Are you serious?? Do you even have to ask why we doubt the Celtics?? I'm going to beat the dead horse again because YOU DON'T LISTEN. They don't have their BEST PLAYER, Kevin Garnett!! The Celtics went to 7 games, and barely won against a Bulls team that they should have swept, or at least won in 5 if they had Garnett. That, and the Celtics are going to be exausted because they had to play a ton of overtime periods and the series went to 7 games. That is a lot to ask especially from an older team like the Celtics.
Pierce and Allen are great, but the frontcourt of Boston is bad and thin, that Dwight Howard is going to have a monopoly on the paint. Boston will get absolutely nothing in the paint. When the first big man you bring off the bench is Brian Scalabrine, you have a problem. Howard is going to control the game at both ends, making sure that Pierce and Rondo don't get anything inside, as well as averaging 12+ rebounds. I also think Pierce will have trouble guarding a larger Rashard Lewis who could post Pierce up if he wanted to. I'm also not worried about the Magic not having Jameer Nelson, since Alston should be just fine.
I don't think this series will be a blowout, but I don't think the Celtics have a chance, unless Garnett shows up out of nowhere, or Dwight Howard gets injured.
Ok, your arguement is completely true and I'm not even saying that the Celtics are going to win. I already said that its going to be another really good series, and Im not sure who's going to win. But you can't just say that the Celtics have no chance because you can't predict the future.
As for the Nuggets, I don't think they are going to beat the Lakers. If any team is going to do it, the Rockets will. Kobe even admitted that Artest plays him hard, and the Rockets are playing for keeps this year.
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Anyone that thinks that Boston can beat Orlando right now is absolutely kidding themselves, and should PM me for a little side 'conversation'.
But honestly, Boston barely, barely managed by squeak by a Chicago team that they should have demolished, and Rajon Rondo simply won't get away with the thuggish play that he used against the Bulls in this series. Orlando in 6. Then they will lose to Cleveland in 6.
Every year I become more convinced that the league is pulling some strings to make things happen. Last year, the only thing people could talk about was Lakers vs. Celtics. Of course that was what it ended up being. This year, people have been saying 'Cleveland vs. Lakers' since before the season even started, despite having no real reason to think Cleveland was that good. Now, that seems like the inevitable Finals matchup.
The Celtics are being doubted right now because they went through long stretches of not scoring against the Bulls - the Bulls, whose idea of running a "defence" is switching on every pick and roll until Gordon and Rose are guarding the other team's power forward and center. Your point guard is not adequate weakside help.
They were also largely unable to stop the amazing offensive strategy of 'Pass the ball to a guy, watch while he isos'.
Rondo will be playing against a team that will take longer than 5 games to adjust their strategies against him, and they won't get easy buckets because of Dwight Howard. Additionally, I find it hard to believe that they'll get away with the same number of illegal screen and rolls as they did in the Bulls-Celtics matchup - and if Rondo commits another borderline flagrant, I'd assume the NBA would call it.
But who knows? They do have a shot ... that's why you play the game.
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my mouth is full of winsome lies -
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
G1 set the tone for how the entire series will go. Orlando handled Boston more or less effortlessly. Toward the end they got a little lazy, Boston tried to make a run...and Orlando decided to start trying again and quashed it.
Anyone that thinks that Boston can beat Orlando right now is absolutely kidding themselves, and should PM me for a little side 'conversation'.
But honestly, Boston barely, barely managed by squeak by a Chicago team that they should have demolished, and Rajon Rondo simply won't get away with the thuggish play that he used against the Bulls in this series. Orlando in 6. Then they will lose to Cleveland in 6.
Every year I become more convinced that the league is pulling some strings to make things happen. Last year, the only thing people could talk about was Lakers vs. Celtics. Of course that was what it ended up being. This year, people have been saying 'Cleveland vs. Lakers' since before the season even started, despite having no real reason to think Cleveland was that good. Now, that seems like the inevitable Finals matchup.
Your PM is in your mailbox.
They just played a great game and showed why they can win this series. Yeah I saw they lost, but barely, and came back from a game that was pretty much unwinable. Van Gundy is quite a dink though I noticed. I would be pissed if my coach was like that. Dwight Howard had a lot of rebounds too, something like 21? Good game by him. Watch for Ray Allen game 2 to join in and hopefully Pierce shows up a little better.
People have been saying the "cavs VS lakers' thing because both teams are 1st in their conferences. There's no conspiracy to the game.
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People have been saying Cavs vs. Lakers since the pre-season. It has nothing to do with them being first in their conference. Clearly they didn't start out that way.
