This is a posting to discuss Game 3 of the NBA Finals. I found that getting my thoughts off my chest on here was very therapeutic in Game 2 so I figured I'd do the same tonight. With still 2+ hours before the opening tip, I must say I'm slightly confused as to why everybody is picking the Lakers to cruise to victory tonight. Last I heard they were a 9-point favorite and even the local scribes are going with L.A. in this one. The general consensus seems to be that the refs will be on the Lakers side tonight and that will result in an L.A. victory. But this is the same Celtics team that has beat the Lakers in all 4 attempts this season...twice in the regular season and twice in the Finals. Why does everyone assume they'll lose tonight? If the C's can start strong and shake off any momentum lost in the 4th quarter they will be fine tonight. If L.A. smartens up and uses Gasol effectively the Lakers have a chance, but they seem intent on living and dying with Kobe alone...and if that continues they wont be living much longer. Lakers lack of toughness and defense will be the difference in this one: C's win 111-96. MVP: Paul Pierce.
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41 comments:
Nice of the Sox to move games up to 6 and give me a distraction leading up to the C's game.
Anyone see Magic's comments about the Lakers? Basically said they are playing soft and he's very disappointed in their effort. Most interesting to me was that he specifically pointed out the free throw disparity and said that was a result of them playing soft and going soft to the hoop on their drives. THANK YOU MAGIC! Nice to see someone in that organization (Jackson, Kobe, etc) isn't a total crybaby. How they expect to get fouls called with their brand of play is mindblowing to me. Jackson said he's never seen this before in the Finals when he's coached. OF COURSE NOT! You had Jordan & Pippen driving or Shaq down low who got fouled on purpose. This year you have nobody taking it to the C's like LeBron did in the Cleveland series. This further illustrates why I think LBJ is the best player in the NBA.
To go a little further on the foul issue...there better not be "make up calls" in Game 3 as many have predicted because there is absolutely nothing to make up for!
Pirece avgs 27.8 in L.A against the Lakers if you add in the games he played against the Clippers that number goes up.
This season Kobe scored 1.3 more ppg at home than on the road, Pierce scored 1.5 ppg game more on the road.
The Celtics will win the series before ESPN/ABC have a former Celtic as a guest..Tonight Jerry West.
The C's only being down 4 right now (11-7) is a great sign. They are not taking great shots or playing great D (aside from KP) and yet we are right in it. Could be down by 15 already. No joke.
Not hard to see why Kobe's teammates have always hated him. He yells at teammates who rotate to help him out? Weird. Also he is obviously not the all-world defensive player some people make him out to be (Van Gundy has pointed this out this series) because everyone they put him on gets hot or gets fouled.
Would be nice to make a run with their bench on the floor. We dominated them in Game 2. (Down 17-16 when the bench for LA went in)
Turiaf is underratedly annoying.
After the 1st : 20-20
KG has 7 rebounds & 3 blocks...but also 0 points on 0-5 shooting.
Pierce: 0-4, 0 points.
Ray Allen: 1-3, 3 points
That makes the Big 3 a combined 1-12 for 3 points in the 1st Quarter, and yet the game is tied. I'd say that's a very good sign. Pierce needs to get more aggressive.
Free Throw Attempts in the 1st
Lakers : 14
Celtics: 2
I'm starting to hate having Sam Cassell in the game, ever. He either needs to step up big and soon or House needs to start taking his minutes.
as bad a shooting quarter as that was and KG and Pierce havent scored, still tied at 20. I can't complain.
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take out Cassell he's missed 2 in a row.
Ray Allen is -13. Next worst on Boston is -5. They are down 7 (29-22) but it feels like 20...at least. I think that's actually a good sign.
Now get the starters back in the game and let's start playing ball!
GET PIERCE AND PERK AND RONDO BACK IN THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!
KG has taken two shots from the same spot on the wing that is a spot I don't think he's taken 1 shot from all year.
GET PJ BROWN OUT!!! And offensive foul and a travel on consecutive possessions by a guy who shouldn't be touching the ball unless he gets an offensive rebound. Not good. Down 9. Get Perk out there!
That's what I'm talking about....I LOVE PERK!
Why would Pierce get a reach in trying to double on Gasol? Gasol has done NOTHING with Perk taking him 1-on-1.
Only down 6 at half is not bad (though Rondo always seems to take ridiculous shots at the buzzer which annoys me).
Free Throw Attempts
Lakers : 22
Celtics: 7
If LA hadn't missed 10 free throws already this could be an ugly game.
Glad to see House in the game sucks it was only for 3 seconds.
Seems like the Lakers are killing the C's but only down by 6. KG can't buy a shot but he's been a monster on the boards.
