Comments on: NBA finals, Celtics Lakers: Five keys for both teams to win it all

By: CP

CP — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:37:06 +0000

Which storyline is better:
- Lakers cruise to easy third consecutive Western Conference championship and second consecutive World Champion title, defeating the same green team they lost to 2 years ago
- Celtics overcome mediocre season by defeating the best regular-season team, defending Eastern Conference champs, and defending World Champs to go 8-0 in series with their starting five
Knowing nothing else about basketball, one of these metacontextual storylines is better than the other… and thus, there’s your champion.
Celtics in less-than-8.

By: TheIndependentThinker

TheIndependentThinker — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:12:41 +0000

1) Kobe and the Lakers BARELY beat the suns to make it to the finals. They obviously aren’t that strong, even with mongoloid Artest. Chances of Mongo making another rookie mistake = 100%. Chances of him making another game winning shot = 0%.
2) Rondo has developed IMMENSELY in the past two years. I would LOVE to see Kobe try to step to him. I see a triple double in his future against a slowed down Fisher or even Kobe.
3) The Celtics are basically the same core unit and got Wallace to cover for Powe. Also, they have a healthy KG (unlike last year). Lakers still have the same problems – their biggest asset is the teams own worse enemy (Kobe). Can’t wait to see him and Gasol fighting on the court after each loss.
4) Celtics in 6.

By: SEVEN

SEVEN — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:24:06 +0000

ALL THE LAKERS NEEDS TO DO TO WIN THIS FINALS IS:PLAY AGGRESSIVE ‘D’AS A TEAM AND LET RON DO HIS THING ON PAUL”THE ACTOR” PIERCE.WITH KOBE AND PAU THE LAKERS IS A FAR BETTER OFFENSIVE TEAM THAN THE CELTICS…..AND THERE D IS NOT FAR BEHIND….. GO LAKERS

By: luffy

luffy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:35:56 +0000

” Rondo is a beast period”. Nice opening sentence… LMFAO!
Speaking of Rondo, ok agreed, maybe Fisher can’t guard Rondo but Kobe or Shannon Brown could. Now let’s re-iterate the question, Who’s gonna guard Kobe? Ray Allen? Pierce? Rondo? KG? Perkins? Tony Allen? Big Baby? Rasheed? Doc Rivers? Your thoughts please?

By: luffy

luffy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:24:10 +0000

On the defense thing, I’ll say this again…
The Celtics Defense is overrated, their defense looks great because the teams in the East just suck in shooting the ball. Count how many attempts the Cavs and Orlando had, and I mean uncontested shots. If you call using all the big men’s fouls Defense then by all means yes, they have good defense after all.
Enough of the flashbacks, 2008 champions? champion my A$$! Bynum and Ariza didn’t play in that series and it still took the Celtics 6 friggin’ games to beat them? Duh?!

By: luffy

luffy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:13:46 +0000

Hey dumbass, yes the Celtics got Wade, Howard and James. did you notice that all those players are in a team that depends on them? Celts won in the weak east because the teams there doesn’t know how to play as a team. The teams in the west are playing team basketball, and I mean every team in the West except for Denver, that’s because Karl wasn’t there to coach them.
Oklahoma – Team play w/good coach, Scott Brooks
Utah – Team play w/good coach Jerry Sloan
Phoenix – Team play w/ good coach, Alvin Gentry
San Antonio – Team play w/the 2nd best coach Greg Popovich
Portland – Team play w/good coach Nate Mcmillan
LAKERS – Team Play w/the best coach Phil Jackson
Now let’s go to the team that Boston got…
Heat – Dwayne Wade + Young Coach who I don’t know?
Cavs – Lebron James + The great Mike Brown? Wow!
Orlando – Dwight Howard + Van Gundy?
Now tell me the difference between the East and West teams and the teams that the Lakers and Boston beat…
Lakers in 5 or 6…

By: devin

devin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:33:27 +0000

Rondo is a beast period.Sometimes he has bad days,but for the and excited celtics,rondo is going to be at his best laker fans you know that. Paul Pierce is one the most toughest player in nba, once he is on, he’s on. Speaking on the celtics road games,they are the best. who lets a team smash on them wen you get an mvp? obviously lebron, there was nothing wrong with him. Celtics, As the best road team in the nba, will make sure they get a win in staples center. if Nate makes points like he did in game six against magics, and if tony allen steps up like previous series, you will have trouble, this shows that this is not a 1 man team. celtics got Dwayne wade,lebron james, Dwight howard. we have to see how much kobe and his team matured. Playing like a team wins games. GO CELTICS!!!