And Dwight Howard has alot of 20+ rebound games, so I don't find that particularly surprising. He's a superstar, but it still somewhat underrated.
Huh, Were we watching the same game? The Boston Celtics were losing by 28 points on their own court, and now have lost home court advantage through the first game. Game 2 is basically a must win for the Celtics now or it's essentially over.
As maddening as SVG has been, the Orlando Magic have been doing something right so far since they have to have gigantic double digit leads in order to blow them before winning. Dwight Howard having 20 rebounds a game is nothing new, he averaged that for the last series and will do the same again this series. You are out of your mind if you think Davis/Perkins can stop Dwight from having an essential 20/20 every game. The Magic defense has been a top 5 defense this year, and has always been underrated, and while Ray and Pierce will have better game 2's I wouldn't assume they will light the world on fire.
The one spot where the Magic can be had right now is off the bench, with all the injuries the Magic have been dealing with their bench is completely depleted now, but it's not an advantage for the Celtics who are dealing with even more injury woes and even less bench production in general than the magic.
What do you expect from a team coming right off a series with no chance to practice, study or do anything against their opponent? It took them time to adjust, but when they got it, they locked it down for a good chunk of time. Rondo attracted fouls like a magnet 3rd quarter, and sank all of them. They nailed it down and brought it back, so I don't know if we were watching the same game or not.
And as far as the comment with Ray Allen 'lighting the world on fire', isn't that exactly what he did game 2 against the Bulls? or Game 6?
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I know nearly any team in the top 8 of the west could have put the Bulls down easily. It is odd how much trouble some east top tier teams potentially have had with lower seed teams.
When the win/loss record between them is astronomical for the most part.
What I find funny is that the east is so top heavy that the Bulls wouldn't even have been close to the playoffs in the west, let alone getting a 7th seed in the east.
Also, the rebounding monopoly will continue from Dwight Howard. Pierce and Allen are tired, I don't think they can carry the team on their back again for another long series. And I love Rondo, but what was he doing air balling a free throw?
I'll give Boston some leeway for the Game 1 result, considering that they were exhausted, and every other reason that's related to coming from a 7-game series with multiple overtimes. Still, they lost homecourt advantage, and no matter how you look at it that's still a factor. If Boston lose Game 2, on their own turf, then they're putting themselves in a very big hole. They can fight back with players like Allen and Pierce, but ultimately Howard seems to big of a problem, and personally I think Pierce is going to have his hands full with Lewis.
While the Celtics do stand a chance, without KG it isn't much of a good chance, especially against a team like the Magic. I'll say... Magic in 6.
Alright Yao and Ron-Ron did their thing. I'm so down for the Rockets taking out the Lakers, LA was way to cocky all season for a team that lost in the title game last year. That could open up things for an actually competitive and exciting rest of the Western conference.
LA fans are always extremely cocky nothing ever changes. Especially when the team starts to get good.
They have to be the most fair weather fans of any sport in the world. There is a reason so many people hate the Lakers and their fans. The team becomes more like the average celebrity each and every season.
(slightly off topic)
I love celeb interviews during a movie they act like the film crew was the greatest film crew ever. It seems that mentality has spread to the residents of LA and its surrounding area. Having attended some semi-exclusive celeb functions in LA before it makes you a bit nauseous the amount of self/friendly congratulation they love to heap on themselves and their friends.
(/slightly off topic)
Even though Houston abused my team and its fans a lot I still have to root for them over the Lakers. My local broadcasters actually made some comments about how bad Houston crowds are. We give Mutumbo a standing ovation when he is wheeled off the court then we get to Houston and we get Blazers Suck. Apparently Martell was also jeered and called nasty names by their fans which I will not repeat.
Houston has upset me greatly but my dislike of the Laker fan base and organization is bar none they must go down. Especially so I can tout the fact that Kobe is nothing without Shaq over and over again. He may be a great player but he can't win a championship without Shaq this has been proven as we can see so far.
I have no problem with some good heckling or booing etc.. and getting a bit riled up. But to outright start a chant against a team is total crap.
I hate the Lakers, and I honestly think they are going to lose to the Rockets. I really want to see the Cavaliers destroy the Lakers in the finals so I hope they win.
lol. I don't understand why everyone hates the lakers so much. I thought it was only in the area I live (near Sacramento) but I guess its everywhere. Honestly, nobody can say that Kobe Bryant is not a good player.
Honestly, nobody can say that Kobe Bryant is not a good player.
Its everything else that he's bad at.
