[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Iggyscoresgoals

He didn't pop nothing, Peirce was just milking that injury to get that old team some much needed rest, and they where able to captalize after that going on a run.

Garnett/Gasol is only one of the matchups, the best player in the series is on the Lakers, and overall the Lakers have a better starting 5, and a better bench. Pj Brown, and Sam Cassell are depended on by Boston, this is the same Cassell that did not hit a FG in 4 straight games against the Cavs and never saw the floor again in that series. Gasol is a good player, his length will keep the matchup with Garnett pretty much even. Like I said the Lakers where very off tonight, missing open shots, and just looking rusty out there, we are by far the better team, and it will show Sunday in game 2 when we win that one, and the series.

Also the double teams are moving on to Peirce, Garnett or Allen to force Rondo to make long range shots which he hit tonight. Like Mark Jackson says a top offence will overcome a top defence in the NBA, and the Lakers where one of the best offensive teams in the NBA this year and in the playoffs. Guys like Vlady, Vuajcic, Fisher, Kobe, can hammer the long range and 3 point shot, as well as Farmar when he gets hot. Gasol and Odom also have a good range for big guys, once t hey start burying there shots this thing will be a wrap, and that punk Peirce will not get a ring.

Lol he was diagnosed with a sprained knee. It wasn't a fake injury. And in terms of everything you said, I agree with some of it. I never said the Lakers were a bad team or anything. But for you to think the Lakers are by far a better team then the Celtics is laughable. Oh and you couldn't be more wrong about offense winning championships. Defense wins championships in the NBA. Those have been direct quotes from Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. Look at the recent NBA champions, the Spurs have won it 4 times in the last while on defense, the Pistons won on their solid defense, the Lakers when they had Shaq even had a good defensive system. Boston is an outstanding defensive team as well and are in the finals. These teams are very close and that's why people are having a hard time deciding who the favorite in the series is. They were talking about on ABC tonight how if either team wins, it shouldn't be a surprise as they are so close in how good they are. But I guess we'll just wait and see what happens.