“This team loses more games in the fourth quarter than any team in the league. They know how to lose games, and they’re showing us that now.” -Phil Jackson
I personally thought that was great coaching, somewhat psychological. It's definitely better than the normal BS that they play, stating nothing but the obvious. "Keep playing defense...make the hustle plays...stay focused..." Anyone with a brain should be offended that that's all the coach has.
I thought this was the best comment. I'm not an LA fan, but this comment came when LA was trailing by 5 after a 7-0 run. What better way to give your troops confidence then to shine a light on the opponent's characteristics? Even though they ultimately lost, I like Jackson not saying "we can do this" to the team, but rather "Boston can't win."
It was in the 1st when the score was tied. Everyone knew the Lakers would win game one. Whatever, I called Boston winning 3 out of the next 4 games and going on to win it when everyone was calling them old scrubs.
Hiya, clippy. You know, I get the feeling that, if Kobe Bryant were to auction off that "two-cent brain" of his on Ebay..... ...he maybe wouldn'tve needed that contract extension he just signed with the Lakers. For what it's worth, Kobe Bryant is in a familiar predicament with his teammates. A predicament that defines him moreso than any other player in the league. And a predicament that the Lakers had an opportunity to correct earlier in the season, when Bryant was struggling with injuries, in my opinion. Kobe Bryant is as focused and determined a player as there is in the league, possibly even in league history. Bryant is focused on scoring the basketball. He is at his best when he does that. In recent years, with his team improving, he has accepted facilitating the offense for his teammates. But at the end of the day, Kobe Bryant is looking to score the basketball. He competes defensively. He plays every possession of every game as if it's his last. Teams can feed off that drive. Teams can live off that drive. Teams can WIN with that drive. Teams can also lose because of that drive. The Lakers had a chance to establish that they were more than just Kobe Bryant's "supporting cast" when Bryant was out of the lineup before the all-star break. I felt Phil Jackson missed an opportunity to establish the team's identity outside of Bryant's presence. Up until that point in the season, The Lakers had already won a handful of games with Bryant pulling rabbits out of hats, while the rest of his teammates watched, waited, and eventually grew to expect him to do that every night. When Kobe "forced" his way back onto the court before he was completely healthy (even though the Lakers were winning games and other players were contributing), it was just as much a sign of the Lakers still being driven by Kobe Bryant as it was anything else. We've seen it in this series, too. The Celtics have much more confidence in their bench than the Lakers do. They are willing to trust other players moreso than the Lakers are willing to. The Lakers are rearing their "stand-around-and-watch-Kobe" heads again. That's not going to get it done against the Celtics. But if the Lakers are looking for any advice, they're not going to get any help from me. They've had enough games to figure out what's going to work against Boston and what isn't. Or maybe they haven't.....
For the first time, I actually think Boston can win this series. One out of two is all it will take. LA must win both.
ESPN EXPERTS: http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/matchup/_/teams/celtics-cavaliers http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/series?series=lalbos How dare clutchfans not agree with popular opinion? Anything not parallel to the opinions of these experts (and the nation at large) is bias and unjust. Anyway, have a good night. I'm tired.
I just don't feel the same about Boston as I do about LA. That's just the way the game was played back then, RR, and Houston wasn't supposed to be at the big dance at all in '86, the Lakers were. Just ask Fran Blindbutt-y. I'm not saying I liked Boston then or now... I just dislike the Fakers more. We weren't supposed to be in the Finals in '81, either. Moses parted the sea.
Why are you hating? because I was right? Everyone here was calling the Celtics washed up, and while they were demolishing them in game one I said the Celtics would win 3 of the next 4 and end up 3-2. I keep repeating it because you seem upset.
This is like dueling jerkoffs. I hate both teams and their fans. If a daisy cutter cluster bomb went off in the Gah-den, or the Staples Center, part of me would be thrilled. Having said that, there are more a-holes on the Lakers. I. Just. Cannot. Root. For. Them. Ever.
