Celtics FTW
C's in 7.
I agree with burk completely. Big Baby is a beast too. Admit it, he did very well.
C's in 7.
I agree with burk completely. Big Baby is a beast too. Admit it, he did very well.
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NBA Playoffs
- Thread starter ChiliPepper
- Start date
Kobe was the best player on the floor tonight, but the Celtics had the best team. Six guys in double figures in points; 9 guys with over 15 minutes; a 16 to 8 edge in offensive rebounds.
You can keep thinking that this was the Celtics last best effort if you want; I think you will see more of the same in the next two games.
I think it was the C's best defensive effort, but offensively they executed poorly and played way to much one on one. The Lakers allowed the C's to break down their D way to easy. Part of that was without Bynum 100% when the Lakers D broke down the big fellow wasn't rotating over to block shots, it made a big difference. The C's shot horribly and still won, but in fairness, I think this was the Lakers worst defensive effort.
Kobe was the best player on the floor tonight, but the Celtics had the best team. Six guys in double figures in points; 9 guys with over 15 minutes; a 16 to 8 edge in offensive rebounds.
You can keep thinking that this was the Celtics last best effort if you want; I think you will see more of the same in the next two games.
c's have been sporadic. for every dominant performance (allen in game 2 or garnett in game 3) there are 2 or 3 guys who roll a 2 for 9 or 3 for 11. i just don't see enough consistency to think the c's will win 2 more.
either way they earned the dub tonight, which means we'll win at home. i can live with that
Was Jackson out-coached? His guys looked a little tired at the end. Doc didn't bring in the starters too early in the 4th as the bench plus Ray was making positive things happen.
it's hard to say what the difference was. neither team shot the lights out (SLIGHT edge to lakers), FT's were almost identical. one of my beefs with PJ is that sometimes he's TOO zen, but i'm not sure i can pin this one on him. it was a close game the whole time, i think the c's just willed their way to a win this time. nate-rob and baby were the x's in my opinion.
Fun game to watch, regardless of outcome (though obviously I'm happy about the win). Kobe's last three was stupidly good. Gasol falling on his ass, and Pierce punching the ref accidentally were also comic gold.
Or Robinson leaping on Baby's back... this was all I could think of:
Also, every single one of Rasheed Wallace's reactions. That game was made for rewind buttons.
Also, every single one of Rasheed Wallace's reactions. That game was made for rewind buttons.
c's have been sporadic. for every dominant performance (allen in game 2 or garnett in game 3) there are 2 or 3 guys who roll a 2 for 9 or 3 for 11. i just don't see enough consistency to think the c's will win 2 more.
either way they earned the dub tonight, which means we'll win at home. i can live with that
I agree with your observation about the lack of consistency but I disagree with your conclusion.
The C's are built to win even without a dominant performance or with a few of the big names having an off-game. The Lakers would definitely lose if both Gasol and Kobe had an off-night in the same game; and they would struggle to win if one of them had an off-night.
It is the best of three - anything can happen. But if Bynum is down that give the Celtics a huge advantage. If Bynum plays, the Lakers have the edge.
I agree with your points on Bynum with one caveat, Bynum can't just play, he has to be effective. If he does the Lakers appear to be a better team in tightly officiated games (which these are). The C's big three just don't seem to be able to play consistently.
see Derek Fisher in game 3.
granted, kobe dropped 29 that night, but he shot 10-29, which is an off-night for kobe (or anyone for that matter). kobe doesn't go 0-13.i'll agree that the c's don't really rely on one player night after night the way the lakers need kobe. i just don't see enough offensive consistency from the team as a whole, which i think will be their downfall since they are built, as you said, for team ball. there's a chance they can will a victory with their defense, but i'm seeing what used to be defensive intensity turn into silly fouls because they are a step slower.
if the c's have multiple guys have a hot shooting night and stay out of foul trouble (and by extension keep the lakers off the FT line), they can beat the lakers, and probably quite handily. bynum is a factor, but if we get 10 points and a couple blocks out of him, everything else is gravy. just his presence in the lane is enough to disrupt shots and offensive sets that will impact the game if not the box score. kobe is the biggest offensive threat in the series, but the lakers have plenty of other players who can step up just the same as the c's. i think if anything kobe's dominance or ridiculous clutch shots at times overshadow a very complete laker team. i still wouldn't mind him passing the ball a bit more...
my apologies for the extended analysis, i just enjoy talking ball with people who actually understand the game.
I haven't really seen Celtic offensive consistency either in this series, but that is a result of the combination of too many whistles (the C's offense works best off of missed shots, not made free throws) and good defense from the Lakers.
I agree Burk, an effective Bynum give the Lakers an edge - he says he'll play so the question becomes how effective for how long. C's can still win (see game 2) but it will harder.
I like Fisher's game; he was pulling shots out of his, ummm, shorts in Game 4.
Kobe is a great scorer - a 10 for 29 for him is not that bad a night given that a bunch of those shots were as the shot clock is running down with 2 or 3 people draped on him and he still makes them.
I agree Burk, an effective Bynum give the Lakers an edge - he says he'll play so the question becomes how effective for how long. C's can still win (see game 2) but it will harder.
I like Fisher's game; he was pulling shots out of his, ummm, shorts in Game 4.
Kobe is a great scorer - a 10 for 29 for him is not that bad a night given that a bunch of those shots were as the shot clock is running down with 2 or 3 people draped on him and he still makes them.
Again the Celts didn't execute that well offensively, but the Lakers defense without an effective Bynum most of the night had more holes then swiss cheese. Gasol was slow on his rotations, Odum was always mismatched and Fischers flopping got old fast. Boston is not a great team, but they are a very good defensive team. The Lakers must play at least a modicum of defense to get back in it. Without Bynum I don't know if its possible.
It's a complete team effort for the C's, but in these grinded out wins theres always one player who stands out offensively- tonight it was pierce. I particularly loved rondo's diving tip-in over bryant and gasol, I've been amazed by the level of play he exhibits for a player in only his 4th series.
Amazing offensive display by Floppe Bryant tonight, but the rest of the team looked like they were just basically standing around and watching. He can hit a bunch of those insane alien off balance jumpers with two hands in his face and drive the lane and yell "hey...HEY!" and automatically go to the line a lot, but even an alien needs some help from his friends. Artest has been a total joke in the last two games. I hope he keeps on with his standup routine long enough for the C's to win the series.
The Celts are playing good team ball. KG played exactly the game they needed from him, and P squared stepped up big. Rondo made some great plays, but also had some really stupid turnovers which he'll need to clean up if they want to put the series away. He and Tony Allen need to spend the entire offseason in the gym shooting jumpers. If they improve in that area, they would be scary by way of opening up that much more space. Perkins could stand to join them. Defensively, they played really well.
The Celts are playing good team ball. KG played exactly the game they needed from him, and P squared stepped up big. Rondo made some great plays, but also had some really stupid turnovers which he'll need to clean up if they want to put the series away. He and Tony Allen need to spend the entire offseason in the gym shooting jumpers. If they improve in that area, they would be scary by way of opening up that much more space. Perkins could stand to join them. Defensively, they played really well.
