NBA Finals 2008: Lakers vs Celtics

[Indy]

Lakers fans really shouldn't be all that upset. Its only Game 1 (on the road) and its not like the Lakers won't be better next year (unlike the Celtics, who will regress).

Yeah, that's what you do when your team is in the finals, you think about next year.

I can't believe all the predicitions that the Lakers would win this series easily. I think Boston is a more balanced, better defensive team than LA and will win this series in 6 games.

The only way I see the Lakers winning is if it goes to game 7. If Boston takes a 3-2 lead and doesn't close it out at home in game 6 I could see Kobe having a monster game 7 and the Lakers winning that way, but I don't expect Boston to let it get there.

[Wacky Bibe]

Gasol's so soft in Game 1..i think that's the biggest reason why the lakers fell short..

[Patr1ck]

I find it amazing how many factors there are that attributed to the Lakers 10 point loss.

Kobe didn't shoot well, nor did he penetrate or get to the line much at all.
Lakers were outrebounded by 13.
Poor execution in the fourth quarter.
Several open shots became "in and out" bricks.

Take any one of those off the list and it's a whole different ball game. Take more then one off and the Lakers are up 1-0.

Anyone get goosebumps when Paul Pierce came back from the locker room? Game 1 was "story book" as BIG GREEN put it.

[Roseblade13]

I think The LA lakers could win the title because of Kobe , when you have him in your team anything is possible, also he wants to win a title without shaq and duplicate jordan's record!! (MVP,nba title and Olympic Gold at the same year).

But as a Celtic fan It's so over rated that the Lakers would easily win the title,
yes the Lakers have the swagger, The Lakers are exciting to watch, they have a good bench!! They are a very good offensive team They have Phil Jackson, they have finals experience

But remember that the Celtics is the best defensive team and during the playoffs, The Lakers have not faced a good defensive team except for the Spurs which are not hungry and young enough to eliminate the Lakers. And as I see it the big three are hungry!!

Yes the Celtics playoff record are not as good as the Lakers because everyone in the East wants to eliminate the celtics and ("they adjusted to the playoffs experience come on") that's why every team they faced always bring their "A" game !!(Hawks, Cavs, Pistons)because it's a big deal when you eliminate the Nba's best season record and yet the Celtics found a way to overcome them, While the Lakers, it seemed that their current playoff run was much easier.

As they say it:
"Offense wins games and defense wins championships!!"

And if the Celtic defense are at it's best Celtics will win it!!

[Wacky Bibe]

if the lakers won't win the next game..the series is over..

[Cartar]

I watched only 2nd half, because I had to wake up again less than hour after the game.So I really liked 4 things:

*Pierce back to back 3s, that was amazing
*KG monster slam in the end
*Ray Allen really fight for the ball, many open balls went to the C´s thanks to him(including rebounding, he had 8 I think), I could see that he REALLY wants to get this Championship
*KG backcourt violation saving( what ended with a basket)

[kinokong]

if the lakers won't win the next game..the series is over..

nice grammar..... anyways, u never ever ever count out a team that has a player of kobe's skill..... anybody remember 2006 finals and a 2-0 deficit faced by a certain team???

[Sauru]

love how everyone is saying its the lakers fault they lost, not that the celtics outplayed them.

[Lean]

That KG putback slam was classic. The game went as close as hell. Very very nice Finals opener.

My only concern is our local commentators that is supposed to be "in-the-middle" of the teams but really is aligned with the Lakers (not because I'm against the Lakers, but that's their job, to be unbiased).

EDIT: That ovation on Pierce's return on the bench was spine-chilling.

[GaZuN]

Pdub, you are right. These were the main factors about Lakers loss.. But anyway the big part in this game was The Celtics' crowd.. Wow they were supporting their team in all the time.. They were bringing back the momentum to their team. Esepecialy in the 4pt play and in the Back-to-back 3pt... Great crowd.. I will not be shocked if they win the finals
Sauru- celtics outplayed lakers in this first game!!!

But in the other side.. In the next game.. (In boston) if Kobe find his way to the ZONE, if Sasha and Fisher put down there bing time threes, and if Lamar and Gasol are strong in the paint i think will be happy in the end of game 2 /just in my opinion anyway/

[Jeffx]

IOn a slightly off topic note, I want to give kudos to Paul Pierce. For years he stuck with the Celtics and he has finally made the finals. He has been Bostons best player this off season and it's been a while since I've felt genuinely happy for a player making the finals but it's great to see him be rewarded for all his hard work over the years. Also Ray Allen who took so much criticism in these playoffs alone for his bad shooting. It was awesome to see him find ways to contribute without hitting 3 or 4 threes in a game. And obviously KG who I have questioned over the years for his lack of leadership in the clutch. I've always remained a fan of his and I just hope he realises where he is (the finals) is no different to anywhere else he has been in the NBA and continues to dominate.

That's why it's hard for me to generate any hate for this particular Celtic team. This is coming from a long-time Knick fan/Celtic hater. How can anyone hate on Kevin Garnett? Dude has so much love and respect for the game(and its history). And I'm rooting for (former Knick)Doc Rivers, too.

[Andrew]

Fantastic game to watch, if the rest of the series is like this then we're in for a classic. When Pierce left the game I expected the Lakers to put the game away and started wondering about its impact on the rest of the series. I'm not a Celtics fan but I don't think you had to be to get goosebumps as he came back out onto the floor and the crowd became frenzied. The comparison to Willis Reed was made by Mike Breen and co but my first thought was Larry Bird returning to a playoff game in 1991 after suffering a concussion on a bad fall against the Pacers.

