is unlikely, and also that it's the only way that the Lakers will win.

[kghoya]

im 29 years old and scottie pippen is one of the best players in "my" era

no question about it

[DanMcQ]

The Lakers still cannot play a lick of defense, and that will kill them in Boston.

[hoyarooter]

Jun 16, 2008 19:39:50 GMT -5 DanMcQ said:

The Lakers still cannot play a lick of defense, and that will kill them in Boston.

Lakers' defense has been sporadic at best all season. I would say there have been roughly 20 games this year where they have played really good defense, unlike the Celtics, who play good defense almost all the time. That was a big reason why I couldn't understand why the Lakers were favored in this series. The Celtics obviously raised their game back against the Pistons, and they didn't figure to revert to playing the way they did against the Hawks.

[RDF]

Congrats to Celtics---that was a thorough butt kicking and from a team that I questioned when they made trades in offseason as to whether they would be a flop or not--so I was way off and they proved me wrong. I admitted this at midseason--but it has to be brought up again since I was so skeptical of the trades and what was left over--but the pickups of Posey and PJ Brown were huge for Celtics and their young players-Rondo, Perkins, Powe, all played great. Doc Rivers getting a ring--good for him--good guy and always liked him as a player and from Pierce, KG, Ray Allen on down--they did a great job this year. Congrats!

As for Lakers--this game was over when I came home and read Sasha Vujacic mention that Celtics were playing "too aggressive/physical" and I like Vujacic as a player/think he's improved a lot-but this is not what you want to hear going into a tough environment and with 2 games you have to win. On top of that--it is rumored Lamar Odom was out clubbing after Game 5 win and knowing he had to be on a plane early in morning--so nice to see he was taking the Finals seriously. Pau Gasol had to get his eyelashes done for the big game--so he was busy doing that.

This by the way was a fitting way for this season to end--with a dog of a game. Entertaining regular season due to Western Conference scramble--but mediocre basketball for most part. Best team won--as deserved--and Stern will be exposed in offseason as a culprit behind the referee cheating. BTW--expect more high profile trades because NBA needs to deflect all the attention they can-and amazingly I think Dick Bavetta will "retire" before he gets nailed for being a cheat.

[Boz]

Congratulations to the Celtics. I didn't watch last night (actually I think the only game I really watched was Game 1), but from what I hear, they scored many, many more points than their opponent. Always a key to victory.

Seriously, though, I think it's good for the NBA that one of their traditional powers is back on top. (which might help counter some of the stuff RDF mentioned).

Now, Boston fans, LISTEN UP! You have two rings with the Sox, three rings with the Pats, and one ring with the Celts -- all in the past 8 years.

Now get off your asses and start supporting the Bruins, dammit!

Seriously, though. (Can't use seriously though twice in the same post - apologies)

Congrats to the Celtics and their fans. (Just don't ask me to read any of Simmons' tripe...cuz, you know, I won't).

[Jack]

Top of the World!

Kevin Garnett is insane, and probably chokes in close games, but I love him for that post-game interview if nothing else.

[Deleted]

That was nice of the Lakers to give up at the start of the second quarter so as not to cause Boston fans any stress last night.



Congrats to the Celtics, but I'm glad this series is over. After a very good regular season and several compelling playoff series, this finals was a dud as far as I'm concerned. As RDF has poitned out, too much soft play, the Lakers gave up on more than one occasion, ridiculously sloppy play for too many extended stretches... for what should have been the NBA's "we're back" moment, it was rather dull and anti-climactic.

EDIT: It will be interesting in several years to compare the down-for-so-long-now-happy generation of Boston sports fans like Jack to the young, championships-are-our-birthright, sense-of-entitlement Boston fans currently coming of age.

[Jack]

Jun 18, 2008 8:41:18 GMT -5 buffalohoya said:

EDIT: It will be interesting in several years to compare the down-for-so-long-now-happy generation of Boston sports fans like Jack to the young, championships-are-our-birthright, sense-of-entitlement Boston fans currently coming of age.

Damn Patriots ruined the year already.

[EasyEd]

So much for the superiority of the Western Conference.

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

Nice to see Doc get the W after they wanted to chase him & Ainge out of town. This gives everyone with a crap NBA team (pacers are my squad) a feeling that it can all turn around in one year. I like the way Doc handled his sons transfer and he seems like a good dude. When it came to my hatred of all things Boston and my hatred of Kobe, I decided to pull for the C's.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2008 10:08:52 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

Nice to see Doc get the W after they wanted to chase him & Ainge out of town. This gives everyone with a crap NBA team (pacers are my squad) a feeling that it can all turn around in one year. I like the way Doc handled his sons transfer and he seems like a good dude. When it came to my hatred of all things Boston and my hatred of Kobe, I decided to pull for the C's.

A one-year turnaround like this is a whole lot easier if a former player for your squad is best friends with your team's CURRENT GM and trades you his best player for a sack of s--t.

