The NBA Finals 2010: Celtics vs Lakers
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Lakers opponents int he playoffs were a bunch of push overs except for the thunder... they didnt have an answer for the durantula a lucky tip saved them from a game 7....
suns and jazz doesnt have the legit big to stop the laker bigs...
celtics on the other hand did a good job on dwight (imo the first few games) and have one of the best solid defense i have seen in the playoffs where in We all know the lakers dont have... artest is a good defender but I dont see the lakers defending as good as the celtics, offensively they have a slight edge
Expect fisher to get glued to the floor as rondo works on him play after play and kobe will FINALLY have to work on the defensive end... he will either be guarding allen or pierce... I say Boston in 5.
suns and jazz doesnt have the legit big to stop the laker bigs...
celtics on the other hand did a good job on dwight (imo the first few games) and have one of the best solid defense i have seen in the playoffs where in We all know the lakers dont have... artest is a good defender but I dont see the lakers defending as good as the celtics, offensively they have a slight edge
Expect fisher to get glued to the floor as rondo works on him play after play and kobe will FINALLY have to work on the defensive end... he will either be guarding allen or pierce... I say Boston in 5.
I kinda expect things to go the Lakers way. I really dislike the Celtics... and I would rather (GASP!) the Lakers win than the Celts. From what I gather, much dislike for the Lakers comes from annoying Lakers fans and such which I don't really get. As far as I'm concerned, the team is almost entirely different from the one that was our rival way back.
Celtics have been playing well and I think the outcome of the series really lies in the Lakers' hands, or more specifically Bynum's and Gasol's hands. It's theirs to lose, so I see the series going to 7 games but LA winning in the final game
Celtics have been playing well and I think the outcome of the series really lies in the Lakers' hands, or more specifically Bynum's and Gasol's hands. It's theirs to lose, so I see the series going to 7 games but LA winning in the final game
Bynum will be a non factor. Just like he's been for most of his career. You use Garnett and Perkins' size to bother gasol(he hasn't faced legitimate height this whole playoffs) and they just need to stay par with their great defensive rotations to try and limit Kobe. They cannot allow odom to come in and get major offensive rebounds and put them back up.
I really see no way the lakers can slow down rondo. Some laker fans think that the key to beating Boston is having artest around to shut down pierce. That's not how you beat Boston. They've had 17 different leading scoters in the last 17 games(NBA record). You don't know who's gonna go off on any given night or who's gonna beat you. And who's gonna chase Allen around? Kobe? Haha whoever they put Kobe on is gonna end up with Kobe getting fatigued and you will see bad shooting nights from Kobe.
Boston wins tonight. Lakers win game 2. Boston wins 3 & 4. Lakers take game 5 on desperation alone and Boston closes it out in la in game 6.
I really see no way the lakers can slow down rondo. Some laker fans think that the key to beating Boston is having artest around to shut down pierce. That's not how you beat Boston. They've had 17 different leading scoters in the last 17 games(NBA record). You don't know who's gonna go off on any given night or who's gonna beat you. And who's gonna chase Allen around? Kobe? Haha whoever they put Kobe on is gonna end up with Kobe getting fatigued and you will see bad shooting nights from Kobe.
Boston wins tonight. Lakers win game 2. Boston wins 3 & 4. Lakers take game 5 on desperation alone and Boston closes it out in la in game 6.
This series scares me for one reason - end of game situations.
Pierce has been pretty bad overall in late game situations this year. He made a few big shots here and there, but when the Celtics run that ISO with Pierce late in the game, it hasnt been great.
If I were Doc, I'd put the ball in Rondo's hands and let him make a play, but he hasnt been doing that, and I dont know how healthy Rondo is.
Then when you add in the Artest factor, who is the perfect defender for pierce. Artest is big and stong, and while Ron has lost some quickness over the years, it doesnt matter when you guard Pierce who isnt that quick anyways.
If we have a one possesion back and forth type game, I like the Lakers .. If Boston can play with a lead, even a small one like 7 or so points, I like Boston.
Pierce has been pretty bad overall in late game situations this year. He made a few big shots here and there, but when the Celtics run that ISO with Pierce late in the game, it hasnt been great.
If I were Doc, I'd put the ball in Rondo's hands and let him make a play, but he hasnt been doing that, and I dont know how healthy Rondo is.
