NBA Finals: Lakers (1) vs Celtics (4)

As much as people don't want to admit it, Kobe is as close to MJ as it gets.

I'm not sure too many people could or would seriously dispute that, Kobe's talent and accomplishments are evident to all but the most bitter hater. Whether he's better or not is what people generally argue about.

Sadly, I guess there are a lot of haters, because I see more "Kobe sucks" stuff than I do people admitting how great he has become (maybe it's because I am local to the Chicago area, and most Bulls fans don't want to believe it).

I am no Lakers fan by nature, but seeing him develop into a talent that I have only seen in one other players in my time has caused me to start following them much more closely. Here's hoping we can somehow snag a couple of free agents here in Chicago and make a run at the Lakers over the next couple of years.

sounds a lot like how liberals attack conservatives!

ooookay back on topic.

i think the lakers will win in 4. the celtics are mighty beat up. three players on the celts who have had concussions in the past 2 years vs. vujacic. need i say more?

Fisher can at least keep Rondo at a certain level of play.

What makes you say that? Derek Fisher was abused by Russell Westbrook in the first round. Rondo, a more experienced player, will rape the shit out of Derek Fisher in this series.

I agree. The only edge Fisher has over Rondo is experience. He's too old to match Rondo's speed and quickness. If he cant stay on Westbrook, there is no way he can stay on Rondo who is also a better passer off the penetration. Fisher will probably figure out the most effective way to guard Rondo, but I think Rondo will still beat the crap out of Fisher. He did a terrible job guarding Aaron Brooks last year as well.

Should have been Suns/Magic. Fucking Ron Artest and Vince Carter. I must say, going to Sasquatch was funner than watching yet another year of Nash's prime bite the dust. I'm going Boston in 6 here. The Celtics go 2-1 on both courts to win the series.

i think the lakers will win in 4. the celtics are mighty beat up.

There's no way the Celtics are going to get swept. Rondo will kick Derek Fisher's ass.

Rondo, a more experienced player, will rape the shit out of Derek Fisher in this series.

It's true: there's no way around it.

three players on the celts who have had concussions in the past 2 years vs. vujacic. need i say more?

That's just Sasha Vujacic being a dick to his opponents, it could very well have happened to Goran Dragic in Suns vs. Lakers Game 6. Vujacic really should have been ejected if Dragic had been hurt.

I like that pic.

Hoping for atleast a good series because im not a huge fan of either team but I do like Rondo, Ray Allen, Gasol and Kobe (I just hate the rest of the Laker squad). Hate to say but Kobe looks very determined which nobody can get in the way of. Lakers in 6 unless the Celtics steal one in LA which they have done against other teams so far but its not likely against LA. And arent the Celtics the 4th seed not 3rd seed.

I really don't know what direction to go with this one. I'm leaning towards Lakers in seven, but I think these teams are evenly matched as well. The biggest differences between this series and the first one is probably Bynum's availability. The Lakers were abused on the boards and inside in 08 and Bynum's size should be a big help for them this time around.

Garnett is obviously far from the player he was during that series, but Rondo is a much better player this time around, which spells bad tidings for the Fisher/Farmar duo. I think the biggest reason behind the Celtics win in 2008 as their bench. They had a guy in James Posey who was a perfect fit in that series on both sides of the ball (guarding Kobe; being guarded by Sasha Sharapova) and guys like Eddie House, Leon Powe, PJ Brown coming up big at different points in the series.

That said, the Lakers' bench was sub-par at best during that series. With Bynum out, the Lakers didn't have Odom off the bench, which left them with a line-up of Ronny Turiaf, Luke Walton, Farmar, and Sharapova.

Not so good.

I'd lean towards saying the Lakers could have won that series had a healthy Trevor Ariza been available. A team starting Vlad Radmanovic, the most inefficient basketball player to ever have a consistent NBA career, will NEVER win a title.

I think the Lakers' bench trumps the Celtics' bench this time around and the starting five's are almost a push. Kobe's not going to have to kill himself scoring every point and covering Pierce all series, while Gasol will have a lot easier of a time rebounding with Bynum beside him. Without Bynum, this series is Celtics in five, but I think his presence, along with a deeper bench will really help the Lakers get over the demons of that 2008 Finals' loss.

Fisher can at least keep Rondo at a certain level of play.

What makes you say that? Derek Fisher was abused by Russell Westbrook in the first round. Rondo, a more experienced player, will rape the shit out of Derek Fisher in this series.

I meant it as an if statement. I meant (If) Fisher can... keep Rondo just a shade under his normal production. LA does not have the same luxury they did with the series with Utah to utilize Artest on certain plays to guard Deron Williams. (If) Fisher can at least keep Rondo on the perimeter, I think that will go a long way for the Lakers.

A team starting Vlad Radmanovic, the most inefficient basketball player to ever have a consistent NBA career

Not even close.

There is no way Fisher or Farmer can keep Rondo front of them. It's going to be how much the Lakers clog the lane to give him trouble.

A team starting Vlad Radmanovic, the most inefficient basketball player to ever have a consistent NBA career

Not even close.

Really? I seem to remember him having like a negative PER or some type of stat during one year of his career.

*one of the most inefficient basketball players to ever have a consistent NBA career in the last ten years.

Still not even close. (He never had a negative PER, while he was absolutely atrocious this season he was merely below average for the rest of his career.)

The guy you're looking for was a number one pick.

Still not even close. (He never had a negative PER, while he was absolutely atrocious this season he was merely below average for the rest of his career.)

The guy you're looking for was a number one pick.

Who is... Michael Olowokandi? Or is it King Kwame?

