NBA Finals 2008: Lakers vs Celtics

[Andrew]

Well, it is a blast from the past...

I was hoping for Celtics/Spurs but I'm still really looking forward to this series with the clash of Big Threes, the historical significance and all the subplots. As far as my prediction, I'm going with Celtics in six. It's tough to pick against the Lakers given the way they've been playing but Ray Allen seems to have found his shot again and Boston has found a way to win on the road in the postseason. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the series went to seven, but I'll stick with Celtics in six.

[sevin0seven]

I'm going with the Celtics too. I think they are the underdog in this series (though they have home court advantage), I always go for the underdog.

[JT_55]

I would love to see Lamrock's response.

Celtics in seven. I see them re-starting that home=win road=lose trend.

[Lamrock]

God these forums are running poorly right now.

I'm going out on a limb and saying Lakers in 5. C's will lose one home game, then Lakers will continue their perfection at Staples.

[Dramacydal]

I'd love to see the Celtics win but I'm really not sure how it's going to turn out.

But what I do know for sure is that David Stern is wetting his pants right now out of joy.

[[Q]]

God these forums are running poorly right now.

hopefully it's a sign that people are coming back...



god it's a whole week of ESPN hyping this shit with all the history between LA & Boston. You can tell David Stern's just licking his chops at the ratings this will bring for the Finals.

[Oskar]

C's in 6. As always I'm hoping for Rondo to shine, well.. Like they said in game 5, Eastern conf. finals, some game he's overrated, next game you see him and you tell he's sooo underrated.

[Jackal]

I'm picking LA in 6.

[kingjames23]

Lakers in 7, and a series to go down in history.... its LA vs BOS part 11. Boston won the first 8 finals meetings in 1959,62,63,65,66,68,69,84, but LA won the last 2 in 1985 and 87, so Boston has history on its side.... but kobe is a proven killer, and has the finals experience... so i give LA the edge here. Boston has shown more weaknesses while LA is seemingly getting stronger as well.

[Angelo]

I go for LA in 6

[Matthew]

I just hope it's a long series. I think Boston matches up very well with L.A., but the Lakers have a significant advantage on the bench (including the coaching staff) so I can't pick a team on paper. I give the experience advantage to the Celtics for what its worth and plus they have homecourt. But all that being said, I have to go with the Lakers in 6 or 7. I want Boston to win, but Kobe + depth + Phil Jackson is probably just too much.

On 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.

[bee-boy]

i'm taking L.A. in 6

1.Kobe is the best player on earth
2.Lakers have the best bench in the whole NBA
3.Odom plays well along with other role players

This should be a great series

[Lean]

With all the hate in my persona, I say Celtics in 4.

I hope this series would be as good as the Eastern Finals.

Celtics FTW.

[Micchy_boy]

Lakers in 5... don't know why hehehe

[carlpunk]

hmmmm for me i go for lakers game 5 or 6

[Cartar]

I´ll go with C´s in 6....

gilbert15, I disagree with the 2. one, IMO Bulls bench (Duhon, Gordon, Nocioni, Thomas, Gray, Sefolosha) is better than Lakers(Vujacic, Farmar, Walton/Radmanovic, Turiaf, Ariza)

Funny thing that this year, different from last year, both 1st seeds managed to reach to the Finals, in fact all series, except NO - Spurs ended with better seed winning.

[CMJ3]

Celtics in 7 with MVP honors to Paul Pierce, looking for a good series. The match ups seem pretty exciting, Gasol on Garnett, Bryant on Allen, Odom on Pierce etc. I wonder if anyone last year would have predicted before the trades that the Celtics and Lakers would face off in the finals in 08. Marvelous turnarounds for both teams especially the Celts.

[FREDtheBeerMan]

I had to share this one. Look what I had found in the closet (and yes, they are both mine): I know Kobe now wears #24, because I brought the jersey just prior to his # change. Now tell me what jersey should I wear?

[ixcuincle]

Celtics one because Pierce still wears that.

Lakers hopefully will win the title in 7. I'd like for Phillip to pass Red Auerbach in # of championships , too

[Oznogrd]

wear both of course

C's in 7 is my pick: homecourt + KG, Pierce, Allen > Kobe, Gasol, Odom. give me until later and i may be able to provide stats for that...

[Jackal]

wear both of course

C's in 7 is my pick: homecourt + KG, Pierce, Allen > Kobe, Gasol, Odom. give me until later and i may be able to provide stats for that...

But Kobe > all.

Anyways, I won't be spamming up this thread anymore. I'm glad for Kobe, I cursed him out left and right when he demanded the trade...

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

Lakers in 6

1. Pau Gasol is Finals MVP
2. Kobe gets 25-30 ppg
3. Celtics lose at least 1 HOME game

[Cartar]

When was last time when season MVP was also Finals MVP in the same season? Kobe has pretty good chance at that this year.

[Skills]

My gut says Kobe will do what Wade did in '06 and bring in Jordan comparisons. Except the refs will actually make some decent calls on both opposing sides.
If Kobe plays like MJ, then I say Lakers in 7.

[Sauru]

i am dying for the celts to win this but they way they have played makes it hard for me to say they will win. if thw celtics keep blowing leads then this series will be lucky to go 5, they need to start playing a solid 48. with ray looking like he is getting his shot back they could pull it off, rondo needs to play big and limit is mistakes.

really i like how boston matches up with LA except for kobe, he is gonna be the big key. if kobe is playing at his best the celts have no chance at all, limit him to only 3 top notch games and the celts win this in 7 so...... i pick the celts in 7 with la winning 1 game in boston and returning to boston with a 3-2 before the celts come up big and win the last 2