Well deserved win for the Lakers

[ScoobyDoo]

This version of the Celtics are kind of a mystery to me. It's often times hard to know what you're going to get with them.

* 2008 - they steam rolled the league.

* 2009 - KG goes down, they put a good fight but lose

* 2010 - they're rolling and then with home court advantage at stake, they go on this completely unexplainable slump down the stretch where in a matter of 2-3 weeks they give up home court to the Lakers, the Cavs and like 2-3 other teams standing in their way for a championship. And they had this nonchalant attitude about it. It was like they were completely banged up, they were just indifferent about it. May have been nice to have the home court advanatge in game 7...

* Then, in game seven, they have the game in hand, and give up a 13 point lead with 6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter of game 7, to lose.

* 2011 - I really thought injuries to Shaq and Rondo prevented us from getting to the finals.

* 2012 - They let the Lakers come into our court and stick it to us at home. Then, we come out here and we're up 94-89 with 2:37 to go in the fourth and get out scored 8-0 to lose the game? Don't score another basket? Not one?

So my legit question is this. We have three hall of famers on this team, two of which, Ray and Pierce, are considering a couple of the greatest scorers to ever have played the game. WE have a point guard with a skill set that should allow him to get anyone a good shot at any time in any game - and we actually do get some good looks, but don't hit them...

What is it with this team and with these goose eggs we throw up at the most critical of times? Are we choking?

You give away home court advantage by going into a complete, lackadaisical slump in 2010, give up a 13 point lead in the finals, give up a 5 point lead yesterday, allow the Lakers to stick it to you at home this year and then go into a losing skid immediately after that game, when you'd been on a roll. 

The easy answer is we're just getting beaten by better teams in each situation. But I don't ever recall great teams fairly regularly being in a position to seal game and championships and then just...just...goose egg...

Thoughts? 

 

[ScoobyDoo]

And I'm not trying to slam the team here. It's a real question. It seems like this team has it "right there to take" and then...and then....goose egg.

And goose eggs with hall of fame "scorers" on the court.

And Pierce had a crap game in Boston VS LA and then a horrid game in LA yesterday. Not a single rebound in 38 minutes?

[jgod213]

It's tough to win on the road in the NBA, just ask the Lakers.

Brandon Bass got an outstanding look, and he missed it.  He's hit that shot all year with ease.  Sometimes they just don't drop, nothing you can do but go out and put up another strong effort against the Clips tonight.

My only issue with the 4th quarter yesterday was that PP allowed Ron Artest to be a factor.  It seemed like a laxidasical effort on Paul's part...i know he's shooting 19% from there this year but still, put a hand in his face!

[GreenFaith1819]

It's tough to win on the road in the NBA, just ask the Lakers.

Brandon Bass got an outstanding look, and he missed it.  He's hit that shot all year with ease.  Sometimes they just don't drop, nothing you can do but go out and put up another strong effort against the Clips tonight.

My only issue with the 4th quarter yesterday was that PP allowed Ron Artest to be a factor.  It seemed like a laxidasical effort on Paul's part...i know he's shooting 19% from there this year but still, put a hand in his face!

Good point, about Paul.

Unfortunately, that is starting to become a recurring theme for him vs LA - letting Metta become a superstar. Metta played well in 09-10 finals clincher, and seemingly every game vs BOS since then.

He's managed to do a decent job in stretches defensively vs Paul, too. Paul did miss a few open shots last night, too. Oh Well.

Still love ya, Paul. Just abuse CP3 and Co tonight and all is forgiven .

[j804]

LA owns us we almost look intimated by them whenever we've faced them these past few years, mentally soft and get pushed around physically.

[GreenFaith1819]

LA owns us we almost look intimated by them whenever we've faced them these past few years, mentally soft and get pushed around physically.

I was (and still am), a bit frustrated losing to them goons last night, but I wouldn't say they own us.

The last two games vs them could've went either way.

I say let LA bask in their hollywood glory right now...let them NOT make a trade before the deadline, lol....then see them crash and burn vs Tony and Co or Perk and Co. I'm going to love seeing Zach and Marc work over their bigs, or Serge and Perk cause problems, too.

Either way if they DON'T make a trade to shore up some weaknesses, they ain't getting past those two.

[pork3]

* 2012 - They let the Lakers come into our court and stick it to us at home. Then, we come out here and we're up 94-89 with 2:37 to go in the fourth and get out scored 8-0 to lose the game? Don't score another basket? Not one?

This is what happens when your primary means of scoring is based off of perimiter shooting. Without a legitimate ability to score inside the paint, without second chance opportunities through rebounds and without a legitimate center, this team will continue to have these scoring slumps, oftentimes at the most inopportune times.

Valiant effort on Sunday, but this team is deeply flawed.

-Jamman

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

And Pierce had a crap game in Boston VS LA and then a horrid game in LA yesterday. Not a single rebound in 38 minutes?

I'm so glad someone else noticed this. I was thinking I was the only one. Blame this loss on the missing JO and Wilcox if you want, but if Pierce grabs even 3 or 4 rebounds, perhaps we win.

[j804]

LA owns us we almost look intimated by them whenever we've faced them these past few years, mentally soft and get pushed around physically.

I was (and still am), a bit frustrated losing to them goons last night, but I wouldn't say they own us.

The last two games vs them could've went either way.

I say let LA bask in their hollywood glory right now...let them NOT make a trade before the deadline, lol....then see them crash and burn vs Tony and Co or Perk and Co. I'm going to love seeing Zach and Marc work over their bigs, or Serge and Perk cause problems, too.

Either way if they DON'T make a trade to shore up some weaknesses, they ain't getting past those two.

