TLN’s Finals Preview: Lakers vs. Celtics [Game 2]
If for whatever reason you did not watch the game/did not hear what had happened, Paul Pierce went down with an knee injury that suspiciously sounded like the same injury that happened to Bynum, except he came back out a few minutes later and was able to play the rest of the game.
Some people are calling it a Willis Reed moment, some are calling it “touched by an angel,” but most everyone will agree that that moment when he returned was the moment the Celtics regained courage and took the game back from the Lakers.
I’m here to tell you that’s Bull.
The moment we lost the game was right after he went down with the injury. It was sickening to watch, but we relaxed. It was as plain as day to me that the Lakers had, at least subconsciously, assumed they were going to win and stopped hustling, stopped running the offense. We had the lead at that time, and we should have been able to keep it.
Another thought about the moment. Either it is a Bynum-esque injury (does hearing a pop sound familiar?) and Pierce will be ineffective for the rest of the series, or that was truly bad sportsmanship, and well, you know what they say about karma.
Anyhoo, on to the match-ups…
Marquee Matchups -
Point Guard – Derek Fisher vs. Rajon Rondo: Who thought Derek Fisher played out of his mind in game 1? I thought he was aggressive in taking the ball to the hole, really making Rondo guard him. This could be the key as Rondo likes to bother the big men when they’re on the block. If Fish can make Rondo guard him all game, then it should be an even battle, as Rondo, for all the press he got about having a great game, only shot 4-10.
As an aside, who else felt really, really weird when Fisher missed BOTH freethrows at the beginning of the game?
Advantage: Even.
Shooting Guard – Kobe Bryant vs. Ray Allen: Kobe had a bad shooting game. It doesn’t matter if Kobe missed shots that he normally makes or that most of Kobe’s shots were in and out (7 in the second half alone by my count) –The end result is that Kobe had a bad shooting game, and that’s something I expect him to rectify.
This isn’t to say that the Celtics defense was all that, because it wasn’t. Kobe missed a lot of easy shots in Game 1, shots that he should routinely knock down. In contrast, Ray Allen had a poor shooting game too, but that was something our defense did to him.
Basically we made Ray Allen miss shots, but Kobe missed shots on his own, there’s a difference.
Advantage: Lakers.
Small Forward – Vladimir Radmanovic vs. Paul Pierce: Vladdy was doing so well until that four-point play to start the third quarter. Even with the foul trouble, he was playing effective defense against Paul Pierce and was really involved in the game. The one sequence where the Celtics had a outlet fast-break but Vladdy stayed with the play and eventually saved us two points due to a Posey mishandle, provided an example of the defense that he never gets credit for -and that’s his fast break defense.
Advantage: You have to give it to the Celtics, unless Pierce actually did sustain a serious injury.
Power Forward – Lamar Odom vs. Kendrick Perkins: Lamar did a fantastic job against Perkins in Game 1, defensively that is. There is much to be said for how he can improve offensively, but it was nice to see him make those three jumpers that he took. Mind you I didn’t want him taking them, but now the threat of him making that jumpshot should force the Celtics to guard him closer and allow him more opportunities to drive (left).
Advantage: Lakers.
Center – Pau Gasol vs. Kevin Garnett: I just looked at the numbers, and its quite shocking: Gasol has held Boozer and Duncan below 50% shooting for an entire series and is now off to a good start against Garnett, with Garnett going 9-22. Also, Gasol needs to shoot more. I mean, 11 shots from your second option? Unacceptable. He should be getting 15 shots a game minimum.
On a side note, Garnet went 9-22 while Kobe went 9-26, and you’d have to take off a few shots from Kobe’s total at the end when they were shooting desperation threes to try and get back into the game. So looking at it in this light, either Kobe’s game wasn’t that bad, or Garnett had a really bad game too. The thing is though, we expect Kobe to have a much better game, while Garnett seemed to play a pretty good one.
Advantage: Celtics.
Bench -
Okay lets be honest, our bench played a little bit of a stinker. A collective 5-15 from the field isn’t anything to write to Slovenia about. To be fair, the presence of Sam Cassell really screws with Farmars minutes, because there’s no way Farmar would be remotely effective in guarding him.