I love the Kandi Man. Offensive Rating is 88 for his career.

sounds a lot like how liberals attack conservatives!

And vice versa. It applies to anyone and everyone with passionate beliefs.

For those wondering if Fisher will be able to stay in front of Rondo, I think we may be seeing Kobe trying to match up on him while Fisher tried to stay in front of Ray Allen. In additon to that, can't wait to see if Artest will shut down Paul Pierce.

That's an ok matchup for the Lakers. But do you really think Kobe can take Rondo?

That's an ok matchup for the Lakers. But do you really think Kobe can take Rondo?

Kobe can lock down if he wants to, he just conserves energy for offense & doesn't respect a lot of his opponent's offensive abilities.

I can see Jackson using Kobe on Rondo at times, but they'll need him to have fresh legs at the other end so I don't think he'll have him chasing Rondo from start to finish. They'll probably live with him making the odd 18-20 foot jumpshot and try to funnel him into Gasol or Bynum when he puts the ball on the floor.

I'm sure down the stretch they'll play it that way. Shannon Brown might see time guarding Rondo earlier in the game.

The Lakers were abused on the boards and inside in 08 and Bynum's size should be a big help for them this time around.

yes but for how long and how effective can he be?? only averaged 17mpg last series and the Finals should be a much more physical series! voted Celtics in 6.

these finals are to last almost 3 weeks. that is ridiculous

I don't know why they were so determined to put the games on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. This puts two days betweens game one and game two, game four and if necessary game five, as well as between games six and seven. Whereas if they put those games on Saturday, there'd be instead be a two day break between games two and three, and then game five and six. You know, when the teams change locations.

yes but for how long and how effective can he be?? only averaged 17mpg last series and the Finals should be a much more physical series!

Exactly. I think this whole series is in his hands. Just being out there is going to do a lot for the Lakers on defense and rebound-wise. I mean, if you really look at the Lakers they're a very poorly constructed team when it comes to front court depth. Not that Odom-Gasol-Bynum is a bad front court, but they don't have a guy like McDyess, PJ Brown, etc who can come out and give Gasol/Bynum a legit rest at the five.


Here's a good question, if Kobe averages 25+ shots per game this series are the Lakers going to win or lose? I think they're going to go down in flames if he has to hoist that many shots per game. Against a team like Boston you'd have to think he's going to have to be as economic a scorer as possible (not to mention more of a faux-point guard).

Exactly. I think this whole series is in his hands. Just being out there is going to do a lot for the Lakers on defense and rebound-wise. I mean, if you really look at the Lakers they're a very poorly constructed team when it comes to front court depth. Not that Odom-Gasol-Bynum is a bad front court, but they don't have a guy like McDyess, PJ Brown, etc who can come out and give Gasol/Bynum a legit rest at the five.

It's really going to be interesting, since Boston's bigs are awesome as hell too. Davis, Perkins, KG, and Sheed all are strong and big enough to give LAL's frontcourt trouble, while LAL's frontcourt are pretty awesome as well. I sure will keep my eyes on the battles of bigs.

Here's a good question, if Kobe averages 25+ shots per game this series are the Lakers going to win or lose? I think they're going to go down in flames if he has to hoist that many shots per game. Against a team like Boston you'd have to think he's going to have to be as economic a scorer as possible (not to mention more of a faux-point guard).

Kobe I think will just have to be Kobe once agains, like 2 years ago and so far in this season. He doesn't know any other better way, other than playing like he always has been, jack up the shots while trying to create easy buckets for others. But I think he'll have easier time on offense due to having Artest. Kobe really had to work hard on defensive end 2 years ago, but with Artest, I think he'll have fresher legs on offense.

yes but for how long and how effective can he be?? only averaged 17mpg last series and the Finals should be a much more physical series!

Exactly. I think this whole series is in his hands. Just being out there is going to do a lot for the Lakers on defense and rebound-wise. I mean, if you really look at the Lakers they're a very poorly constructed team when it comes to front court depth. Not that Odom-Gasol-Bynum is a bad front court, but they don't have a guy like McDyess, PJ Brown, etc who can come out and give Gasol/Bynum a legit rest at the five.


Here's a good question, if Kobe averages 25+ shots per game this series are the Lakers going to win or lose? I think they're going to go down in flames if he has to hoist that many shots per game. Against a team like Boston you'd have to think he's going to have to be as economic a scorer as possible (not to mention more of a faux-point guard).

1. You bring up a good point. I think what is really throwing a spanner in the works for LA is the fact that Bynum is not 100% because you would have Odom being that guy who comes off the bench to back up Gasol/Bynum. With Bynum playing hurt, you don't know what he will give you. On a bad night for Bynum (whether it's foul trouble or low production), Odom is playing starter minutes. So Odom should be the guy like Dice/Brown/Sheed who comes on to give the others a rest but because of Bynum, the roles have changed. That's why it's crucial for Bynum to come out and put in some good minutes and reward the Lakers with the faith they are putting on him and his knee.

2. If Kobe keeps hitting shots at the rate he's been hitting, then I think it would be fine for him to do so. However, if he is missing shots and forcing the issues - someone had better tell him to pull his head in. I think it's been a running theme for him to be chucking up shot after shot in the last three Finals against the Pistons, Celtics, and Magic. I don't think it would be good for him to do the same in this series against the Celtics. It's ironic because he says the Lakers will come out and see how much they 'have grown' since 2008... we will get to see how much Kobe has in fact grown. Is he still the glory hunting ball hog or will he be the team playing champion who can help carry the team when needed and not force the issue?

It's ironic because he says the Lakers will come out and see how much they 'have grown' since 2008... we will get to see how much Kobe has in fact grown.

This.

Good to see you've grown as well.