NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run
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[highlight]MVP![/highlight]
[highlight]MVP![/highlight]
[highlight]MVP![/highlight]
[highlight]MVP![/highlight]
[highlight]MVP![/highlight]
I hear Colorado's beautiful this time of year...
Just read that Tony Allen will be back for the Celtics. No, not Ray, Tony. Ostensibly he's had "success" guarding Kobe.
However you want to define that, anyway.
Digits,
I said most Laker fans. There is an arrogence about those fans (And pretty much any LA sports fans) that I find annoying, either listening to them, or reading posts by them or stuff like that. For one, the unconditional love for Kobe is a clear example. This is the same guy who at the beginning of the season almost said screw you to the people in LA and wanted to be traded. This is the same guy who got caught up with some mess in Colorado and then ended up repaying his wife with a multi-million dollar ring. Now he is the MVP (Personally Paul should have won it but Kobe was deserving too) and the common thing I hear is that he is the MVP. The sports world is going to be reminded all year long (And even if the Lakers win the championship) that Kobe was MVP, and it's that unconditional love that I find really interesting. Other than Kobe, it seems like most Laker fans feel like they have to get hostile if anyone criticizes their team. Just having these fans stomp thier feet and stuff like that and with the holier than though attitidue is annoying.
There are some that are cool. I mean the Laker fans here are pretty cool and are intelligent about the game. If you go to other boards though (ESPN for one) or listen to a lot of them, you do find that arrogance.
I'm sorry if it's not cool with you, but then again you are a Laker fan. I just want you to know I was speaking about fans in general, not you or anyone else here. However, I still contend that the Warriors should have beat you guys back to back and that so-called foul was atrocious to make at the end of that game, but that's the past. For now though, I am still rooting for Boston.
I said most Laker fans. There is an arrogence about those fans (And pretty much any LA sports fans) that I find annoying, either listening to them, or reading posts by them or stuff like that. For one, the unconditional love for Kobe is a clear example. This is the same guy who at the beginning of the season almost said screw you to the people in LA and wanted to be traded. This is the same guy who got caught up with some mess in Colorado and then ended up repaying his wife with a multi-million dollar ring. Now he is the MVP (Personally Paul should have won it but Kobe was deserving too) and the common thing I hear is that he is the MVP. The sports world is going to be reminded all year long (And even if the Lakers win the championship) that Kobe was MVP, and it's that unconditional love that I find really interesting. Other than Kobe, it seems like most Laker fans feel like they have to get hostile if anyone criticizes their team. Just having these fans stomp thier feet and stuff like that and with the holier than though attitidue is annoying.
There are some that are cool. I mean the Laker fans here are pretty cool and are intelligent about the game. If you go to other boards though (ESPN for one) or listen to a lot of them, you do find that arrogance.
I'm sorry if it's not cool with you, but then again you are a Laker fan. I just want you to know I was speaking about fans in general, not you or anyone else here. However, I still contend that the Warriors should have beat you guys back to back and that so-called foul was atrocious to make at the end of that game, but that's the past. For now though, I am still rooting for Boston.
Demi's analysis:
Celtics dominant in the regular season. Lakers dominant in the playoffs. Advantage Lakers.
Celtics have a fantastic D. Lakers have a fantastic O. Advantage Celtics.
Frontline - KG, Pierce and Perkins vs Gasol, Odom, and Radmonivic. Advantage Celtics.
Backcourt - Allen and Rondo vs Bryant and Fisher. Advantage Lakers.
Bench - Posey is great sub, but the rest of the bench is average at best. Advantage Lakers.
Coaching - going into this season, Jackson had more Championships (9) than Doc Rivers had victories in the postseason (8). Advantage Lakers.
Format - normally the Celtics would get the edge here, but the 2-3-2 format is actually pretty even. Tie.
Intangibles - drive is about even. You have great players wanting to prove themselves on both sides. But the Lakers have the single best player on the floor, who is the best closer on the floor. Advantage Lakers.
On paper this one looks great, but I think a lot of it is trending the Lakers way at this moment. They have the biggest advantage in the most important area, coaching. I'd say Lakers in 6, and if they are really feeling spry, 5.
Celtics dominant in the regular season. Lakers dominant in the playoffs. Advantage Lakers.