KG's aggressiveness is a good sign for Boston, though he did go cold in the second half until that huge putback dunk. It didn't matter so much in Game 1 but I doubt Kobe will make a habit of missing 17 shots per game in this series. Rondo had a fine game for the Celtics, he's going to have to keep his head on straight in this series. He still tends to get a bit fancy when he should be making the simple pass.

Can't wait for Game 2.

[el badman]

Great game to watch indeed. Pierce definitely made some big time shots. I wasn't planning to really watch the series because I despise LA and I wasn't necessarily a Boston fan, but after such a game 1 I'll certainly watch the rest and support the Celtics.

[Angelo]

It was a great game but it came to a point where it is like scripted hehehehe pierce got injured (which would have let the crowd feel dissapointed) then he came back again to beat the All time favorite LAKERS...

But then again i hope the Lakers can pull off a win next game

[BIG GREEN]

That would be my stratedgy if I was a coach ...i'd have my best player feign an injury for a couple minutes ...go in the locker then come back out after the next time out. Fire up your players and the crowd...cruise to victory. *Makes note in coach handbook for future kids basketball game*

IOn a slightly off topic note, I want to give kudos to Paul Pierce. For years he stuck with the Celtics and he has finally made the finals. He has been Bostons best player this off season and it's been a while since I've felt genuinely happy for a player making the finals but it's great to see him be rewarded for all his hard work over the years. Also Ray Allen who took so much criticism in these playoffs alone for his bad shooting. It was awesome to see him find ways to contribute without hitting 3 or 4 threes in a game. And obviously KG who I have questioned over the years for his lack of leadership in the clutch. I've always remained a fan of his and I just hope he realises where he is (the finals) is no different to anywhere else he has been in the NBA and continues to dominate.

That's why it's hard for me to generate any hate for this particular Celtic team. This is coming from a long-time Knick fan/Celtic hater. How can anyone hate on Kevin Garnett? Dude has so much love and respect for the game(and its history). And I'm rooting for (former Knick)Doc Rivers, too.

I must agree....he's really the only reason i'm backing Boston other than the fact that i'm tired of the laker band wagoners. KG has been in my top 3 favourite players over the past 10 years. My wife absolutely hates him though...says he looks "mean".

[Lean]

That would be my stratedgy if I was a coach ...i'd have my best player feign an injury for a couple minutes ...go in the locker then come back out after the next time out. Fire up your players and the crowd...cruise to victory. *Makes note in coach handbook for future kids basketball game*

Then that comeback will boost the morale his teammates +10.

[NovU]

Yesterday's result was somewhat predictable i'd say. The lakers had like a week of rest and it was first game 1 away from the home. Surely, Boston had an upper hand with homecourt advantage and that the lakers being disoriented.

But if one is to say, both teams are almost evenly matched, I'm giving an edge to the lakers cuz as the series goes on, I expect to see each Lakers to get back to their specific roles, and not taking too many dumb shots.

[Tupik]

The Lakers really fucked up in the 4th quarter, taking really bad decisions, and were totally outrebounded by Boston. Props to the Celtics who played well in the fourth, keaping their calm and not rushing their shots.

[Oskar]

Celtics will go 2-0 with the next game, probably, then take 1 game in Staples and then win one more home game, and win. I think it will be something like this.

[Sauru]

i still think the celts need game 2 also, i hate this 2-3-2 crap in the finals. if the home team takes a split of games 1 and 2 in the first 3 rounds they can always split 3 and 4 and then get that huge game 5 at home but in the finals the away team gets that huge 5th game and really fucks everything up. no reason why it cant be 2-2-1-1-1 still

[buzzy]

I agree, I don't think the team which owns homecourt, doenst really have an advantage out of this anymore. Even with the first four games won by the home teams, the team with the actual disadvantage will have another home game to boost their confidence. When you lose three straight road games it's gotta be hard to bounce back and win game 6, I guess.
(See '06 Finals.

[Jeffx]

i still think the celts need game 2 also, i hate this 2-3-2 crap in the finals. if the home team takes a split of games 1 and 2 in the first 3 rounds they can always split 3 and 4 and then get that huge game 5 at home but in the finals the away team gets that huge 5th game and really fucks everything up. no reason why it cant be 2-2-1-1-1 still

Tell that to David Stern & the league. They're still using that lame travel excuse. No reason to keep the 2-3-2 format when the rest of the playoffs is 2-2-1-1-1(but it was a big reason why the Lakers won in 1985).

[air gordon]

and the amount of days between the games is just ridiculous! a player could get a knee scope done and may even be able to play in the next game... goodness

i did place a $50 bet on celtics giving 3pts, and the score going under 192 (which paid 3 to 1). should have bet $100

[kobeMVP]

Lakers should blame themselves. The game turned when Pierce hit that 2 3pts shots. That gave them the boost and KG put the icing on the cake with that follow-up dunk.

Still, Lakers in 6.

[Andrew]

i still think the celts need game 2 also, i hate this 2-3-2 crap in the finals. if the home team takes a split of games 1 and 2 in the first 3 rounds they can always split 3 and 4 and then get that huge game 5 at home but in the finals the away team gets that huge 5th game and really fucks everything up. no reason why it cant be 2-2-1-1-1 still

I agree, though in defense of the 2-3-2 format the home team has only won all three of those games twice - Detroit in 2004 and Miami in 2006 - so while it defeats the purpose of homecourt advantage for the team with the best record it hasn't really benefited the home team in those three games either.