MVP Poll Results - Game 1 NBA Finals: BOS 98 LAL 88

[Redz]

OK, MVP Poll back by popular demand (or at least one person's demand - I'm easy ).  If you remember the drill, great.  If not, just wing it.  I'm too tired to explain the whole thing.

Well, a pretty [dang] sweet win for the C's over an outclassed  Laker team (yep, I'm getting cocky after one win).  Really though, it just seemed to me from the get go that the Celtics were going to be able to do what they wanted on the offensive and once they figured out how to stop the pick and roll they cruised.  Maybe the best thing that happened was Perk getting hurt, because he was invisible tonight. 

KG came out smokin' and Sam gave some offense off the bench.  Rondo was solid from end to end.  Ray made one boneheaded pass, but was incredibly energetic throughout.  A huge effort by PJ Brown, getting big minutes in the second half.  He and Posey led the charge defensively in the 4th, and helped keep the Lakers at a safe distance while KG tried to get his shot back.  KG never really did get the shot back, but he made a couple of big plays off the glass and had the clinching moment on a putback slam.

So, who am I forgetting?  Ahhh, yes...THE CAPTAIN!  Once again PP, took the game over when the team needed him to.  After a disappointing end to the first half, the C's trailed by 5.  Pierce killed that lead instatntly in teh 2nd half with a couple of quick buckets and sweet redemption, getting a call his way on the 4 point play.  Moments later he was carried off the court with a Lebron-like knee injury (turnabouts fair play people...we complain about LBJ doing this stuff, but our man Pierce looked to be crippled for life one minute, then hoopin' the next...but I digress).  The Captain played like the Captain again.

In the end, it was Exhibit A for how great defense trumps good offense.  Kobe was contested heavily and never got into his shooting.  Gasol was stopped cold in the 2nd half.  Great D wins.  Celts up 1-0.

Gotta love it.

My votes for tonight:  Pierce 3, KG 2, Rondo 1 (tough leaving Ray off, but I gotta give it to Rajon who was solid all night..also would love to give some love to PJ, but there are only so many votes to go around)

[Thruthelookingglass]

I hate to vote on this.  Paul was probably the MVP, but I don't want to devalue the important contributions of the rest of the team--without their points, boards, hustle, this would have been an "L." 

So yeah, how about a Ubuntu MVP for Game one?  Team effort.  Team victory.

[Yakmanev]

I really don't know who to vote for in this game either although I think Paul Pierce will end up being Finals MVP. At least he certainly has been through the playoffs thus far.

[indeedproceed]

Rondo and not Ray? no way. Pierce Garnett Allen, in that order. If I could give Pierce 100 votes I would.

[Redz]

Rondo and not Ray? no way. Pierce Garnett Allen, in that order. If I could give Pierce 100 votes I would.

Not an easy choice.  Ray was a tiger on the glass tonight, but Rondo was steady all game long.

[Big Ticket]

I went with my boy because:

1) Everyone and their mother was saying this game was won on the boards, and KG filled it up in that respect.
2) He was on fire and kept us in the game first half.
3) Despite missing shots, he made some great "little things" plays in the 4th.  The half court save, poked away two balls on defense, finding Posey for a key 3 pointer, big boards.
4) The most emphatic dagger I've ever seen in my life.

Pierce is getting his due respect for coming back from that injury, but he had a terrible 1st half and Doc was justifiably conservative with PP in the 4th.  He still got votes from me though, but had to give 3 to KG.

[Donoghus]

Tough one tonight but I'd have to go Garnett & Pierce are 1A and 1B.  Probably throw Ray in there as my third star but I was awfully proud of PJ tonight.

[wdleehi]

1) Pierce
2) KG
3) Rondo

[fan33]

Tough decision tonight, But i just had to hand it to K.G., the interior Defensive anchor and for his high score totals; Of course the defence played on "The Kobb' by Ray and the Capt(100% shooting by Paul in the second half ) , along with Rondos  point totals; earned each one vote. Man did we own the boards or what 

Superlative second half of quality hoops we witnessed tonight folks...

3 to go, and feeling great that "the kobb" was held to what, 39% shooting, just like about what he produced mid season against us, and "the poodle" only able to chip in 15 bodes well indeed

[Bahku]

Yes! I've been missing this since the regular season ... not sure why it stopped, but I'm glad it's back! (Thanks Redz) This was easy for me ... Pierce was the man, absolutely, and I gave him three. With the rest I gave one each to Rondo, Ray, and Ticket, as they were all huge tonight. Awesome win and only three more to go! Almost as sweet as the win is the fact that most of the trolls have shut their collective "mouths" for the time-being. Gotta say, they were really getting to me today! Go Celtics!

[Roy Hobbs]

3 for Pierce, 2 for KG, 1 for Ray.  Any other night, KG gets top billing, but not last night.

[2short]

Great team effort.  I think you can pick any of the big 4.  PP was great in the comeback from injury, near perfect shooting 2nd half, great d, boxing out etc.  KG great in first half, d, you name it, shooting was really off in 2nd half.  Rondo great all around performance from the 2nd year guard, steady to (less sam please)
But I gave my mvp vote to Ray Allen, nice shooting, great rebounding from our sg, good passing except that behind the back?.  Mainly because the man he mainly guarded shot 9 for 25 or something like that.
great team defense but big nod to ray

[Redz]

Yes! I've been missing this since the regular season ... not sure why it stopped, but I'm glad it's back! (Thanks Redz)

I think after 82 games (well 76 or so - thanks Bahku ) , I needed a break from the "commitment" of the MVP Polls.  I do enjoy doing them though.  Hopefully only 3 more to go!

[Cman]

I had to spread it around:
2 Pierce
1 Rondo
1 KG
1 Ray
1 PJ Brown

Pierce is obvious, but then I had to dole some out to Rondo for hitting the jumpers he was supposed to hit, KG for captaining some nice D in the 2nd half, Ray for the D on Kobe, and PJ Brown for the nice bench spark.....

[Redz]

*MVP POLL RESULTS*
NBA Finals - Game 1
BOS 98 LAL 88
      
                                                                                                 FINISHES                               

	GAME	SERIES	1st	2nd	3rd
Pierce	126	126	1	0	0
Garnett	51	51	0	1	0
R. Allen	18	18	0	0	1
Rondo	7	7	0	0	0
Brown	5	5	0	0	0
Powe	2	2	0	0	0
Cassell	1	1	0	0	0
Posey	1	1	0	0	0
Voters: 42       Series Voters: 42