One of the suggested solutions, has been to sub-out Fisher early and play Farmar verses Rondo, and use Fish against Cassell. Regardless, this is the first time all post-season that Farmar had his minutes so ridiculously shortened, and it will be interesting to see how Phil adjusts to this in Game 2.
Also, expect Sasha to shoot better, and for Phil to leave Kobe in with the second unit this time, as opposed to Odom.
Posey had two very dirty plays against Kobe in Game 1, both on fouls after the whistle had already gone off. It can be likened to Garnett swatting away shots taken after the whistle, except dirty. I expect the Lakers to send some kind of video to the league office if this continues in Game 2.
Advantage: Lakers.
Statistical Predictions -
Alright, I’m going to keep track of statistical predictions for the Post-Season!
Here’s how it works, copy and paste the below and enter your picks instead, Closest prediction wins. Posts will only be accepted before the game starts, in this case 6:00 PM PST.
20+ Points: Kobe & Vladdy (did you see how pissed he was?).
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha, Vladdy.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Gasol.
Point Margin: Lakers by 18.
Out On A Limb: Posey gets T’ed up for one of those dirty after-the-foul-was-called fouls.
* a 20/10/6 will be considered closer than a 20/7/7 because player A is only short 4 assists while player B is short 3 rebounds and 3 assists, or 6 stat points in total, as opposed to 4 for plater A.
Game Information -
Radio: KLAC & KWKW.
Television: ABC.
Burning Questions -
I’m predicting a Lakers win, are you?
We shut Allen down all game and Pierce down for the 1st half and Garnett for the second. Do we see more of the same? Better? Worse?
Assuming Doc Rivers is an intelligent coach, what adjustments do you think he’ll make to change what we do defensively?
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74 Comments
20+ Points: Kobe & Odom
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha, Fisher.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Gasol.
Point Margin: Lakers by 8.
Out On A Limb: Paul Pierce jammes his finger and he cryies the whole way to the lockeroom, and comes back after 5 mins and then the Cetics lose and PP is known for being a baby
Keep it straight and to
The Point.
JUST WINN!
-Phantomified..
20+ Points: Kobe & Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar, Gasol
2+ Blocks: Gasol
3+ 3-Pointers: Fish, Vladdy, Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 3
kobe 35+
lakers by 10+
lakers in 5
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!
20+ Points: Kobe, Gasol.
10+ Rebounds: Lamar, Kobe.
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Odom.
3+ 3-Pointers: Vlade.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Odom.
Point Margin: Lakers by 2.
Out On A Limb: It’s going down to the wire.
We are going to win and beat the celtics (period!). I expect KB to have a better shooting game. And Pau will be more aggresive as well as our bench.
GOODLUCK LAKERS!!!
BEAT BOSTON!!!
I believe the LAKERS will win tomorrow..I have no other choice.
GO LAKERS… all the way..
20+ Points: Kobe & Fish
10+ Rebounds: Lamar & Kobe
2+ Blocks: Lamar & Ronny.
3+ 3-Pointers: Kobe, Fish, Farmar.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar.
Point Margin: Lakers by 5.
Out On A Limb: Ariza plays.
20+ Points: Kobe & Lamar.
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Turiaf and Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha and Kobe.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 2
Out On A Limb: Another Celtic fakes an injury.
I expect the Lakers to bounce back
Lane
http://LosAngelesSource.com
20+ Points: Kobe & Gasol & Lamar.
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Gasol
2+ Blocks: Turiaf and Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha and Kobe and Fisher
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 8
Out On A Limb: paul pierce drives the lane and misses a lay up and KG goes up for the rebound and sprains his ankle, out for rest of series. KARMA!!! and PJ and DOC get in an arguement about timeouts. hahaha and kobe HUSHES the crowd in the 4th
I agee. I think Famar should guard Rondo and let Fisher get Cassell. It makes a lot of since. Youth vs Youth and Experience vs. Experience.