By: Snacker

Snacker — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:48:43 +0000

What a series this will be! I can’t wait to watch this Finals.
I am an unabashedly Lakers fan.
However, I do believe Boston looks very very good, almost better than the Lakers on paper.
Boston Strengths:
1. Great defense.
2. Rondo is playing at a stellar level.
3. They have size in their bigs (which can match the Lakers strength). Also Perkins has improved.
4. Seemingly deep and strong bench (though Wallace’s injury could be factor).
5. They eliminated Cavs and Magic without home court advantage — not easy tasks.
Weaknesses:
1. OLD!! Esp Garnett. The big three are probably not what they once were in 2008.
2. No home court advantage.
3. Lakers I believe are better than both Cavs and Magic.
LA strengths:
1. Pau in 08 had just arrived to LA. He played nervous then. Expect much better game from him this series.
2. Lakers have Bynum back, even though injured. He will make a difference in how they play defense with the double teaming. Also defensively. I think his presence is key – hopefully won’t get hurt.
3. Artest can neutralize Pierce – Boston’s best one on one scorer.
4. Never, ever count out Kobe Bryant. Esp when he has something to prove. He is very dangerous. In 08 they could smother him with double and triple teams, but this yr, will depend on his supporting cast stepping up to make the open shot.
Weaknesses:
1. Bench looks weaker than in 08. Walton is hurt, Vujacic, Farmer don’t seem to be playing as well in general (except in the last playoff series started to look better).
2. Bynum is injured.
3. Artest offensively is a wild card and unpredictable.
4. Odom is the same way – could be great, could disappear.
This game will depend on Boston’s defense vs whether Laker’s supporting cast will step it up and support Bryant or not. Also whether the Lakers bring it in terms of energy and defense which they are known to forget about sometimes. Boston is more consistent here.

By: Craig W.

Craig W. — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:40:05 +0000

It’s funny…all the Celtic fans say the Celtic defense will win them the championship. All the Lakers have is their offense.
The truth is that the Celtics have a somewhat simple, but very disciplined offense the gets contributions from a number of people on the bench. The Laker bench? Less so. The Lakers have a very good defense that can lose focus at times during the game, but they have a couple of lock-down one-on-one people.
I personally feel the Lakers have a better balance between offense and defense and favor them in the series, but the Celtics certainly have match-ups that favor them. I look forward to a really good series.

By: agnostica

agnostica — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:25:45 +0000

Well said. Same reason why I want to really only see the Celtics play the Lakers in the Finals. And yeah, Perkins really did get manhandled there and didn’t take it as well as he should have. It’ll be interesting to see how a team with championship-caliber defense does against a team with championship-caliber offense.
And let’s not even discuss Pierce’s theatrics. I shake my head in embarrassment every time he does something stupid like that. He’s better than that, or rather he should be better than that.
And ok, you’re right – they are old, I guess I just want to deny that because I love their heart and determination. The Big 3 have maybe a couple years in them, at most, and I’m curious to see where Ray Allen and Pierce end up after the season.

By: Foul Dwimmerlaik

Foul Dwimmerlaik — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:09:09 +0000

Look dude, I have profound respect for this Celtics team and it would be foolish to question their hearts and their abilities (though I have a hard time reconciling Pierce’s penchant for theatrics ala Hollywood with that lame wheel chair thingy). The thing is, they are old… BUT their basketball smarts and IQ would make up for that. Why would they bother go on running when it’s better for them to defend, slow the pace, and go for deliberate half-court offense? Celtics are physical, but not dirty. When the Magic were man-handling them, they had poise and continued playing (can’t say the same for Perkins tho). As far as I’m concerned, I rooted for the Celtics in the East because I know they would be the best opponents for the Lakers. You can’t validate your team being the best if you can’t beat the best opposition.