[Nevada Hoya]

Congrats to the Celtics! The Lakers looked as if they knew that they didn't have a chance to win in Boston and went out and played like that.

Where was Jeremy? His brother was there (is he a future Hoya?). Congratulations to Doc.

[theexorcist]

The best part was the Celtics fans chanting "dee FENSE" after Doc referenced it as the first thing he told his players during training camp.

Second best was a sign that said "Kobe won Jack without Shaq".

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2008 11:04:30 GMT -5 buffalohoya said:

Jun 18, 2008 10:08:52 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

Nice to see Doc get the W after they wanted to chase him & Ainge out of town. This gives everyone with a crap NBA team (pacers are my squad) a feeling that it can all turn around in one year. I like the way Doc handled his sons transfer and he seems like a good dude. When it came to my hatred of all things Boston and my hatred of Kobe, I decided to pull for the C's.

A one-year turnaround like this is a whole lot easier if a former player for your squad is best friends with your team's CURRENT GM and trades you his best player for a sack of s--t.

In fairness, the Lakers sent a similar sack to Laker Legend Jerry West for the Grizzlies' best player.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2008 11:32:56 GMT -5 @cam said:

In fairness, the Lakers sent a similar sack to Laker Legend Jerry West for the Grizzlies' best player.

Chis Wallace was the Memphis GM who pulled the trigger on that one.

EDIT: I think West left Memphis after the 2006-2007 season, if I remember correctly...

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2008 12:07:53 GMT -5 buffalohoya said:

Jun 18, 2008 11:32:56 GMT -5 @cam said:

In fairness, the Lakers sent a similar sack to Laker Legend Jerry West for the Grizzlies' best player.

Chis Wallace was the Memphis GM who pulled the trigger on that one.

EDIT: I think West left Memphis after the 2006-2007 season, if I remember correctly...

My bad - have my snarky comment stricken from the record

[hoyarooter]

The Lakers pulled two major gag jobs in that series. Last night was a complete embarassment. Nevertheless, despite the woe is us and Lakers blow commentary in the local fishwrap, the Lakers accomplished far, far, far more this season than anyone could have reasonably anticipated, and they've been through far worse than this (see 1962, 1969, 1970, 1984). Perhaps I don't feel so bad because I never seriously thought that the Lakers would win the title this year, and the best team won. But I stand by my prediction made earlier this year - the Lakers will win 2 or 3 titles in the next 5 seasons.

By the way, RDF, I heard those same reports about Odom - supposedly his picture was taken at a club in LA after midnight on Sunday. That's beyond inexcusable.

[SFHoya99]

One thing for the Lakers fans who think that "Oh, this would have been different with Bynum" and "Next year we're guaranteed..."

It seemed to me that most of that Laker team didn't really care if they won or lost. Is another year going to make Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom care if they win or lose? The Lakers got slapped around on effort to the point of embarassment.

It's funny - both KG and Kober have similar intensity. All the Celtics -- even the young guys -- sold out to the team mentality under KG. Wonder why some of the Lakers seemed to lack that effort?

[moe09]

Does Bill Simmons' article make any one else simply want to vomit? I'll admit it. I hate the Patriots. I'm quite indifferent towards the Celtics and the Sox. However, I've never read an article that just smacks of absolute stupidity like this one. I usually read Bill Simmons, I'm not sure why exactly, and stick it out through his ridiculous homerism, the fact that he looks like a guy who's never played a sport in his life, he looks like a sissy and has the voice of a 10 year old, simply because through it all you can usually find some interesting view on the state of sports, but this article has simply gone too far. I mean, he goes on to christen this Boston team as gods, and his attendance at Game 6 as some sort of religious experience, but I've never seen such relativism shine through in a sports article in my entire life.

He even admits that Paul Pierce is the only true Celtic on this team. These guys are the closest thing it comes to a mercenary squad. Sure, you're going to say that you can make this argument for any professional sports team, but the fact is it's just not nearly as true as it is with this Celtics team. I've had more playing time with some guys in pick up basketball at Yates than these guys have playing together, and all of a sudden this is some sort of amazing event in Boston sports history. You can almost see his boyish face blushing over his man-crushes as he talks about the stupid things that happened at the Garden (that were just oh-so-special) with this team or in the crowd, how he "just knew" at certain points, blah blah blah. This is absolutely pure, 100%, grade-A, crap. I really don't think I can read him anymore after this. It's embarrassing is what it is. How can he not see it?

I'm not even going to waste my time quoting this article to go on about how it makes me sick to my stomach when stupid fans like Bill Simmons can look past these facts and drool over these guys like every little thing that happened in the Garden that night was just oh so special. OK, I'm going to stop myself before I actually do vomit. It's just ridiculous. Give me a break...

[end rant.... well, I could go on about this ridiculousness of this pure trash, but I'm going to hold myself back.]