If you need tickets just write me @ vivavegas112@aol.com
if we loose…….it’s over
hahaha…nice stats fakers but your problem is you based your team on your offense and never give a big picture about your defense.. your playoff average in offense is 105.8 and your were held just 88 points in game one… go figure hahahah!!!
celtics in 4… try not to underestimate these celtics because that is exactly how you get beaten… hibachi style…bwahahaha
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Lamar & Pau
2+ Blocks: Lamar, Pau, & Ronnie!
3+ 3-Pointers: D-Fish & Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 22
Out On A Limb: Kobe has a performance for the ages. “Around the Horn” debates if it’s the greatest playoff performance ever. ON “1st and 10″, Skip Bayless wears a Kobe jersey, but still brings up “weird Kobe.”
[Comment ID #38573 Will Be Quoted Here]
Whoever you are, just get the f*** out of here.
Are you sure Jonny about the game margin? I think that’s a little toop much. I mean yes, the Lakers could easily win by 18 on their home floor, but I think 10 is a little better.
Bring out the brooms fellas! Lakers sweep the next 4.
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Lamar,Pau
2+ Blocks: Ronny
3+ 3-Pointers: Vlad,Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 11
Out On A Limb: PP dies in that “injury”
lolololololololololollloooooll… some funny stuff written here i love it.. i hope lakers win… go lakers
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ rebounds: Kobe, Lamar Pau
2+ Blocks: Ronny, Pau
3+ 3-pointers: VladRad, The machine, fish
point margin: lakers by 5
out on A Limb: Trevor Ariza posterizes KG
Lakers will win this game for sure. Kobe will show why he is the best player on the planet and the mvp. he is going to light it up tonight… Lakers fan please don’t get down and don’t listen to negativity of ab4sure, lakersfirst and daboss. They only bring our spirits down we need to have faith and we will prevail…
[Comment ID #38588 Will Be Quoted Here]
This is the same guy who wants to trade Bynum…. Even now you want to trade him. What a dingleberry!!! Do you still want Zach Randolph Dingleberry???
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Lamar, Gasol (HE NEEDS TO BE MORE AGGRESIVE!)
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher, Radmonavich
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
although we lost by ten, our FG % was .416 while boston was .421; we just had an off night for game 1. we’re bouncing back tonight.
[Comment ID #38588 Will Be Quoted Here]
You have faith (LOL)??? How many times were you b*tching about the Lakers last year, crying for help (whah…Kobe needs help), saying that they weren’t any good. The fact of the matter is, even before Gasol was here, the Lakers had a good team (they had the best record in the west, before Gasol arrived), and who was a big contribution>> ANDREW BYNUM!!! (the man you wanted to trade you stupid sh*t).
The fact is, the Lakers virtually have the same team as last year (Farmar, Turiaf, Walton, Radman, Sasha, Odom, etc). You have never any faith in these players, so don’t try to pretend you have faith now. You’re just a Kobe-only fan, and that is it. It’s true Laker fans like me, and maybe a few other guys here, that always support the team, win, lose or draw. We don’t just support one man, I SUPPORT THE TEAM!!
Kobe has had 1 bad game in each series…
Game 1 vs Denver
Game 4 vs Utah
Game 3 vs SA
Game 1 vs Boston
Then we all know what happened after that with that being said KB got his bad game out of the way and now will take it right to those Boston sissies and break their will.
Dont know about anyone else but Im tired of the media saying Boston is a physical team who in the hell on that team is physical, Utah is way more physical than these wussies. Maybe Perkins is but thats it KG is nothing but a flag pole and Pierce well we all know about him I wont even waste my breath on that fool.
Lakers Win Tonite!!!!!
Go Lakers!!!!!
Gasol needs to play better defense on KG! the whole team needs to play better defense get back on transition Kobe needs to pass the ball more!!!
joseph
Jun 8th, 2008 at 3:59 am Click this link to quote this comment in your reply
hahaha…nice stats fakers but your problem is you based your team on your offense and never give a big picture about your defense.. your playoff average in offense is 105.8 and your were held just 88 points in game one… go figure hahahah!!!
celtics in 4… try not to underestimate these celtics because that is exactly how you get beaten… hibachi style…bwahahaha
ay joseph if u boston fan which u are get ready to see your celtics for the one last time today. cause when we win in game 2 there is no chance for Celtics to come to the fabulous CITY of LA and beat us.