Since the 2008 title run regardless of the score our record vs them?? 2-6

 

[GreenFaith1819]

LA owns us we almost look intimated by them whenever we've faced them these past few years, mentally soft and get pushed around physically.

I was (and still am), a bit frustrated losing to them goons last night, but I wouldn't say they own us.

The last two games vs them could've went either way.

I say let LA bask in their hollywood glory right now...let them NOT make a trade before the deadline, lol....then see them crash and burn vs Tony and Co or Perk and Co. I'm going to love seeing Zach and Marc work over their bigs, or Serge and Perk cause problems, too.

Either way if they DON'T make a trade to shore up some weaknesses, they ain't getting past those two.

Since the 2008 title run regardless of the score our record vs them?? 2-6

 

BUT: Most importantly, our CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES vs them over the last few years? We are 1-1 vs the Goons.

Overall, a rather comfortable 10-8 in CHAMPIONSHIPS, thanks to KG, Paul, Ray, Rondo, and of course Larry, Chief, McHale, DJ, Danny, Walton, Russell, Cooz, Tommy, Hondo, Cowens, etc...

Take THAT, LA. And PLEASE don't say, Laker fans, that most of those championships were before I was born. Yes, this is true - BUT: They still count.

And don't make me, LA - take away your Minny championships, lol...so the count is 10-8 Boston in championships series.

This is God's GREEN Earth. , LA, and don't you forget it.

[Chelm]

LA owns us we almost look intimated by them whenever we've faced them these past few years, mentally soft and get pushed around physically.

I was (and still am), a bit frustrated losing to them goons last night, but I wouldn't say they own us.

The last two games vs them could've went either way.

I say let LA bask in their hollywood glory right now...let them NOT make a trade before the deadline, lol....then see them crash and burn vs Tony and Co or Perk and Co. I'm going to love seeing Zach and Marc work over their bigs, or Serge and Perk cause problems, too.

Either way if they DON'T make a trade to shore up some weaknesses, they ain't getting past those two.

Since the 2008 title run regardless of the score our record vs them?? 2-6

 

BUT: Most importantly, our CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES vs them over the last few years? We are 1-1 vs the Goons.

Overall, a rather comfortable 10-8 in CHAMPIONSHIPS, thanks to KG, Paul, Ray, Rondo, and of course Larry, Chief, McHale, DJ, Danny, Walton, Russell, Cooz, Tommy, Hondo, Cowens, etc...

Take THAT, LA. And PLEASE don't say, Laker fans, that most of those championships were before I was born. Yes, this is true - BUT: They still count.

And don't make me, LA - take away your Minny championships, lol...so the count is 10-8 Boston in championships series.

This is God's GREEN Earth. , LA, and don't you forget it.

Luckily our individual lifetimes don't matter in the larger scheme of things because in mine, the Lakers are 10 championships to our 4.

[ScoobyDoo]

Personally, I do think LA owns us. WE gave up a 13 point lead in game 7, let them beat us on our floor, and give up a 5 point lead yesterday.

This is the same thing as having the ability to seal home court advantage pretty much throughout the playoffs in 2010 and then coming out and losing to lottery teams, among others, during a two week period down the stretch that ends up costing you home court against your most hated rivals in the EC and the WC.

And sometimes in the biggest moments they seem the most lackadaisical, which I think is really a way of hiding fear or intimidation by acting like "oh, it's  just another game... when in fact it's not."

Maybe this team has a killer instinct, but not a "step on your throat, kick you in the gut when your down killer instinct". There is a big difference.

Kobe, Jordan, Bird, Magic - they all have the latter.

These guys, I don't know. I mean Paul Pierce is one of the best rebounders at his position over his career. I know he's older but that's no excuse. The Lakers are "fist fight game", figuratively speaking, and you get your nose bloody on the boards in those games. Not one board?

Another thing -

Paul Pierce is a "tough athlete", but he's not a "tough guy". The tough guys in our league are the following types: Rodman, Laimbeer, Mahorn, Oakley, TAllen, Powe, Perkins, nene, Karl Malone and yes, Artest.

You never instigate with a tough guy. You out play him with your skill and just keep the guy quiet. If you instigate with a tough guy, he's going to start nailing people.

Paul seems to have this need, which I personally believe is a sign of intimidation or at a minimum that Artest is in Pierce's head, to have to go mano to mano with the guy.

It's the worst possible thing to do with a "tough guy" because only two things are going to happen by doing that:
1. You're going to wake the bully up
2. The bully is now awake and will start nailing people, which is the last thing you want.

* 2010 finals - Pierce gets into it with Artest - next thing you know Artest is on fire and he's nailing Ray Allen, who's leg never really recovered.

* Yesterday, Pierce gets macho with Artest, acting like he's a tough guy, next thing you know Rondo's getting nailed, Artest is hitting everybody.

Paul is a very, very "tough athlete" but he is a long, long ways away from being a "tough guy". IMHO, he should just ****' focus on outplaying Artest with his skill set, which he can pretty much do blindfolded if that's all he focused on, rather than acting like he's Charles Oakley.

On our team the last guy I'd probably want to get in a fight with is Rondo, he's the closest thing we have a to a true "tough guy". I think he would actually go toe to toe with anyone, regardless of their size if he was p---ed. Everyone else, like KG and pierce, are usually just barking from the porch without ever having any real intention of coming off that porch and onto the street.

Not a knock on Pierce or KG, it just is what it is.

We used to have tough guys like PJ, Perkins, Posey, Powe & TA. Not anymore.           

 

[scottwedman]

Time to build around Rondo.

Sadly, Bynum looks like he's reaching his potential and the Lakers will probably pull some BS trade and end up pairing him with Westbrook or another superstar guard post-Kobe.

If I had my druthers, we'd package the Big 3 for picks and go after Howard over the summer.  I HATE losing to the effing Lakers.