Celtics have a fantastic D. Lakers have a fantastic O. Advantage Celtics.
Frontline - KG, Pierce and Perkins vs Gasol, Odom, and Radmonivic. Advantage Celtics.
Backcourt - Allen and Rondo vs Bryant and Fisher. Advantage Lakers.
Bench - Posey is great sub, but the rest of the bench is average at best. Advantage Lakers.
Coaching - going into this season, Jackson had more Championships (9) than Doc Rivers had victories in the postseason (8). Advantage Lakers.
Format - normally the Celtics would get the edge here, but the 2-3-2 format is actually pretty even. Tie.
Intangibles - drive is about even. You have great players wanting to prove themselves on both sides. But the Lakers have the single best player on the floor, who is the best closer on the floor. Advantage Lakers.
On paper this one looks great, but I think a lot of it is trending the Lakers way at this moment. They have the biggest advantage in the most important area, coaching. I'd say Lakers in 6, and if they are really feeling spry, 5.
You're too young to remember the 80's, and having to deal with every ridiculous bandwagon 49er fan that ever lived. It was like they invented football. "Where were you in the 70's, pal?"
These things go in cycles. It's not that big of a deal. We're used to being hated.
Nobody hates the Warriors. You know why? Because nobody cares. That's a worse fate, IMHO.
You're too young to remember the 80's, and having to deal with every ridiculous bandwagon 49er fan that ever lived. It was like they invented football. "Where were you in the 70's, pal?"
These things go in cycles. It's not that big of a deal. We're used to being hated.
Nobody hates the Warriors. You know why? Because nobody cares. That's a worse fate, IMHO.
Yeah. Unless you live in Sacramento or the Bay Area, the Warriors really don't get much attention nationally. I think I like it that way though, because it makes years like last year when they made it to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years and beat Dallas all the more special.
I confess, that I was hoping for anything but Celtics / Lakers finals. I mean, these two teams combined have won more titles than anybody else. And the advanced hype was getting bad already. But now that we have it ... I'm buying into it again. All those titanic battles between Chamberlain and Russell, West and Jones, Magic and Bird..... that was history. Plus, it's not as if the Spurs and Pistons were n00bs at this title thing. It's too bad that Bynum wasn't available, but then the Celtics have some injury bugs too I think.
Regardless, Bring it on!!!
Regardless, Bring it on!!!
I should have given some more thought to this series, but I haven't.
Honestly, I think a Lakers-Celtics final is a good thing for the NBA (the Celtics really haven't been competetive in awhile and they need to be. Plus, any team on the east that is competetive with the west is good). Then again, there are no teams that need a championship less than the Celtics and the Lakers.
Historically, I hate the Celtics, but right now, the Lakers have won more recently and they did beat the Sixers in 2001. So I guess I'll root for the Boston Celtics
Returning the favor. Beat LA
May this have better luck than it did with the Sixers.
Honestly, I think a Lakers-Celtics final is a good thing for the NBA (the Celtics really haven't been competetive in awhile and they need to be. Plus, any team on the east that is competetive with the west is good). Then again, there are no teams that need a championship less than the Celtics and the Lakers.
Historically, I hate the Celtics, but right now, the Lakers have won more recently and they did beat the Sixers in 2001. So I guess I'll root for the Boston Celtics
Returning the favor. Beat LA
May this have better luck than it did with the Sixers.
I'm prepared. That, and I think most of the casual fans are siding with the Lakers because of Kobe and nothing else.
But Boston has the homecourt, the best record, and three guys that want to bring the title back to Boston. That, and they have a defense that could easily hold Kobe on points (since they held LeBron, I suspect they have a similar plan in place). Have to respect that, and that's why I'm siding with them to win it all.
That, and I just want to wring Kobe's neck until his tongue turns purple since if he does win the title, he'll have whined and cried his way to it. This is the same guy that wanted to get out of L.A. at the start of the regular season. Unless you're guaranteed to be traded, you have to man up and be part of the team you're with. I don't think Kobe's done that this season, and if he wins the NBA title, it's a shame, since it'll just inflate his own ego, and make everyone else think that the NBA revolves around him. In the end, I want Boston to win because I honestly believe they can win it, and to take down Kobe a few pegs.
Forgive my rant. I don't hate the Lakers (and I respect them as a team and organization, especially after netting Gasol). I just really hate Kobe.