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Gasol
2+ Blocks: No One
3+ 3-Pointers: No One
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Gasol
Point Margin: Lakers by 4
Out On A Limb: Ariza Plays
20+ Points: Kobe and Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Gasol
2+ Blocks: Turiaf and Lamar
3+ 3-Pointers: Vlad and Farmar
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 7
Out On A Limb: Kobe breaks both legs, arms and neck and comes back in 30 secs in perfect condition, has 21 points and is the hero of the century
where’s ariza?
WE GONNNA WIN THIS FORSURE
PHIL SOHOULD PUT IN ARIZA INSTEAD OF FLUKE…FLUKE IS JUS A DISAPOINTMET
KOBE IS GONNA B A BEAST TONIGHT
Nearly all of Lakerland is sick, frustrated, and tired of seeing Luke coming into games. Laker talk at the gym this morning included “Luke is basically useless”. When’s he’s on the court, it’s like 5 on 4. He already got his playing time in the West series…now it’s time for Ariza.
I predict a Laker victory.
The only way we win is if Pau and LO show up…period! If LO doesn’t break out, I trade him! This is the biggest stage, and if he disappears, it’s time to move on! He’s been with Kobe 4 years now, no more excuses! Ariza needs to guard Pierce…Kobe needs to score the ball.
[Comment ID #38610 Will Be Quoted Here]
LMAO ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahah
[Comment ID #38570 Will Be Quoted Here]
*lose
[Comment ID #38609 Will Be Quoted Here]
not cool
Lakers play together tonight……no problem we win……..go lakers
Coaches – please tell Lamar NO DRIBBLING!
more times than not Lamar dribbling leads to clumsy turnovers.
Attack the f_uckin basket and stop shooting from the outside. WTF are Farmar and Fluke doing…both these guys have sh_t for brains.
Luke is so WORTHLESS out there. He can’t guard anyone.
Too many turnovers. We need Kobe back in there.
You would’ve thought that the Lakers have learned NOT to leave Pierce open on the transition….FRICKIN DEFEND him!
Great Lakers Defense and Fab Bench making Powe look like an All-Star…
These GD refs should just put on Celtics jerseys. They are screwing LA. If anyone breaths on a Celtic they are at the line but when they hammer a Laker they just look the other way. I guess with David Stern in the building the word came down for his beloved Celtics. What a FARCE!
Yeah I hear you Smush Walton…the Lakers are getting fouled but no calls. Lamar, Kobe, Pau getting blatantly knocked around, but Stern has already picked his NBA champions.
Lakers are getting screwed big time by the refs. LAMAR STOP SHOOTIN FROM THE OUTSIDE…U ARE THE WORST JUMPSHOOTER IN THE LEAGUE…
WTF was Vlad just standing there and not getting the rebound…
Ths is stupid the celtics have 7 on the floor…The refs are F-theming over
This is stupid even watching
the refs are on their knees more than ever
there’s no way the free throws are wut like 20-1 and our one was a technical WTF is UP!!!!!!!!!!
Was Pau hammered at the end of the half? GD REFS! Tge secret of the Celtics success – 8 on 5.
Hey Vlad – way to get your 3 pointer blocked by a point guard. Smush Walton, Lame-ar, Vlad, Farmar, Sasha – WAKE UP CALL!
Way to go refs! Celtic’s MVPs!
David Stern is grinning ear to ear with this good old fashion Celtics 8 on 5 team effort! The fix is in – what a FARCE!
WTF is Lamar doing out there…he just keeps tossing the ball around the basketball hoping it goes in. Lakers shooting terribly from the outside, playing crappy D, Vlad/Sasha/Fluke/Farmar playing with their heads in their asses, refs giving Stern and Celtics BJs…Lakers better win the next three or go fishin. It’s more than clear now that Vlad, Fluke need to go after this season.
