I chose Lakers in 6, but that means they'll have to win in Boston. Lakers in 5 would probably make more sense.
here are the lakers problems: the celtics have one of the best defenses ever. they will frustrate kobe with pierce and that aforementioned team D. while the lakers offense is loaded, it has been his very consistent 30 points on 50% shooting efforts have made it so that the lakers offense has had almost no off nights so far. if he can keep it up, more power to him, but i see him shooting around 40% in this series. though he'll probably get more than 11 ft's in 5 games in this series to help a little. perkins vs gasol on rebounds. that can't be good. as much as the celtics have struggled in losing 8 games, they've still won, which they did all regular season. they just seem to make plays when they have to and, more often than not, it's the role players doing it. it's uncanny how at least one always steps up big in a game and usually several do. i don't like picking against teams that seem like teams of destiny. ray allen has stopped sucking. with pierce, kg, and allen the celtics will score points. the lakers have shown they can play some D when they want, but not like the cavs and pistons. they obviously score better than those teams, but freeing up the celtics might be worse than hurting the celtics defense a little more, because i think the celtics defense is too good for just about anyone. maybe i'm just going for the reverse jinx, and i know the lakers have looked a large margin better in the playoffs so far, but i see celtics in 5 or 6, and i'll just pick 5 to be bold. i think the lakers will be frustrated by game 4, won't be running their O the way they should be, and will be lucky to get it back to boston. i hope i'm wrong, but i would've rather the pistons made it here for winning purposes, though i can't deny the obvious glamour and excitement of this matchup. as pessimistic as my posts were, i felt pretty good about the lakers against the spurs. i always felt they could really score if they needed to. i just don't see that against this defense, and that's really what fuels the lakers. the overpowering ability to get points when they really need them.
Thing is, with Kobe's midrange jumper Automatic at the moment, there is no way they can contain him effectively. Bruce bowen guarded Kobe excatly how you want, Kobe has just been hitting his jumper in the playoffs. Only way they can hope to slow down KB24 is for Kobe's jumper to fail ala 2004 FINALS.
I think the Celtics will win in 6. Their defense is awesome. Paul Pierce has really stepped up, Rondo will blow past Fischer at will and after winning two games in Detroit, seem to be peaking.
I'm curious about the matchups here. I know Radmanovic starts, but Vujacic plays pretty much just as many minutes. I think Vujacic might play more this series because of the more natural matchups: Rondo vs Vujacic Allen vs Fisher Pierce vs Kobe KG vs Odom Perkins vs Gasol I figure Radmanovic would have problems guarding Allen or Pierce or Rondo, but he did pretty well against smaller San Antonio guys (like Ginobili) and actually punished them on the other end. I just think LA's interior passing amongst Kobe, Odom, and Gasol are too good. They don't settle for contested jumpers as much as the past (well, unless it's Kobe)...it's either an inside shot (driving layup/Gasol post up), an open midrange, an open 3, or a contested Kobe jumper. I think Boston will have to get physical on D to prevent the precise Lakers offense. It'll be interesting if they do and how the refs will handle it. Otherwise it'll be athletic instinct of Boston's defensive hands vs the Lakers offensive instinct of making the right pass. I just don't think Boston's hands are quick enough or their instincts are that good. Seriously, I've seen Odom consistently take KG to the rack with success. But who knows what will happen for sure, so I'm definitely watching.
Don't forget what Joe Johnson did to the Celtics. He single handedly pushed the series to 7. Pierce is much to slow to stick Kobe and Ray Allen is too small /weak. My bet is James Posey on Kobe majority of time. Either way Kobe is on a mission and he will not be denied. I'm looking forward to some Jordan-esque performances. Lakers go this and I wouldn't be surprised if it's a sweep.
You are obviously going for the "reverse jinx". Don't even deny it. My premise that the Lakers will win is based on them playing their best basketball of the season while the Celts have labored through 3 series. I doubt the Celts will bring their "A" game since it's been so long since we've seen it. If the Celts offense goes through scoring droughts, the Lakers will have some huge scoring runs on them. I'm rooting for the Celts but they are a shadow of their regular season form. The close out game against Detroit gives me hope that might be changing but I have to make the Lakers a strong favorite in the Finals.
Logic says the Lakers should take it. I have to say Boston winning 2 games in Detroit came at just the right time. They are finally improving their playoff road performance, and it makes this series much closer than I initially thought before the Celts/Pistons when the Celts looked like Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde at home and on the road. But every team Boston has played so far cannot compare to the Lakers' offensive output thus far. This will be a real test of their defense.
Even though Kobe posted great numbers, SA didn't lose because of their defense. LA wasn't scoring in bunches. The Spurs lost because Manu played like garbage, and a usually steady Duncan shot in the low 40's. They just couldn't score. If they played the same defense and scored at their usual clip they woulda won, or at least still be playing. I don't think Boston will win. It all depends on how Odom and Ray Allen play. Oh, and what the Boston bench does.
Wow, you made me laugh. What a joke. Please, stop trying to be so logical when this sound like a guy who doesn't know what he's talking about. Lakers Destroyed 3 50 wins teams. The Lakers have far superior shooting team and bench. Don't make me laugh about Celtics matchup problem. By your r****ded logic. Shouldn't the Celtics be destroying Hawks and Cavaliers?
If you beat a good teams constantly, you should be destroying lesser teams. How hard is it to understand? So you're telling me I should build a team like Atlanta to beat teams like the Celtics? Wow, very logical. The Celtics been exposed. It's not the regular season any more where you play different team each night. It's the Playoffs and you play the same team night in and night out and have to play consistently. Nice starting 5 but Celtics bench are garbage. You think Atlanta and Cleaveland matchups were a problem. They're going to have even more problem against LA. Odom, Pau and Kobe is just a good or better then the Celtics big 3 and LA's bench is far superior. Don't forget about the Phil Jackson. Lakers in 6.