Kobe is not, can not, and will not be the leader of the Lakers. He's an immature kid (in a man's body) who has been pampered by basketball his entire life. Kobe can score. That is all he can do. He wags the finger at his team when they lose. Unlike his rival counterpart, LeBron James, who demonstrates maturity beyond his years, he only makes his team better when he is on a hot streak - pulling defenders from the rest of his team. LeBron can facilitate without scoring 20 points.
Bottom Line: Kobe can't do it by himself. He NEEDS a big man. Shaq went on to win a Championship after he left Kobe - didn't need him - and Kobe didn't make it to he Finals (w/o Shaq) until he got Pau Gasol.
Kobe is not, can not, and will not be the leader of the Lakers. He's an immature kid (in a man's body) who has been pampered by basketball his entire life. Kobe can score. That is all he can do. He wags the finger at his team when they lose. Unlike his rival counterpart, LeBron James, who demonstrates maturity beyond his years, he only makes his team better when he is on a hot streak - pulling defenders from the rest of his team. LeBron can facilitate without scoring 20 points.
Bottom Line: Kobe can't do it by himself. He NEEDS a big man. Shaq went on to win a Championship after he left Kobe - didn't need him - and Kobe didn't make it to he Finals (w/o Shaq) until he got Pau Gasol.
this is one of the most biased, uninformed things i've ever read. If i recall, Shaq had a man named Dwayne Wade playing alongside him when he won...a Finals MVP Dwayne Wade. LeBron can't do it by himself either, he needed the addition of some outside threats and scrappy inside players. His size advantage, of course, allows him to be a greater inside presence than Kobe. So it stands to reason that while kobe is best complimented by a solid inside presence LeBron is best complimented by an outside shooting presence that can stretch the court. The days of any player being able to do it "themselves" are long gone, if they ever existed at all.
And Kobe, the "immature kid", won league MVP last year, got his team to the finals and placed 2nd in MVP running this year. He didn't do it because he was jacking up 30 or 40+ points a game, he got those accolades because he was playing a more complete game. Hell, if you check the statistics this year, the lakers have their highest winning percentage in games where Kobe takes less than 20 shots...because that means he's able to facilitate and run a good triangle offense. And this is Kobe Bryant, do you honestly mean to tell me that when he's not "on a hot streak" he only sees single coverage? I think every single team in the league will tell you that consistently playing Kobe 1 on 1 is one of the easiest ways to ensure a loss.
this is one of the most biased, uninformed things i've ever read. If i recall, Shaq had a man named Dwayne Wade playing alongside him when he won...a Finals MVP Dwayne Wade. LeBron can't do it by himself either, he needed the addition of some outside threats and scrappy inside players. His size advantage, of course, allows him to be a greater inside presence than Kobe. So it stands to reason that while kobe is best complimented by a solid inside presence LeBron is best complimented by an outside shooting presence that can stretch the court. The days of any player being able to do it "themselves" are long gone, if they ever existed at all.
And Kobe, the "immature kid", won league MVP last year, got his team to the finals and placed 2nd in MVP running this year. He didn't do it because he was jacking up 30 or 40+ points a game, he got those accolades because he was playing a more complete game. Hell, if you check the statistics this year, the lakers have their highest winning percentage in games where Kobe takes less than 20 shots...because that means he's able to facilitate and run a good triangle offense. And this is Kobe Bryant, do you honestly mean to tell me that when he's not "on a hot streak" he only sees single coverage? I think every single team in the league will tell you that consistently playing Kobe 1 on 1 is one of the easiest ways to ensure a loss.
Damn you beat me to it . But your 100% correct on this, LeBron isn't this one-man team that everyone thinks he is. The man has 5 former starters coming off the bench, Ben Wallace included, Defensive man of the year in what? 2006? I can't remember correctly. Cavs have a good team all around, its not just LBJ.
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this is one of the most biased, uninformed things i've ever read.
You forgot poetic, marginally gifted, genius, eloquently written, and breath-taking.
If Kobe ever wins another Championship I will exclaim from the top of a mountain that my being is of of less value than a full grown retarded manatee with scoliosis.
(My point about Shaq was that all he needs a good wingman...Kobe needs the most arguably dominant center of all time.)
Edit*
After reading my post, I see that I am in need of an apology to everyone. I'm sorry. My emotional state was rather jolted when I wrote that and did not respectively include all that was to be said. How could I be so naive? I TOTALLY meant to say that LeBron's character is infinitely more respectable than Kobe's...plus he doesn't rape people.
