2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Machiavelli]

I'm gonna have to cheer for the Celtics because I don't like the Lakers.

I want to like Kobe Bryant. I really, really do. He is an AMAZING player, with probably the best raw talent in the league. But, something holds me back, and I just can't cheer for him. I'm not sure if it's the alleged rape, but I don't usually judge like that.

I don't really like KG either but Go Celtics!

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

I'm gonna have to cheer for the Celtics because I don't like the Lakers.

I want to like Kobe Bryant. I really, really do. He is an AMAZING player, with probably the best raw talent in the league. But, something holds me back, and I just can't cheer for him. I'm not sure if it's the alleged rape, but I don't usually judge like that.

I don't really like KG either but Go Celtics!

Aw come on how could you not like:



I really want to see KG get a ring. They had a cool interview with him and Russell earlier this playoffs that really made me respect KG more. Celtics in 7!

[Iggyscoresgoals]

Yes finally my Lakers are back in the show. Its too bad KG went to the east coast and joined the Celtics, because he would of looked good missing free throws in the clutch in purple and yellow.

I hate the Celtics, I hate PP, I hate Sam Cassell with his alien looking self, also Doc Rivers is a terrible coach. The Celtics are going to be dominated, they don't match up well at all.

Gasol, Odom, Radmanovic, Bryant, Fisher>Perkins, KG, Peirce, Allen, Rondo

Plus the Lakers bench is that much more better then that average age of 70 bench of the Celtics.

Also the Spurs need to shut up, they blew a 17 and 20 pt lead against the Lake show, they have nothing to complain about they got dominated. If they complain about that Barry foul, what about Tim Duncan running from half court for that dunk that was a horrible travel, which was not called. The calls evend out.

[Iggyscoresgoals]

Also its going to be great as well watching the GOAT player Kobe win a world title alone without Shaq. MVP, NBA Title, Finals MVP, Olympic Gold, what a season its going to be for Kobe.

[D to the iddy]

Originally Posted by Iggyscoresgoals

GOAT player Kobe

Let's not kid ourselves here. Kobe is the greatest player in the world right now, followed extremely closely by LeBron James. Greatest player ever? Just throwing out a name of Michael Jordan... and it's not even close.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by D to the iddy

Let's not kid ourselves here. Kobe is the greatest player in the world right now, followed extremely closely by LeBron James. Greatest player ever? Just throwing out a name of Michael Jordan... and it's not even close.

I'm not trying to argue about a technicality, but I don't believe James is that good of a defensive player compared to Kobe. For that reason I think James is far and away the best player in the league by a larger margin than "extremely close". James gets the rebounds and blocks, but when you think about their styles and getting close to the opponent so he can't make a proper shot, Kobe is superior (and I hate Bryant). Bryant is just so much smarter in how he defends, it blows Lebron away (not to mention his fadeaways).

[D to the iddy]

Originally Posted by fleury

I'm not trying to argue about a technicality, but I don't believe James is that good of a defensive player compared to Kobe. For that reason I think James is far and away the best player in the league by a larger margin than "extremely close". James gets the rebounds and blocks, but when you think about their styles and getting close to the opponent so he can't make a proper shot, Kobe is superior (and I hate Bryant). Bryant is just so much smarter in how he defends, it blows Lebron away (not to mention his fadeaways).

When I think of best player in the league, I like to think about it as "Who would be my first pick in a league wide pick-up game with all players involved?" I personally think that even though he clearly lacks on the defensive side of the ball right now, LeBron is a better rebounder and passer. He also doesn't have the drama that Kobe brings to a team. Even though he's in the finals, people seem to forget that he asked for a trade before the season AND was booed by his home fans after the season opener. This "New-Kobe" (as I like to call him) has only been since the start of 2008, LeBron's been carrying his team for 4 years.

I'm not arguing that Kobe is a better player right now. I just don't believe that he's so much superior to everyone else, let alone the greatest of all time.

[StrayBullet]

Guess who is going to Game 4 at Staples?!?!? Section 119 Row 9. BOOO-YAAAAA!!!!!

[OILFAN #81]

That was an entertaining game 1 of the NBA finals. Celtics win 98-88 and take a 1-0 series lead. Pretty scary for Celtics fans to see Pierce have to get carried to the locker room in the 3rd quarter but he came back and hit some clutch shots. I really want to see him and KG in particular get rings and I absolutely hate the Lakers. Game 2 will be huge as games 3, 4, and 5 are all in Los Angeles. Go Celtics!

[socalwingfan]

I thought I was watching the old WWF tonight, Pierce is carried off the court and placed in the the wheelchair only to run back down the ramp 3 minutes later to save the day. That said, Lakers sucked tonight and now I can't watch any highlights of the Sux/Rays brawl because ESPN is devoting the next 20 hours to basketball.

[Iggyscoresgoals]

The Lakers looked rusty tonight, nothing to be too worried about, the Celtics played as good as they can offensivley, there big three played above there heads tonight, while the Lakers all had pretty bad nights missing wide open shots, and just looking rusty out there. It wont happen again, the Celtics are a very beatable team, trash like Sam Cassell will not have that type of game again.

All will be right and that punk Peirce will not get a ring EVER, after that big show he threw out there only to come back out 5 minutes later, what a disgusting act. He laid on the floor like he had just torn all ligaments, being carried of then running back out there common now.