I'd like to see Pierce take it to the basket. Next time Doc brings in a pg other than Rondo i wanna see House. Brown is obviously off rigt now.
FT attempts
LA-22
Bos-7
thats terrible.
2nd half predictions.
Pierce wil go off and have 20 points in the 2nd half.
KG will shoot better becasue he'll be closer to the basket. He should get into the post.
Rondo will not shoot dumb shots, he'll drive and kick out more.
Great D from Perk!
Good to see House as 1st PG off the bench in the 2nd. Sam has stunk.
I LOVE PERK! 3-point play. Love to see SOMEBODY playing with passion.
Gasol-Odom-Radmonovic is quite possibly the wimpiest frontcourt in NBA Finals history. We need to keep attacking the hoop!
EDDIE HOUSE!! Can't believe we're only down 2. This is amazing.
Celtics have the lead! KG scores his first non-dunk FG all game.
On a sidenote, I've never seen anyone swear as much as KG...not even close.
Great pick by Perk to open up that 3 for Allen. Man does he do the little things well.
Again, Odom is useless.
After 3:
C's with 2 point lead
Ray Allen with 22 points
Perk +10
House +8
Brown -8
4 starters on the bench to start the 4th for the C's???
What is wrong with the C's offense? This is horrible. Pierce looks completely out of it.
What the eff is Doc saving his timeouts for?
Take a timeout for the love of God!!!!!
Stop the momentum...please!
Finally a timeout....by the Lakers.
There is one thing I like Phil Jackson for.
Pierce was clearly smoking crack when he went home to Inglewood.
Pierce is currently 1-11, 0-3 on 3's, no FT attempts, 6 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 turnovers, 2 points.
Somehow he looks even worse than that horrible line. What is wrong with him? Is it the injury? Game plan? Or just an off game?
There is no way the C's should still be in this game with Pierce and KG combining for 5-29 for 11 pts.
One more thing to hate about the Lakers....those stupid giant circular mops. Why not have a good old fashioned rectangular one like Spider used to wield around the parquet floor?
Doc did the same thing in Game 2...no timeout when it blatantly was needed to stop momentum.
Does Doc think Ray Allen is a shut down defender? He's playing good but a little help wouldn't hurt.
I'd love to see Pierce and Kobe fight.
Why did we quit?
Tim Legler just said that Paul Pierce was "average" tonight. Did he watch the same game I did? Pierce was God awful.
Why weren't the Celts doubling the end of the game?
Why weren't they fouling?
celtics had Bill Russell as guest before game 2
Walpole Joe -
Your first intelligent comments on this board. You have to double Kobe - single guard Vujacic when he is hot and then stay within arms reach of everyone else. If Lamar Odom or Gasol knocks down a jumper to beat you - tip your cap and live to fight another day.
Pierce is not right. The knee is worse than anyone is letting on and Kobe was getting into his head.
A lot of his fouls were lazy and it scared him off from driving the lane until the very end.
They have to run the offense through the post and KG, Powe and Perk. If KG keeps taking the fallaway jumpers, i am going to puke. Nobody on the Lakers can guard him when he goes to the hoop. If they double - throw it out. Powe is very aggressive down low and they have not been able to contain him well.
Rondo's injury hurt, but not as much as his inability to keep the D honest by knocking down a jumper.
Overall, a poorly coached game yet one that they still could have won.
If they can run the pick and roll, double Kobe, run the offense through the post when the pick and roll is not open - they will not be contained in game 4.
Doc never calls timeouts when he needs to. This may be the single reason I most think he is a not a great coach. That, and like someone pointed out a while ago, take Cassell out after ONE missed shot, no ands, ifs, or buts. Though sometimes, when we are playing well, Doc seems good, funny how that works. I think he is a good manager of personalities, and the players seem to like him, but from a technical standpoint is lacking.
First intelligent thing to come out of Charm School. KG needs to be in the post. WEAK D anywhere inside 5-7 ft. Lamar is the toughest, and I can't help but think back to that press conference he had as a Clipper when he was balling his eyes out.
When KG hits from the top of the key, fine - though I always find myself wincing when I see him pullup for that shot. The fact is, he NEEDS to be down low. Him and Perk could devastate this interior if they just stay there. There is no competition. Please Rondo take a few hundred shots before the game, I promise you they will be no more contested during the actual game.
DK, I can't watch these games with Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Mike Breen calling the action. The ex-Nick loser posse is just painful to listen to. Seriously, I think the rival Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Just awful. Makes me wish we could resurrect Johnny Most. Maybe you should run a poll to see who the worst announing team is.
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