I TOTALLY meant to say that LeBron's character is infinitely more respectable than Kobe's...plus he doesn't rape people.
That reminds me of a joke I heard recently that made me laugh: What will Katelyn Faber and LeBron James have in common after the Finals? They'll both be victims to a Kobe Assault.
LOL. But seriously, there was no proof he did it and it was dismissed. The girl was crazy and tried to kill herself like 2 months before the rape supposedly went down. I bet he did get with her though, that's why he bought that nice ring for his wife.
Don't hate on Kobe, he's the closest thing to Jordan the NBA's got right now.
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I could care less about Kobe's talent at this point. He acts like a punk, and his phony responses to interviews make the hair on the back of my neck go stiff. Everything he says sounds premeditated to me, almost as though he rehearsed it in his head a hundred times before he says it.
But...
Kobe is a prolific scorer. I would say he has redifined the way players put points on the board but Kobe does things that only Kobe can do, so realistically, my statement is as good as nonsense (but in theory he has redefined the concept).
Outside of basketball, I would never praise Kobe for anything...LBJ on the oither hand, is totally invited to my birthday.
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Peace.
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what about the Nuggets? the Nuggets has been on it pretty much. I'm loving how Billups and Melo have been. also the supporting cast has been superb.
Thanks for spiderboy4 of High~Light_Studios for the kick ass avatar.
Thanks for DarkNightCavalier of HotPS for the exceptional signature.
Ok, your arguement is completely true and I'm not even saying that the Celtics are going to win. I already said that its going to be another really good series, and Im not sure who's going to win. But you can't just say that the Celtics have no chance because you can't predict the future.
As for the Nuggets, I don't think they are going to beat the Lakers. If any team is going to do it, the Rockets will. Kobe even admitted that Artest plays him hard, and the Rockets are playing for keeps this year.
But honestly, Boston barely, barely managed by squeak by a Chicago team that they should have demolished, and Rajon Rondo simply won't get away with the thuggish play that he used against the Bulls in this series. Orlando in 6. Then they will lose to Cleveland in 6.
Every year I become more convinced that the league is pulling some strings to make things happen. Last year, the only thing people could talk about was Lakers vs. Celtics. Of course that was what it ended up being. This year, people have been saying 'Cleveland vs. Lakers' since before the season even started, despite having no real reason to think Cleveland was that good. Now, that seems like the inevitable Finals matchup.
They were also largely unable to stop the amazing offensive strategy of 'Pass the ball to a guy, watch while he isos'.
Rondo will be playing against a team that will take longer than 5 games to adjust their strategies against him, and they won't get easy buckets because of Dwight Howard. Additionally, I find it hard to believe that they'll get away with the same number of illegal screen and rolls as they did in the Bulls-Celtics matchup - and if Rondo commits another borderline flagrant, I'd assume the NBA would call it.
But who knows? They do have a shot ... that's why you play the game.
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
Your PM is in your mailbox.
They just played a great game and showed why they can win this series. Yeah I saw they lost, but barely, and came back from a game that was pretty much unwinable. Van Gundy is quite a dink though I noticed. I would be pissed if my coach was like that. Dwight Howard had a lot of rebounds too, something like 21? Good game by him. Watch for Ray Allen game 2 to join in and hopefully Pierce shows up a little better.
People have been saying the "cavs VS lakers' thing because both teams are 1st in their conferences. There's no conspiracy to the game.
And Dwight Howard has alot of 20+ rebound games, so I don't find that particularly surprising. He's a superstar, but it still somewhat underrated.
What do you expect from a team coming right off a series with no chance to practice, study or do anything against their opponent? It took them time to adjust, but when they got it, they locked it down for a good chunk of time. Rondo attracted fouls like a magnet 3rd quarter, and sank all of them. They nailed it down and brought it back, so I don't know if we were watching the same game or not.
And as far as the comment with Ray Allen 'lighting the world on fire', isn't that exactly what he did game 2 against the Bulls? or Game 6?
When the win/loss record between them is astronomical for the most part.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
Also, the rebounding monopoly will continue from Dwight Howard. Pierce and Allen are tired, I don't think they can carry the team on their back again for another long series. And I love Rondo, but what was he doing air balling a free throw?
While the Celtics do stand a chance, without KG it isn't much of a good chance, especially against a team like the Magic. I'll say... Magic in 6.
They have to be the most fair weather fans of any sport in the world. There is a reason so many people hate the Lakers and their fans. The team becomes more like the average celebrity each and every season.
