NBA Finals Lakers and Celtics: Who's gonna win?

[canu]

It's over now, congrads Celtics what a come back.

[93crawler]

I didn't catch the game last night, who won? Ah just kidding, the Celtics come back from a 24 point deficit to win in LA! I turned the game off half way through the second quarter, and thought it was over, and then turned it one half way through the third quarter to see that they were only down by 6! Biggest comeback in finals history, and Pierce, or Garnett didn't even have that good of a game. You guys gave me shit for saying that Boston's bench was deeper, and better than LA's, and now who is full of it.

All odds makers picked LA, and now they are looking ridiculous. Gasol, Odom, and the rest of the Lakers haven't really lived up to the hype. Garnett, and Pierce aren't even playing at their full potential, the only one that has been consistent has been Ray Allen. But they have consistently got key players from the bench to perform, like Powe in game 2, and Posey, and House came up big in last night's game. Kobe wasn't even much of a threat last night.

I'm still sticking with my original statement, Celtics in 5, or 6 at the most. The Lakers are overrated, and all you Lakers fans can blow me.

[michaeljohn]

yeah, and who's an arrogant son a of a bitch now. Fuck you in the ass, you hypocrite.

[michaeljohn]

Originally Posted by canU

It's over now, congrads Celtics what a come back.

You know what's funny. I called the Spurs better than the Celtics in this thread earlier, and invited you to respond, but you never did. Now, it seems whatever you might want to say to agree with that may have no merit, Boston should win this series. Instead, you rooted for Boston, which beat your team. Hey, LA has lost in the finals before and come back strong the next year. I am not worried about our future. Everyone but Fisher is younger than Kobe. However, the Spurs should be worried. A better result for Spurs fans is a Laker championship, because a Laker defeat makes us hungrier next year. Spurs team is in need of an overhaul. Other teams will be rising.

I said earlier, congrats Boston, you wanted it more than we did. If anyone doesn't know "it" means a title, wanted is in past tense, and congrats is a concession....Well, you need to learn to read and comprehend. So what's to be said about the Laker meltdown in game 4? It's been said everywhere else, so no point in adding other than what I said above. Boston wanted it more. The prognacastion of this series if it was just starting now, would have to be the same. Boston had issues, LA didn't. However, Boston fixed theirs. Can the Lakers win this series? Doubtful. Probably, Lakers will come out hot in game 5 and then fold again. I've seen that happen before, many times when it wasn't our year. There is no thinking about a game 6, or even a game 7 at this point.

I don't believe in "What ifs". If you mess something up, deal with what you have now. Boston needs to win one game to win the title. Lakers can't lose any. Duh. "If we lose this", as I said before, we weren't expected to be here. "If we lose this" as quoted above is a pretty big if, but "if" the series was over, they wouldn't play game 5. I am not holding my breath for a miracle. Next year, is a whole new ballgame.

Two things I hate are people who don't read threads before they shoot their mouths off. Congratulations to the Celtics was given above. Admission of I was wrong was given. The other thing I hate are hypocrites. People bitch when you say something they perceive as cocky, then come back with profanity to rub it in your face. Your PM to me failed big time.

Hey, I made this thread to invite participation. If I were a true expert, I wouldn't be here, I would be cashing my winnings in Vegas. Yeah, Lakers have stunk up the finals. They will be back, and winning it again. Your team probably won't.

[michaeljohn]

Originally Posted by michaeljohn

Can the Lakers win this series? Doubtful. Probably, Lakers will come out hot in game 5 and then fold again. I've seen that happen before, many times when it wasn't our year. There is no thinking about a game 6, or even a game 7 at this point.

Well, this time Lakers didn't fold after surrendering a 17 point lead. Just play game 6. Lose it, it's over, Win it, and anything can happen.

[michaeljohn]

no way Lakers can come back down 30, lol. Boston just wanted it more. Next year, probably Odom will get traded. I'd dump Walton too. Wonder if Phil Jackson will get the boot? However, Lakers are still the best team in the west. Spurs are fading. Suns and Mavs are dropping.

Anyway, Once we get our center back, Bynum, we should be right in the thick of the hunt. Now, the league has to deal with some hungry and talented Lakers! I still see a dynasty emerging again in LA as long as Kobe can play like Kobe.

If this series were starting over, smart money would still be on LA. They just weren't hungry enough.

[MrEfrisk]

Originally Posted by michaeljohn

no way Lakers can come back down 30, lol. Boston just wanted it more. Next year, probably Odom will get traded. I'd dump Walton too. Wonder if Phil Jackson will get the boot? However, Lakers are still the best team in the west. Spurs are fading. Suns and Mavs are dropping.