Feels like 2004 finals all over again, the freakin NBA is a joke they want their Champs!!!!!! F$$k the League just like the NFL hates my Raiders the NBA hates the Lakers!!!!!!
The Refs can control how the game’s momentum and outlook will ultimately be. … They will give the doomed team a few insignificant calls from time to time to try and mask their intention. … But I think it is obvious to most, they have over done it this time, at least for the first half, and that usually can be enough to sway the outcome to their intention. … They can go back to normal for the second half. … If the Lakers manage to come back in the second half, they will subtlety revert back to what is needed to complete the job. … So far, it looks like this is 2006 all over again.
Is it any more obvious from Game 1 and Game 2 first half?! We know which team Stern and the NBA has already chosen for their champions.
Why does Walton even play … He’s another Kwame Brown.
Jackson has made a huge and glaring mistake, by not giving enough minutes to Ariza in the previous playoff games, and he is paying the price NOW! … BIG TIME!
[Comment ID #38655 Will Be Quoted Here]
Amen to that my brother!!!!!!!!!
Adjustments need to be made to the forward position line ups.
It’s obvious that vlad Rad cannot match up with Paul Pierce because Pierce is too fast for him. Vlad should be moved to the PF position and let Odom guard Pierce.
Why watch the games any more if the calls are completely one-sided in Boston’s favor…it’s so F_UCKIN obvious?! Lakers were fouled left right all game (Pierce shoving Fisher to the floor, Pierce holding Kobe’s arm), and more so in the 4th quarter, and no calls???!!! You got be F_UCKING kiddin me. The refs saved Boston my calling a touch foul on Fisher.
F the refs, they are soooooooo bias
The big 3 came thru as scripted when up 2, Pierce driving, and those whistles blew. Did anyone touch him? Stern must be proud! Just like the old days – refs hosing LA!
i was telling everyone in the room during the comeback
even if they made every shot they took theres no way the refs would let them win
i hope they all get fired
i really think the lakers need to send a message next game and have kobe fake an injury too, be brought out on a stretcher and then come back and dunk on leon powe moments later
Get fired? David Stern gives them big bonuses – they toed the line, followed the script – WHAT A FARCE!
I second Shakobe’s suggestion.
Phil’s postgame comment Leon Poe in 14 minutes gets more foul shots the the entire Laker team does fot the whole team – theat’s ridiculous, unbelievable!
Way to tell it like it is Phil Jackson.
Also according to Phil, Lamar looked “confused out there at times”.
Way to come thru Lamar!
If we lose this series we need to look to make some changes.
WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE
The next 3 games LA MUST win. If we lose one at home, bye, bye Lakers.
The refs helped Boston, but the Lakers was humiliate on the 3 and half of the fourth quarter.
F U C K.
Go LAkers
Where is Lamar? He must be with Puff the Magic Dragon again…
Wat I tell ya … Down the stretch, Pierce gets a call with very little contact, and on Vujacic’s last three point attempt, I’m not so sure he didn’t get hacked, but again, if you’re a Laker….no call, all night long.
On the Pierce play, if it was Kobe, for some strange reason, he would not get that call. … And on the Vujacic play, I would love to see up close, in slow-mo, this play…. I think it would show in much the same way it showed how Gasol got clearly hacked by KG, not on one, but on two dunks…. but again, if you’re a Laker….no call and no and-one. … I know, all of this is just water under the bridge, but it is frustrating to clearly see where the imbalance, truly is of the game. … The Celtics, without the help of the Referees, ARE NOT BETTER than the Lakers. … This is only an illusion created by these jerks.
Lamar Odom sucks if he doesn’t have a clear path to the basket … Lamar Odom seems to just throw the ball up towards the hoop, hoping and praying it goes in, when driving out of control to the basket. … That driving layup/half hook shot? (THROW UP!) is not a very well controlled shot.
Odom was looking great, for a while, but he is back to his old ways again…. running around flat-footed and waving his hands in the air, like he just don’t care.