i lost all respect for kg this year, and as much as i dont like the lakers, id really like to see kobe get his ring, cz tmac will be getting it next year lakers in 6
people still underrating the celtics i see...... people are still using the argument that it took them 7 games to beat ATL so they can't win it all ???? LOL doesn't that mean they should have been eliminated by now ??? you all keep doubting and they keep getting it done. i just can't see the lakers beating the celtics, because i just don't think their defense will be good enough to take the celtics out of what they like to do. im not saying LA is a bad defensive team, i just dont think it is as good as good as cleveland's or detroit's, and they didn't have that much of a problem scoring on the pistons. the celtics big 3 >> the spurs big 3, against the lakers at least. i guarantee you paul pierce won't be having any 2-8 shooting games like ginobili, especially not against the lakers who he always plays well against because they don't have anyone that can guard him. many people say KG doesn't spend enough time in the post, but i think he does a great job of mixing it up. KG's midrange is an important part of their offense and is great for teams that like to pack the paint on D. he can an open 18 footer, which he knocks down with regularity almost every time down. after awhile this draws one of the opposing team's bigs away from the paint creating more space for cutters and lanes for pierce, rondo, and allen to drive to the basket, or dump downs to kendrick perkins. i just can't see the lakers being able to stop it as well the cavs could, and the celtics D is good enough to keep them in striking distance in any game.
Well, I agree that Doc Rivers is terrible. But I think he was better against Pistons. Against Hawks and Cavs he would make me go "WTF?" at least once every game..
I think Kobe v the Boston D is an intriguing question. However, it's not something that Phil Jackson has not seen before e.g. the Jordan Rules. To me this series will be tightly fought and it will come down to execution down the stretch. Having Kobe to close out the 4th quarters is a big advantage. Lakers in 6.
Besides Radman, who will only play 15-20 minutes anyway, I guess Luke Walton is next in line at SF to guard Pierce. After that, LO and maybe even Ariza. The Lakers have options. In late game situations or when they go small to try and push the ball harder, they may even try Kobe on Pierce.
Not a series I am particularly interested in, but I don't think anybody beats LA right now. It may go seven, however.
I Usually want the west team to win, but I cannot stand the lakers. I really hope the Celtics will win, even though they have been far from impressive this play offs.
none of them have a chance in hell at guarding pierce. kobe is too small to guard pierce. the other guys.... LOL
celts in 7. Then it will be the end of the kobe/jordon comparison. I do think that celts will have the edge over lakers. kobe could be limited to 30ppg, but garnett will own gasol, just like the way duncan owned gasol. Allen is showing glimpses of a younger him, and pierce is the most consistent player for the celts during the playoffs.
Should be a decent finals and what the NBA needs to generate interest...Nostalgic match-up from the past, MVP vs.the three amigos...I think the Lakers win in 6...
I guess everybody got what they wanted....i think it will be a great series. It's really hard to see anyone winning the series in less than 6 games. I think the Celtics main problem will be stopping Kobe, but I think Lakers are going to have alot of problems on defense. For one, I don't think there are good enough to stop 2/3's of Boston's big 3. For one, who is going to guard KG, KG has had all-world defenders on him Wallace and Wallace and even had deal with likes of Atlanta's young frontline who are actually decent group defense. Now, he gets to face Gasol or Odom, I can't see either one slow him down very much. Garnett is going to kill Odom in the paint and then they are going to have switch Gasol over to him. They also don't have an answer for Pierce unless they decide to put Bryant on him, but then who guards Ray Allen. Again, the Lakers have great shooter, but I think they can be neutralized against the right defense. They are good when they are open, but if you put strong one on one against I don't think they are as effective. I don't think the Fisher and Rondo matchup is completely in the favor of Lakers. Rondo is actually not that bad for 2nd year pg, I think he can give Fisher the same trouble lot of quick pgs do.