To get rid of Jackson would be one of the dumbest moves in nba history. I dont think that will happen.

[canu]

All I can say is the NBA finals had some great games and really close ones,I guess Boston wanted it more this year than the Lakers,hell it's only been what 26 years
since Celtics have won.

[Anibal]

Originally Posted by 93crawler

I didn't catch the game last night, who won? Ah just kidding, the Celtics come back from a 24 point deficit to win in LA! I turned the game off half way through the second quarter, and thought it was over, and then turned it one half way through the third quarter to see that they were only down by 6! Biggest comeback in finals history, and Pierce, or Garnett didn't even have that good of a game. You guys gave me shit for saying that Boston's bench was deeper, and better than LA's, and now who is full of it.

All odds makers picked LA, and now they are looking ridiculous. Gasol, Odom, and the rest of the Lakers haven't really lived up to the hype. Garnett, and Pierce aren't even playing at their full potential, the only one that has been consistent has been Ray Allen. But they have consistently got key players from the bench to perform, like Powe in game 2, and Posey, and House came up big in last night's game. Kobe wasn't even much of a threat last night.

I'm still sticking with my original statement, Celtics in 5, or 6 at the most. The Lakers are overrated, and all you Lakers fans can blow me.

Are you fuckin serious ?

I read this guys post im just thinking if you have a brain that works... Boston had the better team Paul Pierce is a fantastic player you add Kevin Garnett probably the best in his position and Ray Allen a guy that can score a 3 every single fuckin time he is open and on top of that he is good defender. I wanted the Lakers to win because i knew it was going to come down to Kobe socring 50 points or so for them to win. That is because Gasol and Odom arent as good as Allen and Garnett, fuck like no where near as good as them.

Kobe wasnt a threat? well the guy isnt a machine and when you dont have players that can back you up you are fucked... i mean how did your great celitcs do before KG and Allen got there ? Dont fuckin talk shit when its that easy to do it. Yes LA was playing better and the so called experts said that LA was there pick, that and all the reasons that fin gave for LA being a better team does not change the fact that Boston has better players than LA and in a final series where neither team plaid there best the team with the better players won. You are saying that pierce and garnett didnt play well in every game well the fact is that between the three of them they average at least 60 points per game... that is more than what Odom Gasol and Kobe where doing.

I fuckin hate people that pick the better team and then when they win they act like douchebags.

That being said, i guess KG and Pierce deserved a title after years and years of playing like superstars and not having other guys there to help them. You get 3 superstars on your starting lineup best record on the regular season and an nba title... great season, i think LA need to get rid of Odom for any other player that can make the easy and normal baskets jajajaja seems like Odom can only score the super hard and complicated way.

[Jabooty_3]

I'd pick Boston again and again, better team won

[michaeljohn]

Originally Posted by Jabooty_3

I'd pick Boston again and again, better team lost

Fixed.

Booty, you don't know shit. Yeah, it's easy to say this when Boston won. They finally played this series like the better team, but preceding this, Boston was pushed to the limit by two weak teams. Those were teams they should have swept. This is why they were the underdog. Ok, so they finally got it together when it counted. I am not bitter, we weren't supposed to be in the finals. Where were the Spurs? Fishing. Lakers will be back, Boston won't. Too many old players. Now, the Lakers are really pissed off!

I am not trying to win an argument, or anything. Both teams did not live up to their hype. Consensus is, worst finals in years. Stern got what he wanted, but every decent team out there that didn't make it probably would have beaten either LA or Boston in the finals this year. (Based only on the way they played the 6 games).

[rexhamer]

Hey, not that it matters, but I was away and then had some technical issues with the computer. I was able to check this thread on occassion, but didn't have the opportunity to reply. I only say that so nobody thinks I have been lurking waiting for the results before chiming back in.

Having said that - no trash talking or insulting here. MJ - I admire your passion and loyalty, but I have to call you out on:

"If this series were starting over, smart money would still be on LA." What did you see in this series that would lead you to that conclusion? Are you saying that, if Stern immediately ordered another best-of-seven series, LA would again be a 2-1 favorite, chosen to win the series by the overwhelming majority of national media?

"so they finally got it together when it counted." You, and most of the national media, focused too much on the first two Celtic series. And keep in mind that the Celts only struggled on the road in those series and took care of business at home pretty handily. Yes, they did not play like favorites, but what about the Detriot series? Two road wins against one of the toughest home teams in the NBA? ialso thibk the effect of Gasol was vastly overrated. Although he turned out to be more effective than I thought, it was only in spurts. He never really had the kind of impact that affected the outcome of any game.