By: agnostica

agnostica — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:36:07 +0000

Very funny. Yes, I’m aware of the term and while I’m young, little boy I am not (25, alright?). I must say, after reading most of the comments and thoughts here, I have to say that most of your points are fair well-thought out.
Look, all I’m trying to say is that for this entire playoff series the Celtics have been underrated and written off as “too old.” Yes, they are starting to show their age, but it’s not as if they played underhanded and piss poor teams to get to the Finals again. I won’t write off Kobe and the Lakers – they deserve to be in the Finals where they are, as do the Celtics. But as most people have argued here for the last few days, I think it’s the Celtics’ defense that will help them close this out, but regardless who wins, I think this will be the series match-up we’ve all been waiting for, not the proverbial “The King vs. The God” of LeBron vs. Kobe. I think this could very well go 7 games, and quite honestly I hope it does. However, unfortunately, I thoroughly believe that if it does go to 7 the Lakers will win it.
And after seeing many people’s game predictions, they all seem to underestimate Boston’s road wins. The Lakers will not win the first two at home. They won’t. They’ll win game 1 but not game two, and I highly predict the Celtics will win 2 out of 3 games at home, which would put the series at 3-2 Celtics advantage before coming back to LA, and I also believe the Lakers will win that game, which ties the series 3-3 and it all comes down to game 7, where I already stated if it does come to that, the Lakers will most likely win. But either way, an awesome series. I just hate seeing my Celtics constantly being called old. They are, but they sure as hell aren’t showing it. You can say that LeBron gave up, and you can say that Superman never showed up to play, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing in the regular season matters. In the end, it all comes down to post-season play and Boston has shown they are in this to win it, and I think they can, but it will most certainly be a close one.
Oh, and as a side note to your argument on the Lakers dictating the tempo – yes if they do, then the Celtics will slow down, but look at 2008 and see the tempo of the game (without throwing in the staple Artest/Bynum argument that every Lakers fan has) and those games were grinded out. That’s the Celtics style of play/defense, and we will most certainly see that again in this Finals series. Slow and heated, not fast-paced.

By: Foul Dwimmerlaik

Foul Dwimmerlaik — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:46:43 +0000

Hey little boy, do you know what bandwagon means? Go back to school whippersnapper. What the Celtics did was to control the tempo of the game. I’m pretty sure that if the Lakers dictated the tempo into a fast-paced one, a significant number of the Celtics will be running on fumes. I mean, c’mon, can you even imagine Davis and Perkins running suicides for so long and still manage to defend the paint?

By: luffy

luffy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:11:57 +0000

You have got to be kidding me. Nash and Amare only? They have Hill and Richardson plus the Phoenix bench is probably the best in the NBA right now.
You say the Lakers ain’t hungry? If it’s Orlando or Cavs I agree 100% that they’re not hungry but with the Celts, the Lakers are hungrier than ever because of the 2008 loss.
Talking about defense, the Celts ain’t good in defense, duh? the Orlando team just suck in shooting the ball, just count how many attempts they had in the series. Carter choked, Lewis choked, Nelson choked, Didn’t use Pietrus that much and the biggest factor, NO HEDO TURKOGLU in the series…
Celtics only have one chance, if Rondo isn’t contained, that’s it. Lakers in 5 or 6…

By: d

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:54:15 +0000

To much thinking Guys.It all boils down to who shows up.You can say what ever. Look who wants it more.Some things are forever on a sunny day or a rain filled day.The lakers aint hungry. The comp was not good enough thats why they made it. Come on Pheonix only had nash and amrie plying.