(slightly off topic)
I love celeb interviews during a movie they act like the film crew was the greatest film crew ever. It seems that mentality has spread to the residents of LA and its surrounding area. Having attended some semi-exclusive celeb functions in LA before it makes you a bit nauseous the amount of self/friendly congratulation they love to heap on themselves and their friends.
(/slightly off topic)
Even though Houston abused my team and its fans a lot I still have to root for them over the Lakers. My local broadcasters actually made some comments about how bad Houston crowds are. We give Mutumbo a standing ovation when he is wheeled off the court then we get to Houston and we get Blazers Suck. Apparently Martell was also jeered and called nasty names by their fans which I will not repeat.
Houston has upset me greatly but my dislike of the Laker fan base and organization is bar none they must go down. Especially so I can tout the fact that Kobe is nothing without Shaq over and over again. He may be a great player but he can't win a championship without Shaq this has been proven as we can see so far.
I have no problem with some good heckling or booing etc.. and getting a bit riled up. But to outright start a chant against a team is total crap.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
But they're still going to win the series in 6.
I agree with this. I just thought the losses were going to come in Houston, not LA.
oh, because that is just so bad
Nuggets > Mavericks
Magic > Celtics
Cavaliers > Hawks
Rockets > Lakers
_______________
Cavaliers > Magic
Nuggets > Rockets
_______________
Cavaliers > Nuggets
Its everything else that he's bad at.
Kobe is not, can not, and will not be the leader of the Lakers. He's an immature kid (in a man's body) who has been pampered by basketball his entire life. Kobe can score. That is all he can do. He wags the finger at his team when they lose. Unlike his rival counterpart, LeBron James, who demonstrates maturity beyond his years, he only makes his team better when he is on a hot streak - pulling defenders from the rest of his team. LeBron can facilitate without scoring 20 points.
Bottom Line: Kobe can't do it by himself. He NEEDS a big man. Shaq went on to win a Championship after he left Kobe - didn't need him - and Kobe didn't make it to he Finals (w/o Shaq) until he got Pau Gasol.
this is one of the most biased, uninformed things i've ever read. If i recall, Shaq had a man named Dwayne Wade playing alongside him when he won...a Finals MVP Dwayne Wade. LeBron can't do it by himself either, he needed the addition of some outside threats and scrappy inside players. His size advantage, of course, allows him to be a greater inside presence than Kobe. So it stands to reason that while kobe is best complimented by a solid inside presence LeBron is best complimented by an outside shooting presence that can stretch the court. The days of any player being able to do it "themselves" are long gone, if they ever existed at all.
And Kobe, the "immature kid", won league MVP last year, got his team to the finals and placed 2nd in MVP running this year. He didn't do it because he was jacking up 30 or 40+ points a game, he got those accolades because he was playing a more complete game. Hell, if you check the statistics this year, the lakers have their highest winning percentage in games where Kobe takes less than 20 shots...because that means he's able to facilitate and run a good triangle offense. And this is Kobe Bryant, do you honestly mean to tell me that when he's not "on a hot streak" he only sees single coverage? I think every single team in the league will tell you that consistently playing Kobe 1 on 1 is one of the easiest ways to ensure a loss.
Damn you beat me to it
You forgot poetic, marginally gifted, genius, eloquently written, and breath-taking.
If Kobe ever wins another Championship I will exclaim from the top of a mountain that my being is of of less value than a full grown retarded manatee with scoliosis.
(My point about Shaq was that all he needs a good wingman...Kobe needs the most arguably dominant center of all time.)
Edit*
After reading my post, I see that I am in need of an apology to everyone. I'm sorry. My emotional state was rather jolted when I wrote that and did not respectively include all that was to be said. How could I be so naive? I TOTALLY meant to say that LeBron's character is infinitely more respectable than Kobe's...plus he doesn't rape people.
That reminds me of a joke I heard recently that made me laugh: What will Katelyn Faber and LeBron James have in common after the Finals? They'll both be victims to a Kobe Assault.
LOL. But seriously, there was no proof he did it and it was dismissed. The girl was crazy and tried to kill herself like 2 months before the rape supposedly went down. I bet he did get with her though, that's why he bought that nice ring for his wife.
Don't hate on Kobe, he's the closest thing to Jordan the NBA's got right now.
But...
Kobe is a prolific scorer. I would say he has redifined the way players put points on the board but Kobe does things that only Kobe can do, so realistically, my statement is as good as nonsense (but in theory he has redefined the concept).
Outside of basketball, I would never praise Kobe for anything...LBJ on the oither hand, is totally invited to my birthday.