Lakers in 6. As I see it: Rondo/House/Cassell vs Fisher/Farmer - slight advantage to Boston Allen/Pierce/Posey vs Kobe/Walton/Radmonovic/Vujacic - slight advantage to LA KG/Perkins/Brown/Davis/Powe vs Odom/Gasol/Turiaf/Mbenga - advantage to LA No one has a PG that's going to define the series. Rondo's got more quickness, energy, and defense to make a difference, but the rest are mostly shooters that have limited roles. Kobe's the best player in the series, Pierce would have to play beyond himself to cancel Kobe out (and may screw his team trying to do so). Allen's been looking bad, but Kobe will more likely match up with Pierce and let the subpar defenders take Ray (and vice versa). Pierce and Posey (guarding Bryant) on the floor together will put the most pressure on the Lakers (Bryant expending energy on defense with Pierce and being guarded by Posey; Pierce defending Radmonovic or Walton). Garnett's the best big, but he can't guard Odom and Gasol at once, and the Lakers can rotate who guards him. Boston is best off sending the bruisers (Perkins, Brown, Davis) to use up their fouls making life hard on Gasol and letting KG handle Odom. Odom would have to be a perimeter player draw KG away from the basket - if he shrinks in this series and allows Garnett to roam, LA will have a very difficult series on offense. Boston's defense depends on both KG and Perkins being menaces in the paint. Alternatively, the Lakers could go in determined to use a spread offense, starting everyone off away from the basket (say, a high P&R with Gasol). If Boston wants to make the paint a no mans land with Perkins and Garnett, LA has the personnel to cover the floor with shooters. Odom and Gasol could dive to the basket, depending on whether they're being guarded by Perkins or KG. In the end, I see Phil Jackson playing Doc Rivers like a puppet and taking the most advantage of the various floor matchups. I believe the biggest factors in this series are: Kobe having to play on both ends, while Pierce (or Allen) may only have to focus on one if Posey is in the game. Whether Ray Allen can deliver 20 a game and not be a gaping hole on defense. Odom's and Gasol's (potential) ability to draw Garnett away and keep him from being a key part of Boston's collapsing D. Evan
Anyone else feel like you can pencil Odom in for an embarrasssing series? I still like the Lakers to win but I see KG just destroying him. I think Pierce may get a chance to guard him also considering Lamar doesn't really utilize his size well while Pierce plays bigger than he is. Posey will bother Odom also.
Odom is the biggest wild card IMO. If he leaves his head in the lockerroom and piles up boneheaded plays it will be very hard for the Lakers to win this series.
Boston in 6. I won't argue the Lakers are not the best offensive team, I think they are. They have efficient scorers (Kobe, Gasol) and some good shooters around them. But and the Celts are the best defensive team (by far) and among the best rebounding teams. Those usually win out in the playoffs. The Lakers are a good man up perimeter defensive team, they are real good versus Parker & D Will, but that isn't the Celts offense. Interior defense and rebounding they are just not in Boston's class. And the bigger factor was Manu just not being himself. As it was, with the Spurs with 2.2 stars, they were in all but 1 game. And again, Boston is a much better defensive team than the Spurs. Well, the Celts just won 3 of the last 4, including 2 on the road, versus the solid #2 team all season. The same team (Det) who looked like the best team in the playoffs through the 1st two rounds. I would weight that more than a couple of lacksadaisical games in series 1 for a new team in the playoffs. Utah is physical and slow. Boston is physical and athletic as hell. Big difference. Allen has decent size, a quick release/high arc, is very savvy, and just needs a slight opening. He also is the last guy you want to get off because he is Boston's best pure shooter. Phil J is too smart to put Fisher (too short) on him except in a switch. Other guys like Sasha lack in savvy. Kobe is just going to have double duty on this one, just like Rip did. -----------------overall-------- Boston has been the best team all year by a wide margin, including wiping the floor with the Lakers and the rest of the West whent hey played. That said the Lakers have been playing really well too. My #1 biggest concern is Doc Rivers vs Phil J. Then again Phil J (and Kobe) had no answer to the defense Det brought like 4 years ago, so it isn't like he is always the tipping factor. Still Phil J has the best feel for the momentum of the game and subs--so it concerns me. Kobe will do damage, but he will really have to work for it against the leagues tightest defense, but so will Pierce and Allen. So I don't think the results falls on the swingmen. My key match-up is Odom vs KG. If Odom can hold his own, at with his frame and quickness one might think he has that potential, the Lakers probably win (because they are better in spots #5 through #10). I really don't know how historically they have faired???? If Odom gets in foul trouble or just is overmatched, the Lakers really don't have any other PF on the roster with a chance. But the way KG handled a fine group of athletic and long forwards of Detroit (though none probably as quick and long as Odom in one package) makes me think he can handle Odom well enough--thus I pick Boston in 6. I picked Boston in 7 vs Det when the crowd was going to Det, so I underestimated them there.
