NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run
- Thread starter tomalak301
- Start date
[highlight]Pathetic Lakers! PATHETIC![/highlight] No way are they going to win 3 straight especially if they get back to Boston. The Lakers got that big lead and just let up I guess. When you have a team down you've got to keep them down. Celtics were definitely the better team. Oh, well it's over. Good luck next year, Lakers.
Wow.
Speechless.
Unfortunately, I wasn't THAT surprised it happened. During halftime, I had the aching feeling that the lead was too big and the Lake Show would get too complacent.
I hate that my gut was right on.
This is a team with loads of talent, but not the consistency needed to beat the Celtics.
Kobe did not step up. In fact, when he stepped off the floor with three seconds left in the game - effectively giving up during the final albeit meaningless moments - that was not a MVP move.
Where was Phil Jackson? Zen Masters do not let 24 point leads slip away.
This season was a treat - especially after how it started back in October. They can still make history, but history is not on their side.
Too bad it looks like the season will end, much like it began.
I still love the purple and gold.
Go Lakers.
Speechless.
Unfortunately, I wasn't THAT surprised it happened. During halftime, I had the aching feeling that the lead was too big and the Lake Show would get too complacent.
I hate that my gut was right on.
This is a team with loads of talent, but not the consistency needed to beat the Celtics.
Kobe did not step up. In fact, when he stepped off the floor with three seconds left in the game - effectively giving up during the final albeit meaningless moments - that was not a MVP move.
Where was Phil Jackson? Zen Masters do not let 24 point leads slip away.
This season was a treat - especially after how it started back in October. They can still make history, but history is not on their side.
Too bad it looks like the season will end, much like it began.
I still love the purple and gold.
Go Lakers.
Un-friggin-believable... how you let a team down by 20 halfway through the 3rd quarter back in the game during NBA finals is beyond me.
A few Garnett-Gasol moments summed it up though. Gasol is soft. The Lakers need Bynum to complete the picture.
The only thing is, will Odom hang around after being dissed by Jackson?
The Celtics are tough as nails from top to bottom, which is why they will win the series. Posey and House really came through.
A few Garnett-Gasol moments summed it up though. Gasol is soft. The Lakers need Bynum to complete the picture.
The only thing is, will Odom hang around after being dissed by Jackson?
The Celtics are tough as nails from top to bottom, which is why they will win the series. Posey and House really came through.
Great game.
This game, ironically, reminds me of that game LA came back in their series against the Spurs from a 27 point deficit.
Boston deserves this championship, if not simply for the fact that I've been watiing 21 painful years for this.
I've witnessed too many playoff losses to recall, so color me quite jubilant at this moment.
Not to mention that it would be great if vets like Garnett, Pierce and Allen (who was wonderful tonight) finally add an NBA championship win to their quite accomplished careers.
-Jamman
This game, ironically, reminds me of that game LA came back in their series against the Spurs from a 27 point deficit.
Boston deserves this championship, if not simply for the fact that I've been watiing 21 painful years for this.
I've witnessed too many playoff losses to recall, so color me quite jubilant at this moment.Not to mention that it would be great if vets like Garnett, Pierce and Allen (who was wonderful tonight) finally add an NBA championship win to their quite accomplished careers.
-Jamman
Ah man. 
Fisher, Odom and Gasol aren't exactly newbies. Walton's been around for a while too.
Plus you could argue, were the shoe on the other foot, that Boston is "too old" to keep up with those dynamic Lakers.
Plus you could argue, were the shoe on the other foot, that Boston is "too old" to keep up with those dynamic Lakers.
Go Celtics! Because I really don't want another championship team in the Western conference.
You know, this really makes me think that the Atlanta/Cleveland series were no flukes--the opponents really were that good.
The Eastern Conference may be tougher than people want to admit.
The Eastern Conference may be tougher than people want to admit.
My favorite moment of the Finals so far:
Who was that trying to give Sash a Vulcan nerve pinch, anyway?
It was someone from the L.A. Board of Public Health, desperately trying to hold him down to administer a much needed hair washing and flea dip.
According to the rosters available at CNNSI.com, the Lakers average time in the league is about 4.4 years. Three guys have over 10 years experience - Kobe, Fisher and Jim Jackson. Not sure why but they do have 21 players listed there.
The Celtics, with 16 players listed, average out to 6.25 years in teh league. They have five players with 10+ years experience: Allen, Brown, Casell, Garnett, and Pollard.
It's closer than I thought, and to be fair LA lists six rookies (as in 0 years experience). THen again, I don't know how they can lsit 21 when they usually only have like 12 actually at the game. Developmental squad maybe?
Last night's game was...unbelievable.
L.A. had the Celts right where they wanted them, but have proven that they lack the experience and killer instinct to really put away an opponent like the Celtics. They were up by 21 after one quarter, and 24 at most...and they just let Boston back in the game. That is not the sign of a team that looks like they want to win an NBA Championship. Yes, they have holdovers from the last time the Lakers went to the Finals, but that team was composed differently, while this team is relatively young, and with different leadership in Kobe being the go to guy. And yet, they fail to maintain a big lead against a team that beat them on their own home court in the regular season.
It's not enough to have the tools. A team must have the will to win. The Lakers don't have that, while Boston has that many times over.
The media basically picked the Lakers because of three things: Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and Pau Gasol. Even moreso Kobe because he's MVP. I'm glad they're eating their words right now.