By: joeyvegas

joeyvegas — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:19:44 +0000

Based on the 2-3-2 format in the Finals, the Lakers must win the first 2 at home.If they do, there’s a huge amount of pressure on the Celtics. The Lakers then only have to win 1 of the 3 in Boston to go back to LA with a 3-1 lead. It’s over if the Lakers win the first 2.

By: bleedingpurplengold

bleedingpurplengold — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:59:27 +0000

Kobe won’t admit it because historically, he has down played his heroics and passions. But he wants the Celtics bad. These Celtics are not the same Celtics of 2008 although they still have the core players and they don’t have Posey which did a decent job on Kobe last time they met in the Finals. Additionally, the Lakers have added Artest which will be assigned to Paul Pierce which was the finals MVP. In essence, Orlando did a splendid job with banging up the old Celtics leaving a less then healthy team for the Lakers to run on. So here is my two cents: With the Celtics age, various injuries, inevitability of Perkins picking up his final technical before he is suspended for one game of the Finals, and the passion for revenge on a storied rivalry the matured Lakers have been hoping for. The Lakers are going win it all in 5.

By: BF the Shark

BF the Shark — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:57:00 +0000

The teams have moved in opposite directions over the last 2 years. As long as the trends hold, the Lakers win in 5. Give the Celt’s 20 more FT’s in any game and 5 goes to 6 or 7. Based on that trend, Lakers in 6.

By: joeyvegas

joeyvegas — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:32:25 +0000

They don’t call it the NBA (L)East for nothing. You have to win 50 games to qualify for the playoffs in the West. Celts had the same record as Oklahoma,and they were the #8 seed. The Suns blew out Boston both games they played them. They are playoff tested. Celts have a chance against the Lakers, but the Suns would’ve crushed them. They don’t match up as well. It should be fun!

By: Allan - Brazil

Allan - Brazil — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:21:41 +0000

Those are two awfully good teams, so anyone can win it.
That said, a believe it’s clear that this time the Lakers have 2 huge advantages over 2008:
- Ron Artest – In 2008 Paul Pierce was guarded by Vladmir Radmanovic!?!?!? (no wonder that he was the Finals MVP).
- Home Court Advantage
Anyway, I’m pretty confident the Lakers will repeat because Kurt is not having another baby this year.
Are You, Kurt?

By: joeyvegas

joeyvegas — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:09:34 +0000

Gasol much more physical now. A very Soft Radmonavich, a starter in 08 is gone. Artest replaced him and will guard Pierce. Kobe will slow Rondo, Bynum and Gasol will handle KG and Perkins. The wild card for Boston is Nate. Sasha, Farmar and Brown will need to handle him, will be key off the bench. Lakers in 6.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 31 May 2010 17:08:22 +0000

“The Celtics are old”- no mention of Kobe, the Lakers best player being older and more mileage than the Big Three. Kobe has lost a step. The rest of his team? Wouldn’t even start on the Celtics, at best they are bench players.
4th seeded Celtics beat the #1 team from the regular season. If you want to give the Cav’s an excuse, that’s your choice, but his elbow looked ok to the rest of us.
4th seeded Celtics beat the #2 team from the regular season. Whether the Magic “didn’t come to play in the first three games” is irrelavent. The CELTICS DID come to play.
Next up? The #3 team from the regular season. Easy winnings babeee!
The ONLY reason the Lakers are still here is cause they play in the sister league- the Western Conference.
If they played in the East- they probably would’ve finished 6th or 7th seed behind the Cavs’, Magic, Celtics, Hawks, Heat and probably ahead of the Bucks.
Oh, and if they played in the East? They’d already be playing golf.