"Lakers will be back, Boston won't. Too many old players." The Big 3 are in their early thirties. No spring chickens for sure, but add in the continued development of 23-year old Perkins and 22-year old Rondo, and no reason to think they cannot get back to the finals again over the next 2-3 years. It looks like Detroit may be re-loading, so I don't see any immediate threat to them in the East.

"Consensus is, worst finals in years." That is certainly not the consensus here, of course. But I am curious who is saying this? Can you provide some links?

And just to note that I am not trash talking after the fact, I picked the Celtics in six on page one of this thread.

[michaeljohn]

Originally Posted by rexhamer

Hey, not that it matters, but I was away and then had some technical issues with the computer. I was able to check this thread on occassion, but didn't have the opportunity to reply. I only say that so nobody thinks I have been lurking waiting for the results before chiming back in.

I checked, you have been logging in regularly.

Originally Posted by rexhamer

Having said that - no trash talking or insulting here. MJ - I admire your passion and loyalty, but I have to call you out on:

Thanks. Most of the rest you say is easy to respond to.

Originally Posted by rexhamer

"If this series were starting over, smart money would still be on LA." What did you see in this series that would lead you to that conclusion? Are you saying that, if Stern immediately ordered another best-of-seven series, LA would again be a 2-1 favorite, chosen to win the series by the overwhelming majority of national media?

No, it is impossible to start a series over. I guess I wasn't clear what I was saying. Let's let this settle next year, does that make sense?

Originally Posted by rexhamer

"so they finally got it together when it counted." You, and most of the national media, focused too much on the first two Celtic series. And keep in mind that the Celts only struggled on the road in those series and took care of business at home pretty handily. Yes, they did not play like favorites, but what about the Detriot series? Two road wins against one of the toughest home teams in the NBA? ialso thibk the effect of Gasol was vastly overrated. Although he turned out to be more effective than I thought, it was only in spurts. He never really had the kind of impact that affected the outcome of any game.

Too much attention on the first two series? Those series showed plenty of Celtic weaknesses. Either Boston corrected them, or the Pistons and Lakers weren't as smart. Against Detroit, they had the advantage that Billups was far from 100%. Gasol was playing out of position. He was pressed into center duty when Bynum went down and the trade occured. Laker results with Gasol in the lineup were % wise as good as Boston's regular season. Plan was to move him to forward, but Bynum never healed. You will see the real Laker team next year.

Originally Posted by rexhamer

"Lakers will be back, Boston won't. Too many old players." The Big 3 are in their early thirties. No spring chickens for sure, but add in the continued development of 23-year old Perkins and 22-year old Rondo, and no reason to think they cannot get back to the finals again over the next 2-3 years. It looks like Detroit may be re-loading, so I don't see any immediate threat to them in the East.

They got what they want, complacency will set in. Everyone will be gunning for them. Perkins and Rondo aren't all that impressive. Decent, but they ride the coattails of the others. See, a defending champ usually remains with about the same team the following year. The rest of the league adjusts. some for the better, some for the worse. Rarely does a defending champ repeat anymore. They used to, but the Spurs have jinxed everyone anyway. They are a great team, close to a dynasty but not there yet. Oh, speaking of the Spurs, there was a great article on how they are kicking themselves for not beating LA, because they would have eaten Boston alive. I can get it if you can't find it. No one foresaw the finals matchup we just had a year ago, now did they? A new beast will rise in the least, lol, make that east.

Originally Posted by rexhamer

"Consensus is, worst finals in years." That is certainly not the consensus here, of course. But I am curious who is saying this? Can you provide some links?

Meh, it's in quite a few places.

Originally Posted by rexhamer

And just to note that I am not trash talking after the fact, I picked the Celtics in six on page one of this thread.

Well, every possible outcome was picked somewhere by someone, you just got it right.

[ronnym]

Congrats to Boston on number 17.

In game 6, it looked like Lamar Odom was the only one on the court for the Lakers with any pride. He was relentlessly driving the lane on offense and pestering KG and Posey on D. While everyone else on the Lakers was just kind of standing around, he looked like he wanted to thrown down.

It turned out to be true about the east vs. west - tough defense-minded teams vs. finesse offensive teams.

[michaeljohn]

Originally Posted by michaeljohn

I checked, you have been logging in regularly.

I also want to add you have 24 posts in 3+ years here. Did you ever read my signature? There are a few other basketball threads in this forum, none of which you have participated in. Typical bandwagon fan, come in when the goods look ripe, and stay in when you're right. The fact that I refuted your "obfuscate" post and you hid until the series was over backs this up quite well. Next year, when the new season starts and a thread gets going about the NBA, we expect you to be a contributor. If not, your credibility stays as low as it has been.