But I'll say Beat LA tonight and for the series.
But Boston has the homecourt, the best record, and three guys that want to bring the title back to Boston. That, and they have a defense that could easily hold Kobe on points (since they held LeBron, I suspect they have a similar plan in place). Have to respect that, and that's why I'm siding with them to win it all.
That, and I just want to wring Kobe's neck until his tongue turns purple since if he does win the title, he'll have whined and cried his way to it. This is the same guy that wanted to get out of L.A. at the start of the regular season. Unless you're guaranteed to be traded, you have to man up and be part of the team you're with. I don't think Kobe's done that this season, and if he wins the NBA title, it's a shame, since it'll just inflate his own ego, and make everyone else think that the NBA revolves around him. In the end, I want Boston to win because I honestly believe they can win it, and to take down Kobe a few pegs.
Forgive my rant. I don't hate the Lakers (and I respect them as a team and organization, especially after netting Gasol). I just really hate Kobe.
But I'll say Beat LA tonight and for the series.
Good game. Too bad the wrong team won. 
Kobe was quite the bricklayer tonight. If he reverts to "me, me, me", the Lakers are in trouble.
Lots of drama. And I don't think Boston played its best game, to put it mildly.
Gonna be an interesting game II.
Lots of drama. And I don't think Boston played its best game, to put it mildly.
Gonna be an interesting game II.
I think I found the new hated player in the league and it ain't Kobe. At least Kobe gives it his all every game (Despite his off the court antics) but Paul Pierce being wheeled off the court only to come running back literally 5 minutes later and be treated like a Hero and savior is sickening. You don't get wheeled off like that and then come back 5 minutes later if you are a man. I just got done watching the NHL finals in which these athletes gave it thier all for almost 2 games in one night. Given the physicality of Hockey, that is damn impressive and they don't act like drama queens like players in the NBA. What happened tonight is a big 
moment I've ever seen in the NBA. Yeah, enjoy your Hero in Boston tonight. He seemed like one big fake to me after that.
moment I've ever seen in the NBA. Yeah, enjoy your Hero in Boston tonight. He seemed like one big fake to me after that.
I'm glad you said it, because it would sound like sour grapes from me.
But yeah, WTF was that? He had to be carried off, and put in a wheelchair, and he comes back on the floor in 5 minutes just fine? When I saw him on the floor writhing around in pain I thought he was out at least the rest of the game (if not longer). That was bizarre, to say the least.
In any event, props to the Celtics for a well deserved win. They pulled it together in the 4th quarter. Meanwhile the Lakers could not rebound to save their lives, and Kobe was way off.
Hopefully, Game 2 will go better.
I had similar thoughts about Paul Pierce. It all seemed fake just to get the crowd into it. Get carried off just to realize that you can put weight on your leg back in the locker room? Please. But depending on how significant the injury really was, he might have jacked his leg up worse by playing the rest of the night. He apparently had his leg wrapped up pretty good and was hobbling after the game.
In any case, I'm watching the finals because I love basketball, but I could not care less who wins. I'm not getting nostalgic because these aren't the same teams that battled each other when I was a kid. The fact that everybody wanted this to happen just makes me not want to see it. Props to each team for playing a great season, but the entire year was hyped for this event. Both had to have miracle trades for this to happen. It makes me raise an eyebrow.
In any case, I'm watching the finals because I love basketball, but I could not care less who wins. I'm not getting nostalgic because these aren't the same teams that battled each other when I was a kid. The fact that everybody wanted this to happen just makes me not want to see it. Props to each team for playing a great season, but the entire year was hyped for this event. Both had to have miracle trades for this to happen. It makes me raise an eyebrow.
I had to leave for awhile so I missed the part where Pierce got hurt and then came back. As you guys describe it it sounds very strange. Was it fake or was he just so pumped up he played anyways? Just weird.
Pierce has been in the league and devoted to his team long enough for this shit not to stick. Just like Kobe's crybaby antics at the beginning of the season, I'm giving Pierce the benefit of the doubt that he did actually hurt himself in a strange way he wanted to have checked out. And what was the crowd supposed to do upon his return, heave sighs of relief? Come on, it is championship basketball, and I hope the series goes 7, whatever team wins.