By: jeanne luna

jeanne luna — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:47:44 +0000

Celtics are old…the only reason they beat Cleveland is because Lebron was injured and couldn’t shoot…the reason they beat Orlando is because the Magic didn’t come out to play the first 3 games, they thought the 4th seed Boston would be an easy win.
Now, they face the Champion Lakers and will have to play their best…if they can keep Ray Allen from having ‘cold shooting nights’, keep Perkins from his ‘anger management’ issues that will cause a 7th tech, keep Garnett from his ‘old legs’, keep Rasheed from missing his ‘threys’ and need I go on….Lakers are at the ‘top of their game’…LOL

By: yasser acmed

yasser acmed — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:49:00 +0000

I think basing on 2008(I know its bad to flashback what was, but, I really think the Big3 are feeling better than ever and hungrier) Ray Allen guarded Kobe well, not necessarily stopped him but keeping his ground especially with Kobe’s pump fakes, I also remembered Pierce guarding Kobe and he also managed to hold his ground he even block a shot, Celtics is a defense prided team, so they’ll get touchy if you say they can’t guard, look what happened to each games after they get blown out, they get touchy and holds vengeance on the next game and look at them now. I really think the Lakers will have a hard time with the Celtics defense, If you’ve watched there playoff games you’ll know how suffocating they can be. Defense wins championship, CELTICS WORLD CHAMPIONS.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:27:44 +0000

Yeah, LA has overcome the point guards, however, they did it by switching Kobe to Westbrook and doubling Williams. Nash is fast, but not strong.
With Boston you can’t put Kobe on Rondo (foul trouble and Fish would have to guard Allen) you can’t put Artest on Rondo (Foul trouble and Fish would have to take PP). Where are you going to hide Fisher?

By: Rich Macaluso

Rich Macaluso — Mon, 31 May 2010 11:19:16 +0000

Who is gonna chase Ray Allen around? Give me a break. Which celtic is gonna guard Kobe? That is the question! Rondo is playing great. Prior paragraphs addressed Lakers beating Nash and Williams and Westbrook. Gasol’s softness is overrated. He is tough enough and talented enough to be a factor. He is better and more in tune. Bynum, Artest and Odom are all there and better. Glen Big Baby Davis is the c’s answer? Sheed can be great for one game or one stretch and then hurt you with his head and attitude the next. Home Court advantage.
Lakers 2010 World Champions!

By: Omnius

Omnius — Mon, 31 May 2010 09:41:04 +0000

The Lakers need to play an umtempo game against Ancient Gang Green, the old geezers in Green can’t take all that running and gunning. If the Lakers can score over 100 points a game they’ll win easily as the Celts just aren’t good enough offensively to keep up a scoring spree. Watch Fisher keep Rondo contained mostly and Artest will be Too Fierce for Pierce! The Lakers need to pound the ball inside and force the foul prone Celtic Bigs to get themselves into foul trouble. Time for the Lakers to run the babyfat off Perkins and Davis! Lakers in 6 but 5 will be sweeter, I want to see the Lakers celebrate on the TD Garden floor.

By: Ross Estes

Ross Estes — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:26:20 +0000

Rondo is vastly improved from the last finals between these two teams.Artest can and will make Pierce’s game more difficult.Kobe will be Kobe so Ray Allen offense will strugle at times because of the defensive pressure he will have to exert. K.G Perkins and wallace are better defensively,Gasol Odom are better on offense , in a 7 game series slight edge to the defense. Boston,s bench is better.Rondo will be the differance. Celtics in 6

By: luffy

luffy — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:20:11 +0000

I hate flashbacks but let me remind you since you started it…
2008 – Bynum and Ariza were injured and didn’t play in the finals
- Celtics have Posey, House and Powe
Boston Wins in 6 games, it took them 6 friggin’ games? Duh?
2009 – Regular Season, Lakers swept the Celtics w/both teams having complete and healthy line-ups.
- Sorry ass Celts lost to the Magic, KG didn’t play, whatever.
Present
2010 – Rondo is better, they have Rasheed but no Posey, Powe nor Eddie House to bail them out.
- Lakers are now complete + they acquired Artest…

By: The Dude Abides

The Dude Abides — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:15:30 +0000

Kurt, Kobe has guarded Rondo every time he’s played against the Celtics after Game 2 of the 2008 Finals. The Lakers are 5-2 in those games, including a 2-2 split in Games 3 through 6 of those Finals. Do you think Phil will make the same tactical mistake he made at the start of the Finals by putting Fish on Rondo again?