Then when you add in the Artest factor, who is the perfect defender for pierce. Artest is big and stong, and while Ron has lost some quickness over the years, it doesnt matter when you guard Pierce who isnt that quick anyways.
If we have a one possesion back and forth type game, I like the Lakers .. If Boston can play with a lead, even a small one like 7 or so points, I like Boston.
I think you are forgetting Ray Allen. He's hit big shots after big shots through out the last few playoffs. I still remember the games last year when he hit game tying shots time after time against the bulls to single handedly bring the celtics to triple overtime.
If there is about 8 secs or more left where you want to milk the clock down for one last shot, Pierce is your man. But Ray is a very underrated ISO player and can definitly hit the big shots. Only a few secs left and need a quick shot, I'll go to Ray Ray everytime.
But it's okay to say Boston in 4?
I honestly don't think the Celtics stand a chance. I voted Lakers in 6, but that's primarily because the Celts get three in a row at home. I just think they're outmatched all over the floor, and unless they get scorching hot from outside, they are going to have a rough go of it. They're best bet is to slow the game down and force the Lakers into a physical contest, but I don't think they can do that consistently enough, especially in LA.
Rondo is the wild card, especially since the Lakers struggle with point guards. But they have faced Westbrook, Williams and Nash so far, and were able to go 12-4 through the first three rounds. Despite all the rage about Rondo, he's not the best point guard in the NBA, and I'd put him behind both Nash and Williams, as a matter of fact. So even though he could have a huge impact, if they were able to get past those other guys, they'll be able to handle him and his shaky jumpshot.
I'd be surprised at a sweep, but I don't think the series is as close as everyone seems to think it is. Boston was dead two months ago. I think they've simply delayed the inevitable.
I honestly don't think the Celtics stand a chance. I voted Lakers in 6, but that's primarily because the Celts get three in a row at home. I just think they're outmatched all over the floor, and unless they get scorching hot from outside, they are going to have a rough go of it. They're best bet is to slow the game down and force the Lakers into a physical contest, but I don't think they can do that consistently enough, especially in LA.
Rondo is the wild card, especially since the Lakers struggle with point guards. But they have faced Westbrook, Williams and Nash so far, and were able to go 12-4 through the first three rounds. Despite all the rage about Rondo, he's not the best point guard in the NBA, and I'd put him behind both Nash and Williams, as a matter of fact. So even though he could have a huge impact, if they were able to get past those other guys, they'll be able to handle him and his shaky jumpshot.
I'd be surprised at a sweep, but I don't think the series is as close as everyone seems to think it is. Boston was dead two months ago. I think they've simply delayed the inevitable.
Anyone else who made the playoffs if you ask me. Haven't watched more than a couple minutes of the playoffs yet because of my heavy workload recently and demands outside of work, but I will try to catch some of the Finals. Hoping the Celtics win just because they are not the Lakers, but that isn't saying much for my "cheering" for the Celtics as a team per se....
Celtics in 6...
... because the lakers have home court advantage. The toughest opponets the lakers faced so far are the Suns which still has a weak defense and are far from physical.
The Celtics has a number of fearless guys that will get physical such as Perkins, KG (on 1 leg or not), Baby, Sheed. A good number of "experts" predicted the Magic would take out the Celtics and eventually win the championship because they were undefeated up to that point. The problem is they faced weak opponents just like the lakers have so far. The Celtics beat both the Cavs and Magic without homecourt, that tells you they are no joke.
Magic has a very complete team, elite & fast PG, dominating center presense, versitile perimeter player that can get his own shots in VC, a long skilled 4 in Lewis, good coach, decent bench, etc etc.
The reason VC, lewis and at times howard looked so off their game is because the Celtics D made them that way. Professional all star players don't all of a sudden disappear completely like these guys. The Celtics deserves some credit as they made Lebron look ineffective also.
... because the lakers have home court advantage. The toughest opponets the lakers faced so far are the Suns which still has a weak defense and are far from physical.
The Celtics has a number of fearless guys that will get physical such as Perkins, KG (on 1 leg or not), Baby, Sheed. A good number of "experts" predicted the Magic would take out the Celtics and eventually win the championship because they were undefeated up to that point. The problem is they faced weak opponents just like the lakers have so far. The Celtics beat both the Cavs and Magic without homecourt, that tells you they are no joke.