Look back on Boston's road to the Finals. Two early series pushing them to 7 games each with the Hawks and the Cavaliers, with both exposing potential weaknesses. And then having to win on the road in the East Finals against Detroit after the Pistons won in the Garden gave them another hurdle to overcome, and they did, winning twice in Auburn Hills. I believe that by the time they finished off Detroit, they were ready for the Lakers, learning from the series before. And when The Finals started, all those problems were corrected in short order. Even during the Game 3 loss, they were in the thick of it.
In the end, the Lakers aren't willing to do what's necessary, and were willing to sit on their laurels because they had a big lead. They should have learned from Game 2, but it seems like their lack of learning will doom them. The Celtics are the better team since they didn't panic, and slowly worked their way back in the game. I saw this coming from a mile away. I'm not saying L.A. is a bad team, but Boston has been hungry from the first tip-off of the season. They started with a mission to win it all, and it looks like they are going to finish it sooner than most people expected.
L.A. had the Celts right where they wanted them, but have proven that they lack the experience and killer instinct to really put away an opponent like the Celtics. They were up by 21 after one quarter, and 24 at most...and they just let Boston back in the game. That is not the sign of a team that looks like they want to win an NBA Championship. Yes, they have holdovers from the last time the Lakers went to the Finals, but that team was composed differently, while this team is relatively young, and with different leadership in Kobe being the go to guy. And yet, they fail to maintain a big lead against a team that beat them on their own home court in the regular season.
It's not enough to have the tools. A team must have the will to win. The Lakers don't have that, while Boston has that many times over.
The media basically picked the Lakers because of three things: Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and Pau Gasol. Even moreso Kobe because he's MVP. I'm glad they're eating their words right now.
Look back on Boston's road to the Finals. Two early series pushing them to 7 games each with the Hawks and the Cavaliers, with both exposing potential weaknesses. And then having to win on the road in the East Finals against Detroit after the Pistons won in the Garden gave them another hurdle to overcome, and they did, winning twice in Auburn Hills. I believe that by the time they finished off Detroit, they were ready for the Lakers, learning from the series before. And when The Finals started, all those problems were corrected in short order. Even during the Game 3 loss, they were in the thick of it.
In the end, the Lakers aren't willing to do what's necessary, and were willing to sit on their laurels because they had a big lead. They should have learned from Game 2, but it seems like their lack of learning will doom them. The Celtics are the better team since they didn't panic, and slowly worked their way back in the game. I saw this coming from a mile away. I'm not saying L.A. is a bad team, but Boston has been hungry from the first tip-off of the season. They started with a mission to win it all, and it looks like they are going to finish it sooner than most people expected.
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Congratulations to the Celtics. They have been the best team all season and now have a championship to show for it. Well, they will Sunday.
As for the Lakers, many of their key players aren't just young, they've never been this deep in the playoffs. My highest expectations for this for this team before the season, when most were saying they wouldn't make the playoffs, was playing in the conference championship. They far exceeded that, not that it makes last night any less painful. That may have been the worst, and most painful (for me anyway) Lakers loss ever.
But I'm VERY optimistic about next season with Bynum's return and hopefully a full season of relative good health. So savor this championship C's fans, with whats going on in L.A. and Portland, it may be another 21.
I like that shot of Sascha. He should be pissed. They all should. They need to remember this pain, keep it close all off season.
Go Lakers!!!
As for the Lakers, many of their key players aren't just young, they've never been this deep in the playoffs. My highest expectations for this for this team before the season, when most were saying they wouldn't make the playoffs, was playing in the conference championship. They far exceeded that, not that it makes last night any less painful. That may have been the worst, and most painful (for me anyway) Lakers loss ever.
But I'm VERY optimistic about next season with Bynum's return and hopefully a full season of relative good health. So savor this championship C's fans, with whats going on in L.A. and Portland, it may be another 21.
I like that shot of Sascha. He should be pissed. They all should. They need to remember this pain, keep it close all off season.
Go Lakers!!!
Wow...I had clicked off the TV in disgust as the Lakers were burying the Celtics. Imagine my surprise when I checked the score online a couple of hours later!
The Cs now have momentum on their side after demoralizing L.A. like that. Combined with home-court advantage for the remaining games past Sunday, they're in a very good place.
Beat L.A.!
The Cs now have momentum on their side after demoralizing L.A. like that. Combined with home-court advantage for the remaining games past Sunday, they're in a very good place.
Beat L.A.!
Congratulations to the Celtics. They have been the best team all season and now have a championship to show for it. Well, they will Sunday.
As for the Lakers, many of their key players aren't just young, they've never been this deep in the playoffs. My highest expectations for this for this team before the season, when most were saying they wouldn't make the playoffs, was playing in the conference championship. They far exceeded that, not that it makes last night any less painful. That may have been the worst, and most painful (for me anyway) Lakers loss ever.
But I'm VERY optimistic about next season with Bynum's return and hopefully a full season of relative good health. So savor this championship C's fans, with whats going on in L.A. and Portland, it may be another 21.
I like that shot of Sascha. He should be pissed. They all should. They need to remember this pain, keep it close all off season.
Go Lakers!!!
Good post.
Until we traded for Gasol, I wasn't even sure the Lakers would make the playoffs. It wasn't a bad season at all.
I wish Bynum was able to make it back in time for the playoffs, but that's how it goes. There's no doubt in my mind that the Celtics are the better team.
And you're absolute right about this: they had better remember this. Being completely humiliated in their own house. It is the most painful loss I can remember as a 30 year Lakers fan.