Lakers will take game two, three, four, and six to win this thing.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Iggyscoresgoals

The Lakers looked rusty tonight, nothing to be too worried about, the Celtics played as good as they can offensivley, there big three played above there heads tonight, while the Lakers all had pretty bad nights missing wide open shots, and just looking rusty out there. It wont happen again, the Celtics are a very beatable team, trash like Sam Cassell will not have that type of game again.

All will be right and that punk Peirce will not get a ring EVER, after that big show he threw out there only to come back out 5 minutes later, what a disgusting act. He laid on the floor like he had just torn all ligaments, being carried of then running back out there common now.

Lakers will take game two, three, four, and six to win this thing.

What the hell are you taking about? He popped his kneecap and was diagnosed with a sprained knee. He wasn't faking an injury.

Celtics will win this series in 7 games. Oh and you say the Celtics are a very beatable team, well that might be true, but the Lakers are a very beatable team as well.

Boston wins the matchup with Garnett/Gasol and that showed tonight. They have to keep get the ball down low to Garnett quickly on the shot clock to utilize his 1 on 1 play vs Gasol or if he gets double teamed then to look for Pierce or Allen for the open shot. Both these teams are good teams, it's going to be a good series, especially with #24 on the Lakers. Best player in the league for sure as much as I hate him.

[Iggyscoresgoals]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

What the hell are you taking about? He popped his kneecap and was diagnosed with a sprained knee. He wasn't faking an injury.

Celtics will win this series in 7 games. Oh and you say the Celtics are a very beatable team, well that might be true, but the Lakers are a very beatable team as well.

Boston wins the matchup with Garnett/Gasol and that showed tonight. They have to keep get the ball down low to Garnett quickly on the shot clock to utilize his 1 on 1 play vs Gasol or if he gets double teamed then to look for Pierce or Allen for the open shot. Both these teams are good teams, it's going to be a good series, especially with #24 on the Lakers. Best player in the league for sure as much as I hate him.

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.

[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.

[socalwingfan]

Hilarious reaction by Phil Jackson on Pierce's "Willis Reed" moment:

"If I'm not mistaken, I think Willis Reed missed a whole half and three quarters almost of a game and literally had to have a shot, a horse shot, three or four of them in his thigh to come back out and play," Jackson said. "Paul got carried off and was back on his feet in a minute.

"I don't know if the angels visited him . . . in that timeout period that he had or not, but he didn't even limp when he came back out on the floor. I don't know what was going on there. Was Oral Roberts back there in their locker room?" Jackson said, making a reference to the controversial American televangelist who preached the possibility of miracles.

[OILFAN #81]

Celtics win game two 108-102 and take a 2-0 lead in the best of seven NBA Finals. Wow, that was nearly a choke job by the Celtics in the 4th. Up 24 with 7 minutes to go, and the Lakers cut it to 2 with less then a minute left. As Jeff Van Gundy said, it seemed like Boston was playing the score and not the game. It nearly cost them. Got to give credit to the Lakers for not giving up and making an impressive push in the 3rd. They hit a lot of 3's to get back in it during the 4th quarter. Both defense's need to improve a lot in the next game. What a great performance by Leon Powe. He was the hardest working Celtic tonight and had 21 points off the bench in not much playing time. Games 3, 4, 5 are now in LA. Hopefully the series doesn't come back to Boston (but I think it will).

Go Celtics!

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Iggyscoresgoals

The Lakers looked rusty tonight, nothing to be too worried about, the Celtics played as good as they can offensivley, there big three played above there heads tonight, while the Lakers all had pretty bad nights missing wide open shots, and just looking rusty out there. It wont happen again, the Celtics are a very beatable team, trash like Sam Cassell will not have that type of game again.

All will be right and that punk Peirce will not get a ring EVER, after that big show he threw out there only to come back out 5 minutes later, what a disgusting act. He laid on the floor like he had just torn all ligaments, being carried of then running back out there common now.

Lakers will take game two, three, four, and six to win this thing.

Go Celtics...gotta love them overconfident Lakers...and their fans!

[mykalberta]

I just have to say one thing, is Doc Rivers the absoulte worst coach of all time or is it just me, his continuous complaining to the officials. I mean its kind of sad to watch him purposefully lose games only to have Pierce and KG save the Celtics time and again.

The Zen Master must just laugh at the way Doc operations, Zen sits on the bench quitely while doc is constantly standing and bitching.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I just have to say one thing, is Doc Rivers the absoulte worst coach of all time or is it just me, his continuous complaining to the officials. I mean its kind of sad to watch him purposefully lose games only to have Pierce and KG save the Celtics time and again.

The Zen Master must just laugh at the way Doc operations, Zen sits on the bench quitely while doc is constantly standing and bitching.

Yep, and here is the Zen Master not complaining about the reffing:

Originally Posted by Zen Master

"I've never seen a game like that in all these years I've coached the Finals. Unbelievable.

I'm more struck at the fact that Leon Powe gets more foul shots than our whole team does in 14 minutes of play. That's ridiculous.

I have no question about the fact that my players got fouled but didn't get to the line. It's the illusion that's created. The referees referee an illusion."

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Phil-Jacks...ting-Blog-9445

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...fference_N.htm

[troutman]

No one mentioning the ref-job in game 2? Didn't BOS have 38 free-throws compared to about 10 for LA?