Magic has a very complete team, elite & fast PG, dominating center presense, versitile perimeter player that can get his own shots in VC, a long skilled 4 in Lewis, good coach, decent bench, etc etc.
The reason VC, lewis and at times howard looked so off their game is because the Celtics D made them that way. Professional all star players don't all of a sudden disappear completely like these guys. The Celtics deserves some credit as they made Lebron look ineffective also.
I don't think they made LeBron look ineffective at all. He took a game off for some strange reason, but other than that, he was LeBron. Averaged 27/9/8 against them. If that's ineffective, then damn. He wasn't the problem. The problem was his teammates disappeared.
The Magic are sort of an enigma. When they aren't hitting shots, they can't function, and they went cold against the Celtics.
You're not going to make the Lakers go cold for very long. We made a big deal about the Suns zone against them, but they were still scoring 105+ against it. They can score inside and outside, and have a genuinely skilled big man who can make things happen.
In this series, I don't think the Celtics are going to be able to just muscle their way through the Lakers. I think the Lakers are tougher than they were two years ago, Gasol is more comfortable on the team, Artest will keep Pierce in check, Kobe just had the best playoff series of his career and is shooting incredibly well... I just don't think Boston is good enough.
The Magic are sort of an enigma. When they aren't hitting shots, they can't function, and they went cold against the Celtics.
You're not going to make the Lakers go cold for very long. We made a big deal about the Suns zone against them, but they were still scoring 105+ against it. They can score inside and outside, and have a genuinely skilled big man who can make things happen.
In this series, I don't think the Celtics are going to be able to just muscle their way through the Lakers. I think the Lakers are tougher than they were two years ago, Gasol is more comfortable on the team, Artest will keep Pierce in check, Kobe just had the best playoff series of his career and is shooting incredibly well... I just don't think Boston is good enough.
When did I say Boston in 4? I said Boston in 6. Or are you just referring to others picking Boston in 4?
Didn't you predict Orlando in like 5 against the Celtics? Idk man, I don't feel like the lakers have matched up against anyone physical or long and the celtics are both. Would I be surprised if the lakers won? No way! But I still think Boston takes it in 6. And where do you get the notion that the lakers outmatch the celtics all across the floor? Let's let the games do the talking. We'll get back to this tmrw.
Didn't you predict Orlando in like 5 against the Celtics? Idk man, I don't feel like the lakers have matched up against anyone physical or long and the celtics are both. Would I be surprised if the lakers won? No way! But I still think Boston takes it in 6. And where do you get the notion that the lakers outmatch the celtics all across the floor? Let's let the games do the talking. We'll get back to this tmrw.
Was talking about others...
Not me. I didn't anticipate the Celts shutting Orlando down like that, but I don't think I picked against them after they had just upset the Cavs.
"Outmatched across the floor" is not accurate. That's not what I meant. I really meant that the Lakers have a better team, in my estimation. There are some intangibles that make Boston a worthy opponent, like their toughness and experience, their ability to win close games, etc. But I think that talent-wise, the Lakers have it. And unless they fold, they're gonna win.
I'm not looking forward to this series. I think there's gonna be some good basketball played, and it will be entertaining, but I don't want to get excited about the possibility of the Celtics knocking the Lakers off, because I don't think they have a real shot at winning. But you're right, let's let the games do the talking. I hope I'm wrong.
Not me. I didn't anticipate the Celts shutting Orlando down like that, but I don't think I picked against them after they had just upset the Cavs.
"Outmatched across the floor" is not accurate. That's not what I meant. I really meant that the Lakers have a better team, in my estimation. There are some intangibles that make Boston a worthy opponent, like their toughness and experience, their ability to win close games, etc. But I think that talent-wise, the Lakers have it. And unless they fold, they're gonna win.
I'm not looking forward to this series. I think there's gonna be some good basketball played, and it will be entertaining, but I don't want to get excited about the possibility of the Celtics knocking the Lakers off, because I don't think they have a real shot at winning. But you're right, let's let the games do the talking. I hope I'm wrong.
Webber is picking Boston in 7.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=5248579&autoplay=1
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=5248579&autoplay=1
I'm pretty sure I know what im watching I've watched basketball and played for virtually my whole life and have a pretty good understanding of the game..
Artest will give Pierce fits, Garnett is not a second or third offensive option anymore, Bynum will take Perkins help defense...
Can't see the Celtics winning more than 2 games